Chronicles of Newgate, Vol. 1: From the twelfth to the eighteenth centuryGriffiths, Arthur
History
Chronicles of Newgate, Vol. 1: From the twelfth to the eighteenth century
Griffiths, Arthur
Criminals -- Great Britain; Newgate (Prison : London, England); Prisons -- England; Punishment -- Great Britain
Interesting reference may also be made to the "Liber Albus" which
contains other ordinances against brawlers and loose livers. The
former, whether male or female, were taken to the pillory, carrying
a distaff dressed with flax and preceded by minstrels. The latter,
whether male, female, or clerics, were marched behind music to Newgate
and into the Tun in Cornhill.[23:1] Repeated offences were visited
with expulsion, and the culprits were compelled to forswear the city
for ever. The men on exposure had their heads and beards shaved, except
a fringe on their heads two inches in breadth; women who made the
penance in a hood of "rag" or striped cloth had their hair cut round
about their heads. Worse cases of both sexes were shaved, like "an
appealer," or false informer. The crime of riotous assembling was very
sharply dealt with, as appears from the proclamation made on the king's
(Edward III) departure for France. It was then ordained that "no one of
the city, of whatsoever condition he shall be, shall go out of the city
to maintain parties, such as taking leisure, or holding 'days of love'
(days of reconciliation between persons at variance), or making other
congregations within the city or without in disturbance of the peace of
our lord the king, or in affray of the people, and to the scandal of
the city." Any found guilty thereof were to be taken and put into the
prison of Newgate, and there retained for a year and a day; and if he
was a freeman of the city, he lost his freedom for ever.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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