In The Elizabethan Era, When someone was going to be prosecuted or hung why are

Question: In The Elizabethan Era, When someone was going to be prosecuted or hung why are citizens allowed to watch!?
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Members of the public were allowed to attend because the courts knew that public executions and public 'light' punishments were a fair warning for those who broke the law!. The most grusome executions were to be burnt at the stake and to be hung, drawn and quartered!. This barbaric form of execution was reserved for the most hated prisoners who had usually been convicted of treason!. When being hung, drawn and quartered, you were hung, cut down and your limbs chopped up!. You limbs were then sent around the country and publicly displayed as 'fair warning' for wrongdoers in England!.

When somebody was to be prosecuted or put to death, public viewing was always allowed for the most common punishments!. This was most common in executions, as people all around would join the already large audiences!. The most common executions were beheadings and hangings, as these drew large crowds!. The public also attended punishments that were not executions!. Many villagers would attend punishments of those who had committed 'light crimes' These were punishments by the 'stocks,' etc!. People would attend and throw rotten fruit at those accused of too much alcohol, gossip, not attending church, not paying taxes, etc!.

The Death Penalty was definitely not an issue during the Elizabethan era, the only question was what form of execution did the person in question deserve!. Elizabethan England was split into two classes - the Upper Class consisting of the nobility and courtiers, and high ranking members of the Clergy - and everyone else!.

Elizabeth was a fair ruler, however layed out harsh punishments to those who disobeyed the rules her courts layed down!. She did not punish her people for what they believed, however she punished them for their deeds!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Hanging were carried out in public, public hangings continued to be a popular spectacle in england until the middle of the 19th century!.

Other punishments were frequently carried out in public as well, flogging, branding, cutting off an ear, were all penalties that might be enacted in public!. also a very popular punishment was putting people in the stocks or pillory, where they could be pelted with rotten vegetables, garbage etc by the spectators!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

In many cultures, including many present-day Moslem countries, public executions and other punishments are used because they are supposed to deter others from doing the same!. And often the public is invited to participate, as in stonings in Saudi Arabia!.
Such public spectacles were abandoned in Britain before 1800 because it was observed that far from deterring crime, the crowds attracted pickpockets and all sorts of other criminals!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

A!. to set an example
B!. simply put, there wasn't much to do, these executions became quite a spectacle!.Www@QuestionHome@Com