overty to worsen as starvation struck in the countryside. There were also major economic fluctuations, wages had fallen to the "lowest point in the years around 1630" this was mainly due to the growing population causing the "supply of labour to be greater than the demand."
             Consequently, the increase in population caused many problems of the poor, as there was an increase in competition for jobs. One job that had a guaranteed escape from the poverty trap was working in a position of direct dependency, living and working in households of masters. This was popular as it "safeguarded young workers against rising prices, since they received board, lodgings and clothing from masters, as well as a token wage." However, this system was not stable, many people broke contracts, quarrelled, and neglected their duties. Female servants were open to rape from male members of the household, which resulted in being dismissed. Gradually, many nobles and gentry did "reduce the size of their households, whether as a voluntary measure of economy or because of the statutes limiting numbers of retainers." Thus not only was the population rising but also the amounts of jobs available to end the poverty cycle were decreasing.
             Another problem of the poor in Tudor England was the reformation, which caused the dissolution of the monasteries, charities, the religious guilds and fraternities in the 1530's and 1540's radically reducing existing sources of charity. The institution of monastic charity had evolved over many centuries, by the early sixteenth cent
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