Nicholas Francis

What people wore

Clothing debt settled for 6 livres, 8 sols

In 1626, a servant named Jean Trottier received a new doublet made of coarse linen, a white frieze waistcoat, and white serge hose, which settled a debt of 6 livres and 8 sols.

Daily life

Crowded living in shared urban spaces

In 17th-century Paris, ordinary people often lived in crowded, narrow buildings where a single room served as a kitchen, sleeping area, and living space. Privacy was minimal, as rooms were frequently shared by entire families, lodgers, or apprentices.

Work

Diverse common jobs in rural and urban areas

Around 85% of the population lived in the countryside and worked in agriculture, while urban dwellers relied on diverse trades like baking, sewing, and manual labor. Common urban jobs included artisans, servants, boatmen, porters, and carters who moved essential goods like grain and stone.

Music

Lute and vocal music popularity

Private aristocratic and bourgeois entertainment was almost entirely vocal, with the lute often accompanying singing in the popular air de cour genre.

At the table

Drinking wine instead of dangerous water

Drinking water was often considered unhealthy, so ordinary people preferred to drink diluted wine or piquette, a low-quality drink made from grape pomace.

Getting around

River travel was economical but slow

Traveling by river was a common and economical method, though it could be slow; a journey from Paris to Rouen by water could take three or four days downstream, but returning upstream took about four days.

What it cost

Medical treatment cost versus cutlery price

A medical enema in the 17th century cost 15 sous, which was the same price as a gross of small whistle knives.