For which oppressioun was swich clamour
And swich pursute unto the kyng Arthour
That dampned was this knyght for to be deed,
By cours of lawe, and sholde han lost his heed –
Paraventure swich was the statut tho.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Wife of Bath’s Tale. The Knight’s crime of rape of the maiden provokes such anger amongst the people and demand for justice from King Arthur that the Knight is condemned to death. That is the legal penalty for such a crime.