Question

What was a sixteenth-century Englishman implying when he wrote that by the final decades of the century, a farmer might have "a fair garnish of pewter in his cupboard, three or four feather beds ... and a dozen spoons"?

a) The farmer was poor and had little.
b) The farmer was describing his luxurious lifestyle.
c) The farmer had a modest but comfortable life.
d) The farmer collected antiques.

Answer 1

The sixteenth-century statement about a farmer's possessions implies that the farmer had a modest but comfortable life, as items like pewter and feather beds were signs of stable economic status.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a sixteenth-century Englishman wrote about a farmer having "a fair garnish of pewter in his cupboard, three or four feather beds ... and a dozen spoons," he was likely implying that the farmer had a modest but comfortable life.

During this time, pewter items and feather beds were indicators of a certain level of wealth and comfort, suggesting that the farmer was not poor, but also not living a life of luxury. This lifestyle denotes that the farmer was well-settled and could afford some comforts and conveniences, indicating a stable and respectable economic status.