Elizabethan Crime and Punishment

Elizabethan Crime and Punishment : 

Elizabethan Crime and Punishment By Mrs R. Banks Phoenix School

A public spectacle! : 

A public spectacle! To commit a crime in Elizabethan England was not a good idea unless you really liked being the centre of attention. Crime, even small crime was met with violent and cruel punishment. Many punishments and executions were witnessed by hundreds of people. For the poor, these events were often exciting days out.

Different class, different crime. : 

Different class, different crime. Elizabethan England was split into 2 classes: The upper class made up of the nobility and courtiers as well as rich clergymen. Everyone else. Your crime was dependant on your class

Crimes of the nobility. : 

Crimes of the nobility. The Upper class were well educated, were associated with royalty and were often high members of the clergy. They would often become involved in plotting conspiracies to get rid of someone they disliked including the Queen. Often they got involved in crimes with others. Just being accused of one of the serious crimes could result in death and you would not be allowed any legal representation.

Common crimes of the Nobility. : 

Common crimes of the Nobility. High Treason: This is when you betray your country by perhaps helping your countries enemy. Blasphemy: This is showing disrespect for religion, God and sacred things. Spying: Obtaining secret information about the government and passing it on to enemies. Murder: Killing someone. Alchemy: Trying to change base metals into gold and discover a life prolonging elixir.

Punishment of the Nobility. : 

Punishment of the Nobility. According to William Harrison who wrote a chronicle of life in Elizabethan England, the worst punishment was being Hung, Drawn and Quartered. “they would be taken from the prison to the place of execution upon a hurdle or sled, where they are hanged till they be half dead and then taken down and quartered alive; after that their members and bowels are removed from their bodies and are thrown into a fire, within their own sight.”

Punishment by Burning. : 

Punishment by Burning. Other punishment included execution by burning and beheading. Being burnt at the stake was a slow painful death. Sometimes the executioner would show mercy by placing gunpowder at the base of the stakes. The only other way to die quickly was to suffocate in the smoke.

Punishment by beheading. : 

Punishment by beheading. Death by the axe was terrifying. Sometimes it would take several blows before the head was finally cut off. Consciousness remains for at least 8 seconds after beheading. The head was shown to the crowd and then placed on stakes and displayed on places such as London Bridge.

Crimes of the commoners. : 

Crimes of the commoners. Many crimes committed by the poor were because of desperation and poverty. The most common crimes were: Theft Begging Adultery Forgers Fraud Debtors

Punishment and executions – The Lower Classes. : 

Punishment and executions – The Lower Classes. Hanging

Slide 11: 

Burning

Slide 12: 

The Pillory and the Stocks.

Slide 13: 

Whipping

Slide 14: 

Branding.

Slide 15: 

Ducking Stools

Slide 16: 

The Brank.

Anything else? : 

Anything else? You could also be; Boiled alive in water or oil, Starved to death in a public place, Have various parts of your anatomy removed, such as ears and hands as well as other more sensitive parts.

Generally then, : 

Generally then, You will agree that In Elizabethan England it was not a good time to commit crime. With the person next to you discuss; 1] Did the punishments fit the crimes? 2] Do you think that the punishments would have acted as a deterrent to stop people committing crime? 3] Should punishments today be more severe to reduce crime? Be prepared to feed back to the class!