APPRENTICES.

Ordered 17th July, 1551. That Water Lynche whiche was prentise w^th John Tholmwoode Barborsurgeon shalbe and ys contented to serve Thomas Woolf as a prentice from the daye above written untyll the viij^th yere of King Edward the sixte and so the sayd Water Lynche his yeres to be fully ended and ronne out at the feaste of all Saints as may appere by his Indenture.

19th September, 1552. Ordered that when any prentise dothe goo awaye from his M^r the same M^r shall bring in his Indenture and here to remayne tyll the prentice come agayne and to be regestred.

It was also ordered that the Beadle should make out all Indentures of apprenticeship, and any one else presuming to do so should pay a fine of 3s. 4d.

27th April, 1556. It was ordered that no apprentice should wear a beard of beyond fifteen days’ growth, and that on breach of this order the master of the apprentice was to pay a fine of half a mark.

15th October, 1566. Here in this Court John James the appñts of John Shryve for pylferyng, & so here he had his correction.[170]

27th May, 1567. Robert Cholmeley complained of his apprentice

for y^t he doth not his worke as he ought & for his other ill demeanors And so in the pˀsents of this Court the saide appˀnts humbled hym upon his knees and pˀmyssed his amendment.

1567. The quarrels between masters and apprentices about this period were numerous, and occupied a great deal of the time of the Court, who in dealing with them generally pursued a policy of reconciliation and made the parties friends again. In certain cases, masters were fined for ill-treating apprentices, whilst some of the latter had their Indentures cancelled or “torn in Court” and were either whipped or ordered to behave better, or to find new masters.

22nd August, 1569. Here was Rich Upton Playntyf agaynst his app̃nts W^m Fyshe for that he ranne awaye frome his said M^r the xxj^th of the former moneth and tooke w^th hym sˀten instruments for surgery & other things more, w^ch pˀtyculers were here pˀsently sene & by the said W^m Fyshe confessed and that he had no cawse to go frome his said M^r but that he wolde have gon to the sea and accordynge to his desert had correction and punnyshment unto auncyent custom w^th roddes.

22nd November, 1569. Memorandˀ upon the xxij^th day of November 1569 in the afternowne Gyles Swalldell thappeñtꝭ of Chrystofor Swalldell for goyng forth of his maisters house at unlawfull tymes and houres & in evell company wastinge and consumyng his M^rs grocery wares also therebye he the appntꝭ then had the correction of this hall accordyng to his desertꝭ as the justice & equytie by the M^r & govˀnors thoughte at the request of his said M^r to be most mete and convenient. And so the said Gyles Swalldell appntꝭ hathe promysed here that he wylbe a good faythfull & trusty servant unto his said M^r and never hereafter offende any more.

1st June, 1570. Here was John thappntꝭ of Thomas Wayte (for) abusying of Rog^r Laborne & his wyfe and his M^r also and he had favorable correction for his offencꝭ.

John possibly thought it rather unfavourable.

By the next entry it would appear that Master Ralph Soda found the society of the ladies more congenial to his tastes than the practice of shaving and bloodletting.

15th February, 1572. Here was Henry Lusshe and witnessed how that his app̃ntice Rafe Soda ranne awaye ffrom hym and contract hym self to three wemen and was asked at Westm^r in the church and also had delt unhonestly w^th his mayde srˀvnt.

19th May, 1573. Here was John Newsam and he was appoynted to brynge in his fyne for not pˀsentynge his apprentice.

Here was John Appowell and he was appoynted the lyke.

9th June, 1573. Here was Olyvˀ Pecocke the covenaunte Sˀvaunt of Allen Colly beinge comytted to Warde uppon Wednesday last on M^r Warden Robynsons comaundment for goynge ffrom his master ffrom the Sounday untill Wednesdaye next and he was nowe relesed so that his master paynge his wages he shall serve hym.

21st July, 1573. Pecocke complained to the Court against his master “ffor not well usinge hym in beatinge hym.”

The next is a quaint piece of dry humour—

6th October, 1573. Here was an order taken between Danyell Botham and his appˀntice that he should well and trewly sˀve his M^r and not to make any more complainte or trouble the M^rs any more, and yf he do nott sˀve his M^r accordyngly he shall have the Almes of the howsse.

The “Alms of the house” were on some other like occasions promised to troublesome apprentices.

18th October, 1573. Here was John Staples and brought in his apprentyze for evyll behavio^r by hym comytted in his masters house w^th his masters mayde and he made his submyssion on his knees and asked his master forgevenes in the courte, and he was forgeven uppon condyc͠on that he should amend well & faythfullye w^thout farther complaint or elles to have the ponnyshment of the howsse.

11th December, 1599. In the matter in controversie betwixt Juliance Yonge & John Bradley his apprentice it is ordered that the sayd Yonge shall take his sayd apprentice into his service agayne And that the sayd Yonge shall use him as hee oughte to doe And that the sayd apprentice shall well and honestly behave himself towardsˀ his sayd M^r.

22nd January, 1600. This daye Daniell Hinkesman brought in his fine of xl^s for sufferinge his apprentice to dwell w^th a gentleman.

This apprentice had probably been let out to hire as a valet by Hinkesman, who received his wages instead of teaching him his trade.

20th February, 1600. Noah Bayley having been complained of for striking his apprentice Andrew Mathew, he was fined 40s., and at the next Court Mathew had license to sue Bayley at the Common law for “breaking his head.”

17th June, 1600. This daye it was ordered that George Langton apprentice to M^r ffrederick shalbe comitted to the compter for his unreverent behaviour towardes his M^r.

7th August, 1600. John Sares is to be called in question for geveinge wages to his apprentice.

2nd December, 1600. This daye uppon complaynt made to this Courte it was ordered that Henry Needham should put awaye his apprentice Willm̄ Webbe for that it was then apparantly pˀved that hee is marryed w^thin his terme And it was thereuppon furth^r ordered that the pˀsentac͠on should be discharged by a vacat thereuppon to be entered.

5th May, 1601. This daie the wiefe of Thomas Asbridge decessed did complaine of Marke Nurse her apprentice for absentinge himselfe from her service and other his misdemeanors towardes her All w^ch uppon his humble suite and promise of amendment was forgeeven him.

16th June, 1601. This daie it is ordered that Thomas Shurwin apprentice to John Urvey shalbe for ever utterly dischardged of his terme of apprentisship for that it appeareth to the Maisters uppon hearinge of their controversie that he hath the said apprentice colorablie.

30th June, 1601. This daye Robert Wallis is dischardged from his apprentiship for that it appeared to this Court that his maister did not mayntayne him w^th sufficient meate drynck and apparrell.

22nd September, 1601. This daye uppon complaynt made by —— Jelly apprentice to Hughe ffell that the said ffell had put him oute of his service before hee had acquainted the M^rs therew^th It was ordered that the said ffell should receive his said apprentice in to his service againe & that hee should pˀsently inroll him. And that the said ffell should appeare before the M^rs at the next Courte.

3rd November, 1601. This daye uppon hearinge of the Controversie betwixt John Howe & his apprentice It is ordered that hee shall take home his said apprentice and use him well hereafter And whereas the said Apprentice hath complayned for that the said Howe dothe not exercyse the said apprentice in his trade of Barbery & Surgery It is furth^r ordered that if the said Howe shall not take a shoppe and use his trade before Christemas next that the said apprentice shalbe turned over to anoth^r of the same arte.

16th March, 1602. This daye it is pˀmised & undertaken before the M^rs of this Company by Robert Leadbeater that hee the said Robert shall & will at the expirac͠on of the apprentisheep of Henry Edwards his apprentice geve unto the said Henry twoe suites of decent apparrell & a cloke.

20th April, 1602. I Michaell Braye doe pˀmise and undertake That at the ende & expirac͠on of the tearme of apprenticeship of George Parkins my Apprentice I will geve unto him a new suite of apparrell viz one dublett one pˀ of hose one hatt one pˀ of stockins and one Cloke of decent apparrell In witnes whereof I have hereunto put my hand.

22nd February, 1603. This daye it is ordered that Thomas Mownsley shall for his disobedience to his M^r be comitted to the Compter.

16th April, 1605. This daye Peter Saunderson certiefied the Court that hee had offered to inroll his apprentice before the Chamberlin and it was denyed him because the apprentice could not at the end of his terme accomplishe the Age of xxiij yeres.

4th June, 1605. This daye it is ordered that John Udall shall at the next Courte bringe in his fine of xl^s for puttinge a waye his Apprentice Tho. Hobbes w^th out o^r M^rs consent (see 18th June).

4th June, 1605. This daye it is ordered that Roger Kiffin shalbe dischardged of his apprentiship w^th Richard Bonner for that hee wanteth meate drinck & apparrell And hee is to finde him selfe a nother M^r of this Company. (See 25th June.)

18th June, 1605. This daye it is ordered that John Udall shalbe committed to the Compter for his contempt.[171]

25th June, 1605. Richard Bonnẽr is to bringe in his apprentices Roger Kiffins Indenture at the next Courte or ells hee is to be comitted to the Compter.

25th June, 1605. This daye Thomas Clemence was fined at x^s for that hee was not bound apprentice by the Clark of this Company.

24th September, 1605. This day it is ordered that David Vaughan apprentice to Richard Davis shalbe pˀntlie dischardged from his said M^r for the residue of his terme to come for that his said M^r hath given him unlawfull correction as it was affirmed and hath not trayned him up in the trade that he used being Barbinge and Surgery. And is to bring in the Apprentices indenture att the next Courte or ells to be comitted to the Compter for his contempt. And the appˀntice is in the meane tyme to continue w^th his freindꝭ And is not to sˀve any pˀson that useth the trade of silck weavinge any more w^th in the liberties of London.

7th January, 1606. This day it is ordered that John Browne and his apprentice be here at the next Courte. And he is to be comaunded from our M^rs to discharge his appˀntice out of Bridewell w^ch he holdeth there And then to be before o^r said M^rs at their next Court both he and his apprentice.

14th January, 1606. John Browne is to bringe in his fine for puttinge away his appˀntice w^thout the M^rs order.

5th July, 1608. This daye in the Controversie betwixt Nicholas Braye and Humfrey Pittꝭ It is ordered for that the M^rs doe fynde that the Apprentice is not kept as hee ought to be but is lowsie and also his M^r for want of change of apparrell And that therefore wee doe not fynde him a fit M^r It is ordered that if the said Nicholas Braye doe not hereafter use his apprentice in Better Order that then the apprentice shalbe turned over to anoth^r freeman of this Company.

23rd May, 1609. This daye Richard Tyler broughte in his fine accordinge to a former order for puttinge awaye (i.e., imprisoning) his apprentice w^thout the M^rs order And it was mittigated to xx^s.

19th November, 1611. At this Court it is ordered that John Todd shall on the next tuesdaies Court bring in his fyne of 40^s for that he did not bynde an appˀntice w^ch is now w^th him according to the Custome of this howse.

19th November, 1611. At this Court Robert Hawley the appˀntice of Thomas Clarke was for his stubbornes & other unsemely pranckꝭ by him used towardꝭ his M^r as also for his lewd & bad service brought before the M^rs whereupon he promising of amendem^t his faultꝭ was for this tyme remitted.

22nd February, 1613. In the complaint made by William Richardson against his M^r John Sabyn being heard & proved at this Court by his owne confession that Sabyn did use unlawfull correction to his appˀntice. It is ordered that the M^r shall not use hereafter any such unlawfull correction for if he doe & his appˀntice make complaint thereof to the M^rs of this Company, then the appˀntice shall be taken awaye from him And further it is ordered that the appˀntice shall doe his M^r just & true service, And that the said Sabyn shall the next Court daie bring in his fyne for not inrowling of his said appˀntice w^thin the tyme lymitted by the ordynancꝭ of this howse.

22nd February, 1613. This daye Joseph Boreman made promise to pˀforme such order as the M^rs did heretofore set downe between him and his appˀntice namely⁾ that he will give to the same appˀntice two suitꝭ of apparell fitt for such an appˀntice accordinge to the true meaning of the same w^thout any fraud.

27th September, 1614. At this Court Raph Dixon the appˀntice of our M^r Hassall for manie lewd misdemeano^rs & for getting a woman w^th child, being an appˀntice shold have had the correction of the howse, but upon considerac͠on had he is to be sent to bridewell.

23rd January, 1615. In the complaint made by Margery Stokes in the behalf of her grand child John Taft who is thˀ apprentice of one John Hedlowe for that the said Hedlow haveing receaved w^th the said appˀntice the some of Tenn poundꝭ doth now turne him away & refuseth to restore the monie w^ch he had w^th him. It is therefore by this Court ordered that the said Hedlow shall either receave the same appˀntice into his service agayne or otherwise repaie the said some of Tenn poundes wherefore he promised unto this Court to take the same appˀntice agayne into his service.

14th March, 1615. In the matter of complaint made by the weif of one Xp̃ofer Greene who is now gone to the East indies of & about her servaunt or appˀntice for that he kepeth her shop & doth gyve her no allowaunce towardꝭ the kepeing of her out of the gettingꝭ in the same shop w^ch being duely herd at this Court It is ordered that the said appˀntice shall from henceforth weekelie make unto his M^ris a trew & just accompt of such monie as he shall gett in the same shop & that from henceforth he shall be at the appoyntment of his mistris & of the M^rs of this companie and his M^ris shall have & enjoy all such benifitt as shalbe gotten by the said shopp.

14th November, 1615. In the complaynt made by the servant of William Corbett against his M^r w^ch beinge examyned at this Court It is aparyant that the boy hath very stubburnlie & naughtielie behaved himself unto his M^r Whereupon it is this daie ordered that the boy shall goe home agayne w^th his M^r & behave himselfe more honestlie then formerlie he hath done w^ch the boy promiseth to doe.

18th February, 1616. In the complaint made by M^ris Wootten against her appˀntice Thomas Hill for his neclect of service & for pleaing at dice & whoring It is therefore ordered that the boy be corrected.

18th February, 1616. In the complaint made by David Richardson against his M^r ffletcher for lack of vittualls It is ordered that ffletcher shall take the boy home & kepe him as an appˀntice ought to be kept.

There are several records of masters being fined for keeping more than three apprentices, the usual penalty being £5, though this was sometimes mitigated on petition.

13th June, 1626. This daye John Pinder made complaint against Janson his appˀntice, this Courte caused the vizard and coate to be brought into the Parlor, and the apprentice submitted himselfe to his Maister soe that his punishment was forborne.

For some particulars as to the vizard coate and bulbegger, see [p. 393]. The mere sight of them had a softening effect upon Master Janson, as also upon George Tether, who seems to have caught a glimpse of them next year.

7th August, 1627. This daye the weife of Salomon Carr made complaint against her apprentice George Tether formerly bound to Jeffery Baskervile deceased and he had the bulbegger showed him, whoe upon his humble submission to his M^ris was spared in hoape of his better service to her hereafter.

20th November, 1632. Martine Stamp made complaint ag̃t John Scott by petic͠on to this Court thereby intimateing that his son Scotts appˀntice is nowe kept and imployed onely for digging delveing & planting and pruneing potatoes & tobacco in the Barmoothoes Iland. (Query Bermudas.)

28th January, 1635. It is ordered that Jonas Gargrave shalbe prosecuted to be disfraunchised at the charge of this house in regard he tooke a married mann apprentice knoweingly.

Mr. Heydon’s apprentice, next referred to, was doubtless a gay and swaggering young gentleman, and the Court in meteing out its amusing sentence must have been conscious of touching him on a sore place.

9th August, 1647. Mr. Heydon complayneing to this Court of his apprentice here present in Court ffor his evill and stubborne Behavior towards him and frequent absences out of his service in Day time and in late houres at night The said apprentice being in Court to answer to the same did rudely and most irreverently behave himselfe towards his said M^r and the whole Court in sawcy language and behaviour useing severall Oathes protesting that he will not serve his M^r whatever shall come of it This Court did therefore cause the Haire of the said apprentice (being undecently long) to be cut shorter.

8th August, 1729. It is ordered that the Clarke do sue M^r. Lee M^r. Pemble and M^r. Bonzer for binding their Apprentices by Scriveners and not at the Hall.

4th August, 1741. It is ordered that James Parnell Stevenson who was this day bound an apprentice to Tho^s. fford be brought here 12 months hence by his Ma^r that the Court may be satisfyed of his being better improved in his Learning.

5th November, 1791. Elizabeth Conyers was apprenticed to Elizabeth Castle and presented and bound in Court. This is but one of numerous entries of girl apprentices.

The Registers of apprentices were for a long period kept in Latin, e.g.:

28th July, 1658. Mathew Moy fil̃l̃ M.M. nuper de com̃ Staford vintener̊ defunct: põ: se ap̃p. Tho. Pace Watchmaker pro 7 annis a die dãt.

The following is an example of a boy being bound to a freewoman of the Company.

23rd June, 1658. Daniel Alderson fil̃l̃ Jacobi A. nuper Civ. et B. S. Londini defunct põ: se ap̃p. matri suo Katherine Alderson pro 8 annis a die dãt.

And here is an instance of a girl, the daughter of a “gentleman,” being bound to a Barber-Surgeon and to his wife.

18th December, 1660. Katharina Bowghy fiɫ. Georgii B. de Addley in com̃ Stafford gent. defunct põ: se ap̃p W^mo Bennett B.C. et Marthæ uxori ejus pro 7 annis a die dãt.

FREEMEN.

The earliest recorded fine on admission to the freedom was £3, one Martin Partridge being sworn in on 26th July, 1551, when he paid £1 and gave security for the remainder.

10th September, 1551. John Bryckett, “toothe drawer,” was admitted “a brother into this house” and paid £1.

10th November, 1551. On this day four freemen were admitted paying respectively 6s. 8d., 10s., 2s., 10d., and another man paid nil, which indicates that the fines on admission were variable and at the pleasure of the Court.

19th September, 1552. It was ordered that free journeymen should not pay quarterage until such time as they set up for themselves and kept house.

4th July, 1566. It was ordered that in future any one seeking admission to the freedom if “Inglyshe borne” should pay £4 and any “alyan or straynger” £5.

7th October, 1567. In this Courte Rich Morrys upon his fre makinge pˀmyssed to geve the M^rs a bucke.

21st October, 1567. In this Courte Thomas Symons and Willm fferrat are sworne and admytted brethren of this Company and are lycenced to sett open shoppe as parteners to gether w^thoute Smythefelde bars.

2nd June, 1573. Here was Edward Duffeeld of London a practioner in phisick & Surgery and required to be a brother of this Company and yt was agreed that he should pay xl^s in hand and other xl^s at S^t. James daye.

9th June, 1573. Here was Gabriel Petrol for not being admytted a Brother [he] occupynge Surgerye w^thout admyttaunce and he promysed he would and yt was agreed that he should at a moneth ende bringe in xl^s in pˀte of payment of v^li w^thout any farther delaye.

3rd June, 1600. Henry Wheelis is appoynted to pˀcure his M^r to make him free the next Court or to geve ovˀ his shop in long lane yf not then to be comitted to the compter.

22nd July, 1600. This daye Henry Wilson of Ratcliffe and Mathewe Eaton of S^t Bartholomew in West Smythfeyld were suters to the M^rs of this Company to become broth^rs of the same whereuppon they are by this Court injoyned to geve their answere the next Court what gratificac͠on they will bestowe of [172] the Company.

6th November, 1604. This daie Vincent Lowe became humble suiter to this Companie to be admytted into the same by redempc͠on to w^ch request this Courte hath consented pˀvided hee paie to this Companie in gratificac͠on v^li of lawfull money of England and doe bestowe a dinn^r uppon the Assistantꝭ on Thursday next.

5th February, 1605. This daie it is ordered that Edward Carelill Inholder shalbe translated from his Company to this payinge to the M^rs to the use of this Company iiij^li and beareinge the ordenary chardge.

9th April, 1605. It is this daye ordered that Raphe Parsons a freeman of this Company and Thomas Sampson Edward Squier and Robert Hoddy late servants & apprentices to xp̃ofer Thompson shall fynde them M^rs in this Company to be turned over unto before whitson tyde next And that they shall continue no longer w^th their mistres because shee is nowe marryed to a Grocer who is not free of this Company.

29th January, 1610. fforasmuch as Tobye Johnson would not give consent to this Court that James Kent [173] should be made a freeman The Court have thought fytt the said James should be at this Court sworne a freeman of this Company for that ytt cannot appeere to this Court that the said Johnson can prove any materiall thinge against the said Jame to debarr him of his freedome.

14th January, 1611. This daie William Tavernor the late appˀtice of Widdowe Sanderson did before the M^rs of this Company promise that he would not at any tyme hereafter set up a barbers shopp in any place w^thin two pˀisshes [174] at the least where the said Widdowe Sanderson dwelleth or keepeth shopp uppon w^ch promise soe by him made the said Widdowe Sanderson is contented to make him a freeman of this cittie not w^thstanding he hath untill October next to serve.

2nd July, 1612. This daie at this Court yt is ordered that Edward Squior the Dyer shall not be translated from this Company unto the Company of the Dyers for that if this howse shall give consent unto him maney others of this Company as well Dyers & grocers as other tradꝭ would sue to have the like kindenes.

9th January, 1615. At this Court, one John Mathews, “an oculist,” made suit for his admission by redemption—

w^ch this Court did consent unto conditionallie to gyve this howse a great beare bowle sutable to the rest of the great beare bowles w^ch he consented unto.