Crime & Punishment in Tudor England

Discover the dark and fascinating world of Tudor justice with Crime & Punishment in Tudor England. This compelling historical account traces law enforcement and its brutal penalties across the reigns of Henry VII through Elizabeth I—a watershed century for crime in England. From the paranoia-driven executions of Henry VII to the religious upheaval of the Reformation under Henry VIII, explore how shifting state religion created confusion and danger for ordinary people. Delve into real cases: John Daniell's blackmail scheme against the Earl of Essex, the Stafford insurrection of 1486, and the exploits of con-man Gregory Wisdom. Arranged alphabetically by crime type, this book covers blackmail, infanticide, kidnapping, heresy, and sumptuary laws—complete with often gory details of Tudor punishments. Drawing on rare primary sources, it reveals how judicial practices evolved from Roman tradition through the Tudor era. Told with occasional wit and enriched by Tavern Talk snippets of quirky historical detail, Crime & Punishment in Tudor England brings sixteenth-century justice vividly to life.