Rich people in Tudor times did not have jobs that earned them money. Rich people in Tudor times did not have jobs that earned them money. They had They had landland which they owned and would let peasants farm and grow crops on which they owned and would let peasants farm and grow crops on it. The peasants would have to pay the it. The peasants would have to pay the landownerlandowner money and some of the crops money and some of the crops they grew as they grew as RentRent. This is how . This is how LordsLords, , KnightsKnights and people of the and people of the NobilityNobility in in England made money – from England made money – from rentingrenting their land to peasants. their land to peasants.

In the times of the Tudors Kings and Queens In the times of the Tudors Kings and Queens did not have jobs like we do today. They did did not have jobs like we do today. They did not work to earn money. Their money came not work to earn money. Their money came from from taxingtaxing the people of Englandthe people of England . .

The work for Tudor Kings and Queens was to The work for Tudor Kings and Queens was to rulerule the country, telling their nobles and the country, telling their nobles and knights what to do. This was very hard work knights what to do. This was very hard work and they did this from their throne at and they did this from their throne at Westminster HallWestminster Hall or their Palace (at or their Palace (at Hampton Hampton Court.Court. Kings and Queens work was called Kings and Queens work was called Holding CourtHolding Court..

When they were not When they were not holding courtholding court Tudor Kings, Queens Tudor Kings, Queens and nobles and lords of the and nobles and lords of the courtcourt liked to enjoy liked to enjoy themselves. They would hunt animals such as deer, themselves. They would hunt animals such as deer, wild boar, and even bears. This was a wild boar, and even bears. This was a sportsport in Tudor in Tudor times, and rich Tudors took it very seriously. times, and rich Tudors took it very seriously.

They also liked to hold great feasts.They also liked to hold great feasts.

Rich Tudors also like to play and Rich Tudors also like to play and listen to music, write poetry, dance, listen to music, write poetry, dance, and watch plays at the theatre. and watch plays at the theatre.

Tudor kings and knights also practised their fighting Tudor kings and knights also practised their fighting skills by playing the sport of skills by playing the sport of JoustingJousting. . At aAt a Jousting Jousting TournamentTournament knights would fight each other for sport knights would fight each other for sport but not kill each other. The loser would ‘give in’ and but not kill each other. The loser would ‘give in’ and the winner would often win special prizes. the winner would often win special prizes. Henry VIIIHenry VIII loved loved JoustingJousting and and HuntingHunting and would and would sometimes wear out 8 horses in one day when he sometimes wear out 8 horses in one day when he was hunting.was hunting.

All these activities were done by men. It was the men who All these activities were done by men. It was the men who ruled the country and went hunting and jousting.ruled the country and went hunting and jousting.

Rich Tudor ladies were not allowed to do much. They Rich Tudor ladies were not allowed to do much. They could learn to read and write, play music, dance and sew. could learn to read and write, play music, dance and sew. But they were not allowed to make rules or hunt or joust.But they were not allowed to make rules or hunt or joust.

Most of the time rich Tudor ladies stayed inside their Most of the time rich Tudor ladies stayed inside their houses – they went out very little.houses – they went out very little.

Poor people in Tudor times had lots of work to do, and they hardly ever had Poor people in Tudor times had lots of work to do, and they hardly ever had time for fun and sports.time for fun and sports.

Most poor Tudors were farmers (Most poor Tudors were farmers (peasantspeasants). They had to grow their own food ). They had to grow their own food to eat. They grew crops and kept cows and sheep and chickens. to eat. They grew crops and kept cows and sheep and chickens.

The peasants also had to give some of the food they farmed to the The peasants also had to give some of the food they farmed to the LordLord or or KnightKnight who owned the land they worked on. This was the peasant’s who owned the land they worked on. This was the peasant’s RentRent or or paymentpayment to the land owner for letting them farm on his land. to the land owner for letting them farm on his land.

There were lots of other jobs that poor people in Tudor times did. Jobs such as:

Carpenters – working Carpenters – working with woodwith wood

Water CarrierWater CarrierKitchen MaidKitchen Maid

Travelling Travelling Shoe makerShoe makerYarn Spinner- spinning wool into Yarn Spinner- spinning wool into

threadthread

Weaver – weaving clothWeaver – weaving cloth

Book Binder – making Book Binder – making books to be readbooks to be read

One of the worst jobs in Tudor times must have been what you can see in this One of the worst jobs in Tudor times must have been what you can see in this picture. picture. It shows a man shovelling horse and human manure from a big pile of it in the It shows a man shovelling horse and human manure from a big pile of it in the street into a cart. Tudor laws (rules) made people put their toilet waste into street into a cart. Tudor laws (rules) made people put their toilet waste into piles in the street rather than throw it anywhere. They thought this would piles in the street rather than throw it anywhere. They thought this would stop diseases. A stream of filthy water runs down the middle of the street.stop diseases. A stream of filthy water runs down the middle of the street.

What else can you see going on in this Tudor street?What else can you see going on in this Tudor street?

Here are two pictures of Tudor towns.Here are two pictures of Tudor towns.

What can you see happening in them?What can you see happening in them?

Can you name any of the jobs these Tudor Can you name any of the jobs these Tudor people are doing?people are doing?

What clues in the picture help you?What clues in the picture help you?

Here are two more pictures of Tudor Here are two more pictures of Tudor towns.towns.

What can you see happening in these What can you see happening in these towns?towns?

What jobs can you see these Tudor What jobs can you see these Tudor people doing?people doing?

Some poor people in Tudor times could not work. They might have been Some poor people in Tudor times could not work. They might have been disabled when they were born, or had a disease which meant they were not disabled when they were born, or had a disease which meant they were not strong enough to work.strong enough to work.

These people had to These people had to begbeg for money and food so that they could live. for money and food so that they could live.These people were called These people were called BeggarsBeggars, and most , and most other Tudor people did not like them.other Tudor people did not like them.

There were some There were some BeggarsBeggars who made who made lots of money out of begging – but this lots of money out of begging – but this was against the law.was against the law.

This Tudor picture shows a criminal This Tudor picture shows a criminal during the time of Elizabeth I, called during the time of Elizabeth I, called Nicholas JenningsNicholas Jennings, who disguised , who disguised himself as a beggar to trick money out himself as a beggar to trick money out of people.of people.

The left side of the picture shows The left side of the picture shows Nicholas dressed in rich Tudor clothesNicholas dressed in rich Tudor clothes because he made so much money from because he made so much money from begging.begging.

On the right side of the picture Nicholas On the right side of the picture Nicholas is disguised as is disguised as a beggar in ripped and a beggar in ripped and ragged poor clothesragged poor clothes..

Tudor people were worried about the Tudor people were worried about the numbers of numbers of ‘professional’ beggars‘professional’ beggars that that begged on the streets for money and begged on the streets for money and food.food. Some beggars were real poor people, Some beggars were real poor people, but there were others, but there were others, tricksterstricksters, who, who disguised themselves as beggars and disguised themselves as beggars and tricked people into giving them money tricked people into giving them money and food.and food.

If beggars were caught, they were often If beggars were caught, they were often whipped with a whipped with a horse whiphorse whip and chased and chased out of the town. Or they locked the out of the town. Or they locked the beggars into beggars into StocksStocks or or PilloriesPillories in the in the centre of the town and people would centre of the town and people would throw rotten vegetables at them.throw rotten vegetables at them.

Here is a painting of Here is a painting of Tudor men.Tudor men.

What can you What can you describe about these describe about these men?men?

Can you explain what Can you explain what type of Tudor people type of Tudor people these two men might these two men might be?be?

Are there any clues in Are there any clues in the picture to help the picture to help you?you?

Here is another painting of Tudor people.Here is another painting of Tudor people.

What type of Tudor people do you think they are? What clues tell you?What type of Tudor people do you think they are? What clues tell you?

What do you think these people are doing? What clues tell you?What do you think these people are doing? What clues tell you?