ROGUES AND VAGABONDS

There was no unemployment in Elizabeth’s time – nor was there any sick benefit.  Also there was no pensions for the old. Every one had to either work or starve. Many people took to the streets because of the lack of work. They were tramps and Often begged for food. Tudors called them vagabonds. It grew worse during the sixteenth century. Henry the V11 closed the monasteries that looked after the poor. There were lots of them, each with special names.

       The “angler” spent his time begging around a rich town with a long wooden staff.  He fixed a hook to his staff and stole clothes that were hung out on washing lines. The” clapperdudgeon” tied rags to his skin and put salt on himself to make himself bleed.

                                         BEGGARS SLANG    

Autem-church.

High-pad-highway                        

Bene-good.

Booze-drink.    

Boozing ken-alehouse.

Bit-coin/money.

Cony-victim

Beak-magistrate

Bring a waste!-get out of here!

                               

Special names-continued.

Counterfeit crank- dressed in old clothes pretended to have epilepsy. He sucked on a bar of soap so it would look like he was foaming at the mouth and faked fits when someone came past.