[linda_22003]

Okay, one case in the seventeenth century, in America. Not something I'd really be nostalgic for. And at least de Sade left some thrilling literature behind. ;-D

[AnAmericanMother]

Those were just examples, I wasn't going to list an entire Catalog of Crime, and I'm not interested enough in the issue to go into heavy-duty research. There were many other cases that I ran across. I think there's an equivalent to the Newgate Calendar in America, but I haven't taken the time to look for it.

It was clear from just a casual search that there were numerous executions for this offense, and that comports with my recollections from the history of the colonial period. From Blackstone forward this crime was held in complete abhorrence, and it was a capital offense until the general 19th century criminal reforms. Even the gay websites I ran across < shudder > agree with this, and seem to treat it as sort of like the Roman persecution of the Christians (iow, they glory in it.)