The ducking stool was once used as a punishment for a nagging, gossipy women and here we see the Canterbury Ducking Stool. Rosie, in her blog The Ducking Stool writes: The Canterbury Ducking Stool is a remnant from the Medieval times. This is a chair that is suspended on a frame and hangs over the River Stour, next to the Old Weavers House. It was used in the middle ages as a form of retribution for three types of situations: Firstly it was used as a punishment for nagging wives. In those enlightened times, a man could pay for his nagging wife to be dipped into the river on the ducking stool and of course suffer a degree of public humiliation at the same time. Its unclear where the payment went, but clearly not to charitable causes. Secondly, it was used as a punishment and public embarrassment for cheating businessmen, who would be ducked into the water in front of a baying crowd and who would inevitably be forced to leave the city afterwards, their reputation in tatters. Lastly it was most famously used as a litmus test for witches and the way it worked was this: any woman accused of being a witch would be placed in the chair, and the chair would be swung out over the river and then submerged deep in the river for 2-3 minutes. After that time, the poor woman would be brought back to the surface. Now here is the test: if she survived this lengthy ducking then clearly she was a witch as she must have used her powers to survive the fatal dowsing. If so, she would be burned at the stake as a witch. If, however, the lady was dead after being submerged for 3 minutes, then clearly she was not a witch. Her family would receive an apology letter from the Church and could be given a Christian burial and have her soul recommended to God. Though easily the best outcome, it was death either way for anyone accused of witchcraft!
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 09:00:01 +0000
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