There were stew-ponds for fish and a park with a
decoy for wild fowl. There was also a laundry, carpenter's bench,
blacksmith's forge, and pots and equipment of a house painter.
In the 1600s, towns were fortified by walled ditch instead of
relying on castles, which couldn't contain enough men to protect
the townspeople. Also in towns, water was supplied by local pumps
and wells. Also, floors were of polished wood or stone and strewn
with rushes in the country. A ladies' attendant might sleep the
same bedroom on a bed which slid under the ladies' bed.
Apprentices and shop boys had to sleep under the counter. Country
laborers slept in a loft on straw. Bread was made in each
household. There were bedroom chairs with enclosed chamber pots.
Wood fires were the usual type. Coal was coming in to use in the
towns and near coal mines. Charcoal was also used. Food was
roasted on a spit over a fire, baked, or broiled. People still
licked their fingers at meals. The well-to-do had wax candles.
Tallow dips were used by the poor and for the kitchen. People
drank cordials and home-made wines made with grapes, currants,
oranges, or ginger. Some mead was also drunk.
Tobacco, potatoes, tea, asparagus, kidney beans, scarlet runners,
cardoons (similar to artichokes), horse-radish, sugar-cane, and
turkeys for Christmas, were introduced from the New World, China,
and India. Tea was a rare and expensive luxury.
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