hting at
night. Torches and oil-burning lanterns were portable lights.
Furnishings were still sparse. Men sat on benches or joint stools
and women sat on cushions on the floor. Hall and parlor had a
table and benches and perhaps one chair. Bedrooms had a curtained
feather bed with pillows, blankets, and sheets. Clothes were
stored in a chest, sometimes with sweet-smelling herbs such as
lavender, rosemary, and southernwood. Better homes had wall
hanging and cupboards displaying plate. Laundresses washed clothes
in the streams, rivers, and public conduits. Country peasants
still lived in wood, straw, and mud huts with earth floors and a
smoky hearth in the center or a kitchen area under the eaves of
the hut.

In 1442, bricks began to be manufactured in the nation and so
there was more use of bricks in buildings. Chimneys were
introduced into manor houses where stone had been too expensive.
This was necessary if a second floor was added, so the smoke would
not damage the floor above it and would eventually go out of the
house.

Nobles and their retinue moved from manor to manor, as they had
for centuries, to keep watch upon their lands and to consume the
produce thereof; it was easier to bring the household to the
estate than to transport the yield of the estate to the household.
Also, at regular intervals sewage had to be removed from the
cellar pits. Often a footman walked or ran on foot next to his
master or mistress when they rode out on horseback or in a
carriage. He was there primarily for prestige.

Jousting tournaments were held for entertainment purposes only and
were followed by banquets of several courses of food served on
dishes of gold, silver, pewter, or wood on a linen cloth covering
the table. Hands were washed before and after the meal. People
washed their faces every morning after getting up. Teeth were
cleaned with powders. Fragrant leaves were chewed for bad breath.
Garlic was used for indigestion and other ailments. Feet were
rubbed with salt and vinegar to remove calluses. Good manners
included not slumping against a post, fidgeting, sticking one's
finger into one's nose, putting one's hands into one's hose to
scratch the privy parts, spitting over the table or too far,
licking one's plate, picking one's teeth, breathing stinking
breath into the face of the lord, blowing on one's food, stuffing
masses of bread into one's mouth, scratching one's head, loosening
one's girdle to belch, and probing