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Burghley's Almshouse - End of Topic - Coggle Diagram
Burghley's Almshouse - End of Topic
William Cecil
Had roles as:
Secretary of the State
Master of the Court of Wards.
Lord Treasurer.
Cecil was made Lord Burghley in 1571.
Cecil was regarded as a hardworking and dutiful individual; his loyalty to the Queen was peerless. He was also known to be a wealthy noble who was born into the gentry class.
As a result of his duty, Cecil received:
Large amounts of land through the patronage system.
He also obtained money from fees and payments due to his position as Master of the Court of Wards.
Cecil wished to bolster a reputable legacy and did so by ensuring that his children and grandchildren behaved in an appropriate manner.
Rules:
13 men with 5 chosen by Cecil and some chosen by the Vicar of St. Martins church.
All members had to be over 30 and local, living in a 7 mile proximity for 7 years.
Members had to be "honest Christians", having to recite the Lord's Prayer and Apostle's Creed to the Vicar of St. Martin every Sunday.
No "idle poor", fraudsters, drunkards or thieves.
No gambling or playing cards.
Failure to attend church would cost the individual 6d out of their weekly wage.
Men were payed every Sunday after evening prayers.
Lasting Legacy
Burghley's almshouse was in very close proximity to his own home, this was conducive to the establishment of a social presence for Cecil.
The men at Burghley's almshouse would be adorned in blue robes synonymous with those worn by Burghley's servants.
Other founders include:
Robert Dudley
John Whitgift
John Hawkins
Burghley's almshouse kept historical records.
Religion
Build where a medieval hospital once stood. The almshouse stood for the same charitable principles as medieval monasteries.
Some of the 13 members were chosen by the Vicar of St. Martin.
The almshouse stood opposite St. Mary's Church.
Ordinances required men to learn the 10 commandments, the Lord's Prayer and Apostle's Creed. The men has to attend church 3 times a week and there fines for failure to attend.
Changing Attitudes
There was a series of bad harvests from 1594-97.
Burghley was heavily involved with certain policies concerning poverty, he was responsible for the 1586 Book of Orders. He was also responsible for hearing appeals from JPs.
William Harrison's "Description of England" was very telling of the changing attitudes towards the poor during this time; embracing concepts regarding the "deserving poor". Harrison estimated that there were 10,000 'vagrants' roaming England at this time.
The increase in 'vagrants' punished per year increased from 69 to 209 from 1560 to 1579.
Some of the rules that Burghley outlines for his almshouse were through the Royal Printer and distributed so that they could be looked upon by the public.