Okay the Inquisition doubtless tortured some folks but you picked the worst example to make your point-
> Despite its reputation as a medieval instrument of torture, there is no evidence of the existence of iron maidens before the 19th century.
> Despite its reputation as a medieval instrument of torture, there is no evidence of the existence of iron maidens before the 19th century.
I take his point to be precisely that the iron maiden wasn't really used.