Elizabeth Chapter 4- The poor

Question 1

Paupers

Answer 1

• Those without work who relied on charity.
• Survived by begging or seeking help from local churches.
• Life was difficult for many without job security.

Question 2

What were the main causes of rising poverty in Elizabethan England?

Answer 2

-Actions of previous monarchs (e.g., closure of monasteries).
-Changes in agriculture (e.g., enclosure & bad harvests).
-Population increase (from 2.8 million to 4 million).
-1556 flu outbreak killed 200,000, including many farm workers.

Question 3

How did the actions of previous monarchs contribute to poverty in Elizabethan England?

Answer 3

-Henry VII limited private armies, leaving soldiers unemployed.
-Henry VIII’s Reformation closed monasteries, leaving monks & church employees jobless.
-Economic issues under Henry VIII & Edward VI collapsed the cloth trade, leading to job losses.

Question 4

How did changes in agriculture contribute to poverty in Elizabethan England?

Answer 4

-Bad harvests (1594-1598) led to food shortages & inflation.
-Enclosure: landlords kept sheep instead of crops, reducing jobs.
-Unemployed farm workers flocked to cities, but jobs were scarce.

Question 5

How did population increase contribute to poverty in Elizabethan England?

Answer 5

-England’s population grew from 2.8 million to 4 million.
-Shortage of housing led to rack renting as landlords raised rents.

Question 6

How were the deserving poor viewed in Elizabethan England?

Answer 6

-‘Great Chain of Being’ believed Nobles were better than the poor
-Many thought their duty was to help those below them
-Many recognised paupers couldn’t help their situation.
-Charities grew & almshouses were established.

Question 6

How did the flu outbreak contribute to poverty in Elizabethan England?

Answer 6

-In 1556, a flu outbreak killed 200,000 people, including many farm workers, worsening poverty.

Question 7

How were the undeserving poor viewed in Elizabethan England?

Answer 7

-Some paupers: seen as untrustworthy beggars with no interest in honest work.
-Thomas Harman’s Warning Against Vagabonds (1567) portrayed many as tricksters & criminal; viewed as idle or lazy.

Question 8

What were some examples of vagabonds described by Thomas Harman?

Answer 8

-Counterfeit Crank: Faked illness for sympathy & money
-Baretop Trickster: Lured men to be robbed by accomplices.
-Clapper Dudgeon: Faked injuries for money.
-Tom O’Bedlam: Pretended to be mad for sympathy.

Question 9

Counterfeit Crank

Answer 9

-bit soap so that he frothed at the mouth
-for sympathy & money

Question 10

Baretop Trickster women

Answer 10

-tricked men into following them; removing clothing
-men would be beaten & robbed by her accomplices

Question 11

The Clapper Dudgeon

Answer 11

-would cut himself & tie dirty bandages around wounds
-for sympathy

Question 12

Tom O’Bedlam

Answer 12

-would pretend to be mad
-might stick a chicken’s head in his ear or bark like a dog

Question 13

How did earlier laws address poverty before Elizabeth I?

Answer 13

1495: Beggars punished in stocks or sent home.
1531: Beggars whipped; repeat offenders faced severe punishments.
1576: The ‘Act for setting the poor on work’ made local authorities responsible.

Question 14

What attempts were there to deal with poverty in 1495?

Answer 14

-Beggars punished in stocks
-Or sent back home

Question 15

What attempts were there to deal with poverty in 1531?

Answer 15

-Beggars whipped
-2nd time caught- hole burned in ear
-3rd offence- hanged

Question 16

What attempts were there to deal with poverty in 1576?

Answer 16

-‘Act for setting the poor on work’ made local authorities responsible.

Question 17

How did London respond to poverty in Elizabethan times?

Answer 17

-Bridewell Palace used as a homeless shelter.
-Bedlam Hospital built for the mentally ill.
-Hospitals opened for the sick & orphans, but conditions were poor.

Question 18

How did York address poverty during the 16th century?

Answer 18

-1515: Beggar licences & badges introduced.
-1528: Master Beggar appointed to control beggars.
-Beggars refusing to work were sent to the House of Correction.

Question 19

How did Ipswich address poverty in the 16th century?

Answer 19

-1569: Beggar licensing system introduced.
-Opened a hospital for the old & sick.
-Introduced youth training schemes to help children escape poverty.

Question 20

How did Norwich address poverty after its 1570 survey?

Answer 20

-Separated the poor into ‘idle poor’ & ‘unfortunate poor.’
-‘Idle poor’ given work like knitting or sewing.
-‘Unfortunate poor’ provided with food & care.
-Rich citizens taxed to support the vulnerable.

Question 21

How much of the population of Norwich lived in poverty in 1570

Answer 21

80%

Question 22

What did the 1601 Poor Law state?

Answer 22

-Wealthy taxed to care for the sick & vulnerable.
-Fit & healthy paupers given work in exchange for food.
-Idle poor punished & sent to a House of Correction.

Question 23

How effective was the 1601 Poor Law?

Answer 23

-Helped some but was poorly enforced in many areas.
-Begging decreased, possibly due to fear of the House of Correction.
-Each area was responsible for its own paupers, leading to inefficiencies.

Question 24

The helpless poor

Answer 24

(sick and old)
-given food & accomodation

Question 25

The able-bodied poor

Answer 25

(those considered fit)
-had to work in exchange for food

Question 26

The idle poor

Answer 26

-punished & sent to a House of Correction