Crime and Punishment in Medieval England Flashcards
What are the 4 factors that are causing things to change?
Religion (church)
Poverty/Wealth
Society/attitudes
Government
When did the Normans invade?
1066
What was the main way of people settling arguments or gain justice?
Blood feud:
the victim or victim’s family had the right to kill the person accused of a serious crime.
What did blood feud lead to?
-Retribution (the act of taking revenge)
-No justice
What is a Tithing?
A tithing was a group of 10 men who were all responsible for their behaviour. If one committed a crime the others were responsible for bringing him to justice, if they did not and he was caught anyway the punishment would be given to all members of the tithing
What is a hue and cry?
The victim or witnesses were expected to call out to fellow villagers to assist in chasing the criminal.
What is trial by jury?
The jury was made up of men from the village tithing who knew the accuser and the accused. The jury would listen to accounts from both, and possibly witnesses, before deciding who was telling the truth.
What is trial by ordeal?
The Anglo-Saxons used trial by ordeal to determine proof through the Judgement of God
What are the 4 examples of trial by ordeals?
-trial by hot water
-trial by cold water
-trial by hot iron
-trial by bread
what is a werglid?
Wergild. The Anglo-Saxons used a system of fines called the wergild, a type of compensation paid to the victims of crime or their families based on social status.
