Trees were planted, pruned, and grafted
onto each other.
Householders had the responsibility to teach their family and
servants religion and morals, and often read from the Bible to
them. Many thought that the writers of the Bible wrote down the
exact words of God, so the passages of the Bible should be taken
literally. A noble lord made written rules with penalties for his
country household, which numbered about a hundred, including
family, retainers, and servants. He enforced them by fines,
flogging, and threats of dismissal. The lady of the house saw that
the household, held together as an economic and social unit. The
noble's family, retainers, guests, and the head servants, such as
chaplain and children's tutor, and possibly a musician, dined
together at one table. The family included step children and
married sons and daughters with their spouses. Young couples often
lived with the parents of one of them. Chandeliers of candles lit
rooms. There were sandglass clocks. Popular home activities
included reading, conversation, gardening, and music-making.
Smoking tobacco from a clay pipe and taking snuff became popular
with men. For amusement, one of the lord's household would take
his place in managing the estate for twelve days. He was called
the "lord of misrule", and mimicked his lord, and issued comic
orders. Clothes were washed in rivers and wells. At spring
cleanings, windows were opened, every washable surface washed, and
feather beds and pillows exposed to the sun.
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