Iwent, therefore, to the shelf where the histories stand and took down one of the latest, professor trevelyan's history of england. . 'wife-beating', i read, 'was a recognized right of man, and was practised without shame by high as well as low. . similarly,' the historian goes on, 'the daughter who refused to marry the gentleman of her parents' choice was liable to be locked up, beaten and flung about the room. .