1250-1500 Flashcards
When does the medival period start and end?
1250-1500
Who was in charge of making the laws on a wide range?
The king was in charge of making the laws on a wide range of issues in charge of keeping peace gods representation on earth
Types of theft?
What was the most common crime
Petty crime ,felonies
The most common crime is petty theft 🙉✋🏾🛑
Outlaw?
Crime👮♀️🤨📸
Gangs of robbers who ambushed travellers were on the run after being after being accused of committing a crime.
Treason?
Not just attempting to kill/betray the king but her wife killing her husband
Abuse of authority ?
Rich and powerful Lord who would rule through fear and use the private armies
Church beliefs?
Idleness caused sinfulness moral crimes were punished
How would criminals be caught? Can you explain the following Hue and cry Tithings Chief constable Coroner Sheriff Watchmen
hue and cry a loud shout or cry by those pursuing a felon: all who heard were obliged to join in the pursuit
Tithings group of ten men responsible for each other
How were criminals tried?
Royal court?
County assizes?
Justice of the peace ?
quarter sessions ?
manor courts ?
church courts?
Royal court -most serious crimes – jury swore an oath
County assizes -(1293)royal judges to visit counties 2/3 times a year👩🏽⚖️
Justices of the Peace-1361 Run courts/take over sheriff’s duties❌🕵🏾♀️ . Serious cases sent to assizes.
Quarter sessions-Met 4 times a year. JPs enforced law. 👩🏽⚖️👩🏽⚖️👩🏽⚖️👩🏽⚖️👩👩👦👦
Manor courts-Local crimes – petty crimes🤕
Church court-clergy/moral criminals🛐⛪️
How would mediaeval jury’s try criminals?👩🏽⚖️✋🏾
Juries had to know the accused Listened to 2 lawyers who presented evidence Juries considered evidence and reached a verdict
Used their knowledge of the accused to make a decision – based on their character Juries swore an oath before God that they would not lie.
Judge accepted their view.
Few cases took over 20 minutes.
How did mediaeval Juriess act?👩🏽⚖️📸
Medieval juries were usually very lenient and would let the accused go free from some serious cases – especially if they were women.
They were less lenient over petty crime
Four types of mediaeval punishment?
- Finesfines from manor courts went to the lord – church courts kept fines – kings kept fines from quarter sessions/failing to raise hue and cry.💰💸
- Humiliationstocks/pillory/penance/cucking stool
😭📸 - Imprisonmentnot used as punishment – held
debtors/forgers – gaols were rough/unsanitary places🛁❌💉 - Deathhanging – or local variations: thrown from cliffs in Dover. Hung, drawn and quartered/burned 😵😵💫👹
You have been convicted of murder and sentenced to death.
How are you going to get away with it?🤨
Benefit of clergy – neck verse Join the army Buy a pardon Get pregnant Become a king’s approver Sanctuary
What image do we have of outlaw?
Were outlaws really like this?
Outlaws were feared!
They stole from everyone! Peasants were an easier target than well armed knights and lords! They kept the money for themselves.
threatened victims with arson, asking for money and
goods in return for not burning the victims homes
Outlaws used violence.
They would hold a knife to a
victims throat and make him choose money or his life.
Around 10% of murder victims came from outlaw🧚♂️🧚♂️
How were women treated by the law in the Middle Ages?💁♀️
- Seen as being inferior to men, did not same rights as men
- Due to the Church’s teaching on the role of women, subject to the rule of men
- Not allowed to be on tithing,
- Not allowed to be on jury
- Scolds a crime for women only
- Did not own her own property,
- Her belongings belonged to her husband, • She could not divorce her husband.
