Crime in Medieval England

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to crime in medieval England.

Crime

An activity that breaks a law.

Murder

The unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.

Assault

An act of inflicting physical harm or unwanted physical contact upon a person.

Arson

The criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property.

Poaching

Hunting wildlife on private land without payment; a form of theft.

Treason

The crime of betraying one’s country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign.

Hue and Cry

A call for assistance or a community hunt to capture a criminal.

Wergild

A system of compensation for victims of crime in Anglo-Saxon England.

Murdrum Fine

A fine imposed on a hundred for the murder of a Norman if the culprit was not found.

Royal Forest Laws

Laws that restricted common people from hunting in designated royal forest areas.