Medieval

• Crimes:

  • Herecy
  • Scolding (New)
  • Vagrancy (New)
  • Murder
  • Theft
  • Treason
• Society:

  • God was at the top of society
  • King had divine right
  • Poor roads and communication
  • Required to have weapons and armour ready to serve
• Heresy: A belief that is contrary to the teachings of the Church.
• Vagrancy: A person who is not employed or is seeking higher paying work by moving from place to place
• Treason:

  Includes counterfeiting #

  • High treason = going against the King
  • Petty Treason = Going against the man of the house
• Enforcement:

  • Statute of Winchester
  • Hue and cry
  • Posses
  • National court, Manor court, Church court
  • Justices of the peace introduced = Quarter sessions
• Punishment:

  • Hanging
  • Hung, drawn and quartered
  • Burnt alive (heresy)
  • Could join an outlaw gang
  • Fines
  • Public humiliation e.g. stocks
• Statute of Winchester 1285 = Sets up voluntary work such as constables
• Justices of the peace introduced in 1361
• After 1388 quarter sessions were held