Crime and Punishment

Wergild era

Anglo-Saxon

Wergild - definition

A fine for injuring or murdering a member of someone’s family to provide compensation

Werglid in Norman times

Modified to suit the King

Invasion was expensive, funds were needed for defence

Wergild was paid to the King

History paragraph structure

PEE paragraphs

When was the Statute of Labourers?

1351

Statute of Labourers - definition

Made it illegal for workers to move or ask for better pay
Introduced minimum wage

Introduced following the Black Death (1/3 of population dead, mainly working peasants)

Heresy - definition

Crime

Illegal to not support, or follow the Church

Peasants now had to attend church and be religious

Punishable in royal courts

King wanted to ally with the Church - would make him seem like the rightful ruler