Lifestyles of Rich and Poor

Rich Lifestyles in the Elizabethan Age

Nobility and wealthy merchants made up the rich in Elizabethan England. They often lived in large, comfortable houses in the city or country estates.
Income sources were various, including rents from landownership, trade profits, court positions, and allowances from the Crown.
Rich Elizabethans had a wide variety of foods available, with meat, fish, dairy, and a range of fruits and vegetables.
Entertainment was vast and included music, theatre, gambling, falconry, and attending the Court. They would also host lavish parties and feasts.
Many rich Elizabethans were patrons of the arts, sponsoring playwrights, musicians, and artists.
The rich were expected to display their wealth through extravagant clothing, made of expensive materials like silk and velvet, often adorned with jewels.
They had access to education, which was usually provided by private tutors. Education included Latin, Greek, history, mathematics, and etiquette.

The poor included labourers, servants, and vagrants. Many lived in small, cramped houses, or had no home at all.
They had limited income resources, often made from low paying jobs or begging on the streets.
Their diet was far less varied than the rich. It was often dominated by bread, cheese, and vegetables, with meat being a rare luxury.
Their options for leisure activities were limited. They involved simple games, storytelling, and occasional visits to public plays.
Clothing for the poor was functional, made from cheap materials like wool or leather, and usually handed down or mended until it could no longer be used.
Only a small fraction of poor Elizabethans were literate, and formal education was pretty much non-existent among the lower classes.
The Poor Laws of 1597 and 1601 were introduced to help deal with poverty. Local parishes were made responsible for looking after their poor, funded by a local tax.