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THOMAS CROMWELL (1540)

Thomas Cromwell was possibly the most disliked in his time. He was arrested with charges of treason, heresy, corruption, and plotting to marry the Princess Mary. He was also well-known for a mission in England to destroy the Catholic church. Thomas was close to King Henry VIII, however, Henry had enough with Thomas and after years of trusting his advice and working alongside with him, he finally put him to death.

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Getting beheaded, placed in a pillory.

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Hanging

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Whipping

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Witchcraft - Witches would either be punished by being drowned into a river or they would be set alight by being burned alive.

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Many crimes committed by commoners were through sheer desperation and abject poverty. The most common crimes were:

- Theft
- Cut purses
- Begging
- Poaching
- Adultery
- Debtors
- Forgers
- Fraud

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Elizabethan England was split into two classes - the Upper Class, the nobility and courtiers, and everyone else. Punishment would vary according to class. The Upper class were well educated, wealthy and associated with Royalty and high members of the clergy. They would often become involved in political intrigue and matters of religion. The most common crimes of the nobility included:

- High Treason
- Blasphemy
- Sedition (conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch).
- Spying
- Rebellion
- Alchemy
- Murder
- Witchcraft

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During the Elizabethan era crimes and high forms of punishment such as execution and torture was not held as uncommon. It is said that the punishments that crimes were met with were held as violent and cruel. Many punishments and executions were witnessed by many hundreds of people. The Lower Classes treated such events as exciting days out. Even royalty were subjected to this most public form of punishment for their crimes.