In the Elizabethan era (1558-1603), there were lots of crimes which are recognisable today, like murder and theft. But the Elizabethans also prosecuted certain activities which are no longer viewed as criminal in many modern countries. Witchcraft, for instance, was a major crime in the sixteenth century in which a person was accused of being in league with the devil. It was also a crime to commit suicide and to commit treason against the state.
In terms of economic crimes, the Elizabethans prosecuted people who clipped coins (to make new ones) and those who begged, a common activity among poor people.
The Elizabethans also prosecuted a wide number of sexual offences, like buggery, adultery and incest.
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