Section C: Punishment in early modern England

What was the punishment for heresy in the early modern period?

Burning at the stake.

How many people were executed for heresy under Mary I?

283 people.

How many executions for heresy were there under Edward VI and Elizabeth I?

2 under Edward VI, 5 under Elizabeth I.

Were prisons in this period considered a punishment in themselves?

No, they were holding areas while awaiting trial.

What were conditions like in early prisons?

Very poor, with no sanitation and inmates paying wardens for food.

What diseases often killed prisoners?

Typhus and other diseases.

What was Bridewell prison (1556)?

A house of correction where lawbreakers and poor children were punished with hard labour.

What happened in the 17th century regarding prisons?

More houses of correction like Bridewell were established across England.

What was the “Bloody Code”?

Harsh laws in the 17th century making many crimes punishable by death.

By 1688, how many crimes were capital offences?

Around 50.

Give examples of minor capital crimes under the Bloody Code.

 Poaching rabbits or fish.

Why was the Bloody Code confusing?

Severe punishments led to many pardons, sending mixed messages.

What was ‘pleading the belly’?

Pregnant women delaying execution until after childbirth.

What happened to capital crimes by the 18th century?

Even more offences became punishable by death, highlighting flaws in the system.

Under which monarch was transportation introduced?

James I.

What type of work did transported convicts do in America?

Hard labour like farming and clearing trees.

How long were transportation sentences?

14 years for serious crimes, 7 years for lesser ones.

Could transported convicts return home?

In theory yes, but most couldn’t afford the journey.

How many people were transported to America up to c.1770?

Between 50,000 and 80,000 (including vagrant children).

Why was transportation used as a punishment?

It acted as a deterrent, offered rehabilitation, filled the gap in prison systems, and provided labour for colonies.