Hi! Thanks for the question.
I have found the following information about scolds girdle for you. I
will provide snippets from the articles mentioned so as to save you
time but I highly suggest that you read them in their entirety to get
a better understanding.
Our first link gives a good definition of the scolds girdle.
“Scolds Bridle~ An iron mask which covered the face except for eye and
nose holes. An inward protruding piece of iron in the mouth which
pressed against the tongue, preventing the person from being able to
speak.”
“Methods of Torture”
http://www.breakingyou.com/torture.html
In this document, it provides us with the proper perspective on when
and how the punishment was implemented during the early times.
“From Medieval times up to the beginning of the 19th century, one of
the implements used on women was the Scolds Bridle, a cage made of
iron which was placed over the head, which had a tongue shaped piece
or a spiked part placed over the tongue, presumably to stop it
wagging! This device was believed to have first been used in Scotland,
but then its use was widespread in Britain, and parts of Europe also
made use of it. A simpler but equally nasty device was used in the
USA, called a cleft stick.”
“The crime? Nagging, brawling with neighbours, generally having too
much to say, blaspheming, lying. Sometimes the Scolds Bridle was used
on men too, for the same offences. Apart from the intended humiliation
of having to wear one of these in public, the pain must have been
horrendous, often the victim’s mouth would bleed, and I wonder how
many people later died from infection”
“Early Justice System”
Author: Lynda Langford
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/united_kingdom_history/90091
If you want to take a look at a picture of a scolds bridle you can get
it through this link:
The Priest's Rooms 1320 – 1340
http://website.lineone.net/~hoskin/stmaryschurch/PriestsRooms/priestsrooms.htm
Our last website meanwhile has a very extensive commentary on the
scolds bridle. It was also known as the branks.
“The brank of scold's bridle was unknown in America in its English
shape: though from colonial records we learn that scolding women were
far too plentiful, and were gagged for that annoying and irritating
habit. The brank, sometimes call the gossip's bridle, or dame's
bridle, or scold's helm, was truly a "brydle for a curste queane." It
was a shocking instrument, a sort of iron cage, often of great weight;
when worn, covering the entire head; with a spiked or flat tongue of
iron to be placed in the mouth over the tongue. Hence if the offender
spoke she was cruelly hurt.”
“Over fifty branks of various shapes are now in existence in English
museums, churches, town halls, etc., and prove by their number and
wide extent of location, the prevalence of their employment as a means
of punishment.”
“By tradition this brank was angrily and insultingly given by a
gentleman named Chester, who through the lie of a gossiping woman of
Walton lost an expected fortune. One is on Congleton Town Hall which
was used as recently as 1824, upon a confirmed scold who had
especially abused some constables and church-wardens; and as late as
1858 a brank was produced in terrorem to silence an English scold, and
it is said with a marked and salutary effect. Several branks are still
in existence in Staffordshire.”
“Branks and Gags”
http://www.rm-r.net/~getch/punishments/curious/chapter-8.html
Search terms used:
"scolds bridle" England history women
I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
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Regards,
Easterangel-ga
Google Answers Researcher |
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