Stability:
3. Poor Act of 1597, 1st time offenders where whipped + sent back to Parish of birth (repeat offenders were executed) - LAID FOUNDATIONS FOR THE POOR LAW FOR THE NEXT 250 YEARS
Elizabeth ensured a minimum level of subsistence for the deserving poor (a legislative achievement that remained largely intact until 1834)
Instability:
- harvest failures caused food shortages in the mid-1550's & 1590's (Plague also affected London badly in 1563, resulting in the death of 20% of city's population) 1. smallpox epidemic of 1562 almost killed the Queen
- widespread Vagabondage+ Cecil worried its effect on law & order (increased due to trade embargos on wool in 1563-4, 1568-73 & 1580's)
1. Poor Act of 1572, established the principal that local ratepayers were required to pay for poor relief (added branding to the range of punishments) - HARSHEST LAW OF HER REIGN (ear-boring + exectution was not removed until 1593)
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