During medieval times in Europe, a variety of torture devices were employed for different purposes. Many of these devices were prominently used during the Spanish Inquisition and continued to be utilized afterward.
However, there was also a category of lesser-known medieval torture devices. One such device was the Scavenger’s Daughter, primarily used in England.
History of the Scavenger’s Daughter
The history of the Scavenger’s Daughter dates back to the reign of King Henry VIII of England. It is believed that Leonard Skeffington, the Lieutenant of the Tower of London, invented the device. The term “scavenger” is derived from Skeffington’s last name. Despite its invention, historical documents reveal that the device was rarely used, making it one of the less common medieval torture instruments.
Definition of the Scavenger’s Daughter
By definition, the Scavenger’s Daughter was a torture device designed to compress the victim’s body painfully. This method was the opposite of the famous Rack, which stretched the victim’s body and tore the limbs apart.
Compressing the victim’s body was used to extract confessions, and this was considered a legitimate means of obtaining them.
How Did the Scavenger’s Daughter Work?
The Scavenger’s Daughter operated by strapping the victim’s head to the top point of an A-frame-shaped metal rack. The hands were tied at the midpoint, and the legs were bound at the lower spread end. The body was then compressed from both sides, pushing the knees upward into a sitting position and the head in the opposite direction. This caused blood to run from the victim’s nose and ears, along with muscle damage.
Construction of the Scavenger’s Daughter
Compared to many other torture devices, the Scavenger’s Daughter was relatively simple to make. It involved constructing a metal frame using three iron planks in an A shape. Straps were then used to bind the victim to the device.
Summary of the Scavenger’s Daughter
The Scavenger’s Daughter was one of the lesser-used medieval torture devices and was relatively easier to construct. Invented in England during the reign of King Henry VIII, it worked on the principle opposite to that of the Rack by compressing the victim’s body instead of stretching it.
