Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-05-24
DOMESTIC DISCIPLINE IN THE
SIXTEENTH CEN1U
BY II. MARIE GEORGE.


Three centuries ago, domestic ger
wants appear to have been very much
what they are to-day, at least if we
may Judge from the rules laid down
for their conduct in a family of some
eminence. The following "orders for
household servants" were first devised
by John Harrington, in the year 1856,
and renewed by John Harrington,
1892; the said John, the some, being
then High Shrieve of the County OF
Somerset" ImprImis, any servant
absent from mathis or vespers without
lawful excuse, to be alleged within
twenty-four hours, should forfeit two
pence. Profanity was prohl bited, with
a penalty of one penny fine for each
offence. If one carelessly left a door
open in the winter time he was fined
one penny.
after six O'Clock in the morning, or to
be out of bed after ten o'clock at night,
between Lsdy-day and MIchselmas;
and during the other six months, seven
A. NJ. was the hour fixed for rising,
and nine P. NJ. for retiring. Some
thing on Charles Lambs principle of
up COIu-
ing late. The penalty for disobedi-
ence on any of these points was two
pence. II any mans bed was left un.
made, or any fireplace or candle-b box
uncleaned after eight in the morning,
the offender forfeited one penny.
-Four times this sum was exacted
from any man who should teach
children ''unhonest speech" or i'm
proper language. Whoever waited at
the table without trencher in his
hand was to pay one penny, the same
was also exacted if ons absented him
self from any meal without permission.
The rule was strictly enforced that
who breaks pays, and if the actual
culprit could not be discovered, the
butler was condemned to make good
the loss or forfeit twelve pence.
The table was to be covered for
supper half an hour before SIX p. NJ,
the penalty for neglect being two
pence. Thrice that amount was the
punishment if dinner was not promptly
served at eleven o'clock, and supper at
six o'clock. Whoever absented him
self for a whole or even for a part of a
day without leave, was fined four pence.
If any one struck another or reviled
him, or threatened him, or provoked
him to violence he was obliged to pay
twelve pence. Whoever Intruded upon
the kitchen in serving hours, unless he
bad business. was fined one penny for
the trespass, the cook being amerced
in like amount for connivance.
1t WAS further enacted that ''Done
toy with the maids, on paine of Al"
and that "no man wear a foule shirt
on Sunday, or broken hose or shoes,
or dublett without buttons, on paine
of Id" and further, "that when any
stranger gOeth hence the chamber le
drest up again WI thin four hours after,
on paine OF l d.
The hall was to be made clean by
eight o'clock in the morning in winter.
and by seven in the summer, on the
like forfeit, while the porter suffered
to the same amount if he failed to close
the court gate during dinner and
supper. A fine of three pence avenged
any omission to clean the stairs, and
all rooms that needed that process,
every Friday after dinner. .'All which
sums hall be duly paid each quarter
day out of their wages, and bestowed
on the poor, or other godlY use."