medieval

• Medieval period


  Middle Ages
• Society structure in the medieval period

  • King
  • Earls
  • Thegns
  • Ceorls
  • Peasants/freemen
  • Slaves
• Categories of crime


  • Crimes vs. the person
  • Crimes vs. property
  • Crimes vs. authority
• In 1066 William of Normandy defeated the Anglo-Saxons and became the new king of England, ending the Anglo-Saxon period
• William decided to keep the majority of Anglo-Saxon laws as they seemed to work well in keeping communities from committing crime
• Forest Laws


  William I took control of huge areas of woodland and made them into Royal Forests, evicting villagers so the King and his friends could use the forests for hunting
• Poaching


  Hunting animals for food in the Royal Forests, which became illegal for peasants
• Poaching was seen as a social crime, as most people didn't agree it should be a crime and would turn a blind eye to it
• Anglo-Saxon law enforcement methods

  • Hue and Cry
  • Tithings
• Hue and Cry


  If a crime was committed, the victim/witness would raise the 'hue and cry' and the entire village was expected to immediately join the hunt to catch the criminal
• Tithings


  Every male over 12 years old was part of a group of 10 men who were responsible for each others' behaviour, and had to bring a member to trial if they broke the law
• New Norman law enforcement roles

  • Parish Constable
  • Sheriff
• Parish Constable


  A trusted volunteer in a village who had to keep the peace, watch out for crime and lead the hue and cry
• Sheriff


  Responsible for law enforcement across whole counties, working for and paid by the king, could raise a posse to track down criminals
• William started a massive programme of castle building, which became the centre for law and order in local areas
• Anglo-Saxon trial methods


  • Trial by local jury
  • Trial by ordeal
• Trial by local jury


  Someone accused of a crime was brought before a jury of local men from the village who knew both the accuser and the accused, and decided on guilt
• Trial by ordeal


  If the local jury could not decide, they turned to using trial by ordeal to let God decide the guilt/innocence of the accused
• The Normans introduced Church courts, where clergy who committed crimes were tried rather than in secular courts
• The Normans also introduced trial by combat, where the accused fought with the accuser until one was killed or unable to fight on
• Between 1066 and 1087 William faced several uprisings, and responded with harsh punishments to show he was in control
• The Normans continued to use fines as a punishment, but now the fines went to the crown rather than the victim, and they introduced the murdrum fine
• The Normans increased the number of crimes punishable by death or mutilation
• Changes in law enforcement in the later medieval period (1100-1500)

  • Introduction of Royal Courts
  • End of Trial by Ordeal
• Claiming Sanctuary


  Criminals could claim sanctuary in churches and cathedrals, where they were safe from the authorities for 40 days while they decided whether to stand trial or leave the country
• Benefit of Clergy


  Churchmen or priests could not be punished in the king's courts, and instead were handed over to the local bishop for punishment, which was usually mutilation rather than execution
• Other options for criminals in the later medieval period

  • Join the army
  • Buy a pardon
  • Get pregnant
  • Become a king's approver
• Cleric


  A priest or religious leader
• Continuity and change in law enforcement from Anglo-Saxon to Norman period


  • Parish constables (voluntary & unpaid), raised hue & cry (all men of age had to take part)
  • Sheriff raised the posse to track the criminal down
  • Hue & cry – made up of local men
  • Unnatural deaths had to be reported to the coroner from 1190
  • Royal court with 5 judges and scribed to record information
  • Church courts
  • Trial by jury
  • Oaths of good character
  • Judged by peers who knew you
  • Trial by Ordeal until 1215
  • Sanctuary as a method of avoiding punishment
  • Benefit of the clergy to be tried in church courts which were more lenient
  • Go to war to avoid death
  • Buy a pardon
  • Execution – hanging
  • Pillory & stocks – public humiliation to deter