Medieval and Tudor Jobs Quiz - The Tudor Society

How much do you know about the professions of medieval and Tudor people? Test your knowledge with this fun quiz.

Q1) One awful job in medieval and Tudor times was that of the executioner. What did the executioner have to do to heads to keep crows off them when they were put on spikes?

Parboil the heads with cumin seed and salt

Remove the eyes and brains

Cover the heads with netting

Remove the brains and fill with herbs

Correct!

Wrong! He had to parboil the heads with cumin and salt.

Q2) What was another name for a "turnbrooch"?

Goldsmith

Blacksmith

Silversmith

Spitboy

Correct!

Wrong! It was a spitboy.

Q3) Which medieval/Tudor craftsman was involved in embalming dead bodies?

The butcher

The apothecary

The chandler

The cordwainer

Correct! The chandler, or candlemaker, would embalm the body and 'cere' it in a waxed shroud ready for burial.

Wrong! The chandler, or candlemaker, would embalm the body and 'cere' it in a waxed shroud ready for burial.

Q4) What did a cordwainer make?

Shoes

Ribbons and cords

Clothes

Medicines

Correct!

Wrong! He made shoes from leather.

Q5) The ewerer was an office in a nobleman's household, what was he responsible for?

The pantry, where dried goods were kept

The basins of warm water used for washing hands before a meal

Serving the wine at mealtimes

The tablecloths, napkins and towels

Correct!

Wrong! He was responsible for the ewers, or basins, of warm water used for washing hands before meals.

Q6) A metalworker who made small iron objects like bits, spurs and stirrups was known as a ......................

Whitesmith

Cutler

Loriner

Pewterer

Correct!

Wrong! It was a loriner.

Q7) What did a "cooper" make?

Beer

Pies

Small wooden objects

Barrels

Correct!

Wrong! He made barrels.

Q8) Who was responsible for feathering arrow shafts for long bow arrows?

A bowyer

A fletcher

A featherer

A harker

Correct!

Wrong! It was a fletcher.

Q9) Who was responsible for wiping the King's bottom?

The Groom of the Stool

The Lord Chamberlain

The Valet de Chambre

The Sewer

Correct!

Wrong! It was the Groom of the Stool.

Q10) In a noble or royal household in the medieval era the marshal was originally in charge of the marshalsea, but what was the "marshalsea"?

The pantry

The kitchen

The garden

Anything to do with horses or travel.

Correct!

Wrong! It was anything to do with horse, stabling and travel arrangements.

Medieval and Tudor jobs