How to Avoid the Death Penalty in Medieval England, Part I

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In medieval England, just because you received the death penalty for your crimes doesn't mean you necessarily had to actually die. Here, Samantha looks at two methods of avoiding having your sentence carried out: benefit of clergy and turning to outlawry.

Host: Samantha

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Further Reading

Shannon McSheffrey, Seeking Sanctuary: Crime, Mercy, and Politics in English Courts, 1400-1550, Oxford University Press, (2017).

Helen Lacey, The Royal Pardon: Access to Mercy in Fourteenth Century England, Boydell & Brewer, (2009).
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​​Music: "Evening Melodrama" by Kevin Macleod (www.incompetech.com)