Just listened to Dan Carlin's "Prophet's of Doom." Very interesting, if you haven't heard it already I highly recommend it, along with all the Hardcore History podcasts.
Well, I won't spoil it for anyone, but it got me wondering. Dan says that the punishment that was dealt to the captives at the end of the podcast was basicly the worst possible punishment you could receive in medieval times. Is this true? Were there other's comparable to the executions in Munster in 1536? It's hard to imagine anything worse, but if history has taught me anything it's to never doubt how creative humans can be when it comes to killing other humans.
Tortures and Torments of the Christian Martyrs by Rev. Antonio Gallonio 1591. Various editions, some have scorned latest for campy illustrations by serial killers.
The Rev. describes numerous tortures brought upon erstwhile Christian martyrs. All are gruesome, Worst. Punishment. Ever. Grouped by torture type: pressing, stretching, breaking, boiling, burning, animals. Prolonging suffering seem the worst possible. Iron maiden, Catherine Wheel, brazen bull. Alternately, pouring molten lead down the throat / bum seems it might be disconcerting.