1250-1500

Question 1

Who were the 8 law enforcers in this period?

Answer 1

Sheriff, Chief Constable, Parish Constable, Normal person, Justice of peace, The King, The Coroner and Watchmen

Question 2

What courts were there at the time?

Answer 2

Royal, Assize, Manor, Borough and Church courts

Question 3

What were the factors of crime?

Question 4

When was the peasants revolt and what was it?

Answer 4

The peasants were unhappy due to high taxes and low wages and revolted against the King, which is treason. The king at the time was Richard II. 1381

Question 5

What are outlaw gangs and an example?

Answer 5

They would steal, attack and murder people. Folville gang - The gang killed a widely hated judge and kidnapped another they believed to be corrupt. However they fought for the king in Scotland in 1331 and were pardoned.

Question 6

What were crimes against the church?

Answer 6

moral crimes-The church said these crimes led to idleness and took action against them. They also took action against homosexuality and men shaving their beards on Sunday.

Question 7

An example of moral crimes

Answer 7

1411, Winchester, William Silver, is accused of gambling with dice.

Question 8

What were crimes against religion?

Answer 8

Heresy –A new group of radicals called Lollards challenged the teachings of the Roman Catholic church and wanted to read the bible in English. The bible was read only by priests in Latin – people were not allowed to read the bible themselves.

Question 9

An example of a crime against religion?

Question 10

What was treason?

Answer 10

-Crimes against the King/ Queen.
-Counterfeiting coins was treason as it contained
the kings face.
-A woman killing her husband is also treason at this time (Petty treason)

Question 11

Examples of treason

Answer 11

12 November 1427 at Westminster, London-John Parker confesses that he and William Billington, Elias Davy and William Felton planned to kill the king

Question 12

Petty crimes

Answer 12

theft below 12d, selling rotten food, fighting, drunkeness

Question 13

An example of petty crime

Answer 13

A fishmonger caught selling bad fish had his fish put around his neck while he was dragged through the streets on a wooden sledge. Passers-by would be encouraged to throw rotten fruit at him.

Question 14

Statistics on homicide

Answer 14

· 51.3% murders were caused by arguments.
· Suicide was a form of murder.
· Murders happened as people worked in close proximity on the land and had access to tools

Question 15

More statistics on murder

Answer 15

In the Northumberland records of 1279, 72 murders are listed and 81 culprits are identified.

Question 16

What was the largest type of good to be stolen between 1300-1348 in Norfolk?

Answer 16

Lifestock

Question 17

When did the Great European Famine happen and how many died?

Answer 17

1315 - 1322 and millions died

Question 18

What percentage of crimes were made from larceny and bulgary and why?

Answer 18

40% and 24% due to the lack of food because of famine

Question 19

Why was anger a factor of crime?

Answer 19

The peasants would work the land together in close proximity and many could get angry which led to them attacking other peasants, which then led to murder being committed, as they had sharp tools on them. A reason for this being classed as murder and not assault was that due to lack of medical advancement many died from infection of their wounds. 51.3% of all murders between 1300-1348 were due to arguments, showing anger caused crimes

Question 20

What was the war with france and how long did it last?

Answer 20

Hundred Years’ War and it lasted from 1337 to 1360 which lead to even more hunger and death

Question 21

Why and when was the statute of labourers?

Answer 21

1351 to stop was passed that lowered the amount labourers could be paid after the black death as they had a pay increase since there was less of them

Question 22

What and why did the peasants revolt happen?

Answer 22

1381- Happened because of SoL, high taxation and war with france with leader being John Ball who got drawn, hung and quartered.

Question 23

How to avoid trial?

Answer 23

Seek sanctuary, Have powerful friends, Run and Refused to plead

Question 24

Avoid being condemned to death

Answer 24

Hope for a friendly jury

Question 25

How to avoid being executed when found guilty?

Answer 25

Buy a pardon from the king, Join the king army, Be pregnant, Claim benefit of clergy and Become a king approver

Question 26

What crimes would make you face fines?

Answer 26

Nobles who disobeyed the King (Large), Gambling and villages that failed to do hue and cry

Question 27

What crimes would make you face public humiliation ?

Answer 27

Traders who cheated their customers by selling faulty products,

Question 28

An example of public humiliation

Answer 28

The church court shamed Durham priest for sleeping with a mans wife by publicly admitting his sin

Question 29

What was imprisonment used for?

Answer 29

It kept Forgers, debtors, offenders who could not pay fines, and Gaols were rough and gaolers didn’t get paid. Prisoners had to pay for their stay. Richer prisoners may be kept in rooms in castles e.g. Tower of London.

Question 30

What was the capital punishment used for?

Answer 30

1. Hanging- rape, murder, theft of more than 12d,robbery,
   burglary. Over 80% of crimes were from non violent

crimes.

2. Hung, drawn and quartered – treason, counterfeiting coins
3. Burnt alive – heresy, petty treason (wife kills a husband or

servant kills a master)

4. Local variations= In Sandwich you would be buried alive

and in Dover pushed off a cliff.

Question 31

What did the Sheriff do?

Answer 31

I am the king’s agent and there is a sheriff in each county. I am a powerful lord who does the kings work without pay, as it gives me great status. All property of criminals and those who committed suicide would go to the king, however I would get my share as well. I work closely with the coroners and chief constables.

Question 32

What did the Chief constable?

Answer 32

Chief constables of the hundred. I am appointed each year to supervise law and order in my area and I am a wealthy farmer. From taking on this role I have gained great status. My main duty is to make sure every free man between 15 and 60 is equipped and ready to take up arms to serve the king; this might be in the army or sheriff’s posse (sheriff’s soldiers).

Question 33

What did the Normal person do?

Answer 33

Adult men were grouped into ten called tithings. If one of us breaks the law then we have to bring him to court. Whenever a crime takes place we call for the hue and cry. This meant that all within ear shot had to stop what they were doing and join the hunt for the criminal.

Question 34

What did the King?

Answer 34

In 1285 Edward I passed the Statute of Winchester that tidied up the law and maintained it for hundreds of years. There is no full time paid police force as it is too expensive. Policing is on a voluntary basis.

Question 35

What did the Parish constable

Answer 35

I am the parish constable. I am appointed every year and I am responsible for supplying fully armed men when it is needed. From 1363 I had to ensure they practised archery every Sunday. I also have to arrest suspicious strangers.

Question 36

What did the Justice of Peace do?

Answer 36

It is my role to play a part in the quarter sessions, which are held 4 times a year from 1388. My job is to enforce royal law and I am not paid. I took over the sheriffs’ court duties as the sheriff would hold courts only twice a year, whereas in each county we hold them 4 times a year.

Question 37

What did the Coroner do?

Answer 37

My job is to examine bodies and discover the cause of why people have died.

Question 38

What did the Watchman do?

Answer 38

King Edwards Statute of Winchester in 1285 means towns appoint watchmen to patrol the gates and walls at night. Medieval towns could be pitch black at night so watchmen carried lamps. It was an unpopular job and if they discovered criminals they called the hue and cry.

Question 39

What were royal courts for?

Answer 39

These were for the most serious crimes. The King’s bench, one of the most important royal courts, was found at Westminster.

The jurors were always drawn from the criminal’s area. They took an oath to God.

Question 40

What were assize courts for?

Answer 40

In 1293 Edward I changed how the Royal court worked and he ordered that royal judges from London would visit each county two or three times a year. These courts were called county assizes. They sat until 1971.

Question 41

What were quarter sessions for?

Answer 41

The royal courts could not hear all cases – there were too many. From 1363 local gentry acted as judges, called justices of peace (JPs). They held courts 4 times a year, which became known as quarter sessions. They took away some of the work from royal judges, so that cases did not have to wait so long before a trial took place.

All types of cases were dealt with, from murder to whether local landowners were paying workers too highly.

Question 42

What were manor courts?

Answer 42

These were held by local landowners in their villages or manors. The landowner was the judge. These courts dealt with workers who had not done enough work on the lord’s land or people who had broken other local rules. They also ordered people who had committed serious crimes should be held in prison until they could be tried at one of the royal courts or quarter sessions.

By 1250 many manors had also taken over the work of the hundred courts, which meant they judged petty crime that affected the whole community. By 1500 they were losing influence.

Question 43

What were borough and hundred courts?

Answer 43

These were similar to manor courts. These were town courts.

Hundred courts: village courts.

Question 44

What were Church courts?

Answer 44

All laws and court proceedings were based on Christian principles. They did not just try clergy but the laity (normal people). There were no jurors in these courts.

Church courts had 3 functions: granting marriage licenses and proving wills of the dead, dealt with disputes and dealt with disciplinary matters.

Their main role was not to punish people but reform them and reconcile them with God. The aim of reform was shown in the punishments given.

Question 45

What were some offences you can trialed for in Church court?

Answer 45

Offences tried in church courts included: scandalous behaviour (gambling, drinking, sexual offences), attacking people, theft, failing to visit the sick, sheltering sheep in the church, swearing etc.