Poor under Henry

Question 1

Henry’s Legislation to combat poverty- Poor Laws

Answer 1

1531 Poor Law

1547 Vagrancy Act XXXXXX

Question 2

What did the 1531 Poor law do to able bodied poor?

Answer 2

Ordered vagrants and beggars to be whipped

Question 3

What did the 1531 Poor Law do to the impotent poor?

Answer 3

Disabled Beggars could be licensed by the JP’s, which allowed them to beg.

Question 4

What did the 1531 Poor Law have an impact on the poor?

Answer 4

Some acceptance that impotent poor had no means of welfare help – stopped punishment but no more.
Able-bodied poor punished as clear disincentive to vagrancy/begging.

Question 5

What did the 1547 vagrancy act (repealed 1550) do to able bodied?

Answer 5

Rising social and economic tensions -year of Edward’s succession.
Vagrancy was re-defined as someone able-bodied without a job or master for 3 days.
Deterrent punishments were harsh – branding on chest and face, forced to work as a slave for 2 yrs for the person that informed against them.2nd offence meant enslavement for life. repeated vagrancy offences led to execution as a common criminal.
V harsh, difficult to enforce – repealed in 1550.

Question 6

What did the 1547 vagrancy act (repealed 1550) do to impotent?

Answer 6

Impotent beggars sent quickly back to their parishes of birth. Houses set up to house disabled and funded had to come from the church.

Question 7

What did the 1547 vagrancy act (repealed 1550) do to impact the poor?

Answer 7

Harsh and unforgiving on able-bodied- a major deterrent. Wanted to stop them leaving their original parishes – stop potential unrest.

Impotent poor given some shelter in their original parishes. Local parish resentment would have been high. Church had burden of funding poor housing.
No monastery wealth to help here – relied on wealthy church goers.