A scold's bridle, sometimes called a witch's bridle, a gossip's bridle, a brank's bridle, or simply branks,[1] was an instrument of punishment, as a form of public humiliation.[2] It was an iron muzzle in an iron framework that enclosed the head (although some bridles were masks that depicted suffering). A bridle-bit (or curb-plate), about 2 in × 1 in (5.1 cm × 2.5 cm) in size, was slid into the mouth and pressed down on top of the tongue, often with a spike on the tongue, as a compress. It functioned to silence the wearer from speaking entirely, and caused extreme pain and physiological trauma to scare and intimidate the wearer into submission. The scold's bridle was overwhelmingly used on women, often at the request of husbands or other family members.[3] This prevented speaking and resulted in many unpleasant side effects for the wearer, including excessive salivation and fatigue in the mouth. For extra humiliation, a bell could also be attached to draw in crowds. The wearer was then led around town by a leash.[citation needed]
A branked scold in Colonial New England, from a lithograph in A Brief History of the United States by Joel Dorman Steele and Esther Baker Steele from 1885
First recorded in Scotland in 1567, the branks were also used in England and its colonies. The kirk-sessions and barony courts in Scotland inflicted the contraption mostly on female transgressors and women considered to be rude, nags or common scolds.[4][5]
Branking (in Scotland and the North of England)[6][7][8][1] was designed as a mirror punishment for shrews or scolds—women of the lower classes whose speech was deemed "riotous" or "troublesome"[9]—by preventing them from speaking. This also gives it its other name, 'The Gossip's Bridle'.
It was also used as corporal punishment for other offences, notably on female workhouse inmates. The person to be punished was placed in a public place for additional humiliation and sometimes beaten.[10] The Lanark Burgh Records record a typical example of the punishment being used: "Iff evir the said Elizabeth salbe fund [shall be found] scolding or railling … scho salbe sett [she shall sit] upone the trone in the brankis and be banishit [banished of] the toun thaireftir [thereafter]" (1653 Lanark B. Rec. 151).
Though primarily used on women, the Burgh Records of Scotland's major towns reveal that the branks were at times used on men as well: "Patrick Pratt sall sit … bound to the croce [cross] of this burgh, in the brankis lockit [branks lockèd]" (1591 Aberd. B Rec. II. 71) / "He shall be put in the branks be the space of xxiiij houres thairafter" (1559 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 19).
When the branks was placed on the "gossiper's" head, they could be led through town to show that they had committed an offence or scolded too often. This was intended to humiliate them into "repenting" their "riotous" actions. A spike inside the gag prevented any talking since any movement of the mouth could cause a severe piercing of the tongue.[6] When wearing the device, it was impossible for the person either to eat or speak.[11] Other branks included an adjustable gag with a sharp edge, causing any movement of the mouth to result in laceration of the tongue.
In Scotland, branks could also be permanently displayed in public by attaching them, for example, to the town cross, tron or tolbooth. Then, the ritual humiliation would take place, with the miscreant on public show. Displaying the branks in public was intended to remind the populace of the consequences of any rash action or slander. Whether the person was paraded or simply taken to the point of punishment, the process of humiliation and expected repentance was the same. Time spent in the bridle was normally allocated by the kirk session, in Scotland, or a local magistrate.[11]
Quaker women were sometimes punished with the branks by the non-Quaker authorities for preaching their religious doctrine in public places.[12]
Jougs were similar in their effect to a pillory, but did not restrain the sufferer from speaking. They were generally used in both England and Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries.[6]
The New World
The scold's bridle did not see much use in the New World, though Olaudah Equiano recorded that it was commonly used to control Virginia slaves in the mid-18th century.
Escrava Anastacia ("Anastacia the female slave") is a Brazilian folk saint said to have died from wearing a punitive iron muzzle.
Historical examples
Scotland
In 1567, Bessie Tailiefeir (pronounced Telfer) allegedly slandered Baillie Thomas Hunter in Edinburgh, saying that he was using false measures. She was sentenced to be "brankit" and fixed to the cross for one hour.[13]
England
Two bridles were bought for use by the magistrates of Walsall in the 17th century, but it is not clear what happened to them or even whether they were ever used.[6]
In Walton on Thames, Surrey, a replica of a scold's bridle that was stolen in 1965, dated to 1633, is in a dedicated cabinet in the vestry of the church, with the inscription "Chester presents Walton with a bridle, To curb women's tongues that talk too idle." Oral tradition is this Chester lost a fortune due to a woman's gossip, and presented the instrument of restraint or torture out of anger and spite.[14][15] The church states it came to the parish in 1723 from Chester.[14]
Mediæval London (1906) named six instances "of branks preserved, I believe, to this day ... at Worcester, Ludlow, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Oxford, Shrewsbury ... Lichfield ... and many other places".[15]
^Chambers, Robert (1859-1861). Domestic Annals of Scotland. Edinburgh : W & R Chambers. p. 90.
^Domestic annals of Scotland, from the reformation ... v.0001. - Full View | HathiTrust Digital Library | HathiTrust Digital Library. Babel.hathitrust.org. 2010-04-29. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
^"Victorian workhouse punishments - the scold's bridle". history.powys.org.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
^Chambers, Robert (1885). Domestic Annals of Scotland. Eddinburgh : W & R Chambers. p. 37.
^ ab"Tour of St Mary's Church". Walton Parish. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
^ abMediæval London Sir Walter Besant: Adam & Charles Black, London; 1906 Vol.1 pp356-357 archive of section
External links
Media related to Scold's bridles at Wikimedia Commons
Bygone Punishments of Scotland by William Andrews 1899 on electricscotland
January 07, 2023
scold, bridle, scold, bridle, sometimes, called, witch, bridle, gossip, bridle, brank, bridle, simply, branks, instrument, punishment, form, public, humiliation, iron, muzzle, iron, framework, that, enclosed, head, although, some, bridles, were, masks, that, d. A scold s bridle sometimes called a witch s bridle a gossip s bridle a brank s bridle or simply branks 1 was an instrument of punishment as a form of public humiliation 2 It was an iron muzzle in an iron framework that enclosed the head although some bridles were masks that depicted suffering A bridle bit or curb plate about 2 in 1 in 5 1 cm 2 5 cm in size was slid into the mouth and pressed down on top of the tongue often with a spike on the tongue as a compress It functioned to silence the wearer from speaking entirely and caused extreme pain and physiological trauma to scare and intimidate the wearer into submission The scold s bridle was overwhelmingly used on women often at the request of husbands or other family members 3 This prevented speaking and resulted in many unpleasant side effects for the wearer including excessive salivation and fatigue in the mouth For extra humiliation a bell could also be attached to draw in crowds The wearer was then led around town by a leash citation needed A branked scold in Colonial New England from a lithograph in A Brief History of the United States by Joel Dorman Steele and Esther Baker Steele from 1885 18th century scold s bridle in the Markisches Museum Berlin 16th century Scottish branks Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Glasgow Scotland A scold s bridle having a hinged iron framework to enclose the head and a bit or gag to fit into the mouth and compress the tongue The Bishop s branks of St Andrews 17th century Dunfermline branks Contents 1 Origin and purpose 1 1 England and Scotland 1 2 The New World 2 Historical examples 3 In fiction 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksOrigin and purpose EditEngland and Scotland Edit First recorded in Scotland in 1567 the branks were also used in England and its colonies The kirk sessions and barony courts in Scotland inflicted the contraption mostly on female transgressors and women considered to be rude nags or common scolds 4 5 Branking in Scotland and the North of England 6 7 8 1 was designed as a mirror punishment for shrews or scolds women of the lower classes whose speech was deemed riotous or troublesome 9 by preventing them from speaking This also gives it its other name The Gossip s Bridle It was also used as corporal punishment for other offences notably on female workhouse inmates The person to be punished was placed in a public place for additional humiliation and sometimes beaten 10 The Lanark Burgh Records record a typical example of the punishment being used Iff evir the said Elizabeth salbe fund shall be found scolding or railling scho salbe sett she shall sit upone the trone in the brankis and be banishit banished of the toun thaireftir thereafter 1653 Lanark B Rec 151 Though primarily used on women the Burgh Records of Scotland s major towns reveal that the branks were at times used on men as well Patrick Pratt sall sit bound to the croce cross of this burgh in the brankis lockit branks locked 1591 Aberd B Rec II 71 He shall be put in the branks be the space of xxiiij houres thairafter 1559 c 1650 Dundee B Laws 19 When the branks was placed on the gossiper s head they could be led through town to show that they had committed an offence or scolded too often This was intended to humiliate them into repenting their riotous actions A spike inside the gag prevented any talking since any movement of the mouth could cause a severe piercing of the tongue 6 When wearing the device it was impossible for the person either to eat or speak 11 Other branks included an adjustable gag with a sharp edge causing any movement of the mouth to result in laceration of the tongue In Scotland branks could also be permanently displayed in public by attaching them for example to the town cross tron or tolbooth Then the ritual humiliation would take place with the miscreant on public show Displaying the branks in public was intended to remind the populace of the consequences of any rash action or slander Whether the person was paraded or simply taken to the point of punishment the process of humiliation and expected repentance was the same Time spent in the bridle was normally allocated by the kirk session in Scotland or a local magistrate 11 Quaker women were sometimes punished with the branks by the non Quaker authorities for preaching their religious doctrine in public places 12 Jougs were similar in their effect to a pillory but did not restrain the sufferer from speaking They were generally used in both England and Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries 6 The New World Edit The scold s bridle did not see much use in the New World though Olaudah Equiano recorded that it was commonly used to control Virginia slaves in the mid 18th century Escrava Anastacia Anastacia the female slave is a Brazilian folk saint said to have died from wearing a punitive iron muzzle Historical examples EditScotlandIn 1567 Bessie Tailiefeir pronounced Telfer allegedly slandered Baillie Thomas Hunter in Edinburgh saying that he was using false measures She was sentenced to be brankit and fixed to the cross for one hour 13 EnglandTwo bridles were bought for use by the magistrates of Walsall in the 17th century but it is not clear what happened to them or even whether they were ever used 6 In Walton on Thames Surrey a replica of a scold s bridle that was stolen in 1965 dated to 1633 is in a dedicated cabinet in the vestry of the church with the inscription Chester presents Walton with a bridle To curb women s tongues that talk too idle Oral tradition is this Chester lost a fortune due to a woman s gossip and presented the instrument of restraint or torture out of anger and spite 14 15 The church states it came to the parish in 1723 from Chester 14 Mediaeval London 1906 named six instances of branks preserved I believe to this day at Worcester Ludlow Newcastle under Lyme Oxford Shrewsbury Lichfield and many other places 15 As late as 1856 such an item was used at Bolton le Moors Lancashire 5 In fiction EditThe Scold s Bridle is the title of a novel by Minette Walters where a scold s bridle is a key element in the plot See also EditJougs Shrew s fiddle Stool of repentance Slave iron bitReferences Edit a b Dictionary of the Scots Language SND branks n1 Dsl ac uk Retrieved 2020 04 04 Definition of branks Free Dictionary Retrieved 7 August 2012 Scolds Bridle National Education Network U K Retrieved 7 August 2012 Scolds Bridle NEN Gallery Retrieved 27 April 2018 a b Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Branks Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 4 11th ed Cambridge University Press pp 430 431 a b c d http www walsall gov uk museum history talk sheds light on the scold s bridle htm dead link Chambers Robert 1859 1861 Domestic Annals of Scotland Edinburgh W amp R Chambers p 90 Domestic annals of Scotland from the reformation v 0001 Full View HathiTrust Digital Library HathiTrust Digital Library Babel hathitrust org 2010 04 29 Retrieved 2020 04 04 Victorian workhouse punishments the scold s bridle history powys org uk Retrieved 27 April 2018 occasional hell infernal device Branks www occasionalhell com Retrieved 27 April 2018 a b Scold s bridle Germany 1550 1800 www sciencemuseum org uk Retrieved 27 April 2018 Quakers Retrieved 27 April 2018 Chambers Robert 1885 Domestic Annals of Scotland Eddinburgh W amp R Chambers p 37 a b Tour of St Mary s Church Walton Parish Retrieved 2020 04 04 a b Mediaeval London Sir Walter Besant Adam amp Charles Black London 1906 Vol 1 pp356 357 archive of sectionExternal links Edit Media related to Scold s bridles at Wikimedia Commons Bygone Punishments of Scotland by William Andrews 1899 on electricscotland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Scold 27s bridle amp oldid 1109300261, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
