When youre talking about just guys being guys among the hoi polloi, people werent observing these niceties. ELIZABETHAN CRIMES OF THE COMMONERS Many crimes committed by commoners were through sheer desperation and abject poverty. Situation one: I turn to the woman with me and say, I kiss your hand, and I call you my queen. Reasonably, I might expect a smile. BOGAEV: That religious element, thats what removes it so far from our times. W hen Queen Elizabeth I assumed the throne of England in 1558 she inherited a judicial system that stretched back in time through the preceding Middle Ages to the Anglo-Saxon era. BOGAEV: One thing that you point out, that I never really thought about at any detail, was that if you have such a strict definition of proper body movement, say, gestures, its powerful in that if you consciously subvert that and change those gestures, it carries a lot of weight. The Elizabethan Age is the time period associated with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) and is often considered to be a golden age in English history. The Elizabethan government made begging a crime and therefore illegal and 'poor beggars' As their punishment 'poor beggars' would be beaten until they reached the stones that marked the town parish boundary. Discover Shakespeares stories and the world that shaped them. Create beautiful notes faster than ever before. Its quite clear that people thought that if you stepped over the line, that was it. GOODMAN: Its not nice. The only other respite from the excruciating pain of being burnt to death was if the victims died of suffocation through smoke inhalation and lack of oxygen. Why was Charles' Marriage to Henrietta Maria so controversial? There were new jobs and classes emerging, however, providing new opportunities. What form of Christianity did Oliver Cromwell follow? What did Charles II agree to in the Treaty of Dover in 1670? Charles II kept dissolving Parliament, so it could not be passed through. Its sort of an experience that makes you a fan of Shakespeare right from the start. Publicly displaying the offenders was part of everyday life in medieval times, and from around 1500 until at least 1748, the stocks were used for just this purpose. Learn about the building renovation and start planning your visit. You get the same word. GOODMAN: There were many words for stupidity. The maximum punishment under these laws ranges from one year to 10 years in jail, with or without a fine. He produced most of his most famous works between 1589 and 1613. Even royalty were subjected to this most public form of punishment for their crimes. Due to the belief that God granted you everything, there was no sympathy for the poor. Clearly, there were badly behaved people at every point. The question thus arises, were the better Legally a girl could marry as young as 12 with her parents' consent, though young women typically . Elizabethan Era Law and Punishment By: Tara Campbell & Amy Kwon & Lukus Kantor Introduction Elizabethan England was split into two categories. You could have someone looking on the hedge, I think, is the phrase, or plucking a rose, that was a euphemism for taking a leak, and if someone didnt want to be seen, they could turn away. Some peoples standards of housekeeping were high, and some peoples standards of housekeeping were abysmal, and that sort of spread of people-will-be-people was there in the past, just as it is in the present. Exactly. How boring would it be to write somebody, And we went to the banquet, and everybody behaved beautifully, and their manners were lovely and everybody wiped their hands, and No. In the Elizabethan era, England was split into two classes; the Upper class, the nobility, and everyone else. I mean theres an awful lot of literature telling wealthy young boys, who you would expect to be in a position of great power, to show respect to poorer men and women, who would necessarily be of lower social status. Shakespeare Unlimited comes to you from the Folger Shakespeare Library. A license also had to be granted by Town Councillors when a troupe of actors came to town. Elizabethan Crime and Punishment - A Public SpectacleElizabethan England and Elizabethan Crime and Punishment - not a happy subject. He worked with and was part-owner of the theatre company The Lord Chamberlain's Men, and became a part owner of the Globe Theatre. ruler of England during the Elizabethan Era. Who stood where, where the social balance was, and how it could shift slightly, as well as expressing ones feelings, ones aspirations, or ones disgust and loathing. The punishments were only as harsh, heartless, and unusual as one could imagine for every act that was considered a crime. The Elizabethan Era saw opportunities that had not been seen before, and people were able to begin to rise up. England had a strong military presence at the time, and was known as the 'rulers of the seas' after defeating the. People in the 16th and 17th century were not eating off their own plate. Situation two: I turn to the woman on the other side and say, You are a quean. Reasonably, I might expect to get sued. Because obviously I wasnt brought up in America, but being brought up here, most parents would tell you to stop playing with your food. Im thinking of The Winters Tale, and Simpcox in Henry VI and priggers of prancers and. It just shows, you know, are you somebody established within this, do you know the rules of this social situation in this social place? Childhood Elizabeth's early years were not auspicious. GOODMAN: I think it is. Why did Parliament introduce the 'Petition of Right'? He inherited the throne from his aunt, Elizabeth I. GOODMAN: And then when that fell away and the Restoration came, you get a switch back to a completely different set of behaviors and social rules. As a lazy and incompetent ruler who did not achieve very much. We have all these words, though, for prostitute or sex worker, but when you look at the range of sex, there were surprisingly so few words or phrases to describe it, especially aberrant sexual practices. [LAUGHTER] Theres so much there to play with, and if you break the rules and you use insulting or insolent behavior, people understand it. Its also about reinforcing gender positions and reinforcing age positioning. It was an age considered to be the height of the English Renaissance, and saw the full flowering of English literature and English poetry. GOODMAN: Absolutely, and I think there might have been quite a sympathy for Dogberry, almost, at that point. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. The tragic execution of Anne Boleyn was restricted to the Upper Classes and Nobility and only several hundred spectators! And we see a lot of accounts in church, court records particularly, of the words being spoken by people angrily in the street, and its completely different, I should say, from the Shakespearean. Very low. Storage of food was still a problem and so fresh produce was grown at home or regularly acquired at local markets. The Elizabethan age is considered to be a time of English renaissance that inspired national pride . The Elizabethan Era was very different depending on your social status. The impulse given to the English mind in the age of Elizabeth was but one effect of that great movement of the European mind whose steps were marked by the revival of letters, the invention of. BOGAEV: And there were many words for stupidity. William Shakespeare is recognised as one of the most talented writers in all of English History. But there was another word back then: Quean, spelled Q-U-E-A-N. And that meant: a prostitute. BOGAEV: This is maintaining social order again. London, 1635. Strangers were treated with suspicion and risked being accused of crimes and suffered the appropriate punishment. The Elizabethan Era was the period in which Elizabeth I ruled England from 1558-1603. In some ways, not. Ruth Goodman came into the studio recently to talk about the difference between cursing and not cursing, when not to blow your nose, and other ways to be politeor to be exactly the oppositein Shakespeares England. However, the only punishment available to the bishops at the time was excommunication. Introduction is comprises of history and common crimes occurred in this era. The Triennial Act required for Parliament to meet for a minimum of a fifty-day session every three years, and if the King failed to summon them for this session, they could assemble by themselves. Where did Charles II spend the second English Civil War? A waggletail is merely a flirt, isnt she? Most of us would have passed most of it by, you know? How did people learn to speak correctly? There were so many ways to insult a man, but basically the only insult, youre right, the only insult ever aimed at women were almost always about sex. This was called the Poor Rate which was used to help the poor during the Elizabethan period. Instead of straight on, you were using your shoulders a bit more, and now you do start tipping the body forward. This time was a period of unprecedented prosperity and advances in poetry, music, theater and literature. What did the King do in regards to the 'Five Members' that was the final straw for Parliament? Everything waseverything People, when theyre talking about bad sex, are often very confused about what exactly that means, and they use the same word for one thing or another that we would think of as two different things, that they just sort of see it all as one. She couldnt buy bread because somebody had attacked her reputation. God had made the system, and he chose what place you occupied within that system. [LAUGHTER]. Elizabethan Insults. You get the king and the queen and, nowadays people tend to call it a jack, but the older word is the knave. The knave was somebody who was at the top end of the commoners. We still have a remembrance of it when we deal back a pack of cards. Wed really appreciate your help in increasing peoples access to these terrific interviews. Ten days after Marlowe's arrest on 18 May 1593 on allegations of blasphemy, he was stabbed to death by Ingram Frizer. Treaty of Edinburgh between England and Scotland. Rebellion. - Parliament had to sit for at least five months of the year and, every three years, had to be reelected by the Gentry. . Theres quite a lot of literature to say that there were some gentlemen that would push that, really push it, you know? Thats not a proper word [LAUGHS]. What was courtly love during the Elizabethan Era? There was a strict prohibition of. Which assassination plot failed to kill Charles II in 1683? And you write that when you openly accused a woman of whoredom, you faced a very real possibility of prosecution for defamation. Youve got to traipse all the way back to your its just nuts, of course youre going to. It opened Britain up to new and radical ideas that it had never seen before regarding politics and relgion. Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history and it's been widely romanticized in books, movies, plays, and TV series. The Heads of Elizabethan traitors were placed on stakes and displayed in public places such as London Bridge. PUNISHMENT BY BEHEADING - THE UPPER CLASSESThe punishment of Death by the axe was a terrifying prospect. Every time the Oxford English Dictionary gets updated and a whole load of new words go in, theres a flurry in the newspapers about, Oh, its dreadful, dreadful it is. The Elizabethan executioners often took several blows before the head was finally severed. They might not, Ive gone and read all the books, but somehow they just know what theyre seeing. Shakespeare lived from 1567 to 1616. But Im also thinking that you could easily recognize the country bumpkin from the gentleman by niceties like manners, right? And thats what all the words come down to: is she honest within marriage? Despite the heights achieved during the era, less than 40 years after the death of Elizabeth the country was to descend . So Im wondering what thoughts you might have on that, given that you have looked into the far past, and watched just how quickly these norms change from one generation to the next one. What was life like during the Elizabethan Era? Each class would have their own colours and style of clothes available to wear. BOGAEV: But some things are very different, and one of these towering transgressions in Elizabethan times that no longer apply at all, unless youre meeting the Queen, I suppose, is bowing. So, sirrah suggests that somebody is very servile. Find out whats on, read our latest stories, and learn how you can get involved. There was those bestial behaviors youre talking about, sexually transmitted diseases, personal hygiene. I havent got that bit. I havent got that, and then of course the teacher would have to explain what this word actually meant. Blasphemy: the act of insulting, showing contempt, or lack of reverence for God, to religious, holy person, things, or toward something considered sacred. He wasnt a lord, but he wasnt a laborer in the fields. (Chamberline) The Elizabethan Era was a time of accusations. The Stocks - Multiple Petty Crimes. The most inhuman behaviors were demonstrated at every hour, of every day, throughout this time period. Religion was one of the cornerstones of the Early Modern Period and defined the relationships people had with all aspects of life. Travelling during the Elizabethan era could be dangerous, money was necessary and a license, obtained from the Bailiff in the Guild Hall, was required by anyone who needed to travel around England - it was a crime to travel without a licence. You know? We all have differing behaviors that we exhibit at different times, and of course the manners books tend to concentrate, not just upon elite people, but also upon elite situations, so that we get references scattered across quite a lot of literature, actually, of gentlemen who could probably be very controlled when they need to be, very, very precise and positively prudish, about not wiping their hands in public, et cetera, et cetera, but may have behaved in a rather laxer way in other spaces. Naturally such texts moved around between playwrights who all drew on it. The buildings shared close proximity to each other, allowing for the fire to jump from building to building. There are, particularly when you look within popular literature, when you look within the scurrilous ballads that were sung in the streets and sold on ballad sheets, they cover almost every subject you can think of. BOGAEV: Oh, that puts it in a whole other light. You dont make any movement, any sound, any reference whatsoever to these necessary bodily things. An example of this would be farmers looking to astrologers for advice on weather patterns such as droughts. Author Referencing Information, Alchin, L.K. At the centre was Queen Elizabeth I, 'The Virgin Queen' and the latter part of. God had made everybody for a particular purpose, to fit in a particular, perfect slot within society. Why did Cromwell take up the role of Lord-Protector? supposed to be associated with claims of blasphemy a manuscript supposed to have been written And it doesnt fit almost any of the ideas we have about what involves a bow. Anhistorian of British social and domestic life, she has hosted a number of BBC TV series, including Tudor Monastery Farm. Elizabeth I was born a princess but declared illegitimate through political machinations.. The blackletter rule was clear. The period is often referred to as a 'Golden Age' of history: England became a major European power in politics, exploration, trade and the arts, while Elizabeth I's long rule created stability after the shorter, tumultuous rules of her siblings, Edward VI and Mary I. Things like dont blow your nose in front of other people, and dont mumble, and close the door when you go to the toilet, or, I suppose we should say the privy, and dont let people know what youre doing in there. Its pretty common sense. It sounds like there were so many rules about how to eat. 10 million in 1666; this figure equates to just under 1.65bn in 2021. Explains the various types of crimes committed in the elizabethan era, including treason, blasphemy, murder, and witchcraft. They were open air theatres, and relied on the 'fourth wall' of the audience for interaction. Punishment for poaching crimes differed according to when the crime was committed - Poaching at night resulted in the punishment by death, whereas poaching during the day time did not. There was an increase in trade, leading to merchants becoming common. And Shakespeare and other playwrights of the time, they borrowed so much from the lingo of criminals. The latter half of the 16th century in England is justly called the Elizabethan Age: rarely has the collective life of a whole era been given so distinctively personal a stamp. GOODMAN: Consideration for your fellow diners, so youre supposed to take from the bit thats nearest you, youre not supposed to reach across and grab a bit from the other side. Miss! Works emerging from the Elizabethan Age are read and studied to . Varlet is, it would have less of that behavior, would be more somebody who was more likely to be perhaps drunken and thieving, rather than cunning. And theres nothing more lovely than a good rant. Because if you think about his positionalthough hes laughed at consistently throughout the playhis position is of a very common man whos got official position. Every town parish was responsible for the poor and unemployed within that parish. Well, the biggest change, which perhaps is easiest to describe when you cant actually show someone, is the change from what might be called an English bow into what might be called a French bow. The murder rate in Elizabethan England was about 1 in 10,000; by comparison it is now 1 in 100,000. My Speech Of Insultment Ended On His Dead Body was produced by Richard Paul. BOGAEV: Well, sure, and we still do. If everybodys beautifully behaved, nobody bothers to write it down, do they? Somebodys in trouble for doing it. Folger Shakespeare Library. Charles I couldn't tell his lefts and rights properly. But its funny, by the time I got to the end of the book, I was a little surprised how much that was taboo then is still taboo today. In 1599, the word queen,Q-U-E-E-Nmeant monarch, just like it does today. His wars with the Dutch and his tolerance for Catholics. I think that happens quite a lot. Ruth Goodman is interviewed by Barbara Bogaev. They do not hold back. [LAUGH]. The Elizabethan Era (1558-1603) was a time period which was ruled by Queen Elizabeth I.This was know as the golden age of England. The Elizabethan era began in 1558 when Elizabeth-first became queen. Home to the worlds largest Shakespeare collection, the Folger is dedicated to advancing knowledge and the arts. I didnt know how humanity survived. To push through and create support for the Exclusion Bills. GOODMAN: Exactly. [LAUGH] It was always a big question of mine. PUNISHMENT DURING THE ELIZABETHAN ERA - THE COURTIERSLife in Elizabethan England was chronicled by an Elizabethan called William Harrison - this included details of Elizabethan crime and punishment. Stop procrastinating with our study reminders. It turns up a lot. BOGAEV: Oh, there you go. This podcast episode, My Speech Of Insultment Ended On His Dead Body, was produced by Richard Paul. - Relief was supplied to people in the aftermath of the Civil War. Were leaving the first production of Henry V in 1599. Elizabethan Actors were treated with as much suspicion as beggars. Your reputation was essential if you were going to do any sort of business at all, even the simplest sort of business. PUNISHMENT AND EXECUTIONS - THE LOWER CLASSESPunishment for commoners during the Elizabethan period included the following: Cutting off various items of the anatomy - hands, ears etc, Boiling in oil water or lead (usually reserved for poisoners ), Click here for information regarding full details of. It was described as the 'golden age' of English History. Restored the 1552 English Prayer Book but allowed for two interpretations of Communion; Protestant and Catholic. William Shakespeare influenced this time period massively and incorporated the different gender roles and expectations into his plays. This worked immensely well throughout her reign. Create flashcards in notes completely automatically. You had a fool, and a gull, and clown, and blockhouse. But the biggest, of course, is menstruation. Most people have this image that everybody used a chamber pot and chucked the contents out of the window, and there are court cases of people being prosecuted for chucking the contents of chamber pots out of the window. Elizabeth established a system known as patronage to control her subjects. Elizabeth I took over and was able to introduce an Anglican church. In 1555 the Protestant bishops Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley, and John Hooper . So, basically, people are looking for a public apology. I mean, for me, I think the whole chamber pots out the windows is a perfect example of that. Crime and Punishment in Industrial Britain, Advantages of North and South in Civil War, African Americans in the Revolutionary War, Civil War Military Strategies of North and South, Environmental Effects of The Columbian Exchange, Native Americans in the Revolutionary War. BOGAEV: Money in the bank. And in a world where there is no banking, no insurance companies, every single business dealing was about making a personal judgement on somebodys trustworthiness. Theres no finesse, no elegance to it, its just, bang! So, lets talk about some offensive speech. Surely, thats a very different thing from somebody whos being called a whore.. BOGAEV: Well, obviously, a lot of this is about maintaining class distinctions and maintaining and reinforcing this social hierarchy. BOGAEV: I know this is hard to do on the radio, but [LAUGH] illustrate that for us, in terms of a bow. But because theyre older, these elite boys are required to show deference and respect to older, poorer people. She was balanced and allowed those outside the Church to exist as long as they were peaceful. Interesting Facts and Information about Elizabethan England and Elizabethan Crime and PunishmentSome interesting facts and information about Elizabethan England and Elizabethan Crime and Punishment. Punishment would vary according to class. GOODMAN: No, theyre supposed to be stupid, as far as people in the period considered. Oath Level: Oath: Polite: Truth, Forsooth, In good earnest, La (used mostly by women), 'Pon my honour/faith, By my troth, Pardy, I' faith/In faith, Faith, By this light, By this hand, Trust me, On my conscience . It would seem, from your book. By Thomas Mackay Published 13th . The ones that perhaps we dont use quite so much now, the ones about having body lice and venereal diseases, BOGAEV: What, no ones ever called you a poxy whore? [LAUGHS], GOODMAN: Not in modern Britain. And there is a sort of shade of meanings. They were involved deeply in religion and politics, and were therefore paid properly for their jobs. And you could make her seem bad by suggesting that she had stepped outside of it. She was the last ruler of the Tudor period, and was followed by James I and the beginning of the Stuarts period. You have a lot of room to express yourself within that. BOGAEV: And it sounded like drying your hands in the presence of other diners or anyone else was almost as taboo as dropping trou. Its actually quite a clean and innocent phrase. What was different about the Elizabethan Era compared to others? Declared Elizabeth the Supreme Governor of the Church of England with the Oath of Supremacy. Because of these court records, because of the ballads you looked at, because theres a paper trail. GOODMAN: I know. The punishment by beheading therefore even continued after 'death'. Youre not supposed to cherry-pick. He was a knave.. We hope well see you here. How many illegitimate children did Charles II have? The word honesty really only referred to this central core that people were interested in about women, which is, Do I know where the babys come from? Thats really what it comes down to, isnt it?