Bloody Code

Question 1

What was the population in England in 1500 and 1700?

Answer 1

The population between 1500 and 1700 increased dramatically, as in 1500 there was around 2.5 million people in England and by 1700 there were around 5-6 million people in England.

Question 2

Why did the roles of town constables and night watchmen increase?

Answer 2

The role of town constables and the night watcher grew to cope with increasing crime rates.

Question 3

What was the Bridewell Prison used for?

Answer 3

It was used to punish poor people who had broken the law.

Question 4

What was a thief taker?

Answer 4

A thief taker was paid a reward for catching a criminal and delivering them to the law.

Question 5

What was the bad part about thief takings?

Answer 5

This method was open to corruption as some criminals also operated as a thief taker and informed on rival criminal gangs to make money.

Question 6

What was the ‘Plead for belly’?

Answer 6

Pregnant women condemned to death often made a ‘plead fir belly’, asking to be allowed to live until the baby was born.

Question 7

What happened during the 17th century?

Answer 7

The number of crimes that carried the death penalty increased.

Question 8

Was the ‘Bloody Code’ ever unclear to the community?

Answer 8

Yes. As the penalties were so severe, executions were not always carried out.

Question 9

Why were so many crimes taking place?

Answer 9

Many crimes were committed out of desperation.

Question 10

What were witnesses to crime expected to do?

Answer 10

They were expected to try and stop suspects or report them to the authorities,

Question 11

What were the most common crimes in towns and cities?

Answer 11

Fraud and theft.

Question 12

Why were the town constables useful?

Answer 12

Because they had some powers to arrest suspects with out needing a warrant. They also helped with local administrative issues like collecting payments for road cleaning, as well as turning in serious criminals to the courts.

Question 13

In the 16th century, what were prisons used for?

Answer 13

Prisons often held petty criminals, vagrants and drunk disorderly offenders. They were put there to wait for their trials.

Question 14

Why were prison conditions poor?

Answer 14

Inmates had to pay the prison wardens for food and other basic needs like bedding, if they didn’t pay, they went without. Women, men and children were housed together, as well as petty criminals.

Question 15

Why was the prison flawed?

Answer 15

All inmates were made to do ‘hard labour’ to pay for their keep.

Question 16

What was their ‘hard labour’?

Answer 16

Most of the time, they had to break up rocks.

Question 17

What crimes were punishable by death?

Answer 17

Some were poaching rabbits or fish to eat.

Question 18

Why were the consequences of such petty crimes harsh and violent?

Answer 18

The intention at the time was to create a strong deterrent so that crime rates would be reduced.

Question 19

Why were crimes not always carried out?

Answer 19

Criminals could receive pardons if they could prove their previous good character.

Question 20

What was transportation?

Answer 20

Being sent away from England to serve a period of punishment in a colony abroad.

Question 21

Where were prisoners being put up for transportation sent to?

Answer 21

Transported prisoners were taken in chains to the East cost of North America.

Question 22

How long were these prisoners made to work for?

Answer 22

Those who were transported instead of being executed served for 14 years. Other had committed lesser crimes served a 7 year sentence.

Question 23

Why was transportation favoured by authorities?

Answer 23

• It was seen as an effective deterrent
• Prison was not a feasible alternative punishment
• England wanted to establish permanent colonies in North America.

Question 24

What were transported children called?

Answer 24

‘Duty boys’ although a quarter of them were girls.

Question 25

Why were vagrants transported?

Answer 25

The homeless were blamed for spreading the plague and the authorities were happy to find solutions that led their permanent removal.

Question 26

Why did the authorities transport children?

Answer 26

Because authorities claimed that this was an opportunity for the children to start a new life, when in reality, many died.

Question 27

Why did so many children die onboard?

Answer 27

Because conditions on board ship and in the colonies were extremely tough.

Question 28

Why were night watchmen useful?

Answer 28

Watchmen were unpaid volunteers who also had to do their normal jobs to earn a living in the day. They rang bells at night to warn people to go home or risk being viewed as possible criminals. They worked from 10pm to dawn.

Question 29

What was built in 1556?

Answer 29

Bridewell Prison, London.

Question 30

Who was Jonathon Wild?

Answer 30

Jonathon Wild secretly led a gang of thieves who claimed rewards when they handed in the stolen goods. In 1718 he assumed the title ‘Thief Taker General’ and became a well-known figure. He was executed in 1725.