In 1570, the Reformation era saw the cruel punishment of tongue removal with hot tongs, exemplified by the case of Hans Bret in Antwerp. This brutal practice was employed as a punishment for blasphemy or heresy, reflecting the intense religious fervor and intolerance of the time. Such acts of violence underscored the societal tensions between different religious factions during the Reformation. The use of such extreme measures highlighted the struggles for religious freedom and the consequences of dissent in early modern Europe.

The practice of tongue removal with hot tongs during the Reformation era in 1570 symbolized the silencing of dissent, influencing poetry that grappled with themes of martyrdom and free speech. Poets like John Milton addressed the struggles for expression and the consequences of censorship.