51/44

The donor called this flail a 'Pygmy flail' but it was more commonly known as a 'Protestant flail' as this type of weapon was carried by many people during the Popish plot scare 1678-1681. They were used by gamekeepers as late as 1879. Some were jointed in three places with iron staples so that they acted like nutcrackers on the limbs of the opponent. The hand-stave is joined to the swingle by a leather thong, with the original thong having been replaced by curatorial staff. The hand-stave has a shouldered loop of wood attached to the head of the handle by an iron pin so it can swivel freely. The top of the handle is bound with iron to protect the wood.

1 cosh flail: wood [oak], metal [iron] and leather; good condition....The top of the handle is bound with iron to protect the wood.

MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/44 // NAME: FLAIL COSH // NEG NO.: 35/141, 35/1068 // STORAGE: P. Ex. [Permanent Exhibition] Hunting.', We recognise that this catalogue entry contains offensive terminology. The terminology exists within the original accession file and has been retained to inform users on viewpoints at the time. It in no way reflects the attitudes of the cataloguer or the University of Reading. For further information on the history of the term 'pygmy', see sources such as 'Civilizations of Africa: The History and Culture of the Mbuti (Pygmy)'.

Wood, oak, Metal, iron