Crime and Punishments By : Sami Tallarico

Policing No real police Men were separated into tithings and were expected to watch the other members of the tithing Report if someone broke the law to the Manorial Court

Manorial Court Held at various intervals during the year Tried all of the lower level crimes Lord’s steward was in charge 12 random men were used as a jury Jury was responsible for evidence collection, ruiling, and punishment

King’s Court Ordeal by fire Ordeal by water The accused had to pick up a red hot iron bar and hold it while they walked three or four paces. Their hand was then bandaged. After three days they had to return to the court to remove the bandage. If the wound was beginning to heal they were innocent but if the wound was not healing then they were guilty. Ordeal by water The accused had their hands and feet tied together. They were then thrown into water. If they floated they were guilty but if they sank they were innocent. Ordeal by combat Noblemen would fight in combat with their accuser. The winner of the battle would be considered to be in the right. Typically the men would fight to death

Medieval crimes Lower level crime Theft Homeless Jobless Not working hard Cheating on spouse Gossip of women Drunkenness Disorderly Higher level crimes Murder (common) High treason Heresy Witchcraft

Punishments for the crimes Theft- fines, extra work, hands cut off Murderers- death by hanging or beheading Not working hard enough- flogging Cheating or drunkenness- stock or pillory Women’s gossip- scold’s bridle Witchcraft- strangulation or burned at the stake Heresy- banishment if repented, burned at the stake if not High treason- the person was hung and cut down while he was still alive, beheaded and body hacked into four quarters, which were then sent to different cities were put on public display.

Torture Device Sawing Rats Tar and feathering Iron maiden Torture was used to extract information, punish suspects, scare enemies, force confessions Device Sawing Rats Tar and feathering Iron maiden Intestinal crank Judas cradle Pope’s pear Picture

Torture Device Picquet The rack Flaying Knife Flogging Heretic's Fork Quartering Mutilation

Public execution To shock spectators and reaffirm authority Most common: beheading, hanging, quartered, strung, burning, crushing, boiling to death, impalement, the wheel, sawing, and crucifixion Public holiday for the day of executions. Large crowds would come to watch

Bibliography Crime and Punishment. Medieval chronicles. http://www.medievalchronicles.com/medieval-torture-devices/medieval-crime-punishment/. Accessed 18 Sept. 2017 Execution In the Middle Ages. History.com. http://www.history.co.uk/shows/britains-bloodiest-dynasty/articles/execution-in-the-middle-ages. Accessed 20 Sept. 2017 Medieval Life- Crime and Punishment. History on the Net. http://www.historyonthenet.com/medieval-life-crime-and-punishment/. Accessed 21 Sept. 2017

Pictures http://www.medievalwarfare.info/torture.htm