Crime and Punishment Flashcards
Name as many crimes against a person as you can?
Murder
Assault
Public Disorder
Rape (New crime)
Name as many crimes against property as you can?
Arson
Theft
Fraud
Poaching
Name as many crimes against authority as you can?
Treason
Rebellion
Terroism
What were the Forest Laws? And what social crime did this cause?
Only nobility could use the Forests, leading to communities being evicted.
If you killed any animals or stole wood from the forest without a license you would face very harsh punishments from the Forest Officials.
Poaching increased which was seen as a social crime.
Name all the community policing in medieval England (mention which ones were continued and which ones were changed)?
Continuity:
Tithings
Hue and Cry
Court System
Changes:
Parish Constables led Hue and Cry and arrested people
Night Watchmen
Name all the Government-appointed officials in medieval England (mention which ones were continued and which ones were changed)?
Continuity:
N/A
Changes:
Knights helped keep peace
Forest Officials
JP’s introduced (Justice of the Peace)
Role of the sheriff expanded
Posses helped the sheriff
Name and explain the 3 different types of courts?
Manor courts:
Dealt with minor crimes in the community
Royal courts:
4 times a year for the most serious crimes
Church courts:
Could give a criminal sanctuary for 40 days, this allowed the criminal to decide whether to go to court or leave the country.
Refused to give Capital punishment
What were Oaths?
If the criminal swore their innocence “before God”, and others supported them, they wouldn’t be punished.
Name and explain a Trial used in Medieval England?
Trial by Combat:
Made by the Normans
2 people fought until one either killed or surrendered
Abolished in 1215
Trial by Ordeal:
Made by the Anglo-Saxons
Outcome seen as God’s judgement
3 types- Trial by hot water or iron, water or consecrated bread (used by Priests only)
Abolished in 1215 by the Pope’s orders
Name and explain another Trial used in Medieval England?
Trial by Combat:
Made by the Normans
2 people fought until one either killed or surrendered
Abolished in 1215
Trial by Ordeal:
Made by the Anglo-Saxons
Outcome seen as God’s judgement
3 types- Trial by hot water or iron, water or consecrated bread (used by Priests only)
Abolished in 1215 by the Pope’s orders
Was the Church important in Medieval England?
Yes
What was the Benefit of the Clergy?
If a person could read part of the Bible then they could be trialed in the Church court
They were much more lenient as they were focused on reformation
Benefit of clergy was not available to women as women couldn’t be priests
What are the 3 aims of punishment?
Retribution
Deter
Reform
What was the Murdrum fine?
If an Anglo-Saxon murdered a Norman and the criminal was not caught, a large sum of money was to be paid out by people in the area of the body to the victim or the victims family
Not the case if a Norman killed an Anglo-Saxon
What is Heresy?
Heresy is betraying a religion
What crime did population increase in society lead to?
Petty theft
What crime did new farming methods (enclosure) lead to?
Poaching
What crime did religion changes lead to?
Heresy and Treason
Why did Treason increase?
As there were disputes over who should lead
Why did smuggling increase?
As it was seen as a social crime because of the introduction of import tax
Name and explain the 3 laws introduced between 1547 and 1604?
1547 Vagrancy Act - Vagrants could now be branded
1601 Poor Laws - The deserving poor could now be given poor relief by the local parish.
1604 Witchcraft Act - Enforced all other previous witchcraft laws
Why were there an increase of Vagabonds?
Increase in population, falling wages, rising food prices and no help system
Why did Vagabondage become a crime?
As a few turned to theft and became branded as lazy and threatening
What were the reasons for an increase in Witchcraft?
Religious turmoil, James 1 and his book called Demonologie, Matthew Hopkins, Introduction of printing and pamphlets, economic problems left people looking for scapegoats & many women were left widowed after the civil war
What were the reasons for a decline in Witchcraft?
Civil War ended, economic stability, social stability, political stability, church becomes more settled & the Royal society increased scientific knowledge
Who was Matthew Hopkins and what did he do?
-Employed by a Justice of Peace to find witches in East Anglia
-He investigated around 300 people, 112 of which were hanged
-Received money for each witch found
-Used torture to force people to confess
-Stirred up mass panic and the fear of witches through his prosecutions and pamphlets
-Evidence of witchcraft included unusual marks, floating in water, witness accounts and possessed children
