Treason Act Of 1351: A Comparison Essay

From the early fifth century, all the way into the renaissance in the fifteenth century, society heavily revolved around inhumane, public punishment and torture. Though many of the techniques are infamous even until this day, and in some cases were practiced until recent years, a few notable methods of humiliation and execution come to mind. These include the horrific practices of flaying alive, extended stays in the pillory and stocks, burning alive, and what may be the most gruesome of executions, hanging, drawing, and quartering. The pillory and stocks were similar devices, used to confine people convicted of breaking various laws in public locations for a duration of time ranging from a few hours, to a few days. The criminal was given a small ration of bread and water daily, but no protection from the harsh environment. Passerby were encouraged to harass the criminal, by means of verbal assault, kicking, hitting, urination, and other rude gestures; if they were particularly unpopular, they could

This execution method came into effect in with the Treason Act of 1351, as a punishment for high treason; this consisted of plotting or causing the death of the royal family, producing counterfeit currency or seals used by royalty, aiding enemies or going to war with the king, or defiling one of the female members of the royal family. Hugh Despenser was the first recorded case of this punishment being used, in 1326. First, he was hung until he nearly suffocated; he was still somewhat conscious when they cut him down. Next, they castrated him, which is an optional part of the process, and ripped out his innards before his eyes. After tearing his heart out, they decapitated his body, tied each of his limbs to the leg of a horse, and then had the beasts pull, tearing his corpse apart. More than 100 men were subject to this public, horrifying