All persons who harbored or protected ministers and teachers of any sect, were to be put to death.

All the criminals thus carefully enumerated were to be executed, whether repentant or not.

If, however, they abjured their errors, they were to be beheaded instead of being strangled.

Thus it was obvious that almost any heretic might be brought to the halter at a moment's notice.
Strictly speaking, the idea of death by the halter or the axe was less shocking to the imagination than that of being burned or buried alive.

In this respect, therefore, the edicts were softened by the proposed "Moderation." It would, however, always be difficult to persuade any considerable slumber of intelligent persons, that the infliction of a violent death, by whatever process, on account of religious opinions, was an act of clemency.