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Crimes committed in the 15th and 16th century were often met with cruel and violent punishments. Many of which were witnessed by many hundreds of people. The poor Tudors treated such events as exciting days out, a time to meet friends and have a good social time! It was common practise for royalty and nobility to have to face the most public form of punishment or execution for their crimes. The execution of the tragic Queen Anne Boleyn was restricted to the members of the Tudor court and the nobles of the land, including close members of her family, but her execution was still witnessed by several hundred spectators.
Image of Woodcut of Execution
Upper class Tudors were well educated, wealthy and had links to Royalty and high members of the clergy. These privileged Tudors would often become involved in power struggles, political intrigue and matters of religion. The upper class Tudors could therefore become involved in crime which were not shared by the common people. Just being accused of one of the serious crimes, such as treason or heresy could well result in torture. Trials were designed in the favour of the prosecutors conducted at the infamous Star Chamber.
The Star Chamber heard cases involving political libel, heresy and treason. The Star Chamber was made up of Privy Counsellors and judges and was set up to ensure the fair enforcement of laws against powerful and famous people who might not be convicted by ordinary courts. Star Chamber sessions were closed to the public and became greatly feared. The Star Chamber court sessions were held in secret. The Star Chamber Court had no jury, there was no right of appeal and no witnesses - evidence was given in writing. The powerful Court of the Star Chamber was to become a political weapon to use against any opponents of the policies of the monarch. For further Information on The Star Chamber
The most common crimes of royalty and wealthy nobles included: • High Treason • Blasphemy • Sedition • Spying • Rebellion • Murder • Witchcraft • Alchemy The punishment for most of these crimes was death. There were various forms of execution.
Image of A Playing Card depicting the beheading of the Duke of monmouth 1685
Minor crime and punishment in small Tudor towns were dealt with by the Justice of the Peace. Much of the crime could be described as petty, stealing from stalls etc, but the punishments given were very harsh indeed!
People who committed crimes could be put in the stocks. These stood in the middle of the village where lots of people would pass and they would throw things at the criminals. Beggars were a big problem. If they became a nuisance they were dragged through the streets while being whipped. They were then thrown out of the town or village. Most towns had a ducking chair to punish women who were "scolds", tellers of false tales against their neighbours. The chair was kept near a pond or river and was hung on a see-saw. The woman was tied into the chair, dipped into the water and pulled out again. If people thought that a woman was a witch she would be tied up in a sack and thrown into the water. If she floated it meant she was not guilty.
Image of A Ducking StoolMany of the crimes committed by commoners, the poor Tudors, were through sheer desperation and abject poverty. The most common crimes were: • Theft • Cut purses • Begging • Poaching • Adultery • Debtors • Forgers • Fraud • Murder • Treason and Rebellion • Heresy
Theft - Theft for stealing anything over 5 pence resulted in hanging, even small crimes such as stealing birds eggs could result in the death sentence. Poaching - Poaching at night resulted in the punishment by death, whereas poaching during the day time did not Begging - Begging was a serious crime during the Tudor era. The Tudor government made begging a crime and therefore illegal and 'poor beggars' As their punishment 'poor beggars' would be beaten until they reached the stones that marked the town parish boundary. The beatings given as punishment were bloody and merciless and those who were caught continually begging could be sent to prison and even hanged as their punishment
Image of A Beggar whipped out of the townOther punishments faced by the poor were: • Hanging • Burning at the stake • The Pillory and the Stocks • Branding with hot irons • Pressing with heavy stones • Ducking stools - especially for those women accused of witchcraft • Boiling in oil water or lead (usually reserved for poisoners ) • Starvation
Image of The Scavenger's Daughter: see Images of PunishmentFor those that were caught preaching against the religion of the King and Queen execution by burning would be their fate. These people were called HERETICS and their form of punishment was favored by the Catholic Inquisition and Queen Mary I - Bloody Mary. During her reign over 270 people were burnt at the stake for their Protestant religious views. Being burnt at the stake was a most terrible death. Tudor Executioners sometimes showed mercy to their victims by placing gunpowder at the base of the stake which helped the victims to a swifter, and less painful death. The only other respite from the excruciating pain of being burnt to death was if the victims died of suffocation through smoke inhalation and lack of oxygen.