Crime in Medieval Europe

In this ambitious history of lawlessness and legal retribution in medieval Europe, Trevor Dean ranges widely across the continent - and Britain. He uses court records to illuminate the lives of ordinary men and women, who often found themselves at the sharp end of the law.

Trevor Dean is Professor of History at Roehampton University.

List of illustrations ix Preface xi Editor's Preface xiii Abbreviations xv 1. Courts, Crimes and Causes 1 2. Judicial Corruption 30 3. Late Medieval Crime Waves? 47 4. Women and Crime 73 5. Outside the Law? Avengers, Clerics, Students 96 6. Punishment 118 7. Crime in Literature 144 Conclusion 162 Bibliographical note 164 Index