Deb, you could have it be a book she bound herself, in secrecy, finding or taking the vellum or parchment (or paper?) sheets from her husband's office, looking at bound books and figuring out how it's done, folding the sheets into "books" and stitching them together, deciding whether or not to put a cover on her bound pages, and what to use if so, etc.
Or she could take an account book, again from her husband's office, or the business manager's (steward's?) office, or buying one at the stationer's, if there was such a place, in town. An account book would be more commonplace, less noticeable, but more difficult to hide entirely, and people might wonder why she had one. A book of her own making could be any size, hidden anywhere, but more recognizable for what it is if it was found.
You wouldn't write an ordinary book on vellum or parchment in the 1600s. Paper. And I'm betting it isn't officially a journal, it's officially her housekeeping book -- jelly receipts interspersed with "bought 5 gills of Hungary water" interspersed, as time goes on, with journal entries.
There's a specific name for this sort of housewife's book and I'm blanking on it.
Here's a lovely Webpage on surviving cookery manuscripts that you could steal some recipes from.
[link]
IIRC, even printed books weren't commonly sold bound until sometime in the 19th century. You'd buy the printed sheets, and have your own binding put on them.
Given that, I very seriously doubt that bound blank books were around much before then -- keeping notes on loose paper and binding or tying them together after they were written is what I'd expect.
Betsy, that one's fun. And yup, definitely her household book. But it would also have the full story of her systematic rape and takeover by Andrew Leight, insofar as she can bring herself to write it down.
Look up what Pepys's journal was written on. That's contemporary.
Damn! Excellent point. Thanks and off to hunt.
Hmmm. OK, from the Bowdoin library, in the special collections:
John Cotton: (1584-1652). "Commentary on the First Epistle of John," by John Cotton, first minister of Boston. On paper. 1 v. (376 p.); 30 cm. Undated [17th c.]. Bound in early calf, sides outlined in gilt rules with gilt design in center, brass clasps and catches missing, back with bands, the compartments decorated in gilt. Two columns of text per page.
Paul V (1552-1621). Bull, "Dilecto Filio Officiali Zamorensi ..." Abolishing a monastery of St. James at Zamora in Spain. On vellum. 1 item (l leaf); 79 x 98 cm. September 1609. Bottom edge folded up, seal attached. Leafwork on top margin and part of left margin. Not in Bullarium Romanum or Bullarium Dominicanorum Accompanying this document is a note in the hand of George T. Little, a former Librarian of the College, which states, in part: "Sacked in Napoleonic wars, taken by French invader."
Concerning Shipp money. On paper. 1 v. (660 p.); 29 cm. 1638. Bound in early vellum. Contains the opinions of Baron Weston; Judges Crawley, Berkley, and Vernon; Baron Trevor; Judges Crook, Jones, and Hutton; Barons Denham and Davenport; Lord Finch; and Lord Chiefe Justice Bramstone.
Early vellum, vellum, calfskin.
Bound in vellum, not written on vellum. [Cept for the Papal Bull.]
I haven't had any joy with Google, other to note that Pepys's diary was part of his bequest to Magdalene College, Cambridge, and is in six bound volumes.
Googled for Seventeenth Century Paper.
Voila!
