Elizabethan Reign (Era)
1558 - 1603
Money, Jobs, The Poor Population
Life in Elizabethan England is clearly roughly divided and built on the separation of the classes. Status is held in high regard and defines all that a person's life might amount to, and what they might be able to achieve. The poor, that live both in the countryside and in the towns and cities, are extremely limited and can be deprived of things as basic as light, 'A poor family cannot afford much light.'
1558 - 1603
Money, Jobs, The Poor Population
Life in Elizabethan England is clearly roughly divided and built on the separation of the classes. Status is held in high regard and defines all that a person's life might amount to, and what they might be able to achieve. The poor, that live both in the countryside and in the towns and cities, are extremely limited and can be deprived of things as basic as light, 'A poor family cannot afford much light.'
'The Act of the Relief of the Poor' is brought out by the government under Elizabeth's reign, making local taxes compulsory in order to provide for the poorest in the country. However the people are still violently secluded from each other and society lacks equality in an ever rising population which grew from 3.2 million to 4.1 million during the 45 years of Elizabethan reign. Overall, life is bleak and dark for the poor.
'The cold stuck so deep into them. Their flesh was eaten with vermin and corrupt diseases grew on them.' - City of Norwich: Orders for The Poor (1571)
Money in the Elizabethan Era was based on Pound, Shilling and Pence. Jobs for men in the countryside would include:
'The cold stuck so deep into them. Their flesh was eaten with vermin and corrupt diseases grew on them.' - City of Norwich: Orders for The Poor (1571)
Money in the Elizabethan Era was based on Pound, Shilling and Pence. Jobs for men in the countryside would include:
A Yeoman: Owns or rents his farm and employs workers to cultivate the farm land.
A Husbandman: Rents the land he works on.
A Labourer: Works on the farmland of others for very low pay.
The labourers are the most poor and have long working days, with the payment of just one Groat a day, allowing for only 6000 calories in food per day, without leaving anything for rent, firewood, or children.
Religion and Superstition
The overarching religion in the time of Elizabethan reign was Christianity, with two denominations, the Protestants and the Catholics. Some Jewish communities were in existence in the Elizabethan period, but had to conceal their religion due to prejudice and persecution, as presented in Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice.
Henry VIII had separated from the Roman Catholic Church during his reign, causing the Catholics and Protestants to become conflicted. This constant religious conflict spanned a long period of time and meant that many executions on both sides occurred. This became a political issue when England communicated and traded with other countries which were heavily ruled by Catholicism.
A Husbandman: Rents the land he works on.
A Labourer: Works on the farmland of others for very low pay.
The labourers are the most poor and have long working days, with the payment of just one Groat a day, allowing for only 6000 calories in food per day, without leaving anything for rent, firewood, or children.
Religion and Superstition
The overarching religion in the time of Elizabethan reign was Christianity, with two denominations, the Protestants and the Catholics. Some Jewish communities were in existence in the Elizabethan period, but had to conceal their religion due to prejudice and persecution, as presented in Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice.
Henry VIII had separated from the Roman Catholic Church during his reign, causing the Catholics and Protestants to become conflicted. This constant religious conflict spanned a long period of time and meant that many executions on both sides occurred. This became a political issue when England communicated and traded with other countries which were heavily ruled by Catholicism.
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| The Great Chain of Being |
Religion was heavily influential on Elizabethan life and even indicated and justified that the societal class you might be born into was where you should remain throughout your life on earth as this was the will of God. This was the Divine Order, The Great Chain of Being, which depicted a hierarchy for all people, and where they were placed in this strict structure depending on their social class.
The monarchy were believed to be divine, chosen by God and intended to rule over people in his place and so disobedience of the monarchy was deemed a sin. This belief of the monarchs as divine meant that if a monarch appeared less holy, or wrong for the throne, the natural order of the earth and the environment would be thrown into disarray and chaos - a superstition which is reflected in Shakespeare's Macbeth.
Witchcraft received much attack and resistance during the 16th century. People believed that witchcraft was 'devilish' and wrong, it was conflicted with christian ideologies at the time and was feared society. In 1562 Elizabethan Witchcraft Act was passed. It was an act 'agaynst Conjuracions Inchauntmentes and Witchecraftes'. The first witch trials were lead by the King of Scotland James the VI due to his fears of witchcraft. These trials allowed the execution of women, they would often be poor, unmarried women and the execution was often a torturous, long death, carried out without any evidence. Witchcraft is referenced in Shakespeare's Macbeth.
Witchcraft received much attack and resistance during the 16th century. People believed that witchcraft was 'devilish' and wrong, it was conflicted with christian ideologies at the time and was feared society. In 1562 Elizabethan Witchcraft Act was passed. It was an act 'agaynst Conjuracions Inchauntmentes and Witchecraftes'. The first witch trials were lead by the King of Scotland James the VI due to his fears of witchcraft. These trials allowed the execution of women, they would often be poor, unmarried women and the execution was often a torturous, long death, carried out without any evidence. Witchcraft is referenced in Shakespeare's Macbeth.
Theatre and Entertainment
Much of the entertainment in the Elizabethan Era involved the pain and suffering of animals and humans. Bear baiting was a form of entertainment which involved tying a bear to a stake in the middle of an arena and allowing the public to watch it try to escape as dogs were loosed towards it. There is contextual reference to this in Shakespeare's Macbeth when Macbeth claims that ‘They have tied me to the stake; I cannot fly/ But bear-like I must fight the course.’ Other forms of entertainment included 'Cockfighting' and of course Theatre. People would often watch public executions as a form of enjoyment and entertainment, shouting encouragements or curses whilst it was happening as though it were all an act or a game.
The most renowned playwrights at the time were William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe who would heavily reflect the ideologies, superstitions and beliefs of the society at the time. Much of Shakespeare's theatre was written to please those in power at the time, or comment on humanity and the way they might behave.
Theatre in the Elizabethan Era was one aspect of the time where the classes came together and found a common ground or mutual acceptance. Although they would be divided by seating or standing within the theatre they were able to watch the same pieces. However, the patriarchal nature of Elizabethan society mean that women were not permitted to play roles in any of the theatre, women's roles would often be played by young men or boys pretending to be women as it was not seen as an acceptable job for a woman to become an actress or perform on stage.
When Theatre began it was purely religious and was used to present bible moral or stories through performance, however during the Elizabethan period, theatre became more secular and although playwrights were heavily influenced by religion and the bible, it was not the sole purpose, or focus of the plays that were written and performed. Actors and writers would often be part of companies which toured and performed for and under the name of 'noblemen' - usually wealthy, aristocratic men who held important power and titles within Elizabethan society. Their acquirement of a touring company might have been a representation of their wealth and status at the time.
The establishment of an increasing amount of theatres all over London meant that the people's interest in theatre was becoming a part of London life and these permanent stages defined Theatre as a strong part of London culture.
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| Plague Doctor |
Medicine
"Here in the city visiting the sick,
And finding him, the searchers of the town,
Suspecting that both were in a house
Where the infectious pestilence did reign..."
During the Elizabethan period, disease and infection spread easily and quickly between communities and within towns. Knowledge of sanitation and hygiene was very limited to almost non existent, it was not unusual for the public to defecate in the streets in the same areas used for food markets around stalls such as butchers. The streets were a ruin, diseased and filled with dirt. For the poor, disease and infection was expected and rife, but medicine was sparse and limited, not based on scientific evidence, or medical knowledge but herbal, apothecary treatments, or influenced by religious belief or superstition.
The Black Death, which was the first outbreak of Plague in the 1300's laid the way for other plagues which continued with various outbreaks until 1750. Plague was a highly infectious disease spread from person. At the time it was incurable and not helped by the fact that any public services were non-existent and people were unaware of how to prevent spreading the disease. Plague was so deadly that many entertainment facilities, including theatres were closed by the authorities for years in fear of it spreading.
Much of the treatment at the time wasn't preventative or curable, only temporary remedy, such as bathing in hot water, the smoking out of a room with herbs and plants, or a change in diet. More complex treatments would involve a physician and this was largely unavailable to those in poverty who were unable to afford the treatment, it wasn't until the NHS was introduced that medical treatment was accessible for every aspect of the public.
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