Jeanne de Foix, Vicomtesse de Castillon

What people wore

Class-based clothing restrictions

Sumptuary laws in 1549 restricted the middle class from wearing velvet except on petticoats or sleeves, while artisans and peasants were forbidden from wearing velvet or silk entirely.

At the table

Diet of poor vs. wealthy peasants

While wealthier peasants had access to various meats and fruits, poorer families primarily relied on a basic diet of soup, bread, and cheese. They often drank a local beverage known as picotte instead of wine.

News and letters

Travelers and word-of-mouth spread news

Ordinary people relied on travelers like merchants, pilgrims, and students to carry news via word-of-mouth at inns, markets, and town halls.

Getting around

Daily distance for pack animals

In level country, pack animals carrying heavy loads typically covered 15 to 25 miles in a single day.

What it cost

Meat prices from 1540 to 1549

Between 1540 and 1549, the average price of a pound of beef in the region was 5.5/6 deniers stebler, while veal and mutton cost 5.5/12 deniers stebler per pound.

Daily life

Limited Availability of Primary Schooling

Primary education was rare and highly localized, often funded by individual patrons or local church officials; for instance, a school in Bauzemont was supported by an annual endowment of four résaux of wheat. Instruction was not widespread, and specialized secondary or higher education usually required travel outside the duchy, such as to Paris.

Work

Typical peasant workday in summer

During the summer, the workday for peasants started as early as 3 am and lasted until dusk, following the agrarian calendar.