The Poor Relief Act of 1597, enacted in England, formalized the role of parish officials known as overseers of the poor, enhancing the local administration of poor relief. This legislation marked a significant shift in the approach to social welfare, as it aimed to provide structured support for the impoverished. By establishing a system of oversight, the Act sought to address the growing social issues of poverty and unemployment during a time of economic change.

The Poor Relief Act of 1597 created a parish bureaucracy that informed the social world of Shakespeare's England. This context influenced comic and satirical writing, as poets began to address themes of rank, dependency, and the complexities of social class in their works.