Popular in the 12th/13th Centuries (especially in England), The ''Dunking Stool'' was a device used in Public Humiliation/Torture device initially. A wooden chair, attached to a rope or chain and likewise fastened to a cross pole (wood). The cross pole was affixed to a frame or brace. Often, these device had wheels for mobility (to move to a suitable water source). The Offender would be tied to the chair. The chair was raised (Victim attached) and lowered into a deep enough river or lake. After several minutes of being submerged, the victim was raised. This "water torture" could be used to extract confessions or other information. As it's use spread, it was found to be a suitable tool for execution as well. Per the superstitions of the time, if a Person of accused of Witchcraft or related Heresy, They would be subjected to The Stool. IF a Person was a Witch, They would sink and not float to the surface (an innocent floated). It ponders the question of how a secured person would float to begin with. The intention was to drown and not float (thus ridding the town of the witch!). The Dunking Stool was so popular that it made it's way to The New World as well. Many colonies used them and reproductions of them still exist in many Museums.