Bilboes
I came across the unusual punishment of the bilboes in an article in Early American Life magazine, which was described as frequently used on ships to restrain sailors. Looking for more information I found this link which says:
The Bilboe was a form of shackle used from the 16th Century onward till at least the end of the Golden Age of Piracy. Despite being a shackle, it has more in common with The Stocks than Handcuffs, and arguably borders on torture.
In form the bilboe was a long iron bar, with two sliding cuffs attached. Rather than being placed on the hands, it was most often attached to the feet. Padlocks then secured the cuffs in place. The result was painful immobilization. If you were bilboed standing up, you'd be incapable of walking or sitting on your own power. At best you could flop over onto the ground and crawl around using your arms, as the heavy metal bar and tight clamps made hopping impractical and excruciating.
Sometimes that level of immobilization just wasn't enough. In that case, the Bilboe could itself be chained or locked to the floor, forcing you to stand very still for a very long time. Alternately, it could be attached to a wall or pillar. "Laying by the heels in the bilboes" meant that the bilboe was hung well above ground level, so that you were immobilized on your back or belly with your feet in the air.
Illustration of "laying by the heels"
The Bilboe was a form of shackle used from the 16th Century onward till at least the end of the Golden Age of Piracy. Despite being a shackle, it has more in common with The Stocks than Handcuffs, and arguably borders on torture.
In form the bilboe was a long iron bar, with two sliding cuffs attached. Rather than being placed on the hands, it was most often attached to the feet. Padlocks then secured the cuffs in place. The result was painful immobilization. If you were bilboed standing up, you'd be incapable of walking or sitting on your own power. At best you could flop over onto the ground and crawl around using your arms, as the heavy metal bar and tight clamps made hopping impractical and excruciating.
Sometimes that level of immobilization just wasn't enough. In that case, the Bilboe could itself be chained or locked to the floor, forcing you to stand very still for a very long time. Alternately, it could be attached to a wall or pillar. "Laying by the heels in the bilboes" meant that the bilboe was hung well above ground level, so that you were immobilized on your back or belly with your feet in the air.
Illustration of "laying by the heels"
