ABSTRACT
After the horrors which have been paraded before the reader the word ‘mercy’ shines out like a mountain peak. There is no word more solemn, more profound, or more divine. But it must be admitted that in the criminal records of past times the quality of mercy did not play a very important part. Too much attention was paid to the letter of the law, which was often extremely harsh in its application, and any departure from the rigorous punishment prescribed was regarded as defeating the ends of justice. The custom which admitted the possibility of intercession did something to alleviate the severities, but we can well imagine what a free pardon must have meant to the tortured victims.
