Everyday Life [Required]
Applicants must demonstrate a knowledge of everyday occurrences in the life of their persona, hobbies, pastimes, religious observances, household duties, meal planning, entertainment, accommodations for visiting dignitaries, community obligations and other personal duties/needs of their persona.
This is the daily life of Christiana when they settled in between Hall and Beverley and includes the history of John before he died of a hunting accident, and afterwards. Because the daily life is so inter active with other chapters in this documentation, which are persona, skills, and habitat, this is a general briefing of Christiana in her later life.
A Typical Day in the Life of Christiana
(Beverley, Yorkshire, England)
There is usually two major seasons in England that would reflect the time and what is to be done for the daily routines of Christiana’s life.
Summer (late spring to early fall)
Christiana would usually awake from her bed in her bedchamber when the sunlight of the day began peeping through the windows. Stretching, and sometimes even rubbing herself, maybe on the leg or arm, as she has dried skin, and usually seeing her sheltie laying at the foot of the bed, she would began to arise.
Her ladies servant also known as mistress of the wardrobe would lay out the days wear for the day, depending on what was to be happening, but usually it would be proper attire for one that would had to travel to her husband’s place of business, and to do the days work that laid ahead of her when her husband was a live. After the death of her last husband the routine changed very little Only on Sunday she would have her very best laid out as this is the day that she would have to go to the Minister of Beverley to say her prayers, and even to speak with the minister, if needed. The manor laid north of Hall about half way between Hall and Beverley. The Ministry of Beverley lies in the south of Beverley
It is well known that most did not bathe for at least once a year, but Christiana did like her pampering and would usually have a warm water bath prepared by her servant at least once a month if not sooner, but this was usually done at the end of the day, before Christiana slipped into a fresh smock for the night. The smock was also consider a nightgowns and usually had crewel a form of embroidery around the collar, and on the cuffs of the sleeves, usually done in black thread.
After waking up, and moving her body off the feather tick, which was rested on a rope bed, framed with carved oak panels, and carved oak panel headboard and rails, including the four post, that help to support a canopy, with the whole of the bed on a raised platform Christiana placed her feet upon the hand woven carpet from the middle east that was place on hand hewn 12 inch wide oak plank floor before standing up. One of the servants from downstairs would had place coal from the coal storage room just off the kitchen into a coal pail and brought it upstairs and would use some of it for a fire in the fireplace to generate heat for the room just before she awoke and in preparation of Christiana making herself ready for the day.
The fireplace would occupy one wall and be adorned with stone carving and a brick interior, along with the hearthstone and a mantel made of stone, which were heavy decorated. To prevent the coal from generating too much heat was placed a cast metal fore back with the family device cast into the metal was use to prevent the heat from damaging the brick. Sometimes wood would be used for heating when the morning or evening were only cool and placed on the fire dogs, but the fire back always remained, and continued to serve its job.
The bedchamber was laid out with the bed being placed on the opposite wall from the fireplace, and there would be a table along with a few chairs placed between the bed and the fireplace. At the two sides of the bed would be imported carpets, to help keep Christiana feet warm, and there was a tapestry hung that prevent drafts from coming in. It was completed with oak paneling hand carved and fitted, along with a plaster ceiling. To assent the bedroom furniture were chests that had carved panels of linen fold and with trim on the end panels, which served the function for storage for clothing and her personal items.
The first articles of clothing would be a fresh, and usually hand embrocate smock, a parlet usually made of lawn, also know as fine linen, and it also served to protect the dinner plate size ruff usually made of white lawn that would be embellished with pearls and bordering of lace. The lady’s servant would every night carefully take out the pearl pins from the ruff, and carefully hand wash the material and let it dry before re-starching it and set it with the pearl pins ready for the next day wear. After the ruff was completely dry and set, it would be placed into a wooden box that help to protect the ruff from been crushed or made dirty, until it was ready to wear. These boxes are known as ruff boxes and can be very decorated. Christiana had three of these boxes, and was looking forward to a new ruff to bring her fashion up to date, but had to wait awhile as clothing was expensive and can cost up to a year wages for the average individual, but with the wealthy merchant it could take up to a month if not more before one could afford the luxury of owning the current trend. Afterwards, Christiana would put on the petticoat, and the Spanish flaringale and a rowle before placing on the kirtle, usually made of a brocade type material, and two bodies to give Christiana shape that was so common for wealthy woman in the Elizabethan era.
The next part of dressing was the placing of separate sleeves that ties to the two bodies and than the over gown, before Christiana was ready to leave the bedchamber, but before doing so would put on her shoes, and a coif a form of a hat. For special events and church she would wear a French hood that was embellished with a pearl edge. Christiana would not put on any makeup on at this time, but would make her way down to the servant’s hall where she would give the reeve of the household her instructions of what must be done other than the usual daily chores. The reeve known, as Kasper and the other servants that form the staff would be sitting at the table in the servant’s hall just off the kitchen, where they would be eating breakfast, before Christiana came to give the daily instructions. Kasper would receive her orders than assign the duties to the other servants per their occupation after she had left. Some servants had specific jobs while other had a multiple jobs that had to be done, while Christiana’s lady’s servant would attend to the daily cleaning and laundry chores of the bedchambers. From there she would have one of the servants prepare a horse from the stable for Christiana’s trip to town.
Christiana would than proceed to the dining room where breakfast would be ready for her consumption, which would have usually For Tarts owte of Lent or sometimes Nourroys Pie, or Fricasie of Eggs, and cheat a form of dark bread and some water drawn from the well so as to be cold or cider from the still. Other people would drink milk, but she could not digest the milk and it would always give her stomach cramps. (This is also true with me in mundane life about milk) After breakfast she would complete her dressing and place on her makeup, usually made of white lead to lighten her completion. Christiana’s hair was long, but it would be braided, and tie up in a bun and placed under the coif, and on Sundays a French hood.
After breakfast, she would place on a wool cloak trimmed with lace and braiding and would have the ruff attached to the partlet or tie at her neck, because she was always worry about soiling it when she ate breakfast. Christiana was not much on jewelry, but she did wear a ring presented to her by her husband John, which she always cherished and a neck chain containing a jewel, a heart shaped precious stone, presented to her from her father when she was in her late teens as a Christmas gift.
Stepping into the stirrups and placing herself on the saddle she would leave for the office of her husband. With a command and a gentle movement of the reins the two went off down the narrow roadway, into town.
John would leave by horseback shortly after Christiana has awakened, but before she had given the daily chores to the servants. It was John’s job to make sure the staff was during their daily duties at about a half an hour after sunrise and recorded their names into his ledger but after John’s death it became the responsibility of Christiana. It was John’s duties to make the payroll every month for payment to the employees, which usually taken place on a Saturday. Saturdays John would close the business operation early so that he could attend to his leisure needs before coming home. Christiana would arrive about an hour later to begin her work on workdays and leave about an hour early on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday so as to stop by the local producers usually meeting with the Kasper to discuss the menu for dinner to be serve later that evening and shop the local markets for her necessities that she required. There was very little to do to keep food from spoiling and as a result, most food was purchase or harvested fresh, unless it was to be made into preserves. The markets abound with the sights of fresh meat, grains, poultry, fish and fruit. Each narrow street being named after the product it sold. One street was so narrow, and the floors of the houses cantilevering over the other that there was very little light that made its way to the street. If one were to open the window on the third storey, it was possible to reach across and touch the other.
First stop for Christiana was the general stables near the docks in Hull, a natural deep water port, where the horse would be cared for by the town fairer, and from here she would walk a couple of blocks to her husband’s business of importing and exporting of fabric. Christiana job was basically to do the inventory control, and handle the sales of textile goods to the clients, of which one of the customers was of court, as they were always trying to do one better. Christiana would be about a decade behind those of the court in style, and this is primary do to the apparel law that was passed by Queen Elizabeth in 1574, She would see these wonderful fabrics, but she was not allowed to wear them because of the law. In another section of the building John work was with the course wool being delivered where it would be evaluated for grade, before any monies would be paid. The grade of the wool, color, texture, and its cleanliness dictated the price that would be paid. John Willard handle the raw materials that were to be sent although when Christiana was busy with a client and it started to become busy, John would step in and fill in a needed hand. Once Christiana had made the deal, payment was made in the case of receiving the goods, or if a client was purchasing textile she would receive the payment, but it was up to the young boys that worked at the establishment, would be involved in the loading or unloading of the materials, be it finish fabric, or raw goods such as wool.
The wool would be graded as per texture – if it were course, or fine – the color: white to the dark colors, the weight of the fiber, and the cleanliness of the fiber and than bundle ready to go to the harbor where it would be loaded onto one of the John’s ships which he had inherit from his father, destined to where it would be made into cloth, usually the low countries but sometimes the southern part of England.
After the wool is baled it would be prep to be shipped to the lower countries where there was sale for the raw materials, but there were also sales for English tan leather, and linen too. These products would be sent throughout the England.
A day was long as there were no lights as such and the work basically had to be preformed from the early morning hours to the evening hours, and six days a week with Sunday been the day of rest. The church occupied Sunday for most of the morning, but Sunday afternoon was a time for recreation, although in the summer with longer evenings of daylight it was not uncommon to have recreation after returning from the office, or place of business. John and Christiana would ride back to the manor, on horseback, but sometimes Christiana would use the buggy so as to pick up meats and other goods from market in Hall with the aid of the Reeve, but on arrival at the manor a servant would be waiting for them to help unload, and retire the horses to the stable. If it were just the horses the servant would take off the saddles, and if it were a coach, the reins and harnesses, before taking the horses to the stable where they were given hay, and water, and a brush down. Sometimes the two, and this was after church service would come to the manor, went inside, than change to their hunting attire, choose their bow, and quiver of arrows, Christiana making sure to take her trained sparrow hawk for hunting, and she would proceed to mount the horse, while John would attained his two hunting dogs that were used to arouse small game. The two would go out on a hunt for the rest of the day, but it usually would be down to the creek side, where they would dismount, tie the reins of the horse to a branch and just relax in the rays of the sun during the afternoon, where they sometimes talk about plans of what is happening in the business and the manor. John income was derived from both his father’s inheritance, and from the business he had founded. His job was basically to supply the drapers with the fabric that England’s wealthy class was so hungry for. Christiana also had inherited a portion of her previous husband’s estate, which she had managed into a large sum of monies. But with John past away, she had now inherited the whole, making her very wealthy.
There was one time; they were on the hunt when John startles a young red deer. With dogs in pursuit guiding the deer to John, John took aim, pulled the bowstring of the long bow, and let loose the arrow. He had scored a blow to the deer. As the deer bolted from the arrow entering its body it soon came to rest, with blood running down its chest. John dismounted the horse, slit the throat of the deer to let drain the blood, and loaded the deer across the back of his horse, and remounted his mount, and proceeded back to manor with Christiana riding on his right side, and the dogs leading ahead but within the master’s eyesight.
John said to Christiana, “My lady we will have fresh meat for tonight.” Christiana just looked at John, felt sorry for the animal, but knew that fresh wild meat would be nice for a change. It was not to often that John or Christiana would attain an animal in hunting, but occasionally it did happen.
When it was not hunting and the two of them were at the manor, there were other games that they would do outdoors, and the two of them enjoyed archery with a passion, but there was also the occasional game other than archery that they would play on the lawns of the manor. John enjoyed ground billiards and bowls, and even sometimes the odd game of horseshoes and skittles. But John’s favorite passion was the Bear Baiting, where he could see blood spilled from the bear when the dogs attack the animal while in London. Christiana was not into the blood sports like John was, but considered herself to be a refined woman of her status in English society.
Christiana, also have forms of entertainment to amuse herself with. From her early childhood when she learned how to sew, she would sit in the long gallery on the second floor of the manor on the cool evenings and work on her projects, which were of long stitch, some cross stitch and crewel. She even manage to obtain the old piece of textile from work to work on in making clothing, although the better styles of clothing that John and Christiana wore were made by the local tailor in Beverley as both had little time to assemble a complete attire, although Christiana did have the knowledge to do so.
Once in a while when Kasper had time off, he would be found out in the stable’s workshop carving away on a piece of wood that he manages to fine. One day Christiana was headed out to the stable and the garden when she seen Kasper sitting on a bench and working with chisels was carving away at creating a piece of art. Christiana asked what he was making, and before long Casper had Christiana working on a piece at the bench, but with the limited amount of time she had, could not spend much time, but she did enjoyed the company of Kasper. This occurred when they first met in London, and Christiana was a natural in woodcarving, although did not belong with ant guild, she did have Kasper sell the old piece she made, as some of Kasper’s carving were taken to the local market for trading.
In the early evening the kitchen would be a buzz with activities happening to prepare a delightful meal to be served to John and Christiana, and sometimes company that John brought home. At one end of the kitchen was a large fireplace, with brick ovens on one end, and a saltbox, where the salt was kept dry. Depending on what was to be prepared the fireplace was equipped with a spits and kettles for cooking. Firewood and wood were near at hand, were ready used in the cooking of the food. Bread was made in the morning and allowed to rise and was baked and serve hot to the owners, along with there meal, and a goblet of brewed beer from the still room for refreshment.
The reeve, who would, also act as the butler would serve the meal on the heavy oak dining table, which was prepared with fine linens, and silver, of which John inherited the silver, and Christiana acquired the linens. The candles would be lit which gave a glow to the room and created the warm look of light on the oak paneling. At one end of the dining room would be a fireplace similar to that of Christiana’s bedchamber except that above the mantel was the family crest carved into the oak panel that John Commission Kasper to do. This crest was the devise that John inherited and was also display proudly over the oak doorway of the business also. Before the two started their dinner John would say a prayer, than after the prayer it was safe to eat.
After the late dinner/ supper, John would retire to his study to do his books and set the next day’s task, while Christiana would fine a comfortable place to seat and work on one of her sewing projects, or be at her writing desk preparing a letter that was to be delivered. These letters because of the business were usually invitations to welcome friends and relatives to events at the manor at least every two months, but more so in the summer. If she was not doing sewing, or writing letters, or during paper work for the business and manor she would be reading from the bible a scripture to herself before she would retire for the night.
Either from the parlor downstairs or the long gallery with candle at hand Christiana would make her way to her bedchamber and prepare for bed. Her Lady’s servant would have the sleep wear ready, and the sheets and blankets ready waiting for her. Christiana would change from her day wear and slip into something comfortable, crawl into bed and on cool evening would let the dancing light of the fire in the fireplace put her to sleep.
In the spring the business was going study as course wool from the shearing of the sheep was coming in, but towards fall this dropped off and leather begun to rise as the ranchers began putting down stock, as they choose not to winter the entire heard other than breeding stock through the winter. Winter was slow for shipping out materials, but was rather study for bringing in imports. Therefore during the winter days the business was cut back, but so was the business profits. Daylight would also dictate the day also as nights were long, and days were short.
A Typical day in the life of Christiana
(Beverley, Yorkshire, England)
Winter: (late fall to early spring) The day would typically open up much the same way as in the summer, except that there would be warm quilts, and warm fires attended by the household servants. It would be cold and damp, and there could also be a fresh covering of snow on the ground. The horses were prepared much the same as they were during the summer for the trip to the office, but the clothing for riding would be layer, made of wool, to keep the body warm. Food was typically eggs, from the hen house and preserves that were made during the fall, and bread. Servants were assigned their duties, and thus John and Christiana would leave at daybreak. The day would be short, but paperwork, and shipping textiles and products out to northern England was the day work. An office boy would keep the fires at the office going the day to make it comfortable, but there were days that two would enter and fine frozen water in a basin.
After the days work is completed the two would leave together back to manor, and it was usually dusk when they left the office, and returning at nighttime back at the manor. The horses would be fed and water and bedded down, before Christiana and John would retire to the manor. The two would make love sometimes during the night, but because of Christiana health, would sleep in there own separate rooms.
Sundays were the exception as this was church day, and the morning would be church. When going to church there were no benches for one to sit, and therefore the followers of the church would stand, or kneel. The afternoon would be John’s and Christiana’s leisure time, usually an indoors game, or Christiana during some fiber art.
There were also holidays, usually one per month, which allowed John and Christiana to have the chance to dress their best, and entertain their guest.
Holidays during the time of Christiana Elizabeth Constable
January 12 – 12th night religious festival and feast celebrating the visit of the wise men, or magi following the birth of Jesus
February – St Valentine’s Day festival celebrating love: singing, dancing and pairing games.
March – Easter celebrated by mystery plays depicting the crucifixion. (Good Friday) and the resurrection (Easter Monday)
April – All Fool’s Day. The jester or lords of misrule, took charge of the day and caused mayhem with jokes and jests.
May – Summer festal celebrating Mayday when a Queen of May was chosen and villagers danced around a maypole.
June- Midsummer Eve, the mummers entertained at the Festival of Fire reliving legends such as St George and the Dragon. Bones were often burned leading the term bonfire. The summer solstice was June 23rd.
July – Swithin’s Day fall on July 15th. Legend says that during the bones of St Swithin were moved and after the ceremony it began to rain and continue to do so for forty days.
August – Lammas Day was celebrated on August 2nd the load mass day, the festival of the first wheat harvest of the year. Houses were sometimes decorated with garlands. Candles lit the processions and apple bobbing was featured.
September – 29th September was when Michaelmas celebrated the life of St Michael and the traditional food served was goose or chicken.
October – St Crispin’s Day October 25th Revels and bonfires and people acted at King Crispin
November – The day of the dead – All Souls Day or All Hallow’s Day when revels were held and bonfires lit
December – Feast and Christmas celebrations.
Christiana Elizabeth Constable born September 17th 1540 and was baptized at the Beverley Minister on September 27th of 1540 as per the Gregorian calendar, under the rein of King Henry VIII.
During the 1540’s and onwards Christiana devoted herself as a good Christian and attended church every Sunday for worship, under the eye of the Protestant religion. Catholics from the 1500s believed that church service and the bible should be in Latin. Elizabethan Protestants believed that church service and the bible should be in a language of the people so that ordinary people would be able to understand them. Protestants believed that people can find God without a priest or a Pope and that ministers were ordinary people who should lead a normal live and wear ordinary robes. It should be noted that the Protestants believed that the churches should be plain allowing the people to concentrate on the sermons.
From 1553 to 1558 it was difficult for Christiana to practice her faith as Queen Mary was now at the reins and thus brought do laws to persecute the Protestants. Queen Mary was herself a staunch Catholic and indeed wanted the re-establish the Catholic faith through the churches. When Queen Elizabeth taken the throne in 1558 Christiana could breath a little easier as she was no longer in danger of been burned for not believing in the Catholic religion. Christiana was married to William her first husband but during the rein of Queen Elizabeth married to John Willard
During the time of Queen Mary’s rein, Mary began the process of bringing in the Catholic religion of which Christiana had nothing to do with, as her faith was the protestant faith but practice the faith to protect her neck. For a while during this period she could be consider a heroic until Queen Elizabeth brought back her father’s religion (King Henry VIII) which would bring on tension with Spain and the Catholic religion. It was also about this time that Christiana began learning from an earlier bible that was hard to obtain, one been from the period of King Henry rein, which she holds dear, but the bible is showing it age with wear and tear, although she will occasionally read a sermon from the bible to her servants.
Religion for Christiana was a huge importance to her family life. The reigning monarch of the land decreed religion of the land. During Christiana’s life from 1540 to 1593 she would see three shifts in the religion. During the time she of her life, the religion was kept by Edward VI as protestant set up by King Henry the VIII, but when Mary came into power she forced the protestant religion out, and brought back the Catholic Church to England. Anyone that was practicing the Christian religion under protestant beliefs would be arrested by English law and punished under harsh penalties. When Elizabeth succeeded to the throne the religion was changed back to the Protestant faith. In 1559 Act of Uniformity laws were passed that made church attendance compulsory and the non-attendance was punishable by a fine and or imprisonment. Catholics believed that church services and the bible should be in Latin, and believed that the priests were the link between God and the people and the Pope was ordained by God. Catholic priest were viewed as special and expected to devote their lives to God and remain unmarried and were allowed to wear elaborate robes. The Catholics believed that the priests and the pope were able to forgive sins at a price. Gifts and or indulgences were given to the church. Catholics believed that their churches celebrated God and were elaborately decorated with statues and shrines.
Christiana’s faith – Protestant was somewhat different than the Catholic faith. Church services and the bible were written in a language (English) so that ordinary people could understand them. People believed they could find God, without a priest or a Pope and that the ministers were ordinary people who lead normal lives and wore ordinary robes. Christiana believed that only God would forgive her sins. The Churches were plain which allowed people to concentrate on the sermons presented by the minister.
Because that every person of England must attend church she was no different and was a very strong believer in the faith, mostly from her upbringing, but John, not really a church going person did attend as the English law forced the people to attend on Sunday for service. After the death of John, she would attend the services but her heart was not in it anymore, but she would still go to the bible for inspiration. She made sure that the servants were at church, and she insisted that the workers from the drapery business and the import export business would attend. The church in a way became Christiana’s life, as the church comfort her during the hard and the good times. In London she would find a church that was to her likings and attend, but while in London could not find one that she was really comfortable with.
Church service was done in the morning with prayer, sermons and hymn sing. But there one would stand during the procession until completed. One would bow their head during prayer and one would be at attention during the sermon, and one would join in singing, even some of the new hymns that were now been composed. This was also a time that one must be properly dressed to their class in society.
Although Christiana was not born before 1540, certain acts that were pass would influence her faith in the religion. If it were not for these acts past by parliament she would have most likely be brought up under the Catholic faith. These acts are listed below.
1534 Act of Supremacy – making Henry VIII supreme head of Church of England
1538 Parish registers began charting a weekly record of baptisms, marriages and deaths.
1539 Act of Dissolution of greater monasteries and abbeys
1549 Act of uniformity forbade the use of the Catholic Mass (Edward VI)
1559 Elizabeth’s Second Act of Supremacy: repealing legislation passed by Queen Mary rein and restoring to the Crown jurisdiction over the church as well as the Realm.
1559 Act of Uniformity of common prayer and administration of the Sacrament whereby attendance at church was compulsory and non attendance was punishable by a fine and or imprisonment. Known as the Recusancy laws.
These laws greatly affected the church and how religion would be practice, and would have a major impact of Christiana’s faith.
SPECIAL NOTE: Due to SCA regulations of religion, no religious sermons will be given, other than the persona of Christiana performing a sermon to her servants as part of her persona. This is a very touchy area, and will be done on Christiana’s campsite, and no other place.
Economics:
Currencies and wages
During the time of Christiana Elizabeth Constable life, was primary during the Tudor period, just before the Jacobean Period, which is as early as 1600s, although from other research it appears that it might be as early as the late 1580s as indicated by information from Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire (Historic Houses of Britain – Mark Girouard).
Most dealing was done in lesser amounts of cash unless it dealt with estates or certain taxes. I Beverly will not go into detail of this but I will list the currencies that were used and what they equal to. Note that the average servant wages per year was between two to five pounds a year, just to get a field for the cost of living, a meal with ale would cost about 2 pennies.
It should be noted that the currency of the Elizabethan period was minted into coins usually made from silver or gold. The English pound originated from a measure of weight, which was used to represent a sum of money – 240 pennies equaled a pound or 20 shillings equaled a pound. The penny was the basic monetary unit of the Elizabethan period.
This is a list of the currencies used during this time.
Farthing = ¼ penny
Half penny = ½ penny
Threefarthing = ¾ penny
Penny = 1 penny = 1d
Half goat = 2 pennies = 2d
Groat = 4 pennies = 4d
Sixpence = 6 pennies = 6d
Shilling = 12 pennies = 1s
Half crown = 30 pennies = 2s 6d
Quarter angel = 30 pennies = 2s 6d
Crown = 60 pennies = 5s
Half angel = 60 pennies = 5s
Angel = 120 pennies = 10s
Half pound = 120 pennies = 10s
Ryal = 180 pennies = 15s
Pound = 240 pence = 20s = 1
Fine Sovereign = 360 pence = 30s = 1 10s
The amount of wages was purely depended on the occupation that one work on. The Elizabethan low classes would have only traded in pennies, and thus a pound was usually out of the worker’s reach in spendable currency.
i.e. Nobleman 1500 to 3000 pounds/annum
Merchant 100 pounds /annum
Parson 20 pounds/annum
Carpenter 13 pounds/annum
Laborer 5 pounds/annum
Note: The Elizabethan period money in buying power to today’s currency would be about 1 pound equal to 400 dollars at present.
A brief on Guilds
During the Elizabethan Tudor age the trade guilds had an enormous amount of power, membership being required for the social, economic, or political advancement. Some of the more important guilds even had legal enforcement rights, and could forbid traders or artisans to operate within their jurisdiction on penalty of confiscation of their wares and tools.
The formal name of a guild is a Worshipful Company, as in the Worshipful Company of Butchers. The formal title of a Master is Master of the Mysteries of the Guild or Chief Warden, as this implies they were very concerned with the protection of trade secrete. Guild officers served a one-year term and were crowned in office.
In the occupation of Christiana and John they would come into contact with a number of guilds with the supplies that are traded, or for their services. Red would be the guilds that are affected by John or Christiana’s activities, and blue would be the guilds that are employed to do services for John and Christiana. Black means that they had very little or nothing to with them. These are just some of the guilds that would be involved.
Guilds Notes
Apothecaries affiliated with grocers
Occasionally Christiana with the help from her Reeve would purchase herbs required for the manor.
Armorers patron saint: St Georges
Bakers Special ceremony on Midsummer’s Day
Occasionally Christiana would purchase bake goods from the local baker, especially when a holiday is near
Barbers included surgeons and physicker
Required for hair cutting and surgery require by the household
Basketmakers;
Used by the manor for storage of goods.
Blacksmiths:
Used by the manor and the business as John inherit from his father a fleet of ships. This particular guild is probably one of the most important to the business as this guild works with iron and forges iron into needed items such as tools.
Bowyers archery supplies
Brewers Faced heavy competition
The manor did produce its own home brew, but when supplies were running low, the manor would purchase brew from a local brewer.
Broderers Embroiders.
Sometimes the embroiders would be consulted to do embroidery for the manor, but also would purchase goods from the draper business.
Butcher includes Costermongers (onion sellers)
With the aid of Christiana’s Reeve and herself they would purchase flesh meat for the manor, and onions when in season.
Carmen St. Katherine, Carters and woodmongers
Carpenters at odds with the joiners
This guild is used to repair and build items both for the business and the manor.
Chandlers divided into tallow and wax chandlers.
This guild supplied the manor and business with candles.
Clothworkers once fullers and shearmen.
A main stay for the draper business
Cooks includes pastelers (pasty makers)
Coopers make barrels, buckets and cast.
Cordwainers Shoemaker and leatherworkers
Sometime we would sell leather to this guild that was imported.
Curriers mainly leatherdressers.
Sometime involve in exporting this product.
Cutlers made blades and surgical instruments
Rapier blades and knives were made by this guild
Distillers made malt vinegar, brandy and gin.
It was one the main guilds to supply the manor with vinegar, and brandy.
Drapers also milliners, sold fabric.
This was the main stay of the business for Christiana and John, although after John inherited his father’s business (ships in import and exporting) he soon turned most of the business over to Christiana, but with a watchful eye. Couple with the import export business, the business begun to grow in other area as in dealing with raw wool, and leathers to be exported, and fine fabrics brought in for customers. The consumer would purchase the fabric and have it made into whatever type of clothing to be made depending on what their class in society dictated, usually by a tailor. This was considering one of the more lucrative incomes for the Elizabethan era. John Willard also was a member to this guild and attended meeting as required by the guild. The business also served as a distributor to other drapers in the region.
Dyers
Farriers shod and cared for horses.
The household would use a farrier as both John and Christiana used horses as transportation and also for sport. There was a time that John was considering hiring a farrier full time to look after the needs of the horses.
Fishmongers a very powerful guild
Christiana would sometime go down to the docks, or to the market to purchase fresh fish for the manor.
Fletchers at odds with the bowyers
Founders
Fripperers pawnbrokers, also sold used clothing
Fruiters
Christiana would purchase fresh fruit when in season for the manor.
Gardeners also sold flowers and some produce.
With the gardens at the manor, a gardener was employed full time to look after the flower beds and the garden, but sometimes purchases would have to be made for some foods and flowers that were not grown on the estate.
Girdlers also gartermakers,; both sexes.
This was one of our customers for purchasing fabrics and occasionally making the occasional garter or two bodies.
Glazier English glass was notoriously of poor quality.
Glaziers were employed at the time the manor was been built in Beverley.
Goldsmith active moneylenders and coiners
Used by the business to obtain loans and coins.
Grocers controlled the spice trade
Haberdashers hat makers
A customer that purchase fabric
Horners cut and shaped horn, made combs
Innholders also hostelers, always in trouble.
On travels John and or Christiana would stay at an Inn.
Ironmongers also Feroners, dealers in iron.
Joiners made furniture
Were always employed for making furniture for the manor or business. Mostly for the manor
Leathersellers includes tanners
Loriners made horse bits and tack
Mason absorbed Marblers in 1585.
This guild use in building of the manor
Mercers
Musicians kept out foreign minstrels
Painters incorporated cloth stainers in 1585
Parish Clerks used by the business or
manor to draw up legal papers
Pattenmakers made high heel galoshes
Paviors paved streets and courtyards
Pewterers Enforced standard measures
Plaisterers quarreled with painter-stainers
Plumbers
Poulters raised fowl
Saddlers burned bad saddles at the maker’s door
Salters
Scriveners wrote letters and documents
Shipwrights
Used by John in the building and maintaining of the fleet inherited from his father.
Skinners
Stationers made paper and newsprint
Tailor an excellent client for the business, as this guild requires the fabric to make the clothing.
Tinplaters made tin utensils and ornaments
Turners woodworker who used the lathe.
Used for turning wood for the spindels in the grand staircase and ornamental details for furniture.
Tilers also brickworkers, chartered 1568
Upholders made featherbeds and pillows.
A client for the draper for fabric
Vintners
Watermen operate ferries and barges
Weavers master called upper bailiff
Wheelwrights
Wire Drawer worked in copper, gold, and silver.
Woolmen sold wool, did not raise sheep.
Christiana would be involved in buying wool from this guild for export to the lower countries where it would be made into cloth.
Other guilds such as shoemakers, miller, soap-makers, merchant ventureres, pursers, hosiers, potters, milkmen, heamers and hatband makers were also known. Farmers were not permitted to form a guild as this caused fear in price fixing.
In the Elizabethan time the guilds protected their territory and prevented anyone from coming in unless they were with of the guild, thus making the region protected from unfair trade practices.
Occupations
As with guilds there are occupations and job titles. These are listed below and were connected to closely to the guilds. This is just a sample list. The ones in blue the one that Christiana and or John do business with. The ones in red are hired by the business, and the ones in green are the job titles for the household.
Acrobat: a popular Elizabethan entertainer
Apothecary: dispenses remedies, made from herbs, plants and roots. Physicians were expensive and a priest often held this occupation, often the only recource for sick and poor people.
Artist: employed by kings and nobles. At first an artist painted heraldic designs on early furniture and then it became fashionable for portraits to be painted.
Astrologer: studied the stars and planets but regarded in Elizabethan times as a mystical person.
Baker: Bread was a daily staple and good bakers were employed by the Nobles.
Barber: would cut hair but would also serve as dentist, surgeons and blood letters.
Blacksmith: was one of the most important, albeit lowly, occupations during this era, and was involved in forged weapons, sharpened weapons and repairs to armor.
Bottler: a responsible occupation that was in charge of the bottlery which was intended for storage and dispensing wines and other expensive provisions.
Butler: responsible for the castle cellar and was in charge of large butts of beer. The room was called the buttery and was intended for storing and dispensing beverages.
Bower or Bowyer: manufactured bows, arrows and crossbows.
Candle-maker: made candles to light castles and palaces.
Carpenter: the job was diverse as they had to build furniture, roofing, wood paneling. Carpenters were highly skilled and considered elite tradesmen.
Chamberlain: the title originated wuth an officer of a royal household who responsibility was to administer the Queen’s household budget. It was later extended to collecting revenues and paying expenses.
Chancellor: A chancellor was a secretary to a Noble or Royal person.
Chaplain: responsible for the religious activities of castle servants and men in arms. The duties include that iof a clerk and keeping accounts. A priest usually looked after the spiritually needs and confessions of the Nobles and their families.
Clerk: employed to keep accounts.
Clothier: made clothes for the nobles and required a knowledge of various fine and expensive fabrics.
Constable: a person who had been appointed as Custodian or in charge of the castle.
Cook: employed in the kitchens, roasting, broiling, and baking food in the fireplaces and ovens.
Cordwainer; shoemaker or cobble who made shoes.
Cottar: lowest peasant occupations, usually undertaken by the old and or infirm, who had a seriers of low duties including swine herd, prison guard and menial tasks.
Ewerer; brought and heated water for nobles.
Fletcher: crafted and manufactured bows and the flights of arrows.
Gardener; needed knowledge of herbs and plants
Gong Farmer: removal of human dung from toilets.
Herald or Harker: a knights assistant and an expert advisor on heraldry. Also declared announcements on behalf of the Queen or Noble to the public. Normally done on a given day when the public would assemble at the vase of a castle tower or in the town square and the Herald would shout out the news.
Herbalist: was usually a member of the a religious order such as a monk or friar who would plant and maintain medicinal plants, roots and herbs.
Janitor or Porter, responsible for a main Castle entrance and for the guardhouse, and ensured that no one entered or left without permission.
Jester: referred to as the fool entertainer for the Queen and the court.
Keeper of the Wardrobe; the room in the castle was called the wardrobe and was intended as a dressing storage room for clothing and used by the Queen and or upper classes. The keeper of the wardrobe was in charge of the tailors and the laundress. Special note: Although Christiana is from the lower rich class she has a Lady’s servant that performs this job.
Knight; it was the duty to learn how to fight and so serve their Queen according to the Code of Chivalry. Weapons practices included enhancing skills in the sword, battle axe, dagger and lance.
Marshal: in charge of the household’s horses, carts, wagons, containers, and transportation of goods.
Messenger; were lesser diplomats of the lord who carried receipts, letter and commodities
Minstrel: entertainment in the form of singing and playing musical instruments.
Moneylenders: Elizabethan bankers
Page: was lunior to a squire and the duties of a page was to wait at tables, care for the Lord’s clothes and assist in dressing them.
Painter: used for painting highly colorful castles.
Physician; highly regarded and respected occupation. Bleeding, lancing and surgical procedures were practiced.
Potter: craftement of clay, porcelain and early forms of ceramics and were responsible for producing pots for cooking and storage and occasionally worked as sculptors.
Reeve: supervised all work on a lord’s property and ensured that everyone began and stopped work on time. In Christiana’s and John’s household the Reeve also acted on several other jobs as looking after the household budget and paying expenses and acted as marshal, and messenger.
Scribe: came from religious establishments where reading, writing and comprehension skills were learned
Scullion: lowest of the kitchen workers whose duties included washing and cleaning the kitchen
Sheriff; important official of county who’s responsible is executing judicial duties.
Shoemaker; Cobbler or Cordwainer
Spinster: occupation given to a woman who earned her living spinning yarn. Special note: the spinning wheel was invented during the Elizabethan era. Later it was used to describe any unmarried woman.
Steward: took care of castle estates and household administration.
Squire: junior to a knight.
Watchman – night watchman: was an official at the castle responsible for security
Elizabethan Social Classes
Note during the period that Christiana Elizabeth Constable lived (1550s to 1590s) also know as the 16th century the primary language was a form of English.
Peasants: were the agricultural labors and their families usually lived in one small village and work the land owned by nobleman of the area. The peasants had little leisure time and almost no income. Clothing was limited and design for practicality.
Christiana’s father Michel Richard would have had peasants working on his land in Beverley, as his lands were agricultural, and from the work that the peasant did on his land of became supplemented income.
Middle Class: people usually artisans, craftsmen, servants and small merchants. These people had a bit more leisure time an a bit of money to spend on clothing which was practical. It should be mention that servants of this class were likely to wear livery uniforms that were provided by their employers.
Both Michel Richard and John Willard had under their employment servants which were provided uniforms for there daily routines.
Wealthy middle class: were the prosperous merchants, the highly skilled artisans and the servants of nobles. They were the one social class with the overriding ambition to climb the social ladder, so it is notable that their clothing was often very fashionable. Their clothing was limited by the Sumptuary Law, which set fines for people who wore clothing above their station.
It should be noted that this class of people is what Christiana was brought up with, and began her journey up the social ladder it English society.
Nobles: the high statue knights, earls, countesses, etc, who comprised “high society” were often in attendance on the Queen. Their clothing would reflect their wealth and their respect for her position.
Family life:
Michel, Thomas, William and John dominated Christiana family life. It was seen that women were seen as inferior to men and were the subservient to the men in the family all of their lives and was expected to obey the men in all aspects of their lives. Christiana had a little bit more freedom, but she was to obey the men in her life, if she did not disobedience was seen as a crime against their religion.
Christiana’s first marriage was arranged to increase William’s wealth and to bear him a male heir. With most women in this time there were no careers for women, and there was no schooling for girls, so the majority were illiterate. Family and house life depended on the skills of the women in relation to good house keeping and the health of the family, determined by the ability to produce medicines from herbs that were available to them. They would be responsible for during the daily chores of that were required by the family unless the women was brought up in a wealthy class family or of nobility that sometimes they would be educated at home, and would probably have servants at their command to do their bidding, however they were still responsible for looking after the family.
Family life for the men was that of power, and in most cases were the ones that made the decisions, and women would be expected to obey them. To keep the family going men were expected to support the family through a variety of occupations, and were expected to improve the positions of all members of the family through influence and patronage from wealthier people and families than their own. It was from there ability to climb the social ladder to improve the lifestyle of the family.
Children would be subservient to the adults of the family and were raised to respect their parents. Infant mortality was high, so children of the family were cherished. Children were given toys to play with such as dolls and toy soldiers, hobby horses, the like. The more wealthy children were taught good manners and would be punished, if the boys and girls were to form any forms of bad behavior.
The social class dictated by wealth clearly dictated their stance in society. The hours of the family would be dictated by the amount of daylight hence the expression of early to bed early to rise.
Christiana’s marriage was arranged, and the customs were an important feature. Women were expected to marry to increase the wealth and position of the family and then produce children, preferably male heirs to continue the wealth of the family through inheritance. As in John’s position of society he would inherit his father’s fleet of merchant ships for importing and exporting thus increasing his station in sociality. Women were expected to bring a dowry to the marriage, in a form of an amount of money, goods, and property. The dowry for Christiana’s marriage was money in the first marriage.
Christiana’s wedding to Thomas’s permission for William a good friend of Thomas asked Michel who was his brother that his friend could wed Christiana. Christiana would bring a dowry with her to the marriage in the form of money. Once married she was expected to run the household and provide children as the law gave the husband full rights over the wife. Christiana effectively became William’s property. Age of consent although Christiana was older for a girl was the age of 12, and in the case of Willaim who was somewhat older was the age of 14. The wedding would be made at the local church in London and was conducted through a religious ceremony by the minister. The first stage was the Crying the Banns, which is the announcing of a couples intention to marry. It was customary dictated that the couple’s intention to marry had to be announced in church three times on the consecutive Sunday or Holy days. This would allow time for any objections to be raised or pre-contracts to be discovered. Any marriage not published before hand was considered clandestine and was illegal. Wedding invitations were not issue, as people in communities knew what was happening in common life. People would attend from the community and gifts were occasionally given to the bride and groom. William was well known by the community and because of him they did receive a number of gifts, present to them after the wedding ceremony.
If Christiana and William were to marry in haste an alternative, faster route to legalizing marriage required a Marriage Bond, which acted as a contract, security and proof to a Bishop that the issue of a Marriage License was lawful. This bond was accomplished with a sworn statement that there were no pre contracts. This bond would require one reading of the Banns.
Their family and close friends would attend Christiana’s and John’s wedding, and the color of the clothing, was not of white, but of their best clothing. Christiana’s procession would leave from her family’s house to the church lead by and accompany by musicians. Once at the church the ceremony would be a solemn one. Everyone would stand, as there were no pews in the ministry. After the ceremony was over the wedding procession would return to their home and the couple would enjoy a wedding feast and were wish a long and happy life.
It was a custom to celebrate the marriage with a wedding feast, of which had to be specially planned. The menu was discussed and arrangements were made for acquiring the contents for more exotic dishes that had to be made. At Christiana’s, and William and later John the wedding feasts dishes were made as attractively as possible, some done up with colorful feathers. Breads and sweetmeats, along with sweet and spicy foods were presented. The drink of choice was ale and or wine and was ordered weeks before the feast. Water drawn from a nearby creeks and the river was considered unclean for consumption as this could contain diseases.
Credits:
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Further reading materials
Women and Economics (Charlotte Perkins Gilman – Boston: Small, Maynard & Co 1898) – file:///D:/Women%20and%20Economics.htm
Reference:
Architectural and Ecclesiastical Terms
England’s Churches
Queen, Empress, concubines (Claudia Gold) http://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/
Internet:
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Mhtml:file://D:\Elizabethan%20Laws.mht
Additional Help
Alliances Church (Summerland)
Credits:
Internet:
www.saintive.com/essays/professions.htmmhtml:file//D:\Elizabethan%20Period%20Money and%20Currency.mht.
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