Later Middle Ages

Later Middle Ages

crime changes

• statute of labourers

• heresy

when was the statute of labourers

1351

what was the statute of labourers

introduced a maximum wage for workers and stopped peasants from asking for more

what type of crime is the statute of labourers

crime against authority- asking for more goes against the societal structure and the king

factor for the change of the statute of labourers

the black death

how did the black death lead to the statute of labourers

• 1/3 of the population died, and as there were far fewer workers, peasants could ask for higher wages, meaning that peasants were becoming richer and a threat to the nobles

• the nobles also didn't want to pay these higher wages

what does the statute of labourers show about the wealthy

shows the power and influence over law they have and how they shape it to their own interests

CHANGES: statute of labourers

law passed by government rather than the king; shows a change in power as before only the king made the laws

CONTINUITY: statute of labourers

in the Norman period they also introduced laws to protect their own interests (e.g. the Forest Laws)

what is heresy

holding a set of beliefs different to those of the time

when were laws against heresy introduced

1382, 1401, 1414

what did the 1401 law against heresy state

heretics could be burned at the stake

why was burning at the stake used for heretics

• symbolised purifying a corrupt soul under eyes of God

• powerful deterrent

what did the 1414 law say about heresy

gave JP's the power to arrest suspects and take them to church courts for trial

what type of crime was heresy

crime against authority; goes against the church and it's authority

factors for the change in laws against heresy

role of the church

how was the role of the church a factor for change of heresy laws

• in 13th and 14th centuries, a growing number of people were questioning the beliefs of the church; wanted the church to be reformed, disagreed with the sacrament of bread and wine, translated the bible into English

• the church and clergy didn't like this and kings want to support the church

CHANGES: Heresy

the church has less power; laws supporting them still being made but more people going against the church and JP's worked together with the church, showing a power shift; equality between church snd parliament

CONTINUITY: heresy

laws against heresy existed in Norman times as well

law enforcement methods and changes

• JUSTICE SYSTEM: assize of clarendon and justices of Eyre

• POLICING: justices of the peace and coroners

what law enforcement methods continued from the Norman period

• hue and cry

• towns now divided into new areas called wards

• tithingmen now became known as constables

when was the assize of clarendon introduced and what is it

• 1166- reorganised the court and made juries of presentment

• didn’t hear evidence but came to court with local knowledge of the crime

• set up prisons for those accused and waiting trial

factors for the change of the assize of clarendon

• role of King Henry II

• growth of towns

how is king Henry II a factor for the change of the assize of clarendon

• he introduced this change, with the addition of prisons and jury of presentment

• he strengthened the justice system

how is population growth a factor for the introduction of the assize of clarendon

as towns got bigger, it was harder for everyone to know everyone and for community methods of policing to be effective, and more crimes were committed; this new method of prisons and juries helped this

CHANGE: assize of clarendon

• prison system

• he strengthened the justice system

CONTINUITY: assize of clarendon

• Anglo-Saxons and Norman's also had juries, but now they're bigger and more important

• power of the king- the king wanted to make change and laws so he did; shows he still has power and control despite the rising power of government

what are justices of the Eyre

• royal judges who visited each county twice a year to hear the most serious cases

• standard written instructions given to all sheriffs; made the system more unified

who introduced the justices of the eyre

Henry II

factors for change: introduction of the justices of the eyre

role of the king- he set up a more unified system of policing with more people enforcing the law

why did Henry II introduce the justices of the eyre

it made his crown more stable and his people happy, leading to prosperity

CHANGE: Justices of the Eyre

• more people with official positions enforcing the law; the people don't have power anymore

• more serious crimes being committed, meaning more people are required to enforce

CONTINUITY: Justices of eyre

• manor courts still in place, which had been used since the Anglo saxon period to deal with disputes between the Lords and local people

• decisions still made directly by the king who still had a lot of power

when and who introduced the justices of the peace (JPs)

• 1195- Richard I appointed knights to keep the kings peace in unruly areas

• 1327- Edward III extended this system to all areas in the country

who were appointed JPs

• men judged good and lawful

• appointed by the king and were also chosen based on their wealth and status

• many were local landowners so had a reputation for being harsh on poachers

role of a JP and how often they met

met 4 times a year to carry out duties and enforce the law

Factors of change for introduction of JPs

• role of king

• growth of towns

how is the role of the king a factor for change for JPs

• Richard I appointed knights as keepers of the peace; wanted to maintain power as society grew and more became unruly; could've threatened him

• Edward III then extended this

• both kings appointed these people based on their wealth and status and therefore would be fully loyal to the king and would want to protect the kings interests

how is growth of towns a factor for the change of JPs

• as towns grew it became harder for people to keep peace and catch criminals as not everyone knew each other; easier to commit crime so more people committed it

• led to JPs as king wanted to combat this crime and maintain peace

CHANGE: JPs

• JPs now had power and policed people rather than the people policing themselves; shift of crime being dealt with by public officials

• weren’t assigned this role by local communities, but by the king and parliament; shows the king and parliament have more control and more centralised law enforcement

CONTINUITY: JPs

hue and cry still in place, just changed from tithings into wards

when and who introduced coroners

1194 by Richard I

what do coroners do

dealt with situations where there was a suspicious death with no natural explanation

factors for the change of coroners

• role of king

• growth of towns

how was the role of the king a factor for the change of coroners

he introduced coroners, his thoughts and he put them into action

how is growth of towns a factor for the change of coroners

bigger towns means people don't know everyone and therefore harder to track down murderers; coroners combat this

CHANGE: coroners

Anglo Saxons and Norman's never had this problem as population smaller

continuity of punishments from Normans

• fines

• corporal punishment

• execution

new crime in Later Middle Ages

hanged, drawn and quartered

what is hanging, drawing and quartering

person semi-strangled (hanged), then revived, his abdomen cut open and his intestines drawn out (drawn); after death his limbs would be severed (quartered) and transported to different areas of the country for display

factors for the change of hang, drawn, quarter

• increase in treason

• role of the king

how is increase in treason a factor for HDQ

more counts of treason against the king being committed, meaning a more cruel deterrent of a punishment needed to be introduced

how did the role of the king factor for HDQ

king wanted to protect his power and authority, which was becoming increasingly threatened by the increase counts of treason; introduced this punishment to increase his power and authority

CONTINUITY: punishments and type of punishment

• fines (retribution and deterrent)

• maiming (deterrent, revenge)

• execution (deterrent)

• property confiscated (retribution)

• property confiscated (retribution)