It has long ceased to surprise me what human beings will do to each other. But I'm still failing to comprehend the effectiveness of punishments meted out back then (and even now). I understand the point and the need to punish for crimes. But some of the things that were considered criminal were just asinine. Nice to know things haven't changed.

What an incredible read! April Taylor’s Crime and Punishment in Tudor England was well researched, informative, and fascinating! Crime and Punishment in Tudor England tells the story of the laws and penalties during the Tudor period. I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this well-written, interesting book.

"If you're looking for a lively and thought-provoking romp through Tudor history, April Taylor's 'Crime and Punishment in Tudor England' may be just the thing.

This engaging read isn't your dry academic tome, but a witty exploration of how justice has hilariously, and sometimes horrifyingly, transformed over time. Taylor's knack for weaving in real-world examples – from petty offenses punished with public humiliation to gruesome executions for seemingly minor crimes – will make you chuckle, flinch, and reflect on the evolution of legal systems.

While not exhaustive in its analysis, the book's accessible voice and vibrant anecdotes make it a perfect fit for history buffs, true crime enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the quirky, often brutal, realities of Tudor society. Buckle up for a rollercoaster ride through history, where gallows humor meets fascinating facts, leaving you both entertained and contemplating the ever-changing concept of justice."

I really enjoyed reading this and would encourage other history buffs to give it a read. I had fun with this one.

This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Another informative read for me. I think this one was more of an in depth information one could find. It was really intriguing to delve on these aspects.

An interesting book covering crime and punishment in Tudor times. Crime and punishment evolved from Roman times. Many interesting facts well researched I would recommend this book to all who love history.

Crime and Punishment in Tudor England was something that I have been fascinated about for years, but resources are not as readily available in this wonderful and easy to read format. Its very fascinating to see the similarities and differences of how justice is perceived in this era versus now, and its also interesting to see how we as a Western society have never really changed.

Anyone who enjoys reading about the Tudor era in England, or honestly, any true crime junkie will find this book very interesting and informative and a great asset to have on any bookshelf!

An interesting and accessible account of the legal system, criminal justice and punishments during the Tudor era.

I have to admit, Crime and Punishment in Tudor England: From Alchemists to Zealots by April Taylor is one of the best non-fiction books I have had the pleasure of reading this year. I have always had a fascination for the law – I was even considering it as a career at one stage, until I realised I couldn’t stand the 9 to 5 lifestyle. Give me shift work and odd hours any day! So, I have been looking forward to this book ever since I heard April was writing it.
Opening with a fabulous history of the development of England’s legal system, Crime and Punishment in Tudor England explains not only the crimes committed, but also the various legal processes under different monarchs and at different social levels. Every crime imaginable is covered, from infanticide to treason. And so are the punishments and the reasons behind them; and how often such punishments were intended to fit the crime – or to shame the perpetrator. Every part of the criminal justice system is analysed, from religious offenders to witchcraft, from capital punishment to torture, prison condition and labour camps. Crime and Punishment in Tudor England also looks into the influences on crime, such as the impact of economic and social conditions, in a century of religious and political upheaval throughout Europe.
I do have to warn you: this book is not to be read while eating, unless you have a strong stomach. April Taylor includes descriptions of the various methods of execution, including beheading, hanging, burning and the particularly gruesome method of boiling alive!
While some of the more sensational and high profile cases are discussed – such as Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard – April also introduces cases far less familiar to the reader. Encompassing murder, fraud, blackmail and all manner of crimes, April Taylor presents a fascinating insight into Tudor crimes, ably supported by actual – and fascinating – case studies. Theses case studies not only demonstrate the nature of crimes and their punishment, but also the changing attitudes to crime, and the shifting emphasis on punishments, from the dawn of the Tudor period to the royal dynasty’s demise in 1603.
Crime and Punishment in Tudor England also highlights various miscarriages of justice, including where officials accused innocent victims with the aim of appropriating their goods and property. There are some truly harrowing tales, such as the youngest felon executed in the Tudor era – a girl of the tender age of 11 – and the general treatment of children who fell foul of the criminal justice system. It makes you happy to be living in the 21st century!
April Taylor has managed to cram so much information into Crime and Punishment in Tudor England: From Alchemists to Zealots it really is an impressive tome. It is thorough and well referenced and is written in a lively, entertaining writing style, with a fair amount of wit thrown in for good measure.
I cannot recommend it highly enough. Crime and Punishment in Tudor England: From Alchemists to Zealots is a pleasure to read!

This offered a wealth of knowledge about crime and punishment in Tudor England.Also on offer were lots of insights into the people of the times everyone from the lowest beggar to the noblest titled,gentleman and everyone in between.It was organized by crime, it's definition,real life examples and then the punishment of the aforementioned criminal.It was well written and researched and I really had a difficult time trying to rate it.The author seemed to go on a bit of a ramble when it came to the real life examples taking the reader slightly off topic.Apart from this aspect it was an enjoyable read and I considered myself fortunate to receive a copy.

Well I am certainly glad I did not grow up during the Tudor Era in England. Eek- the punishments they came up with for certain crimes did not sound fun. Many were extremely gruesome. But this book was very interesting, and I was able to answer a couple questions on Jeopardy because of what I learned from this book! So that’s always fun.
I really liked the “Tavern Talk” sections of this book- it was a nice way to break things up and introduce a fun new tidbit. I liked that the author included case studies for the crimes, as well.

📖 Read if 📖 :
✔️ You want to supply all of your friends with gruesome tidbits about ways people used to be “punished”
✔️ You love learning about the Tudor era
✔️ You’re a history buff

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Fantastic work! The author did some great research for this book. Some I knew and alot was new to me!

Despite the paucity of primary sources, this book recounts intriguing tales of lawbreakers and the sanctions they faced. Tracing punishments back to ancient Rome, the author describes the penalties for offenses ranging from blackmail to violating sumptuary laws. It also explains the effects of various means of capital punishment on the body. Arranged alphabetically by crime, the book illuminates past judicial customs and the severe sentences once dealt for infringements we now view as minor. Well-researched yet highly readable, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the bloody history of crime and punishment.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

DNF at 10% so review is of an extract of this book, not the full book.

I am really interested in reading angles of Tudor history and society that have received little thematic attention to date, so was really glad to receive an e-arc of this book, but I couldn't get on with the narrative voice or the deviations the author took from the title theme. Even in the first 5%, it seemed clear that the author was comfortable speaking about religion, specifically Christianity, but the use of quotation marks around certain words and phrases, and comments like wishing England had a different patron saint to St George because he wasn't English or had never been to England showed her biases, and other deviations from the theme just took me out of the book, especially given how little connection, for example, the patron saint of England had to Tudor crime and punishment. (Incidentally, for those wondering why that gave me pause, very few national patron saints are native or even visited the countries that have chosen them, the whole point is the values they are seen to represent and St Edmund, who the author prefers, represents very little except being English (and being patron saint of pandemics according to a quick google search), so there you go, that's my little opinion inserted here too, apologies to the author and readers who liked this, this is just a personal take, I just didn't get along with it.)

3 stars still though because there were interesting facts and stories I hadn't come across before in the usual Tudor non-fiction, and to give a fairly neutral score because I wasn't able to get to the bulk of the book, which, according to the contents, may stick to the subject more.

Great research done by the author on this book. I love history and this particular era has always intrigued and fascinated me. I recommend this book to fans of true crime as well as history buffs!

Although witches, or the fear of them, date to Biblical times, it wasn’t until 1542 that the first English statute on witchcraft was enacted by King Henry VIII (1491-1547). His son Edward VI (1537-1553) repealed it, but then Elizabeth I (1533-1603) put her own 1563 statute on the books. She divided witchcraft into greater and lesser crimes. Invoking evil spirits or killing someone through sorcery was punishable by death, while injuring people or property meant a year of imprisonment and time in the pillory. Second acts meant death. However, it was during the Stuart dynasty when witchcraft accusations ran rampant, since King James I (1566-1625) not only added his own statutes, he wrote a book on the subject.

English laws and the penalties for breaking them were harsh. While the Tudor era ended before the Winthrop fleet arrived on the shores of Massachusetts Bay Colony, some of the crueler penalties were not abolished until the 19th century. Fortunately, the Puritan colonists created the first 100 rules of 1641's Body of Liberties based on the Bible—and used more humane treatment compared to what they left behind in England.

In 1692 Salem, Massachusetts, however, when Giles Corey refused to enter a plea in court, he was pressed to death for it. This gruesome punishment, also known as Peine forte et dure, was only used once stateside. But it was not abolished in England until 1772. In fact, in English courts the accused was not given the option of pleading “not guilty” until 1827.

Other examples include a thief who steals bread could get a hand cut off, while a vagrant could get branded with the letter V. Some punishments were designed for maximum humiliation, with the crowds throwing rotten foodstuff at convicts in the cart or at the pillory. That was tame compared to being drawn and quartered, then hanged—again, with crowd participation.

If you’re looking for more details on Crime and Punishment in Tudor England, pick up the new book by April Taylor. The author provides background information on lawmaking, prisons, and courts systems—and 23 pages of punishments, from beheading to whipping. In the second half of the book, crimes from sumptuary laws to treason are covered in alphabetical order, each followed by case studies. You’ll learn what evidence could be used against the accused, what tortures could be applied to gain a confession, and even the strategies used for the criminal’s demise.

Taylor turns crime and punishment in the Tudor period into a fascinating read, while the alpha-order format makes it easy to browse through or do research.

Prerelease book provided by NetGalley and Pen & Sword History for review consideration.

Now here’s a wonderful find!

From torture to escaping the law during the Tudor age, this book explores all the nooks and grannies of the legal system between 1485 and 1603.

However, this is far from being a boring read. While April Taylor refers to the legal system, how it worked and the consequences of each crime, she took me on an informative and fun ride. Her style of writing and her occasion humour made this book a complete surprise for someone who was expecting a dense and heavy book. Taylor makes it very easy to understand who things worked during this period through simple language and by providing examples.

The book is divided into two parts. The first one explains the creation of the legal system of the time, and how it’s follows the same base as the Roman laws. The second part (my favourite) takes a look at case studies of criminal trials in the Tudor age. They are organised by type of crime and how the different laws apply. Crime go from alchemy, blackmail, blasphemy to poisoning, kidnapping, prostitution, theft and treason, just to name a few.

The depth of research of this book is truly incredible with an impressive and extensive bibliography.

I highly recommend this book for any history buffs or lovers of the Tudor age!

Thank you Pen & Sword for the e-ARC.

This book is not is a presentation of dry, dusty, and dense facts; rather, it pushed a light on the legal practices of the day enabling the reader to understand the way of life between 1485 and 1603 by reference to its legal system, its criminal fraternity, and the consequences for crime.

The book is divided into two sections:
Part 1 addresses the the formation of the laws of the land. The tenets of the law have their basis in Roman law; it is so interesting how laws were based on those already established in the Roman Empire. Various Kings visited Rome and were influenced. It also addresses how the clergy and monarch confluences played major roles in the development of laws, and the tension that arose between the monarch and religious sides ( aka Sir Thomas Moore and Beckett).
Part 2 offers a fascinating look into the case studies of criminal trials in Tudor England. The crimes are organized by the type of offense, from laws concerning alchemy and animals to witchcraft and xenophobia! INTERESTING!

Part 1- Although there is so much more explanation and delineation in the book concerning the history of the formation of the legal system, I want to include some interesting highlights:

The Emperor Constantine decreed in 325AD that Christianity was the state religion and this, naturally, applied to Britain. After the Romans left, it was not until St Augustine visited Canterbury with a group of Benedictine monks in 596AD, that the link between the English and the Roman Church was reinstated. This was vital because the courts that dealt with most crimes were church courts. INTERESTING!!!

King Aethelbert (600 Ad) was the first king to put laws in writing and this set the custom for the future. King Aethelbert framed his laws in the Roman way. Prior to his reign, the law of England was defined by the clergy. King Aethelbert also instituted the Writ and the Jury. INTERESTING!!!

King Alfred visited Rome in his youth. He formed ‘The Laws of King Alfred’, picking parts of previously laid down laws that he considered were beneficial to the nation. Previous laws had dealt in the main with theft and trading, but Alfred’s laws included the breaking of oaths, injuries and sexual offenses.

King Canute ruled England from 1016-1035. He also visited Rome and put many statutes into law, becoming known in the process as ‘the greatest legislator of the eleventh century’.

The Anglo-Saxon dynasty was reinstated in 1042 with the accession of Edward the Confessor, who also desired to maintain Roman law. The laws Edward enacted are important and It was these laws that form the basis of the law we have today.

By the time William the Conqueror was there a solid base of law in England, much of it based on the Roman model and was also highly influenced by the moral code of Christianity.

Archbishop of Canterbury Anselm had numerous quarrels with King William Rufus (1087-1100) and Henry I (1100-1135). Anselm began the move away from the law being dependent on the monarch to it being administered by chancellors. This also gave real power to the clergy in all legal matters, irrespective of whether the issues were sacred or secular.

From 1154 onwards the teaching of Roman law and Canonical law became prominent. Most monarchs altered, added to, and subtracted from the Chancery Courts and canon law to make the legal system fit their purpose. The resulting tension between the monarch and clergy was fascinating!

The concept of common law still did not exist in England until Henry III’s Chief Justiciar, Henry de Bracton, wrote a treatise citing specific cases. This became the foundation of the current English legal system. The central core of Bracton’s view was that even the monarch was subject to God and the law. Nobody argued this more eloquently than Sir Thomas More in his trial in 1535. His crime was treason because he had refused to sign Henry VIII’s Oath of Supremacy, and refused to acknowledge the king as head of the church!!!

Part 2 - Crimes and Cases
The crimes are organized alphabetically and include interesting -and quite comprehensive- offenses as listed. I also think the format is helpful that page numbers are included if one wants to learn about a specific offense. The crimes and cases included are:
Alchemy ,Animals,Begging,Blackmail ,Blasphemy, Coney-Catching (huh?!), Defamation ,Embezzlement ,Fraud,Gangs ,Heresy,Insurrection
Infanticide,Infidelity,Juvenile Crime ,Kidnapping and Abduction
Larceny ,Murder ,Nuisance ,Organised Crime,Poaching ,Poison
Prostitution ,Quarrels ,Riots ,Scolding,Sedition Sexual Offences
Spying,Theft,Treason ,Uprisings,Vagrancy, Witchcraft Xenophobia

Comprehensive indeed!
The research is absolutely impeccable!
The bibliography is extensive. The author has thoroughly researched these subjects with numerous references cited.
Zealots of the day are referenced alphabetically with corresponding page numbers*.
The index is also thorough referencing crimes, case studies and people of interest with corresponding page numbers*.

This book is definitely for readers who love history in general, and Tudor England in particular- the genesis of laws in England, and case studies of crimes and punishment.
While it offers much depth, perhaps overwhelmingly so, the organization and the formatting effort provides much assistance to the reader who can easily go to specific areas (crimes, cases, people) of interest!

*Page numbers do not correspond on digital copy

My thanks to author April Taylor, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book and the privilege of writing a review.

In any society throughout history, there are certain rules and regulations which citizens must follow to maintain order. When there is a transfer of power, those rules and their punishments shift a little bit to fit the vision of those who are in power. England was in a chaotic spiral as law and order were thrown asunder during the Wars of the Roses. The rise of the Tudors marked another shift to the justice system of England, with each monarch during this dynasty, the legal system changed yet again. In her book, “Crime and Punishment in Tudor England: From Alchemists to Zealots,” April Taylor examines the crimes of Tudor England and their respective punishments through case studies.

I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book. I am always interested in different aspects of life during the Tudor dynasty, so when I heard that this one would focus on the justice system in Tudor England, I thought it would be an interesting read.

Taylor begins her book by exploring the origins of the legal system in England, starting with the Romans and going all the way through medieval England, stopping to do a deep dive into the Magna Carta. It is a bit of a whirlwind as this section only takes up about ten to twenty pages. She then dives into the beliefs of medieval England, from witchcraft to superstitions and the church. Taylor also explores how the printing press, prisons, punishment methods, and the legal system changed over time from the medieval to the Tudors.

The bulk of this book focuses on the crimes and their punishments in alphabetical order, from alchemists to zealots. Each section focuses on one specific crime, the definition of the crime, a famous case if there is one, and, finally, a few case studies of lesser-known cases that will be of interest to novices and experts alike. I found this part of the book intriguing as there were some cases that I was not familiar with and might want to explore more in-depth later on.

I do have two concerns about this book. The first one is that Taylor likes to jump around when it comes to the stories that she tells. One minute, she is telling a story about the Tudor era, and the next, she has jumped to the modern day. The other thing that bothered me was her characterization of the Tudor monarchs as either misers or bigoted. It’s not exactly how I view them, so it was hard to read without a justification as to why she believes this about the monarchs.

Overall, I think this was a good book that shows a unique aspect of the Tudor dynasty that has not been explored that much. There are some aspects that I wish Taylor would have done better, but it is a fun read. If you want to read an interesting take on the legal system during the Tudor dynasty, I would recommend you read, “Crime and Punishment in Tudor England: From Alchemists to Zealots” by April Taylor.

Thank you NetGalley, April Taylor, and Pen & Sword for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Crime and Punishment In Tudor England. I received an advanced reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

After reading a lot of books about the Tudors, there were a noticeable amount of punishments mentioned throughout each book. April Taylor's book is fascinating because it focuses on the crimes committed throughout this time period and describes the type of punishment one would receive for committing such a crime. I greatly appreciated the examples that were used through each description. This is a book I would good back to for a brief history refresher.

From torturous interrogations to a slap on the wrist for the title gentry they were many different ways British crime breakers got dealt with and some didn’t get dealt with at all. It all depended on Who you knew and where you sat on the class ladder. They had many interesting historical Crime stories in this book from treason and a threat to royalty to a famous story written anonymously and thought to be penned by Shakespeare himself about a woman Alice who had A conspiracy to kill her husband Thomas Arden. The story may as well have been a comedy because they hired a fool to try and kill them in after four attempts they eventually did but left a breadcrumb of clues to the culprits. If you love historical crime and historical punishment then you’ll love Crime And Punishment In Tutor England this book was so interesting and one I highly recommend a definite five star read for any history fan. I want to thank net galley and Pin and Sword Press for providing me with these interesting arcs for free please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.