ORDERS FOR HOUSEHOLD SERVANTS IN 1566.
Orders for Household Servantes; first deuised by John Haryngton, in the yeare 1566, and renewed by John Haryngton, sonne of the saide John, in the yeare 1592: The saide John, the sonne, being then high shrieve of the county of Somerset.
Imprimis, That no servant bee absent from praier, at morning or euening, without a lawfull excuse, to be alleged within one day after, vppon paine to forfeit for eury tyme 2d.
II. Item, That none swear any othe, vppon paine for every othe 1d.
III. Item, That no man leaue any doore open that he findeth shut, without theare bee cause, vppon paine for euery time 1d.
IV. Item, That none of the men be in bed, from our Lady-day to Michaelmas, after 6 of the clock in the morning; nor out of his bed after 10 of the clock at night; nor, from Michaemas till our Lady-day, in bed after 7 in the morning, nor out after 9 at night, without reasonable cause, on paine of 2d.
V. That no man's bed bee vnmade, nor fire or candle-box vnclean, after 8 of the clock in the morning, on paine of 1d.
VI. Item, That no one commit any nuisance within either of the courts, vppon paine of 1d.
VII. Item, That no man teach any of the children any vnhonest speeche, or evil word, or othe, on paine of 4d.
VIII. Item, That no man waite at the table without a trencher in his hand, except it be vppon some good cause, on paine of Id.
IX. Item, That no man appointed to waite at my table be absent that meale, without reasonable cause, on paine of 1d.
X. Item, If any man breake a glasse, hee shall aunswer the price thereof out of his wages; and, if it bee not known who breake it, the buttler shall pay for it on paine of 12d.
XI. Item, The table must bee couered halfe an houer before 11 at dinner, and 6 at supper, or before, on paine of 2d.
XII. Item, That meate bee readie at 11, or before, at dinner; and 6, or before, at supper, on paine of 6d.
XIII. Item, That none be absent, without leaue or good cause, the whole day, or any part of it, on paine of 4d.
XIV. Item, That no man strike his fellow, on paine of loss of seruice; nor reuile or threaten, or prouoke another to strike, on paine of 12d.
XV. Item, That no man come to the kitchen without reasonable cause, on paine of 1d. and the cook likewyse to forfeit 1d.
XVI. Item, That none toy with the maids, on paine of 4d.
XVII. That no man weare foule shirt on Sunday, nor broken hose or shooes, or dublett without buttons, on paine of 1d.
XVIII. Item, That, when any strainger goeth hence, the chamber be drest vp againe within 4 howrs after, on paine of 1d.
XIX. Item, That the hall bee made cleane euery day, by eight in the winter, and seauen in the sommer, on paine of him that should do it to forfeit 1d.
XX. That the cowrt-gate bee shutt each meale, and not opened during dinner and supper, without just cause, on paine the porter to forfet for euery time, 1d.
XXI. Item, That all stayrs in the house, and other rooms that neede shall require, bee made cleane on Fryday after dinner, on paine of forfeyture of euery on whome it shall belong vnto, 3d.
All which sommes shall be duly paide each quarter-day out of their wages, and bestowed on the poore, or other godly vse.