P. T.
PAPERS OF PERJURY.
(Vol. ii., pp. 182. 316.)
Your correspondent S. R. will find that in Ireland, as well as in England, the custom prevailed, during the reign of Elizabeth, of inflicting a punishment for various crimes, by the public exposure of the delinquents with papers about their heads. The following "sentence" for adultery, which has been transcribed from the Book of the Commissioners of Ecclesiastical Causes (deposited amongst the records of the Court of Exchequer in Ireland, 1570-1574, p. 22.), goes so fully into detail, that it may supply to S. R. the graphic account which he requires:—
"First, that he (Henry Hunchcliffe) shall not come into, nor kepe, nor use the company of Constance Kyng hereafter, and shalbe bounde to the same effecte in a bond of recognizance of a 100l., otherwise to be committed to prison; there to be kept in such sort that neyther he to hir, nor she to him, shall have access in anywise. Secondlie, that upon Saterdaie next enseweing at ix of the clocke in the mornyng, he, the said Eyland, alias Hunchcliffe, shall come unto the crosse in the highe strete of Dublin, having on a white shete from his sholders downe to the ground, rounde aboute him, and a paper about his head whereupon shalbe written for adultery leavyng his wife in England alyve and marryeng wth an other here, and a white wande in his hand, and then and there goe up unto the highest staire of the crosse, and there sitte duryng all the time of the markette untill yt be ended; and furder decreed that Constance Kyng shall not hereafter in anywise resort or have accesse unto him, or kepe him company, and to performe the same they toke hir othe wch she gave upon the holie evangelists; and furder, after yt Hunchcliffe hath done his penance as above they decreed he shold goe to prison againe, there to remayne and abide untill yt shall please the commissioners to take furder order in this cause."
The book contains other entries of a similar kind.
J. F. F.
Dublin.
Replies to Minor Queries.
Rev. Thomas Adams, D.D. (Vol. v., p. 80.).
—In addition to the sermons enumerated, I possess two more in small quarto:—1. "Preached at the triennial visitation of the R. R. father in God, the Lord Bishop of London, in Christchurch: text, 15 Actes 36: London, 1625." 2. "The holy choice. at the chappell by Guildhall, at the solemnitie of the election of the Rt. Honble the Lord Maior of London: text, 1 Actes 24. 1625."