Crime - c1000 - c1500 Flashcards
What are some crimes against the person? (4)
- Murder. 2. Assault. 3. Public disorder. 4. Rape.
What are some crimes against property? (3)
- Arson. 2. Theft. 3. Counterfeiting coins.
What are some crimes against authority?
Treason and rebellion.
What was poaching?
A social crime because catching animals for food to survive was considered acceptable.
When was the Norman conquest?
1066
What were two new definitions of crimes after 1066?
William I’s Forest laws and the murdrum fine.
Give me some info on the forest laws. (5)
- About 30% f England became “Royal Forest” which the Nobility and William used for hunting. 2. People were evicted from this land —> resentment. 3. Only those who paid for hunting rights could hunt. 4. Illegal to hunt; graze animals or take wood. 5. Seen as unfair.
What was the murdrum fine?
If an anglo saxon killed a norman and fled, the area “hundred” around it had to pay a fine.
How were rebellions treated under William?
Harshly - ordered the death penalty for rebels. Also punished those who were not directly involved - 100000 people starved to death.
What were some types of law enforcement during anglo saxons?
Local communities e.g. hue and cry and tithings. Authority e.g. courts and oaths.
What were tithings?
Groups of 10 men, all over the age of 12. If a member of the tithing committed a crime the other members had to bring him to court or be fined.
What was the hue and cry?
System of catching criminals that meant everyone had a duty to raise the alarm if they saw a crime taking place. Then they all had to chase the criminal and catch him.
What were courts?
If the suspect did not admit to the crime, or was not caught in the act, their guilt or innocence had to be decided by a court. Different courts based on different crimes e.g. royal courts were the most serious
What were oaths?
Swearing oaths ‘before God’ was a major part of Anglo-Saxon justice. The accused could swear their innocence under oath and others could support them as ‘oath helpers’
What were some law enforcements which continued into Norman times? (3)
- Tithings. 2. Hue and cry. 3. Courts
What were some law enforcement which changed in Norman times? (2)
- Trial by combat. 2. Foresters - enforce forest laws.
What was law enforcement like in the later medieval times?
Towns moved away from communities and they used parish constables.
What was a parish constable?
Local people nominated by the community who were unpaid and had the post for a year. They enforced the laws and kept the peace e.g. by arresting criminals, and carrying out punishments.
How did the role of local communities change throughout? (3)
- From the 1250s parish constables led the chase for the hue and cry. 2. Some towns also had voluntary night watchers; criminals were handed to the constable. 3. Trial by ordeal and by combat were abolished in 1215.
How did the role of local communities continue throughout? (2)
- Hue and cry and tithings continued throughout. 2. If juries were unable to reach a verdict then trial by ordeal and combat were used (until 1215).
How did the role of government - appointed officials continue throughout?
Trick question - nothing was the same!
How did the role of government - appointed officials change throughout? (3)
- Knights were appointed in unruly areas from 1195 and it was extended to all areas in 1327. 2. JPs began in 1361 and they heard minor cases. 3. Role of sheriff expanded so he would track down criminals if hue and cry hadn’t worked.
What were some anglo saxon punishments? (3)
- Fines. 2. Wergild (paying compensation to victim / family). 3. Corporal punishments were fairly common but capital was rarely used.
What were some Norman punishments? (3)
- Capital punishments increased dramatically e.g. breaking forest laws could lead to castration; blinding and hanging. 2. Wergild ended and were paid to the king. 3. Very minor crimes were still punished by fines or time in the stocks.
