Shrew's fiddle

A fiddle (also pillory, Schandgeige, Spanish violin or Zankbrett called ) is a mostly wooden fetter that has been used in Europe in the Middle Ages. It surrounds the neck and wrists to the captivating person, with his hands behind each other in front of your body. The fiddle was usually built of two symmetrically arranged wooden parts. Rear was a hinge, front a snap. For restraining the fiddle was opened, the neck and the hands were placed in the appropriate position. Then, the fiddle was folded and sealed. At the neck of the violin is usually a chain or a rope was fastened, so that the bound person was led or tied. Rare was the fiddle made ​​of iron.

Sometimes the wrists were tied to the ankles, where the prisoner could be suspended in this position also at the ankle. Prisoners often had to endure for days in such bonds.

The fiddle was used to carry out honor penalties. The convicted person, the fiddle was folded, after which she was so out of the city or pilloried, so she was exposed to the ridicule of their fellow citizens and should be humiliated. The fiddle was used only for minor offenses, especially ( but not only) women and young girls were turned over them. Reason for the punishment for example, were squabbles (English: shrew 's fiddle ) or slight thefts.

A special form was the double - neck violin, in which two women were enrolled at the same time, who had quarreled with each other. The double - neck violin was designed so that had to confront face to face the two convicts.