In art iconography a tulip generally represents one of two things – great wealth or forlorn/unrequited love. To begin with, it is almost certain that the small flower pictured next to the word ‘kissing’ is supposed to represent a tulip. Until the documents relating to John Bailey are discovered all of the following is supposition, but it is possible that the key to understanding this piece of graffiti lies, not only in the text, but in the iconography and an understanding of Georgian slang. A much more likely explanation is to be found in the possibility that Bailey has been kissing someone who, in an eighteenth-century legal sense, he should not have been kissing – namely, another man. This seems improbable as one would have perhaps expected a more overt reference in the graffiti to this kind of unfairness. Another possibility is social snobbery Bailey, ‘a lowly musician’ (if such he was) may have been having a relationship with a woman of higher social-standing – having been found out he was thrown into prison on some trumped-up charge. If one accepts this, however, we would be left wondering why he would want to immortalize such an accusation in stone. Another possibility is that he was the subject of a prosecution for assaulting (or worse) a woman – here, therefore, he may be stating his defence, ‘he only wanted a ‘ kiss’. If every person who did so was subsequently committed for trial, all the prisons in the country would have been overflowing with such ‘felons’.
#Cassells dictionary of slang trial
To begin with, it is most unlikely that he has been sent to trial simply for kissing his wife or girlfriend in public. The reference to ‘kissing’ is most important as this is the ‘crime’ for which he tells us he has been committed. Despite knowing nothing about Bailey, however, he has left us a very clear indication of his alleged crime. It is more likely that the two smaller letters are either intended as Brindle’s initials (probably unlikely), or that they refer to some office that he held readers in 1741 would have understood such abbreviations more than we do now. The possibility that the word should be read as ’Brindlers’ (noting the small ’rs’ after ’Brindle) should not be ruled out, but if this were the case one would be left wondering why Bailey took such a shortcut with only these two letters. He is, however, awaiting his trial – ‘committed’ in this instance means ‘committed for trial’ the person who committed him, Brindle, likewise remains unidentified. Sadly, John Bailey is as yet unknown and the trial records for the period of his incarceration are undiscovered. In terms of its execution, the piece is remarkably well-carved and must have taken some considerable time to complete. The violin is also accurately drawn, pointing to the conclusion that Bailey was familiar with the instrument and perhaps a musician by profession. The first point to note is the level of literacy displayed – John Bailey was clearly a man of some education. Immediately adjacent to the text is a small picture of what appears to be a flower and a very large and well-executed violin.Īlthough almost completely unknown, this piece is not only an important example of Georgian graffiti, but may also be an historical and social document of some significance.
Iohn Bailey Commited Aprill: ye 15 th e 1741 by Brindle rs for Kissing Located on an upper floor of the John O’Gaunt Gatehouse, and carved into the sandstone wall of a narrow corridor, an inscription reads as follows: This blog, however, will concentrate on one particular piece which is located in a part of the castle not open to the public. Lancaster Castle has been a courthouse and prison since at least 1196 and Lancaster Castle, like many historic monuments, has its fair share of graffiti most has been left by prisoners, but other examples include pieces by gaolers and their families, craftsmen, spectators in the court’s public gallery, and even members of the 19 th century Grand Jury.
#Cassells dictionary of slang code
Uncovering the sexual code in eighteenth century graffiti.