Crosswords0 min ago
Corporal punishment
Years ago I read that Titus Oates survived 1000 lashes at the tail of a cart being drawn through London streets. Can anyone survive this ? Records of 'flogging around the fleet' perhaps ?
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In 1681 Oates was put into the pillory at the gate of Westminster Hall and passers-by pelted him with eggs. He was pilloried in London the next day and a third day stripped, tied to a cart and whipped from Aldgate to Newgate. The next day, the whipping resumed.
He spent the next 3 years in prison, so I presume he did surveive the whipping.
At a frontier fort punishment for what was considered as a serious breach of discipline might be dealt with with as many as 1000 lashes with a Cat O Nine tails! Surprisingly, the recipient of this punishment often survived! For the crime of drunkenness, a soldier might receive 200 lashes.
My greatgrandfather enlisted in the 7th Queens Own Hussars at Hounslow in 1846. A month before he joined, a Private Frederick White was given 150 lashes, as a result of which he died. My great grandfather was also flogged in 1850 for desertion, but only received 50 lashes. This caused him to desert again, and he remained at large until he died in 1902.
Private White's story can be read in 'The Strange Death of Private White' by Harry Hopkins.
Private White's story can be read in 'The Strange Death of Private White' by Harry Hopkins.
It does depend on the whip used, and the force applied. If a strong man whips a body with a 'cat o' nine tails' which can have piececs of sharp metal woven into the lashes, it will flay the body to the bone, and death from shock and blood loss follows. If however, a single strand whip, or even a cane is used, then nasty weals and some broken skin are the result, which usually lead to a recovery.
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