Nobody could walk without a lantern in Vilnius at night. If you had been caught without it you were put into prison. One could go out only if he had an emergency or wanted to get to tavern. The life rhythm was completely different. People used to go to bed at around 9 in the evening, after sleeping for 3 hours, would get up, do something, then would sleep for another three hours, and it already was morning. Such a lifestyle had majority of Vilnius citizens and getting up at night was a common thing. The rich slept in beds and wore nightwear, while the commoners slept on benches or on the floor, covering themselves with their clothes.
There were night workers, such as executioners, who had to torture prisoners at night, street sweeper, guards, cooks, bakers, thieves and prostitutes did not sleep too.
Prostitution was illegal and women settled further away from the city. They had their peak season when the lord's courtiers came to town. Vilnius city gates were closed at night and life went on at the plain courtyards. Locals often fought among themselves, so artisans, merchants and hired guards were on the watch. The streets were dark and from the 16th century lit only near the Grand Dukes' Palace. The city was illuminated only during major holidays.
Huge wages, business trips and a free apartment, who wouldn't like such a job? And no one wanted it, as it was the executioner’s job. The executioner earned 3 times more than any other official. They worked in Vilnius for more than 200 years. Most of them were Germans and Poles. The executioners used to dress in red. Their duty was not only to carry out the punishments for the unfortunate ones but also to collect the dead dogs and cats and take them outside the city.
He lived in a beautiful big house next to Subačius Gate. At the beginning of the 19th century, Vilnius declined the executioner.
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