Witches convicted in Italy and Spain however did not have the leniency of being hanged or strangled and were burnt alive.
In England and America persons found guilty of witchcraft were hanged and only burnt alive if found guilty of treason.
The Inquisition had established that burning at the stake was an appropriate punishment for heretics. As witchcraft was regarded as a crime of heresy as they were thought to have turned their backs on god, they were frequently given the same punishment.
The fire was thought to be a means of purification and that burning a witch to ashes was the only way that their powers could be destroyed.
Execution by burning at the stake was an extremely painful death, particularly so if it was green wood used as it is slow to kindle and burn.
Executions were a major public occasion and crowds would gather enthusiastically, the occasion acting as severe warning to others as well as the punishment for the person convicted on the charge of witchcraft. Local people would be advised of the event by tolling of the church bells or blaring of trumpets.
The accused person was often expected to repeat their confession or confirm their guilt after having a list read out of the crimes of which they had supposedly been found guilty. Usually the execution took place shortly after the sentencing or as soon as an executioner could be summoned and a fire built. In Scotland the service of an execution was not as swift and the days before the execution of a witch would be spent fasting and preaching. The condemned witch would then be strangled and burnt. Insufficient attention would often be taken during the course of the strangling with many people merely being unconscious or semi-conscious. If the witch were still alive and attempted to get out of the fire there were simply pushed back in again.
