a house of ill fame, to which lewd persons of both sexes resort, and there have criminal conversation.

The keeping a bawdy-house is a common nuisance, not only on account that it endangers the public peace by drawing together debauched and idle persons, and promoting quarrels, but likewise for its tendency to corrupt the manners of the people. And therefore persons convicted of keeping bawdy-houses, are punishable by fine and imprisonment; also liable to stand in the pillory, and to such other punishment as the court at their discretion shall inflict. Persons resorting to a bawdy-house are likewise punishable, and they may be bound to their good behaviour.—It was always held infamous to keep a bawdy-house: yet some of our historians mention bawdy-houses publicly allowed here in former times till the reign of Henry VIII. and assign the number to be 18 thus allowed on the bank-side in Southwark. See STEWS and BROTHEL.

Bawdy-houses are licensed in Holland, and pay a considerable tax to the state.