It is stated in the "History of Wakefield Cathedral," by John W. Walker,
F.S.A., that "an old chain, leaded into the wall at the junction of the
north aisle with the tower in the interior of the church, is said to
have been used for the purpose of fastening up persons who disturbed the
service." This may be safely assumed that formerly the jougs were
affixed at the end of the chain.
[Illustration: THE JOUGS AT DUDDINGSTON.]
In the Museum of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Edinburgh, may
be seen the jougs of the old parish church of Clova, Forfarshire. About
a mile from Edinburgh is the charming hamlet of Duddingston, and at the
churchyard gate are the jougs, which form a curious link between the
ruder customs of bygone ages and the more refined life of modern times.
FOOTNOTES:
[35] Rogers's "Scotland, Social and Domestic."
The Stocks.
Stocks were used, at an early period, as a means of punishing breakers
of the law. The precise date when they were first employed in this
country is not known, but we may infer from early mediaeval illustrations
that the stocks were in general use amongst the Anglo-Saxons, for they
often figure in drawings of their public places. The picture we here
give is from the Harleian MSS., No. 65. The stocks were usually placed
by the side of the public road, at the entrance of a town. It will be
observed that two offenders are fastened to the columns of a public
building by means of a rope or chain. It has been suggested that it is a
court-house.
[Illustration: ANGLO-SAXON PUNISHMENTS.]
The "Cambridge Trinity College Psalter"--an illuminated
manuscript--presents some curious illustrations of the manners of the
earlier half of the twelfth century. We give a reproduction of one of
its quaint pictures. Two men are in the stocks; one, it will be seen, is
held by one leg only, and the other by both, and a couple of persons are
taunting them in their time of trouble.
[Illustration: TAUNTING PERSONS IN THE STOCKS.]
Stocks were not only used as a mode of punishment, but as means of
securing offenders. In bygone times, every vill of common right was
compelled to erect a pair of stocks at its own expense. The constable by
common law might place persons in the stocks to keep them in hold, but
not by way of punishment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account