Torture at the Tower

There are few documents that describe the torture at the Tower.  One of the most gripping is in The Autobiography of an Elizabethan by John Gerard, a Jesuit, tortured during the reign of Elizabeth I.

“We went to the torture-room in a kind of solemn procession, the attendants walking ahead with lighted candles.

The chamber was underground and dark, particularly near the entrance.  It was a vast place and every device and instrument of human torture was there.  They pointed out some of them to me and said that I would try them all.  Then they asked me again whether I would confess… “

If you want your KS3 students to learn more about the Jesuits and how they were treated under Elizabeth I click here to learn about our History Detectives sessions.

Alex at the Tower