again more predominantly among the
rich, was reading. Levels of literacy – and,
indeed, methods of accurately measuring
literacy – in early modern England remain
disputed, yet a rough estimate suggests
that by 1603 about 30 per cent of men and
10 per cent of women were literate. Of
course, these figures mask massive
geographical and class variations: literacy
was more widespread in the south, and
more prevalent higher up the social scale- it would be difficult to find an illiterate
gentleman in 1603, but not much easier to
find literate agricultural labourers.
Flourishing print culture
What is obvious is that a flourishing print
culture developed, catering for a wide range
of potential readers. The new demands that
the Reformation placed on the individual
believer meant that religious works found
a ready readership, but other forms of
publication aimed at a wider readership
also developed, admittedly frequently with
a godly slant. The first pamphlet describing
a witch trial was published in 1566, and the
first describing a murder case appeared at
about the same time; soon a genre emerged
describing such events, along with mon-
strous births, dramatic storms, the progress
of comets, accounts of giant fish washed up
on England’s beaches and elsewhere, anda whole gamut of natural disasters. Readers
could also enjoy poetry written by English
authors or (if monoglot) from other
languages in translation, and those attracted
to a more popular poetic form could turn to
printed ballads. Clearly, literacy had many
purposes, not least recreation.
Life for many Elizabethans was hard, and
for most of them uncertain. But for the
majority of people culture was characterised
by a range of leisure-time activities, pastimes
and communal celebrations that offered
them enjoyment in a variety of forms:
dancing, making music, reading, watching
or being involved in accession day ceremo-
nies, or joining the audience at The Globe to
enjoy one of Shakespeare’s plays.ALAMYBOOKS
The Rise and Fall of Merry England:
The Ritual Year 1400–1700 by Ronald
Hutton (Oxford University Press, 1994)
Playgoing in Shakespeare’s London
by Andrew Gurr (Cambridge University
Press, 1987)DISCOVER MOREJames Sharpe is professor emeritus of early
modern history at the University of York.
His books include Early Modern England:
A Social History 1550-1760 (Edward Arnold,
2nd edn 1997)A new genre
of pamphlets
described witch
trials, monstrous
births, dramatic
storms and giant
fish washed up on
England’s beaches
A coloured woodcut of 1592
shows school pupils learning
reading, calculating and
singing. Wealthy Elizabethan
families employed tutors to
nurture the musical skills of
adults and children alikeA pamphlet describing a witch trial – that
of Mother Agnes Waterhouse, who was
convicted and hanged – published in
1566, the first of a popular new genreElizabethan lives / Entertainment and pastimes