a
series of incredible tortures, after which, with his body singed from
head to heel, and his feet almost entirely flayed, he was left for six
weeks to crawl about his dungeon on his knees. He was then brought back
to the torture-room, and again stretched upon the rack, while a large
earthen vessel, made for the purpose, was placed, inverted, upon his
naked body. A number of rats were introduced under this cover, and hot
coals were heaped upon the vessel, till the rats, rendered furious by the
heat, gnawed into the very bowels of the victim, in their agony to
escape.

[Bor (viii. 628) conscientiously furnishes diagrams of the
machinery by aid of which this devilish cruelty was inflicted. The
rats were sent by the Governor himself.--Vide Letter of the
Commissioners to Sonoy, apud Bor, viii. 640, 641. The whole letter
is a wonderful monument of barbarity. The incredible tortures to
which the poor creatures had been subjected are detailed in a
business-like manner, as though the transactions were quite regular
and laudable, The Commissioners conclude with pious wishes for the
Governor's welfare: "Noble, wise, virtuous, and very discreet sir,"
they say, "we have wished to apprise you of the foregoing, and we
now pray that God Almighty may spare you in a happy, healthy and
long-continued government"--It will be seen, however, that the wise,
virtuous, and very discreet Governor, who thus caused his fellow-
citizens bowels to be gnawed by rats, was not allowed to remain much
longer in his "happy and healthy government"]

The holes thus torn in his bleeding flesh were filled with red-hot coals.
He was afterwards subjected to other tortures too foul to relate; nor was
it till he had endured all this agony, with a fortitude which seemed
supernatural, that he was at last discovered to be human. Scorched;
bitten, dislocated in every joint, sleepless, starving, perishing with
thirst, he was at last crushed into a false confession, by a promise of
absolute forgiveness. He admitted everything which was brought to his
charge, confessing a catalogue of contemplated burnings and beacon
firings of which he had never dreamed, and avowing himself in league with
other desperate Papists, still more dangerous than himself.

Notwithstanding the promises of pardon, Nanning was then condemned to
death. The sentence ordained that his heart should be torn from his
living bosom, and thrown in his face,