St Bartholomews tawse
Last updated | 14/09/2010
This whip is known as St Bartholomew’s Tawse. St
Bartholomew was the patron saint of the Glover trade in Perth. He
was one of the Apostles of Christ, martyred by having his skin
flayed with a leather fleshing knife. The tawse has a wooden handle
and five leather tails, each with a sting in it – a knot at
the end. It was used by the glover Incorporation to punish its
members and apprentices. Occasionally the town council borrowed the
tawse to administer punishment to guilty townsfolk.
The Glover Incorporation of Perth was formed in the medieval
period. It protected the trades of skinners and glove makers. In
effect it was a closed shop and tradesmen could only practice their
craft in the town if they were appointed Freemen of the
Incorporation. It also protected its members and their families,
both physically and morally. It members were expected to be honest,
upright and God-fearing.
