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The modern concept of the inquisition torture-chamber as a place of deviously refined cruelty is "''an error due to sensationalist writers who have exploited credulity.''"<ref>Henry Charles Lea, quoted in '''Kamen''', ''op cit.''</ref> The historian Henry Charles Lea estimated that between 1575 and 1610 only around 32% of those prisoners whose offences made them liable for torture were actually tortured.  

The modern concept of the inquisition torture-chamber as a place of deviously refined cruelty is "''an error due to sensationalist writers who have exploited credulity.''"<ref>Henry Charles Lea, quoted in '''Kamen''', ''op cit.''</ref> The historian Henry Charles Lea estimated that between 1575 and 1610 only around 32% of those prisoners whose offences made them liable for torture were actually tortured.  

The Spanish Inquisition's use of torture was subject to strict rules laid down long before by [[Clement V]] - but these were usually bent. For example, a prisoner could only be turtured once, so the Inquisitor would state clearly at the end of session that torture was being "suspended", not ended, so that the records would show the continuation of a single application of toture rather than a second session.

The Spanish Inquisition's use of torture was subject to strict rules laid down long before by [[Clement V]] - but these were usually bent. For example, a prisoner could only be tortured once, so the Inquisitor would state clearly at the end of session that torture was being "suspended", not ended, so that the records would show the continuation of a single application of torture rather than a second session.

Torture was applied by a public executioner in the presence of an Inquisitor, a representative of the local bishop, and usually a doctor. few victims appear to have died under torture, and cases of permanent injury or loss of a limb were, comparitively, rare. The three most common methods were the ''garrucha'', similar to the strappado; the ''toca'', or ordeal of water; and the ''potro'', a form of the rack. the use and number of torture implements is much smaller than is imagined, and usually a free confession in the chamber was sufficient to avoid torture altogether.

Torture was applied by a public executioner in the presence of an Inquisitor, a representative of the local bishop, and usually a doctor. Few victims appear to have died under torture, and cases of permanent injury or loss of a limb were, comparitively, rare. The three most common methods were the ''garrucha'', similar to the strappado; the ''toca'', or ordeal of water; and the ''potro'', a form of the rack. The use and number of torture implements was much smaller than is imagined, and usually a free confession in the chamber was sufficient to avoid torture altogether.

While there are examples of prisoners being mutilated, losing toes and fingers and having limbs broken, it appears that merely the sight of the instruments in the chamber were enough to produce confession. Only the most obstinate prisoners received the full application of torture. torture was also used fully against witnesses who gave contradicting testimony or retracted accusations thay had made earlier.

While there are examples of prisoners being mutilated, losing toes and fingers and having limbs broken, it appears that merely the sight of the instruments in the chamber were enough to produce confession. Only the most obstinate prisoners received the full application of torture. Torture was also used fully against witnesses who gave contradicting testimony or retracted accusations they had made earlier.

==Sentence and Auto de Fe==

==Sentence and Auto de Fe==

The ultimate penalty was "Relaxation" - a misleading term which actually means "burning at the stake". Heretics who had either died in confinement or escaped justice were "relaxed in effigy", while the less fortunate were handed to the secular authorities for execution. This sentence was reserved for unrepentant or relapsed heretics, and the Inquisitors would attempt until the last moment to get a confession, saving the prisoners life. Even a confession as late as at the ''auto de fe'' would earn the benefit of death by strangulation prior to the stake; those who still did not confess were burned alive.

The ultimate penalty was "Relaxation" - a misleading term which actually means "burning at the stake". Heretics who had either died in confinement or escaped justice were "relaxed in effigy", while the less fortunate were handed to the secular authorities for execution. This sentence was reserved for unrepentant or relapsed heretics, and the Inquisitors would attempt until the last moment to get a confession, saving the prisoners life. Even a confession as late as at the ''auto de fe'' would earn the benefit of death by strangulation prior to the stake; those who still did not confess were burned alive.

 

The intrepidity of the 21 men and women in suffering the horrid death was truly astonishing; some thrust their hands and feet into the flames with most dauntless fortitude; and all of them yielded to their fate with such resolution that many of the amazed spectators lamented that such heroic souls had not been more enlightened.<ref>The account of William Lithgow, quoted in '''Scott,George Ryley''' ''The History of Torture Throughout the Ages'', London: Torchstream Books (1949)</ref></div>

 

 

 

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==References==

==References==