c1000-c1500 punishment in medieval england

Question 1

anglo-saxon punishments

Answer 1

Fines and compensation most common
System of compensation to the victims used for most crimes against the person
Corporal punishments common

Question 2

norman punishments

Answer 2

Increased use of capital punishment to control anglo-saxons
breaking Williams forest laws punished very harshly through blinding and hanging
Branding criminals by whipping to permanently scar criminals became common for easy identification

Question 3

later medieval punishments

Answer 3

Capital punishments less common except for crimes against authority such as treason
Corporal punishments less common as juries did not want to inflict pain upon their neighbours
Fines became more common

Question 4

Influence of the church on punishment

Answer 4

Offering sanctuary - criminals protected from law and not allowed to be arrested. Accused given the choice to go to court or swear an oath to leave the country in the next 40 days

Benefit of the clergy - clergy’s only trialled in church courts and was an example of churches being more lenient. easily abused by criminals by memorising Psalm 51 from the bible.