What was a cutpurse and what happens to them at the theater?

A cutpurse is a person who steals by cutting open someone's purse or pocket and removing the contents. Cutpurses were common in the Elizabethan era, when people often carried their money and other valuables in purses or pouches that were tied to their belts or hung from their necks.

At the theater, cutpurses would often target people who were distracted by the performance. They would sneak up behind their victims and use a sharp knife or scissors to cut open their purses or pockets. The cutpurses would then quickly grab the victim's belongings and disappear into the crowd.

If a cutpurse was caught red-handed, they would be punished severely. They might be whipped, imprisoned, or even hanged. In some cases, cutpurses would have their ears cut off as a punishment.