Norman England

Crime in Norman England 

1. William the Conqueror introduced the feudal system, with those of Norman descent in the most powerful positions. Serfs were bound to work for their lord, and running away was a crime.  

2. William declared large areas of the countryside to be ‘royal forests’, including the ‘Nova Foresta’ (New Forest). This made it illegal to hunt or collect firewood in this area, and doing so became a new crime called poaching. This is an example of a ‘social crime’.  

3. Any man aged 14 or over who tried to avoid trial and punishment by running away was declared an outlaw. Women who ran away were said to be ‘waived’. It was not illegal for anyone to kill and outlaw or a waived woman.  

4. The Robin Hood story first appears in literature in the late 14^th century, and is set in the forests of Norman England.  

5. In reality, gangs of outlaws were brutal. The Folville gang was a group of up to 50 outlaws in the 14^th century. They carried out crimes including kidnaps, robberies, and extortion. Their leader was Eustace Folville.  

Law enforcement in Norman England 

1. This became more centralised and fewer decisions were taken by local communities.  

2. William the Conqueror started a massive programme of castle building. These represented the increasingly strong royal authority over England. 

3. William hired men to work as foresters to enforce the Forest Laws.  

4. A new type of trial by ordeal was introduced, called trial by combat, where the people involved would fight with swords or large sticks. The two combatants often fought to the death.  

5. The system of tithings continued, as was the hue and cry.  

Punishment in Norman England 

1. The Normans continued to rely on a combination of physical punishments, crimes and executions, but these became more centralised.  

2. There was also an increased use of harsh punishments including execution. Mutilation, such as branding or chopping off a body part, was used as an alternative to the death penalty in some cases.  

3. After resistance against William the Conqueror in York, he ordered what was called the Harrying of the North. Farmlands were destroyed and animals were killed. Up to 100,000 people may have died of starvation as a result.  

4. If a Norman was murdered by an Anglo Saxon and the murderer was not found, they hundred were the body was found would have to pay a murdrum fine. This was supposed to make it less likely that people would cover up the crime of a neighbour.  

5. The system of wergild was ended, and fines were now paid to the king’s officials instead of victims of crime.  

6. Normans believed all men should be able to live peacefully under the ‘King’s mund’, which continued the idea of the ‘king’s peace’.