Elizabeth I - Lives of the Rich and Poor

Question 1

1563 Statute of Artificers

Answer 1

1563 Statute of Artificers
Attempted to create employment to reduce vagrancy, also
tied men down to one area

Question 2

1572 Vagabonds Act

Answer 2

Poor rate introduced, a local register kept for distribution. Harsh punishments for vagrants who broke rules (whipping,
burning through the ear etc.)

Question 3

1576 Act for the Relief of the Poor

Answer 3

Help to find work given to able-bodied vagrants. Those who refused were sent to Houses of Correction

Question 4

1598 Act for the Relief of the Poor

Answer 4

Four Overseers of the Poor appointed to each parish. All inhabitants had to pay the poor rate. Work found for the able bodied

Question 5

1598 Act for the Punishment of Rogues

Answer 5

Begging was strictly forbidden and anyone caught was whipped and returned to their place of birth or sent to a House of Correction.

Question 6

1601 Act for the Relief of the Poor

Answer 6

Known as the Poor Law. The government accepted they had a responsibility to help the poor and set up legal frameworks to tackle poverty

Question 7

Clapper dudgeon

Answer 7

Tied arsenic to their skin to make it bleed and get sympathy

Question 8

Hooker/ angler

Answer 8

Used a long wooden stick to steal clothes and valuables

Question 9

Doxy

Answer 9

A female beggar who hid her thefts by pretending to knit

Question 10

Abraham man

Answer 10

Pretended to be mad to get donations through pity

Question 11

Rufflers

Answer 11

Former soldiers who used threats of violence to get money

Question 12

Dummerers

Answer 12

Pretended to be dumb to get charity

Question 13

Counterfeit crank

Answer 13

Sucked soap so they foamed at the mouth to try to get sympathy – they looked ill

Question 14

The impotent/ deserving poor

Answer 14

Those who were genuinely unable to work due to age, hardship or other physical issues. It was recognised
that these people were in need of ‘poor relief’

Question 15

The able-bodied poor/ sturdy beggars

Answer 15

Those considered capable of work but were unable or unwilling to find employment. It was thought that these individuals needed to be encouraged or even forced to find work

Question 16

The very rich (Nobility)

Answer 16

The nobility maintained their wealth by renting out the considerable land they owned. They built a number of very large houses during this period to show off their wealth
(such as Hardwick Hall). Many were built in ‘E’
and ‘H’ shapes. Landscape gardens became popular with the gentry during this period. The children of nobles would have private
tutoring in French, Latin and Greek. Nobles wore expensive clothes and wore jewellery to show off their riches.

Question 17

The rich (Gentry)

Answer 17

The gentry owned more land than they could farm, so they rented it out. They built new homes made of stone, which had at least
eight rooms and quarters for their servants to live with them. Fashion was used to show their wealth and power. They dressed stylishly but with less gold and silver colours than the
nobility. Sons of the gentry attended grammar school. Their hobbies included tennis, fencing, music and dancing.

Question 18

The poorer people

Answer 18

Lived in much smaller one roomed houses made of timber frames, wattle and daub, with a thatched roof. Farmers and labourers
worked 12 hour days with a main meal at 6pm. They had a low life expectancy as many died from diseases such as smallpox, typhus and sweating fever. They had few changes of clothes and spent their free time in inns or gambling on cards, dice or blood sports.

Question 19

Main reasons for vagrancy:

Answer 19

• Rising inflation
• Rising population
• Costly foreign wars and unemployed soldiers
• Dissolution of the Monasteries
• Rural depopulation
• Rack-renting
• Changes in farming methods
• Bad harvests
• Decline in the cloth industry