Anabaptist Church History
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15th century (source section) · Source account

Concerning The Places In Which Those Who Fell Under The Power Of The Inquisition Were Imprisoned.

From Martyrs’ Mirror

Original historical wording. Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned Earlier accounts express the book’s perspective on Christian continuity.

As regards the place where each was separately confined and the narrowness of the same, it was as follows: If it is below, it is wet, damp, and filthy, so that it were better to call it a grave, than a jail or a prison. If above, it is warm in summer, yea, hot as an oven. When there are many prisoners, generally two or three are shut up together in each hovel or hole, who, when they lie down to rest, have not as much room left, as to once stir, save perhaps the space of a foot, where stands a vessel for their necessities and a pitcher with water, to quench their thirst. Sitting and lying thus day and night in darkness, these miserable beings emaciate and pine away by hunger and grief, to such a degree, that scarcely the skin remains over their bones; besides that they are so severely tortured, racked and drawn with various cruel instruments, that their limbs are drawn from their joints. Same page.

Original heading and source location

CONCERNING THE PLACES IN WHICH THOSE WHO FELL UNDER THE POWER OF THE INQUISITION WERE IMPRISONED.

First Part. · AN ACCOUNT OF THOSE WHO SUFFERED IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY.

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