“Such is the most base and ridiculous parsimony of many of our
Gentlemen (if I may so terme them) that if they can procure some poore
Batchelor of Art from the Universitie to teach their children to say
grace, will be content upon the promise of ten pounds a yeere at his
first comming, to be pleased with five; the rest to be set off in hope
of the next advouson (which perhaps was sold before the young man was
born). Or if it chance to fall in his time, his lady or master tels
him, ‘Indeed, Sir, we are beholden unto you for your paines; such a
living is lately falne, but I had before made a promise of it to my
butler or bailiffe, for his true and extraordinary service.’
Is it not commonly seen, that the most Gentlemen will give better
wages, and deale more bountifully with a fellow who can but a dogge,
or reclaime a hawke, than upon an honest, learned, and well qualified
man to bring up their children? It may be, hence it is, that dogges
are able to make syllogismes in the fields, when their young masters
can conclude nothing at home, if occasion of argument or discourse be
offered at the table.”
Did the great City merchant ever maintain the domestic chaplain? I have
found no instance of such a servant in the household of a citizen.
Bishop Hall assigns the domestic chaplains to the country gentleman:—
“A gentle squire would gladly entertain
Into his house some trencher-chappelain;
Some willing man that might instruct his sons,
And that would stand to good conditions.
First, that he lie upon the truckle-bed,
While his young maister lieth o’er his head;
Second, that he do, on no default,
Ever presume to sit above the salt;
Third, that he never change his trencher twice;
Fourth, that he use all common courtesies;
Sit bare at meals, and one half rise and wait;
Last, that he never his young master beat;
But he must aske his mother to define,
How manie jerks she would his breech should line.
All these observ’d he could contented be,
To give five markes, and winter livery.”
JOSEPH HALL, _Satires_.
As regards the ’prentices, they were considered as servants not only
in the shop and warehouse, but also at home, where they waited at
dinner, and followed the ladies to church and when they went abroad in
the evening, carrying a lantern and a stout cudgel. For the servants,
properly so called, the following regulations will show the manner of
their service (Drake, ii.):—
“Imprimis, That no servant bee absent from praier, at morning or
evening, without a lawfull excuse, to be alledged within one day
after, upon payne to forfeit for every tyme 2d.
2. Item, that none sweare any othe, uppon paine for every othe 1d.
3. Item, That no man leave any doore open, that he findeth shut,
without there bee cause, upon payne for every time 1d.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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