Law enforcement in Anglo Saxon england

• What was the role of the community in law enforcement in Anglo-Saxon England?

  The whole community was expected to participate in enforcing the law.
• What was the shire reeve later known as?

  The sheriff.
• How were shires organized in Anglo-Saxon England?

  Shires were divided into hundreds, and each hundred into ten tithings.
• Who was responsible for the behavior of men in a tithing?

  All the men over 12 in a tithing were responsible for each other's behavior.
• What was the hue and cry in Anglo-Saxon England?

  It was a call for everyone to help chase the accused when a crime was witnessed.
• What did accused people do to prove their innocence?

  They would swear an oath.
• What was the outcome for accused individuals in small communities?

  It was very hard to get away with repeat offenses.
• What was trial by ordeal?

  It was a painful experience believed to allow God to judge the accused.
• What might happen to someone undergoing trial by hot water?

  They might be deliberately burnt, and if the burn healed well, they were judged innocent.
• What was one method of punishment for certain crimes in Anglo-Saxon England?

  Maiming, or cutting off a body part.
• Why was maiming considered kinder than execution?

  It gave a person the chance to seek God's forgiveness.
• What is wergild?

  It is a payment made by a person found guilty of murder to the victim's family.
• What was the purpose of wergild in Anglo-Saxon law?

  To reduce blood feuds.
• How did the price of wergild vary?

  The price varied depending on the importance of the victim.