212 A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 



for the abfolute authority of the father 

 took away all power of refufal from the 

 daughter; and, if fhe difliked the lover 

 whom he had recommended, fhe had no 

 other refource, than the tears of entreaty, 

 or the dangers of flight.* 



The recompence to a virgin who had 

 been feduced was very fingular: On 

 complaint made, that fhe was deferted 

 by her lover, it was ordered by the 

 court, that {lie was to lay hold of the tail 

 of a bull of three years old, introduced 

 through a wicker door, and (haven and 

 well greafed. Two men were to goad 

 the beafl ; and, if fhe could, by dint of 

 ftrength, retain the bull, fhe was to have 

 _-}t by way of fatisfaclion ; but if not, fhe 

 got nothing but thegreafe that remained 

 in her hands. From this, and other pe- 

 nalties for the fame offence, I fear that 



* Whitakrr's Hiftory of Manchefter, II. 136. 



the 



