the strategies behind the reactions and the counterstrategies demned behave, and how should the execution be understood? A problem pointed out by Hans Andersson relates to those murderers that used the judicial system for their purposes and, in effect, wielded power even in their external lack of power.817 A related perspective is given by Anne Carol who discusses a counterculture of the scaffold generally founded in the refusal of the work of the priest, understood as seeking repentance, conversion and, as a result, calmness and lack of protests.818 Wemayalso note the concept of Peter King – ”the official script” in late eighteenth and early nineteenth century was continually undermined by individuals and groups.819 Simon Devereaux when searching for the reason for nineteen condemned in London in 1789 to initially refuse to accept their pardons discusses six possible explanations behind their position. Of those six, all except the thought that hanging would be a better fate than transportation would more or less be the expression of a political position, such as a revolutionary, or of undermining the religious foundation of the law or of defiance to the king, the law court, or the government.820 Theone he primarily thinks was at hand he names ”Damming the Work of Discretionary Justice”. It was a reaction to the situation ahead. During some years first an increasing number of condemned had been executed, whereupon the government had decided that it would be wise to lower the figures. If all those that had refused to accept their pardons, and even larger numbers of others who were rumoured to be contemplating the same action, were executed the numbers would have risen enormously. The consequences of such an eventuality were something the government would rather not meet, but they were saved by managing to pressure even the last ones into accepting their pardons.821 817 Andersson 1998 p 103. ”Man skulle nästan kunna kalla det en form av motmakt, ett sätt att utnyttja rättsväsendet för att nå sitt mål.” See also Bastien 2011 p 214 sq on the power of the London executed. 818 Carol 2017 p 208 sq, 222 sq. 819 King 2000 p 346. Or ”the very act that expressed sovereign authority could also generate and express resistance to that authority.” Lake and Questier 2002 p 230. 820 Devereaux 2007 p 106 sq. 821 Devearaux 2007 p 116 sqq. 231
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