Crime and Punishment in Tudor times

• The Tudor period was from 1485 to 1603CE.
• This was a time of many changes. Explorers discovered new lands. Maps had to be rewritten and there were religious changes in England and Wales.
• There was religious fighting between the Protestant and Catholic faiths.
• The church was a centre for communities. Most people were very religious and went to church regularly.
• Life for people hadn't changed much since medieval times.
• Life could be harsh and many people died before they were 35.
• Most of the population lived in small villages and worked by farming.
• When the harvest failed it was tempting for poor people to steal food to feed their families.

• There was no police force in Tudor times.
• Often in smaller towns and villages, preventing crime was left up to the people. Some villages and towns employed Parish Constables who would be responsible for keeping the peace and catching criminals.
• The laws were strict and most crimes were punished severely.
• People believed if a criminal’s punishment was painful enough, then it would stop others from doing it as well.

• Whipping was a common punishment for a wide variety of crimes. Vagrants (homeless people), thieves who stole goods worth less than a shilling and those who refused to attend church could all be whipped.
• Being branded (burned) with a hot iron was another common punishment.
• Criminals were also locked in stocks. These were large wooden frames that held your head between two planks of wood. Stocks were placed in the centre of the village so everyone could see you were being punished and could make fun of you.
• The worst punishments were reserved for the most serious crimes. Executions, such as beheading, being hung, drawn and quartered or being burnt at the stake were punishments for people guilty of treason (crimes against the king) or heresy (following the wrong religion).
• Executions were public events that people would come to watch. They were very popular and huge crowds would attend.

Listen to this Tudors sketch from BBC School Radio

• Write down all the surprising things that were considered crimes in Tudor times.
• Listen out for where you should be on a Sunday and what games you shouldn't play!