castration

Medieval crimes ranged from the familiar—like theft and murder—to the distinctly unusual. One particularly notable crime was the violation of forest laws, which were instituted by King William after the Norman Conquest. These laws reserved vast areas for royal hunting and severely restricted activities like hunting, woodcutting, and even gathering food within these territories. The penalties were harsh; for example, killing the king’s deer could result in castration or blinding. Medieval Torture: The Terrifying Threat of Twisting off Limbs and Burning Flesh Caught Red-Handed! Law and Order in Medieval England Another crime was scandalum magnatum, a law aimed at preventing gossip about the nobility. This law, largely used to control political dissent, stood in stark contrast to the lesser offense