Great and Horrible News: Exploring Execution Methods in Early Modern Britain with Blessin Adams

History Rage

In this riveting episode of History Rage, host Paul delves into the gruesome details of executions in early modern Britain with the expert insights of historian Blessin Adams. Covering a wide range of topics from heresy trials to the role of executioners, the discussion provides a unique and unsettling perspective on the historical practices of punishment.

Key Points:

Heresy Trials and Executions:

• John Foxe, a contemporary theologian, collected accounts of heresy trials and executions, particularly in his work known as "Foxe's Book of Martyrs."
• The punishment for heresy was intentionally designed to be horrific due to the perceived severity of the crime.
• Blessin highlights the biases in historical accounts, urging caution in interpreting firsthand narratives.

Burning at the Stake for Heresy:

• The descriptions of heretics burning at the stake often glorify the martyrs, with a balance of horror and strange beauty portrayed by Fox.
• Blessin explores the unintended consequence of encouraging admiration for martyrs, possibly influencing others to face a similar fate.

Petty Traitors and True Crime Presses:

• Execution accounts of petty traitors differ significantly from those of heretics, emphasizing societal disgust and fear towards women who committed violent acts.
• True crime presses in the early modern period sensationalized these executions for entertainment and profit.

Execution Methods:

• Blessin discusses the absence of professional executioners like Pierpoint and Marwood in the early modern period.
• Hangings were a common method, and Blessin describes the disturbing scene of multiple hangings at the Tyburn tree.

Attempts to Hasten Executions:

• The discussion touches on historical attempts to hasten death using substances like tar pitch on the condemned's clothes.
• William Blackstone's argument that women were burned to maintain modesty due to concerns about nudity is explored.

Modesty and Execution Practices:

• Blessin shares insights into the strange dichotomy of modesty in executions, citing instances of women being buried alive to maintain decency.
• The discussion also addresses the myth of the executioner's mask.

Witnessing Executions:

• Blessin sheds light on the role of prison ordinaries who had unique access to condemned individuals and provided firsthand accounts of executions.
• The fascination with executions extended to public interest in final speeches and confessions, leading to a profitable market for printed accounts.

The Harsh Reality of Hangings:

• Blessin explores the brutal aspects of hangings, including family members attempting to expedite the deaths of their loved ones and the hangman's involvement.

Connect with Blessin Adams:

• Website
• Twitter: @adams_blessin
• Great and Horrible News: Murder and Mayhem in Early Modern Britain [History Rage Bookshop]

Support History Rage on Patreon:

• Patreon

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