The most gruesome British execution. Hanged to the point of death, revived, and hanged again repeatedly; disemboweled and castrated. Drawn, tied feet or hands first and dragged by horse across cobblestone streets to the place where quartered. Each arm and leg bound to a separate horse whipped to charge in opposite directions thus quartering the condemned body. One can imagine the excited crowds betting on which horse won the torso.

Hanged, drawn and quartered was the British execution of choice well known by the “traitors” fomenting the American revolt against the Crown. It was the British penalty for treason and/or heresy, since the king was not only head of state but head of the Anglican Church as well. Thus, Madison’s Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.