Women and Marriage in The 16th
Century
Harry White
Ryan Miller
Mrs. Fasulo
English D
March 21, 2014
16th Century Marriage
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The word wedding comes from the Old English wed, which means to pledge.
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The legal ages for marriage was 12 for a girl and 14 for a boy.
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The wedding outfit was usually a persons best clothes and the color did not matter.
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If an outfit was made then it would certainly be work afterwards the wedding.
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Brides wore veils
This is what they looked like
The Wedding Rings
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Wedding rings have been around for hundreds of years.
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In the 11th century the wedding ring was worn on the right hand on the ring finger. In the 16th century it was switched to
the left hand.
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Most rings were just plain.
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Some rings would be inscribed on the inner and outer parts of the ring with mottoes of love.
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On the right is a picture of a ring from France
Engagement and Betrothals
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A betrothal is basically the same thing as engagement, but in a betrothal you're told who you are going to marry.
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Many times in the 16th century people that were betrothed did not meet who they were to marry until the wedding day.
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Betrothals could be arranged for kids at the age of seven
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Betrothals could be held for kids at early ages but the two kids would not become an official couple until they both hit the
legal age of seven.
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Marriages could not be performed in certain times of the year, for example, it could not be performed in the weeks of Lent
or Advent because those were times of religious observance.
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Grooms were significantly older than the brides who could be as young as 13 or 14 years old.
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Before a marriage they needed Lords permission to get married.
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A woman could get out of an arranged marriage by buying out of the betrothal contract
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Woman would take virginity tests before a wedding so the man could make sure of her purity.
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The woman had to drink water steeped with black amber for 3 days, if she could not hold her own water it was proven she
was not pure.
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They would throw money over the heads of newlyweds
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After the betrothal the bride would get a ring with her name and her
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There were many special dishes at the weddings
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Some of the foods included bread, eggs, oxen, cheese, chicken, and boars.
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If the couple was poor then the families and guests would bring food for the wedding. The guests would also bring goods
and money to help the couple.
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Many got their food from Italian businesses for the wedding
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Popular flowers at a wedding in the 16th Century were lilies and roses.
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These flowers were laid all over the floor so when the guests stepped on them it would release the smell of them.
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In the 16th Century flowers were not carried in a bouquet, instead the flowers were put in wreaths for marriages to show
memory and love.
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The bride and groom would usually exchange three gifts.
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After the marriage the groom would give his newly wife a present for the loss of her virginity.
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The items could be anything valuable including a small piece of furniture.
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Gifts were given at the feast which was after the ceremony
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The groom would also provide a house and work to provide food and money.
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16th century women were not allowed in many professions, and female employment was often low paid
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In 1562, the Statute of Artificers, made it illegal to hire a man or a woman in a trade unless they had served a 7 year
apprenticeship.
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In the 16th century women worked spinning cloth. Women were also tailoresses, milliners, dyers, shoemakers and
embroiderers. There were also washerwomen.
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A common job for women was a domestic servant
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Most women did not go to school
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Tutors taught upper class girls
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Middle class girls were taught reading, writing, arithmetic and skills like sewing by their mothers
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some upper class women were highly educated
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Women were instructed in cooking, baking, brewing, distilled, preparing medicine, and caring for the sick
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They were expected to have knowledge of medicine
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They would have to make all of the food in the house
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More responsibilities than a normal housewife
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Milk the cows, feed livestock, grew herbs and vegetables
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If husband was away from the store she took care of of the business and accounts
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Mostly the men would work outside and the women would take care of the family inside
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Lawyer, Doctor, and teacher were firmly closed to women
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Tailors, milliners, dryers, shoemakers, servants, nannies were all jobs that women could have
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Most common type of work for women was a housewife
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Population lived in small villages
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Made their living from farming
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Trade and industry grew rapidly and England became a commercial country
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It became richer with the flourishing of coal mining, tin, lead and the iron industry
Bibliography
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Lambert, Tim. "LIFE FOR WOMEN IN TUDOR TIMES." Women in the 16th Century. N.p., Winter 2014. Web. 22
Mar. 2014.
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"Women in the 16th Century." Women in the 16th Century. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.
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Gilbert, Rosalie. "Weddings." Weddings. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.