We must put these things in the perspective of the age, its ubiquitous cruelty: flogging and beating were frequent, schoolmasters believed in beating learning into their pupils' heads — the exemplary Lady Jane Grey was frequently beaten for her book. For scolds there were branks or gags across the mouth, spiked chastity-belts for unreliable wives, ducking stools for women who made nuisances of themselves.

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "We must put these things in the perspective of the age, its ubiquitous cruelty: flogging and beating were frequent, schoolmasters believed in beating learning into their pupils' heads — the exemplary Lady Jane Grey was frequently beaten for her book. For scolds there were branks or gags across the mouth, spiked chastity-belts for unreliable wives, ducking stools for women who made nuisances of themselves." in the context of "(1972), The Tower of London in the History of the Nation, page: 96, publisher: Book Club Associates, ISBN: 978-0-297-99540-1" to mean that wisdom is timeless.