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Why was torture brought out and what were the processes of the most common forms of execution that prisoners had to face? 

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Why was torture brought out and what were the processes of the most common forms of execution that prisoners had to face? 

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In Elizabethan England, criminals were questioned for their wrongdoings through the use of torture. Torture was used to make criminals confess or to get people to reveal valuable information that they knew about the crime. Specialized torturers were generally used for this job, as they were able to use key methods that prolonged the victim’s life, all while inflicting immense pain. According to the custom of Medieval times, a person was to be tortured before they were executed in order to get as much information out of them as possible. Typically criminals were tortured in torture chambers, which were located below castles. The purpose of these chambers being below the castle was to “...muffle the agonising cries of torture victims from the normal inhabitants of the castle.” (Alchin, 2015). These were often very small, but held several prisoners (up to twenty) at a time.

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Some prisoners regard the execution method as a form of torture that they had to endure. Two of the most common forms of execution were hanging and burning at the stake. Typically the criminal would arrive at the place of execution where a noose would be placed around his neck, strangling him and killing him. However, on rare occasions, the judge would order that the sentence would be carried out only so that the culprit would feel the burning sensation of hanging. In this case, the ropes would be placed below the armpits, “...a kind of exhibition which was not free from danger when it was too prolonged, for the weight of the body so tightened the rope round the chest that the circulation might be stopped.” (Alchin, 2015). This was less deadly than being hung at the neck, but it still came with its risks, as some people die while others survive and only lived to tell the tale. As for the process of burning at the stake, the person would have to wear a shirt that was smeared with sulphur and then was tightly bound (with ropes and chains) to a stake. After this, twigs and straw were thrown in front of the stake, and when the culprit was entirely covered by them, they were burned on all sides. Similar to the situation regarding hanging, sometimes the executioner would have mercy and he would place a large, pointed iron bar with the twigs, so that when the twigs were lighted, the bar would push against the victim and give him a quick and painless death. Sometimes, gunpowder would also be used to ensure a quick and easy death.

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What were crimes punishable by torture and how were different forms of torture different between the social classes of Elizabethan England?

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What were crimes punishable by torture and how were different forms of torture different between the social classes of Elizabethan England?

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In Elizabethan England, there were an array of crimes that could result in grave punishments. The most common, minor crimes include “theft, cut purses, begging, poaching, adultery, debtors, forgers, fraud and dice coggers” (Siteseen Ltd, 2018). In fact, stealing anything over 5 pence immediately resulted in hanging; taking bird eggs may result in a death sentence as well. Poaching could be legal, however, depending on the time in which the crime took place; a punishment would only be given if someone poached at night. More serious crimes that were committed include high treason, blasphemy, sedition, spying, rebellion, murder, witchcraft, and alchemy. These were commonly carried out by noblemen as the nobility were often involved in politics and religion. In fact, simply being accused of one of these crimes could easily lead to immense torture. This is because trials were particularly designed in favor of prosecutors and chances of defendants receiving acquittal were very slim. The accused would be tortured until they either confessed to the crime or they died.

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Different forms of torture varied greatly among the social classes of England. These social classes include the beggars, commoners, courtiers, and nobles. Typically, all poor beggars received beatings since it was a crime to beg; this was implemented by the Tudor and Elizabethan governments. These beatings “were bloody and merciless and those who were caught continually begging could be sent to prison and even hanged as their punishment” (Siteseen Ltd, 2018). Consequently, only the very desperate were willing to beg, keeping the majority of poor people off the streets. Commoners faced a variety of torture; some were major whereas others were only meant for humiliation. The Gossip's Bridle, the Drunkard's Cloak, branding, and the Pillory and the Stocks were typically used as public displays of someone’s crimes. Crimes that were minor were punished by whipping, cutting off body parts, and public starvation. Pressing, ducking stools, the wheel, boiling in liquid, hanging, and burning were reserved for major crimes. Courtiers often faced instruments that inflicted great pain. This includes the Rack, the Scavenger's Daughter, the Collar, and the Iron Maiden. Though not intended to kill, these forms of torture were used to extract information. Lastly, the nobility rarely faced punishment; nobles did not usually fall victim to intense torture unless they were blamed for witchcraft which results in burning and/or ducking stools. When crimes such as high treason and murder were committed, the government was more lenient towards nobles. Some were able to go straight to death and did not have to deal with major pain or suffering beforehand.

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This is an illustration of a man getting hanged. Hanging was one of the most common forms of executions in the Elizabethan Era.

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This method of torture in the Elizabethan England is called the Gossip's Bridle. Typically enforced on loud or demanding women, the Gossip's Bridle held its victim's tongue as well as caused humiliation.

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The Scavenger's Daughter is a form of torture in which the victim is bound together by a metal device around their lower body. It causes them to bleed out of their nose and ears.

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nNH7v6P1ZaRS0RRgdUxLxIEHrn_TgRAAN6cS3Yund4I/edit?usp=sharing

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Alchin Linda. “Middle Ages Torture.” The Middle Ages, Mar. 2015, www.lordsandladies.org/middle-ages-torture.htm
“Elizabethan Crime and Punishment.” Siteseen Ltd, February 2018, http://www.william-shakespeare.info/elizabethan-crime-punishment.htm