FHS Crime and Punishment Anglo-Saxon England

Question 1

During Anglo-Saxon England there was no ?

Answer 1

Police force, small close knit-communities would police themselves.

Question 2

How would local communities enforce the law in Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer 2

Local communities would regulate themselves and if a crime took place it was the responsibility of the the victim to pursue justice

Question 3

What was the hue and cry?

Answer 3

This was when a crime had been committed the victim would call out for justice, the close knit community all would stop farming, chase and hunt down the offender.

Question 4

What was tithing?

Answer 4

All freemen aged 12 or over and in groups of 10 took an oath to denounce all major crimes. If a member of the group broke the law the men took responsibility to bring him to court, if they failed to do so then this led to a group fine.

Question 5

How important was the Church in Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer 5

The Church was very significant as all attended mass, were highly religious and believed in God in Anglo-Saxon England

Question 6

What were the most common crimes in Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer 6

Common crimes were against property, usually petty theft

Question 7

How were were trails by local juries used in Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer 7

This was a court of local men who would know the accusser or the accussed. A lot of faith was put on a persons word. If there was no clear evidence the court would base its decision on the knowledge of those concerned.

Question 8

What was the hierachy of court in Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer 8

There were changes to the justice system in Anglo-Saxon England including a hierarchy of courts a) Royal Courts (for serious crimes) b) A Shire Court and c) Hundred Courts

Question 9

How were trails by ordeal used in Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer 9

If the local jury could not agree then trial by ordeal was used. It was hoped that God would pass judgement. Trails by ordeal happened near to a Church.

Question 10

What was trial by cold water?

Answer 10

A man was lowered into water (a river).

Question 11

How was guilt or innocence decided during trail by cold water?

Answer 11

If the accussed floated he was deemed to be guilty. If the accussed sank he was deemed to be innocent.

Question 12

What was trial by hot water?

Answer 12

Usually a man had to put his hand into a pan of hot boiling water to retrieve a stone.

Question 13

How was guilt or innocence decided during trail by hot water?

Answer 13

The hand was bandaged and after three days the bandage was removed. If the wound had healed the accused was innocent

Question 14

What was trial by hot iron?

Answer 14

Usually a women had to pick up and hold a hot iron walking three steps.

Question 15

How was guilt or innocence decided during trail by hot iron?

Answer 15

Similar to trial by hot water, the hand was bandaged and after three days the bandage was removed. If the wound had healed the accused was innocent

Question 16

Were priests tried differently in Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer 16

Yes, priests were given a different trial, called trial by consecrated or blessed bread

Question 17

How was guilt or innocence decided during trail by blessed bread?

Answer 17

The Priest would eat the conscreated bread, when questioned if they lied they would choke, go pale or cough up blood. This would prove their innocence or guilt.

Question 18

What were punishments like in Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer 18

Punishments in Anglo-Saxon England were harsh and brutal to compensate the victims

Question 19

What is the difference between capital and corporal punishment?

Answer 19

Capital punishment is the death penalty, corporal punishment was a physical painful punishment

Question 20

What was Wergild in Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer 20

Wergild was literally a ‘man-price’ fines depending on the status of the person (a peasants fine was lower than a nobleman fine) to compensate the victim of the crime

Question 21

Were Wergild fines different depending on the status of the victim in Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer 21

Yes, the fine for killing a nobleman was 300 shillings, a freeman a 100 shillings, and a peasant was even lower.

Question 22

What was blood feud?

Answer 22

Blood feuds were used when the victim could punish the offenders as they saw fit, this often led to brutal reprisals.

Question 23

What other methods of punishments were used?

Answer 23

Flogging and humiliations were also popular forms of punishments

Question 24

Were prisons a common method of punishment in Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer 24

No prisons were uncommon, as they were expensive, and taxes were used for wars. Prisons were mainly used to hold individuals before trails.

Question 25

When would execution be used as a method of punishment?

Answer 25

Death penalty was used for serious crimes, treason and heresy. The guilty would be hung, drawn and quartered, dragging the body to the place of execution tied to a horse hanging them and chopping their body in 4 pieces.

Question 26

How would someone be executed?

Answer 26

Punishments were brutual the guilty would be hung, drawn and quartered. Their body would be dragged to the place of execution by being tied to a horse, hung and them the body was chopped into 4 pieces.

Question 27

What would happen if the accussed failed to attend court?

Answer 27

Failure to attend court meant that they would become outlaws losing all their rights of protection by the law and, if caught, could be killed.