"... and with Creed called at several churches, which, God knows, are supplied with very young men, and the churches very empty."
This brought three possibilities to mind:
1. Pepys had a conversation with James, Duke of York about starting the Press soon. He's looking for healthy young men to man those twelve new ships. The young men of London know what's coming with a war pending, and are in hiding. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
2. Rev. Josselin recently complained there was a downturn in church attendance: http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… He blames "this day a day of holy rest, is now the sport, and pleasure day of the general rout of people, ..." And the week before: "the war with Holland proceeds. the King abused by infamous pictures. for which lewd courses give occasion ..." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… Perhaps Press worries and the influence of a riotous Court has spread cynicism to the rest of the country.
Or 3. the loss of their Puritan preachers last year made people take their Sunday Church of England services less seriously. The Conventicle Act was passed on Tuesday 17 May 1664: http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… This law was part of Chancellor Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon's program to discourage non-conformism and to strengthen the position of the Established Church. The masses reacted by walking into the fields to hear their old preachers. Next year the Five Mile Act will keep preachers at least 5 miles away from their old parishes.
And it's May -- a lovely warm month of long days in England. Even if this was one of the wettest weeks in British history. Maybe the mud is keeping people home?
Just occurred to me the office must be crowded and noisy these days. If Pepys forgets to mention Mr. Hayter's promotion, he must be omitting a lot of other fascinating work details.
"I to the office, and there came Captain Taylor, and he and I home, and I have done all very well with him as to the business of the last trouble, so that come what will come my name will be clear of any false dealing with him."
I find Pepys' growing habit of taking people home for these "private" conversations -- which now more often result in him receiving a commission -- leaves him open to just that charge of false dealings.
This is the behavior not so long ago he used to criticize in Mennes and Batten.
"... Mr. Povy’s, and there acquainted him with the business. The money he won’t pay without warrant, but that will be got done in a few days."
Pepys often pours disdain on Povy's accounting abilities and efficiency, but he's doing this at 9 p.m., and seems to know his procedures very well. Pepys should anticipated this request.
"Does he mean a bath on the top floor? But why when the water must be carried up? Is this customary for the era?"
Since bathrooms were rare innovations, "customary" hadn't been established. I think they were fitted in where the owners wanted them ("oh, such a nice view from the spare bedroom on the 5th floor!").
The only one I remember seeing was built by Elizabeth Murray Tollemache Maitland, Countess of Dysart and Lauderdale at Ham House, Richmond, Surrey. Story goes she and Lauderdale had complimentary bedrooms at either end of the wing of the house overlooking the Thames. When she decided she wanted a bathroom, she persuaded her husband to swap bedrooms, so she could have a private staircase built to the room below, which was adjacent to the kitchens (for the hot water delivery). Not only was there a very big tub, and also a slab table, so I guess she liked massage???? One day I'll have to read her diary to find out.
"Was Charles really being dismissive of the French as a maritime power or is this just bravado?"
Monday 7 December 1663: Pepys reports: "The King of France, they say, is hiring of sixty sail of ships of the Dutch, but it is not said for what design.
(Per L&M footnote) There is no mention of Louis XIV hiring ships in the printed correspondence of d'Estrade, French ambassador to Holland. Louis did buy warships from the Dutch (17 altogether by 1666) to strengthen a naval force which amounted to only c. 20 ships of the line in 1661. See Downing to Clarendon, 18 December 1663: Bodl. Clar. 107ff. 45+ &c.
"... of bringing Pall out of the country to us here to try to put her off, ..."
This must mean they will treat Pall better this time. She is going to have to be Elizabeth's friend, sister-in-law and companion, and dressed and treated as such (while praying everyone has amnesia from a couple of years ago).
Considering how many men died in the last 15 years, there must have been a substantial number of single and widowed women in Pall's situation.
"Possibly a cold spring and also much of summer for London/SE with some notable thunderstorms / hailstorms and heavy rain events. The summer was described as being wet in England, with much disease in cattle. [NB: the CET figure doesn't really stand out for spring and summer - so perhaps there were lengthy chilly periods, without being overall cold?]
"Much thunder and lightning during the year 1664. This implies frequent occurrence of cold air at middle levels, and might imply that the zone of mobility was transferred well to the south of its modern-day position."
Anyone know what the CET figure means, and how anyone could know that now?
He took three teenage girls home at midnight, after everyone had gone to bed, having terrified one of the girls on the rough Thames, and had them standing around in the street without transportation ... My Lady must have been much nicer about it than I would have been.
Having Creed there -- by accident! -- was just as well.
"We came safe, however, to their house, where all were abed; we knocked them up, my Lady and all the family being in bed."
So they took the stairs by Somerset House (Dowager Queen Henrietta Maria's home), and had to transport the three girls to Lady Sandwich, who is staying in Kensington with the Rev. Thomas Hodges, vicar of Kensington, and rector of St. Peter's, Cornhill. Hard to imagine there were no coaches for hire on the Strand for hours considering the type of people who frequented Somerset House.
I can only imagine what the Countess had to say to them -- what were they thinking??? Then Pepys and Creed have to find somewhere to stay. Kensington was the sticks back then.
Finally, I agree it must have been niece Elizabeth Pickering, and not 3-year-old Katherine Montagu, as the third "young lady".
"... I got their mother’s leave ..." At the start of the Diary it was established that Pepys enjoyed the company of teenager girls. Today he has a bevy of them, including the Mistress Becke, the Montagus, and probably the Laxton girls. Therefore, since some or all of them are invited to lunch, this is a case where punctuation was added later, and it could be "... their mothers' leave ..." Lucky Bess got them all for lunch tomorrow -- must be a big pie!
"The Office patronage of Thomas by the officers still in London that I take it Sir J. Mennes envisions is perhaps appropriate, ..."
My reading of this situation is that William Griffith invited Pepys, Mennes and Lady Batton to stand as Godparents for Thomas.
After the invitations had been dispatched (and Elizabeth told that they would be attending the christening), Mennes told Griffith that it wasn't appropriate for Pepys to be one (probably because he isn't the social equal of Batten and Mennes), and Griffith "so sought for other." Pepys therefore decided not to attend the christening (not to embarrass the Griffiths, whatever) but Bess didn't get the memo and still planned on going.
The annotations mention Sir William Batten possibly having a ward named William Griffith. Therefore, having Lady B as the Godmother would make sense.
In answer to Terry's question, today Anglicans have three godparents. Girls have two Godmothers and one Godfather. Boys get two Godfathers and one Godmother. It sounds as if things haven't changed in 400 years. They can be relatives or close friends of the parents: people trusted to look out for the child's best interests if/when necessary (and to remember your birthday, Christmas, confirmation and wedding).
Larry -- check out the encyclopedia, http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo… and you'll find lots of annotations on fruits and veggies. Plus earlier in the Diary we had lots of recipes and cookery book references. The problem was finding fresh veggies, especially in London. The gentry had it shipped in from their estates. People like Pepys -- well, he had friends in the victualing business, didn't he. "Arrangements" were doubtless made.
In early modern England, the Operative Free Masons made certain Inns their headquarters.
When an Inn was selected as the Free Mason's center, the Arms of the Fraternity, carved and painted upon a board (4 ft. by 3 ft.) was placed over the door of the building.
It paid Innkeepers to cater to the Free Masons as by the regulations they were obliged to stay at a "Lodge Free Mason's Arms" if there was one in the district, so the Brethren and Fellows could "bear witness they were in an honest place and with civil company."
Free Masons were forbidden to haunt Taverns, Inns or Ale houses, or to play Cards, Dice, Tables or any other unlawful game, nor was he to absent himself from the service of his masters day or night.
The Innkeeper of every Free Mason's Arms was sworn as a Serving Brother, so he could enter the lodge. His wife was sworn as a "Mason's Dame" so she could serve in the lodge as a waitress when required.
At all the "Arms" Inns, the Free Masons required at least two bedrooms or wards be provided for the sole use of Fraternity members -- one ward for the seniors and one for the juniors, and the regulations made the Masons of highest rank in the respective wards responsible that the brethren kept order.
The "Mason's Dame" might enter the wards, whenever necessary, to act as a nurse to any Mason who was ill, or had met with an accident, and her conduct was specially provided for in her "oath."
Upon all the main roads of the country over which parties of Operative Masons journeyed to obtain work, a "Lodge Free Masons' Arms" existed about every 16 to 20 miles.
For instance, "The Free Mason's Arms" in Burley's Lane, Leicester, where for many years an important Lodge met every evening in the week and at noon every Saturday.
There were many others Mason's Arms nearby, e.g. "The Free Mason's Arms", Market Harborough, the "Mason's Arms," Donisthorpe, the Birch Tree, Bardon Hill, and the Red House, Coalville.
The Fosse Road was the main route from Lincoln to the West of England, and many parties of Free Masons journeyed from Barton-on-Humber to Bristol and the west for business.
Old prints show the eaves of the "Free Mason's Arms" projected nearly 3 feet over the walls. Above the porch, partly hiding one of the windows, was the Sign-board on which were the Arms of the Worshipful of the Free Masons of Westminster, and the words "Lodge 80."
The reason for mentioning Westminster is that the Operative Free Masons for the Division from the Thames to Barton-on-Humber, and South of the River Trent (except the city of London and a few Lodges in Leicestershire) were ruled by the Grand Lodge meeting at the Rummer and Grapes Tavern, Westminster.
An illustration of the Lodge on the Wolds, dated 1701, shows a wing had been added, indicating their increased level of business.
Sick Servants in Early Modern Britain -- January 11, 2017 ~ by DR ALUN WITHEY
In early modern Britain the family provided both physical medicines and care. The burden usually fell on women, and involved extra washing, preparing medicines, etc. Men were the gatherers of remedies, but early modern medical literature didn’t prepare them when forced into a caring role when their wives fell sick.
What when servants fell sick? As Pepys says in his diary: “I lived in Axe Yard, having my wife and servant Jane, and no more family than us three”. Jane was fully part of the Pepys family.
It paid to treat sick servants, so they returned to work fast. In large houses an outbreak of sickness could be disastrous.
From work on early modern medicine in Wales:
William Davies of Clytha, Monmouthshire's accounts show he hired a boy, William Prosser in May 1718. Prosser received pocket money. Davies records giving Prosser 6 shillings to visit Usk Fair, and gave 2 shillings for the boy to play cards. Davies paid for new stockings and shoe repair, and allowed Prosser time off to visit his sick sister. Davies noted how long Prosser was sick, and like a modern employer, Davies provided sickpay: “June ye 15th I gave you one shilling when you were sick’. Was this the norm, or was Prosser lucky?
The probate inventory of Cardiff laborer William Cozens shows in his last illnes he lived in his employer's house, receiving care. Cozens was a laborer; he did not usually live with the family.
Gentry household accounts show the routine provision of medicines for sick servants. The accounts of Lord Herbert, 9th Earl of Pembroke, show the remedies ordered from London apothecary John Jackson -- from 1744 - 1747 there were 848 prescriptions, including ones for servants, the ‘coachman’ and a ‘housemaid’.
A Chirk Castle coachman received a ‘botle of physic from Dr. Puleston’, and when the ‘boy Thomas was swoll’n under the chin’ the accounts show payment for a man to fetch the Wrexham apothecary.
Employers who failed to care for their servants were denounced as ‘cursed and hard-hearted persons’ whose threshold the prospective servant should be wary to cross. Preachers like William Perkins said it was ‘Christian duty’ to care for a servant who ‘In time of his service be sick’.
Some were not so sympathetic. Thomas Ffoulkes of Holywell, Flintshire, kept tabs on his maid. In January 1724 he noted “she went rambling home several other times” suggesting Margaret was pulling a ‘sickie’.
Sick servants were often recipients of generous care. As part of the family, this might be expected. But they were employees, reliant on the goodwill of their masters and mistresses. If no one else was available, how did it feel for the mistress to tend her sick cook?
Comments
Second Reading
About Sunday 26 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... and with Creed called at several churches, which, God knows, are supplied with very young men, and the churches very empty."
This brought three possibilities to mind:
1. Pepys had a conversation with James, Duke of York about starting the Press soon. He's looking for healthy young men to man those twelve new ships. The young men of London know what's coming with a war pending, and are in hiding. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
2. Rev. Josselin recently complained there was a downturn in church attendance: http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… He blames "this day a day of holy rest, is now the sport, and pleasure day of the general rout of people, ..." And the week before: "the war with Holland proceeds. the King abused by infamous pictures. for which lewd courses give occasion ..." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… Perhaps Press worries and the influence of a riotous Court has spread cynicism to the rest of the country.
Or 3. the loss of their Puritan preachers last year made people take their Sunday Church of England services less seriously. The Conventicle Act was passed on Tuesday 17 May 1664:
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
This law was part of Chancellor Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon's program to discourage non-conformism and to strengthen the position of the Established Church. The masses reacted by walking into the fields to hear their old preachers. Next year the Five Mile Act will keep preachers at least 5 miles away from their old parishes.
And it's May -- a lovely warm month of long days in England. Even if this was one of the wettest weeks in British history. Maybe the mud is keeping people home?
About Saturday 25 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
Just occurred to me the office must be crowded and noisy these days. If Pepys forgets to mention Mr. Hayter's promotion, he must be omitting a lot of other fascinating work details.
About Saturday 25 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"I to the office, and there came Captain Taylor, and he and I home, and I have done all very well with him as to the business of the last trouble, so that come what will come my name will be clear of any false dealing with him."
I find Pepys' growing habit of taking people home for these "private" conversations -- which now more often result in him receiving a commission -- leaves him open to just that charge of false dealings.
This is the behavior not so long ago he used to criticize in Mennes and Batten.
About Friday 24 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
Thanks, Terry ... I had no idea there was a King James Bible dictionary. Your continued in-put to keep me/us on track is much appreciated.
About Friday 24 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... it remains that he deals as an ingenuous man with me in the business I wot of, which he will do before he goes."
Any idea what "wot" means?
Maybe something in the family of "I know not what of" because that "what" sounds like "wot"? But the reference seems to be more definite.
About Wednesday 22 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... Mr. Povy’s, and there acquainted him with the business. The money he won’t pay without warrant, but that will be got done in a few days."
Pepys often pours disdain on Povy's accounting abilities and efficiency, but he's doing this at 9 p.m., and seems to know his procedures very well. Pepys should anticipated this request.
About Sunday 29 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Does he mean a bath on the top floor? But why when the water must be carried up? Is this customary for the era?"
Since bathrooms were rare innovations, "customary" hadn't been established. I think they were fitted in where the owners wanted them ("oh, such a nice view from the spare bedroom on the 5th floor!").
The only one I remember seeing was built by Elizabeth Murray Tollemache Maitland, Countess of Dysart and Lauderdale at Ham House, Richmond, Surrey. Story goes she and Lauderdale had complimentary bedrooms at either end of the wing of the house overlooking the Thames. When she decided she wanted a bathroom, she persuaded her husband to swap bedrooms, so she could have a private staircase built to the room below, which was adjacent to the kitchens (for the hot water delivery). Not only was there a very big tub, and also a slab table, so I guess she liked massage???? One day I'll have to read her diary to find out.
Most people preferred to be smelly.
About Monday 20 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Was Charles really being dismissive of the French as a maritime power or is this just bravado?"
Monday 7 December 1663: Pepys reports: "The King of France, they say, is hiring of sixty sail of ships of the Dutch, but it is not said for what design.
(Per L&M footnote) There is no mention of Louis XIV hiring ships in the printed correspondence of d'Estrade, French ambassador to Holland. Louis did buy warships from the Dutch (17 altogether by 1666) to strengthen a naval force which amounted to only c. 20 ships of the line in 1661. See Downing to Clarendon, 18 December 1663: Bodl. Clar. 107ff. 45+ &c.
For similar rumors about France see http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
On land, the French are formidable.
About Sunday 19 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... of bringing Pall out of the country to us here to try to put her off, ..."
This must mean they will treat Pall better this time. She is going to have to be Elizabeth's friend, sister-in-law and companion, and dressed and treated as such (while praying everyone has amnesia from a couple of years ago).
Considering how many men died in the last 15 years, there must have been a substantial number of single and widowed women in Pall's situation.
About Sunday 19 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
Sadly GrahamT's link is broken.
I did find
http://booty.org.uk/booty.weather…
"Possibly a cold spring and also much of summer for London/SE with some notable thunderstorms / hailstorms and heavy rain events. The summer was described as being wet in England, with much disease in cattle. [NB: the CET figure doesn't really stand out for spring and summer - so perhaps there were lengthy chilly periods, without being overall cold?]
"Much thunder and lightning during the year 1664. This implies frequent occurrence of cold air at middle levels, and might imply that the zone of mobility was transferred well to the south of its modern-day position."
Anyone know what the CET figure means, and how anyone could know that now?
About Monday 30 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Now Rev. Josselyn and I are confused: Why did everyone "celebrate" Restoration Day yesterday???"
I'm eating humble pie again ... yesterday was Charles II birthday and anniversary of Restoration Day. My apologies for confusing anyone.
About Sunday 29 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"I'm with Rev. Josselyn. May 30th is Charles II's birthday, and the anniversary of the 1660 Restoration Day."
I was wrong ... 29th is correct. I had mis-numbered my files many years ago and believed my bad number. Sorry to have misled you.
About Thursday 16 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... well pleased with our frolique ..."
He took three teenage girls home at midnight, after everyone had gone to bed, having terrified one of the girls on the rough Thames, and had them standing around in the street without transportation ... My Lady must have been much nicer about it than I would have been.
Having Creed there -- by accident! -- was just as well.
About Wednesday 15 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"We came safe, however, to their house, where all were abed; we knocked them up, my Lady and all the family being in bed."
So they took the stairs by Somerset House (Dowager Queen Henrietta Maria's home), and had to transport the three girls to Lady Sandwich, who is staying in Kensington with the Rev. Thomas Hodges, vicar of Kensington, and rector of St. Peter's, Cornhill. Hard to imagine there were no coaches for hire on the Strand for hours considering the type of people who frequented Somerset House.
I can only imagine what the Countess had to say to them -- what were they thinking??? Then Pepys and Creed have to find somewhere to stay. Kensington was the sticks back then.
Finally, I agree it must have been niece Elizabeth Pickering, and not 3-year-old Katherine Montagu, as the third "young lady".
About Tuesday 14 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... I got their mother’s leave ..." At the start of the Diary it was established that Pepys enjoyed the company of teenager girls. Today he has a bevy of them, including the Mistress Becke, the Montagus, and probably the Laxton girls. Therefore, since some or all of them are invited to lunch, this is a case where punctuation was added later, and it could be "... their mothers' leave ..." Lucky Bess got them all for lunch tomorrow -- must be a big pie!
About Sunday 12 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"The Office patronage of Thomas by the officers still in London that I take it Sir J. Mennes envisions is perhaps appropriate, ..."
My reading of this situation is that William Griffith invited Pepys, Mennes and Lady Batton to stand as Godparents for Thomas.
After the invitations had been dispatched (and Elizabeth told that they would be attending the christening), Mennes told Griffith that it wasn't appropriate for Pepys to be one (probably because he isn't the social equal of Batten and Mennes), and Griffith "so sought for other." Pepys therefore decided not to attend the christening (not to embarrass the Griffiths, whatever) but Bess didn't get the memo and still planned on going.
The annotations mention Sir William Batten possibly having a ward named William Griffith. Therefore, having Lady B as the Godmother would make sense.
In answer to Terry's question, today Anglicans have three godparents. Girls have two Godmothers and one Godfather. Boys get two Godfathers and one Godmother. It sounds as if things haven't changed in 400 years. They can be relatives or close friends of the parents: people trusted to look out for the child's best interests if/when necessary (and to remember your birthday, Christmas, confirmation and wedding).
About Sunday 12 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
Thanks, Terry ... unsupported old links are land mines for the historians of the future.
About Sunday 22 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
Larry -- check out the encyclopedia, http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo… and you'll find lots of annotations on fruits and veggies. Plus earlier in the Diary we had lots of recipes and cookery book references. The problem was finding fresh veggies, especially in London. The gentry had it shipped in from their estates. People like Pepys -- well, he had friends in the victualing business, didn't he. "Arrangements" were doubtless made.
About Tuesday 7 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
From http://www.freemason.com/library/…
In early modern England, the Operative Free Masons made certain Inns their headquarters.
When an Inn was selected as the Free Mason's center, the Arms of the Fraternity, carved and painted upon a board (4 ft. by 3 ft.) was placed over the door of the building.
It paid Innkeepers to cater to the Free Masons as by the regulations they were obliged to stay at a "Lodge Free Mason's Arms" if there was one in the district, so the Brethren and Fellows could "bear witness they were in an honest place and with civil company."
Free Masons were forbidden to haunt Taverns, Inns or Ale houses, or to play Cards, Dice, Tables or any other unlawful game, nor was he to absent himself from the service of his masters day or night.
The Innkeeper of every Free Mason's Arms was sworn as a Serving Brother, so he could enter the lodge. His wife was sworn as a "Mason's Dame" so she could serve in the lodge as a waitress when required.
At all the "Arms" Inns, the Free Masons required at least two bedrooms or wards be provided for the sole use of Fraternity members -- one ward for the seniors and one for the juniors, and the regulations made the Masons of highest rank in the respective wards responsible that the brethren kept order.
The "Mason's Dame" might enter the wards, whenever necessary, to act as a nurse to any Mason who was ill, or had met with an accident, and her conduct was specially provided for in her "oath."
Upon all the main roads of the country over which parties of Operative Masons journeyed to obtain work, a "Lodge Free Masons' Arms" existed about every 16 to 20 miles.
For instance, "The Free Mason's Arms" in Burley's Lane, Leicester, where for many years an important Lodge met every evening in the week and at noon every Saturday.
There were many others Mason's Arms nearby, e.g. "The Free Mason's Arms", Market Harborough, the "Mason's Arms," Donisthorpe, the Birch Tree, Bardon Hill, and the Red House, Coalville.
The Fosse Road was the main route from Lincoln to the West of England, and many parties of Free Masons journeyed from Barton-on-Humber to Bristol and the west for business.
Old prints show the eaves of the "Free Mason's Arms" projected nearly 3 feet over the walls. Above the porch, partly hiding one of the windows, was the Sign-board on which were the Arms of the Worshipful of the Free Masons of Westminster, and the words "Lodge 80."
The reason for mentioning Westminster is that the Operative Free Masons for the Division from the Thames to Barton-on-Humber, and South of the River Trent (except the city of London and a few Lodges in Leicestershire) were ruled by the Grand Lodge meeting at the Rummer and Grapes Tavern, Westminster.
An illustration of the Lodge on the Wolds, dated 1701, shows a wing had been added, indicating their increased level of business.
About Tuesday 7 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
Sick care -- from: https://dralun.wordpress.com/2017…
Sick Servants in Early Modern Britain -- January 11, 2017 ~ by DR ALUN WITHEY
In early modern Britain the family provided both physical medicines and care. The burden usually fell on women, and involved extra washing, preparing medicines, etc. Men were the gatherers of remedies, but early modern medical literature didn’t prepare them when forced into a caring role when their wives fell sick.
What when servants fell sick? As Pepys says in his diary: “I lived in Axe Yard, having my wife and servant Jane, and no more family than us three”. Jane was fully part of the Pepys family.
It paid to treat sick servants, so they returned to work fast. In large houses an outbreak of sickness could be disastrous.
From work on early modern medicine in Wales:
William Davies of Clytha, Monmouthshire's accounts show he hired a boy, William Prosser in May 1718. Prosser received pocket money. Davies records giving Prosser 6 shillings to visit Usk Fair, and gave 2 shillings for the boy to play cards. Davies paid for new stockings and shoe repair, and allowed Prosser time off to visit his sick sister. Davies noted how long Prosser was sick, and like a modern employer, Davies provided sickpay: “June ye 15th I gave you one shilling when you were sick’. Was this the norm, or was Prosser lucky?
The probate inventory of Cardiff laborer William Cozens shows in his last illnes he lived in his employer's house, receiving care. Cozens was a laborer; he did not usually live with the family.
Gentry household accounts show the routine provision of medicines for sick servants. The accounts of Lord Herbert, 9th Earl of Pembroke, show the remedies ordered from London apothecary John Jackson -- from 1744 - 1747 there were 848 prescriptions, including ones for servants, the ‘coachman’ and a ‘housemaid’.
A Chirk Castle coachman received a ‘botle of physic from Dr. Puleston’, and when the ‘boy Thomas was swoll’n under the chin’ the accounts show payment for a man to fetch the Wrexham apothecary.
Employers who failed to care for their servants were denounced as ‘cursed and hard-hearted persons’ whose threshold the prospective servant should be wary to cross. Preachers like William Perkins said it was ‘Christian duty’ to care for a servant who ‘In time of his service be sick’.
Some were not so sympathetic. Thomas Ffoulkes of Holywell, Flintshire, kept tabs on his maid. In January 1724 he noted “she went rambling home several other times” suggesting Margaret was pulling a ‘sickie’.
Sick servants were often recipients of generous care. As part of the family, this might be expected. But they were employees, reliant on the goodwill of their masters and mistresses. If no one else was available, how did it feel for the mistress to tend her sick cook?