From- The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology

By Rossell Hope Robbins, p. 14

Torture was always employed, nor was there any limit to its severity or duration. If the accused died under torture, it was said the devil broke his neck. Even if the accused confessed without torture, nevertheless he had to make his confession under torture; it was assumed he might have confessed falsely just to avoid being tortured. After torture, the accused had to repeat his confession "freely," and the court record would so state.