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At the height of the witch trials, the cruelest tortures imaginable were used on people accused of witchcraft in order to get a confession or to name others.
The pain was so unbearable that people would confess to anything to stop it, some went mad from it, some even managed to kill them self's.
Some managed to escape for prison, but the mobs would find then
And take things into there own hands.
There were a number of tests that were carried out to identify supposed witches.
Shaving and Probing
First he or she was striped naked and shaved, this for woman was more embarrassment and humiliation as men did it.
Then they were probed, looking for demons and the devil’s mark.
Thought to be hidden under the eyelids, armpits, and in any of the body cavities. Any mark was thought to have been made by the devil no matter how small; if none were there then they would be pricked to
make a mark.
This was not a legal test in England, but was done by mobs of villagers if they thought some one was a witch.
The accused was bound hand and foot, often with the right thumb tied to the left big toe and vice versa.
Then he or she would be thrown into a river, lake or pond, if they floated they were guilt.
On the other hand if they sank it’s said they were innocent, but no matter which way they died. Some even got sewn into a sack before being thrown into the water.
Watching and Walking
This was used in England a lot by Matthew Hopkins, the aim was to deprive the accused of sleep.
Everything was done to stop them from sleeping, some methods were cruel like being chained to a cell well by means of an iron bridle attached to the head and a very short iron chain. Another way was to be made to sit crossed legged on a stool for hours on end.
Walking doesn't sound so bad but the accused was made to walk up and down none stop for days at a time with out stopping with out rest until they collapsed.
In Europe the use of barbaric methods of torture using various devices was widespread. If they tolerated one form then it went onto another more agonizing than the last
Rack or Ladder
The prisoner would be laid down on it and have his or her limbs bound and tied, with ropes tied to a tourniquet knot. This knot could be then tightened and the accused would be stretched, they ended up with broken bones and torn muscles.
Boots
Also know as the Spanish boots, bootikins and cashielaws, this was also used for stretching.
Two lengths of wood bound together lengthways, they were then fitted to the legs from the ankles to the knees then it would be tightened by hand or knocked together with a wooded mallet. Resulting with broken bones, torn flesh and muscles and often never walking again.
Thumbscrews
This did the same as the boots but to the thumbs, crushing but tightening unmercifully until blood spurted it was also used on the toes.
Spider
This was used on women. The spider was a sharp iron fork used to cause injury to the breasts.
Red-hot Irons and Pincers
Red-hot pincers were used to tear off womens breasts.
Red-hot irons were used to burn flesh and to gouge out eyes.
But it was also inserted into the vagina or rectum.
There was also a test where the accused was told to grab hold of the red-hot iron; if they held it they were guilty.
Turcas
This was used for tearing out fingernails then needles were pushed into
the quick's.
Thrawing
This form of torture was used in Scotland.
The head was bound with ropes, it was then jerked from side to side causing pain and damage to the neck.
A refinement of this had the ropes attached to a collar studded with spikes.
Strappado
With this form of torture the accused would have there hands tied around there back then they would be attached to pulleys and hoisted up to the ceiling, heavy weights sometimes attached to the legs or feet.
The result was dislocation of shoulders and other joints; to add to the pain thumbscrews were used as well.
Squassation
This was the same as Stroppado but when they were hosted to the ceiling, the pullies holding them were released and they would fall to the floor only to be halted by the tightening of the ropes.
Water Torture or Ordeal
This ordeal was to force the accused to swallow gallons of water, sometimes boiling water along with lengths of knotted cord or cloth.
The cord or cloth was then yanked back up violently and suddenly, and often had the effect of disemboweling the accused.
Other Forms of Torture
There were no lengths they would go to, to get a conviction.
Hands, ears were cut off, burning feathers dipped in sulphur were applied to sensitive parts of the body.
Fingers were immersed in pots of boiling oil and bodies were immersed in boiling-hot baths treated with lime, placed upon a roasting hot iron chair, forced to kneel on a spiked board and placed in stocks fitted with iron spikes. There was no end to what they would do to get a confession.
 
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