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

244 PROFESSIONS PROFESSIONS 245the class attracted did not represent the most efficienttype of women.The rules appointed for the governance of nursesshow that the renunciations of a nun7slifewere requiredof them, but social opinion in Protestant England setno seal of excellence upon their work, however faithfullyperformed, and the sacrifices demanded from thenurses were unrewarded by the crown of victory.During the reign of Edward VI. there were amatron and twelve sisters at St. Bartholomew's whoreceived in wages L26 6s. 8d. In addition the matronreceived IS. 6d. per week for board wages and thesisters IS. qd. per week, and between them L6 per yearfor livery, while the matron received 13s. qd. for thispurpose.' The rules for the governance of the sisterswere as follows :-" Your charge is, in all Things todeclare and shew yourselves gentle, diligent, andobedient to the Matron of this House, who is appointedand authorised to be your chief Governess and Ruler.Ye shall also faithfully and charitably serve andhelp the Poor in all thdr Griefs and Diseases, as wellby keeping them sweet and clean, as in giving thcmtheir Meats and Drinks, after the most honest andcomfortable Manner. Also ye shall use unto themgood and honest Talk, such as may comfort and amendthem ; and utterly to avoid all light, wanton, andfoolish Words, Gestures, and Manners, using yourselvesunto them with all Sobriety and Discretion, and aboveallThings, see that ye avoid, abhor, and detest Scoldingand Drunkenness as most pestilent and filthy Vices.Ye shall not haunt or resort to any manner of Personout of this House, except ye be licensed by the Matron ;neither shall ye suffer any light Person to haunt oruse unto you, neither any dishonest Person, Man orWoman ; and so much as in you shall lie, ye shall avoidand shun the Conversation and Company of all Men.Ye shall not be out of the Woman's Ward after theHour of seven of the Clock in the Night, in the Winter,Time, nor after Nine of the Clock in the Night in theSummer : except ye shall be appointed and commandedby the Matron so to be, for some great and specialcause that shall concern the Poor, (as the presentD~nger of Death or extreme Sickness), and yet sobeing commanded, ye shall remain no longer withsuch diseased Person than just Cause shall require.Also, if any just Cause of Grief shall fortune unto anyof you, or that ye shall see Lewdness in any Officer,of other Person of this House, which may sound orgrow to the Hurt or Slander thereof, ye shall declarethe same to the Matron, or unto one or two of theGovenours of this House, that speedy Remedy thereinmay be had; and to no other Person neither shall yetalk or meddle therein any farther.This is yourCharge, and with apy other Thing you are notcharged."'The Matron was instructed to " receive of theHospitaler of this House all such sick and diseasedPersons as he . . . . shall present unto you,"and to " have also Charge, Governance &Order of all theSisters of this House. . . .that every of them. . . .do their Duty unto the Poor, as well in making oftheir Beds, and keeping their Wards,as also in washingand purging their uncleanCloaths, and other Things.And that the same Sisters every night after the Hourof seven of the Clock in the Winter, and nine of theClock in the Summer, come not out of the Woman'sWard, except some great and special Cause (as thepresent Danger of Death, or needful Succour of somepoor Person). And yet at such a special time it shallnot belawful for every Sister to go forth to any Person orPersons (no tho7 it bein her Ward) but only for such asyou shall think virtuous, godly, and discreet. And thel Stow, London, I., pp., 185-186. ' Stow, London, ,pp., p. 58.