What a brilliant rant against female servants, footmen and shoe shiners. The maids come from the countryside and they immediately raise their wages, start wearing fancy silk dresses instead of wool. These even start affairs with the Master's apprentice, his son, or even the masters. This of course wrecks his marriage, family and even his estate at which point she dumps a bastard on him and leaves. All I can say is how horrible those poor rich men are treated by wicked female servants. He supplies several suggestions for keeping women servants inline. (Excerpt from Goodreads)
Daniel Defoe (c. 1660 – 24 April 1731), born Daniel Foe, was an English trader, writer, journalist, pamphleteer and spy. He is most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe, which is second only to the Bible in its number of translations. He has been seen as one of the earliest proponents of the English novel, and helped to popularise the form in Britain with others such as Aphra Behn and Samuel Richardson. Defoe wrote many political tracts and often was in trouble with the authorities, including a spell in prison. Intellectuals and political leaders paid attention to his fresh ideas and sometimes consulted with him. (Wikipedia)