In order to determine what the law was in the Elizabethan era regarding crime and punishment, you need to research crime and punishment during that era, laws and acts. In the Elizabethan era there were many different crimes. Each of these crimes had its own punishment(s). They were very strict about what they could and couldn't do in those days. If you have ever thought about planning a crime, you really need to think about the punishment you will receive. To begin with, the Elizabethan era had many wildly different crimes that could be committed. Most of the perpetrators of these crimes were unemployed and poor. The first crime that could be committed was treason. There are two different types of treason, high treason and petty treason. The punishments for high treason were hanging, organ harvesting, and tearing off arms and legs. The upper class committed the most crimes of high treason. Her sister, Queen Elizabeth I, sentenced Queen Mary to high treason. The unemployed and poor of England have committed only petty betrayals. Quite a few of Shakespeare's plays include betrayal in the play. The crimes that could be committed are theft, theft, witchcraft and violence. Witchcraft is a form of magic used against religion and for medical purposes. Punishments for offenses varied in severity. Punishments could be death by hanging or beheading. The many crimes a person can commit are begging, forgery, debt, petty theft, adultery and fraud. Typically, the punishments for these crimes were whipping, starvation, burning at the stake, removal of limbs, hanging, and branding. The noble class... middle of paper ... will also be pardoned and sentenced to fourteen years, or even more, or even life in prison under the Transportation Act. The Transportation Act provides harsher penalties for society and provides greater security by sending criminals to work for foreign countries across the seas. As you can see, the Elizabethan era was very strict when it came to crimes and punishments. No one commits a crime without being severely punished. After researching crimes and punishments, I was surprised to find that they committed many crimes because of the severity of their punishments. However, even with the cruel punishments they received, this did not stop many of them until the Carriage Act of 1718 was put in place and really took control of the crimes that were occurring . Although you can't go back and experience the Elizabethan era, by reading this you will be able to find out what happened when criminals committed crimes..