The Early Modern Church and the Law

How much influence did the English Reformation have on crime and punishment?

The church remained highly influential in crime and punishment during the early modern period, but experienced a time of instability and change.

How did English reformation affect the definition of crime?

Because religion influenced ideas about crime so heavily, the English Reformation led to a time during which definitions of crime changed rapidly.

What was the social impact of the English Reformation?

The English Reformation had 4 important social impacts.

• ❖ The religious upheaval of the English Reformation had a profound impact on early modern society.
• ❖ It resulted in divisions in society according to belief.
• ❖ Protestants and Catholics accused each other of being in league with the devil.
• ❖ This helped increase public belief in evil and supernatural explanations for events.

How did the English Reformation affect law and order?

The English Reformation influenced law and order in 4 significant ways.

• ❖ The Church continued to play a direct role in crime and punishment during the early modern period.
• ❖ Church courts remained in use during the early modern period.
• ❖ They dealt with crimes committed by men of the Church and anyone that could claim benefit of clergy.
• ❖ However, as so many more people could read the neck verse by the 1600s, the law was changed to prevent those accused of serious crimes from claiming benefit of clergy.