chasity-belts-msg - 9/12/97

Chasity belts in the Middle Ages.

NOTE: See also the files: belts-msg, punishments-msg, jewelry-msg.

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NOTICE -

This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I  have 
collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date 
back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.

This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These 
files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

I  have done  a limited amount  of  editing. Messages having to do  with 
separate topics  were sometimes split into different files and sometimes 
extraneous information was removed. For instance, the  message IDs  were removed 
to save space and remove clutter.

The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make  
no claims  as  to the accuracy  of  the information  given  by the individual 
authors.

Please  respect the time  and  efforts of  those who have written  these 
messages. The  copyright status  of these messages  is  unclear  at this time. 
If  information  is  published  from  these  messages, please give credit to the 
originator(s).

Thank you,
    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous
                                          Stefan at florilegium.org
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Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
From: destry at netcom.com (Fellwalker)
Subject: Re: documenting chastity belts
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 1995 00:14:06 GMT

Peter Volk (qmpvolk at dingo.cc.uq.oz.au) wrote:
: I'm trying to assemble a paper on chastity belts - not your standard 
: bunch of titillating recycled myths and 500 year old jokes, but something 
: from reliable sources. So far I am having absolutely no luck whatsoever. 
: No major library or Museum in Australia seems to have anything they 
: consider to be reliable info on this subject. (Not too surprising. 
: Chastity never caught on down here :-)

: If anyone can recommend me a source or reference on this subject that 
: wasn't put together for a joke or as an exercise in erotica, I would be 
: very greatful. Failing this, if you can pass on any interesting bits of 
: info you have on this subject, perhaps I can salvage something from the 
: subject after all. (maybe I can call it "Collected gossip and rumour on 
: chastity belts...)

    I haven't seen the original source, but I know chastity belts are 
briefly mentioned in Le Seigneur de Brantome's (lives of Fair and Gallant 
Ladies) "Vies des dames gallants"  (late 1500's)
--Max
--  ...with rings on her fingers and bells on her toes... <destry at netcom.com>


Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: documenting chastity belts
From: amethysta at eric.stonemarche.org (Amethysta of Kensingto)
Date: Mon, 09 Jan 95 01:08:51 EST

David/Cariadoc writes:
> 
> 2. So far as I can determine, there are no medieval chastity belts
> surviving.
> 
> 3. So far as I could determine, the first reference to such a thing
> was fairly late in our period, in a German book--I would guess c.
> 1500.
> 
        There is a chastity belt at the Higgin's Armory in Mass. I don't 
remember if it was an actual medieval item or some kind of 
reconstruction. Can anyone from over that way help my memory?
        Amethysta


From: markh at risc.sps.mot.com (Mark Harris)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Chasity Belts
Date: 16 Apr 1995 18:21:25 -0500
Organization: Motorola, Inc. -- Austin,TX
Summary: A book on chasity belts.

Greetings to those wandering upon this bridge,

A while back there was a thread on chasity belts. At the time,
I mentioned I had a book on the subject but it took me a while to
uncover it. Anyway, here's the citation:

The Girdle of Chasity, A History of the Chasity Belt. by Dr. Erie
John Dingwall, ISBN 1-56619-031-2 Dorset Press 1992.

about 168 pages. It does include footnotes and photographs. Most
of the surviving devices appear to be late in period, but the author
details a number of contemporary reports many dating to earlier times.
A lot of the book deals with the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries as
well as medieval times.

Stefan li Rous
Barony of Bryn Gwlad
Ansteorra


Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
From: svanwie at davlin.net (Stonewall Van Wie III)
Subject: Re: wanted chastity belt
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 05:46:50 GMT
Organization: ABSnet Internet Services, Inc. - info at abs.net - (410)-361-8160

Blankenshield Armoury carries one in their catalogue.  It is modeled after one 
in the Henry VII collection.  They say it is a hot seller???????
----
Willem
Stonewall Van Wie III         svanwie at davlin.net
Office: (512) 886-1491
Home: (512) 985-2855          FAX:(512) 985-2855
SnailMail: 414 Monette Dr., Corpus Christi, TX 78412


Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: wanted chastity belt
From: amethysta at eric.stonemarche.org (Amethysta of Kensingto)
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 96 12:07:46 EST
Organization: ENTROPY

Melanie de la Tour wrote:

> On Tue, 16 Jan 1996, Conrad Leviston wrote:
> 
> > 	It was my understanding that chastity belts were the invention of a 
> > twisted mind whose only supporting evidence were eighteenth century fakes. 
> > Can somebody give me reliable sources if I am wrong. I got my information 
> > off a T.V. show on the Crusades by Terry Jones.
> > 
> 	Please, if anyone has a period reference, let us know.
> 
There is an example of a medieval chastity belt at the Higgin's Armory in 
Worchester, Mass. I seem to remember that they described it as being 
somthing akin to a joke gift, existing but not really used.
        Amethysta


From: ddfr at best.com (David Friedman)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: wanted chastity belt
Date: 22 Jan 1996 17:06:29 GMT
Organization: Best Internet Communications

As I think I posted the last time this issue came around, my memory, from
researching the question a few years back, is that there is a drawing of a
chastity belt in a German book within our period--maybe late fifteenth or
sixteenth century. Whether the object really existed I do not know. I have
never come across any references to it in medieval literature, which
suggests that if it existed it was uncommon.

David/Cariadoc
-- 
ddfr at best.com


From: nqf2312 at is2.nyu.edu (Norman J. Finkelshteyn)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: wanted chastity belt
Date: 23 Jan 1996 20:25:00 GMT
Organization: New York University

Elaine Ragland (er37 at columbia.edu) wrote:
: On Tue, 16 Jan 1996, Conrad Leviston wrote:

: > 	It was my understanding that chastity belts were the invention of a 
: > twisted mind whose only supporting evidence were eighteenth century fakes. 
: > Can somebody give me reliable sources if I am wrong. I got my information 
: > off a T.V. show on the Crusades by Terry Jones.

I saw that show, even bought the companion book. I don't remember that quote.

: 	Thank you.  I was hoping someone would point this out.  The 
: antique dealers I know confirm this.  All the extant chastity belts are 
: Victorian.  

That's not true (see below)

: 	Also, I don't recall ever seeing a reference to a chastity belt 
: anywhere in medieval literature.  I know that this is an argument from 
: silence, but there are medieval gynecological manuals, which would 
: certainly refer to such an object.
: 	Please, if anyone has a period reference, let us know.
: 				Melanie de la Tour

Michael Leitner, the master of Marcan Armoury (to whom I was aprenticed 
when he armoured at the Ren. Faire at Tuxedo NY), carried a replica of an 
existing 15-16 century piece.
In London, when I visited the "Clink" (the prison which spawned the slang 
word for all prisons) I saw a replica of the same original, done by the 
fellow who runs the Clink's museum (he bills himself as the only 
authentic armourer in England).

I'm sorry that I've forgotten which collection they both saw it in, but 
it does exist.

As to the person who posted originally, remember they were invented as, 
essentially devices of torture - devices to keep women servile and 
humble. To "Keep them in their place".
Hence, it's bloody unlikely that you can find one that's both comfotible 
and at all authentic.

Sides, it's pretty useless for giving more authenticity to gear since 
generally folks wont see it (unless its the obliging armourer, come to 
your bower to give you comfort while your husband's gone to war).

I personally recomend that you perfect your kit down to shoes and ribbons 
and get your camp perfect before you even look into this siliness.
(unless you are just doing it for kicks like another poster thought, then 
have fun).

Nahum


From: "ysabeau" <ysabeau at mail.interquest.de>
To: ansteorra at Ansteorra.ORG
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 07:38:08 +0000
Subject: Re: Condoms

> From:          Tim McDaniel <tmcd at crl.com>

> On Mon, 21 Jul 1997 galenbv at ix.netcom.com wrote:
> > So how about a compromise, and we have the chiurgeons stock up on
> > chastity belts?
> 
> 1) Do you have solid documentation of their existance, much less their
> use, in period?

Just visited the Kriminal Museum in Rothenburg  Ob Der Tauber and saw 
the real thing, with accompanying books declaring when (according to 
the law) they were to used as a discipline device for wayward wives 
or when there was the threat of rape. Further details available if 
you want. You should see what they did to bakers who baked their 
bread light! 

Ysabeau of Prague
Lisa Sawyer
Ysabeau at interquest.de
Baumholder,Germany

<the end>
Edited by Mark S. Harris	chasity-belts-msg