Law and Order
by Matthew and Paige

Before 1534, when Henry VIII transformed the government of Wales by a series of acts, including those dealing with law and order, “Wales and the Marches” was a collection of lordships and small states each with its own sets of laws and customs. Under this system, it was quite easy to escape justice simply by crossing the border into a neighbouring state with different laws. Henry VIII changed this system. He created instead twelve new counties in Wales, each with its own Court of Quarter Sessions and its own Justices of the Peace.

Vagrants and beggars posed a particular problem in Wales. Those who were old or sick were looked after by their own village or parish. However, able-bodied beggars who travelled from town to town were treated suspiciously. Particularly when there was an increase in crimes in an area. Many vagrants were arrested and punished even if the evidence against them wasn’t very strong.

Punishments were severe, Rowland Lee, who ruled Wales for Henry VIII was supposed to have hanged 5000 criminals in nine years!
There were no police as we know them today, and
each village and town had to organise its own.

In the village a constable was elected at the Easter parish meeting for one year. Although he had a good many duties as well as those connected with law and order, he was not paid and had to do his own job as well. Most did the work badly so as to avoid being re-elected.

In smaller towns watchmen patrolled the streets at night. Some were paid but most were still chosen on a rota. Everyone had to do a turn unless they could pay someone else to do it for them.

Larger towns had paid constables and sergeants to look after the streets in daylight. They were often not much use, and were sometimes given the job because they could do nothing else.

When we were finding out about crime and punishment we found this painting of Rowland Lee watching someone being hanged. ( The Making of Modern Wales by Geraint H Jenkins 1989).