Anecdote.

Summary

“a certain Lord, who not long since indicted his cook maid at Ryegate assizes, for giving away a piece of beef” beats "a poor woman picking up sticks. . . ." Later, "this being made known in the neighbourhood, a young fellow borrowed the old woman's cloaths" and went to the earlier location where, when the Lord saw as he thought "the old woman daring to come again," he began to beat her, "but to his great astonishment and feeling, the seemingly old Lady turned about, and so belaboured his Lordship, that for some time he was obliged to keep his mansion, not caring the world should know that he had been soundly drubbed by an old woman." The anecdote records that when the Lord started beating the "young fellow" it was "according to his wishes"--shows m.p. providing his motive.

Full Title

5 May 1785. Anecdote. Times p. 3 c. C.

Publication

Full Record

Date

5 May 1785

Provisional Category

Practical Joker

Cross-dressing activity

Politics; Jest

Locations

RyegateView on map

Primary source topic

Dressed as a woman; Protest in disguise; Practical joke

Item format

News report; Anecdote

Motive

Justice; Jest

Discovery of cross-dressing

Voluntary

Attire

Female garb

Social rank

Lower class

Gender Manifestation

"soundly drubbed" (use of physical violence)

Stated Motive (Protagonist)

Yes

Sex Perceived by Others

Female