Was It a Good Time to be Living in Britain in the Medieval Times?

A rich person’s house.

Childhood

Childhood was not a good time. You were lucky to survive. If you were born rich, you weren’t looked after properly. An example is Simon Dewes. In December 1602, he mashed up his right eye so he couldn’t read with it. When he was five months, he was sent to a wet nurse for several months. When he was aged 1-8, he was sent to his granddads house who wasn’t so he was brought up by servants. His parents only visited him twice. When he was 8, he was sent to boarding school. Mothers tried not to get too close to the child as they were expected to die. They usually had the same name as the one who just died as a replacement. Babies were left in tight clothes and were hung on a peg in their urine and stool. They also never needed constant attention. This was done so their limbs grow straight. Many people did not let babies crawl because it was animal like. Many children feared their parents. Girls lungs got crushed by iron rings which were supposed to make them walk gracefully. Things got better and the parents cared more. Wet nursing was criticised and babies weren’t swaddle3d that much. They had a more chance of surviving childhood and better living conditions.

Rich children A poor family

Marriage

Men generally had more power than women. Women were expected to be maternal domestic and obedient. The wife had to produce male heirs mainly. Some marriages were very loving but couples spent little time together. Divorce was very uncommon. A wife sale is when both man and woman agree. It is a kind of divorce. A man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Poor people were free to choose their partner. If the wife was really naughty and gossiped a lot, they would put something like a cage on her head with a stick that presses down the tongue so she can’t speak. The tongue would also be damaged.

The brank / the gossips bridle