Originally published in Pearson's Weekly (C. Arthur Pearson Ltd.) vol.1 #10 (27 Sep 1890).
The custom of having an old broom attached to the masthead of a ship for sale or hire, originated, according to Brand, from the ancient practice of putting up boughs upon anything that was intended for sale. It has been contended, however, that the custom dates from the period when Van Tromp and the Dutch fleet hoisted a broom indicative of an intention to sweep the ships of Britain from the seas. To repel this insolence the British admiral exhibited a horsewhip, equally significant of his intentions towards the Dutch, The pennant, which the horsewhip symbolised, has ever since been the distinguishing mark of British men-of-war.
A game formerly practised on board ship was called "hoop." To run the hoop was an ancient maritime custom. Four or more boys, naked to the waist, having their left hands tied fast to an iron hoop, and in their right hand a rope, called a "nettle," waited the signal to begin. This was given by a stroke of the cat-o'-nine-tails administered by the boatswain to the back of one of the boys, who struck at the next to him, and so on, until all became engaged in what can scarcely be called an amusing game; for although the blows were at first gently administered, each boy, irritated at the strokes of his neighbour, at length laid on lustily, and the play became earnest. This custom was practised when a ship was wind bound.
This boy-flogging brings to mind a per of the French seamen in former days, who believed that the spirit of the storm would be propitiated by thrashing unfortunate middies at the mainmast.
"Cob," or "cobbling," was a punishment formerly inflicted on seamen for petty offences and irregularities. This consisted in striking the offender with a cobbing-stick or pipe-staff. The number of strokes was usually a dozen. At the first stroke the inflictor repeated the word "watch," on which all the persons on board took off their hats on pain of like punishment. The last stroke was given as hard as possible, and was called the "purse."
"Keel-hauling" was a barbarous punishment in the navy, but the following account of "keel-raking" was refinement on such cruelty. It is described in "Six Dialogues about Sea Service (1685)." If the offence be foul, he (the seaman) is also drawn underneath the very keel of the ship, and thus being under water, a great piece is given to fire right over his head, as well to astonish him more with the thunder thereof, which proveth much offensive to him, as to give warning to others to look out and beware.
A punishment of sailors for swearing is mentioned in the Diary of the Rev. Henry Teonge, chaplain of H.M.S. Assistance (1675-76):—"David Thomas and Martin, the cook, and one master's boy, had their hands stretched out, and with their backes to the rayles, and the master's boy with his backe to the main-mast, all looking one upon the other, and in each of their mouths a mandler-spike—namely, an iron pinne clapt close into their mouths, and tyed bebind their heads—and there stood a whole houre until their mouths were very bloody. An excellent cure for swearers." This cruel custom, we need scarcely say, has long been abolished in our navy.