ABSTRACT
There has been a tendency to lump together the pastimes of women of the landholding class, whether they were dowager queens, countesses or country gentry. One of the problems inherent in attempting to assess the contributions these women made to society and their access to power is the distinction that has been made between public and private spheres. One of the privileges of lordship was the right to exercise authority in the manor courts and collect revenue from fines, as well as keeping records of the proceedings. Appointing women as executors of relatives’ wills is often cited as evidence of affection and trust as well as an acknowledgement of their administrative abilities. There is evidence that many women were active in the business world. The political arena was bound to reverberate on women’s lives. Some widows in Alice’s position inherited the advowson of parish churches on the death of their husband.
