William Wallace - Infamous Trial - A BARBAROUS SENTENCE

What “the authorities” did to people in the Middle Ages was shocking by any standards. Before execution, individuals—such as William Wallace—were drawn behind a horse on their way to the place of execution. The process is seen in this drawing by the 13th-century chronicler Matthew Paris. It depicts William de Marisco being punished in this fashion. “Execution of William de Marisco. Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 16, folio 155v.” See, also, The Art of Matthew Paris in the Chronica Majora, by Suzanne Lewis, at page 235 of the online version.

Wallace was found guilty, but what is most remarkable is the intentional cruelty of the sentence.

Death was not enough to satisfy Edward's anger at this Scottish patriot. The manner of death, imposed by the court, was almost beyond belief.

...he be there hanged, and afterwards taken down from the gallows. And that, inasmuch as he was an outlaw, and was not afterwards restored to the peace of the Lord King, he be decollated and decapitated...that the heart, the liver and lungs as well as all the other intestines of the said William, from which such perverted thoughts proceeded, be cast into the fire and burnt.