poverty

• The four types of vagabonds were the counterfeit crank who used soap to pretend to foam at the mouth, the baretop trickster who would flash men to lead them into alleyways and then have them mugged by her male friends. Another was the clapper dudgeon who would wear dirty bandages to gain sympathy. And finally, there were the Tom O'bedlams who would howl in the streets and people would pay them to leave.
• There was a large increase in poverty due to a huge increase in population from 2.8 million to 4 million this caused there to be fewer places to live which caused rent racking. Furthermore, there were bad harvests in 1594 and 1598 which meant there were more people and less food and inflation. Also due to farming enclosure farmers now had to pay to grow crops.
• What were the Elizabethan poor laws?

  • There was firstly the Poor Law of 1601 which created a relief system for the poor using tools like:
  • Overseers of the Poor: Local parishes were required to appoint overseers to collect funds, known as the poor rate, through local taxation.
  • Workhouses: The law allowed for the construction of workhouses where the poor and destitute could be provided with work and basic necessities.
  • Outdoor Relief: In addition to workhouses, outdoor relief was provided to those who were unable to work, such as the elderly and disabled.
• What was the act against vagrants and vagabonds?

  The Act for Punishment of Rogues, Vagabonds, and Sturdy Beggars (1597): This legislation aimed to deal with vagrants and beggars who were considered a threat to social order. It authorized the punishment of those who refused to work and made begging without a license illegal.
• How were the 'deserving' poor supported by Elizabethans?


  Almshouses and the wealthy provided charity.
• How did the poor law of 1601 help children?


  Apprenticeships were given to orphans
• The Poor Law of 1601 established a relief system for the poor, which included the appointment of overseers to collect funds through local taxation.
• Workhouses were constructed to provide work and basic necessities for the poor and destitute.