Gentlemen, are you flagging in the bedroom?

Gentlemen, are you flagging in the bedroom?

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If a Tudor man wanted to up his performance in the bedroom, he could simply look in one of the widely available handbooks that addressed the topic.

Ingredients like the brains of a small sparrow, the grease from the kidneys of a freshly slaughtered Billy goat, or cloves in milk and blueberry juice were said to help cure impotence.

There were also concoctions that were said to help a man if he wanted to repress his lust, for example if he found himself attracted to a person he shouldn't be.

One such mixture involved stirring cauliflower seeds in lentil water.

It was said camphor, a powder from the bark and wood of the camphor tree, could be rubbed on a penis to make it flaccid, although this ingredient, originally from Asia, would have been difficult for the majority of men in Tudor England to come by.

For men who couldn't rely on wealth, looks or charm alone, there were also love potions, although during Tudor times they were only available underground, due to their association with witchcraft.

One love charm was to plant marigolds in the footsteps where the object of one’s love had walked.

Mashed worms and herbs could work equally as well.

However there were also far less savoury options, like the so-called 'sweaty cakes', which were made from blood and bodily fluids, and were said to make the recipient fall head-over-heels in love.

Meanwhile women might want to dab their linens in rose or musk, to create a sensual feeling.

Initially only available in an expensive oil form, apothecaries later devised a way to produced much cheaper distilled waters, scented with trendy fragrances like roses.

Rose oil made by distillation became popular at King Henry’s court, not just to arouse the senses or because the smell was pleasant, but because the rose was a symbol of the Tudor dynasty.

The purpose of marriage was to procreate, but for the times the Tudors didn't want to fall pregnant, there were rudimentary forms of contraception they could use.

Basic condoms made from a cleaned out fish gut or sheep's intestine turned inside out.

The gut would be cut to size and dried out, then soaked in milk or water in order to rehydrate.

They would be fastened to the penis with a ribbon or fine string. After sex, these condoms could be washed and used again.

Although these had some success in preventing unwanted pregnancy, they were also essential in stopping the spread of venereal diseases like syphilis, which was rampant during the Tudor period.

There were other bizarre contraception methods available.

A lemon slice, for example, could be inserted as a cervical cap, while a wad of wool soaked in wine or honey was used to form a barrier.

Rock salt mixed with an oily material was believed to destroy sperm.

Among the more dangerous approaches, were drinking tincture of lead or eating seeds of the caster oil plant, both of which could lead to fatal poisoning.

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/.../Scandalous-stories-love...

Carol McGrath.

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https://ko-fi.com/thetudorintruders