The Burning Times

The Inquisition, or what most have come to know it as, "The Burning Times", became rather popular in 15th and 18th century. This is when men and women were trialed for witchcraft and if found guilty, they sentence to a horrid death, or locked away, beaten, starved and embarrassed by the town folk. A lot of times performed through the accusing eyes of the town folk.

These women and men, mostly women, were said to be evil scourers, who brought bad luck and fortune. Illnesses and bad crops were at times blamed on these women. Some of them were of pagan background or belief, others were Shaman healer. But most were virgins of the craft and participated as one of the town folk until it was their turn to be called upon.

Widely popular in Europe, some 50-100 000 people were burned, hung, stoned, and drown, at the attempt to rid their body of an evil that wasn't there. The accused were usually the widows, who have suffered enough, the young and outspoken, the wealthy, or the women whose sexuality lead them into an unexpected grave.

These women were hunted down by the finger of sometimes, their own spouse. As women were treated like slaves and consider property, if they stepped out of line, they knew there was a great chance they would be falsely accused and killed.

I warn you, this next bit may shock you.

"Some victims were horsewhipped. A sharp iron fork was used to mangle breasts. Red hot pincers were used to tear off flesh. Red hot irons were inserted up vaginas and rectums. A device named the turcas was used to tear out fingernails."

"After the nails were ripped out needles were shoved into the quick’s. Boots called bootikens were used to lacerate flesh and crush bone. Thumbscrews were used to crush the fingers and toes. Acid was poured on victims and hands were immersed into pots of boiling oil and water."

"Eyes were gouged out by irons. Alcohol was poured on the head of the poor victim and set alight. Water was poured down the victim’s throat with a knotted cloth. The cloth was then jerked out tearing up the victims bowels."

All this torture made them confess to the lies, but they still received no relief. And on their way to death the victims were sometimes flogged, burned, branded, and had their hands and tongue cut off. Finally, the catholic church began to loose power And the inquisition began to die. But this laid out the thousands of bodies bathed in blood, of women, men, and children.

Never Again