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

CAPITALISTSsuch as noe way entangle me in conscience or loyaltynor hinder me from serving the King."'Lady Fanshawe said her husband " thought itconveniente to send me into England again, . . . .there to try what sums I could raise, both - for hissubsistence abroad and mine at home.. . . I. . . . embarked myself in a hoy for Dover, withMrs. Waller, and my sister Margaret Harrison and mylittle girl Nan, . . . . . I had . . . . .the good fortune as I then thought it, to sell E300 ayear to him that is now Judge Archer in Essex, forwhich he gave me Eq,ooo which at that time I thoughta vast sum ; . . . . five hundred pounds Icarried to my husband, the rest I left in my father'sagent's hands to be returned as we needed it."'The Marquis of Ormonde wrote : " I have written2 seuerall ways of late to my wife about our domestickaffaires, which are in great disorder betweext the wantof meanes to keepe my sonnes abroad and the dangerof leaueing them at home. . . . I thank you foryour continued care of my children. I haue writtentwice to my wife to the effect you speake of. I prayGod shee be able to put it in execution either way."'This letter does not breathe that spirit of confidencein the wife's ability which was shown in some of theothers and it happened sometimes that the wife waseither overwhelmed by procedure beyond her understanding,or at least sought for special considerationon the plea of her sex's weakness and ignorance.Sarah, wife of Henry Burton, gives an account ofBurton's trial in the Star Chamber, his sentence andpunishment (fine, pillory, imprisonment for life)and his subsequent transportation to Guernsey, " wherel Ntcbolas Papers, Vol. I., p. 97.Fanshawe (Lady), Memoirs of, pp. 80-8 I.a Nicbolas Papers, Vol. I11 , pp. 274-6.1656.Charles Parker to Lord Hatton.Marquis of Ormonde to Sir Ed. Nicholae,CAPITALISTShe now is but by what order your petitioner knowethnot and is kept in strict durance of exile and imprisonment,and utterly denied the society of your petitionercontrary to the liberties and privileges ofthis kingdome . . . debarred of the accesse offriends, the use of pen, inck and paper and othermeans to make knowne his just complaintes," andshe petitions the House of Commons " to take herdistressed condition into your serious consideracionand because your peticioner is a woman not knowinghow to prosecute nor manage so great and weightybusines " begs that Burton may be sent over toprosecute his just complaint.'Similarly, Bastwick's wife pleads that he is so closelyimprisoned in the Isle of Scilly " that your petitioneris not permitted to have any access unto him, so thatfor this 3yeares and upward hir husband hathbeen exiled from hir, and she in all this time could notobtayne leave, although she hath earnestly sued forit, neither to live with him nor so much as to see him,and whereas your peticioner hath many smale childrendepending uppon hir for there mauntenance, and sheof hir selfe being every way unable to provide forthem, she being thus separated from her deare andloving husband and hir tender babes from therecareful1 father (they are in) great straights want andmiserie," and she begs that her husband may be sentto England," your Petitioner being a woman no wayable to follow nor manage so great and weighty acause . . . 792The above efforts were all made in defence offamily estates, but at this time women were alsoconcerned with the affairs of the nation, in which theytook an active part.Mrs. Hutchinson describes how " When the Parlia--ment sat again, the colonel [Hutchinson] sent up his'State Papers, Domestic, cccclxxi. 36, Nov. 7, 1640.'S.P.D., cccclxxi. 37, 1640.23