The Cucking Stool. 71 
Stool was an instrument of punishment for scolds, and unquiet 
women ; it seems to have been much in use formerly, as there are 
frequent entries of money paid for its repairs: this arbitrary 
attempt at laying an embargo upon the female tongue, has long 
been laid aside.” This Cucking Stool must have been a tumbrel 
like that at Wootton Basset, except in its having three wheels instead 
of two. 
The books of the Corporation of Gravesend, (quoted by Mr. 
Cruden, in his History of Gravesend, p. 268,) contain the following 
entries on the subject of Cucking Stools :— 
1628, Novem. 9.—Paid unto Mildman for mending the 
EASES UA) AS RES Re Re SEN SOO OPN Gon OF 0 7 0 
1629, Sept. 4.—Paid unto the Wheeler for timber for 
mendine the CuckimeiSwoln oc. \e vocals sees ase e 03 4 
1635, Oct. 23.—Paid for two Wheeles and Yeekes 
for tae Wrckine SOON sae Weel states care cole 0 3 6 
1636, January 7.—Paid the Porters for ducking of Good- 
Byitos- CATIONS estes Sere sole ae oe f.c, oi taca A 0 2 0 
1646, June 12.—Paid two Porters for laying up the 
ID} rTA she 931001) REAR B IEA SOE aE Ba: ace ee Neste 0 0 8 
1653, —Paid John Powell for mending the 
AHOkINE BU: Hori tee cee eee fechas os 0 6 0 
1680, —Paid Gattet for a proclamation, and 
for carrying the Ducking Stoole in market .......... 0, 1. 6” 
Mr. Cruden adds (Id. p. 270) this—“ the Ducking Stool or Cuck- 
ing Stool was placed upon wheels, and by the ministration of the 
Fellowship of Porters, was plunged with the occupant into the 
river, at an inclined plane called the Horse Wash, at the Town 
Quay, there being no other place so suitable for the operation within 
the town; and farther it appears that the porters were not only recom- 
pensed for giving the ducking, but also for restoring the machine to 
its place in the market.” This also must have been a tumbrel. 
Messrs. Manning and Bray, in their History of Surrey, vol. 1. 
p. 343, printed in 1804, in treating of Kingston-upon-Thames, say 
—‘“‘a new Cucking Stool was made in 1572, at the expense of 
£1. 3s. 4d. This machine was frequent in former times, but is now 
so wholly disused that it may require some explanation. It would 
seem that heretofore there were women who made so much use of 
