Policy What was it? Specific Examples Successful?
1495 - The stocks Beggars were punished in stocks and sent
back to their hometowns
Correction houses Beggars who refused to work were sent In the city of York beggars who refused to
here. Beggars were expected to work to work were sent to the House of Correction.
increase the cities’ industries.
1531 - licences Some beggars were given licences and had In 1515, York Corporation in the city of York
to wear a badge to be identified and not gave beggar licences 16 years before other
punished. cities. In 1528, a ‘master beggar’ was
appointed to keep the others in check.
1531 - whippings 1st time caught begging = whip
Before E 2nd time = hole burned in ear
3rd time = hanged
Youth training schemes Ipswich 1569, youth training scheme to help
E’s reign children learn a trade so they could work.
Hospitals Ipswich 1569, set up a hospital for the
deserving poor (old and sick) who couldn’t
afford treatment.
Surveys / censuses Norwich 1570 conducted a survey to find
80% of inhabitants lived in poverty.
Separated poor into 2 categories. Idle poor
had to do knitting and sewing while the
unfortunate poor were given food and care.
This limited the number of people who
received poor relief. Norwich taxed its rich
to pay for the poor.
1563 - Statute of Artificers Placed wage limits on skilled workers to slow
down the rate of inflation.
1576 - Workhouses Local authorities had a responsibility to find
work for the poor. This was not nationwide.
The nationwide policy was still punishment.
This introduced a third class of poor = able
bodied poor and genuinely unable to find
work.