Early Modern England (1500-1700) Flashcards
What were the social changes that took place during this era?
Increase in population meant that it was harder to find work
Majority were poor but some were rich, bad harvests made it hard to buy food
Pamphlets spread ideas about witchcraft and vagabondage
Lots of religious turmoil let to unrest and confusion, both sides accused the other of working w the devil
Civil war, and death of King Charles i
Landowners became wealthier and as such felt a need to protect their property
What is heresy
When someone doesn’t have the same religious elides as the monarch
Henry viii
Split with the church to divorce Catherine of Aragon, joined Protestant church
Edward vi
Very Protestant
Mary i
Reverted to Catholicism
Killed over 300 Protestants
Elizabeth I
Reverted back to more Protestant country
She was not as strict with catholics
Pope declared her as unrightful ruler of England d
How were vagabonds treated?
They faced very harsh laws
People would ‘live in terror of the tramp’
Pamphlets increased fear of vagrancy further
Vagabondage 1531
Vagabonds were whipped until their bodies became bloody and they had to return to their birth place
Vagabonds 1547
First offence - two years slavery
Second offence - slavery for life or execution
Vagabonds 1550
1547 act repealed - too harsh
1531 act revived
Vagabonds 1572
First offence whipping and burning
Second offence - execution
Vagabonds 1576
House of correction were built in every country to punish
Vagabonds 1593
1572 act repealed - too harsh
Back to 1531 act
Vagabonds 1598
Whipped and sent home
If they did not mend their ways they were sent to house of corrections
Who were vagabonds
Demoralised soldiers, no longer needed in the army
Some hardened criminals
Majority were just unemployed ppl
Why did vagabonds emerge
Increased population meant not enough work so unemployment increased
Henry viii banned armies so soldiers were left unemployed
Henry viii dissolved monasteries and poor could no longer get help from church
Travel improved so ppl travelled to find work
1570 - bad harvest so their were poor wages
By 1600s vagabonds increased to 555
Who was Matthew Hopkins
He was a witchhunter who searched east anglia. He got confessions from 36 women (usually old).
Why did many people confess to Matthew Hopkins
Through his methods of torture and tiring out it made them concede and resulted in confesssion
When did witchcraft become a more serious offence and why?
1542 - religious changes under Henry viii it became a criminal offence
1590 - James i wrote the book of witchcraft
What was the ‘swim test’
The accused hands were tied w a rope and around waste and were lowered into water, innocent would sink, guilty would float
Why did people believe in witches?
Fear due to religious turmoil, so ppl felt exposed to evil
Social and economic problems of poor harvest
Civil war (1642-1649), unsettling affect on ppl and assize judges could not travel so law was taken into own hands
Village tensions between rich and poor
How man cases of witchcraft were there during 1645-47
250 in east anglia
What continues in law enforcement during this period
Hue and cry - constable expected to lead hue and cry
Role of parish constables
Part time job, well respected men
Take charge of criminals awaiting trial
Could give punishment of flogging and whipping
Role of town watchmen and sergeants
Patrol day and night
Poorly paid
Arrest drunks
Role of citizens in policing
Is someone was robbed they would have to get an arrest warrant from a magistrate and track down the criminal themselves
Role of JPs
Well off land owners
They dealt w minor crimes and met 4 times a year so quater sessions for serious crimes
Royal judges for the worst crimes met twice a year
How did benefit of clergy change?
It remained in use until 1600s as ordinary were able to read neck verse
Role of the army in policing
Put down protests
Dealt w riots
Capture organised criminal gangs
Very unpopular seen to be used to silence the people
Habeas corpus
Act passed in 1679
Prevented authorities from locking a person up w out charging them w a crime, and person arrested had to appear in court within a certain amount of time
What was capital punishment used for
Murder
Treason
Counterfeiting
Arson
What was the bloody code
An increase in the number of crimes which are punishable by death
In 1688 - 50
1765 - 160
1815 - 225!!
What punishments were sued besides death penalty in this time
Pillory - cheating a cards, selling underweight bread
Whipping - vagabondage, drunk, theft
Prisons - for waiting trial
Ducking stool - women who disobeyed husband
Fines - swearing and gambling
House of corrections - hard labour to mend them
Carting - adultery, vagrancy, running a brothel
Transportation to america 1660s
Concerns Abt crime
Pamphlets gave horrific and lurid details about crimes, so crime was seen as a huge problem
Why was people being on the move a reason for crime to increase
Travel improved so people could spread ideas about crime
What was the effect of protecting property on the crime rate
Laws were made by wealthy land owners that wanted to protect their land and privileges
