T LICHFIELD.]

Staffordshire supplies several notable examples of the brank. They were
formerly kept at Hamstall Ridware, Beaudesart, Lichfield, Walsall, and
at Newcastle-under-Lyme. The branks in the two towns last named are
alluded to by the celebrated Dr. Plot, the old historian of the county,
in an amusing manner. "We come to the arts that respect mankind," says
Plot, "amongst which, as elsewhere, the civility of precedence must be
allowed to the woman, and that as well in punishments as favours. For
the former, whereof they have such a peculiar artifice at Newcastle
[under Lyme] and Walsall for correcting of scolds, which it does, too,
so effectually and so very safely, that I look upon it as much to be
preferred to the cucking-stool, which not only endangers the health of
the party, but also gives her tongue liberty 'twixt every dip, to
neither of which is this at all liable, it being such a bridle for the
tongue as not only quite deprives them of speech, but brings shame for
the transgression, and humility thereupon, before 'tis taken off. Which,
being an instrument scarce heard of, much less seen, I have here
presented it to the reader's view [here follows a reference to a plate]
as it was taken from the original one, made of iron, at
Newcastle-under-Lyme, wherein the letter _a_ shows the jointed collar
that comes round the neck; _b_, _c_, the loops and staples to let it out
and in, according to the bigness and slenderness of the neck; _d_, the
jointed semicircle that comes over the head, made forked at one end to
let through the nose, and _e_, the plate-iron that is put into the
mouth and keeps down the tongue. Which, being put upon the offender by
order of the magistrate, and fastened with a padlock behind, she is led
through the town by an officer, to her shame, nor is it taken off until
after the party begins to show all external signs imaginable of
humiliation and amendment." This brank afterwards passed into the hands
of Mr. Joseph Mayer, F.S.A. founder of the Museum at Liverpool.

[Illustration: CHESTERFIELD BRANK.]

It is pleasing to record the fact that there is only trace of one brank
belonging to Derbyshire--a circumstance which speaks well for its men
and women. The latter have for a long period borne exemplary characters.
Philip Kinder, in the preface of his projected "History of Derbyshire,"
written about the middle of the seventeenth century, alludes to them.
"The country-women here," says Kinde