“You may beg for a different death which will, when it comes be swift, instant and without pain – for that you will have to perform well with your body on the scaffold” The words were said as one passes the time of day – no emotion or excitement. You will have no funeral, no ritual, no resting place.” “When death has overtaken you the crowd will be allowed to grope and caress your dead flesh – after an hour your corpse will be taken to be dissected and all your vital organs will be removed and preserved for public display – the remainder of your body if not needed by the medical men will be burnt with the city refuse. “This can take many minutes and will be excruciating in its pain – you will struggle and twist and turn on the rope end as you desperately try to breathe in air but the choking rope will have tightened around your soft white neck and will tighten more with each movement you make” “After some words from the priest, the lever will release plunging you to your death – but it will not be instant for you have to pay for your sins, death will come to you as a blessed relief from the agony of your death throes as you struggle for air”
“Your wrists will be tied behind your back, the execution rope will be laid across your shoulders and you will be taken outside the prison and up the 13 steps of the gallows – the gallows will have a cover across the back to shade the gentry that have paid for a better view of things, as you reach the top and pass into public view the crowd will cheer you on your way – you must kneel naked before the priest who will administer your last rites, then you will be placed under the gallows beam and the rope will be fixed to the gallows and then the noose placed round your neck” “First, you will be stripped naked so at leave this world as you entered it” “Let me introduce myself” said the man in charge “ I am your executioner and for your sake I will tell you how we will proceed in the morning when we come to despatch you to your maker” The door opened with a crash and she cowered in the corner as a man entered – “Bring her outside into the light” he ordered the guards who hustled Marie out and into a well lit windowless room. She had not stolen her mistresses necklace! But still she was now sat in a dark, damp cell with no light save a shaft from the small slit in the door. Hearing those words Marie was stunned as the two guards in the dock hurried her down the steps and back into her holding cell. “……you will be taken from here to be executed by hanging in accordance with the law.