1) Rich people in Tudor times derived their wealth from owning land that peasants farmed and paid rent on in the form of crops or money. 2) Kings and queens received money from taxing citizens and ruled the country from their thrones, but also enjoyed leisure activities like hunting, music, and plays. 3) Poor people had little leisure and held jobs like farmers, laborers, and craftspeople, while some could not work and resorted to begging.

2. 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 hadThey had landland which they owned and would let peasants farm and grow crops onwhich they owned and would let peasants farm and grow crops on
it. The peasants would have to pay theit. The peasants would have to pay the landownerlandowner money and some of the cropsmoney and some of the crops
they grew asthey grew as RentRent. This is how. This is how LordsLords,, KnightsKnights and people of theand people of the NobilityNobility inin
England made money – fromEngland made money – from rentingrenting their land to peasants.their land to peasants.

3. In the times of the Tudors Kings and QueensIn the times of the Tudors Kings and Queens
did not have jobs like we do today. They diddid not have jobs like we do today. They did
not work to earn money. Their money camenot work to earn money. Their money came
fromfrom taxingtaxing the people of Englandthe people of England ..
The work for Tudor Kings and Queens was toThe work for Tudor Kings and Queens was to
rulerule the country, telling their nobles andthe country, telling their nobles and
knights what to do. This was very hard workknights what to do. This was very hard work
and they did this from their throne atand they did this from their throne at
Westminster HallWestminster Hall or their Palace (ator their Palace (at HamptonHampton
Court.Court. Kings and Queens work was calledKings and Queens work was called
Holding CourtHolding Court..

4. When they were notWhen they were not holding courtholding court Tudor Kings, QueensTudor Kings, Queens
and nobles and lords of theand nobles and lords of the courtcourt liked to enjoyliked 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 awild boar, and even bears. This was a sportsport in Tudorin 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.

5. Rich Tudors also like to play andRich 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.

6. Tudor kings and knights also practised their fightingTudor kings and knights also practised their fighting
skills by playing the sport ofskills by playing the sport of JoustingJousting.. At aAt a JoustingJousting
TournamentTournament knights would fight each other for sportknights would fight each other for sport
but not kill each other. The loser would ‘give in’ andbut 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 lovedloved JoustingJousting andand HuntingHunting and wouldand would
sometimes wear out 8 horses in one day when hesometimes wear out 8 horses in one day when he
was hunting.was hunting.

7. All these activities were done by men. It was the men whoAll 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. TheyRich 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 theirMost of the time rich Tudor ladies stayed inside their
houses – they went out very little.houses – they went out very little.

8. Poor people in Tudor times had lots of work to do, and they hardly ever hadPoor 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.

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

10. There were lots of other jobs that poor people in Tudor times did.
Jobs such as:
Carpenters – workingCarpenters – working
with woodwith wood
Water CarrierWater CarrierKitchen MaidKitchen Maid
TravellingTravelling
Shoe makerShoe makerYarn Spinner- spinning wool intoYarn Spinner- spinning wool into
threadthread
Weaver – weaving clothWeaver – weaving cloth
Book Binder – makingBook Binder – making
books to be readbooks to be read

11. One of the worst jobs in Tudor times must have been what you can see in thisOne 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 theIt 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 intostreet 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 wouldpiles 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?

12. 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 TudorCan 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?

13. Here are two more pictures of TudorHere are two more pictures of Tudor
towns.towns.
What can you see happening in theseWhat can you see happening in these
towns?towns?
What jobs can you see these TudorWhat jobs can you see these Tudor
people doing?people doing?

14. Some poor people in Tudor times could not work. They might have beenSome 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 notdisabled when they were born, or had a disease which meant they were not
strong enough to work.strong enough to work.
These people had toThese 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 calledThese people were called BeggarsBeggars, and most, and most
other Tudor people did not like them.other Tudor people did not like them.

15. There were someThere were some BeggarsBeggars who madewho made
lots of money out of begging – but thislots of money out of begging – but this
was against the law.was against the law.
This Tudor picture shows a criminalThis Tudor picture shows a criminal
during the time of Elizabeth I, calledduring the time of Elizabeth I, called
Nicholas JenningsNicholas Jennings, who disguised, who disguised
himself as a beggar to trick money outhimself as a beggar to trick money out
of people.of people.
The left side of the picture showsThe left side of the picture shows
Nicholas dressed in rich Tudor clothesNicholas dressed in rich Tudor clothes
because he made so much money frombecause he made so much money from
begging.begging.
On the right side of the picture NicholasOn the right side of the picture Nicholas
is disguised asis disguised as a beggar in ripped anda beggar in ripped and
ragged poor clothesragged poor clothes..

16. Tudor people were worried about theTudor people were worried about the
numbers ofnumbers of ‘professional’ beggars‘professional’ beggars thatthat
begged on the streets for money andbegged 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 anddisguised themselves as beggars and
tricked people into giving them moneytricked people into giving them money
and food.and food.
If beggars were caught, they were oftenIf beggars were caught, they were often
whipped with awhipped with a horse whiphorse whip and chasedand chased
out of the town. Or they locked theout of the town. Or they locked the
beggars intobeggars into StocksStocks oror PilloriesPillories in thein the
centre of the town and people wouldcentre of the town and people would
throw rotten vegetables at them.throw rotten vegetables at them.

17. Here is a painting ofHere is a painting of
Tudor men.Tudor men.
What can youWhat can you
describe about thesedescribe about these
men?men?
Can you explain whatCan you explain what
type of Tudor peopletype of Tudor people
these two men mightthese two men might
be?be?
Are there any clues inAre there any clues in
the picture to helpthe picture to help
you?you?

18. 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?