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

250 PROFESSIONSa viewer and searcher of all the bodyes that shalidye within this boroughe, and truly to report andcertifye to her knowledge of what disease they dyed,etc. ; and Anne Lovejoy widowe, jurata, 4" weekea peice, allowing iiijs. a moneth after."' " MaryHolte was sworne to be a searcher of the dead bodyeshencefovrth dyeinge within the boroughe (beingthereunto required) having iiijs. a weeke for herwages, and iiid a corps carryeing to buryall, and iiijsa weeke a monetb after the ceassinge of the plag~e."~In 1637 it was " agreed . . . . with oldFrewyn and his wief, that she shall presentlye goeinto the house of Henry Merrifeild and be aidinge& helpinge to the said Merrifeild and his wief, duringthetime of their visitacion [~lague] . . . . Sheshall have dyett with them, and six weekes after theirvisitacion ended. And old Frewin to have 2s. a weekduringe all that tyme paid him, and 2s. in hand.And she shall have 2" weeke kept for her & paidher in th'end of the sixe weekes after."' Later " itwas thought fitt the Woman keeper and Merifielde'swenche in the Pest-house, it beinge above vj weekespast since any one dyed there, should be at libertieand goe hence to her husbande's house, she havingedone her best endevour to ayre and cleanse all thebeddes & beddinge & other things in both the houses.. . . for her mayntenance vj weekes after theceassinge of the sicknes, she keepinge the wenchewith her, they shalbe paid 3s. a weeke for and towardestheir mavntenance duringe the vj weekes.""n1639 the council "Agree to geve the Widowe Lovejoyein full satisfaccion for all her paynes taken in andabout the visited people in this Towne in this lastl Guildinp, Readrne Records, \'ol. II., p. 241, 1625.a Ibrd, Vol. II., p. 244, 162;.a Ibtd, Vol. 111. p. 371.' Ibrd, Vol. III., p. 384, 1637.PROFESSIONSvisitacion xls. in money, and cloth to make her akirtle and a wascote, and their favour towards hertwo sonnes-in-lawe (beinge forreynours) about theirfredome."'On a petition in 1641 from WidowLovejoy " for better allowance & satisfaction for herpaines aboute the visited people ; . . . . it wasagreed that she shall have xxxs. soe soone as the taxefor the visited people is made ~ppe."~In rural districts where hospitals were seldom withinreach, entries are not infrequently found in the parishaccount books of payments made to women fornursing the poor. " Item. To Mother Middletonfor twoe nights watchinge with Widow Coxe's childbeing sick."' " To Goody Halliday, for nursinghim & his family 5 weeks EI 5 ; to Goody Nye,for assisting in nursing, 2s. 6d.4 . . . . to GoodyPeckham for nursing a beggar, 5s. For nursingWickham's boy with the small pocks ~zs."' AHertfordshire parish paid a woman 15s. for herattendance during three weeks on a woman and herillegitimate child.' A Morton man was ordered topay out of his next half-year's rent for the groundshe farmed of Isabelle Squire " zos to Margt. Squire,who attended and looked to her half a year duringthe time of her distraction."'Sometimes nurses were provided for the poor byreligious and charitable ladies, who, like Lettice,Viscountess Falkland, " hired nurses to serve them."8Sick nurses were also engaged by well-to-do people toattend upon themselves or their servants. Thus the Rev.Guilding, Reading Records, V;1. III., p. 459.a Ibid, Vol. IV., p. 8.a ~u&~rcb Coll., Vol. XXIII., p. 90. Hadhgs Documents. 1601.4 Sussex Arcb. Coll., Vol. XX., p. "7. Acc. Bwk of Cmodcn. 1704.Ihid, p. 118.Herford County Records, Vol. I., p. 435, 1698.Atkinson, J. C., Torks. N. R Q. S. Recmds, Vol. VII., p. 91. 168P.Fokhland, Lady Letice, Vi-countess, L+ and Deatb of.