Restrain - Torture - Execute While such practices may seem barbaric in our modern day "civilized" society, in medieval times brutal devices of restraint, cruel tortures, and unimaginable methods of execution were used to both punish and also to send strong messages of deterrence. With over 100 photos and illustrations and drawing on his own impressive personal collection, author Steve Santini separates fact from fiction as he explores these sinister devices and how they fuctioned within the dark framework of medieval justice.