Spitalfields - Tudor Spitalfields Flashcards
Who was the Spitalfields priory founded by?
Walter and Roisia Brune
Why was the area outside the Roman walls of London chosen for the priory’s location?
The area was chosen possibly because it was used as a cemetery in Roman times and was cheaper due to its location outside the city walls.
What type of people populated the Spitalfields priory in the Middle Ages?
The priory was populated by Augustinian canons (men) and lay sisters (unordained women) who took in the poor and sick, specializing in caring for women lying in.
How many patients could the infirmary at the Spital accommodate by the 1530s?
The infirmary at the Spital could accommodate 180 patients by the 1530s.
What annual tradition helped raise money for the hospital in Spitalfields?
An annual tradition involved a public sermon preached by a bishop at the Spital in the presence of the Lord Mayor of London and the Alderman to raise money for the hospital.
What activities took place in the open fields near the priory as the ‘Spital’ grew?
The open fields near the priory became an artillery ground where people practiced combat skills such as archery, swordplay, and later firearms.
What kind of people gathered in Spitalfields by the sixteenth century?
By the sixteenth century, Spitalfields was a place of refuge for rebels, criminals, and poorer people who did not fit social norms, as it was beyond the control of the City authorities.
What was the main road linking London with the north and east of the country in the Tudor era?
Em Street, the main road to Lincoln, linked London with the north and east of the country.
Along Em Street, there were likely inns, waggoners, blacksmiths, and establishments for drovers bringing cattle and sheep into the city.
What were liberties in the Tudor era, and how did they operate?
Liberties were sites, both within and without the City walls, that operated outside the usual legal system. They acted as sanctuaries for criminals, debtors, and aliens in exchange for payment.
What sparked the events of ‘Evil May Day’ in 1517?
‘Evil May Day’ in 1517 was sparked by a sermon against foreigners preached at St Mary Spital by a preacher named Dr. Bell, who exhorted Englishmen to hurt and grieve foreigners, accusing them of taking work away from Londoners.
What were the consequences of the events of ‘Evil May Day’ in 1517 for both immigrants and attackers?
The events of 1517 resulted in destroyed homes, ransacked possessions, and fatal repression for both immigrants and many of those who attacked them.
What fueled the events of ‘Evil May Day’ in 1517?
The events of 1517 emerged from long-running and growing resentments towards the perceived ‘privileges’ enjoyed by a few prominent immigrants, which led to a wider attack on thousands of foreigners trying to make ends meet.
How did ‘Evil May Day’ in 1517 affect relations between immigrants and native Londoners?
The violence of 1517 likely scarred relations between immigrant and native Londoners for a long time to come.
Were riots against migrants common in Tudor London?
No, riots against migrants were not typical in Tudor London. There were only occasional examples of anti-foreigner disorder in the decades following Evil May Day, and they were minor in comparison.
Give an example of how diverse groups of immigrants suffered during the events of ‘Evil May Day’ 1517.
Flemish cobblers and French royal courtiers, despite having little in common, both suffered at the hands of the crowd during the events of 1517.
