Execution by burning. Why you could have been burned at the stake in the Middle Ages

Fans of horror movies know perfectly well that dealing with evil spirits is not so easy. Someone can be stopped exclusively with a silver bullet or a cross cast from the same metal, someone can only be quieted by an aspen stake forever, not allowing them to leave the grave every night, well, and only the fire of a sacred fire can kill a witch. “Witch at the stake”, yes, perhaps, this is the image that has been imprinted in the minds of many of us since childhood.

In the Slavic, and not only in the Slavic tradition, Fire (one of the Primary Elements) was and is attributed a lot of properties, some of them are actively used both in magic and against it. During the activity of the Inquisition, witches were set on fire. Why? Why were they not, for example, drowned or beheaded? Why weren't they hanged or wheeled? However, even if such executions happened, the body of the witch was still consumed by fire.

Why were witches burned at the stake?

Let's figure it out. In the gray-haired Middle Ages, there was a lot of that from which a modern person literally freezes blood in his veins. Here you have the lack of basic hygiene, and constant civil strife, and, of course, the witch hunt, which lasted more than one century, literally mowing thousands of the most beautiful women in Europe (and sometimes quite courageous men). The fact that modern Europeans (especially the female half), frankly, do not differ in beauty, it is necessary (among other things) to say “thank you” to the holy fathers from the Inquisition.

Witch trials happened so often, and there are so many recorded testimonies to this day that the terrible action can be represented to the nearest minute. There is no need to think out something, no need to pump up paints. Let's repeat - there is a lot of evidence.

Judged "witches" (for the most part they were ordinary women, girls, and sometimes girls) not always for the fact that they really were. Someone decided to "snitch" on a neighbor, and then move to her house, someone wanted to get rid of a rival, in a word, the reasons for each had their own. It would seem that a secular court (often it was there that the trials were held) should have been guided by reason, but alas, it was superfluous to hope for this. At that time there was no talk of any reason. And in our times, many decisions made by the court authorities make one think about whether the representatives of the judicial system have a brain. However, we are not talking about that now.

The secular court, where representatives of the holy church were necessarily present, urged the victim to confess everything herself, thereby softening her share. The more obstinate had to be tortured. The victim understood that there was no point in condemning herself to unnecessary torment, because she was found guilty anyway. So why prolong the agony ?!

The trials ended with public burning at the stake. After all, "humane" Christians considered it cruel to shed blood, even the blood of a witch or a sorcerer. But to put them on fire, moreover - alive - is really the apotheosis of humanity.

According to the canons established by the arrival of Christianity, it was believed that only fire can prevent a sinful soul from reincarnating. But in the same paganism, the situation is absolutely opposite! The pagans believed that "a person came from nowhere and after the end of earthly life, he must go nowhere." And the sooner not a trace remains of the earthly bodily shell, the sooner the soul can reincarnate.

Most of the bonfires blazed on the territory of today's Germany, France and Spain. Not a week went by without someone being "roasted" alive. Blame not blame - what's the difference? There are "witnesses" who saw something there and in all details and details can tell about how "the witch communicated with the devil himself", or how "the witch flew to the Sabbath", or how "she turned into a cat or a pig" ... It is also noteworthy that very often such witnesses were close relatives of the convicted victim.

After "checking" the evidence, the court ruled that enough "facts" had accumulated, or, on the contrary - which was extremely rare - said that something was missing. Even those who dabbled in cards were stomping on the fire.

In the year one thousand five hundred and thirty-second, sending to the fire was enshrined in law. The code of laws at that time was called "Carolina". Its author and ideological inspirer was the notorious Karl the fifth. In "Carolina" it was written: "Anyone who has inflicted harm and loss on his people with divination should be punished by death, and this punishment should be done with fire."

Witches have always indulged in fire in public. Probably, there is no need to explain why this was done. The best motivator is fear! Here, they say, look what will happen to those who dare to be at least a millimeter different from everyone else! A bonfire awaits everyone who ...

For local residents, oddly enough, such actions were a real show. When can you still go in the village? How else can you entertain yourself during the Middle Ages? Of course, to the village square to see with your own eyes how the witch will burn! For such a case, it will not be superfluous to even dress up!

The local "elite" in the person of all kinds of bishops, holy fathers from the church, judges and others looked with pleasure at how the executioner, with an unwavering hand, sent witches and sorcerers to hell. Chained to the posts with heavy chains, they died a terrible painful death, often accompanied by loud hooting of the crowd. After only a pile of ashes remained from the victim, the executioners considered their duty fulfilled. The ashes were dispelled and now it was possible to relax, because the burnt witch would never be able to incarnate again.

BURNING ON THE CREST

The all-devouring flame, as a means of killing, has been used since prehistoric times, and we find references to this type of execution in the earliest written sources.

Here are two quotes from the Old and New Testaments. The first is taken from the book of Joshua (chapter 7, verse 25) "And all the Israelites stoned him, and burned him with fire, and threw stones on him." The second is from the Gospel of John: “Whoever does not abide in Me will be cast out like a branch and wither; but such branches are gathered and thrown into the fire, and they are consumed. " The purifying property of fire became the reason that burning at the stake was considered throughout Europe to be the most effective means of combating heresy and, starting from the 12th century, it was preferred by both the papal and the Spanish inquisitions to other types of execution (see. Inquisition).

Separate information about the burning at the stake for heresy can be found in the English chronicles of the early 13th century. One incident occurred in 1222, when a young deacon was brought before an ecclesiastical court, was found guilty and later, by order of the Oxford Sheriff, was burned at the stake. His crime consisted in the fact that he had the imprudence to fall in love with a girl-ev-reika and accept her religion, preferring it to his own. Under the law on heresy issued by Henry IV, the church received the right to arrest anyone who was suspected of spreading heresy, whether he did it through written or spoken word. Those who recanted their words were imprisoned, and those who refused to do so were publicly burned at the stake. The first victim of the law was William Sotr, a priest who was burned in Lynn in March 1402. In 1533 Henry VIII abolished this law, but he issued his own, which provided for the burning at the stake of his subjects, who refused to believe that bread and wine during the sacraments were transformed into the body and blood of the Lord. In essence, all Protestants fell under this law, however, Henry VIII, not particularly understanding, burned both Protestants and Catholics.

The most notorious persecution of English Protestants took place during the reign of Henry VIII's daughter Mary (1553–1558), when at least 274 people — men, women, and even children — were burned to death at the stake. Most of them were martyred in London's Smithfield, the traditional place of execution. However, it so happened that it was the cruelty and unreasonableness of Mary, who tried to impose Catholicism on the English people, that turned the hearts of her subjects away from her and did not at all serve the cause of strengthening the Roman Catholic Church in England. The popular opinion of Mary as a cruel ruler was reinforced by the famous chronicle of John Fox, a witness of these events, called The Book of Martyrs. It is said that for the next century, this book, along with the Bible, remained the only reading of the common people.

Announcement of the execution of heretics in Germany. 1555 g.

On February 9, 1555, John Hooper, Bishop of Gloucester and Worster, was burnt at the stake in front of a crowd of 7,000 in his own diocese:

“The place for the execution was chosen next to a huge elm tree, opposite the church college, where he used to pray. A huge crowd gathered around, and the branches of the tree were strewn with spectators. Bishop Hooper knelt down and folded his hands in prayer. When he finished his fellowship with God, he took off his robe and handed it over to the sheriff. The mantle was followed by a camisole, a vest and leggings. Remaining in one shirt, he clamped her hem between her legs, where there was a pound sack of gunpowder. The same bags hung from his armpits. He went to the post, where three iron hoops were already prepared; one was attached around the waist, the other around the neck, and the third around the legs. However, the bishop did not want to be chained to a stake: “You do not need to bother yourself: I have no doubt that God will give me strength to withstand the power of fire even without hoops ... Although I suspect that human flesh is weak, I believe in God's mercy ... However, do as you see fit. " An iron hoop was attached around his waist, but when asked to attach hoops around his neck and legs, he declined, saying, "I'm sure that's enough." Standing at the pillar, he raised his hands to heaven in prayer. The man who was supposed to light the fire approached him and asked his forgiveness. "Why are you asking me for forgiveness if I am sure that you have not done me anything wrong?" Hooper asked. "Oh sir," the man replied, "I have to light the fire." “You have not done me anything wrong,” the bishop repeated, “God will forgive you your sins, and now do what you are ordered to do, I will pray for you.”

A dry cane was thrown at Hooper's feet, and he himself received two bundles, immediately thrusting their armpits. The order followed to light the fire, but since it contained many bundles of raw brushwood, the fire burned slowly. The wind was blowing in an unfavorable direction, the morning was cold and chilly, and the flames could not reach the victim. The fire was lit on the other side, and the wind immediately caught the flame, which began to lick the body of the bishop. It was at this moment that the bags of gunpowder exploded, but they did not facilitate the death of the unfortunate prelate, who prayed out loud: "Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, Lord Jesus, have mercy on me and accept my soul." These were the last words he spoke, but even when his face was completely black and his tongue was swollen so that he could not speak, his lips continued to move until his gums were exposed. He beat his chest with his hand until fat and blood flowed from his fingers. Finally he grabbed the hoop that hugged him with his hand and lost his strength. Soon, the entire lower part of his body was eaten by fire, and the upper, rolled over the hoop, fell down, accompanied by heart-rending screams of the audience greedy for such spectacles. The bishop's body burned for another three-quarters of an hour. Thus died the holy martyr John Hooper, died an unthinkable death in the most nightmares. "

(Complete Biography of Protestant Martyrs, Henry Moore, 1809).

However, not only in England adherents of different faiths accused each other of heresy; throughout Europe, starting from the 13th century, the Inquisition made its way with fires. The Inquisition is discussed separately in this book, but for the sake of consistency, I will mention here that the accusation of a person of heresy usually ended in a fire. The execution followed the auto-da-fe, when the convicts were handed over to the secular authorities to carry out the sentence (the church itself could not take life, it could only torture, often to death). The reason that the church ordered to burn heretics at the stake is based on the Catholic doctrine, which reads “Ecclesia non novit sanguinem” (the Church is not stained with blood).

The activities of the Holy Inquisition have always been associated with the witch hunt, who have always been considered heretics in some way and persecuted by any church. In almost every country in mainland Europe, the death sentence for a witch or sorcerer, passed by both ecclesiastical and secular courts, meant being burned at the stake.

It was during the 16th century that the witch-hunt became widespread, although one authoritative author (Rossell Hope Robbins) argues that the greatest rampant "witchery" took place from 1450 to 1750. In his Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology, Robbins gives some figures showing the rate of increase in witchcraft in parts of Germany; in Osnabrück in 1583 120 people were burned, and in 1589 - 133; in Ellwangen in 1612, 167 people were burned; and for 5 years, from 1631 to 1636. in the three villages of Reinbach, Meckenheim and Vierzheim, under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Cologne, from 125 to 150 families out of 300 families on charges of witchcraft ended their lives at the stake. The last witch burning at the stake in Germany took place in 1775. It is not possible to find out at least approximately how many so-called witches were burned at the stake during all the years of its activity, although according to the calculations of one contemporary of those events (Louis from Paramo "The Emergence and the activities of the Office of the Holy Inquisition "), over 150 years, 30,000 witches and sorcerers died at the stake. But there was one exception - England. Although neighboring Scotland, according to the European model, burned their witches at the stake, England preferred to hang their own (according to accurate estimates, 1000 people were hanged).

However, this does not mean that the British did not like to burn people at the stake, or that this type of execution was reserved solely for heretics.

The criminal law of England, like some other European countries, already included articles that provided for the punishment by death at the stake not only for church crimes, but also for secular crimes. John Scott, for example, was burned at the stake in 1605 for obscene cohabitation with a horse. The unhappy, innocent mare was burned with him. In Germany, centuries earlier, the same punishment was imposed for the same crime of bestiality.

In England, as well as in Germany, falsification of money or documents was punishable by burning at the stake, and thanks to articles in the Newgate Calendar we can learn about this first-hand. Barbara Spencer was found guilty of forging money and burned on July 5, 1721 at Tyburn:

“When she was already at the post, she seemed agitated no more than the day before. She wanted to pray and complained that the crowd gathered around threw dirt and stones at her, and this distracted her from thinking about eternity. She stated that she was taught to counterfeit money by some man and woman who had already given up this occupation and became worthy people. Although, when they first got involved in counterfeiting money, they were in a very tight situation. She is not going to mention their names because she is sorry to ruin the family that taught her this craft, especially since in London hundreds of people are engaged in counterfeiting money. Although she sees bundles of brushwood at her feet and knows that she is about to say goodbye to life, she will never denounce another, even if the judge promises to save her life. But she cannot forgive her old friend Miles, who denounced her. However, before the fire was set on fire, she said that she forgives everyone, including Miles, and dies with a clear conscience, with the knowledge that she will be punished, and hopes that her death will serve as a warning to others. "

The last burning at the stake in England took place in 1788 at Newgate Prison, when the counterfeiter Phoebus Harris found her death at the stake.

“She was a petite, well-built woman, about thirty years old. She had pale skin and attractive features. When she was taken out of prison, she was seized with horror, barely moved her legs, and when she was brought to the post, when she saw the devices for execution, when she presented all that she would have to experience, she was seized by a shiver that she hardly managed to calm down ... She went up the steps, and the executioner threw a loop of rope around her neck, tied to an iron bolt at the top of the pillar. After she prayed fervently, the steps were removed and the woman hung in the air. The executioner and his assistants tied the dead body to a pillar with an iron chain and after half an hour set fire to bundles of brushwood lying around the criminal. Soon the flame burned through the rope, and the body, slightly dipping, hung on the chain. After 4 hours the fire burned out. A huge crowd of people witnessed this sad event. "

(The Newgate Chronicle. Arthur Griffiths, 1783)

As an act of mercy, the strangulation of those sentenced to be burned before the fire was lighted was introduced several years before the event described below, and yet it was never possible to guarantee that the sentenced person would avoid suffering. Usually, the executioner strangled the criminal with a noose and rope outside the fire, when he was already on fire. If the tongues of flame burned out the rope, then the condemned was burned alive in agony. In the case of Catherine Hayes, the fire burned the executioner's hand, and he released the rope. Hayes was found guilty of a crime, the punishment for which was burning at the stake. This crime was called "minor treason" (as opposed to "high treason"). By the decree of King Edward III of 1351, minor treason meant the murder of a husband by his wife, a priest by his subordinates, or a master by his servant. Mrs. Hayes, in agreement with her lover Thomas Billing and friend of the latter Thomas Wood, decided to kill Mr. Hayes. They stabbed him, cut off his head, and then threw his body into a pond in Marylbone and his head into the Thames. The head was recovered and displayed for identification in St. Margaret Cemetery (Westminster). The crime was solved. Catherine Hayes was burned at the stake in 1726.

“On the day of her death, Hayes received Holy Communion and was taken by sleigh to the place of execution. When the unfortunate woman finished reading the prayer, she was tied with an iron chain to a post. If a woman was burned at the stake for minor treason, she was usually strangled with a rope and a noose around her neck in order to mercifully relieve her of suffering. But this woman had to be literally burned alive, because the executioner, when the flame scorched his hand, released the rope. The bonfire was already raging around the unfortunate, and the audience saw how Catherine Hayes scattered the bundles around her, filling the surroundings with shouts and groans. The executioner and his assistants hastened to fill her with other bundles, but the cries of the unfortunate woman could be heard from the flames for some time. Only three hours later her body was completely burnt. "

("Newgate Calendar").