early modern period

• The Reformation

  • The period that followed saw England sway between being Catholic and Protestant resulting in chaos and confusion.
  • The religious rollercoaster saw many being accused of being ‘in league’ with the Devil and belief in the supernatural become more popular.
• The media

  • The printing press was an important invention which became a powerful tool during this period.
  • Pamphlets were created and circulated amongst the population, containing pictures and information.
  • The favourite topic was crime, especially witchcraft and vagabondage. 
  • The media fuelled fear of crime by spreading ideas about the severity of crime.
• Travel and technology

  • The rising population meant that there were fewer jobs available so people ended up travelling to find work. 
  • This led to increasing concerns about tramps, beggars and those travelling to look for work.
  • As a result the new crime of vagabondage became something that people in this period feared. 
  • Attitudes towards this crime depended upon the situation in society at the time.
  • During times of poor harvests punishments often became more serious.
• Wealth and poverty

  • The rising population saw a few become very wealthy.
  • On the other hand, the majority of the population grew less wealthy and often lived in poverty. 
  • The large numbers of poor people sometimes resulted in an increase in crime. 
  • Often, in reality, it was the fear of wealthy landowners which made crime seem more severe than it was.
  • The majority of people being so poor meant that they were vulnerable to any changes.
  • During times of poor harvest rising prices meant that people were unable to afford food and could lead to them turning to crime.
• Robert Catesby and the Gunpowder Plotters.

  • Catesby, along with Guy Fawkes and others planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament to kill King James I and restore England to Catholicism.
• • Matthew Hopkins the self-declared Witchfinder General proceeded to hunt witches during the period 1645-1647, persecuting people and punishing those he accused, ultimately spreading fear of the crime of witchcraft.
• • During this period the English Civil War (1642-49) was taking place.
  • This lead to many feeling that world had been ‘turned upside down’ as the monarchy was being challenged and Charles I was beheaded in 1649. 
  • This period of friction between the King and Parliament resulted in England becoming a republic until the monarchy was restored in 1660. 
  • The Civil War meant that many areas took the law into their own hands which lead to an increase in the numbers of people being accused of witchcraft and other crimes.
• • During periods of mass unemployment, people in towns and villages became increasingly concerned about vagabonds, fearing a rise in crime if they came to their local area.
  • The local unemployed people were assisted financially by the town or village where they lived, thanks to the Poor Rates.
  • However, residents were not happy to provide assistance to outsiders.
• • The media and pamphlets built up a frenzy about vagabonds travelling in huge packs and people were increasingly concerned, living in fear of them.
  • In reality, those arrested for this crime tended to be captured in small groups or travelling alone.
  • Reports of them speaking their own language are exaggerated and in reality this only really occurred in London. 
  • The rise in numbers of vagabonds often happened during severe times of hardship, bad harvests and rising unemployment.
• Houses of Correction

  • Houses of Correction were a new method of punishment from the 1500s which were designed to punish and reform criminals.
  • The accused were forced to do hard labour and sometimes they were whipped.
  • The idea was that they would learn the error of their ways.
• • Transportation began in the 1660s. Convicts were initially taken to America.
  • They were transported on large wooden ships known as Hulks.
  • Once in America convicts often led lives in conditions similar to slavery, although this punishment was considered to be a soft option in comparison to the Death Penalty.
• • The Bloody Code was introduced in 1723 when the number of crimes punishable by death increased to 50.
  • Minor crimes such as poaching, cutting down live trees or going out at night with a blackened face were given the punishment of execution.
  • By 1765, the figure had increased to 160 crimes.
  • By 1815, 225 crimes were punishable by death.
  • This explains the reason why this was known as the Bloody Code!
• Town Watchmen

  • Town Watchmen were introduced to patrol the streets.
  • They patrolled during the day and the night and their role included the arrest and detention of vagabonds and drunks.
  • In reality, they were not particularly effective as they were poorly paid.
  • The role attracted people desperate for a job and as a result, those employed were often drunk on the job and faced ridicule.
• Justices of the Peace

  • Justices of the Peace (JPs) became an important method of law enforcement during this period.
  • It was usually local wealthy people that took the position as it offered prestige.
  • The role enabled them to pass sentence on others, issuing fines, ordered people to be whipped or send them to the stocks and pillory.
• • During this period the army also became a feature of law enforcement.
  • They were often used to stop riots and capture organised criminal gangs.
  • This method was particularly unpopular with ordinary people.
• • In total 13 plotters, including Guy Fawkes filled the basement under the Houses of Parliament with 36 barrels of gunpowder in order to complete their plan.
  • However, an anonymous letter was sent to a member of parliament, Lord Monteagle warning him not to attend the state opening of parliament in the coming weeks.
• • Hopkins began searching areas of East Anglia for witches, finding and naming 36 women. He proceeded to collect evidence against them.
  • Many were charged with using harmful magic against their neighbours, resulting in harm to animals or poor crop growth.