Historical Information

 Sometimes I like to just post some info about life in the 17th century. In this case, I put forward a little info on crime and punishment. If someone was accused of a crime, they were locked in jail until the trial came up. Might have to wait a month or more depending on when the judge might hold court. 12 men juries were selected (no women allowed) and when the trial ended the jurymen were locked up with no food or drink until they came to a unanimous decision. Up until 1670, if the judge didn't like the decision, the jury could be locked up until they reached the decision the judge wanted.

You have to plead guilty or not or you will be slowly squashed until you plead or die. You aren't allowed a lawyer, but you can question the witnesses against you. You don't have the right to remain silent when questioned.

The protection of land and property is of utmost importance. You can be hanged if found guilty of stealing something of 12 pennies of more - however, if you kill someone or beat a servant to death, you are like to get little more than a branding. Property is more valuable than life.

If a man kills his wife, he could be hanged. If a woman kills her husband even in self defense, she is burned alive. And if a single woman has a baby and that baby dies, it is assumed she smothered the baby and she is hanged.

These are just some fun facts - or not so fun - about the 17th century. Most of this info was taken from Ian Mortimer's The Time Traveler's Guide to Restoration Britain and from The Century of Revolution by Christopher Hill.