Crime And Punishment Anglo Saxon England

Question 1

Crimes

Answer 1

4 types - against: person, property authority and moral crimes
King decides what a crime is through codes
Church responsible for moral crimes
Crime increased due to town development

Question 2

Law enforcement

Answer 2

Collective responsibility
All men in a tithing and responsible for each other
Hue and cry
God decides innocence
Could take oaths to prove innocence or call on others to support claim (oath helpers)
Trial by ordeal (physical trial where God judges)
Trial by hot water: burnt hand heals well = innocent
Trial by cold water = those who sunk = innocent

Question 3

Wergild

Answer 3

Fine for killing a person/ lost of body parts that goes to family or victim
Prince = 1500 shillings, serf = 40 shillings

Question 4

Corporal and capital punishments

Answer 4

Capital - punish crimes against authority or property - hanging - deterrent
Corporal - punish crimes against a person - eye-gouging, mutilation, stocks and pillories - retribution and deterrent