11. The Municipal Regulation of the Entry into Trades at Nottingham [Stevenson, Nottingham Records, Vol. IV, p. 186], 1578-9.
1578-9, March 9. Memorandum also, that all manner of prentices already bound and to be bound to bring their indentures to be enrolled before May day next, or else every master to forfeit 12d. And the Mayor to admit no burgess but by consent of the Wardens of the occupation in default of the Wardens; and to have a special regard that such have been and served as apprentices and been enabled, according to the statute of anno 5 of Queen Elizabeth.
12. Municipal Regulation of Markets at Southampton [Hearnshaw, Southampton Court Leet Records, Vol. I, Part II, p. 256], 1587.
Item we present that Mr. Brawycke, who, it is said ... was bound unto your worships for the serving of the inhabitants of this town with candles at 2d. the lb., having all the tallow of the victuallers to this town at a price reasonable to his good liking and great commodity many years, restraining all others from having any part thereof by virtue of his grant from your worships as aforesaid, a scarcity of tallow now happening for one year, doth presently refuse to serve the inhabitants at any reasonable price, and the best cheap that is to be had is 3d., and many times 4d. the lb.; a happy man that can make his bargain so well to take it when there is profit and refuse to serve when the profit faileth, and to raise it at his own will for his best advantage, and to tie all men and himself to be at liberty; the artificers and the poorer sort of people are most of all pinched, wherewith they, with the rest, find themselves aggrieved, so desire your worships thoroughly to consider thereof.
13. The Municipal Regulation of Wages at Chester [Morris, Chester in the Plantagenet and Tudor Reigns, p. 436], 1591.
30 July, 33 Eliz. And at the same assembly Mr. Mayor delivered the corporation of the wrights and slaters, letting to understand of their great exactions of the citizens and servants, whereby they deserved to be disfranchised and their corporations dissolved. Whereupon it was thought most meet that Mr. Mayor do call before him the aldermen and stewards thereof, and take them in bond for redress and remedy of all such wrongs ... and in the meantime their corporation to be retained and also receive and give from time to time such wages as shall be appointed by the Mayor for the time being.
14. The Company of Journeymen Weavers of Gloucester [Hist. MSS. Com., Twelfth Report, App. Part IX, pp.416-418], 1602.
Thos. Machyn, Mayor of the City of Gloucester, to all to whom, etc. Know ye that there came this day into the Court of the aldermen there divers of the journeymen weavers of the said city in the name of their whole fellowship of journeymen, and signified by their petition that whereas before this time sundry good ordinances have been made and granted by, and agreed upon by and between the master weavers of the said city, known by the name of the Warden and Fraternity of St. Anne of the weavers in the town of Gloucester, and the said journeymen, for the good order and government of man and for their better relief; and some disuse of the same has been of late years through the negligence of some of the said journeymen, and upon this untrue intendment that some of the said ordinances were not warrantable by the laws of this realm, nor convenient for the public good of the said city; it has therefore seemed fit to us, the Mayor and Aldermen, not only thoroughly to consider the said articles, but also to consider such books of compositions as have been heretofore given to the said company or fraternity of weavers, either by our predecessors or by the justices of assize of the county of the city; we have therefore called before us the Wardens and Stewards of the said fraternity or company to hear what they could or would say thereupon for our better information, requiring them further to shew us their books of compositions; who very willingly and orderly brought before us the several books hereafter mentioned; one book approved by the Justices of Assize, dated 10 Nov., 24 Henry VII, another book granted by our predecessors, also allowed by the Justices of Assize, dated 13 March, 4 Edward VI. We, having fully considered the said books, are pleased, with the consent of the present Warden and Stewards of the said Company of Weavers and of others the masters of the said Company occupying the trade of weaving within the said city, to allow that the journeymen of the said trade in the said city may in quiet and orderly sort at any time hereafter congregate and meet together at any fit place within the said city and such time of the day, between the hours of seven of the clock in the forenoon and four of the clock in the afternoon, as to them shall be thought fit and convenient, ever giving notice to the Warden of the said Company of weavers or, in his absence, to one of the stewards of the said fraternity one day before, at the least, of their meaning and purpose to meet, to the intent that if the said Warden or any of the said Company of the master weavers shall think or know anything meet to be considered of and conferred of between them, that the same might be proposed and so concluded of as might stand with equity and good order, and to the end that a quiet and peaceable demeanour with orderly and civil usage may be by and among the said whole company of journeymen at all times hereafter observed, and that the one to the other of them may give that brotherly aid and Christian relief as best may be for their helps, some of them being young men and bachelors having neither houses of their own or family, and some others of great years burdened with the charge of wife and many children; it is therefore thought good by us, with the assent of the said master-weavers, that they the said journeymen shall and lawfully may yearly, on the day of Saint Peter the Apostle, meet together and choose two honest and discreet journeymen of the elder and discreetest sort of them to be their Stewards for the year ensuing, which Stewards shall have power and authority to assemble and call together all the journeymen of the said art or others whatsoever professing and using the trade of weaving in the said city or suburbs of the same not being masters, and they so being assembled to confer among themselves of all such good means and orders as best may be for the good of their society and to the only ends and purposes before mentioned; which said journeymen being so chosen shall take upon them the said office of Stewardship and shall execute all and singular the following ordinances, either of them refusing the said office to forfeit 40s.; and the said Stewards shall be yearly presented on St. Ann's day by six of the elder and better sort of their Company of journeymen unto the Warden and Stewards of the said Company of Weavers at such time and place as shall be by them appointed, there to understand what to them doth pertain as servants of the said trade of weaving, or by virtue of their composition or grants made heretofore, or hereafter to be made, etc., all of which they shall faithfully promise by giving of their hands to perform and cause to be performed, on pain of 20s.
[Detailed ordinances follow. They require journeymen who are strangers to produce a certificate of apprenticeship and testimony of good behaviour, and to pay on admission 8d. to the fellowship of journeymen. Other journeymen are to pay 4d. on admission, and all are to pay 1d. per quarter "to the relief of the poorer sort of the said fellowship." Journeymen embezzling yarn are to be expelled, and those absent from the election of new stewards are to be fined 3s. 4d. The company of journeymen shall do nothing prejudicial "towards the Warden and his Company ... of the said art ... of weavers, either by raising ... their wages or otherwise.">[
15. A Petition of Weavers who are not Burgesses [Nottingham Records, Vol. IV, pp. 274-5], 1604-5.