Short Stuff: Outlawry

This Short Stuff episode dives into the surprisingly harsh medieval legal concept of "outlawry," revealing how it differs from our modern Johnny Cash and Jesse James notions of what an outlaw actually is. Josh and Chuck trace the practice from its origins in sixth century Frankish law through its heyday in medieval England, explaining the process by which someone could lose all legal protection—and what that terrifying loss of rights actually meant for daily life, property, and survival. Along the way, they explore the different tiers of outlaw status, how people could get their status reversed, and how eerily long this legal concept may have lingered in the books.