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

CRAFTS AND TRADESWardens and Brothers and Sisters of the ffraternity. . . . that from thenceforth All & all mannerof brass and copper works . . . . edged tools. . . . small guns . . . . wrought by anyperson or persons being of the same ffraternity . . .should be searched and approved . . . . byskilful Artificers of the said ffraternity."' Ruleswhich were drawn up at Salisbury in 1612 provide thatno free brother or sister shall " rack, set, or causeto be racked or set, any cloth upon any tenter, on theSabbath day, under the forfeiture of 2s."The Wardensof the Company of Merchants, Mercers, Grocers,Apothecaries, Goldsmiths, Drapers, Upholsterers, andEmbroiderers were ordered to search the wares,merchandise, weiqhts and measures of sisters as wellas brothers.' " No free brother or sister is at any timeto put any horse leather into boots or shoes or anyliquored calves leather into boots or shoes, to besold between the feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostleand the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary . . . .No free brother or sister is to keep or set up any standingin the market place, except in fair times. Nobrother or sister is to set open his or her shop, or todo any work, in making or mending of boots andshoes on the Sabbath day, on pain of twelve pencef~rfeit."~Rules which specifically permit the employmentof the master's wife or daughter in his trade whileexcluding other unapprenticed persons, are in themselvesevidence that they were often so employed.l Armorrrers and Braszers, Charter and Bye lows of Company of. p. 5. See alsoJohnson, Ordinances of the Drapers of London, Vol. I., p. 280, I 524)." (it shall not be laaful unto any brother or sister freed in this fellyshipto take rno. apprentices than may stand in good order for their degree) . . .every brother being in the master's livery shall pay 6s. 8d. and every sister whosehusband has been of the aforesaid livery shall pay for every apprentice 6s. 8d. andevery other brother or sister not being of the master's livery shall pay for everyapprentice 3s. +d.a Honre, Sir R. C., Hist. of Modern Wilts, Vol. VI., p. 34~.Zbid, Vol. VI., p. 343.CRAFTS AND TRADESThus the Glovers allowed " noe brother of thisffraternity " to " take an apprentice vnder the fullend and tearme of seaven years ffuly to be compleat. . . . exceptingbrothers sonor daughter . . ,,INo leatherseller might " put man, child or woman towork in the same mistery, if they be not boundapprentice, and inrolled in the same mistery ; exceptingtheir wives and children."' Similarly the Girdlersin 1344 ordered that " no one of the trade shall getany woman to work other than his wedded wife ordaughter while by a rule of the Merchant Taylors,Bristol " no person. . . shall cutt make or sellany kynde of garment, garments, hose or breecheswithin ye saide cittie . . . unles he be franchisedand made free of the saide crafte (widdowes whosehusbandes were free of ye saide crafte duringethe tyme of their wyddowhedd vsinge ye samewith one Jorneyman and one apprentice onlyexcepted) "'The association of women with their husbands inbusiness matters is often suggested by the presenceof both their names on indentures. Walter Beemer,for example, was apprenticed to John Castle of Markeand Johane his wife to be instructed and broughtup in the trade of a tanner. Vometimes it isshown by the indifference with which moneytransactions are conducted either with husband orwith wife. When the Corporation at Dorchesterpurchased a new mace in 1660, Mr. Sam White'swife appears to have acted throughout in the matter.An entry in the records for 1660 states that " the silver' Ferguson, Carlisle, p. 212, Glourr's Gzld, 1665.Black, W. H., .Irticles ofthe Lcathcrsrllers, p. 21, 1398.Smythe, W. D., Hsst. cf Worshipful Co. ofGirdlers, London, p. 63.FOX, F. F., Merchant Taylorr, Bristol, pp. 64-65.Somerset Quarter Sessions Records, Vol. III., p. 165, 16j2.