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It happened but wasn't all that common as can be read in the actual diary of a Public Executioner, see "A Hangman's Diary: The Journal of Master Franz Schmidt,

It happened but wasn't all that common as can be read in the actual diary of a Public Executioner, see "A Hangman's Diary: The Journal of Master Franz Schmidt, Public Executioner of Nuremberg, 1573-1617". "A Hangman’s Diary is not only a collection of detailed writings by Schmidt about his work, but also an account of criminal procedure in Germany during the Middle Ages. With analysis and explanation, editor Albrecht Keller and translators C. Calvert and A. W. Gruner have put together a masterful tome that sets the scene of execution day and puts you in Master Franz Schmidt’s shoes as he does his duty for his country.".

cm2187 4y ago
Which is why the guillotine was invented. The local executioner often had little experience and would often botch the job.
- digitalengineer 4y ago
  True. The executioner that wrote the diary was literally a logger. He was ordered to "do the choppin" when they couldn't find an executioner. He was ALSO immediately thrown out of all his social connections. No one wanted to befriend someone who's job it is to punish / kill. It was devastating for his and his family's standing.
  - vintermann 4y ago
    It's a bit of a contrast to the Game of Thrones style of fantasy, where macho leaders do public executions as if it wasn't a big deal. Even pagans were reluctant to do such things. They were terrified of curses, magic, the hidden strengths in apparent weakness: not powers suited to rule with, but very well suited for destructive revenge. One of the oldest of the old Norse stories we know, the story of Wayland, is basically a revenge flick. There's also: "The twelfth I know When in the tree I see a dead man dangling: Then I the runes Carve and draw So he who there hangs Walks and talks with me." That is from Hávamal, the final part, where Odin lists the spells he knows. It sounds like a warning to me: are you sure you want your enemy to become Odin's companion?

cm2187 4y ago

Which is why the guillotine was invented. The local executioner often had little experience and would often botch the job.

digitalengineer 4y ago
True. The executioner that wrote the diary was literally a logger. He was ordered to "do the choppin" when they couldn't find an executioner. He was ALSO immediately thrown out of all his social connections. No one wanted to befriend someone who's job it is to punish / kill. It was devastating for his and his family's standing.
- vintermann 4y ago
  It's a bit of a contrast to the Game of Thrones style of fantasy, where macho leaders do public executions as if it wasn't a big deal. Even pagans were reluctant to do such things. They were terrified of curses, magic, the hidden strengths in apparent weakness: not powers suited to rule with, but very well suited for destructive revenge. One of the oldest of the old Norse stories we know, the story of Wayland, is basically a revenge flick. There's also: "The twelfth I know When in the tree I see a dead man dangling: Then I the runes Carve and draw So he who there hangs Walks and talks with me." That is from Hávamal, the final part, where Odin lists the spells he knows. It sounds like a warning to me: are you sure you want your enemy to become Odin's companion?