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

122 TEXTILES TEXTILES 123clothing whereby we were able in some poore measureand at a very lowe rate to maintaine ourselves andfamilies soe as hitherto they have not suffered anyextreme want. But now soe it is that we arelikely for the time to come 'never to be imployedagaine in our callinges and to have out trades becomenoe trades, whereunto we have bene -trained up andserved as apprentices according to the lawe, andwherein we have always spent our whole time and arenow unfitt for . . . other occupations, neithercan we be received into worke by any clothiers in thewhole countrey."'At other times women took the lead in demandingthe redress of grievances from which all were suffering.When the case of the say-makers abating the wages ofthe spinsters, weavers and combers of Sudbury wasexamined by the Justices, the Saymakers alleged thatall others did the same, but that they were content togive the wages paid by them if these were extended byproclamation or otherwise throughout the kingdom." But if the order is not general it will be theirundoing . . ." Whereupon the Justices orderedthe Saymakers to pay spinsters " for every seavenknottes one penny, the reel whereon the yarne isreeled to be a yard in length-nolonger," and to payweavers " 12d. a lb. for weaving thereof for whitesayes under 5 lbs. weight."'Shortly afterwards the Council received a etitionfrom the Mayor asking to be heard by the Eouncilor Commissioners to answer the complaint madeagainst them. " by Silvia Harber widow set on workeby Richard Skinnir of Sudbury gent . . . forabridging and wronging of the spinsters and weaversof the said borough in their wages and for some otherwrongs supposed to bee done to the said Silvia Harber,"'S.P.D., ccxliv, I. Aug. I, 1633.' S.P.D., clxxxix., 40, Ap. 27, 1631. J.P.8 of Essex to Council.followed by an an affidavit stating " Wee whosenames are hereunder written doe testifye as followethwith our severell handes to our testification.r. That one Silvia Harber of our Towne of Sudburycornonly called Luce Harbor did say that shee had neverundertaken to peticion the Lordes of the Counsel1in the Behalfe of the Spinsters of Sudbury aforesaidbut by the inducement of Richard Skinner gentlemanof the Towne aforesaid who sent for her twoe or threetimes before shee would goe unto him for thatpurpose, and when shee came to him hee sent her toLondon and bare her charges. Witness, Daniel BiatClement Shelle~.2. That having conference with Richard Skinneraforesaid Gentleman, hee did confesse that hee wouldnever have made any stir of complaint against thesaymakers in behalf of weavers and spinsters, but thatone Thomas Woodes of the towne abovesaid hadgiven him Distaystfull wordes." Witness, VincentC0cke.lNo organisation appears to have been formed bythe wage-earners in the woollen Trade. Theirdemonstrations against employers were as yet localand sporadic. The very nature of their industryand the requirements of its capitalistic organisationwould have rendered abortive on their part the attemptto raise wages by restricting the numbers of personsadmitted into the trade; but the co-operation in tradedisputes between the men and women engaged in thisindustry, forms a marked contrast to the conditionswhich were now beginning to prevail in the apprenticetrades and which will be described later. Though"itbout immediate result in the woollen trade, it maybe assumed that it was this habit of standing shoulderto shoulder, regardless of sex jealousy, which ensuredthat when Industrialism attained a further development' S.P.D., cxcvii., 72, July, 1631. Affidavit about Saymakers in County of Suffolk.