The Social Order of Elizabethan Society England experienced great change during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

As the economy shifted toward industry and the population dramatically increased, many changes occurred in society. A powerful, independent character, Elizabeth addressed the problems of this evolving society, worked to improve the economy, helped the poor, and encouraged new industry. Social order of Elizabethan society was largely changed and influenced by Queen Elizabeth and her court. At the very top of the social ladder were the nobility. The royalty should by no means be confused with the nobles, as they occupied a separate class of their own. Birth and blood were the determining factors here, as many nobles came from old houses and took great pride in their ancestry (Sommerville). Considered superior in rank, nobles were not necessarily the wealthiest members of society as compared to members of the affluent gentry, but were viewed as the most powerful, recognized, and respected people in England (Moreno). Financial burdens were heavy on noble families, as they were expected, by tradition, to maintain large households and well-kept grounds (Lace 41). This expectation came with a high price: the rich were, by no means, idle. The nobles were expected to play an active role in their government and community, but were not actually paid for taking honorary offices (Ross). Despite their esteemed status, the nobility were not exempt from paying taxes; and frivolousness and lavish parties were not always reflective of the actual amount of money a noble had (Sommerville). Expenses for such luxuries sometimes exceeded those of the houses incomes (Ross). Queen Elizabeth herself made a particular habit of traveling across her realm, stopping at various nobles estates with her entourage of advisers, courtiers, and maids of honor (Dersin 57). Hosting the queen was by far the most honorable- and expensive expectation of a noble family, even

driving some into bankruptcy (Ross). Thus, Queen Elizabeth was able to cover the expenses of her entire entourage and meet with her subjects (Ross). The rank of a nobleman, or any upperclass wealthy man, was therefore a highly exclusive one; the number of nobles and gentry combined amounted to about two percent of Englands people (Hinds 32). The gentry of Elizabethan society were those people related to nobles but not in the direct line of inheritance (Secara). Only the eldest boy would traditionally succeed the father of the house, and then become a noble. The other boys, after reaching adulthood, would be considered mere gentlemen or gentles (Sommerville). However, gentle status could be attained through high education, which often required considerable wealth, or simply living the extravagant life of a gentle for several generations (Sommerville). George Herbert, who lived in England during the reign of Elizabeth I, stated that Gentility is nothing but ancient riches (Sommmerville). The gentry of England were not that different from the nobility as compared to those in other European countries like France, but the lifestyle of a gentleman was still very different from that of a noble (Sommerville). One could label the gentry as the upper class, but certainly not as powerful, influential, or respected as the nobility. The order of persons (excluding royalty) in the English court from most esteemed to least goes: duke/duchess, marquis/marchioness, earl/countess, viscount/viscountess, baron/baroness, and knight/knights lady (Secara). The titled peers were those with at least the rank of baron (Secara). 57 such gentlemen were present in court at the time Elizabeth came to power (Hinds 32). Those with or without title in the gentry who owned lands and estates were also welcome in Elizabeths court (Hinds 32). In fact, Queen Elizabeth elevated 18 such gentlemen to the noble status out of gratitude (Hinds 32). The rank of baronet at the time was one of false creation by James I, used to make a profit: the rank was sold to a certain number of gentlemen who met requirements that included considerable wealth and a

large estate (Secara). With the rank of baronet, ones son was guaranteed knighthood at the age of 21 (Sommerville). Knights, below baronets, were often granted the title by the monarch in the case of exceptional service to the crown in battle or otherwise (Sommerville). The famous explorer Francis Drake was knighted by Elizabeth for his accomplishments, which included finding new routes by sea and boosting national prestige (Hinds 40). As the upper class expanded following Englands increasing prosperity and industry, a new class emerged. The businessmen of the Elizabethan Era, merchants reaped huge profits and were elevated into a class all their own (Ross). Economist John Maynard Keynes observed, Never in the annals of the modern world has there existed so prolonged and so rich an opportunity for the business man (Lace 25). Merchants were an odd exception to the traditional rank-by-birth rule of Elizabethan society, as some were very wealthy, influential members of society (Lace 26). Comparable in status to the gentry and the yeomanry (the middle class), merchants and citizens often purchased lands and married gentle women, or ladies (Sommerville). The most elite members of the new merchant class included international businessmen who resided in the city of London (Sommerville). By importing valuable wares from Europe and even Asia, these merchants were able to support a life of luxury. Commoners, however unfavorably looked upon by the upper-class, were not denied the opportunities presented by trade and emerging industry (Sommerville). By exploiting new business tactics like lending money at interest and investing in other lands and industries, businessmen could overcome the social constraints limiting the lowerto-middle class (Sommerville). One businessman who succeeded this way was Thomas Sutton. A coal magnate, Sutton was purported to be the wealthiest commoner in England in the year 1611 (Sommerville). The emergence of industry was the result of a dramatic shift in Englands economy during the Elizabethan era. The funding of the Royal Exchange, essentially Englands

stock market, encouraged a transition away from agriculture to industry- especially the cloth industry (Moreno). A modernization of trade occurred when bartering was discouraged and a legitimate market for goods was established (Moreno). Goods were still not mass produced, but many more were hand-made and sold than ever before (Moreno). The primary focus of industry during Elizabeths rule shifted to sheep: in particular cloth and clothing made from wool (Ross). At the beginning of Elizabeths rule in 1588, it was estimated that sheep outnumbered people (Moreno). Wool provided a huge number of people with a means of living, as expressed by this inscription on a wool church: I thank God and ever shall, it was the sheep that payed for all (Ross). The lower merchant class, including anyone who sold anothers goods, was also composed of yeomanry. The yeomanry represented the middle class in Elizabethan society, neither exceptionally rich nor poor, but rather in-between in wealth and status (Moreno). Some were prosperous farmers who owned reasonably large tracts of land about 50 acres in size (Sommerville). Part of the reason why the yeomen were deemed too low to fit in with the gentry was because much manual labor was performed by them (Sommerville). Such work was not characteristic of a gentleman and would otherwise insult his dignity. To qualify as a yeoman and therefore a voter in county and Parliament elections, one had to own freehold property (in which every part of the land belongs to that person for an indefinite period of time) worth at least 40 shillings (Sommerville). The nickname forty-shilling freeholders was given to the yeomen for this reason (Sommerville). Yeomen were also given the privilege of participating in the government by serving on juries and grand juries, and were obliged to serve in their local militias (Sommerville). Other information concerning the yeomanry includes the high appeal of religion among them, as compared to the nobility and gentry (Moreno). Despite obvious class differences

between the gentry and the yeomanry, it was not impossible for the yeomen to move up (or down) in society over the course several generations (Lace 43). The ability of many yeomen to send their children (in particular boys, Elizabethan society was still very sexist) to school and universities, as described by William Harrison, enabled some to practice medicine, law, and religion as doctors, lawyers, clergy, or educators (Halsall). However, obtaining a degree in such a field was difficult and costly, so the sons of many yeomen were apprenticed to a trade (Sommerville). Most were trained to be craftsmen or mechanicals- people who work as butchers, bakers, tailors, weavers, blacksmiths, carpenters, etc. (Moreno). However, as people left the countryside for towns due to changes in agriculture and better job opportunities, the lower class suffered and increased rapidly in number. Poor was a general term given not only to those who could not support themselves, but to the ill, disabled, and wounded (Moreno). Such people were considered to be at the bottom of the social ladder. The huge increase in population during the 1500s on top of mounting economic problems like inflation and wage caps caused a crisis which prompted measures from the government (Briscoe). While the poor were previously assisted by the church, the government took matters into its own hands after the poor became overwhelming in number and exhibited dangerous behavior (Moreno). Queen Elizabeth I enacted what would essentially be the first formal welfare program, which was incorporated into the Poor Laws: the governments plan to help reduce poverty (Moreno). Responsibility for the less privileged was shifted to communities, and the poor were categorized into deserving and undeserving groups (Briscoe). Ultimately, the Poor Laws would support the sick, give work to the unemployed, and grant apprenticeship to children of age (Moreno). Elizabeth and her court also helped to decrease the problem of inflation by replacing coins debased by Henry VIII with entirely new ones (Briscoe). Shifts in

agriculture also occurred. Unfortunately, poor harvests of the 1590s left many people struggling to pay for overpriced food or starving (Briscoe). The process of land enclosure dramatically changed the landscape: peasant farmers were evicted in order to create bigger plots that reaped higher profits (Lace 36). The popularity of sheep for the cloth industry worked to further reduce the amount of space left for lower-class farmers (Briscoe). The eviction of thousands of the poor from the countryside created a problem in towns. Vagrants and beggars overran cities like London and presented threats to health and security, but were put to work or punished accordingly after the passing of the Poor Laws (Briscoe). The enlightened approach used by the City of London included houses of correction, in which vagrants and criminals were kept off the streets and assigned useful jobs, becoming re-integrated into society (Briscoe). The lower class changed dramatically during the Elizabethan Era and was positively influenced by Queen Elizabeths measures to address poverty. Much of the division of Elizabethan society can still be seen today in England and the United States, keeping in mind that many of our ancestors also came from Europe. The exclusive nature of the rich, the larger numbers of the middle-class, and the condition of the poor (welfare is often provided and the community helps to assist the underprivileged) can still be seen today. The sudden boost in industry, especially during the second half of the 1500s (the time of Elizabeths rule), is also seen in the rapid advancement of modern technology and expansion into more areas of work. Queen Elizabeth played a significant role in reforming society during the Elizabethan Age.