“...The Lord has a right to a proportion of whatever I make...”
Medieval society had a complex network of duties and taxes owed to others. A Lord received crops, money and days of service from his estates, but was also expected to provide patronage and charity.
“...The men drink ale instead of water...”
Beer was served at every meal for the household, including breakfast. At an ordinary meal, each ‘mess’ of four men were given a gallon of ale to drink.
“...It’s one of the few ways a woman can earn money...”
Women often participated in family businesses, but seldom headed them. Simple alemaking for neighbours was an exception. After the Black Death in the 1340s, however, a new institution developed – the alehouse – which allowed people to drink the beer on site. The cost of setting up an alehouse was high, but also promised more profit, and so brewing became male-dominated.