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

24 CAPITALISTS CAPITALISTS 25wife to solicit his business in the house, that the LordLexington's bill might not pass the lower house . .she notwithstanding many other discouragementswaited upon the business every day, when heradversaries as diligently solicited against her " afriend told her how " the laste statemen's wives cameand offered them all the information they had gatheredfrom their husbands, and how she could not but knowmore than any of them ; and if yet she would impartanything that might show her gratitude, she mightredeem her family from ruin, . . . but she discernedhis drift and scorned to become an informer,and made him believe she was ignorant, though shecould have enlightened him in the very thing hesought for ; which they are now never likely to knowmuch of, it being locked up in the grave."'Herbert lblorley wrote to Sir William Campion in1645 :" I could impart more, but letters are subject tomiscarriage, therefore I reserve myself to a more fitopportunity. . . . If a conference might be had,I conceive it would be most for the satisfaction of usboth, to prevent of any possible hazard of yourperson. If you please to let your lady meet meat Watford . . . or come hither, I will procureher a pass."'Sir William replied :" For any business you have toimpart to me, I have that confidence in you, by reasonof our former acquaintance, that I should not makeany scruple to send my wife to the places mentioned ;but the truth is, she is at present soe neare her timefor lying downe, for she expects to be brought to bedwithin less than fourteen days, that she is altogetherunfit to take soe long a journey. . . .993Lifc of Colonel Hutcbinson, by his Wife, pp. 334-336.'Surrcx Arch. Coll., Vol. X., p. 5. To Sir William Campion from HerbertMorley, July 23rd, 1645.Ibid, Vol. X., p. 6.A book might be wholly filled with a story of thepart taken by women in the political and religiousstruggles of this period. They were also active amongthe crowd who perpetually beseiged the Court forgrants of wardships and monopolies or patents.Ann Wallwyn writes to Salisbury soliciting thewardship of the son of James Tomkins who is likely todie.' The petition of Dame Anne Wigmore, widow ofSir Richard Wigmore, states that she has found out asuit which will rectify many abuses, bring in a yearlyrevenue to the Crown and give satisfaction to thePetitioner for the great losses of herself and herhusband. Details follow for a scheme for a corporationof carriers and other^.^Dorothy Selkane reminds Salisbury that a patenthas been promised her for the digging of coals upona royal manor. The men who manage the businessfor her are content to undertake all charges for thediscovery of the coal and to compensate the tenantsof the manor according to impartial arbitrators. Shebegs Salisbury that as she has been promised a patentthe matter may be brought to a final conclusion thatshe may notbe forced to trouble him further" having alredie bestowed a yeres solicitinge therein."'In I 61 o the same lady writes again :-" I have beneat gte toyle and charges this yere and a halfe past asalso have bene put to extraordinarie sollicitacionmanie and sundry waies for the Dispatching of mysuite . . ." and begs that the grant may passwithout delay.*A grant was made in 1614 to Anne, Roger andJames Wright of a licence to keep a tennis court atSt. Edmund's Bury, CO. Suffolk, for life.5 BessyC.S.P.D.lxvii, 129, 1611.' C.S.P.D. clxii, 8. March 2, 1630.a S.P.D., xlviii. I 19. ~2nd October. 1609.' S.P.D. liii, 131, April 1610.C.S.P.D. lxxvii, 5 April 5, 1614.