The appearance of the mask was symbolic enough. As was custom, it did not have a gag, and physically they did not harm their victim. There is documentary evidence of the torture of one Teylifeyr Bessie (1567, Edinburgh), was sentenced to the Gossiper’s Bridle and accused of libel and unfounded accusations of fraud.Īn interesting fact: There were more royal kinds of masks, intended for those who violated public order. The Germans added an iron bell to the design to draw attention to the gossiper, thus elevating its offensiveness. A very interesting example of the Scolder’s Bridle comes from the XVIII century, kept in the museum of Berlin in Brandenburg (Märkisches Museum in Berlin). That, in addition to showing spectators what the harsh consequences were for slander or rash behavior. As was such, it was exhibited in a public place in order to repent for inappropriate actions. Any attempts to open his mouth end with a pierced tongue.
The one inside the mask is unable to partake in food or drink. The front part comes with a metal gag with spikes. The Bridle is a mental structure that is fixed onto the head of its victim.
Centuries later, the mask was used in forced labor camps to publicly humiliate female prisoners. For this reason, the instrument received its second name, The Gossiping Girl’s Bridle. In those times the punishment was quite common and used mainly on women or especially grumpy individuals, those convicted of witchcraft or violent behavior. The first mention of this device is a reference made of torture in 1567. The “Mash of Shame” (Scolder’s Bridle) – a tool of torture, invented in Britain at the end of the XVI century.
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