In the Middle Ages, both crimes and punishments varied tremendously.

             horse theft, land theft, breaking and entering, and fraud. Thieves, after stealing goods, would.

             then also steal horses. Thieves were executed no matter the value of the stolen goods. When.

             people were traveling or on pilgrimages, thieves would claim that land as their own. In many.

             cases bakers would sell loaves of bread for more than what they actually weighed. The baker .

             was then dragged around the town on a sledge. A sledge is very similar to a sled. Also, the .

             baker would have a loaf of the bad bread tied around his neck for identification and .

             humiliation.

             Interestingly enough, a person was not sent to prison if he was found guilty. The.

             purpose of prison was actually just a waiting place for trial, which could take a very long time.

             The primary criminal court was The King's Bench. Most minor punishments ended up being.

             fines. Although, if the accused was innocent, the person that brought the accusation to court.

             would be fined. Another form of punishment would be the stocks. Stocks are wooden frames.

             with holes in them to hold the head and wrists. Besides decapitation and hanging, mutilations.

             were the most painful forms of punishment. Whereas the other two were fatal, and in which you.

             didn't suffer much, mutilations were very painful, and most of the time the guilty survived the.

             amputations. Henry I used this form of punishment and torture in 1124 when his moneyers,.

             minters, were caught cheating him out of money.

             Bibliography.

             Howarth, Sarah. Medieval Places. Brookfield, Connecticut: The Millhouse Press, 1991. .

             "Law." World Book Encyclopedia. M (1996): 130-140.