2. Literary authorities.—Descriptions by those who were actors in the events of the early nineteenth century are given in the Life of Robert Owen (by himself), in The life and Struggles of William Lovett (by himself), and The life of Thomas Cooper (by himself). Early Trade and Chartist Journals are important sources:—The United Trades Co-operative Journal, 1830, The Poor Man's Guardian, 1831-5, The Crisis 1832-4, The Ten Hours' Advocate, 1846-7, The Stone Masons' Circular, 1834. Other material for the early history of combinations is to be found in rare pamphlets, such as A Voice from the Coal Mines, 1825 (see Webb Bibliographies, op. cit.).
1. A Strike of the Journeymen Feltmakers[364] [Feltmakers' Court Book],1696-99.
November 16th, 1696. It is agreed and ordered by this Court that from and after the 21st day of this present month of November until the month of September next coming, the wages to be given by the master workmen of the Mistery living within the city of London and four miles compass of the same to the journeymen of the trade making of hats shall be as followeth (that is to say):—
| s. | d. | ||
| A Beaver | 3 | 0 | with diet. |
| A hat of any price from 18s. to a Beaver | 2 | 6 | " " |
| " " 16s. price | 2 | 4 | " " |
| " " 14s. " | 2 | 2 | " " |
| " " 12s. " | 1 | 10 | " " |
| " " 10s. " | 1 | 6 | " " |
| " " 8s. or any other price up to 10s. | 1 | 2 | " " |
| " " 7s. or 6s. | 1 | 0 | " " |
| " " 5s. | 0 | 9 | " " |
And also that if the journeymen free of this Company do not accept of the wages before set down and expressed of, and from any workmaster living within the limits aforesaid, then and in such case it shall and may be lawful for all and every workmaster living without the freedom of the city to employ and set to work as a journeyman any person or persons of the Mistery being natives of this kingdom, so as such person or persons in that case to be employed make proof before a Court of Assistants of this Company that he or they have served his or their apprenticeship of seven years in the said Mistery. Upon which proof so made and on payment of the sum of twenty shillings fine to the use of the Company, besides the Clerk and Beadle fees according to ancient custom, such person or persons may be admitted a foreign journeyman or journeymen of this Company, any bye-law or bye-laws, ordinance or ordinances of this Company to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. And it is further ordered that none of the masters or journeymen of the Mistery do give or take more than the rates above mentioned upon pain that the party offending shall forfeit for every time he shall be found to act contrary to the true meaning of the above order such sum of money, not exceeding the sum of 5l., as the Court of Assistants of this Company shall think fit to impose on him or them.
Nov. 30th, 1696. Geo. Burkeridge and others to the number of 12 journeymen of the Mistery to this Court on behalf of themselves and all the journeymen of the trade within the limits of the Corporation, that they are come to a resolution among themselves not to accept of any less wages for making of hats than what they formerly received and desire that the late Order for lessening their wages may be set aside.
June 20th,1698. George Burkeridge, Thomas Newby and one other journeyman came to this Court on behalf of themselves and the other journeymen for the accommodation of the matters in difference between them and the Company, and offered that in order thereto all matters relating to the trade might stand on the same foot as in 1682 and suits touching the singeing boys to be forborne. After long debate thereupon had, the Court acquainted them, that if they would give an ingenuous account and full discovery of their combinations and collections of money against the Company by Wednesday next, they might expect some favour, which the journeymen promised to comply with.
August 5th, 1698. The Master reported to this Court that the committee appointed last Court to meet several journeymen of the trade with Mr. Cox and Mr. Cholmley in order to accommodate the matters in difference between the masters and journeymen, who had then declared their sorrow for their unlawful combinations to raise their wages and promised to subscribe an Instrument declaring the same, and that they would for the future be obedient to the bye-laws of the Company and discover all such evil practices. And a draft of such Instrument or submission being read, it is ordered that the same be engrossed with such alteration as the Clerk shall think fit and be signed by the persons indicted and fifteen more of such of the journeymen as the Master and Wardens shall direct. And thereupon the prosecutions shall be stayed. [The Instrument.]