Leisure

For the middling sort, leisure was not just time off from work or other responsibilities. It was an opportunity to establish and strengthen connections within the community. Providing hospitality in the household was an expected part of middling status, but entertaining in style could be advantageous in creating social contacts and opportunities. A sense of belonging and purpose could be fostered through select gatherings of family, neighbours, members of a guild, corporation or religious group. For the wealthy middling, leisure could extend beyond the onset of darkness as they could afford to burn candles at home, or visit establishments such as inns.

What an individual or household did with their leisure time told others a lot about their status and identity. This included their skills and ability—whether they could read or play an instrument, for example. But it also conveyed a sense of morality (embracing Bible readings and psalm singing rather than singing raucous ballads in alehouses). Traditional games, such as playing with cards or ‘at tables’ (backgammon), were supplemented with new playing objects: banqueting trenchers and emblem games that required high levels of literacy. Most towns and cities had areas or places that were known for specific forms of recreation, from archery, wrestling, or horse-racing to dramatic plays or animal blood sports.