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During the Middle Ages, an accused criminal could get what was called Benefit of Clergy. The idea was that the secular courts tried secular people, and the Church tried the clergy. The whole question of who clergy were was surprisingly confusing because monks were not ordained and monastic vows varied. And so for the purposes of law, it started with clergy being defined as people who had the robes and haircut of clergy, then it became people who could read, and finally, it was people who could read the 51st Psalm. Students were included as clergy for legal purposes.
The Church gave out more lenient sentences, did not use torture, and if a person was imprisoned, provided better food and a better place to live.
In many places, a fugitive could also claim sanctuary in a church or monastery, which allowed him at least time to meditate his sins, confess, and do penance - often at least six weeks, and in many cases permanently. (I will point out that many people could learn to read the 51st Psalm in under six weeks.)
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoThere was one main way in which someone could avoid punishment, it was as follows:
1. the person would seek asylum from the law in a church for forty days and in return for being protected from the law the church would banish the person to Another Country with only their clothes. no money, no items, just clothes.
Also, you spelt in wrong. its in, not inn.
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What was a punishment for begging in the Middle Ages?
There was not a punishment for begging in the Middle Ages. There were however punishments for crimes such as stealing, murder, and treason.
Was suicide illegal in Middle Ages?
Well, in the middle ages, it was mostly unheard of to kill your self. If one did there was probably no punishment since suicide was not a major concern of the state during the middle ages.
Which name is used for the period between ancient times and modern times?
the middle ages
What types of weapons were used for punishment in the middle ages?
stealing, murder, and treason.pie
Were peasants in the middle ages tortured often?
I would say medieval peasants were not normally tortured during the Middle Ages. Stocks were used for some crimes, and these constrained the person being punished while passersby might throw things at them. During the Middle Ages, this was probably not considered torture, though it might be today. The Church made a number of somewhat effective bans on torture at various times during the Middle Ages. The result of this was that in many places, but not all, torture was only used in situations where it was considered important enough to risk running afoul of the Church authorities. This meant that torture was often used only in cases of treason. Peasants were nearly never accused of treason because they were nearly never in a position to commit treason. They could rebel or revolt, but that is not the same thing. There were exceptions that involved secular authorities, but these were mostly cases where the ruler was unusually arrogant and cruel. On the other hand, there were times during the Middle Ages when officers of the Church itself might have been guilty of torture while they were prosecuting people accused of heresy. Some of these people were doubtless peasants. They were normally given some chance to avoid punishment by recanting, so they could avoid punishment, but I suppose that did not always happen. There were a few among them accused of witchcraft, but this was very unusual during the Middle Ages, as the witch hunts we hear about all took place after the Middle Ages ended.
What was a punishment for begging in the Middle Ages?
There was not a punishment for begging in the Middle Ages. There were however punishments for crimes such as stealing, murder, and treason.
What forms of punishment where used in the middle ages?
dfs
Was suicide illegal in Middle Ages?
Well, in the middle ages, it was mostly unheard of to kill your self. If one did there was probably no punishment since suicide was not a major concern of the state during the middle ages.
In the middle ages does social class change the punishment of a crime?
Yes it does. If you were a Lord or the lord's officials you were most likely exempted from punishment. But say you were of the poorest class your punishment would be extremely worse just because you were poor
Physical punishment for God's forgiveness in medieval days?
During the Middle Ages, the pope issued a bull which banned the use of torture for getting confessions or punishment. To the best of my knowledge, it was never actually sanctioned prior to that time either. The idea of used of physical punishment to gain forgiveness might have arisen for the punishment of heretics and witches in the Late Middle Ages, and might have been accepted on a widespread basis as the Renaissance went into the witch hysteria, but that was mostly after the Middle Ages.
Which name is used for the period between ancient times and modern times?
the middle ages
If you did not want to be targeted as a witch in the middle ages what might you do to avoid suspicion?
kill yourselve
What was the punishment for rejecting marriage in the middle ages?
Church Law in the Middle Ages dictated the a marriage could only be entered into on a voluntary basis. So no judge would ever sentence a person for refusing to marry someone else. Angry and disappointed fathers was of course another story.
Why did women in the late Middle Ages avoid taking nontraditional roles?
Fear of persecution They had a fear of being labeled witches. If they did so, they would arouse suspicion.
What are the approximate dates the middle ages?
The Middle Ages lasted from the 5th century to the 15th. This would be about 450 to 1485
What would nuns do in the middle ages?
everything
What types of weapons were used for punishment in the middle ages?
stealing, murder, and treason.pie
