Show Middle Names Taboo People have not always been allowed al al- lowed owed the pleasure of having as many n names mes as they wish indeed years ago not even a middle name was all allowed al al- l wed owed In England It was Illegal mega The Theold Theold old English law law was definite and admitted admitted ad ad- of no infraction of ot its ruling The only exception made to this Ironclad ironclad Iron iron- clad regulation was In the case of persons of or royal rank If they really wished It they could boast a middle name but woe to the person of ordinary ordinary nary rank who was sufficiently unwise or obstinate to Insist on having more than two appellations For the first offense he would very I likely be tied to a whipping post and severely lashed For a second s cond offense he le would endure some more lasting punishment perhaps the removal of his lis thumbs or his ears And if he still persisted In his stubbornness he would be hanged There is a case on record of a poor poorman man man man-in in all probability half halt demented who who insisted on signing four names every time timo he wrote his signature to any paper Of course he ho passed through all the legal stages of punishment punishment punish punish- ment until he was finally hanged |