Summary of Ruth Goodman's How to Be a Tudor

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 The cockerels began their morning chorus and people began to wake up. The vast majority of people lived a rural life and kept their own chickens and pigs in the yard out the back. Cattle and sheep grazed on town commons. #2 Tudor beds were usually made of straw, and people would sleep on them in their clothes if they had to. They were not very comfortable, and they could become compacted and lumpy if not looked after. #3 The word bed in Tudor England meant something close to what we today mean by the word mattress, so the straw-filled sack was called a straw bed. Many people carefully selected not just the main bulk of the straw, but also additional stuffing from the straw of particular plants to aid a good night's sleep. #4 The floors of English houses were often laid with white clay and covered with rushes, which were problematic for the actors at the Globe Theatre. They became caught up in the skirts of the men playing female characters. The rushes were then cut into shorter lengths, which helped.