Medieval Crime and Punishment

• Theft was the most common crime, with punishments ranging from fines to hanging.
• Hanging was reserved for serious crimes like murder or theft by force.
• Crimes in Medieval England

  Forest laws - 1070

  Murdrum Fine -1066

  Statute of Labourers -1315
• Punishment in Medieval England

  Fines - Petty crime

  Corporal Punishement

  Capital Punishment - murder/treason Stocks and
• Sheriff - Appointed by King to enforce law and collect taxes
• Constable - Responsible for local policing and arresting criminals
• Enforcement in Medieval England

  Church courts ----> sanctuary, benefit of the clergy, trail by ordeal.

  Community

  Hue + CRY

  Tithings
• Sanctuary - Criminal could seek refuge in church until trial
• Benefit of Clergy - Priests were exempt from punishment but had to recite Psalm 51 (Miserere Mei Deus)
• Trail by Ordeal - Criminal would be forced to do something dangerous, if they survived it meant they were innocent
• Benefit of Clergy - Priests were exempt from punishment but had to recite a passage from bible correctly.
• The neck verse was the part of the Bible that priests had to recite to claim benefit of the clergy