Executions in olden Days

[lindahoyland]

The gruesome method of execution feared by Faramir in "Burden of Guilt" and which Dervorin was sentenced to in "Web of Treason" was an actual method used in Britain between 1241 and 1820.

To read more click below, but be warned, the information is not for the squeamish.


http://www.richard.clark32.btinternet.co.uk/hdq.html
http://www.richard.clark32.btinternet.co.uk/hanging1.html

Hanging was the official method of execution in the British Isles until it was abolished in 1964.

Tolkien does state that certain offences are punished by death in Middle-earth.However, he gives us no indication of the method used.

For example

For I am commanded to slay all whom I find in this land without the leave of the Lord of Gondor.

and

And the King said to Beregond: ‘Beregond, by your sword blood was spilled in the Hallows, where that is forbidden. Also you left your post without leave of Lord or of Captain. For these things, of old, death was the penalty. Now therefore I must pronounce your doom.

Comments

[edoraslass.livejournal.com]

From the very first sentence in that link: Women were burned at the stake instead, apparently for the sake of decency.

For the sake of decency? There's just so much wrong with that statement, I don't even know where to start.

Executions

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

It is a strange way of putting it, I agree.I assume the idea was that women were not made to appear naked in public.

I assume,it must have been believed the sight of a naked woman being tortured to death might excite lust amongst the spectators?

I believe a priest was usually present at executions, so maybe it was to spare their feelings?

There is nothing decent about burning someone at the stake though.

Re: Executions

[edoraslass.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I thought about the nudity issue...but then again, the fire's just going to burn their clothes all up. What a weird, weird thing to say. Man, I could seriously write a paper on just that sentence. :)

Re: Executions

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Maybe it would make a good starting point for a story? I think the writer of the article is just reporting historical facts to the best of my knowledge.
I think they but bags of gun powder around the waists of those who were burned at the stake, at least that was the custom in Mary Tudor's time, so maybe you'd be dead before your clothes burned away?
I am just glad not to have lived in those times !

Re: Executions

[edoraslass.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you're right, that that's what he's doing - I just tend to get all curious about strange phrasings. It drives people in RL nuts, because I'll do it without thinking while they're in the middle of a sentence! :)

I didn't know that about the gunpowder. Eeek, would they just blow up?

Yes, I'm glad I didn't live then, too! Mainly because I like reliable plumbing. :)

Re: Executions

[edoraslass.livejournal.com]

Ok, those are all pretty fabulous typos. :) And I swear to you, I saw some story today with "first" misspelled as "fist".

Yep, that's what betas are for - to tell you when you're not making sense, which mine has no problem doing!

Words are wonderful things, this is very very true.

No, when you're 8, you don't mind not having plumbing or getting dirt in your food or sleeping on the cold hard ground. If I tried that now, my back would be completely crippled in the morning.

Holy cow,it's past 11. I better go to bed. Thanks for the links! I shall enjoy them and share them!

Re: Executions

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

You just cannot see your own errors !
I am thankful ,though, i'm not the only one who misspelled "first " !
But just imagine, Aragorn and Faramir's first encounter as a punch up !
I am hoping,that thanks to Raksha my latest story will be more fun for the readers and make more sense.
My back would kill me if I slept on the ground too !
I must be off to bed as well,Goodnight,it has been fun chatting and don't dream of gory executions !

[lostlucidity1.livejournal.com]

Interesting stuff, to be sure.

Executions

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

It is interesting but it makes me very glad to live in modern times !I thought my readers might enjoy knowing some of my research.

Re: Executions

[lostlucidity1.livejournal.com]

You don't have executions in the UK anymore, do you?

I recall reading what some of the Catholic saints went through as they were martyred and it tied my stomach in knots so badly that I had to stop reading. I don't mind some violence but this was beyond the pale!

Re: Executions

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

No, the death penalty was abolished in the 1960's for murder.It remained for treason until a few years ago,but was never used.
We were tolder killerswould spend life in prison were hanging abolished, but on average, they only get 7 years,not a deterrent at all !

I shudder to read about the poor Catholic martryrs too.There is a mummified body in westminster cathedral of one, who was hung,drawn and quartered. His followers retrieved what was left of the body and put it together again. I felt rather queasy going past the glass case.