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

CAPITALISTSweak woman stands in the greatest needof to dispatchher suits,". . . etc., etc." Dublyn Castle this 26th of July, 1625."~Later he continues in the same strain :66. . . I am glad your Lordship doth approve mywife'sgood affection to her husband, which was a point 1never doubted, but for her abilities in agency ofaffairs, as I was never taken with opinion .of them, soI was never desirous to employ them if she had them,for I conceive women to be no fit solicitors of stateaffairs for though it sometimes happen that they havegood wits, it then commonly falls out that they haveover-busy natures withal. For my part I should takemuch more comfort to hear that she were quietlyretired to her mother's in the country, than that shehad obtained a great suit in the court."'The sentiments expressed by Lord Falkland werenot characteristic of his time, when husbands weregenerally thankful to avail themselves of their wives'services in such matters.While Sir Ralph Verney was exiled in France, heproposed that his wife should return to England toattend to some urgent business. His friend, Dr.Denton replied to the suggestion :6 c. . . not to touch upon inconveniences of yrcomminge, women were never soe usefull as now, andthough yu should be my agent and sollicitour of allthe men I knowe (and therefore much more to bepreferred in v' own cause) yett I am confident if yuwere here, yu would doe as our sages doe, instruct y'wife, and leave her to act it wth committees, theirsexe entitles them to many priviledges and we find thecomfort of them more now than ever."sFalkland (7ha Lndy), Her L+, pp. 131-132.' Ibid, pp. 132-3.Verney Family, Vol. II., p. ~$0, 646.CAPITALISTSThere are innumerable accounts in contemporaryletters and papers of the brave and often successfulefforts of women to stem the flood of misfortune whichthreatened ruin to their families.Katharine Lady Bland treated with Captain Hothamin 1642 on behalf of Lord Savile " and agreed withhim for the preservation of my lords estate and protectionof his person for E~,ooo," E320 of which hadalready been taken "from Lord Savile's trunk atKirkstall Abbey . . . and the Captain . . .promised to procure a protection from the parliament. . . . for his lordships person andestate."'Lady Mary Heveningham, through her effortsrestored the estate to the family after her husbandhad been 'convicted of high treason at theRestoration.'Of Mrs. Muriel Lyttelton, the daughter of LordChancellor Bromley, it was said that she " may be calledthe second founder of the family, as she begged theestate of King James when it was forfeited and liveda pattern of a good wife, affectionate widow, and carefulparent for thirty years, with the utmost prudenceand economy at Hagley to retrieve the estate and payoff the debts ; the education of her children in virtueand the protestant religion being her principal employ.Her husband, Mr. John Lyttelton, a zealous papist,was condemned, and his estates forfeited, for beingconcern'd in Essex's plot."3Charles Parker confessed, " Certainly I had starvedhad I not left all to my wife to manage, who getssomething by living there and haunting some of herkindred and what wayes I know not but I am sureCalendar State Papers, Domestic, April 8, 1646.Hunter (Joseph), History and Topography of Ketteringham, p, 46.S Nash, Hirt. and Antiy. of Worcester, Vol. I,, p. 492. It appears by depositionsin the Court of Chancery that she paid off Azg,wo which was charged upon theestate, and only sold lands to the value of A8,8~q, Ibid, p. 496.