Elizabeth I - Socio-Economic Developments Flashcards
Inflation and Ordinary Revenue - Finances
The government didn’t respond to inflation quick enough, and the value of incomes fell.
- Failed attempt through the debasement of coinage.
*Profits from feudal dues fell, until Robert Cecil took control over Court of Wards in 1559.
- Administered lands and royal wardships.
*Revenue didn’t make it to the exchequer, as Liz rewarded nobles with revenues and monopolies.
- Winchester and Leicester owed £70000 to the crown.
*Revenue from crown lands were raised only slightly, and reduced in long term with sale of crown lands.
Appointment of Lord Treasurers - Finances
Appointed Marquis of Winchester as Lord Treasurer, introducing financial reforms under the exchequer.
– Modernised the exchequer raising efficiency.
– Revalued crown lands to increase rents, and increased custom duties.
– Called in debts owed to the crown.
Replaced by Robert Cecil in 1572, who had success through the Subsidy taxes to fund war.
By 1585, when the Spanish war broke out, Liz. was able to pay off Mary’s debt of £300,000, and also build a reserve of £300,000.
Countryside Acts 1563
Act for maintaining Tillage - Land which had been tillage since 1528 must remain tillage. Land for pasture must be converted back to tillage.
- Repealed later, which led to good harvests in the 90s and surplus of grain.
Statute of Artificers - Regulate agriculture & industry.
- Young workers given apprenticeships, & all unemployed had to seek work in farming.
–Employers were to provide training and annual contracts to workers.
– Maximum wage was adjusted by JP’s to keep wages in line with inflation.
Countryside acts 1590s
1592 Export of Corn Statute - price limit set on corn at 20 shillings a quarter. Export of corn was permitted when price fell below this.
– Farmers could now export corn, and corn was affordable to meet the needs of a growing population.
1598 Statutes passed to prevent conversion of tillage to pasture. However still opposition towards enclosures in Staffordshire and Oxfordshire.
Vagabonds and Rogues - Town Acts
Vagabonds Act - Severe penalties against vagrants eg. burning, boring ears, and death penalty.
JPs kept a register of poor in their parish, and a poor rate to provide shelter to sick and elderly.
Act for Punishments of Rogues - JPs established Houses of Correction for rogues and vagabonds. Rogues whipped before returning to their parishes.
Allowed the government to maintain poverty, preventing social unrest.
Act for Relief of the Poor - Town Acts
Act for Relief of the Poor - JPS ordered able bodied to find work. Those who refused work would be sent to a house of correction.
2nd Act for Relief of the Poor - Poor relief provided apprenticeships to children, employment for adults, and hospitals for sick and elderly.
However, didn’t tackle causes of poverty, and prices increased by 80%.
