Leisure and the Nobility of England
As the English Renaissance begins, and opinions toward art and entertainment become more favorable, it opens entirely new doors for expression. Nobles, the section of society with the money to fund the expansion of art and entertainment, now encouraged artists where before such expressions were considered irreligious and harmful to society. The newfound appreciation of the English noble class toward recreational expressions and activities was a byproduct of the rise of the Humanist movement.
A Couple Relevant and Prestigious Opinions on the Matter
French Humanist François Rabelais considered play and recreation to be a central and crucial facet of education.
English Philosopher John Locke also found recreation to be a necessary part of life. His idea was that “Recreation was not being idle, it provided a specific benefit by easing and helping to recover the people wearied by their work.”
Political Tones of Leisurely Pursuits
For English nobility, activities of leisure were often perceived symbols of status. The number of parks a noble family owned, the skill of a noble at jousting or fencing, or how impressive of a tournament a noble could hold were considered signs of prestige and great status. Nobles tended to use their leisurely pursuits not just as entertainment, but also as displays of wealth, power, and influence. Among the nobility, the advantage of leisurely pursuits was not limited to social and recreational value, but could also be utilized for political purposes.
Parks, Preserves and Gardens
As appreciation and social acceptance for arose the common emergence of three types of parks among the nobility.
There were hunting preserves, for wild game hunting.
There were very formal gardens, which were meant to be aesthetically pleasing, surrounding nobles with visual beauty.
There were parks created for social activities such as picnicking.
The quantity, size, and splendor of a noble's parks would often be used to showcase his affluence and power. All these would be founded, maintained, and utilized exclusively by the nobles and their guests. If commoners were found hunting in a noble's own reserve or lounging in a noble's garden, they would be susceptible to significant punishment, and in some cases death. Nobles took their leisurely practices very seriously, and would go to great lengths to protect them.
There were hunting preserves, for wild game hunting.
There were very formal gardens, which were meant to be aesthetically pleasing, surrounding nobles with visual beauty.
There were parks created for social activities such as picnicking.
The quantity, size, and splendor of a noble's parks would often be used to showcase his affluence and power. All these would be founded, maintained, and utilized exclusively by the nobles and their guests. If commoners were found hunting in a noble's own reserve or lounging in a noble's garden, they would be susceptible to significant punishment, and in some cases death. Nobles took their leisurely practices very seriously, and would go to great lengths to protect them.
Noble Entertainment and Recreation
The range of popular leisurely entertainment for the nobility during the 16th and 17th centuries varied from bear baiting to watching plays. This social class's willingness to support many performing arts during this time period fed into the growth of drama and spectacle in England.
Actual recreational activities English nobles partook into also had a formidable range, from tennis to jousting. This time period saw the large scale development and popularization of many sports, such as tennis and golf, across the noble class.