Last dying speeches

Last dying speeches. In the mid-1670s there was an explosion of printed materials about trials and executions, addressed to a wide range of people who wanted to know more about these matters. This curiosity was satisfied with regular publications about last dying speeches and the behaviour of prisoners.

Origins and history of printed last dying speeches

The publishing of last dying speeches and confessions started to be common after 1650, at the same time with the rise of newspapers and a several number of political executions. This right to have a public confession of innocence or guilt was one of the unalienable privileges of prisoners. But sometimes officials threatened the martyrs in order to guarantee their silence, or, other times, they were interrupted or silenced at the gallows.

See also

Bibliography

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