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Superstition In The Elizabethan Era

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“To the poor in body and mind superstition is a treasured element in the poetry of life, gilding dull days with exciting marvels and redeeming misery with magic powers and mystic hopes”(Durant 162). Superstition was more than just a concept to the poor; it fueled their daily lives with excitement and gave them hope even in their darkest days. Many lives were affected by superstition in the Elizabethan Era, not only the poor peasants in the cities but even the highest of royalty. In the Elizabethan Era, the poor were in such despair that they would believe almost anything to give them hope. With this, many different superstitions were beginning to emerge into existence. One of the most popular daily beliefs was that it was believed that …show more content…

An example of this was for the Bubonic Plague, people were treated by lancing the buboes and applying a warm poultice of butter, onion, and garlic. Tobacco, arsenic, lily root, and dried tomato were also tried as medicines (Siteseen Ltd.). Some more common illnesses like head pains, were treated with sweet-smelling herbs like roses and lavenders to calm the pain (Siteseen Ltd.). Stomach pains were treated with mint and wormwood (Siteseen Ltd.). Lung problems were treated with liquorice and comfrey (Siteseen Ltd.). Also to clean wounds, vinegar was used because it was believed to kill the diseases (Siteseen Ltd.). For the treatment of common illnesses in the Elizabethan Era, people would use everyday items because almost everyone could afford it and it was easy to obtain. One of the most impractical treatments was in 1777; a doctor assigned the elector of Bavaria to swallow a small picture of Virgin Mary to get rid of his smallpox (Partworks). Even the top classmen were treated with ridiculous remedies because they believed what the doctors said, but even they didn't have great knowledge over sicknesses at the time. With the introduction to superstition, and it becoming so popular with everyone in the cities, people started creating reasons for why such devastating events were

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The Elizabethan Era had many rules and laws, so many that sometimes they were hard to keep track of. The capital offenses included robbery, larceny/theft, rape, and arson (Harrison). The more frequently committed crimes included theft, begging, cutpurses, adultery, debtors, poaching, forgery, fraud, and dice-cogging (Elizabethan Crime). In a desperate effort to control how the less fortunate and homeless behaved, Parliament passed the Poor Laws, which made it illegal to beg for food and money (Harrison). These laws went so far as to make it illegal to live on the streets (Crime and Punishment).

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Some believed the plague was caused by miasmas (bad air) or poisonous vapors associated with decomposition and foul air. Some people resorted to burning incense or other herbs because they believed that the overpowering smell of the dead victims was the source of the disease. Public officials took measures to contain the disease through quarantine by walling up homes that had members with disease. This action had limited success, but still prevented the disease more than in other areas which did not enforce this type of

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During the Elizabethan times, superstitions and folk tales were very popular and were spread all throughout England, and impacted almost everything. Life, sickness, and many beliefs were affected by superstitions that branched from other ideas. For example, astrology and medicine helped construct many of these beliefs. In some ways the church also had an impact because church affected how the common people reacted to these ideas. A religious church man would talk down upon superstitions opposed to an individual who is open minded to the ideas.

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