Notes About The Poem

Dunking Stool

Cucking-stools
A ballad, dating from about 1615, called "The Cucking of a Scold", illustrates the punishment inflicted to women whose behavior made them be identified as "a Scold"

Then was the Scold herself,
In a wheelbarrow brought,
Stripped naked to the smock,
As in that case she ought:
Neats tongues about her neck
Were hung in open show;
And thus unto the cucking stool
This famous scold did go

Dunking or Cucking Stools were used for women who “gossiped” 
last used in 1809
Stool of Repentance has a long HISTORY!
Will it make a comeback? Bite your tongues
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

Poem

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Andresen Avatar
April 25, 2023 at 11:59 AM
- A barbaric act, Anaya - Well written :) - hugs
Anaya Avatar
April 25, 2023 at 12:38 PM
Thank you, Sunshine! An article I picked up. Hugs back.
Rodrigues Avatar
April 24, 2023 at 5:11 PM
Wow! Scary the gossip and punishment!
Anaya Avatar
April 25, 2023 at 12:37 PM
Most didn't make it through the dunking's!
Bauer Avatar
April 24, 2023 at 12:12 PM
well done, anaya! it's amazing to me to learn of things like this that were so commonplace once upon a time...
Anaya Avatar
April 25, 2023 at 12:34 PM
Thank you, Ilene! Let's hope it doesn't make a come back.
Dietrich Avatar
April 24, 2023 at 10:31 AM
Hmmm did they have one for men? I highly doubt it. Interesting to know about!
Anaya Avatar
April 24, 2023 at 10:48 AM
Lol, yes, why stop at women, men also where punished-- by the Pillory or “stretch-neck” should be made strong enough to hold offenders without peril to their bodies. It was customary in the case of men sentenced.
Cunningham Avatar
April 24, 2023 at 10:16 AM
I wouldn't have liked to live in them times, barbaric. It was even worse for those suspected of witchcraft. Tom
Anaya Avatar
April 24, 2023 at 10:25 AM
Glad to see you are back from your travels to Greece, Tom. Let's just pray we don't get back those wretched ways when women had no rights!
Turner Avatar
April 24, 2023 at 10:04 AM
I think you both need to google "cucking". Not exactly the same meaning today. LOL
Turner Avatar
April 24, 2023 at 10:10 AM
im sure you can see whatever it is you want to see if you type in the right words. LOL
Anaya Avatar
April 24, 2023 at 10:09 AM
ok, will I get sexy pop-ups? I'm all in, lol
Fowler Avatar
April 24, 2023 at 9:37 AM
LOL Anaya. I've known some women who could have used a good cucking. Hopefully, it died out with overly protective men! :)
Anaya Avatar
April 24, 2023 at 9:42 AM
Bits of history one may find interesting, Linda. Let's hope it doesn't make a comeback, with going backwards, woman's rights gone, no more gossiping aloud! lol
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