early modern

• crime in society-

  • increase population and decline in feudalism led to higher unemployment, which meant people moved to urban cities, so towns and cities grew
  • the end of feudalism and new farming method led to enclosure of land
  • changes in peoples religious beliefs and the religion of the monarch
• what did an increase of population increase crimes against

  the person, petty theft
• what did the end of feudalism lead to an increase of crimes against

  property, poaching
• what did change of religion increase crimes against

  authority, heresy
• high treason

  the crime of plotting or acting to overthrow or harm the ruler of the country
• heresy

  the crime of having religious beliefs that were different to the official religion of the country
• new crimes in modern england

  • vagabondage
  • smuggling
  • witchcraft
• vagabond

  an unemployed homeless person
• why was there more vagabonds

  increase population, falling wages, rising food prices and no system to help the needy
• 1547 vagrancy act


  the able-bodied without work for more than 3 days were branded with the letter v and sold as a slave for 2 years
• 1601 poor laws


  the deserving poor were given poor relief by the local parish but the undeserving poor could be branded, whipped or sent to a correction house
• 1494 vagabonds and beggars act


  vagabonds were put in stocks for 3 days and nights, then sent back to where they were born or most well-known
• 1597 act for the relief of the poor


  split vagrants into 2 categories: deserving and undeserving
• smuggling

  when import tax was introduced in the 17th century, people brought goods into the country secretly to avoid paying import tax
• witchcraft

  • 1542- henry VIII made witchcraft punishable by death
  • 1563- elizabeth 1 changed law so charges of witchcraft had to be tried in common court
  • 1604- james I instructed the death penalty to be given to people 'summoning evil spirits'
• continuities in law enforcement

  • people were expected to raise and join the hue and cry to catch criminals
  • no national police force
• changes in law enforcement

  • watchmen
  • constables
• watchmen

  • carried a lamp to light their way
  • rang a bell to alert people
  • all male householders were expected to volunteer and role was unpaid
  • patrolled the streets between 10pm and dawn
  • overseen by town constable
• town constables

  • employed by authorities in towns
  • respected members of community
  • had the power to arrest suspects and take then to the justice of the peace
  • in charge of the watchmen in their area
  • helped with town administration
• changes in the role of the church

  benefit of the clergy, sanctuary
• benefit of the clergy

  • non-clergy people allowed it only once.
  • Edward VI made serious crimes like murder exempt from benefit of clergy
  • 1576- church courts couldnt try criminal acts.
  • people could still claim benefit of clergy and recieve more lenient sentences than others
• sanctuary

  • henry VIII stopped exile abroad for those claiming sanctuary.
  • instead they had to keep designated sanctuaries in england.
  • in 1623, James I abolished sanctuary
• continuity of punishments in modern england

  • pillory stock, flogging and maiming- forms of corporal punishment for drunkeness, begging and vagrancy
  • hanging- common for crimes like theft, murder, poaching, witchcraft and smuggling. nobles were beheaded
  • burning- used for heresy
• the bloody code

  • 17th century- crimes punishable by death increased
  • 1688- 50 capital offences
  • because of an increase in capital offences between 1688-1825 it became known as the bloody code
• transportation to north america

  • change- began under James I
  • criminals sentenced to 7-14 years.
  • many could not afford to come back to england
  • 50,000-80,000 men,women and children were transported to america during this time
• transportation became a punishment because

  • reflected new ideas of aims of punishment ( deterrent and rehabilitation)
  • provided alternative to execution for minor crimes as prisons were not established yet
  • provided inhabitants and workers to establish american colonies while removing criminals from england
• The Gunpowder Plot 1605

  1. 1570- pope called catholics to depose Elizabeth. when elizabeth died, James Stuart inherited throne
  2. James continued anti-Catholic laws. a group of catholics led by robert catesby plotted to kill the king on 5th november 1605
  3. Lord monteagle recieved letters about plot.
  4. plotters rent house next to houses of parliament
  5. Houses of parliament searched and found gunpowder barrels. guy fawkes arrested and other followed.
  6. 30-31 january 1606- hung drawn and quartered
• reasons for harsh and public punishment for treason

  1. most serious crime
  2. without police force, it was seen as way to deter
  3. politically unstable, disputes over royal succession
  4. deter catholics from rising up
• what were witch hunts 1645-47


  people actively tried to discover witches. occured during english civil war. concentrated in certain areas, east of england. those convicted were hung
• reasons for the intensity of witch-hunts

  • economic problems- civil war + poor harvests
  • social changes- many widows and strangers as people travelled with army
  • lack of authority- civil war weakened local authorities.
  • influence of individuals- James I promoted witchcraft
  • religious change- puritans believe witchcraft used by royalists
• 5th november 1605-

  gunpowder plot
• 1607- english colonies in america
• 1603- poor laws
• 1623- sanctuary abolished
• 1540- sanctuary removed
• 1597- act for the relief of the poor
• 1572- vagabonds act until 1593
• 1547- vagrancy act. repealed 1549
• 1603- population 4 million
• 1571- treason act