An alleged offender could be required to answer
questions under oath, thus giving evidence against himself. The
ecclesiastical court's penalties were intended to reform and
determined on a case-by-case basis. The canon law of Christendom
was followed, without much change by the English church or nation.
Penalties could include confession and public repentance of the
sin before the parish, making apologies and reparation to persons
affected, public embarrassment such as being dunked in water (e.g.
for women scolds), walking a route barefoot and clad only in one's
underwear, whippings, extra work, fines, and imprisonment in a
"penitentiary" to do penance. The ultimate punishment was
excommunication with social ostracism. Then no one could give the
person drink, food, or shelter and he could speak only to his
spouse and servants. Excommunication included denial of the
sacraments of baptism, penance, mass, and extreme unction [prayers
for spiritual healing] at death; which were necessary for
salvation of the soul; and the sacrament of confirmation of one's
belief in the tenets of Christianity. A person could also be
denied a Christian burial in consecrated ground. However, the
person could still marry and make a will. The king's court could
order a recalcitrant excommunicant imprisoned until he satisfied
the claims of the church. Excommunication was usually imposed for
failure to obey an order or showing contempt of the law or of the
courts.
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