Early Modern England (1500-1700)

Question 1

What were the social changes that took place during this era?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is heresy

Answer 2

When someone doesn’t have the same religious elides as the monarch

Question 3

Henry viii

Answer 3

Split with the church to divorce Catherine of Aragon, joined Protestant church

Question 4

Edward vi

Answer 4

Very Protestant

Question 5

Mary i

Answer 5

Reverted to Catholicism

Killed over 300 Protestants

Question 6

Elizabeth I

Answer 6

Reverted back to more Protestant country
She was not as strict with catholics
Pope declared her as unrightful ruler of England d

Question 7

How were vagabonds treated?

Answer 7

They faced very harsh laws
People would ‘live in terror of the tramp’
Pamphlets increased fear of vagrancy further

Question 8

Vagabondage 1531

Answer 8

Vagabonds were whipped until their bodies became bloody and they had to return to their birth place

Question 9

Vagabonds 1547

Answer 9

First offence - two years slavery

Second offence - slavery for life or execution

Question 10

Vagabonds 1550

Answer 10

1547 act repealed - too harsh

1531 act revived

Question 11

Vagabonds 1572

Answer 11

First offence whipping and burning

Second offence - execution

Question 12

Vagabonds 1576

Answer 12

House of correction were built in every country to punish

Question 13

Vagabonds 1593

Answer 13

1572 act repealed - too harsh

Back to 1531 act

Question 14

Vagabonds 1598

Answer 14

Whipped and sent home

If they did not mend their ways they were sent to house of corrections

Question 15

Who were vagabonds

Answer 15

Demoralised soldiers, no longer needed in the army
Some hardened criminals
Majority were just unemployed ppl

Question 16

Why did vagabonds emerge

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Who was Matthew Hopkins

Answer 17

He was a witchhunter who searched east anglia. He got confessions from 36 women (usually old).

Question 18

Why did many people confess to Matthew Hopkins

Answer 18

Through his methods of torture and tiring out it made them concede and resulted in confesssion

Question 19

When did witchcraft become a more serious offence and why?

Answer 19

1542 - religious changes under Henry viii it became a criminal offence
1590 - James i wrote the book of witchcraft

Question 20

What was the ‘swim test’

Answer 20

The accused hands were tied w a rope and around waste and were lowered into water, innocent would sink, guilty would float

Question 21

Why did people believe in witches?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

How man cases of witchcraft were there during 1645-47

Answer 22

250 in east anglia

Question 23

What continues in law enforcement during this period

Answer 23

Hue and cry - constable expected to lead hue and cry

Question 24

Role of parish constables

Answer 24

Part time job, well respected men
Take charge of criminals awaiting trial
Could give punishment of flogging and whipping

Question 25

Role of town watchmen and sergeants

Answer 25

Patrol day and night
Poorly paid
Arrest drunks

Question 26

Role of citizens in policing

Answer 26

Is someone was robbed they would have to get an arrest warrant from a magistrate and track down the criminal themselves

Question 27

Role of JPs

Answer 27

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

Question 28

How did benefit of clergy change?

Answer 28

It remained in use until 1600s as ordinary were able to read neck verse

Question 29

Role of the army in policing

Answer 29

Put down protests
Dealt w riots
Capture organised criminal gangs
Very unpopular seen to be used to silence the people

Question 30

Habeas corpus

Answer 30

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

Question 31

What was capital punishment used for

Answer 31

Murder
Treason
Counterfeiting
Arson

Question 32

What was the bloody code

Answer 32

An increase in the number of crimes which are punishable by death
In 1688 - 50
1765 - 160
1815 - 225!!

Question 33

What punishments were sued besides death penalty in this time

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Concerns Abt crime

Answer 34

Pamphlets gave horrific and lurid details about crimes, so crime was seen as a huge problem

Question 35

Why was people being on the move a reason for crime to increase

Answer 35

Travel improved so people could spread ideas about crime

Question 36

What was the effect of protecting property on the crime rate

Answer 36

Laws were made by wealthy land owners that wanted to protect their land and privileges