The brank
The brank ( also called scold's bridle, gossip's bridle,
hag's harness ) seems to be mostly been used on women. Reports suggest
it was in 1856 when this cruel and humiliating punishment was last used
on too-talkative women .This treatment was based upon the principle:
" Mulier tacet in ecclesia !"!"
(Women have to stay silent in church ... and elsewhere!)
In 1856 , a Lancashire woman, whose tongue had been working overtime was
led round the streets of Bolton in scold's bridle to suffer the jeers of
the townsfolk .
Branks were iron cages, hinged to enclose the head . Some resembled
iron masks , with holes for mouth , nose and eyes. Asses ears and
a huge pair of spectacles were also sometimes fixed to the mask to make
him look even more ridiculous . The victims mouth was clamped shut
by an iron band passing under the chin and a flat piece of iron projected
inside her mouth . This mouthpiece was sometimes armed with a short spike
. The whole contraption was fastened round the neck with a heavy padlock.
Branks were not only used to punish nagging wives. Any women found
guilty of malicious gossip and slander, abusive language or breaches of
the peace were silenced in this way.
The branks were also padlocked on women convicted of witchcraft
and condemned to die at the stake - but for a different reason . They prevented
the unfortunate creatures for screaming horrible curses on their tormentors.
Brank used on black slave girl
Although the branks were widely used until Victoria's reign, little mention
is found in official town records. The probable reason for this is that
city fathers could not deny the fact that use of the branks was not sanctioned
by law and was altogether illegal !
(Text by John Willie )
Ingolstadt (Germany) 17th century
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