Hospitality was an important form of charity for all levels of early modern society. Some middling people might donate food to bread boxes in their local church, but others might also host neighbours within their own homes, providing food, company and warmth for those most in need. Charity was especially important around times of celebration and Christian holidays. During the Christmas of 1618, wealthy actor and businessman Edward Alleyn recorded an act of charity in his diary: ‘christmas daye the pore dined and supt with us’. Over the next two days (26 and 27 December), Alleyn hosted more dinners for his acquaintances and their families. He spent a total of £3 4s on hospitality over the festive period, a significant amount of money at the time.<br /> <br /> Edward Alleyn was keen to show his elite middling status through his acts of charity. In 1619, he founded a college on his estate in Dulwich, just outside London. This charitable school formed part of a series of buildings, including ‘a chapel, a schoolhouse and twelve almshouses’. The school was modelled on other charitable foundations of the day, such as Charterhouse School, opened by Thomas Sutton a few years earlier in Farringdon, London. Alleyn’s accounts record the large sums of money he spent on the school and its pupils, from clothing to events.<br /> <br /> Edward Alleyn’s charitable hosting was likely an extravagant affair, but less wealthy middling individuals would follow a similar principle, using celebrations such as Christmas to offer hospitality and so demonstrate their Christian compassion to those less fortunate.
Excerpt from Edward Alleyn’s account (The Diary of Edward Alleyn), 1618

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Excerpt from Edward Alleyn’s account

Excerpt from Edward Alleyn’s account (The Diary of Edward Alleyn), 1618

Hospitality was an important form of charity for all levels of early modern society. Some middling people might donate food to bread boxes in their local church, but others might also host neighbours within their own homes, providing food, company and warmth for those most in need. Charity was especially important around times of celebration and Christian holidays. During the Christmas of 1618, wealthy actor and businessman Edward Alleyn recorded an act of charity in his diary: ‘christmas daye the pore dined and supt with us’. Over the next two days (26 and 27 December), Alleyn hosted more dinners for his acquaintances and their families. He spent a total of £3 4s on hospitality over the festive period, a significant amount of money at the time.

Edward Alleyn was keen to show his elite middling status through his acts of charity. In 1619, he founded a college on his estate in Dulwich, just outside London. This charitable school formed part of a series of buildings, including ‘a chapel, a schoolhouse and twelve almshouses’. The school was modelled on other charitable foundations of the day, such as Charterhouse School, opened by Thomas Sutton a few years earlier in Farringdon, London. Alleyn’s accounts record the large sums of money he spent on the school and its pupils, from clothing to events.

Edward Alleyn’s charitable hosting was likely an extravagant affair, but less wealthy middling individuals would follow a similar principle, using celebrations such as Christmas to offer hospitality and so demonstrate their Christian compassion to those less fortunate.

Object Type The Diary of Edward Alleyn
Year 1618
Owned By Dulwich College Archives, MS IX
Keywords writing; recording; self-fashioning; remembering; hosting; dining; giving; belief; charity; poor; gender; reputation; credit; accounts; manuscript; food/drink
Image Credit Diary of Edward Alleyn, Dulwich College Archives MS IX f26v © David Cooper (Not For Downloading)

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