Stocks are devices used in the medieval times as a form of physical punishment involving public humiliation. The stocks partially immobilized its victims and they were often exposed in a public place such as the site of a market to the mockery of those who passed by. Since the purpose was to punish offenders against the standards of conduct of the time, anybody could assault, revile or aim filth, like tomatoes, at the victim. Merlin often ended up in the stocks, usually because of Prince Arthur.
Merlin in the Stocks