The Elizabethan Underworld (1977)

The Elizabethan world, so often recalled for its riotous love of life and bawdy sense of humour, was also a world of contrasts. The rich appeared enormously rich, indulging in extravagant luxuries, while the poor often languished in unthinkable squalour, turning to thievery and begging in order to survive. It is this complex network of beggars and thieves, vagabonds and rogues that inhabited the colourful underworld society of London's taverns, brothels and gambling dens that Salgado here investigates. Alongside these were those who sought their victims at the country fair and along treacherous highways. Gamini Salgado also describes those others who were part of the underworld scene; strolling players and minstrels, witches, alchemists and astrologers. He also examines the measures taken against those who were seen to be in need of correction of reform. The book contains sixty contemporary illustrations from manuscripts and pamphlets, bringing to life this fascinating sector of Elizabethan society.