NELL'S FAREWELL FROM THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION

Today we are pleased to post a story submitted by one of our frequent commenters, bripuk.  I really like what he's done here.  He took the story from Nell's Farewell and did his own version of the story.  It's a far, far easier read than my translation, yet I believe he's captured the essence of the formal punishments dispensed by the House of Corrections.

NELL'S FAREWELL FROM THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION

By Bripuk

 

Nell's sentence in the Bridewell was coming to an end and as her behavior in the House of Correction had been exemplary, she was hoping that the Farewell could be overlooked.

On that day she was summoned to the Governor's office, she knocked timidly on the large oak door. From inside she heard the Governor voice instructing her to enter. “Come in and sit down, Nell.  Your sentence is coming to an end, and I need to talk to you about what is to happen before you leave us.”

Nell furrowed her brow. She believed that the part of her sentence which was the Farewell would be set side and that in a few weeks she would be released into the arms of her beloved Isidor.

“Because your crime was so serious part of your sentence included a Welcome and Farewell. I asked the magistrate after your very severe Welcome if he would overlook your Farewell punishment. I'm sorry to say Nell he was adamant that you must suffer another flogging.”

Nell immediately burst into floods of tears. “Oh please, Sir, haven't I suffered enough? Those men who administered my Welcome punishment were brutes determined to inflict as much pain as my poor body could stand. Please can I have an alternative such as solitary confinement for a few days rather than being given more strokes with the bull's pizzle.”

The Governor felt great sympathy for Nell. She was quite different from the other prisoners as her whole demeanour and manners suggested a good upbringing and the fact that the Governor's wife had taken Nell under her wing showed her to be a model prisoner.

“I'm sorry, Nell, the sentence must be carried out, but I will ask the surgeon to state that your flesh is too delicate and tender for the application of the pizzle and that the punishment should be carried out by women rather than those brutal men. The pizzle won't be used, but instead the instrument of correction will be the birch.”

Nell began to understand what this supposed leniency would mean. The birch was always applied to the bare flesh on a part of her anatomy that was normally kept hidden. The thought of bearing her bottom so that it could be mercilessly beaten in front of the prison inmates was just too awful to contemplate. Why did she have to suffer the same ignominious punishment as her fellow prisoners?

“I would happily lay down and have my shoulders warmed by the birch rather than my posteriors if I have to suffer a flogging,” begged Nell.

At this point Nell was ordered to stand and the Governor approached her with avuncular smile and patted the back of her skirt. “You are a healthy young woman with a well-developed posterior, Nell. This part is well able to withstand a sound flogging without suffering any serious harm. Of course, it will sting and burn, but your flesh will soon recover, and you will be able to put the whole episode behind you.” During this homily the Governor kept his hand on the back of the Nell's skirt rather longer than was necessary; even gently squeezing the cheeks.

“In a few days after the surgeon has examined you and determined that you are not fit to receive the pizzle, preparations will be made for your Farewell.”

Tears were now coursing down Nell's cheeks at the thought of the events that were to take place in the near future. The Governor put his arm around Nell's shoulder as if to offer some reassurance. “Nell, you won't be the first young woman to lay down on the whipping bench for her Farewell to be carried out. The marks soon disappear, and the women go on to live happy and fruitful lives using the skills and discipline they learn in the House of Correction. Resign yourself to what is going to happen and try to be brave.”

Nell was dismissed and made her way back to the Governor's wife's apartment where she was greeted with a hug. His wife could see that poor Nell was upset and tried to console her. “What's wrong? I can see you have been weeping,” the Governor's wife enquired sympathetically. “Tell me why you are upset.”

“Your husband has informed me that I am to receive a formal Farewell in which I am to be birched,” sobbed Nell.

The Governor's wife was a pious woman who believed that sins had to be atoned for. “It is God's will that you will have to pay for your crimes. You must sacrifice the skin on your bottom for your love of Isidor. Be brave and accept what has to be done.”

Nell's next visit was to the surgeon room. A timid knock on the door was answered by an instruction to enter: “Ah, come in.”

The surgeon indicated to Nell to come and stand by his desk. “The Governor has asked me to confirm that your flesh is too delicate to be beaten with that awful bull's pizzle and that the birch should be used. Thus, I need to perform a thorough examination your posterior. So, take your skirt and drawers off and leave them on that chair.” 

Nell removed both garments and turned away from the surgeon's lascivious gaze.

“Your bottom has recovered wonderfully from the Welcome. The marks have completely disappeared and it's in prime condition to absorb more punishment.” He observed.

He passed his hand over Nell's well-formed cheeks patting and squeezing to test their resilience. “Splendid! I will report back to the Governor that you are a fit and healthy young woman. That your bottom shouldn't be punished with the pizzle, but that the birch must be substituted in its place.”

Later that day, Thekla, the Overseer, informed Nell that Cunigund the previous person to hold that post had been invited back to help carry out Welcomes and Farewells. Nell knew that Cunigund had a reputation for cruelty and had seen her whip other inmates without mercy leaving their backs and bottoms in a bloodied state.

After a couple of days two large containers appeared in the main hall stuffed with a number of birches immersed in brine to keep them flexible and increase their power to sting. On seeing such a forbidding sight, Nell froze in fear and her hand went instinctively to the back of her dress as if to console that part of her anatomy which was to feel their sting.

At that moment, Thekla approached Nell and pointing to the containers whispered, “Tomorrow they will have to be used. There are only two victims, young Lottie and you, to be dealt with. Lottie is only 17-years-old, and her punishment will be quite mild compared with yours.”

For poor Nell, the thought of those birches swung by the strong arms of Thekla and Cunigund biting into her soft bottom cheeks filled her with dread.

Nell found it very difficult to concentrate on her work during that day; her mind kept drifting trying to imagine how she would feel when secured to the whipping bench and coping with repeated strokes from those awful birch twigs.

She spent a fitful night with little sleep; her hands gently stroking and squeezing the cheeks of her bottom as if to prepare it for its forthcoming ordeal. The other inmates by contrast were excited by the thought of Nell being secured to the bench and having her backside flayed by the birches.

The next morning Thekla had prepared some broth for the two victims to prepare them for their ordeal. “I have a special treat for you, Nell. I have made some broth to give you strength and courage for what is to happen later.”

Nell thanked Thekla and although she didn't have an appetite managed to drink the whole bowlful.

There was a general buzz of excitement in the House of Correction as the inmates looked forward to the spectacle of the two women, and especially Nell, exposing their backsides for a sound flogging.

After breakfast Thekla brought in a white gown which was to be worn for the punishment.

“The Governor has decreed that a loose white gown is to be worn for your punishment,” Thekla explained, “so that it can be turned up at the back and doesn't impede the work to be done. You may however leave your drawers on. They will be removed later.”

Nell removed her clothes save for her thin drawers. Thekla stood behind Nell admiring her young body paying particular attention to her firm backside; the shape of which was clearly visible under her thin drawers.

Nell donned the white gown which she noticed had two slits at the back. She didn't need to ask their purpose which was to allow the back of the gown to be folded thereby exposing the part to be flogged. Nell was excused her normal duties for the next two hours, but she was in a state of foreboding knowing that the time for her punishment was rapidly approaching.

Thekla was more than a little irritated by Nell's behavior. “You're not the first naughty inmate in the Bridewell to have her bottom birched. You should be grateful to the surgeon so that you didn't have to feel the pizzle again across your plump behind.” 

As the time for the Farewell approached, the women in the prison gathered in the hall where the punishment bench had been positioned for all to see.

“I hope they give that backside of hers a good thrashing,” exclaimed one of the older inmates. “Nothing more than she deserves.”

“Oh, it will be a spectacle alright,” replied a young prisoner, “Especially when the red tears come.”

All these comments were within Nell's earshot and added to her fear of what was to come. How could her fellow prisoners be so cruel delighting in her dread of the beating what was to come.

Any hope that Nell had that she may be spared the ignominy of being secured down on the bench and being severely flogged on her bare backside was ebbing away.

Her final appeals to the Governor to be spared were swept aside. “No, Nell, the magistrate was clear that your sentence includes both a Welcome and Farewell and that is what I intend to see happen.” He went on,” The surgeon has passed you fit to receive a good dose of the birch; so, it is my responsibility to see that the sentence is carried out.”

Poor Nell now knew nothing was now going to save her from what she was facing.

The chattering among the onlookers was reaching fever pitch.

“They must be regretting their crimes,” commented a fellow prisoner, “or at least their bottoms will.” She added with a giggle.

At that moment Lottie, dressed in her white gown, was escorted through the crowd towards the bench.

“She looks like a little angel,” observed an inmate, “It will be a treat to see her backside flayed.”

Poor Lottie couldn't hold back the tears as she was led to the bench. She lifted herself on to what was going to be her bed of suffering and laid there while her arms and legs were secured. The whipping bench was designed so that it was higher in the middle thereby raising the part to be operated upon.

Thekla approached poor Lottie and gently folded back the gown revealing a pair of lace drawers hugging the contours of Lottie's small bottom. Thekla wasted no time in tugging them down to Lottie's knees revealing her small, compact, ivory-coloured  backside 

“One stroke of the birch will cover both cheeks,” exclaimed an elderly onlooker, “Her bottom will look like a ripe tomato by the time Thekla and Cunigund have finished with it...”

“We can look forward to some red tears from that little round ass,” declared an inmate who'd been in the prison a long time. “I would rub some brine in it afterwards to increase the sting.”

Poor Lottie could hear all the cruel remarks which just increased the fear of what was about to happen. She looked up to the Governor and with a forlorn last-ditch appeal: “Please don't let them beat me. I'll suffer any other punishment. Please let me off.”

“You must be punished for committing such a heinous crime,” boomed the Governor. “A sound flogging is what you deserve.”

Lottie felt utterly defeated. Her head drooped as she awaited her fete.

The Governor then read out the sentence: 

“Lottie Muller, you have been sentenced to 6 months in the House of Correction. As well as your incarceration you will receive the official Welcome and Farewell. The Welcome will now be administered which will be 6 strokes with the rod and 25 strokes of the birch.”

Thekla stepped forward and withdrew the rod from the container. The cane was ¼ of an inch thick and almost a yard long. Being steeped overnight in brine had made it very flexible. She swished through the air a couple of times to test its flexibility before approaching the bench where Lottie awaited her punishment.

A hush fell over the audience as they fixed their eyes on Lottie's bottom which clenched in fear as Thekla flexed the cane. A nod from the Governor and Thekla placed the cane over the middle of Lottie's backside.

“I hope they give her a good thrashing,” whispered an onlooker, “so that she finds it hard to sit down for a week.”

At that moment Thekla raised the cane high in the air, lifted herself on tiptoes and brought the cane down with a tremendous whoosh to land in the centre of Lottie's behind where it buried itself into her nether cheeks leaving a crimson wheal.

A shriek escaped Lottie's lips followed by a plea to lessen the severity of the strokes. Needless to say, Thekla completely ignored Lottie's outburst. She focused her attention on Lottie's bottom and prepared to deliver the second stroke. It duly arrived landing with a loud smack leaving a second wheal just below the first.

Thekla maintained a steady pace for the remaining four strokes each one eliciting screams from Lottie and pleas for the punishment to cease. Lottie's bottom displayed thick, parallel wheals which were turning purple. Before replacing the cane in its container, Thekla pressed it into the soft flesh of Lottie's bottom and sawed it back and forth several times across the raised welts which decorated the sore posterior causing excruciating pain in that part.

There was a murmur amongst the onlookers who were now looking forward to seeing the birch applied to Lottie's nether regions.

Thekla replaced the cane in the container so that it could be used later on another deserving backside. Both Thekla and Cunigund then chose a birch each to use on poor Lottie's behind.

“Make sure her backside suffers,” shouted a member of the crowd.

Lottie steeled herself for the ordeal she was about to suffer. The thought of 25 strokes of the birch on her throbbing bottom was almost too much to bear.

With Thekla standing one side and Cunigund the other they both tapped the bottom that was about to suffer.

“You will now administer 25 strokes of the birch,” announced the Governor. He couldn't hide a smile as he saw Lottie's bottom clench.

Thekla lifted the birch high in the air and brought it down hard on Lottie's defenceless behind. There was nothing she could do to protect it from the strokes of the birch. Screams of agony emanated from her mouth and promises to do anything to stop the punishment.

“Please stop!” she begged, “I'll be good and will never break the law again...” At that moment Cunigund brought the birch whistling down on its intended target.

After six strokes Lottie's bottom was a mass of fine red wheals overlaying the welts left by the cane. The birching proceeded at a steady pace accompanied by squeals of agony from Lottie.

After twelve strokes had been administered Lottie's bottom was covered in small purple bruises where the buds on the birch twigs had bitten into the soft flesh.

At this point both Thekla and Cunigund replaced the worn-out birches with fresh ones ensuring that their efficacy wasn't affected.

“I can't take any more,” wailed Lottie, “My bottom's on fire.”

“You can and you will take it,” snapped Cunigund.

Six more vicious strokes followed causing the skin to break in several places and tiny droplets of blood to ooze out. The sight seemed to spur on both Thekla and Cunigund to redouble their efforts bringing the birches down with a tremendous whoosh before impacting on cheeks that were now resembling raw meat.

“What a contrast between the white thighs and back of the victim and the pitiful state of her rear,” observed a fellow prisoner rubbing the back of her prison dress “I'm so happy my sentence didn't include a formal Welcome or Farewell.”

As the final strokes bit into Lottie's backside her head just slumped forward as she was barely able to comprehend that her flogging was over.

The surgeon stepped forward and closely examined the punished part.

“Ladies you have done a wonderful job on this miscreant,” the surgeon intoned. “You should be congratulated on showing this criminal the price to be paid for her wrongdoing.”

After the surgeon had completed his examination of Lottie's bottom, the Governor instructed Thekla to release Lottie and escort her to the infirmary. Poor Lottie was just about able to walk, but the back of her gown was tied back for the crowd to see the price she had paid for her crime. On reaching the infirmary she was ordered to lie face down so that a poultice could be applied to her beaten seat.

 

Back in the hall a murmur of expectation filled the room. If Lottie's birching was the aperitif, what Nell was going to receive was the main course.

Nell had witnessed Lottie's flagellation and was aware that hers would be significantly more severe. She was escorted into the hall by Thekla where she was confronted by the whipping bench and the birches being steeped in brine. She could hear the comments from the spectators.

“Here comes Nell,” one exclaimed “The birch will soon warm her proud backside.”

She showed no fear as she approached the bench, which she knew would be her place of suffering.

“It will be a wonderful spectacle to see such a fine beauty secured so that her bottom can be given what it deserves.” Declared one of the prisoners “It won't be as painful as the bull's pizzle, but she won't enjoy sitting down for a few days.”

“I hope they flay her plump behind.” Replied another inmate.

The Governor then stepped forward and read out the sentence:

“By order of the Court you have been sentenced to receive the Farewell. Six strokes of the cane followed by a number of strokes of the birch to be determined by the Governor.”

Nell immediately understood that she was not to receive a fixed number of strokes, but will be flogged until the Governor considers her bottom has been beaten enough.

Nell was familiar with the ignominy of being secured down for the sole purpose of being flogged on the part that was normally hidden. She took solace in the fact that the birches would not bite into her soft flesh as deeply as the bull's pizzle, but she knew full well, that both Thekla and Cunigund would do their utmost to ensure the flogging would hurt atrociously. 

A small minority of the spectators expressed sympathy for Nell's plight.

“Poor girl, she is no ordinary creature and doesn't deserve to be whipped like a common harlot.”

“She has done wrong, and her backside should be flogged in the same way as others who have committed a similar crime.”

Nell was ordered to approach the bench and lay face down. Thekla and Cunigund immediately got to work securing her hands and feet, in doing so preventing any chance of protecting her bottom during the forthcoming ordeal.

Nell didn't resist as she was prepared for her punishment, but accepted the inevitable and steeled herself for what was to come.

Thekla leant forward and slowly lifted the back of the gown to reveal Nell's long slender legs and her bottom clad in a pair of lace drawers. Gasps of admiration could be heard from the audience at the sight of such a perfect body. The outline of her bottom was clearly visible through the garment and the preparations elicited a final plea from Nell.

“Please allow me, Sir, a little protection for my modesty by keeping the drawers in place.”

“The birch unlike the pizzle is always applied to the naked parts,” was the Governor's retort to Nell's appeal.

Nell's head slumped forward knowing now that her drawers would soon come down baring her bottom for all to see. Her cheeks blushed at the thought of what she was revealing.

“There will soon be a blush elsewhere,” quipped one of the older onlookers which caused some sniggering among the audience.

Thekla untied the bow holding Nell's drawers in place and gently lowered them to reveal Nell's beautiful, ivory-coloured bottom awaiting its fete.

Nell whispered to herself, 'Please hurry up and get it done' but the Governor was minded to prolong the ordeal for as long as possible.

“The girl has a wonderful backside, two cheeks almost designed to be birched,” uttered one of the female spectators. “The birch will barely mark them...”

Thekla removed the rod from its container and tested its flexibility by swishing it through the air a couple of times. The audience noticed Nell's lower cheeks clenched, as if they had already been whacked.

At this point Thekla laid the cane across the middle of Nell's bottom, tapped in twice before lifting it high in the air and delivering an almighty stroke on to the intended target. An audible gasped escaped Nell's lips as a crimson wheal formed across the virgin flesh. After allowing for the pain to sink in, Thekla aimed the second stroke so as to overlay its predecessor increasing the sting in poor Nell's behind. Number three followed landing on an already sore place with a loud smack causing Nell to audibly gasp. A purple swollen weal about one-inch-wide decorated Nell's globes causing her hellish pain.

For the final three strokes Thekla handed the cane to Cunigund, who eyed the marked backside with relish determined to inflict more agony.

“Right my girl let's see if we can put some more stripes on that wicked bottom.” At that moment Cunigund lifted the cane over her shoulder and cracked it across the unprotected hemispheres of Nell's bottom causing it to leap into the air. A thick red line immediately appeared just below those put there by Thekla leaving Nell in no doubt about how severe her punishment was going to be. Nell was determined not to beg for mercy however much the sting in her lower cheeks increased.

“Hasn't she had enough. She won't be able to sit down for a week.” One of the younger inmates expressed her sympathy for Nell.

“A bottom like that can take a great deal of punishment without any lasting harm,” was the quick response from her older fellow prisoner.

A further two stinging strokes were administered by Cunigund causing Nell to toss her bottom in the air and leaving a thick, swollen wheal across both cheeks. Cunigund finished the caning segment of the punishment by sawing the rod across the raised wheals on Nell's bottom causing her immense pain.

“Please have mercy it hurts so much,” she wailed, but mercy there was none.

The Governor stepped forward to announce that the birch would now be applied. “Thekla and Cunigund, you will administer the birch until I instruct you to stop.” Boomed the Governor.

The birches were removed from the containers and swished through the air a couple of times to test their efficacy.

Cunigund and Thekla stood on either side of their victim eyeing the target which was quivering in the expectation of what it was going to suffer.

“It is not often we see such a beautiful body stretched on the bench.” Observed an onlooker. “I'm pleased that the Governor has chosen the birch rather than the pizzle as the instrument of punishment. It will mean we will have longer to admire her and enjoy the flagellation of her pretty backside.” 

Thekla raised the birch and cracked it across its intended target. A series of fine red lines sprang up across the cheeks of Nell's bottom eliciting a sharp intake of breath. Almost immediately Cunigund stepped forward and delivered a similar stroke to the same part of Nell's anatomy.

Unlike the cane the birches covered almost all of Nell's rump, but did not cause the deep bruising associated with the pizzle. Tiny bruises appeared all over her bottom as the buds on the freshly cut birches bit into the soft flesh.

The women designated to administer the punishment were in no mood to be lenient to their victim. They intended to make Nell's behind pay a high price for her crime.

Stroke after hard stroke impacted the proffered bottom causing it to turn a deep crimson with purple lines from its previous caning.

“Hasn't she suffered enough,” Somebody in the crowd called out, “her bottom will be permanently marked.”

“That part when so well developed can take a great deal of punishment,” replied another woman “It will soon heal, and the marks will disappear.”

Nell's pitiful entreaties for the whipping to cease were met with derision by the assembled gathering.

“Please please stop. I can't take any more,” she begged.

“Is it as bad as the pizzle, Nell?” quipped on of the inmates “Or would you rather feel that across your plump backside?”

Tiny droplets of blood began to appear on the summits of both cheeks, as Thekla and Cunigund continued to thrash Nell's well fleshed behind.

“Ah there are the red tears,” exclaimed a member of the audience. “This is the time when it really begins to smart.”

Nell turned her head towards the Governor. “Please can I have the rest of my punishment on my thighs. My bottom hurts so much.”

With a wry smile the Governor replied, “No, Nell! Your bottom is the correct place for the birches to do their work and that is the place where the remainder of your punishment will be applied.”

Nell was aware she had not been sentenced to a fixed number of strokes for her Farewell and that it was purely the judgement of the Governor which would determine the extent of her punishment. At this point the Governor instructed Thekla and Cunigund to stop the beating and he stepped forward to examine the state of Nell's rear cheeks.

“Haven't I suffered enough?” Nell implored the Governor to stop the beating.

“I think your backside can take some more birch strokes. It's my duty to ensure you undergo a proper Farewell.” With that he nodded towards the two whippers indicating that they should proceed with the punishment.

The sight of small droplets of blood seemed to re-energize Thekla and Cunigund who redoubled their efforts to thrash Nell's bottom with increased severity. Howls of anguish now escaped Nell's lips as the skin on her behind started to show increasing signs of splitting.

Nell's well-fleshed seat was now in a sorry state, so the Governor called a halt before examining Thekla's and Cunigund's handiwork.

“A final ten strokes should be sufficient,” he declared solemnly, “after which her bottom will have been properly punished.”

Thekla and Cunigund returned to the container holding the birches and extracted two fresh instruments to be used on Nell's bottom. Their power to punish was clear and struck fear into poor Nell and particularly her backside.

“How I could go on enjoying the spectacle. I have never seen a bottom so suited to receive a sound birching,” uttered one of the older onlookers.

Thekla had already delivered the first of the final ten strokes making Nell utter a moan. Cunigund followed with a devastating swish of the birch that covered the whole of Nell's backside which meekly absorbed the sting.

Nell was now panting heavily trying to blot out what was happening to her rear end. Nell's tormentors were not minded to reduce the severity of the strokes, but with their eyes firmly fixed on the beaten posterior released one last volley of swishes to ensure Nell would find sitting uncomfortable for days to come.

At a sign from the Governor, the surgeon approached the bench and examined Nell's beaten backside.

“Won't her bottom be marked for the rest of life?” enquired a spectator.

“Oh no,” replied the surgeon, “Such a part when so richly developed can withstand a great deal of punishment. Even twenty strokes of the bull's pizzle, which is a far more severe instrument than the birch, didn't leave a permanent mark. In a few weeks all traces of her flogging will have disappeared and her backside will have returned to its pristine state.”

The Governor indicated to the two floggers to release Nell from her bed of pain and escort her to the infirmary. Her drawers were completely removed, and she was able to walk, grimacing at every step.

“What a treat we have seen today,” declared a spectator. “It will be a long time before we again see such a well-developed bottom receiving such a sound thrashing. Thekla and Cunigund deserve our heartfelt thanks for providing us such a spectacle.”

In the infirmary, Nell lay face down while lotion was applied to her tender behind. The pain was excruciating, and she knew it would be sore for some time making it difficult to sit. She was just grateful that she hadn't been subjected to the bull's pizzle because, although the birch hurt atrociously, it didn't bite into the soft flesh of her bottom as deeply as the pizzle.

At that point the surgeon walked in and surveyed Nell's beaten backside. He picked up a cloth and wiped away any blood on the surface of the cheeks.

“Thekla and Cunigund have made your bottom pay for your crime. I hope it will deter you in the future, as I'm certain you won't want to be sent back to the House of Correction.” 

Secretly the Governor would have liked to keep Nell's imprisoned and for her to undergo another formal punishment involving having her backside thrashed, but he knew the magistrate would not allow such a step.

Nell's recovery took only a few days after which she was released into the arms of her beloved Isidor. The marks on her bottom gradually disappeared, but the memory remained for the rest of her life.

 

~00O00~

Please feel free to let bripuk know that you appreciate his story in the comment area below or you may email him directly at:  bripuk@hotmail.co.uk