Crime, Punishment and the Law
In the Elizabethan Era of England, there were different situations for each of the three classes that were considered as crimes.
Hardships of being a peasant
Video On Crime and Punishment
|
|
Peasants
The poorest and least privileged class in the Elizabethan Era. They had very little to no money, and the only crimes that they would bother to commit for survival were punished severely. If you begged for money you were considered a criminal. If you were stole money or other things you were either executed or banished, and were executed if you returned. Dice cogging (cheating with dice in gambling) resulted in torture and/or death if you were caught. Cut pursing (it is like pick pocketing) was considered theft and was punished just as harshly. Children were punished almost as harshly as adults. |
Nobility
The more political class in the Elizabethan Era. They were involved deeply in religion and politics, and were therefore paid properly for their jobs. Their crimes were mainly for personal gain. Crimes of betrayal like high treason, sedition, rebellion and spying were mostly against higher political leaders and were punished with torture and eventual death. Blasphemy (speaking ill of religion) was punished with being burned alive. Witchcraft and Alchemy resulted in execution. Murder was obviously punished with torture and/or death. |
|
Upper Class
The most wealthy and privileged class in the Elizabethan Era. They were mostly punished by execution and for mostly betrayal, much like the nobility. However, most people who were accused were able to be freed by high social connections and abilities.
The most wealthy and privileged class in the Elizabethan Era. They were mostly punished by execution and for mostly betrayal, much like the nobility. However, most people who were accused were able to be freed by high social connections and abilities.
Types of Punishment
Punishment was something that was categorized for each class and each type of crime. As stated by L.K. Alchin, most punishments consisted of torture that usually resulted in death. When being tortured, death was something that was a privilege. If the person died quickly, they were lucky. However, the most dreaded punishment was execution.
Punishment was something that was categorized for each class and each type of crime. As stated by L.K. Alchin, most punishments consisted of torture that usually resulted in death. When being tortured, death was something that was a privilege. If the person died quickly, they were lucky. However, the most dreaded punishment was execution.
Execution was usually beheading, where the person would kneel and lie their head on a chopping block for an axe man to decapitate them. According to L.K. Alchin, there would be cases where the axe man would accidentally or purposefully miss their target and cut into another area of the body. Some executioners were paid by the victim to make the death painless. This type of punishment was the swiftest if done properly and the most painful if done wrong, making it the one of the worst ways to die in the Elizabethan Era.
Weapons used during the Elizabethan Era
- The Battle Axe
- The Mace
- The Lance
- The Dagger
- Pike
- Bow and Arrow
- Arbalest
- Spear
Works Cited
Alchin, Linda. Elizabethan Crime and Punishment, May 16 2012.
Alchin, Linda. "Elizabethan Weapons." Elizabethan Weapons. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2015.
Alchin, Linda. Elizabethan Crime and Punishment, May 16 2012.
Alchin, Linda. "Elizabethan Weapons." Elizabethan Weapons. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2015.