Essay On Crimes In The Elizabethan Era

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"During the Elizabethan era, crimes of treason and offenses against the state were treated with the same severity that murder is today” (Beyer 1). Some crimes in the Elizabethan era wouldn’t even be considered crimes today. Punishments were extreme. Minor crimes such as begging would result in public beating until they ran to the town’s border. If any simple crimes were repeated they would be sent to jail, or possibly hung. On the other hand, those who committed extreme crimes wouldn’t be considered for jail. Depending on what time the activity was committed, it could be considered a crime. “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.” (“Elizabethan Crime and Punishment” 1) . Elizabethans would cautiously watch their activities, as they knew any simple wrongdoing could be considered for capital punishment. Any
For example, it was illegal to travel and act without having a proper license. “People did not travel around a lot during the Elizabethan era. 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.” ( “Elizabethan Crime and Punishment” 1). This was done in order to ensure that the spread of diseases and plagues were limited as much as possible, and the poor couldn’t travel for free. Actors were treated just as similarly as beggars. “ Anyone who needed to travel to earn their living, such as actors, were treated with suspicion and could be expected to be accused of crimes. An actors standing in Elizabethan England was only slightly higher than a beggar or a thief.” ( “Elizabethan Crime and Punishment” 1). Eventually, people realized acting was a skill, and acting wasn’t looked so

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