c1500 - c1700: Early modern England

1. Changes in society and what it led to
   1. increase in population led to higher unemployment meaning more people moved to urban areas to search for work so towns and cities grew
      1. increase in crimes against a person e.g. street criminals and petty thieves
   2. The end of feudalism and new farming method led to enclosure of land e.g. fencing off
      1. Increase in crimes against property e.g. poaching as more landowners restricted those who could hunt
   3. Changes in people's religious beliefs and the religion of the monarch
      1. Increase in crimes against authority as more people committed high treason
2. Increase in crimes against authority
   1. Early modern England was ruled by tudors and then the stuarts. It was a time of religious change and rebellions against the monarch, both of which led to CAA e.g. treason and heresy
      1. Treason charges were more common in this period as there were more disputes about who should rule. Heresy charges were more common because the official religion of the country kept changing between Catholic and Protestant
         1. Important members of the clergy (from both religions) played a role in charging people with heresy and judging whether they were guilty or not. As monarchs (except Mary i) became head of the church heresy and treason became interlinked
3. Timeline - treason and heresy
   1. 1509 - 47 - Henry VIII executed protestants for heresy throughout his reign and catholics for treason if they wouldn't accept Henry as head of the church after 1534
      1. 1547 - 53 Edwards VI executed leaders of rebellions for treason and two catholics for heresy
         1. 1553 - 58 - Mary I executed leaders of plots to replace her and many protestants (almost 300) for heresy
            1. 1158 - 1603 - Elizabeth I executed many 'rebels' for treason but far fewer for heresy
               1. 1603 - 25 - James I executed many Catholics for treason

1. Vagabond of vagrancy
   1. This is an unemployed homeless person. Late 15th and 16th centuries saw an increase in number of vagrants due to increase in population, falling wages, rising food prices and no system for help
      1. 1. Hated and feared by settled population
         2. Resorted to thieving and/or begging and charity in order to service, which was resented by the settled population
         3. Viewed as lazy and responsible for their own problems
2. Timeline - Vagabondage laws
   1. 1494 - Vagabonds and Beggars Act - Vagabonds were put in stocks for three days and nights, then sent back to where they were born
      1. 1547 - Vagrancy Act - The able bodied without work for more than three days were branded with a 'V' and sold as a slave for 2 years
         1. 1597 - Act for the Relief of the Poor - split vagrants into two categories 'deserving' elders and disabled and 'undeserving' for for work but not working
            1. 1601 - Poor Laws - 'Deserving' poor were given poor relief by local parish; the 'undeserving' could be branded, whipped or sent to a correction house
3. Smuggling
   1. Import tax on certain goods e.g. brandy and tea was introduced in the 17th century, the crime of smuggling increased.
      1. Smuggling is when people bring goods into country secretly avoiding tax and then sell. Like poaching its a social crime and people didn't view it as a serious threat so its harder to enforce
4. Witchcraft
   1. It was a minor crimes in medieval times that was dealt with by church courts. In the early modern period, new laws against witchcraft were passed, making it a serious offence as most people were afraid and saw it has harmful
      1. In 1542, Henry VIII made witch craft punishable by death
         1. In 1563, Elizabeth I changed the law so charges of witchcraft had to be tried in a common court
            1. In 1604, James I instructed the death penalty to be given to people 'summoning evil spirts'

Annotations:

• The increasing size of the populations of towns factor for changes in law enforcements. traditional methods became less effective and more ogransied system was put in place where town authorities and local communities both played a part. The role of the church in the justice system decreased

1. continuity and change in chatching criminals and preventing crime
   1. Like medieval time people in early modern England:
      1. were unexpected to raise and join hue and cry to catch criminals when a crime took place
         1. had no national police force and methods and effectiveness of preventing crime and catching criminals varied across the country
2. Changes in the role of the church
   1. In the Middle Ages, the church provided an alternative justice system through benefit of clergy and sanctuary. The early modern period saw justice system become more secular as the church became less important in society
      1. Benefit of the clergy: Henry viii allowed non-clergy 'benefit of clergy' only once and people were branded to show they had received it. Edward vi made serious crimes e.g. murder from benefit of the clergy. From 1576 church courts couldn't try criminal acts (only moral ones) so everyone including clerics, were tried in secular courts. people could still claim benefit of clergy and receive lenient sentences
      2. Sanctuary: Henry viii stopped exile abroad for those claiming sanctuary. Instead they had to keep to designated sanctuaries in England. In 1623, James I abolished sanctuary altogether
3. 1. Carried a lamp to light their way
   2. Rang bell to alert people
   3. all male householders were expected to volunteer and tole was unpaid
   4. Patrolled streets from 10pm and dawn
   5. Overseen by town constable
4. 1. Employed by authorities in towns
   2. respected members of the community
   3. had power to arrest suspects and take them to justice of the peace
   4. in charge of the watchmen in their area
   5. Helped with town administration