The executioner will sometimes hang a little bag or a pouch around the neck of the person manacled to the stake. And that pouch contains gunpowder. The hope is that when things get hot enough, that will explode, putting you out of your misery so you don't have to be burned to death. A lot of these people being executed are bad people who have committed bad crimes. So let's not make angels out of these people that don't deserve it. Although i doubt no matter how bad you are, we want you burned alive.