Crime and Punishment Early Modern Flashcards
EM Time period?
1500 - 1700
EM New crimes?
Vagancy, heretics (heresy), and witchcraft
EM Why was heretics now a crime? Punishments?
Change in religion (HenryVIII), being Catholic, was a crime
Witchcraft - what? Why? Punishment?
Committing black magic or spells
Due to the change in religion and the increase in famine, tensions rose between Catholics and protestants, and they started accussing each other (hatred & fear)
Hanging
Vagancy - what? Why? Punishments?
Being homeless or moving away from a designated area for work
Due to bad harvests and urbanisation of towns, ppl went to look for work to survive, reduction in poor relief
Burnt with poker behind ear
Repeat offenders would be execution whipping or slavery
Why werent vagrants liked?
Seen as potential criminals such as drummers, druken tinkers, and priggers of prancers
Christian work ethic was high, especially for puritans so were seen as demons
EM Priggers of prancers?
Horse theives
What was the vagrancy Act of 1547?
First offence - 2 years slavey
Second offence - slavery for life/execution
Matthew hopkins - who? What? How?
Witch finder general
Found 36 women as ‘witches’
Tortured women to make them confess
Evidence such as familiars and harmful magic was used
EM Moral crimes? Why?
Alcoholism
Singing/dancing
Anything else than church on a Sunday
Rise of puritans (oliver Cromwell)
EM Continuity in law enforcement?
Hue and cry
JPs
Town watchmen
What was the act for relief of the poor 1597?
Vagabonds in two types:
Deserving and undeserving
What were the poor laws 1601
Deserving poor to be given aid
Undeserving poor to be punished (whipping)
What was the Witchcraft Act 1603?
James 1 made anyone punishable who invoked evil spirits
EM Changes in religious law?
Sanctuary abolished (henry VIII)
No more benefit of clergy
