Medieval - Crime and Punishment 1250 – 1500
Context
The poor, peasants, people who were not well thought of population, were more likely to be
pre-assumed criminals, greatly biasing the court and trial process of the time.
Medieval England was deeply Roman Catholic, many believed that god cared deeply about
how people lived their lives, this played very deeply into trial by ordeal and would lower the
crime rates.
Kings were not rich enough to run a strong central government keep the peace, this often
relied on volunteers and the lords to do the work.
During the time period everybody knew everybody, and everyone could com together as an
army. There is still a distinct social margin, as seen in history, and this caused friction
between society.
Serious Crime - Crimes involving physical harm (Murder/Rape), Damage to property,
Treason and Theft over 12d (pence)
Petty Crime - Theft under 12d (pence)
Crime
Crime levels in the medieval period are significantly lower than in modern Britain, this could
be for a wide variety of reasons, such as wide spread deep religious beliefs or poverty and
hunger as seen in the case of Roger Ryet.
Petty Crime
Theft under 12d
Full picture is unknown due to less sources
Majority of crimes - minor
Larceny- 75% of all crimes
Poaching and hunting
Thefts rose over spring and summer- peaked during harvest time
Poverty during bad harvest
, Serious Crime
Murder + man slaughter
Rare because of the economic impacts
Men on women beating was taboo
If a wife beat her husband it was condemned!
Crime occurred in all levels of society
Most crimes committed were by men
The Case of Roger Ryet and the Shepard
John the Shepherd’s house looked empty. Roger Ryet had already walked past it once,
glancing in through the open shutter, just out of curiosity. There wasn’t much to see– a well
swept-floor, a couple of benches, a table. Hanging over one of the benches was a piece of
cloth. ‘Nice piece of cloth’ though Roger, ‘it’ll make a good tunic’. He carried on hoping to
find work. Roger did not find work. Roger cursed knowing that he needed money. He walked
back past John’s house and seeing that it was still open ran inside, grabbed the cloth and
started to run away. ‘Thief!’ shouted a mans voice. Roger reeled in shock. The man blocked
Roger’s path: a woman was running up behind him. Roger hesitated gripping the cloth
tightly. He had to move. In his other hand he held a knife. He moved forward, desperate to
escape. Seconds later, John lay dead. His wife, Isabel, knelt screaming by his side.
Roger was caught by the local hue and cry and tried, where he was put to death, and hung
for murder and larceny.
This is a real story in 1300's Britain
Punishment
Fines
All fines from manor courts went to the lord
Mayors and town leaders took fines from borough courts
Church courts made fines from sinning, e.g. gambling
Kings took fines from hundred courts and quarter sessions
Public Humiliation
Forced scolds to sit on cucking and ducking stools
Borough councils often made traders selling faulty good go to the pillory
Context
The poor, peasants, people who were not well thought of population, were more likely to be
pre-assumed criminals, greatly biasing the court and trial process of the time.
Medieval England was deeply Roman Catholic, many believed that god cared deeply about
how people lived their lives, this played very deeply into trial by ordeal and would lower the
crime rates.
Kings were not rich enough to run a strong central government keep the peace, this often
relied on volunteers and the lords to do the work.
During the time period everybody knew everybody, and everyone could com together as an
army. There is still a distinct social margin, as seen in history, and this caused friction
between society.
Serious Crime - Crimes involving physical harm (Murder/Rape), Damage to property,
Treason and Theft over 12d (pence)
Petty Crime - Theft under 12d (pence)
Crime
Crime levels in the medieval period are significantly lower than in modern Britain, this could
be for a wide variety of reasons, such as wide spread deep religious beliefs or poverty and
hunger as seen in the case of Roger Ryet.
Petty Crime
Theft under 12d
Full picture is unknown due to less sources
Majority of crimes - minor
Larceny- 75% of all crimes
Poaching and hunting
Thefts rose over spring and summer- peaked during harvest time
Poverty during bad harvest
, Serious Crime
Murder + man slaughter
Rare because of the economic impacts
Men on women beating was taboo
If a wife beat her husband it was condemned!
Crime occurred in all levels of society
Most crimes committed were by men
The Case of Roger Ryet and the Shepard
John the Shepherd’s house looked empty. Roger Ryet had already walked past it once,
glancing in through the open shutter, just out of curiosity. There wasn’t much to see– a well
swept-floor, a couple of benches, a table. Hanging over one of the benches was a piece of
cloth. ‘Nice piece of cloth’ though Roger, ‘it’ll make a good tunic’. He carried on hoping to
find work. Roger did not find work. Roger cursed knowing that he needed money. He walked
back past John’s house and seeing that it was still open ran inside, grabbed the cloth and
started to run away. ‘Thief!’ shouted a mans voice. Roger reeled in shock. The man blocked
Roger’s path: a woman was running up behind him. Roger hesitated gripping the cloth
tightly. He had to move. In his other hand he held a knife. He moved forward, desperate to
escape. Seconds later, John lay dead. His wife, Isabel, knelt screaming by his side.
Roger was caught by the local hue and cry and tried, where he was put to death, and hung
for murder and larceny.
This is a real story in 1300's Britain
Punishment
Fines
All fines from manor courts went to the lord
Mayors and town leaders took fines from borough courts
Church courts made fines from sinning, e.g. gambling
Kings took fines from hundred courts and quarter sessions
Public Humiliation
Forced scolds to sit on cucking and ducking stools
Borough councils often made traders selling faulty good go to the pillory
