Crimes and Punishments
WitchcraftIn the middle ages witchcraft was a very serious offence. Theories were that these people were the devil's followers and used their powers to make others suffer and bring unhappiness to the world. If you were jealous of your next door neighbour as they had more friends than you, you could blame them for the failure of your crops and that was enough proof to sentence them to a trail. These people were also blamed for all different natural disasters like famine, plague, drought and even the stillbirth of a baby.
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Crime ControlBefore police were around if someone was breaking the law the lord expected you to raise the 'hue and cry' and chase after them until they are caught. If they escaped the villagers were punished. In some towns there was a curfew to stop crimes at night. This meant the villagers had to be in their houses by 8-9 pm or you will risk being arrested. Another way to show the law was to be obeyed was to organise the villagers into groups called tithings. Each tithing consisted of 10 males all over the age of 12 were responsible for each others crimes. If a member of your tithing committed a crime everyone in your group would have to go to court and pay their fine. This may have been unfair but it was effective. Also a way to discourage breaking the law was if you committed a crime you would be publicly punished . Iron cages or gibblets displayed the executed bodies of criminals. Severed heads were also put on poles to warns others.
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