By F. A. Carrington, Esq. 



39 



It is not stated in the catalogue of that collection, by whom it was 

 presented, or where it was previously used ; it is described as " a 

 Gag, or Brank, formerly used with the ducking-stool, as a punish- 

 ment for scolds." 1 In this instance, it will be observed that the chain 

 by which the offender was led is attached in front, immediately 

 over the nose, instead of the back of the head, the more usual 

 adjustment of the leading chain. For greater security, the 

 transverse band was in other examples prolonged, and attached to 

 the collar by a hinge or staple, as shown by the brank figured in 

 Plot's Staffordshire, and those existing at Macclesfield, Newcastle 

 under Lyme, and Walton on Thames. A very grotesque variety 

 was exhibited by the late Colonel Jarvis, of Doddington Park, 

 Lincolnshire, in the Museum formed during the meeting of the 

 Institute at Lincoln. It has an iron mask entirely covering the 

 face, with apertures for the eyes and nostrils, the plate being 

 hammered out to fit the nose, and a long conical peak affixed 

 before the mouth, bearing some resemblance to the peculiar long- 

 snouted visor of the bascinets occasionally worn in the time of 

 Richard II. (See Woodcut). No account of the previous history 

 of this singular object could be obtained. 



A brank, actually in the possession of Dr. Kendriek, of War- 

 rington, is figured in the Proceedings of the Historic Society of 



Lancashire and Che- 

 shire, session ii. p. 25, 

 plate 5. A cross is 

 affixed to the band 

 which passed over the 

 head, and a curved 

 piece on either side 

 clipped the crown of 

 the head, and kept the 

 brank more firmly in 

 position. In other 

 examples we find in 



Brank at Doddington Park , Lincolnshire. 



1 Catalogue of the Aslimolean Museum, Miscellaneous Curiosities, No. 517, 

 p. 148. 



