Key Tooic 1

Question 1

Changes under the Norman’s

Answer 1

The most obvious change following the Norman Invasion was the building of castles.
The Normans did this to protect themselves and exert their authority over the area.
Furthermore, they introduced a new language to the country.

Question 2

Forest laws

Answer 2

The Normans also introduced the Forest Laws.
They claimed that all forest land belonged to the King and therefore trees could no longer be cut down for fuel.

Question 3

Reaction to forest laws

Answer 3

n addition, those living in the forest were not allowed to own dogs or use bows and arrows.
Many normal people ignored this new law as they were happy to break the law in order to be able to survive.

Question 4

Tithings

Answer 4

Every male over the age of 12 was expected to join a Tithing.
The Tithing was a group of 10 men who were responsible for each others’ behaviour.
If one of the men broke the law, the other members of the Tithing had to bring him to court or ensure that any fines due were paid.

Question 5

Hue and cry

Answer 5

Following a crime being committed either the victim or any witness was expected to raise the Hue and Cry.
The entire village would have to stop their current work, down tools and chase after the criminal.
If anyone chose not to join the Hue and Cry then the whole village would have to pay a fine.
If the Hue and Cry failed then the Sheriff would group together a Posse of men which would continue the search.

Question 6

Trial by jury

Answer 6

Members of the local community formed a jury.
This was made up of men from the village that knew both the accused and the accuser.
The accused and the accuser would tell their version of events and the jury would decide who they thought was telling the truth.
If there was no evidence, for example an eyewitness to the crime, the jury would decide based on their own knowledge of the two parties involved.

Question 7

Compurgation

Answer 7

In examples where the jury felt that the accuser was more honest than the accused they would take an oath called Compurgation.
The jury would swear that the accused was guilty.

Question 8

Who were Constables what did they do

Answer 8

Well respected men in the village would be expected to take on the role of Constable.
This would usually be a local landowner or well-respected tradesman.
They would be expected to take the role for one year and the main responsibility was to keep the peace in their spare time.
They would need to keep an eye for crimes being committed and lead the Hue and Cry when necessary

Question 9

Deterrence and retribution

Answer 9

Punishments were supposed to be severe enough that they would deter people from actually committing a crime.
Retribution is the idea that a person should ‘pay’ for what they have done.

Question 10

Corporal punishment

Answer 10

This is the method of punishment to the body and could result in a period of time in the stocks and pillory.
Often offenders would find themselves with either their head and hands or their ankles clamped between two pieces of wood.
This punishment would take place in public, with the idea being to humiliate offenders and ultimately deter others from committing crimes.

Question 11

How were Re offenders treated

Answer 11

Re-offenders were treated more harshly.
Sometimes they would face mutilation to parts of their bodies, such as cutting off a hand, ear or nose, or even ‘putting-out’ the eyes.
Again the severity of this punishment was designed to deter them from further crimes.

Question 12

Wergild

Answer 12

A system of fines was used in Medieval England. This was known as the Wergild.
The main principle was that the offender paid an amount of money to the victim of their crime. This method was mainly used in cases of crimes against the person or property.
The amount of money paid was directly linked to the crime that had taken place.

Question 13

Capital punishment

Answer 13

The death penalty or execution was reserved for serious crimes. Treason would be a crime that resulted in the death penalty.
Treason is when you go against your King or betray your Lord. The punishment was severe again in order to show others how important it is to be loyal to those in authority.

Question 14

Why would you end up in Prison

Answer 14

In Medieval England, prison was not widely used in the same way as it is today.
There were two main reasons why you could end up in prison:
You were either waiting to be executed or you were being held in debtors prison because you owed someone money.

Question 15

Norman changes after their invasion in 1066
Wergild

Answer 15

The system of Wergild was removed and fines were paid to the King and his officials rather than the victims of crime.

Question 16

Reaction to Norman changes
How william responded

Answer 16

Following their invasion, there was a lot of distrust and anger towards the Normans.
Some Saxons fought back against their new rulers and killed Norman soldiers.
As a result, William introduced the Murdrum Fine.
This meant that if a Norman was killed then everyone in the area would have to club together to pay a fine to the king.

Question 17

Norman changes

Answer 17

Trial by combat

Question 18

Role of the church
How did they decide punishments

Answer 18

The Saxons were incredibly religious and if a local jury was unable to decide if someone was innocent or guilty then they would allow God to decide, using Trial by Ordeal.
All trials, except Cold Water, took place inside the church in the presence of a priest.
This practice was ended in 1215 by Pope Innocent III.

Question 19

Trial by hot iron

Answer 19

This was usually a trial taken by women.
The accused carried a red-hot piece of metal for three paces.
The hands of the accused were bandaged for three days and then unwrapped.
If the wound was healing nicely they were innocent, if not they were guilty.

Question 20

Trial by hit water

Answer 20

This trial was usually taken by men.
The accused had to dunk their hand into boiling hot water to retrieve an object.
Once again the hand and arm were bandaged for three days
If the burns were healing the accused was deemed innocent, if the wounds were festering then they were considered guilty.

Question 21

Trial by blessed bread

Answer 21

This trial was usually taken by Priests that were accused of a crime.
A priest that was present prayed that the accused would choke on the bread if they had lied.
The accused then ate the bread and was deemed guilty if they choked.

Question 22

Trial by cold water

Answer 22

This trial was usually taken by men.
The accused would be put into a pool of water or river. Often the accused was lowered into a river with a rope tied around their waist.
If the accused sank below God’s pure water then he was innocent - having been accepted by the water.
If the accused floated then they’d been rejected by the pure water and was found guilty.

Question 23

Sanctuary

Answer 23

If you had committed a crime, were on the run and you could reach a church, you would have been able to claim sanctuary.
This means that the church would protect you.
No one would be able to remove you from the church, not even the County Sheriff.

Question 24

What happened after sanctuary

Answer 24

The criminal would have 40 days during which to decide whether to face trial in the church court, or leave the country.
If they opted to leave the country they would have to travel to the nearest port barefoot, carrying a wooden cross and get onboard the first ship heading abroad.

Question 25

Church courts
What did they never do

Answer 25

The church claimed they had the right to try any clergyman accused of a crime in its own courts.
The trial would be in the presence of a local bishop.
The main difference with the church court was that they would never sentence anyone to death regardless of how serious the crime was.
This meant someone could get away with murder.
Moral offences such as failure to attend church, adultery and drunkenness were usually dealt with by the church courts.

Question 26

Benefit of the clergy

Answer 26

This was when the accused claimed the right to be tried in the church courts, usually because they were more lenient.
In theory, this right should only have been for priests and men of the church.
But, in reality, if you were connected to the church in any way you could claim this right.
The church would often test people claiming benefit of the clergy by making them read a verse from the bible.
This verse became known as the ‘neck verse’ as it saved your neck, or enabled you to escape hanging.

Question 27

In what year was the practice of Trial by Ordeal ended by Pope Innocent III?

Answer 27

1215

Question 28

Statue of labourers

Answer 28

Law arranged by rich to keep peasants wages low and tied to one lord

Question 29

saxon society

Answer 29

agricultural - vast majority in smalll villages
community policing
church = important

Question 30

punishment caught hunting deer

Answer 30

2 fingers cut off

Question 31

concept of kings Peace

Answer 31

crime against king so compensation paid directly to the king

Question 32

why did trail by ordeal continue to be effective in Norman period

Answer 32

deep Norman religious beliefs

Question 33

why William set up church courts

Answer 33

for moral crimes
offered opportunity to reform, save souls

Question 34

How was trial by combat different to other methods of trial by ordeal

Answer 34

Used for land disputes

Question 35

Punishments for breaking forest laws

Answer 35

Blinding hanging

Question 36

Outlaw

Answer 36

Anyone over 14 tried to avoid punishment by running away

Question 37

Statue of labourers

Answer 37

1351
Restricted wages for farmers

Question 38

Who ended trial by ordeal
When

Answer 38

Poor
13 century

Question 39

late medieval 1200- 1500

crimes and punishment

Answer 39

murmdrum abolished, normand and saxo differences faded

Hersey law 1382 - increasing challenge to church
increasing focus on treason

1305 - introduce of hung drawn and quartered for treason

Question 40

late medieval 1200- 1500

policing and trials

Answer 40

1215 - abolition of trial by ordeal by pope

1361 - justices of peace

Question 41

Norman new laws

Answer 41

murmdrum.
kings peace
forest laws
trial by combat
emphasis in deterrence and retribution

Question 42

change in Norman enforcement

Answer 42

Some towns had night watch - volunteers patrolled streets

Jps appointed by monarch for minor crimes

Sheriff tracked cirminals could form posse of local men to help him

Question 43

Medieval punishment aim

Answer 43

Retribution deterrence and safety

Question 44

Wergild

Answer 44

Depended on victims social status