Here are some of the most common punishments:
- Death: The most severe punishment was death, which was often carried out by hanging, burning, or beheading. These methods were used for crimes such as treason, murder, and heresy.
- Imprisonment: Offenders who were not sentenced to death could be imprisoned in the Tower of London or other prisons. Conditions in these prisons were often harsh, and prisoners were often subjected to torture.
- Fines: Fines were a common punishment for less serious crimes, such as theft or assault. The amount of the fine was determined by the severity of the crime and the offender's ability to pay.
- Whipping: Whipping was a common punishment for minor offenses, such as drunkenness or vagrancy. Offenders were whipped in public as a form of humiliation.
- Branding: Branding was a punishment used for repeat offenders. A hot iron was used to brand the offender's hand or forehead with a letter indicating the crime they had committed.
- Mutilation: Mutilation was a severe punishment that was sometimes used for crimes such as treason or heresy. Offenders could be disfigured by having their limbs amputated or their ears cropped.
- Outlawry: Outlawry was a punishment that meant the offender was banished from the kingdom and could be killed on sight. This punishment was often used for political crimes.
Punishment in Tudor England was often brutal and severe. The goal of punishment was not to rehabilitate offenders, but to deter them from committing crimes and to protect society from dangerous individuals.