Hygiene Practices of Nobility in the 14th-16th Centuries: A Historical Perspective
The standards of hygiene among nobility and royalty during the 14th to 16th centuries have long been a subject of curiosity and discussion. Far from living in constant dirt and stench, the upper echelons of medieval society took hygiene seriously, often adopting practices that would be considered unusual or even outdated by today’s standards.
Changes in Attitude
During this period, the attitude towards hygiene underwent significant changes. Early humanists such as Erasmus and Montaigne documented these transformations, with each providing unique insights into the evolving norms.
Erasmus observed that bathing was declining in popularity over time, despite its earlier prevalence. Writing in the 15th century, Erasmus noted:
I have seen in my travels almost all the famous baths of Christendom, and for some years past have begun to make use of them myself: for I look upon bathing as generally wholesome and believe that we suffer no little inconvenience in our health by having left off the custom that was generally observed in former times almost by all nations and is yet in many.
On the other hand, Montaigne, writing in the latter part of the 16th century, described the practice as almost non-existent in France. His sentiment was echoed by others who noted that individuals from the nobility and royalty strived to maintain a certain level of cleanliness.
Hygiene Routines and Medical Beliefs
The changes in hygiene practices were driven by different medical beliefs. Traditionally, physicians believed that the pores of the skin allowed for 'matter' to come out freely, aiding in the body's natural detoxification. However, with the advent of recurring plagues and syphilis, the understanding of the skin's pores shifted.
According to the physician Thomas Moulton in his 1545 publication This is the Myrrour or Glasse of Helth:
‘Also use no baths or stoves nor swet too much for all openeth the pores of a manne’s body and maketh the venomous ayre to enter and for to infecte the bloode.’
Medical advice of the era suggested avoiding places where the air was stagnant, such as marshes, tanyards, and muck heaps. The air needed to be fresh and sweet-smelling, and skin pores were to remain sealed. Hands and face were to be rinsed regularly, using clean cold water or perfumed cold washing waters produced within the home.
Practical Hygiene Regimes
Nobles employed a variety of methods to maintain their cleanliness. For instance, Sir Thomas Elyot's book The Castel of Helth in 1534 prescribed a vigorous rubbing of the body with a linen cloth in the morning. This process was intended to draw out toxins through open pores, with the coarse linen cloth collecting the unwanted bodily matter.
Ruth Goodman, a well-known historical reenactor, documented her experience following a Tudor-era hygiene regime. This involved using dry linen towels and occasionally rubbing the body with a coarser linen cloth. She wrote:
I changed the smock and hose daily and rubbed myself down with a linen cloth in the evening before bed and I took neither shower nor bath for the entire period. I remained remarkably smell-free – even my feet. My skin also stayed in good condition – better than usual in fact.
These regimes were not limited to nobility and royalty; many lawyers and scholars were also concerned with maintaining a clean and presentable appearance. John Taylor, in his 17th-century poem In Praise of Clean Linen, highlighted the importance of clean linen in maintaining social acceptability:
Remember that your laundress pains is great When labours only keep you sweet and neat . . . By her thy linen’s sweet and cleanely drest Else thou would’st stink above ground like a beast
Even with these meticulous practices, the overall cleanliness of the noble class is often debated. Some modern writers argue that without regular bathing, Tudor England must have been a place of constant filth and stench. However, the belief in the cleansing power of linen and the importance of laundry make a significant difference in personal hygiene.
Renowned historical reenactors and actors have also followed these regimes, further validating their effectiveness. While no one individual can accurately represent the entire population, these practices demonstrate that a certain level of hygiene was indeed achievable, and it was frequently maintained among the nobility and royalty.
While some may have struggled, the overarching trend in the 14th to 16th centuries was one of prioritizing cleanliness, albeit through different means compared to today. The belief in the cleansing power of linen and the importance of regular laundry is a testament to the sophisticated understanding of hygiene of the time.
Thus, it is clear that the practices of nobility and royalty in this period were rooted in a sophisticated balance of traditional and newly understood medical beliefs. The level of hygiene was not as dire as often presumed, and the importance of cleanliness and neatness was embedded in the culture of the time.