BOILING TO DEATH, a punishment once common both in England and on the Continent. The Chronicles of the Grey Friars (Camden Society, 1852) have an account of boiling for poisoning at Smithfield in the year 1522, the man being fastened to a chain and lowered into boiling water several times until he died. The preamble of the statute of Henry VIII. (which made poisoning treason) in 1531 recites that one Richard Roose (or Coke), a cook, by putting poison in some food intended for the household of the bishop of Rochester and for the poor of the parish of Lambeth, killed a man and woman. He was found guilty of treason and sentenced to be boiled to death without bene fit of clergy. He was publicly boiled at Smithfield. In 1547 the act was repealed.
See W. Andrews, Old Time Punishments (Hull, 189o) ; Notes and Queries, vol. i. (1862), vol. ix. 0867); Du Cange (s.v. Caldariis decoquere).