Cruel Mind and Deadly Malice: A Murder in Early Modern England

03/09/13 • 9 min

(Lesley) Imagine hiring a man to kill off your enemy... and then pleading a defense that would allow you to walk out free. This week, we'll trace the story of a neighborly feud in Tudor England that left one man dead and an unbalanced man free, if not for the actions of a young woman in manipulating Parliament, the Privy Council, and even the Queen. Their responses would ultimately change the laws of England in order to prevent a man from getting away with murder.

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Footnoting History - Cruel Mind and Deadly Malice: A Murder in Early Modern England

Transcript

00:00:03.359

How did social tensions play out in local villages of early modern England? What would happen if one person in a petty squabble became enraged by his cruel mind and deadly malice against his neighbors? We'll explore the consequences of gruesome criminal acts today on Footnoting History.

00:00:24.960

Welcome to Footnoting History. My name is Lesley Skousen. Today, 9th of March, 2013, we will be discussing village disputes, social tension, violence, a