Today's torture device is the Scavenger's Daughter (also known as the Skevington's Daughter, or the Spanish A-frame), invented during the reign of Henry VIII (of course) by Sir Leonard Skeffington ("Scavenger" is thought to be a corruption of "Skeffington," as is "Skevington," because apparently people couldn't remember his actual name). It is the opposite of the rack, in a way, as it compresses the body rather than stretching it.
They were configured either as in the photo above, or in a more A-frame or triangular fashion. The head went through the circular portion at the top, the hands went through the semi-circles where the A would be crossed, and the ankles went through at the bottom. This caused the body to be crunched in a position where the knees would be forced against the chest and the thighs against the stomach. It also kept the head bent downward. This position caused the unfortunate person locked in one to bleed from the ears and nose (I'm guessing not right away, as I myself am able to press my knees to my chest without bleeding from my face).
If you consider yourself a torture aficionado (why the hell would you?), yet have not heard of this instrument, don't, well, torture yourself about it. Documentation from the time suggests that it was rarely used. You can see one for yourself on display at the Tower of London museum or the torture museum in Freiburg im Breisgau (where the above photo is from), if you happen to be in Europe.
They were configured either as in the photo above, or in a more A-frame or triangular fashion. The head went through the circular portion at the top, the hands went through the semi-circles where the A would be crossed, and the ankles went through at the bottom. This caused the body to be crunched in a position where the knees would be forced against the chest and the thighs against the stomach. It also kept the head bent downward. This position caused the unfortunate person locked in one to bleed from the ears and nose (I'm guessing not right away, as I myself am able to press my knees to my chest without bleeding from my face).
If you consider yourself a torture aficionado (why the hell would you?), yet have not heard of this instrument, don't, well, torture yourself about it. Documentation from the time suggests that it was rarely used. You can see one for yourself on display at the Tower of London museum or the torture museum in Freiburg im Breisgau (where the above photo is from), if you happen to be in Europe.
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