The term 'Six-of-the-best'

Where did the term 'six-of-the-best' come from? And why six? Is it buried in the English School System, after all six or twelve are imperial measurements. At my school a caning was normally six strokes, never more unless extras were given for moving out of position. In the world of CP videos canings, strappings etc are often six or a multiple of six, twelve, eighteen or sometimes twenty-four. And 'of the-best', did that indicate that a caning was always hard? "If you deserve a caning, there is no point in giving anything other than a proper thrashing".
Thoughts?

Google doesn't help us with this, except to suggest the phrase dates from 1700.

I think your speculations are spot on: imperial measure, absolutely; 'best' suggesting the punisher's best effort, but also perhaps the notion that a caning is 'for your own good' so let's give you six of the best. It certainly seems to be a quintessentially English phrase and was undoubtedly a widespread reality as a CP tariff for many decades, as you yourself attest.

I like the way the phrase gives a positive spin on what for most was a pretty depressing experience. It's a euphemism that distracts from the cruelty of the punishment itself, but it still gives me a thrill!

It's a bit scary to imagine that the origin of one of the foundation stones of Britain has slipped from the memory of man...

If not even the good people of this dedicated community knows, the prospects of ever finding the truth seem slim.

Personally I doubt that 'Six of the Best' was one of the foundation stones of the (British)Victorian Empire.

You sound misogynistic Glagla, 'of man'. Are women totally negligible ?

No artist can ignore the canvas he paints on, even if it's only 'Six of the Best'.

Back then you only had the aristocracy and the servants. It seems the aristocracy was different. It seems they had 6 fingers compared to the 5 servants had. That is one more and thus they could get more since a hand with six fingers is larger.

Back in the 1970ies most items were packed in dozens. 12 packages of flour would be packed together, nowadays it's ten. It is even represented in numbers. 1-12 it's one word but afterwards we get compound words as numbers. 13-19 is even German like 3(+)10, afterwards its English 20(+)1. Could it be the numbers above 10 and below 20 are not adult yet and thus ten turns into teen? From twentyone onwards they are of age...

At primary school in the 1960s we had to learn our times tables up to 12 by rote off by heart.

Similarly I've always wondered where the term a "good spanking" comes from. Why is it good? Who is it good for? What is the difference between a "good spanking" and an ordinary spanking?

I'd heard that 'six of the best' came from Mrs Berkeley's Flagellant Brothel in London; it was the maximum number of strokes the customer could give (or receive) without being charged extra!

I don't know whether Mrs Berkeley originated the idea or simply popularised it.

And a 'good spanking' is (I believe) one given with more enthusiasm and attention to doing a good, thorough job, than just a routine, uninspired spanking!

I'm guessing the reason that 12 has been seen as a special number throughout history must be connected with the lunar cycle.

When used for units (12 inches in a foot, 12 pence in a shilling) it has the advantage over 10 of being more easily divisible.

Which most likely is why all other countries have 100 on a full coin and not ten... I promise you that it is way more dividable than a twelve...

I believe Moody might have the correct idea.

In my younger days, I often heard the phrase 'six of the best' or 'six of the very best', or even a 'dozen of the finest' applied to everything from apples to pastries to eggs. I would suggest that the origin lies in normal discourse in shopping and was only later applied to school CP when it was only ever used when referring to six or twelve. In school we never referred to 'two of the best', 'four of the best' or even 'eight of the best' even though four or two strokes were much more common. However if the punishment was to be six then the phrase 'six of the best' was used and not just by the teacher, we children would also talk of 'six of best' .

If it was a phrase that originated in relation to CP then , logically, phrase such as 'four of the best' or 'eight of the best' would also have been used. As I said, my memory is that four, or even sometimes only two strokes was much more common, six or eight being exceptional, at least in my schooldays.