Burghley almshouses-founding Flashcards
Founders reputation first part.
Gentry and nobility who benefitted from Elizabeth’s patronage might be given wealthy estates and would want to show the local villages or towns their virtue as good Elizabethans and to ensure that their family name was well respected locally. For example Robert Dudley had permission from Elizabeth to build an almshouse at the site of his castle in Kennilworth.
Founders reputation second part.
Lord Burghley’s almshouses were therefore typical in their location just outside Stamford and close to Burghley’s estate, which he had gained as a result of Elizabeth’s patronage. Because the almshouses were named after him and their inhabitants wore the same colour uniforms as his servants it was clear to local people that Burghley’s family were fine, upright members of Elizabethan society.
To show they were good Christians first part?
From a Protestant or Puritan perspective this meant that the founding of an alms house was a way to carry out a charitable work and giving to charity showed ones faith in God. In this way prominent Elizabethans such as Margaret Clifford, Countess of Cumberland established an Alms house in Beamsley, whilst the Archbishop of Canterbury, John Whitgift established one in Croydon. This was a change, since prior to the reformation alms houses had been founded by Catholic patrons as a way to buy their way into heaven through the daily prayers said by their inhabitants, rather than simply to show their faith in God.
To show they were a good Christian second part?
Lord Burghley’s alms house were typical for the time period of just after the reformation. He was a moderate protestant with a tendency towards Puritanism and so saw his alms house as his duty towards the poor and a way for him to show God that his work made him a good Christian. Lord Burghley was therefore keen to ensure that the inhabitants of his alms house also lived a godly lifestyle which meant they said prayers daily and attended the chapel within the alms house complex of the local parish church regularly.
To improve behaviour of poor people first part?
This desire had arisen as Elizabethan society began to make a distinction between different types of poor people i.e. that there were those who were fit and capable of work but chose not, known as vagabonds or sturdy beggars or the thriftless poor and there were those who genuinely could not work either through old age or some other kind of infirmity known as the true or impotent poor. Elizabethan society was keen to help the true poor but also keen to improve the behaviour of the thriftless poor. This is why Norfolk JPs in the 1570s met at the local jail to punish ‘rogues, drunkards and other unruly people’ which they considered to be ‘both necessary and godly work’. A study of the work of towns also shows a concern to improve the behaviour of the thriftless poor, therefore in Norwich they were given jobs such as knitting and in York a master beggar kept the others in line.
To improve behaviour of the poor second part?
Burghley’s Alms Houses are typical of this Elizabethan desire to improve the behaviour of poor people although he had his limits and would not accept dishonest Christians i.e. thieves, fraudsters or adulterers. The routines and expectations laid down by Lord Burghley in 1597 have a clear emphasis towards the improvement of behaviour, therefore gambling and playing cards was banned, whilst Burghley’s thirteen inhabitants were expected to participate in group worship at St Martin’s at both morning and evening prayers every Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and holy days. Failure to attend these prayers would result in a fine of 6d per session missed that would be deducted from the offenders weekly wages of 2s 4d on a Sunday after evening prayers. This would ensure that those poor men cared for in Burghley’s alms houses conducted themselves in the manner Burghley expected. This was further reinforced by the thirteen always wearing their blue gowns within the parish of St Martin’s. These gowns were the same as the gowns of Burghley’s servants so news of any misdeeds committed by the thirteen with the parish would easily find their way back to the ears of their benefactor Lord Burghley.
Because it was the appropriate thing to do first part?
Providing patronage for example to theatre troupes or through charitable works was a way for Elizabethans to demonstrate their wealthy status and place within society i.e. towards the top of the Great Chain of Being. Members of Elizabeth’s court were therefore establishing alms houses because it was the appropriate thing for a courtier to do, and by so doing they were setting a good example for other up and coming members of Elizabethan society. In this way, William Lambarde founded an alms house and his example was followed by Lord Cobham and Archbishop Whitgift, then later all three worked together in 1592 as the first governors of Sir John Hawkins almshouse in Chatham for disabled sailors.
Because it was the appropriate thing to do second part?
Burghley’s alms houses are therefore typical of a high ranking Elizabethan wanting to present his wealth, status and good works to the world. Lord Burghley was Elizabeth’s chief advisor and had held the position of both Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer. Burghley was keen to ensure that people beyond the local area of Stamford knew about his alms house and therefore he had the royal printers produce a set of rules for his alms house and had the pamphlet distributed freely within London so that the main members of Elizabethan society were aware Burghley was acting appropriately as one of the most respected members of Elizabeth’s court. On a local level Burghley’s actions in acting appropriately were also reinforced by the in habitants of his alms house wearing the same colour uniforms as that of his household staff so that people knew they were the recipients of Burghley’s charity.
