1623: ‘Whip Her Arse Dick’ loses libel case

In March 1622, Richard Turner, a gentleman and town councillor from Thaxted in Essex, was seen thrashing his teenage daughter Anne. According to Turner, “she had given just cause of grief and offence” and he was delivering “such correction… as to reform some errors in her”.

News of this event soon reached the working classes of Thaxted. Turner, who was unpopular to begin with, became known as ‘Whip Her Arse Dick’. This derogatory nickname was apparently derived from a bawdy song:

“Hurry thee home Anne
Hurry thee home Anne
Whip Her Arse Dick
Whip Her Arse Dick

All those that love puddings
Come unto Parke Street
And learn the song
Of Whip Her Arse Dick.”

There were other verses, including one that compared Turner to an Essex man hanged for murdering his child. According to a witness testimony, the lyrics to ‘Whip Her Arse Dick’:

“..become public, common and notorious in the eyes, ears and tongues of Thaxted. [It had been] reported and sung, published and divulged… in diverse inns, alehouses and other places of the said town of Thaxted and the county of Essex. [It had been] taught and instructed to young children to sing the same, to wrong and provoke him.”

Facing the loss of his good name, Turner sued several individuals for libel. The case was heard in 1623 but the plaintiff was unsuccessful.

According to anecdotal evidence, ‘Whip Her Arse Dick’ was popular with locals for several years. The humiliated Turner became reclusive and suffered financially after neglecting his businesses.

Source: Various, including London Public Record Office, 8/307/9 (1623). Content on this page is © Alpha History 2019-23. Content may not be republished without our express permission. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use or contact Alpha History.