The Tudor Poor Laws: How England Outlawed Poverty

Before Elizabeth I's famous Poor Law of 1601, England struggled with a surge of vagrancy and poverty after the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This episode explores the brutal crackdowns under Henry VIII—whipping posts, ear cropping, and even execution for repeat beggars—and the gradual shift toward a national welfare system. We look at the 1531 Act for the Punishment of Sturdy Vagabonds, the 1536 Parish Collections, and the 1572 Vagabonds Act that introduced compulsory poor rates. Lucas and Luna discuss the distinction between the 'deserving' and 'undeserving' poor, the role of justices of the peace, and how the system evolved into the Elizabethan Poor Law that lasted 250 years. A story of fear, compassion, and the birth of social policy. #TudorPoorLaws #ElizabethanPoorLaw #HenryVIII #VagabondsAct #PoorRelief #SturdyVagabonds #Dissolution #EdmundDudley #WilliamLambarde #TudorEngland #JusticeOfThePeace #ParishCollections #HousesOfCorrection #Poverty #SocialPolicy #BritishHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo