England during the Reign of Elizabeth I

The Elizabethan Era left an impressive number of facts about England that may be of interest to some readers, educators, students, and visitors of the place. Some of these may fascinate you or leave you wondering what if you were living in this place and during this time.

Elizabethan Life Facts

Food and Health Food choices in these times were usually spiced up with garlic, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, galingale, and ginger. However, Elizabethan people indulged in eggs since it was used to prepare foods like pancakes, omelettes, and fritters. Eggs were also included in making stew and sauces. At this time also, the people were still ignorant about germs. They thought of bad smells as the only culprits for diseases to spread. So, they only resolved such sanitary and health issues by getting rid of the foul smell. Small garlands of flowers, herbs, and other sweet fragrances were usually carried by women to fight this off. Fashion Only the boys were allowed to attend formal education; girls were not pushed to do so. But both women and men during the Elizabethan period wore their collars very high, influenced by the Spanish fashion. Using purple clothes was also a symbol of royalty. As for the hair, recipes for hair bleach were strange components like urine. Surprisingly, real hair was harder to maintain than wigs. Crime and punishment Punishment for every crime was harsh. For women-gossips, they were placed in a harsh cage called brank, wherein your head and arms were held by a sharpened metal band that exactly fitted into the mouth. Any tongue movement damaged the tongue. Afterwards, the woman was paraded and whipped in the streets by an official. Guilty robbers were handed down a death order. There was also another form of punishment

called amputation saw. Harsher than the use of axe, the saw was much slower causing more pain to the criminal. Dental service Did you know that it would cost your life to visit a dentist during this time? Death from dental visits was due to loss of blood and intolerable pain from traditional instruments used like stone, coral, and brick. Entertainment and art Another England fact about Elizabethan times is Queen Elizabeth was regarded as virgin queen since she never got married. She frequently visited theatres to witness individuals pinned to death. Queen Elizabeth I loved the arts and it showed. During her reign, paintings were dominated by portraiture and miniatures in particular. Elaborate textiles as well as embroidery were also prevalent in the decorative arts while sculpture found a place in architectural decoration and tombs. The Queen also took interest in her portraits. She guided many artists such as Nicholas Hilliard as well as Marcus Gheeraerts in creating stylized imagery which portrayed elegance, power and wealth. Artists like the ones aforementioned received various commissions from the Crown and they all employed the techniques from European Mannerism as well as from the school of Fontainebleau. They created large-scale and full length painting which portrayed nobility in flamboyant and luxuriously decorated costumes which come with embroidery, armour, hunting gear, ruffs, lace and weapons. In doing so, they made this highly decorative yet artificial style a major characteristic of Elizabethan England Art. Some of the most renowned Elizabethan England works of Art are the miniature paintings. Miniatures are a revived classical form of art stemming from the tradition of illuminated manuscripts as well as from the Renaissance's portrait medals. It is believed that Nicholas Hilliard learned this craft from a foreign artist, Hans Holbein. Hilliard was able to produce miniatures, which were painted on ivory card or vellum which often times functioned as lockets or cameos. Hilliard was considered to be the Queen's favourite artists and many of the court's larger portraits of the Queen were based on Hilliard's portraits and miniatures.

Elizabethan England decorative arts were dominated by silver works. The demand for silver saw a significant increase due to the increase in population and expansion of both middle and upper classes. Many silver plates were decorated with embossed strap work, vegetal forms as well as grotesque figures. Intricate foliage designs as well as patterns were applied on to suits of armour and the textiles were embroidered with colourful silk and threads of pure gold and silver. In terms of art in architecture in Elizabethan England, it was all about a show of wealth as well as status. The Elizabethan style closely followed the Tudor style but it was succeeded by the Italian style that was introduced by Ingo Jones. It answered the Cinque-Cento period in Italy, the Francois I from France and the Silversmiths or Plateresque style from Spain. Art during Elizabethan England was at it peak. London, considered to be the heart of England, was then a centre for both culture and commerce. Many artisans as well as poets and dramatists, including William Shakespeare, were among the leaders of the day. Elizabethan styles are often considered to be eclectic and borrow many motifs from the Italian, Continental Gothic as well as Flemish designs.

Architecture Architecture worked towards a well-ordered symmetry. Home exteriors and interiors were decorated with elaborate reliefs, ornate chimneys, mullions and friezes. As mentioned beforehand, art during Elizabethan England was a show or expression of power, status and wealth. Quite fitting, actually, everything was grandiose as its people were the same. Clothing wasn't merely an insignificant thing in the days of Elizabethan England. In fact it is quite significant that there is even a law related to it. These laws stated the colours as well as the type of clothing an individual was allowed to own and wear. These laws were called 'Statutes of Apparel" and was enforced by the Queen herself in Greenwich on June 1574. The intent was to maintain social structure as well as to keep a firm restrain on the people's expenditure towards clothing.

Fashion Basically, Elizabethan Clothing was a part of the social order. It is also indicative of a particular person's status not only reflecting how wealthy or poor they are but also of their social reputation. For example, back then it is absurd for a peasant to copy more well off individuals through "luxurious" clothing which were only worn by upper classes. The upper class of Elizabethan England wore elegant and luxurious clothing that were made of expensive velvet, exotic silk and satin. Only the members of the Royal Family were allowed to own robes which were trimmed with ermine. Less noble folk wore clothing trimmed with either fox or otter. Quite the contrast to the luxurious clothing of the affluent was the clothing worn by peasants. They wore clothing made of simple materials such as English cotton, wool and leather. Woollen clothing was in fact quite popular among the working as well as domestic classes since it was rather cheap and the wool trade saw a increase during the period.

The dyes that were used to colour the lavish clothing of the noble of Elizabethan England cost quite a bit. In one of Elizabeth I's surviving portraits, she was shown wearing a crimson robe. The deep crimson colouring was obtained from an insect which was only found in the Mediterranean. The brightest colours demanded a higher price tag and were only available to the upper class. The brightness of the colour and its richness are the determining factors as to how expensive it would be. The working class or peasants wore clothes dyed in yellow, orange, green, pale blue, pink and russet. Elizabethan England Clothing for women usually consisted of gowns, underclothing, corsets, hats, ruffs, collars and shoes. The men wore doublets, underclothing, breeches, ruffs, collars, hats and shoes. Women often wore fancy jewellery but for both men and women ruffs were an indispensable item that adds to their elegant look. The Queen herself wore many elaborate collars. The ruffs were worn around the neck or wrists and became significantly larger later on. Rich Elizabethan women also wore thick petticoats and on top of this came the corset and skirts. Their skirts were held up with hoops and are often padded at the hips. Then on top of all the was an outer bodice and a skirt or a fine dress and to finish it off, the women wore a coat or a dressing gown which went all the way down to the floor. Talk about grandiose and not to mention heavy. But one must remember, that just like their art and architecture, clothing in the Elizabethan Era was also an indicator of a person's wealth and status.

Society The Elizabethan period in England had a daily life based on social order: the monarch as the highest, the nobility as second rank, the gentry as third, merchants as fourth, and labourers as fifth. The queen was believed to be God's representation here on Earth. They also believed that God had formed these social ranks and had showered blessings on each rank. Their Parliament had also regulated the clothes that can only be worn by each rank. For a labourer to wear clothes of the rich was not allowed and considered to be a defiance of the order.

The Elizabethans had a high regard for family in a community. They believed that families were role models for the community. They were standardized and followed a deep respect for the importance of hierarchy. They had customary rulings for the behaviour of children that were taken from Bible passages. These passages were explanations on the duty of parents in properly raising their children and likewise the responsibility of children to respect and obey their elders. Another law stated that when an individual dies, there was a need to write in an inventory all of the possessions accounted to that individual because this was an informative source or the remaining witness on how the subjects of Elizabethan era lived. People from every social rank began to acquire more household properties during the period of Queen Elizabeth. It was noticeable how houses were constantly changing. For reasons of privacy and comfort, medieval structures using a barn pattern were

modernized and added up more chambers or divided rooms. Other town houses in London and big country properties were usually owned by counsellors and courtiers of the Elizabethan time. These became great representations of architectural style during the period. Despite the developing awareness of the significance of comfort in any household, daily life in England during the Elizabethan era was still very difficult for the majority of the subjects. The Westerners ate at least two day meals, which are dinner and supper. The middle and low ranks ate vegetables and grains. The nobility class ate sweet food and meats. Generally, life expectancy reached until 42 years old, but of course the richer rank had lived years longer than that. All the more Elizabethan problems with sickness and diseases were worsened by the town's low sanitary measures. The treatment and procedures for medical attention were unorganized and fell short to complete the need; even people who were able to seek medical help had to go through painful procedures and other medication problems. Worst, the poor ranks had to undergo their medication through the traditional form of healing that was solely based on superstitious beliefs. The Elizabethan period was considered to be the period where parlour was introduced, which became a section for new entertainment. The recreation was based on team or blood sports and other activities for personal amusement. For the wealthier rank, hunting became their favourite leisure game. The Elizabethan era was considered as the era of great advancement for England. At the time, London was the heart of the country and the city reflected what was considered as the qualities of the Elizabethan era. The era was the time for the advancement of commerce and the advancement of the arts. The poets lead by the great Shakespeare lived and wrote their great works during this time. The era was also the period of a well-organized and a very effective government. And the Elizabethan era also saw the benefits of the new trans-Atlantic trade. But people of the Elizabethan era also had time for leisure, the sports and games. Great Elizabethan games are popular during this era as well. The games that the people of this era played are numerous. In fact games, the sports and entertainment was varied and helped people of the era relaxed a bit when work was over.

Games The games that people played during this time were open for all no matter what their social standing may be. Often the games that people played included the element of gambling and this is one thing that added spice to the games. Games of Elizabethan era can be grouped into major categories. These categories are the card games, the board games, the dice games, the sporting games and the children's games. Card games during those times are popular to all especially to those who love to gamble and play the game of chance. Some of the more popular card games of this era were the One and Thirty, the Ruff and Honors and the Maw. The card game 'One and Thirty' was considered by many as the ancestor of the modern Blackjack that people play now. The 'Ruff and Honors' is a card game that was played by teams of four players each. And the 'Maw' on the other hand was a 16th century trick-taking game for ten players. When it comes to board games, Elizabethans are known to have played and popularized a number of these. Chess was the most popular board game during those times. Backgammon and 'Nine Men's Morris' are two examples of popular Elizabethan board games. The 'Alquerques' was a classic strategy game in the mould of what we know now as the checkers. Other strategy-based games of old include the 'Fox and Geese', 'The Philosopher's Game, 'Shove Ha'penny' and the Shovel Board. Dice games are also played, like the 'Knucklebones and the 'Hazard'. Elizabethans of this era was also known for their prowess on various sporting games. Archery was one popular sporting game. And the early ancestor of the modern-day badminton was also played by Elizabethans during

this era. Other noteworthy Elizabethan England sporting games include billiards, bowls, early golf, Game ball, Hammer-Throwing, wrestling, tennis and a whole lot more. Sports of the Elizabethan era weren't just for adults. Children have their own share of children games as well. The playing of marbles was popular, plus 'Blind Man's Buff'- a children's game that was played by adults as well and the Hopscotch. Torture Torture, as far as crime and punishment are concerned, is the employment of physical or mental pain and suffering to extract information or, in most cases, a confession from a person accused of a crime. While torture seems barbaric, it was used during the Golden Age, what many consider to be that time in history when Elizabeth I sat on the throne and England enjoyed a peaceful and progressive period, and is still used in some cultures today. During the reign of Elizabeth I, the most common means of Elizabethan era torture included stretching, burning, beating, and drowning (or at least suffocating the person with water). Torture at that time was used to punish a person for his crimes, intimidate him and the group to which he belongs, gather information, and/or obtain a confession. Torture succeeded in breaking the will of and dehumanizing the prisoner, and justice during the Elizabethan era was served with the aid of this practice. In fact, it was said that Elizabeth I used torture more than any other monarchs in England's history. During the Elizabethan era, treason was considered as the worst crime a person could ever commit. Consequently, it was at cases of high treason when torture was strictly and heavily employed. Other heinous crimes - including robbery, rape, and manslaughter - also warranted the use of torture. The degree of torture that was applied was in accordance with the degree of the crime. Reportedly, women suffered from torture only rarely and lords and high officials were exempted from the act. There were different ways with which to perform torture upon a prisoner, all of which are humiliating and painful. Boiling a prisoner to death was called for when the crime committed was poisoning. Cutting off the right hand, as well as plucking out eyes with

hot pinchers and tearing off fingers in some cases, was the punishment for stealing. Mutilation and branding were also popular or standard means of torture. The pillory, a T-shaped wooden frame in which the prisoner placed his hands on the crossbars and his head at the top, sticking out on a hole, was an infamous tool for inflicting torture. The pillory was often placed in a public square, and the prisoner had to endure not only long hours on it, but also the menacing glares and other harassments, such as stoning, from the passersby. The dunking stool, another tool for inflicting torture, was used in punishing a woman accused of adultery. The prisoner would be placed on the stool and dunked under water several times until pronounced dead. A prisoner accused of robbery, rape, or manslaughter was punished by trapping him in cages that were hung up at public squares. Again, people's jeers, taunts, and other harassments added to his suffering. He was only taken down when the loss of his strength became apparent, quartered, and pronounced dead. All throughout the period, Elizabethan era torture was regularly practiced and as a result, the people were tamed and afraid and crimes were low in number. Health Elizabethan era failed to give a high standard of health; people are plague by various diseases and ailments. There was a food shortage that further contributed to the difficulty of their life. Also, the lack for sanitation increases the risk of endangering people's life. A quick view on the street will give filthy scenes of garbage, notwithstanding the fact that animals were permitted to defecate anywhere. People living in Tople land were used to eat cows and pigs which on the other hand are notorious for eating trash. The rivers were contaminated by domestic squander. In view of this, epidemic diseases were on their rise. Diseases like bubonic plague would kill almost one third of the total population! Advanced remedies for these illnesses were not available, of course, thus Elizabethan England medicine include potions obtained from the concoction of plants and herbs. People favour home remedies since it is highly inexpensive compare to the charge a physician and a doctor would normally bill. Physicians would normally roam around the

place with a terrible mask on their faces. However, this odd looking gear most probably saved their life from being contaminated too with the disease. The Elizabethan England medicines were simple; leaches and cupping were used to get blood. For bubonic plague, it is treated by means of lancing the buboes and applying a tepid poultice of onion, butter, and garlic. Moreover; tobacco, lily root, arsenic, and dried toad were as well used. For people suffering from stomach pain, it was treated by mint, wormwood and balm while rose, sage, bay and lavender were used for headaches. Vinegar was famous for treating wounds because of the belief that it has an antiseptic property. The weakness of Elizabethan England medicine paved the way for the citizenry to have a shorter life than the usual. For the adult male, the lifespan is only up to 47 years old. The life expectancy is 35 years old for the rich and 25 years for the lower statuesque. Death among infants and children were indeed rampant, 40% of people died once they reached their teenage years. This lifespan can be blamed also to poor sanitation and epidemic diseases that deluge the place. Homemade remedies proved to be an ineffective antidote. Children were left homeless by their mother particularly during the 16th century which only added fuel to the fire. To sum up, Elizabethan England medicine theory is an intertwining of numerous ideas which was far related to the belief of modern time. It should be put into minds that these ideas were fabricated even before the detection of the blood circulation, and the discovery of viruses and bacteria. The most renowned idea in terms of medicine during the Elizabethan era was that of Galen who connoted that each living things were created with four elements or Humour which comprised the Phlegm, Blood, black bile, and yellow bile. They contain varying natures; the phlegm is cold and wet, blood is hot and wet, yellow bile is hot and dry, and black bile is cold and dry. Occupations During the Elizabethan era, occupation varies. People would do every trick in the book just to survive. There were so many things to do especially since the time seems to be changing in the blink of an eye. Professions would vary from a simple task of

catching a rabbit to working with the queen. Below are the lists of Elizabethan England occupations: Acrobat- they were known to do amazing stunt just to entertain people Apothecary- dispensed herbal medicines which were created from the blend of plants, herbs, and roots. Astrologers- known as mystical being. They are skilled in reading astronomical bodies and relate them in every person's life. Barber- although they are usually seen cutting hair, they were also skilled in terms of other personal care like doing the job of a surgeons, dentist, and blood-letters. Blacksmith- even though it was a lowly occupation, it was regarded as the most significant occupation of the time. Blacksmiths were the people who forged weapons, repairs broken armour, and even sharpened weapons. Bottler- they manage the storing and giving out of wines. Butler- in charge for the castle cellar Bower- an interesting occupation of making bows. Candle maker- as the name implies, they were the one responsible in the production of candles, lanterns, and torches. Carpenter- they were not merely limited in building houses and furniture rather they were all-around individuals who knows just anything about wood. They are known as elite tradesmen. Chamberlain- responsible for the entire jobs that has something to do with the Chamber. Chaplain- responsible for all religious activities. Clothier- creates clothes used by the nobles. They should have knowledge about expensive materials. Cook- employed in the kitchen to cook different kinds of foods. Cordwainer- someone who manufacture shoes. Cottar- known as one of the lowest occupation. The infirm and the olds are known to have this kind of profession. Gardener- should possess awareness about plants and herbs. Gond Farmer- term used for dung.

Harker- they are the one who declare announcements given by the queen. Herbalists- they planted and sustain medicinal plants. Jester- also known as the Fool, they would entertain the Queen to laugh. Knight- they would fight and uphold the safety of the Queen. Messenger- carries receipts, commodities, and letters. Moneylender- they were the Elizabethan bankers. Page- this is a work than includes a very young man, usually 7 years old. They are tasked to wait at the table and oversee the Lord's clothes as well as assist in dressing. Painter- since castles are expected to be colorful, they employ the service of a painter. Physician- an esteemed occupation that would cure people's sicknesses. Potter- they were the one who produced pots and anything made of clay and ceramics. Scribe- unmarried woman. Steward- assists in the household administration. Squire- a junior to the knight. They should be knowledgeable enough about the Code of Chivalry. Watchman- accountable for the castle's security. In practice, people seldom spoke of ordinary amounts of money in terms of pounds, unless it was in thousands, like the annual value of an estate, or a special "voluntary" tax. Ordinary, daily expenses were a few shillings and pence. A pair of gloves would cost around 7 shillings. For smaller items, like food and drink, a few pennies would suffice. A pot of ale would cost about a penny or two. A household servant's salary was about 2-5 per year. Attitude The Elizabethan attitudes were generally positive but towards many of the things we still debate today had different points of view. The Elizabethan society had a very conservative outlook on things. Many of their viewpoints were substantiated from their dominant influence of Christianity, whether Protestant or Catholic. Still though, many of

the viewpoints did waiver between the rich and the poor. For example, marriage had a huge difference depending on what class you fell into. Marriage according to the more wealthy in England during the Elizabethan era still had arranged marriages. Generally the couples would not even court for a period of time, it was generally decided who they would marry by their parents. On the opposite side of the spectrum: by this period many of the less wealthy had already begun performing marriages much like they do today. The two parties getting married would frequently "date" and make the decision on their own. Still though, it was considered inappropriate to have sexual relations outside of marriage. Many of their beliefs were still based upon Christianity. The primary difference was that they frequently would not have arranged marriages. As far as women go, things had not changed much from earlier periods. Women were considered inferior to men. It was generally accepted that women would be at home with children and this was their primary purpose. There was a little bit of leniency because Christianity did influence some equality among married couples. Still though, they rarely worked outside of the household. The society of the Elizabethan era as a whole had a rather positive outlook about England's future up until the end of Queen Elizabeth I's reign when England entered into the Anglo-Spanish War. The economy was doing well, the rich were getting richer and the poor were getting wealthier. England was considered a very prominent place at this time throughout the world. The economy was well established for the most part of this era. According to most of the citizen's attitudes, England had a bright future ahead. Unfortunately, this quickly diminished and England suffered a terrible depression a couple decades after the Elizabethan period. Elizabeth I Quotes: I do not want a husband who honours me as a queen, if he does not love me as a woman. I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.

Fear not, we are of the nature of the lion, and cannot descend to the destruction of mice and such small beasts. Do not tell secrets to those whose faith and silence you have not already tested. A clear and innocent conscience fears nothing.