The Merry Past 



Sir George Carey, after maturely deliberating on the 

 subject, came to Newport, and, finding their com- 

 plaints to be justly founded, caused the lawyer to be 

 brought to open trial ; and, upon evidence of his guilt, 

 sentenced him to undergo the " Burning Shame^^'^ and 

 be banished the island. The punishment of the 

 '' Burning Shame " was as follows : — 



A barrel was taken, with one of the bottoms out, 

 and, through the other, a hole made just big enough to 

 admit the head of the culprit. This barrel was put 

 over him, so as to bear on his shoulders and confine 

 his arms, but not so low as to impede the progress of 

 his limbs. 



On the outer side of the barrel was screwed a great 

 number of iron sockets, and in each socket a lighted 

 candle, with which the condemned was led, by two 

 conductors, to the North Bridge, amidst the rude 

 acclamations of the people, mingled with rough 

 music ; that is to say, the pig cutter's horn, the 

 horseshoe and brass kettle, marrow-bones and cleavers, 

 together with the frying-pan and the salt box. 



The lawyer was taken to the market-place of New- 

 port, in his " Burning Shame," and fixed in the most 

 conspicuous station ; there one of the elders of the 

 corporation called to the people to look upon him, 

 and then recapitulated the evils brought upon them 

 by his cunning. The exordium over the sentence of 

 banishment was read ; and, in the illuminated tub, 

 with bells at his knees, the lawyer was conducted to 

 the outer bridge that led to Cowes, and upon the 

 signal given by the horn-blowers, the hunt began, 



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