The stocks are an instrument of punishment consisting of a framework with holes for securing the ankles and/or wrists; a pillory is a framework on a post with holes for securing the head and hands. They are as much a source of physical torture as public humiliation.

The Jusicium Pillorie “provided the articles for inquests into violations of the assizes of bread and beer, weights and measures, and forestalling.” As such, many medieval English references to the pillory involve the punishment of bakers.

See also History of Pillory and Stocks. For additional reading, see The Pillory in Medieval London in Medieval Literature and Historical Inquiry: Essays in Honor of Derek Pearsall.

• Christ in stocks, the Stuttgart Psalter (Stuttgart Cod. bibl. 2° 23, fol. 17v), c. 820-830
• A monk locked into stocks by one of his brothers, a monk and a nun in stocks (fol. 187), devils in stocks (fol. 188v), two devils in stocks (fol. 191v), angels casting out a devil in stocks (fol. 223), demon in stocks (fol. 223v), Smithfield Decretals (British Library Royal 10 E IV), c. 1340
• The torture of Quintinus of Amiens, the Hours of William Porter (PML M.105, fol. 64r), c. 1420-1425
• Dream of the cup-bearer (fol. 9v), Manasses in stocks (fol. 14v), parable (fol. 36v), Speculum Humanae Salvationis (BNE B. 19), c. 1420-1440
• The penitence of King Manasses, Le Miroir de l’humaine salvation (Musée Condé 139, fol. 15v), 15th century
• St. Paul, St. Timothy of Ephesus and Silas are put in stocks at Philippi, History Bible (KB 78D 38 II, fol. 217r), c. 1430
• St. Leonard frees a prisoner, The Golden Legend (ÖNB 326, fol. 260v), 1446
• The martyrdom of St. Quentin, La fleur des histoires (Bibl. Mazarine 1560, fol. 191), third quarter of the 15th century
• Martyrdom of St. Quentin, Speculum historiale (BNF Fr. 51, fol. 87), 1463
Forasmoche as Gilbert 'Ridder' that here standith as a man not dredyng god nor shame of the worlde falsely and subtelly feyned and forged in the name of oone James Degyn' a false Ir'e writene by John Baron' that here standith beryng date at Maydestone the tuesday after Seint Andrewes day [30 Nov.] where as in dede it was writene and made in this Citee in Paternoster rowe by the saide John Baron' which lr'e was directed unto the Worshipfull persone Richerd Lee Alderman desiryng by the same to have hadde delyv'ed of the saide Ric' Lee xxs. in money and ij yerdes of blewe medley cloth and that by certayne tokyns conteynede in the seide lr'e Where as in dede the same James Degyn' never was prive nor knowyng any suche lr'e like as the saide Gilbert 'Rider' hath openly confessed afore the Maire and Aldermen Therfore it is considred by the saide Maier and Aldermen that the saide Gilbert shulde stonde here on this pillory by the space of a quarter of an howre in example to all other disposed to offende in any suche wise and the saide John Baron' for his wrytyng to stand on a stole under this Pillory by the same tyme &c.

Calendar of letter-books of the city of London, fol. 53b, November 1467

• Saturn and his children, the Wolfegg Housebook, c. 1475-1485
• The children of Saturn, Wilhelm von Rang manuscript, 1477
• Execution of Pierre de Montferrant, Vigils of Charles VII (BNF Fr. 5054, fol. 239), 1484
• Detail from St. Elizabeth with a woman in a puddle, altarpiece of St. Elizabeth at the church of St. Ägidius in Bardejov, Slovakia, c. 1480-1500
• A man with his feet in the stocks under the Chariot of Saturn, a design drawing by Barthel Beham, 16th century; see also this detail from George Pencz’s Saturnus, 1545
• Mercurius Aulicus sentenced to stand in a pillory for three days, Newes from Smith the Oxford Jaylor, 1645