The Tudor dynasty was not a secure one, especially when it took so long
for Henry VIII to have a male heir. There was a compelling need to ensure that
men of all ages and classes should be trained and ready should a war break out.
Sport was an excellent way of achieving this. At one time archery was
compulsory and men practised at the town butts each week. Wrestling was also
encouraged and the upper class went hunting, not just to provide meat for the
table but also to keep fit and practise their riding skills. Running at the
quintain was also considered training for war. This was a target on a pole that
was set on a crossbar. At the other end of the pole hung a sack of sand. The
aim of the exercise was for the young man to ride his horse towards the target
and hit it with his lance, but the secret was to gallop away quickly enough so
that the bag of sand did not fly round and hit the rider in the back.
Dancing, music and the theatre were important in all walks of life and was very
popular as a method of meeting members of the opposite sex. It was especially
important for women because they did not have the freedom to partake in things
like jousting and other exercises that men were permitted. It was also
acceptable for women to dance with each other and ask men to dance with them. Bowling, both indoor and outdoor, was very popular as was tennis. Henry VIII had a bowling alley and a tennis court built at Hampton Court Palace.
Events that would be repugnant to us today were considered excellent spectator sports. These included public executions, designed to discourage crime, but which became an enjoyable day out. Animals were also used as sport. Bears and bulls were baited by mastiff dogs, both of which were enjoyed by Elizabeth I and cock-fighting was common.
Events that would be repugnant to us today were considered excellent spectator sports. These included public executions, designed to discourage crime, but which became an enjoyable day out. Animals were also used as sport. Bears and bulls were baited by mastiff dogs, both of which were enjoyed by Elizabeth I and cock-fighting was common.
The Twelve Days of Christmas was an important event in the Tudor year.
Except for tending to the animals, no work would be done from Christmas Eve
until the first Monday after 12th night. This was a time for people
to visit their neighbours and share “minced pyes”, which had 13 ingredients in
them to represent Christ and the apostles. They would also have a Feast of
Fools, choosing one of their number to be the “Lord of Misrule” whereupon there
would be copious amounts of food and alcohol eaten and drunk and this resulted
in wild and unruly behaviour. A Christmas Pie - consisting of a turkey stuffed
with a goose, stuffed with a chicken, stuffed with a partridge, stuffed with a
pigeon was presented in a pastry case called a coffin - would be one of the
dishes on the table.
Mantle of Malice, Book 3 in The Tudor Enigma will be published on 23rd February 2015.
You can find out more and follow April here -
Mantle of Malice, Book 3 in The Tudor Enigma will be published on 23rd February 2015.
You can find out more and follow April here -
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