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Article: It's a torturous Teutonic tale // Medieval doughboys and their crumby life
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- November 30, 1986
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright (null) Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER Bakers led a crumby life in medieval
Germany. They didn't make much dough. And if a member of the upper
crust decided they were loafing, they would wind up being dunked in
water, like a doughnut in cold coffee.
If they were caught shorting their customers, they got dunked.
If they decided it wasn't time for their annual bath and gave a
little extra bread, they also got dunked. Bakers were expected to
give exact measure.
That's a bit of the lore I discovered in Rothenburg ob der
Tauber at the Medieval Crime Museum, the only museum of its type in
Europe. There are four floors of torture instruments, punishment
devices, rare books and other items of interest ...