1572, The making of the cucking-stool 8 0 Iron work for the same 3 0 Timber for the same 7 6 Three brasses for the same, and three wheels 4 10 ----------- L1 3 4 At Marlborough, in 1625, a man had 4_d._ for his help at the cucking of Joan Neal. _Gravesend._ 1636, The porters for ducking of Goodwife Campion 2 0 Two porters for laying up the ducking-stool 0 8 [Illustration: The Brank.] The Brank, for taming shrews, was preferred to the cucking-stool in some counties, and was used there for the same purpose. The brank was in favour in the northern counties, and in Worcestershire, though there were, notwithstanding, some of the other instruments of punishment used, called in that county gum-stools. The brank was put over the head, and was fastened with a padlock. There are entries at Worcester about mending the "scould's bridle and cords for the same." The cucking-stool not only endangered the health of the party, but also gave the tongue liberty 'twixt every dip. The brank was put over the head, and was fastened with a padlock. [Illustration: The Tumbrel.] The tumbrel was a low-rolling cart or carriage (in law Latin, _tumberella_) which was used as a punishment of disgrace and infamy. Millers, when they stole corn, were chastised by the tumbrel. Persons were sometimes fastened with an iron chain to a tumbrel, and conveyed bareheaded with din and cry through the principal streets of towns. _Court of Hustings Book, 1581._ (_Lyme._) "The jury present that the tumbrel be repaired and maintained from time to time, according to the statute." In 1583, Mr. Mayor was to provide a tumbrel before All Saints Day, under a penalty of 10_s._ ANCIENT METHOD OF KEEPING A WASHING ACCOUNT. Shakerley Marmion, in his "Antiquary," says:-- "I must rev'rence and prefer the precedent Times before these, which consum'd their wits in Experiments; and 'twas a virtuous Emulation amongst them, that nothing Which, might profit posterity should perish." [Illustration: [++] Washing Tablet.] Without a full adherence to this dictum, we would nevertheless admit that we are indebted to the past for the germ of many of our most important discoveries. The ancient washing tablet, although of humble pretensions to notice, is yet a proof of the simple and effective means frequently adopted in olden times for the economy of time and materials.