The Cock-Lane Ghost was a hoax conducted by William Parsons, his wife, daughter and a female ventriloquist during 1760 and 1761 at number 33 Cock- lane, London. In the house, unaccountable noises were heard and a number of persons declared to have seen a ghost. To spite a previous lodger, Kemt, the owner of the house claimed the ghost was a lady poisoned by Kemt. The truth was discovered and the parents were condemned to the pillory and two years imprisonment in 1762. Research Cock-Lane Ghost
A pillory was originally a post that was erected at crossroads by the lord of the manor and bearing his arms upon it as a mark of his territory. Later, pillories sometimes had a collar fixed to them by which criminals could be secured, later still the pillory became a 'T' shaped frame that was erected in a public place, with holes for the head and arms, in which malefactors were displayed to the public. The pillory was a form of torture, the victim usually being denied food or drink for the duration of their sentence, and often subject to having rotten fruits and vegetables thrown at them by passers-by. The pillory was abolished for all offences with the exception of perjury in 1816, and was abolished for perjury in 1837. Prior to 1837 a perjurer could have his ears nailed to the pillory. Research Pillory
John Bastwick was an English physician and ecclesiastical controversialist. He was born in 1593 and died in 1654. He settled at Colchester, but instead of confining himself to his profession, entered keenly into theological controversy, and was condemned by the Star Chamber for his books against Prelacy: Elenchus Religionis Papisticse, Flagellum Pontificis, and The Letanie of Dr. J. Bastwick. With Prynne and Burton he was sentenced to lose his ears in the pillory, to pay a fine of 5000 pounds, and to be imprisoned for life. He was released by the Long Parliament, and entered London in triumph along with Prynne and Burton. He appears to have continued his controversies to the very last with the Independents and others. Research John Bastwick
John Lilburne was an English republican and leader of the Levellers. He was born in 1614 at Greenwich and died in 1657. After apprenticing to a cloth merchant he joined the subversive opposition to Charles I's personal rule, helping to smuggle in pamphlets from the Netherlands and distribute them. He was caught, fined, whipped, pilloried and imprisoned - while in the pillory he preached against Charles I until he was gagged. He remained in prison until the Long parliament freed him in 1640. On the outbreak of the English Civil War he was made a captain in the Parliamentarian army, rising to the rank of lieutenantcolonel before resigning in 1645. He continued to protest on matters and was continually being arrested and acquitted by juries sympathetic to him before again being imprisoned and being released in 1655 after offering security for his good behaviour. Research John Lilburne
Engrossing, forestalling and regratting are terms formerly in use for the putchase of corn or other commodoties in order to sell gain at a higher price, or in order to raise the market price of the same. These practices were once regarded as criminal, and positive statutes against them were passed in England in 1266-67, in 1350-52, in 1552, in 1562, and in 1570. The offence of engrossing was described by the statute of Edward III. as the 'getting into one's possession, or buying up, large quantities of corn, or other dead victuals, with intent to sell them again; forestalling, as the ' buying or contracting for any cattle, merchandise, or victual, coming in the way to the market, or dissuading persons from bringing their goods or provisions there, or persuading them to enhance the price when there'; and regretting, ' the buying of corn or other dead victual in any market and selling it again in the same market, or within 4 miles of the place'. By the statute of Edward VI the engrossing of corn, which included the buying of it in one market to sell it in another, was made punishable by imprisonment and pillory; and no one could carry corn from one part of the kingdom to another without a license. All the positive statutes against these offences were repealed in 1772, but they were still found to be punishable by common law, and it was not until 1844 that they entirely ceased to rank among offences. However, the financial crisis of 2009 revealed that similar practices were being employed in the buying of stocks and shares, and the debate over legality once more emerged. Research Engrossing
Babes in the Wood was old slang for simple, trusting, gullible people.
Babes in the wood was old slang for men in the stocks or pillory. Research Babes in the Wood
Abbreviations
Research Cock-Lane Ghost
