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 Scolds; and how they Cured them. head is decorated with a cross, with two side pieces to fit against the head, and hold the brank in situ. At Stockport, one is preserved which is perfectly unique both in form and in cruelty — in the latter particular approach ing pretty closely to the Witches' Bridle, before described. It is of very light con struction, differing in this respect from all

the other instances enumerated; the ascend ing nasal band terminates at the crown, and is strengthened by two lateral ones. The ex traordinary part of the instrument, however, is the gag, which commences flat at the hoop and terminates in a bulbous extremity, which is covered with iron pins, nine in number, there being three on the upper surface, three on the lower, and three pointing backwards; and it is scarcely possible to affix it in its destined position without wounding the tongue. To make matters still worse, the chain (which yet remains attached, and, to gether with a leathern thong added to lengthen it, measures two feet) is connected to the hoop at the fore part, as if to/»//the wearer of the bridle along on her unwilling tour of the streets; for it is very apparent that any motion of the gag must have lacer ated the mouth very severely." There was formerly another brank at the workhouse at Stockport, which was sold as old iron.

477

In the city of Chester, itself, are no less than four examples at the present day. One of these is in the possession of Mr. Noyes, another is at the House of Industry, a third is in the City Gaol, where are also a curious pair of torture gloves, and the fourth is in the Water Tower museum. It is worthy of re mark that the knives of all these are rasped, or roughed up into points, two of them being also similarly formed on the edges, so that they must have been extremely painful. Drayton, speaking of the Cheshire people, says, " they of all England do to ancient cus toms most cleave"; and it would seem from the memorandums of the great number of branks still remaining, and from the forego ing instances of the late use of them, that this character is a pretty correct one. My late friend, Mr. Carrington, to whom allusion has been made, relates that at a time when a brank was exhibited at a temporary museum, its singular form attracted the at tention of some ladies who were present. He asked them if they knew what it was, when one of them replied, "I suppose it is to be put on the nose of vicious horses, who are addicted to biting"; and, he adds, he was obliged to explain the ungallant reality! Much more might be written about branks, but perhaps enough has been said to show

the mode of use of the fiendish instruments of which the Chesterfield example is one of the most harmless varieties. I cannot, how ever, resist the temptation, before closing