I knew that was not a place for me: wherefore, following my
direction and the winding of the stairs, I went up a storey higher,
which brought me into a room which I soon perceived to be a court-
room or place of judicature. After I had stood a while there, and
taken a view of it, observing a door on the farther side, I went to
it, and opened it, with intention to go in, but I quickly drew back,
being almost affrighted at the dismalness of the place; for besides
that the walls quite round were laid all over, from top to bottom,
in black, there stood in the middle of it a great whipping-post,
which was all the furniture it had.
In one of these two rooms judgment was given, and in the other it
was executed on those ill people who for their lewdness were sent to
this prison, and there sentenced to be whipped; which was so
contrived that the court might not only hear, but see, if they
pleased, their sentence executed.
A sight so unexpected, and withal so unpleasing, gave me no
encouragement either to rest or indeed to enter at all there; till
looking earnestly I espied, on the opposite side, a door, which
giving me hopes of a farther progress, I adventured to step hastily
to it, and opened it.
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