The Cat o' Nine Tails at Mansfield

An incident from 1780

A parchment deed dated 8th March 1780* lists the case of a labourer, as being in custody at the county gaol at Nottingham, having been convicted of Petit Larceny.

"Convicted at the Session of the Peace held.... at the Town of Nottingham.... of Petit Larceny and was ordered by the Court to be taken by the Keeper of the Common Gaol of this County or his lawful deputy to the Town of Mansfield in this County on the next Market Day to be stript down naked to the Waist and to be whipt with a Cat of nine tails by one of them till his Body be Bloody through the principal Part of the said Town at Twelve o' Clock at noon and then to be Discharged on paying his Fees which to the Clerk of the Peace are £1. 4. 4"

* Quoted by J.T. Godfrey in his "Manuscripts Relating to the County of Nottingham in the possession of Mr James Ward" (London: Henry Sothern & Co., 1900)