working life of women seventeenth century - School of Economics ...

24O PROFESSIONS PROFESSIONStheir There was, in fact, a deep jealousyof any influence which might disturb the authorityand control which the individual husband exercisedover his wife, and probably the seventeenth centuryEnglishman was beginning to realise that nothingwould be so subversive to this authority as the associationof women together for religious purposes.If a recognised position was given to women in theChurch, their lives must inevitably receive anorientation which would not necessarily be identicalwith their husband's, thus creating a danger ofconflicting loyalties. Naturally, therefore, womenwere excluded from any office, but it would be amistake to suppose that their subordination to theirhusbands in religious matters was rigidly enforcedthroughout this period. Certainly in the first halfof the century their freedom of thought in religionwas usually taken for granted, and possibly amongstthe Baptists, certainly amongst the Quakers, fullspiritual equality was accorded to them. Womenwere universally admitted to the sacraments, andtherefore recognised as being, in some sort, membersof the Church, but this was consistent with the viewof their position to which Milton's well knownlines in " Paradise Lost " give perfect expression,the ideal which, in all subsequent social and politicalchanges, was destined to determine women's positionin Church and State :-U Whence true authoritie in men, though bothNot equal, as their sex not equal seem'd,For contemplation hee and valour form'dFor softness shec, and sweet attractive Grace,Hee for God only, shee for God in him :To whom thus Eve with perfect beauty adorndMy Author and Disposer, what thou bidstUnargu'd I obey ; so God ordains,God is thy Law, thou mine ; to know no morewoman's happiest knowledge and her praise.''Nevertheless, though excluded from any positionin the hierarchy of recognised servants of the Church,it must not be supposed that the Church was independentof women's service. To their handsnecessity rather than the will of man had entrusted aduty, which when unfulfilled makes all the complicatedorganisation of the Church impotent ; namely, thebending of the infant mind and soul towards religiousideals and emotions. The live.; of the reformersof the seventeenth century bear witness to thefaithfulness with which women accomplished thistask.In many cases their religious labours wereextended beyond the care of their children, embracingthe whole household for their field of service. Thelife of Lettice, Viscountess Falkland, gives an exampleof the sense of responsibility under whichmany religious women lived. Lady Falklandpassed about an hour with her maids, early everymorning " in praying, and catechizing and instructingthem; to these secret and private prayers, thepublick morning and evening prayers of the Church,before dinner and supper ; and another form (togetherwith reading Scriptures and singing Psalms) beforebedtime, were daily and constantly added . . . .neither mere these holy ofices appropriate to hermenial servants, others came freely to joyn withthem, and her Oratory was as open to her neighboursas her Hall was . . . . her Servants were allmoved to accompany her to the Sacrament, and theywho were prevailed with gave up their names to her,two or three dayes before, and from thence,she applied. . . andherself to the instructing of then1after the Holy Sacrament she called them togetheragain and gave them such exhortations as wereproper for them."'The quarrel between Church and State over theteaching profession is an old story which does notFalkland. Lady Letrce2 Yr-countess, Ltfe and Death of.