Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 10.pdf/512

 Scolds; and how they Cured them. graving has been executed, and accompanied it by the following note : — "The brank," or "bridle," is seven inches in height — it is formed of a hoop of iron about one inch in depth, hinged in two places, so as to en circle the head. The gag, one and a half inch in length, is rivetted to the front portion of this band, and when placed in the mouth, the tongue is so effectually compressed, that the most loquacious scold is rendered unintelligible. Above this rises an arched plate, which serves as an opening for the nose, and extends over the forehead, joined by another hinged band, which terminates in a fastening at the back of the neck, where a small chain adapts the 'bridle ' to the size of the occip ital portion of the head." If I were not fearful of being termed ungallant, I should be tempted to offer a fresh derivation for the name of this ancient town. Shrewsbury, or the town of Shrews, is a fit place to preserve as a relic of its derivation, a bridle of this kind! It may have been used for the " taming of the shrews," and bring ing the ladies of Shrewsbury to their present quiet and happy state! At Bolton-le-Moors even, within memory, a bridle was used as a punishment for pros titutes. The bridle was fixed in their mouths and tied at the back of their heads with gay ribbons, and thus the frail ones were paraded from the cross to the church-steps and back

again, by the parish beadles. In the same county, examples are known at Holme, and at Warrington, where a remarkably fine specimen was formerly in the possession of Dr. Kendrick, who presented it to Mr. Mayer,

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in whose museum it is still preserved. It is erroneously stated in Mr. Brushfield's paper to have been formerly in Knutsford Gaol. At Manchester, too, one has been in use until late years. For a sketch of this I am indebted to Mr. T. N. Brushfield, of Chester, and also for the one formerly used in Ken dal workhouse. The Manchester example is of very similar form to the Chesterfield one, and is curious as being wrapped round with colored ribbons and papers, and hav ing a bunch of ribbons at the top. The Kendal brank is curious as having two hoops, the lower one joining the nosepiece, and passing round the cheeks, while

the knife, or plate, is a continuation of the nose-piece bent inwards. Of the following Cheshire examples, an excellent account has been given by Mr. Brushfield, in a paper read by him before the Historic Society of Chester, and printed in its transactions. At Altrincham, the brank is a rudely constructed hoop and band, fastening with a loop and ring behind; the gag being a plain flat piece of iron. It is said that the instrument was used on an in corrigible virago within forty years and that as she refused to walk through the streets, she was placed in a barrow and wheeled through the town. At Macclesfield, one is preserved in the Town Hall, where it hangs surrounded by other implements of a similar character. It has a single loop and band; the plate is turned down at the end, and the chain is fastened behind. It, too, has been used "within memory," and the authorities are still supposed to possess the power of order ing its infliction. In the inventory of articles