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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