Medieval History
This has to be one of the most inhuman forms of punishment ever invented and was the most extreme penalty available in English law for those guilty of high treason, which was considered the most serious attack on the monarch’s authority. Those who were being punished in this way were seen as sub-human and the dishonour, pain and cruelty that they suffered was meant to create a division between themselves and the audience. The message being that a ‘normal’ man would not be made to suffer three deaths. And it was only men that could be put to death in this fashion. It was thought to be too indecent to expose a woman’s body in such a way. Therefore, a woman convicted of treason would either be burned at the stake or beheaded. Which on reflection wasn’t really that much better.
Credit MedievalMadness