eliz 5 Flashcards
what did elizabethans believe witched could do ?
Perform magic to cure illness, control the actions of others, or recover stolen goods
what was the 1563 law against witchcraft?
death by hanging for using witchcraft to kill and prison for damage to property
what were the reasons for the persecution of witches ?
- tension between villagers
lots of unexplained things happened - attacks on women
90% accused were women - Puritans
they encouraged persecution to remove magical beliefs
how did theatres become more popular ?
when the government began arresting actors as vagrants they formed theatre companies and the companies built theatres to perform plays
why did puritan minsters oppse against theatres ?
because plays encouraged unholy behaviour and distracted ordinary people from prayer and bible reading
why did the london authorities oppose against theatres ?
because they feared crowds of spectators would spread the plague or commit crimes
did the queen support the theatres?
yes she enjoyed the theatre and invited shakespeare to perform at the royal court
did ordinary people support the theatres ?
yes they loved it because it provided cheap entertainment
features of a theatre
the galleries - covered raised areas of seating, entry was 6p
the yard - was where the poor known as groundlings stood to watch plays, entry was 1p
the stage - was raised and jutted out into centre of theatre
what did some people belive about witches?
that their power came from their relationship with the devil and they had familiars : small animals like cats that assisted with their evil acts
what happened to popular pastimes ?
they declined
parish ales stopped in many areas
ale houses closed
maypoles were pulled down
why did popular pastimes decline ?
because of puritan ministers who wanted people to live purer christian lives
how did puritans clamp down on popular pastimes ?
by preaching sermons attacking festivities such as parish ales
persuaded justices of the peace to ban maypoles and introduce licences for selling ale
what drove puritan minister to attack popular pastimes ?
- protecting the sabbath
- stopping pagan practices
- preventing violent disorder
- preventing sex outside of marriage
what was the myth ‘merry england’ ?
people in britain looked back with nostalgia on the elizabethan period
