Why damn my eyes,Cap'n, You would even maroon a man on a spit of an island. With his sea chest, his musket and bible and all. He would have to live with the certainty of a slow death. Else be picked up by Spaniards and tortured.
Seriously though. The middle ages had the "iron maiden", I saw one at Madam Tussauds. It was a gibbet, but with spikes that closed in, when the live person was shoved inside. Makes Camp Gitmo look like a 18 century retirement home for their lud'ships.
I have the opportunity to amend my hasty post. It was on Wimbledon Common, that Jerry Abbershaw, highwayman was gibbeted 1795. The bareknuckle contest was in 1800.(Belcher vs Gamble). Hard by the gibbet.
Correction to my post. Wikipedia tells us that the iron maiden was never documented until 1793. Generally thought to be of the middle ages though.
I should go to Madame Tussauds in London and ask for a rebate. The fake exhibit was in the "Chamber of Horrors".
"I was a highwayman
Long the coast roads I did ride
Sword and pistol by my side
Many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade
Many a soldier shed his lifeblood on my blade
Bastards hung me in the Spring(?) of 85
But, I am still alive...