Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chivalet,
his feet , and the cord which confined his hands passed over a pulley . At a given signal he w ^ s hoisted in the air , where he hung suspended by his arms , which were thus drawn out of their natural position ; then suddenly the cord would be slackened , but checked before the sufferer reached the ground , and a tremendous shock was thus given to his frame . The heel of a prisoner was at times enclosed in an
iron boot , which could be tightened at pleasure , and thus cause ex , - cruciating pain . Another mode of torture was to fasten the feet of the prisoner in an instrument which prevented his drawing them back ; they were then rubbed with some unctuous substance , and scorched before a blazing fire . A board was occasionally placed
between the feet-and the fire , and withdrawn from time to time , in order to increase the pain by intervals of cessation . A variety of torment—considered more merciful , and easy to bear , and therefore only permitted as an indulgence to those who had not strength to undergo such agony as we have alluded to—was to place sticks between the fingers , and compress them till the bones were cracked . Occasionally the teeth were drawn .
In the first instance these tortures drew—upon promise of pardon and release—admissions of guilt from several of the unhappy Knights ; b ut upon their re-appearance before the court , they one and all desired . to withdraw these extorted confessions . John de Yalgelle maintained that he had made no such confession as was stated . "B ernard de Vado said : " I was tortured so much , and held so long before a burning fire , that the flesh of mv heels was burnt , and these two
bones [ which he produced ] came off . " John de Pollincourt , when before the papal commissioners , was , by the assembled fathers ( observing his paleness and agitation ) , told to tell the truth and save his soul , and not to persist in his confession if it had not been sincere , assuring him that neither they nor their notaries would reveal anything he said . After a pause he replied : " I declare , then , on peril of my soul , and on the oath which I have taken , that , at the time of my reception , I neither denied Clod , nor spat upon the cross , nor
committed any of the indecencies of which we are accused ; and was not required to do so . It is true that 1 have made confessions before the inquisitors , but it was through the fear of death , and because Giles de Rotangi had , with tears , said to rne and many others who were with me in prison at Montrenil , that we should pay for it with our lives , if Ave did not assist , by our confessions , to destroy the
Order . I yielded , and afterwards I wished to confess myself to the Bishop of Amiens ; he referred me to a Minorite friar , I accused myself of this falsehood , and obtained absolution on condition that I would make no more false depositions in this affair , I tell you the truth : I persist in attesting it before you : come what may of it , I prefer my soul to my body . " Peter de la Palu , a bachelor of theology of the order of the Preachers , a witness produced to support the accusations against the Order , on his examination , said : " I have been present at the examination of several Pemplars , some of whom confessed many of the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chivalet,
his feet , and the cord which confined his hands passed over a pulley . At a given signal he w ^ s hoisted in the air , where he hung suspended by his arms , which were thus drawn out of their natural position ; then suddenly the cord would be slackened , but checked before the sufferer reached the ground , and a tremendous shock was thus given to his frame . The heel of a prisoner was at times enclosed in an
iron boot , which could be tightened at pleasure , and thus cause ex , - cruciating pain . Another mode of torture was to fasten the feet of the prisoner in an instrument which prevented his drawing them back ; they were then rubbed with some unctuous substance , and scorched before a blazing fire . A board was occasionally placed
between the feet-and the fire , and withdrawn from time to time , in order to increase the pain by intervals of cessation . A variety of torment—considered more merciful , and easy to bear , and therefore only permitted as an indulgence to those who had not strength to undergo such agony as we have alluded to—was to place sticks between the fingers , and compress them till the bones were cracked . Occasionally the teeth were drawn .
In the first instance these tortures drew—upon promise of pardon and release—admissions of guilt from several of the unhappy Knights ; b ut upon their re-appearance before the court , they one and all desired . to withdraw these extorted confessions . John de Yalgelle maintained that he had made no such confession as was stated . "B ernard de Vado said : " I was tortured so much , and held so long before a burning fire , that the flesh of mv heels was burnt , and these two
bones [ which he produced ] came off . " John de Pollincourt , when before the papal commissioners , was , by the assembled fathers ( observing his paleness and agitation ) , told to tell the truth and save his soul , and not to persist in his confession if it had not been sincere , assuring him that neither they nor their notaries would reveal anything he said . After a pause he replied : " I declare , then , on peril of my soul , and on the oath which I have taken , that , at the time of my reception , I neither denied Clod , nor spat upon the cross , nor
committed any of the indecencies of which we are accused ; and was not required to do so . It is true that 1 have made confessions before the inquisitors , but it was through the fear of death , and because Giles de Rotangi had , with tears , said to rne and many others who were with me in prison at Montrenil , that we should pay for it with our lives , if Ave did not assist , by our confessions , to destroy the
Order . I yielded , and afterwards I wished to confess myself to the Bishop of Amiens ; he referred me to a Minorite friar , I accused myself of this falsehood , and obtained absolution on condition that I would make no more false depositions in this affair , I tell you the truth : I persist in attesting it before you : come what may of it , I prefer my soul to my body . " Peter de la Palu , a bachelor of theology of the order of the Preachers , a witness produced to support the accusations against the Order , on his examination , said : " I have been present at the examination of several Pemplars , some of whom confessed many of the