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A few Notes on Ducking Stools. Of the Leicester example, the following particulars have been kindly supplied by my friend, W. M. Kelly, Esq., the borough auditor of that town, whose excellent work on the " Ancient Records of Leicester," contains a vast amount of interesting and valuable information. Mr. Kelly says: —
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"In the year 1602, we have a payment 'for the charges of the Cuckstool, the Carte, and the Stocks.' We learn by the same account that when the fair offender was punished by immer sion, the Cucking Stool was placed on or by the side of the West Bridge, as a payment was made for carrying it there. Charges occur at various periods ' for rope to draw the Kuckstoole — for iron worke used abowte ytt — for two staples for the Cuckstoole, etc' "A new Cuckstool was provided in 1646, and in the following year we again have — "' Item —Paid for making the Cookestoole,xvj, vjd.' Showing that more than one must have been in use at the same time. "In 165 1 Elizabeth Harris was charged be fore the Mayor with using abusive language towards the two daughters of Thomas Wigston, and with throwing water and dirt at them, for which she was ' adjudged to be put in the Cuck stoole, and be drawne from the Bare Crosse to John Wilson's dore.' "We also find the following accusation and punishment recorded in the Hall papers : — "'27th June, 1654, before Mr. Maior, Mr. Somerfeild. "' The Informacon of Mr. Thomas Goadbye against Ann Ramkin, widdow, sayeth as he was goeinge down Redcrosse streete, one Clarkes wife called him to her and shee tould him that one Ann Ramkin, widdow, did saye that the said Clarkes wife did pyne her husband in the Goale, and as they were talkinge together the said Ann Ramkin came to them and did use many raileinge words and called Mr. Goadbye knave, and did then saye that Clarke's wife did pyne her husband in the Goale. "' The said widow Ramkin sent home in the Cuckstoole then.' viij "On the same occasion a similar punishment xvj was awarded to Richard Pole's wife, who was xvj charged by the above-mentioned Ann Clarke with giving her many railing words, and asserting vj
"From the numerous references to the Cucking Stool in the ancient records of this borough, ' we have abundant proof that here, as well as in many other towns, the ladies were in former times very frequently subject to visitations of illtongue, and that their lords and masters were sufficiently ungallant to consider no remedy so effectual for preventing a recurrence of the dis order, as the cold-water cure, applied by means of the Cucking, or Ducking Stool. "So early as the reign of King Henry the Third, it is shown to have been in use here, al though it was not at that period restricted to the fair sex, for we learn, from the early regulations for the government of the town, contained in the 'Vellum Book' of the Corporation, that a brewer, breaking the assize of ale, was to be amerced for the first, second, and third offence, and for the fourth, without redemption, he was to suffer the judgment of the Cucking Stool (tumbrclluni). "The punishment was not always by immer sion, the offender being frequently exposed seated upon the Cucking Stool, during a certain period of time. Thus, at a Common Hall, held on the Thursday before St. Simon and St. Jude's day, 1467, it was ordered — "' That scoldes be punished by the mayor, on a Cuck-stool before their own door, and then carried to the four gates of the town.' "During the sixteenth and seventeenth cen turies, charges for making or repairing the Cuck ing Stool are of constant occurrence in the Chamberlains' Accounts. Thus we have — 1548. Item Paid to John Croft for making the Cookstoole 1552. Item — Paid for mendyng of the Cuckstole at tow tymes 1558. Item — Paid to Robert Crofts for makyng of the Duckstoole 1563. Item — For makinge the cuestoole. . Item — To Will"1 Yates for making pynes and bands for the same
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1566. Item — Paid to Robert Bvlbrough for certen wood and bords for the repairinge of the Coockstole Item — Paid to William Yates for ij longe iron pyns with collers for the same Coockstole Item — Paid for nails for the same Coockstole 1578. Item-— Paid for a new Cuckstoole. . .
