Can you help me with my Elizabethan era speech?

Question

For an English project, I have to dress up like someone from the Elizabethan era and give a speech on my life.
My fictitious person person is Constance Townsend--a seamstress--but I don't know what century I should say I was born in. (I'm wearing a simple skirt, apron, poet's blouse, lace up vest and bonnet.) This is my speech as of now:
"My name is Constance Townsend and I was born in the ____ century to a cobbler and a seamstress in England. At age __, I began to work as a seamstress. My daily life includes making my own patterns, hand-sewing, making my own measurements, and keeping my _[word for shoppe or work area?]_ in good order. I normally make dresses for the middle/upper (?) class. All the dresses I make are hand-sewn and require care and patience to finish. Often times, I will need to make multiple petticoats for one dress. The dress-making process can take anything from weeks to months, depending on the extravagance of the dress.

"Outside of my occupation, I must care for my family's house. Before and after working hours, I clean the house and cook meals with my mother and sisters."

I'm not sure what else to include or how to end my speech. If you have any ideas of things to add, they are much appreciated!!

Answer 1

"My name is Constance Townsend and I was born in the YEAR OF OUR LORD 1601 to cobbler and a seamstress in England. At age 11 I began to work as a seamstress. My daily life includes making my own patterns, hand-sewing, making my own measurements, and keeping my mistresses shoppe in good order. I normally make dresses for the growing middle class especialy those in the wool trade. All the dresses I make are hand-sewn and require care and patience to finish. Often times, I will need to make multiple petticoats for one dress. The dress-making process can take anything from weeks to months, depending on the extravagance of the dress.

I also make sure every item I make is keeping with Sumptuary Laws.

Elizabethan Clothing, Fashion and the Sumptuary Laws
Elizabethan clothes provided information about the status of the person wearing them. This was not just dictated by the wealth of the person, it also reflected their social standing. Only Royalty were permitted to wear clothes trimmed with ermine. Lesser Nobles were allowed to wear clothing trimmed with fox and otter and so on and so forth! Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws dictated what colors and type of clothing individuals were allowed to own and wear, an easy and immediate way to identify rank and privilege. The materials and even the colors of Elizabethan clothing were therefore very important and sections have been dedicated to these subjects in relation to dyes, fabrics and the type of clothes that men were allowed to wear and the type of clothing that Elizabethan women were allowed to wear! As you read through the restrictions placed on Elizabethan clothing the subject becomes more and more fascinating. The importance and significance of costumes used in the Elizabethan theatres also becomes very clear

I also need to be very proper. A number of girls who are dressmakers earn extra money as prostitutes. I am NOTone but have to maintain high moral standards so noboby can accuse me of being one.

Answer 2

Elizabethan Speech

Answer 3

I have a couple of suggestions for you. By the way, I think you've done great work already. Your speech seems darn good to me. But here we go: - [1] This is not about an Ending. It is actually about your beginning. You say that it is to be an "Elizabethan era speech", but you start by saying that you (Constance, that is) were born in the 14th Century. There is a 150 year + gap between those two periods. I suspect that I know how you got there (the various Sumptuary Laws were being enacted throughout that time). But it can't be both "Elizabethan era" and "14th Century". You have to choose. And, while you're at it, why not give Constance a year of birth? You made up her name, so what's the problem with her saying "I was born in 1545" (or some such year)? [2] As for a suggested ending ... In your last (current) sentence you talk about the prospect of being punished if you make something for a customer in contravention of the Sumptuary Laws. So maybe your ending should use that concern about punishment as a starting point. You could either [A] say why you aren't really worried, because the laws are not normally rigorously enforced (they were not). Or [B], you could chill the audience with a description of the punishment you might face if caught and found guilty. Or [C], you could combine [A] and [B]: say that you are going to take the risk of being caught, because hardly anyone ever does get caught breaking the Sumptuary Laws; but that, if you do get caught and are found guilty, you could be fined and/or have an ear clipped off, or be branded with a hot iron as a punishment. Please note: I don't know if those punishments were ever inflicted on someone who broke the Sumptuary Laws as a supplier. But I do know that they were common punishments for petty crime by lower class people in Elizabethan England. ------------------------ I hope this helps. Good luck!

Answer 4

The last part of the 16th century (and a very few years at the beginning of the 17th) were the years of Queen Elizabeth, so 16th century or some year in the last half of the 16th century (say, 1575) is what you should insert for after "I was born...."

This website with links on varioius aspects of Elizabethan costuming should help you with some details for your speech, if you have time: http://www.elizabethancostume.net/content.html