Volume 2

The ceremonies and religious customs of the various nations of the known world. Together with historical annotations, and several curious discourses... / Written originally in French, and illustrated with a large number of folio copper plates ... designed by Mr. Bernard Picart ... Faithfully translated into English, by a gentleman some time since of St. John's College in Oxford.

Date:
1733-1739
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The ceremonies and religious customs of the various nations of the known world. Together with historical annotations, and several curious discourses... / Written originally in French, and illustrated with a large number of folio copper plates ... designed by Mr. Bernard Picart ... Faithfully translated into English, by a gentleman some time since of St. John's College in Oxford. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    311/460 (page 263)
    H7, to ^INQUISITION. CHAP. IV. In what Manner PriJ'oners are put to the Torture in the Inq_uisit ion. A F T È R a Prifoner has made his Exceptions, and given in his Anfwers, if they are not fatisfa&ory, or that his Crimes be not fufficiently proved, he is con¬ demned to the Torture. Of thefe there are three kinds, all which are extreme¬ ly fevere and cruel. The firft is that of the Rope, the fécond that of Water, and the third that of Fire. In the Toiture with the Rope, the Prifoner has his Hands bound behind him with a Rope ; after which he is raifed from the Ground to the Top of the Cieling by means of a Pulley; when, letting him hang for fome Time in this Manner, they let him fall within half a Foot of the Ground, but with fuch fudden Jerks as put all his Limbs out of Joint, and force him to cry out in a moft dreadful Manner. In this Manner he is tortured for an Hour, and fometimes more, according as the Inquifitors, who are pre- fent, think proper, or the Vigour and Strength of the unhappy Sufferer. But if this kind of Torture does not prevail, they then have recourle to that of Water, which is done in this Manner ; They force the Prifoner to fwallow down a great Quantity of Water ; after which he is laid along a Form or Bench that has a Ca¬ vity in it, which fhuts up, and fqueezes at Pleafure. A Stick or Piece of Wood runs Crofs this Bench, which keeps the Prifoner’s Body fufpended, as it were, and breaking his Back-Bone, puts him to incredible Pain. But the moft rigorous Torture is that of Fire: For a great Fire being lighted, the Soles of the Prifoner’s Feet are rubbed with Bacon, or fome other unCtuous or cumbuft- ihle Subftance ; which being done, he is laid on the Ground with his Feet turned to¬ wards the Fire, and is,held down in that Pofture, till fuch Time as he has confeffed all * *-■ the Inquifitors defire to know. The two laft mentioned kinds of Torture continue, as the firft, for the Space of an Hour, and fometimes more. When therefore a Prifoner is condemned to the Torture, he is carried to the Place ap¬ pointed for that Purpofe, which is called the Place of Torments. This is a fubter- raneous Cavern, to which one goes down by a numberlefs Multitude of Turnings and Windings, in order to prevent the dreadful Cries of thofe miferable Wretches from being heard. In this Place there are Seats only for the Inquifitors, who are always pre- fent when any one is put to the Torture, and for the Biftiop of the Place, or his great Vicar, or his Deputy. It has no other Light than that of two Torches, which burn but faintly, but ftrong enough to let the Prifoner fee the Inftruments with which he is to be tortured, and one, two, or more Executioners. Thefe Executioners wear a Ha. bit very much like that of Penitents, i. e. thofe who do Penance, being a long Robe made of black Buckram ; their Heads and Faces are covered with a kind of black Cowla having Holes in it at the Eyes, Nofe, and Mouth. Immediatey the Prifoner is feiz’d by one of thefe Spectres, \Vho ftrips him ftark naked, the Pudenda excepted. The Inquifitors, before he is put to the Torture, ftrongly exhort him to confefs the Crime whereof he is accufed. But if thefe prove ineffectual, and he perfifts in protefting his Innocence, he is put to the Torture to which