Medieval key stuff

• how much of all crime was theft In the medieval era

  73.5%
• Key events that caused crime

  Great famine of 1315-17

  Poll tax of late 1730s

  Black Death of 1340s
• Examples of rebellion

  • Jack cades revolt
  • Peasants revolt
  • cornish rebellion
• Murder / manslaughter

  20% of all crimes from 1300-48
• Notorious heretics

  Lollards
• responsibility was in the hands of the community
• Tithings

  Group of 10 families entrusted with policing minor problems
• Hue and cry

  when community was threatened and pursued suspected offenders on foot
• Shire reeve

  royal official who was responsible for public order in his area and had authority to raise a posse comitatus
• Justices of the peace

  • First appointed to assist sheriffs
  • Local landowners who commanded respect through their position
• Parish constables

  • Assisted justices of peace
  • Maintained law and order in communities
  • Unpaid and time consuming
• Punishments were harsh, brutal and designed to deter crime
• Attitudes towards punishments

  • To deter
  • retribtution
  • Keeping order
• Punishments

  • for high treason you were hung drawn and quatered
  • For murder you were hung
  • for theft you were mutilated
  • For gossiping scolds bridle