Burning hand

[coldfeet]

Wasn't there some man who set fire to his hand because he regretted something that he'd done?
I'm aware that I'm probably over simplifying the story but I can't remember a single thing about it! It may have been some Greek myth, sounds like something those Greeks'd do! I've also posted in Arts and Literature in case its from a book. If it is it'll be from a classic text, I know its a pretty old story. Sorry for the lack of detail!

[henneth]

In A Pickle is spot on,

However Cranmer recanted six times before Mary said "foget it, I'm going to burn you anyway" vindictively as he helped declare her parents marriage invalid and her illigitimate.

[Octavius]

�Then was an iron chain tied about Cranmer and fire set unto him. When the wood was kindled and the fire began to burn near him, he stretched forth his right hand, which had signed his recantation, into the flames, and there held it so the people might see it burnt to a coal before his body was touched. In short, he was so patient and constant in the midst of his tortures, that he seemed to move no more than the stake to which he was bound; his eyes were lifted up to heaven, and often he said, so long as his voice would suffer him, �this unworthy right hand!� and often using the words of Stephen, �Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,� till the fury of the flames putting him to silence, he gave up the ghost.� (The Book of Act and Monuments, Book of Martyrs, By John Foxe � 1563)

[coldfeet]

Thank you everyone! That's really put my mind at rest! And we've def got the right boy, the book that started me thinking about it is about a schismatic... (is that the right word? - a dissenter.. left his church...) Anyway, Crammer it is. Thanks.

[Wongo93]

The classical reference is to C. Mucius Scaevola, "The Left-handed", coldfeet, an ancient Roman who did much the same as poor Tom Cranmer, but survived. Always knew my O-level Latin would be some use...

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/mucius_scaevola.html< /p>

[coldfeet]

Yeah, was just thinkin, I know that Crammer had his reasons for burning that hand but surely he'd have had some of his own historical references that influenced him... perhaps Scaevola was the original...
There's also an interesting reference in modern day cinema, it was mentioned in the Arts and Literature section and coincidentally I watched the same film recently, "You, Me and everyone we know." Has anyone seen it? (A v beautiful film, I highly recommend it) The lead guy set fire to his hand at the beginning to mark a huge change in his life, the healing of his hand kinda corresponded with his meeting and accepting the relationship with another character.. anyway, it was good. Go watch it.