Merchant, had the Honour of the Brand confer'd on him likewise: Jane
Clarke, William and John Green, convicted of several Petty Thefts and
Larcenies, are to travel for 7 years after the proper Officer has kiss'd
their Hand with a Red Hot Iron."

The foregoing list is drawn from the reports in the _Northampton
Mercury_, and in the same paper for August 1st, 1721, it is stated "The
following Persons were try'd at The Assizes held for The Town and County
of Northampton, on Tuesday, the 26th of this Instant. Isabella Chapman
and John Field were convicted of several Thefts and Larcenies. To be
burnt in The Hand and whipt; and afterwards to be transported for 7
years. Fielding's crime was stealing 12 sheep.... Isaac Emmerton, who
was committed on the 21st May last ... was burnt in The Hand."[33]

Branding in some instances appears to have been a mere farce. "When
Charles Moritz, a young German, visited England in 1782, he was much
surprised at this custom, and in his Diary he mentions that a clergyman
had fought a duel with another in Hyde Park, and killed the man; he was
found guilty of manslaughter, and was burnt in the hand, if that could
be called burning which was done with a cold iron."[33] Such cases as
this prepared the way for abolishing the custom, as cold irons for one
class, and hot irons for another, could not be tolerated.

It was customary to command criminals in the courts in the past century
to hold up their hands to prove if previous convictions had been passed
upon them.

FOOTNOTES:

[31] Andrews's "Literary Byways," 1898.

[32] Cox's "Three Centuries of Derbyshire Annals," 1888.

[33] Markham's "Ancient Punishments of Northamptonshire," 1886.

The Pillory.

In the history of our own and other European countries, the pillory may
be traced back to remote times, and its origin is almost lost in the
mists of antiquity. Its story is one of tragedy and comedy, and full of
historic interest and importance. In England, in bygone ages, the
pillory was a familiar object, and perhaps no engine of punishment was
more generally employed. Where there was a market, the pillory might be
seen, for if the local authorities neglected to have it ready for
immediate use, should occasion require it, they ran the risk of
forfeiting the right of holding a market, which was a most serious
matter in the olden time. Lords of Manors, in addition to having the
right of a pillory, usually had a ducking-stool and gal