Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1875 — Wife-Beating in 1580. [ARTICLE]

Wife-Beating in 1580.

In these wife-beating days, when there are so many disputes about the remedy for the evil, it may be of interest to reprint Thomas Lipton’s cure as practiced in the Island of Mauqsun (Nusquam); and reported by Omen (Nemo) in the dialogue between him and Sivquila (Aliuqvis) m 1580. This wife-beater is brought before the Judge, who, after reproaching him, proceeds thus: “And because thou ha 3 followed Christes saying and the Kings commandment so wel (which is, Doe as you woulde be done onto), it is meete to do vnto thee as thou has done. Therefore, I decree and judge here, that as thou baste vsed thy wife, so shalte thou be vsed, that is, thou shalte betyed faste to a poste, and fonre of the stoutest wyues that dwell next unto tbee, and aye most angrye wyth tliee for gyuiug suche euell example to their husbands to vse them so, shal beate tliee wyth foure good cudgelles, vntil thou be as well beaten as thou haste beaten thy wyfe. And theys shall be done immediately in my presence, for I will not departe hence vntil I see this, my judgment, fully executed.” And then presently there was a poste sette vppe purposely therefore, and the cruell bvsband was faste tyed thereto,, and foure of the said stowtest wiues came with strong cudgelles, by the Rulers commandment, and did beate him lustily, that he cried out again. And one of the wiues said to him: “ Sirra, Do as you would be done vnto,” and therewith reaclit him Such a blow, that made him to shrinke; another of them saide: “If strokes be good for your wyfe, they are good for you,” and then she gaue him such a stroke that she made hyssidaake; the tliirde woman (not forgetting her turne) spake not so lowe but that one might lieare hir saying: “Is it good beating?” and then she reached him suche a remnant that he had a cause to remember hir; and the fourth woman, for feare of forgetting, so swinged him about the shoulders that he conned her little thank, saying: “As you like this, my friend, beate your wyfe againe.” And when the Ruler saw that he was thoroughly and wel beaten, he caused Rim to be lewsed from the poste, andsaidevnto him: “ Now go your wayes home, and see that you suffer the rest of cure judgment to be performed vntil you haue learned what is the duetie of a husband, and howe to behaue to your wyfe, and vse your wife; and I truste you will remember this lesson : ‘Doe as you woulde be done vnto.'" And then the Ruler departed, the beaten man sorrowed, al husbands feared, and the wiues much rejoiced; and 1 neuer heard since that any man in our country . did beate his wyfe. —Notes and Queries.