How were witches tortured?

many different methods were used.

the most common were:

burning at the stake

drowning

-if you didn't drown (you could swim) you were a "witch", and consequently burned at the stake. if you did drown, then you were innocent, but dead.

torture methods: (beware, these are gruesome)

most torture methods were designed to force the accused to "confess"

--The "witch" was laid down on her back in a coffin sized box. Nails had been put through the lid, with the points on the inside. Then the lid was slammed shut and left there for an extended period of time.

--Small devices were put around a limb or finger that were pointy and when cranked, they would grind into the flesh.

--The breasts of the "witch" could be torn off of her body with red hot tongs. There was a specific case where they then stuffed the woman's breasts into her son's mouths.

sorry for the grossness factor