Here's a breakdown of their activities:
* Target Audience: Cutpurses primarily targeted wealthy individuals or those who carried large amounts of cash. Crowded areas like marketplaces, theaters, and taverns were their hunting grounds.
* Tactics: They often worked in pairs or groups, with one distracting the victim while the other stole their belongings. They were known for their nimbleness and speed, making it difficult for victims to react quickly.
* Items Stolen: They would steal anything of value: coins, jewels, watches, and even handkerchiefs.
* Social Standing: Cutpurses were considered criminals and were often punished harshly for their actions. They were often associated with vagrancy and poverty, and were generally looked down upon by society.
Cutpurses in Shakespeare's Works:
Cutpurses appear in several of Shakespeare's plays, often as comic relief characters. They are depicted as cunning and resourceful, but also as deceitful and morally ambiguous. Some notable examples include:
* Autolycus: In "The Winter's Tale," Autolycus is a cunning cutpurse who steals and sells stolen goods.
* Pistol: In "Henry V," Pistol is a soldier who resorts to thievery when he is out of money.
* Falstaff: In "Henry IV, Part 1," Falstaff is a comedic character who often engages in petty theft.
Cutpurses were a significant part of life in Shakespeare's time, and their presence is reflected in his plays. Their activities provided both entertainment and a glimpse into the realities of crime and poverty in Elizabethan England.