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Medieval - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Members of the local community formed a jury.
      - This was made up of men from the village that knew both the accused and the accuser.
      - The accused and the accuser would tell their version of events and the jury would decide who they thought was telling the truth.
      - If there was no evidence, for example an eyewitness to the crime, the jury would decide based on their own knowledge of the two parties involved.
  - - - Following a crime being committed either the victim or any witness was expected to raise the Hue and Cry.
      - The entire village would have to stop their current work, down tools and chase after the criminal.
      - If anyone chose not to join the Hue and Cry then the whole village would have to pay a fine.
      - If the Hue and Cry failed then the Sheriff would group together a Posse of men which would continue the search
  - - - Every male over the age of 12 was expected to join a Tithing.
      - The Tithing was a group of 10 men who were responsible for each others’ behaviour.
      - If one of the men broke the law, the other members of the Tithing had to bring him to court or ensure that any fines due were paid.
  - - - Well respected men in the village would be expected to take on the role of Constable.
      - This would usually be a local landowner or well-respected tradesman.
      - They would be expected to take the role for one year and the main responsibility was to keep the peace in their spare time.
      - They would need to keep an eye for crimes being committed and lead the Hue and Cry when necessary.
- - - - Re-offenders were treated more harshly.
      - Sometimes they would face mutilation to parts of their bodies, such as cutting off a hand, ear or nose, or even ‘putting-out’ the eyes.
      - Again the severity of this punishment was designed to deter them from further crimes.
  - - - A system of fines was used in Medieval England. This was known as the Wergild.
      - The main principle was that the offender paid an amount of money to the victim of their crime. This method was mainly used in cases of crimes against the person or property.
      - The amount of money paid was directly linked to the crime that had taken place.
  - - - This is the method of punishment to the body and could result in a period of time in the stocks and pillory.
      - Often offenders would find themselves with either their head and hands or their ankles clamped between two pieces of wood.
      - This punishment would take place in public, with the idea being to humiliate offenders and ultimately deter others from committing crimes
  - - - In Medieval England, prison was not widely used in the same way as it is today.
      - There were two main reasons why you could end up in prison:
      - You were either waiting to be executed or you were being held in debtors prison because you owed someone money.
- - - - Early kings had allowed blood feuds to take place which meant that victims of crime could punish criminals themselves.
      - This method of controlling crime was not seen as fair by the Anglo-Saxons.
      - By 1000 AD, Anglo-Saxon England was made up largely of farming communities that shared the responsibility for maintaining law and order
- - - - Cutting trees down for fuel
      - Using bows and arrows
      - Owning dogs
  - - - The most obvious change following the Norman Invasion was the building of castles.
      - The Normans did this to protect themselves and exert their authority over the area.
      - Furthermore, they introduced a new language to the country.
- - - - Following their invasion, there was a lot of distrust and anger towards the Normans.
      - Some Saxons fought back against their new rulers and killed Norman soldiers.
      - As a result, William introduced the Murdrum Fine.
      - This meant that if a Norman was killed then everyone in the area would have to club together to pay a fine to the king.
  - - - Lastly the Normans were warriors so they introduced Trial by Combat.
      - The accused had to fight the accuser until one was either killed or unable to continue to fight.
      - The loser was hanged as God would have considered him guilty.