2. lifestyles of the rich and the poor

How did life differ for the rich and poor in Elizabethan times?

What was housing like for the rich?

What was housing like for the rich?

Houses were remodelled - clear divide between owner and servant, symmetrical (shaped like E or H), and had large windows. Big gardens were also built.

What was Hardwick Hall described to have?

‘more glass than wall’

What was fashion like for the rich?

• finest materials such as silk, linen and velvet.

• outfits were usually accessorised with lots of jewellery

• consisted of jerkins, ruffs, farthingales, leather shoes and gowns

What was education like for the rich?

Sons were tutored at home and daughters were tutored by a governess and it was more practical, like how to run a household.

What were houses like for gentry?

Tried to copy the improvements of the rich but not at such a big scale- high roofs, tapestries, upper floors were added and windows were widened.

What was fashion like for the gentry?

Followed style of social superiors - outfits were modern and stylish but lacked expensive gold and silver, and embroidered jewellery

What was education like for the gentry?

Sons attended grammar schools which aimed to produce the perfect gentlemen. People were expected to attend either Cambridge or Oxford.

What were houses like for the poor?

Very poor people had very small houses - mostly one room which was shared with animals. It would have a few pieces of furniture, like a bed, a table and some stools.

Those who had a little money could build houses with glazed windows, separate bedrooms, a parlour and a kitchen.

What was fashion like for the poor?

It was very simple - there were little or no changes.

What was education like for the poor?

Most had little or no education as they couldn’t afford it. Some attended a local parish school where they were taught to read and write. Most were forced to leave to work.

What were the courses of poverty?

• rising inflation

• bad harvests (1556, 1596, 1597)

• changes in farming methods- employed fewer labourers

• rack-renting - many were evicted

• rural depopulation

• dissolution of the monasteries (took away charity relief)

• costly foreign wars and demobbed soldiers

• changes in the cloth industry

• rising population (1601- 4.1 million)

What is vagrancy?

The state of being or living like a vagrant (= a poor person who has no home or job and moves from place to place)

What is the difference between impotent poor and able bodied poor?

Impotent poor = Genuinely unable to work due to age, hardship or other infirmities. Recognised as needing poor relief.

Able-bodied poor= Capable of work but unable or unwilling to find employment- needed to be prevented from begging.

What was poor relief?

the system and series of acts which helped regulate, administer and control the relief of the poor. Charity given by the church and the local government to help the impotent poor.

Why were vagabonds feared?

• increased fear of rebellion- many were ex soldiers

• burden for looking after poor was increasing- resentment

• caused shortages- drunk and ate excessively in ale-houses

• idle and too lazy to find a job

• prepared to turn to crime as a way of life

• helped spread disease (like the plague)

What are some of the different types of vagabond?

• hooker

• Abraham man (pretended to be mad)

• dummeres (pretended to be mute)

What were some Elizabethan Laws regarding vagrancy?

• 1572- Vagabonds Act

• 1576- Act for the Relief of the Poor

• 1598- Act for the Relief of the Poor

• 1598- Act for the Punishment of Rogues

• 1601- Act for the Relief of the Poor (this made the 1598 Poor Law permanent)