early modern

• early modern period - 1500-1700
• increase in poverty in early modern period led to new crimes
• poverty caused by


  population increase, encloser, closure of the monastries
• vagabondage - begging for work
• smuggling - trading illegally to avoid import taxes
• poaching - illegally hunting food
• nightwatchmen - small salary
• thief takers - captured thieves, paid
• government gave out rewards to catch criminals
• restrictions on benefit of the clergy and sanctuary removed
• transportation

  1607 - english settlers begain to establish colonies in north america
• bloody code


  1688 - 50 offences punishable by death, by 1815 - 225
• bloody code abolished in 1815
• witchcraft - crime against the king and the state, punishable by death
• trials for witchcraft - 'swimming test' or finding a devils mark
• poor old women and widows acccused of being witches
• matthew hopkins - famous witch finder in 1640s, at least 100 witches executed by him
• matthew hopkkins used harsh techniques to make women confess

  humiliation, exhaustion, pricking a devils mark with pins