I have written two #classic#fact fiction# novels,
Yvonne, Lady of Cassio, Volume One of The Lovages of Cassio set in Edward II’s
reign, and Grace, Lady of Cassio, Volume Two, set in Edward III’s reign, (to be
published on the 1st of September 2021). At heart I am a historian,
so in this and my recent blogs, I am sharing some of my intensive research into
times past.
Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness
Medieval people believed in the saying ‘cleanliness is
next to godliness.’ They thought a spiritually clean person without sin was
spared from illness, and the necessity of seeking redemption through God’s
mercy.
Bathing
In an era when there were no anti-perspirants or deodorants people who stank because they neglected personal hygiene would be avoided (to use a cliché) ‘like the plague’. Men with unsavoury occupations washed in rivers or other natural sources of clean water. Immersing the body in water indoors or outdoors had the benefit of ridding the body from fleas and lice. Mothers or nurses bathed babies frequently and sweetened their linen swaddling with powdered herbs or flower petals mixed with salt. Those in holy orders at abbeys at monasteries bathed between two and four times a year.
Like royalty, the families of noble men and women, and
wealthy merchants bathed in wooden tubs lined with cloths. King John bathed
every three weeks. Henry IV bathed on the evening before his coronation. He
instituted The Order of The Bath to stress the importance of physical and
spiritual purification before a knight made his vows. Some of Edward III’s
palaces contained bathrooms with hot and cold running water.
Washing
It took too long to heat water for daily baths. Every morning basins of water were filled for men and women in respectable households to wash their hands and faces. Women attended to children too young to wash themselves. Before and after meals, everyone washed and dried their hands. Every week those in holy orders washed their feet in foot basins. Travellers who went on long journeys, also cleaned their feet in foot basins
Hair
Hair was washed in copper basins in water mixed with cinnamon, liquorice, and cumin instead of soap which irritated the skin.
Teeth
People believed bad breath caused disease. To freshen it they chose one of these spices to chew, cardamon, liquorice, aniseed, cumin, or fennel.
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