A penalty of the English Criminal Code of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, inflicted on those found guilty of high treason touching the king's person or government. The person convicted was usually drawn on a sledge to the place of execution; there he was hung by the neck from a scaffold, being cut down and disembowelled while still alive; his head then was cut from his body and his corpse divided into four quarters. Many of the Catholic martyrs of England and Ireland, since the practise of their religion was declared high treason by law, suffered this cruel, barbarous death.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
Read More