Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

mdizzle106 t1_jb7eec1 wrote

Reply to comment by Jeffcor13 in Medieval babycare: from breastfeeding to developmental toys by nemo_to_zero

I remember reading about a man in middle ages England who had lost all 12 of his children in a fire. It was a letter written from a magistrate or something imploring law enforcement at the time to have mercy on him because he wasn't in his right state of mind.

It was touching to me because it flew in the face of everything we know about life at the time. Rather than stern punishments (send him to the rack!) people were understanding of tragedy and merciful.

49

Jeffcor13 t1_jb7rmn8 wrote

I can’t Imagine. I just can’t imagine. So much pain

8

uncle-icepick t1_jb9m8ce wrote

>It was touching to me because it flew in the face of everything we know about life at the time. Rather than stern punishments (send him to the rack!) people were understanding of tragedy and merciful.

In Jeffrey Singman's "The Middle Ages: Everyday Life in Medieval Europe," he makes an interesting point about this - that mercy was fairly common in local rulings (in certain times in certain places) precisely because the punishments were so harsh, which elicited sympathy for the accused. Especially in the case of mitigating circumstances, as you mentioned.

7

Starbucks__Lovers t1_jb8212w wrote

Tangentially related, Malcolm gladwell’s podcast had an episode about the death of a rising star in the 1940s as a result of a drunk driver. People felt bad for the driver and considered it a tragic accident

6

Jeffcor13 t1_jb7ronn wrote

I can’t Imagine. I just can’t imagine. So much pain

5