10 Horrific Punishments From History That Could Be In Game Of Thrones

8. Ripped In Half In Ignomy And Disgrace - Ned Montagu

Edward 'Ned' Montagu was a young courtier in the time of Charles II. He was described as 'scurvy' by Samuel Pepys, but few young men had completely clean slates in the hedonistic Restoration period. He worked as master of the horses to the king's wife Catherine of Braganza. They formed a close relationship, possibly bonding over their shared Catholic faith. This sparked an array of rumours at court, and the gossiping reached its peak when it was said that Ned had squeezed Catherine's hand. Charles II got so fed up of the unbecoming gossip surrounding his wife that he banished the boy from court. Disgraced, Ned went back to his family, who sent him off to join the Navy as penance. During a battle in the third Anglo-Dutch war, he was ripped apart by a cannon ball whilst trying to save his friend. All this for squeezing the hand of a woman whose jealous husband openly had a dozen or more mistresses.