Allthatexceedsasimpledeathappearstomeabsolutecruelty。Ourjusticecannotexpectthathe，whomthefearofdyingbybeingbeheadedorhangedwillnotrestrain，shouldbeanymoreawedbytheimaginationofalanguishingfire，pincers，orthewheel。AndIknownot，inthemeantime，whetherwedonotthrowthemintodespair;forinwhatconditioncanbethesoulofaman，expectingfour—and—twentyhourstogethertobebrokenuponawheel，oraftertheoldway，nailedtoacross？JosephusrelatesthatinthetimeofthewartheRomansmadeinJudaea，happeningtopassbywheretheyhadthreedaysbeforecrucifiedcertainJews，heamongstthemknewthreeofhisownfriends，andobtainedthefavourofhavingthemtakendown，ofwhomtwo，hesays，died;thethirdlivedagreatwhileafter。
Chalcondylas，awriterofgoodcredit，intherecordshehasleftbehindhimofthingsthathappenedinhistime，andnearhim，tellsus，asofthemostexcessivetorment，ofthattheEmperorMohammedveryoftenpractised，ofcuttingoffmeninthemiddlebythediaphragmwithoneblowofascimitar，whenceitfollowedthattheydiedasitweretwodeathsatonce;andboththeonepart，sayshe，andtheother，wereseentostirandstriveagreatwhileafterinverygreattorment。Idonotthinktherewasanygreatsufferinginthismotionthetormentsthatarethemostdreadfultolookonarenotalwaysthegreatesttoendure;andI
findthosethatotherhistoriansrelatetohavebeenpractisedbyhimupontheEpirotlords，aremorehorridandcruel，wheretheywerecondemnedtobeflayedalivepiecemeal，aftersomaliciousamannerthattheycontinuedfifteendaysinthatmisery。
Andtheseothertwo:Croesus，havingcausedagentleman，thefavouriteofhisbrotherPantaleon，tobeseized，carriedhimintoafuller’sshop，wherehecausedhimtobescratchedandcardedwiththecardsandcombsbelongingtothattrade，tillhedied。GeorgeSechel，chiefcommanderofthepeasantsofPoland，whocommittedsomanymischiefsunderthetitleoftheCrusade，beingdefeatedinbattleandtakenbutheVayvodeofTransylvania，wasthreedaysboundnakedupontherackexposedtoallsortsoftormentsthatanyonecouldcontriveagainsthim:duringwhichtimemanyotherprisonerswerekeptfasting;intheend，helivingandlookingon，theymadehisbelovedbrotherLucat，forwhomaloneheentreated，takingonhimselftheblameofalltheirevilactionsdrinkhisblood，andcausedtwentyofhismostfavouredcaptainstofeeduponhim，tearinghisfleshinpieceswiththeirteeth，andswallowingthemorsels。Theremainderofhisbodyandhisbowels，sosoonashewasdead，wereboiled，andothersofhisfollowerscompelledtoeatthem。
CHAPTERXXVIII