Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
Setting the scene 2
Preparation for your journey 8
It is your duty to work 10
Chapter 2 Social Structure and Housing 14
Class structure - How do the poor live? 14
Class structure - How do the wealthy live? 20
Class structure - How do the middling sort live? 24
Mind your language 26
Chapter 3 Beliefs and Religious Ideas 28
Work and holidays 30
Fasting 32
Sex 33
What would be my beliefs about death and the dead? 35
How would I deal with death? 38
How would I worship? 41
Chapter 4 Clothing and Appearance 43
Sumptuary Laws 43
What kind of clothes would I wear? 48
Lacings 52
Where would I get my clothes? 52
How would I look after them? 55
How would I look after my skin and hair? 55
Chapter 5 Food and Shopping 58
What would I eat? 58
Staple foods - bread and ale 60
How would I cook the food? 64
How would I buy food and goods? 68
Money, weights and measures 71
Chapter 6 Health and Medicine 73
What diseases would I be most vulnerable to? 75
How healthy would I be? 76
What is my life expectancy? 79
How useful are physicians? 81
What is the difference between a physician and a surgeon? 86
Chapter 7 Work and Leisure 88
What is the attitude to work? 88
What kinds of jobs are available? 89
What kinds of jobs are available to women? 90
Femmes soles 93
What do women do if they have no job? 95
What entertainment is available? 97
How would I relax? 102
Chapter 8 Family Matters 103
Marriage 103
Divorce 107
How are women treated? 108
How are children treated? 110
How are children educated? 112
Pets 114
Chapter 9 Warfare 117
How often would I go to war? 117
What type of warfare would I practise? 120
Studying the art of war 123
What are my chances of survival? 125
How would I be treated as a veteran? 127
Chapter 10 Law and Order 130
How would I behave as a citizen? 130
How is the country policed? 131
The piepowder courts 133
How are criminals prosecuted? 134
Out on bail 137
Forest law 138
Oddities of the law 139
Conclusion 144
Notes 145
List of Illustrations 150
Suggested Further Reading 152
Index 153
