Role of the noblewomen
A noblewoman would oversee the running of the household, and would often be left in charge while her husband was away at war or at court. She would be expected to have a good knowledge of estate business and be able to supervise the work of the men on the estate, manage the finances, settle any disputes that might arise, and even defend her estate against attack if necessary.
She should devote some thought to how she will be able to provide for the household until her husband comes back, and what financial resources she has and can find in order to do this. She must do her utmost to avoid overburdening her men, for this is the sort of thing that will provoke their enmity. This lady should speak authoratively about the deliberations of her council, she should not say one thing today and another tomorrow. She will give courage to her men-at-arms by her eloquent words and inspire them to be good and loyal and to do well.
She will have the animals brought in at the right time, take care how the shepherd looks after them and sees that he is control of them and is not cruel. She sees that the animals are kept clean, protected from too hot a sun and from the rain and prevented from catching mange. If she is wise she will often go in the evening with one of her women to see how the sheep are being penned up. The lady will rear the young animals carefully and be present at the shearing and ensure that it is done at the right time of year. In areas where there are broad plainss and grazing lands, she will keep a herd of cattle and grow oats for them to eat, selling a little of it. If she has woods she will keep a breeding stock of horses there.
In winter she and her girls and young women will occupy themselves in making clothing. They will select the wool, putting the best quality to one side to make fine garments for herself and her husband or to sell if she needs to do so. She uses the coarse wool for little children and for her women and household
She should devote some thought to how she will be able to provide for the household until her husband comes back, and what financial resources she has and can find in order to do this. She must do her utmost to avoid overburdening her men, for this is the sort of thing that will provoke their enmity. This lady should speak authoratively about the deliberations of her council, she should not say one thing today and another tomorrow. She will give courage to her men-at-arms by her eloquent words and inspire them to be good and loyal and to do well.
She will have the animals brought in at the right time, take care how the shepherd looks after them and sees that he is control of them and is not cruel. She sees that the animals are kept clean, protected from too hot a sun and from the rain and prevented from catching mange. If she is wise she will often go in the evening with one of her women to see how the sheep are being penned up. The lady will rear the young animals carefully and be present at the shearing and ensure that it is done at the right time of year. In areas where there are broad plainss and grazing lands, she will keep a herd of cattle and grow oats for them to eat, selling a little of it. If she has woods she will keep a breeding stock of horses there.
In winter she and her girls and young women will occupy themselves in making clothing. They will select the wool, putting the best quality to one side to make fine garments for herself and her husband or to sell if she needs to do so. She uses the coarse wool for little children and for her women and household