Changing attitudes

• Attitudes towards the poor changed during Elizabethan times
• Reasons for changing attitudes towards the poor

  • Fear that poverty led to disorder and was a potential cause of rebellion
  • The cost of dealing with the poor, especially the poor rates
  • Population changes and enclosure meant the poor were an increasingly visible presence in Elizabethan England
  • Changing economic circumstances, including problems with the wool trade, bad harvests and enclosure, forced the authorities to develop a more constructive attitude towards poverty
• Deserving or impotent poor


  (the old and the sick) who could not help themselves
• Idle or undeserving poor


  Those who could work but chose not to do so
• It was felt the poor should be given the opportunity to better themselves. Those who refused to do so should be punished.
• Many Elizabethans remained suspicious of the poor and described them as rogues and criminals
• Vagrants and vagabonds who deceived or threatened the public were dealt with severely - they could be whipped, imprisoned, enslaved or even hanged if caught begging
• Poor rate


  1. A local tax organised by Justices of the Peace, with the proceeds spent on improving the lives of the poor

  2. The poor were given money or things to make and sell

  3. Often funded by local wealthy people, who gave their name to the charitable foundation
• Statute of Artificers, 1563


  1. JPs were required to provide the poor with wool and raw materials, to enable them to make and sell things

  2. The poor who refused to do so were sent to a special prison known as the house of correction
• 1572 Act


  1. Vagrants were whipped and a hole drilled through each ear as a mark of shame, to warn others of their vagrancy

  2. Vagrants were imprisoned if arrested again for vagrancy

  3. Vagrants were given the death penalty for a third offence
• 1576 Poor Relief Act


  1. Introduced a national poor rate, to provide support, including money and work, for the impotent poor

  2. Justices of the Peace had to keep a register of the poor

  3. Those in authority were tasked with finding work for the able-bodied