Question about Mideval England about the commoners?

Question

If you were a poor male or female serf who was unhappy with the life that you were born into, how would you go about changing your life? what were your options, if any, and what coud you hope to achieve?

Answer 1

I believe this is the beginning of highwaymen and poachers. Perhaps some would become a sailor.

I apologize for not having given you a link to the subject matter. Here is the Wiki word....good luck.

Answer 2

As a Serf, there was very little you could achieve. you belonged to the land and unless your 'Duke' or whatever gave you written permission you could not leave.

There were a few that were able to 'break the bonds of the Earth'.... but in each case they had to have a 'sponsor' to break the first link in that chain.

A life in the Clergy offereed you the best hope for that but even doing that was not easy.

The English Nobility maintained the right of "Prima Nocte" (first Night) among its 'people'.

This is portrayed accurately in the movie Braveheart as William Wallaces bride is taken to the English Castle on her honeymoon night to be enjoyed by the English Baron.

That "right" was seldom used, and came of the thoght that if the woman married outside of the village, the child was still of that village since its sire was the Duke. So if the woman was leaving the village to be with a man from another village, the Duke/ Baron could still lay claim to the child ater on if necessary.

Answer 3

Medieval England was what is called a "caste society", meaning that what you were born as, you die as. There was nothing a serf could do to change his/her lot in life.

Answer 4

Depended a great deal on your lord and master. The best and easiest way out was through the clergy. You could rise to be what you cared to buy.