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Doug Strong
doug-strong@comcast.net

http://armourresearchsociety.org

from the Medieval Sourcebook online http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1248apprentice-barber.html
Apprenticeship was the recognized way of entering a craft and was a method
of ensuring proper training. It likewise prevented overcrowding of the
trade. The average contract stated the term of years, salary, and promises
of faithful work. An apprenticeship of two years' duration was uncommonly
short, the usual period being four or seven years.

April the thirteenth, in the year of the Lord 1248.
I, William, barber of Sestri, in good faith and without equivocation,
place my self in your service and engage myself to work for you, Armand the
barber, making my home with you, for learning the art or craft of barbering
for a period of two years, at the salary or wage of forty solidi in the
mixed money now current in Marseilles, promising to be faithful to you in
all things, not to rob you, or take anything away from you, and not to
leave you for a greater or less wage for any reason whatsoever, and to give
you in good faith whatever money I am able to take, to tell you the truth,
and to bear faith to you in all that I do.
I also promise to reimburse you for all expenses you incur on my
behalf; and I promise to do all these things by agreement, and under pledge
of one hundred solidi in royal crowns, the pledge being forfeited when the
agreement is broken. For greater security I swear upon the Holy Gospels,
touching them with my hand. And I pledge all my goods, etc., and renounce
the benefit of all laws, etc.
And, I, the said Armand, admit all the foregoing, and promise by this
agreement to give to you, the said William, forty solidi every year as your
wage, and to provide for you, in sickness or in health, food and clothing
for two complete years. Pledging all my goods, etc., renouncing the benefit
of all laws, etc.
Witnesses, etc.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1250weaversapp.html
Two apprenticeship contracts, one for Arras, and one for Marseilles, both
1250, show the customary arrangements made in the case of apprenticeship to
a weaver. In the one case food and clothing are given to the youth, in the
other, shelter only.

I. Arras.
Be it known to present and future aldermen that Ouede Ferconne
apprentices Michael, her son, to Matthew Haimart on security of her house,
her person, and her chattels, and the share that Michael ought to have in
them, so that Matthew Haimart will teach him to weave in four years, and
that he (Michael) will have shelter, and learn his trade there without
board. And if there should be reason within two years for Michael to
default she will return him, and Ouede Ferconne, his mother, guarantees
this on the security of her person and goods. And if she should wish to
purchase his freedom for the last two years she may do so for thirty-three
solidi, and will pledge for that all that has been stated. And if he should
not free himself of the last two years let him return, and Ouede Ferconne,
his mother, pledges this with her person and her goods. And the said Ouede
pledges that if Matthew Haimart suffers either loss or damage through
Michael, her son, she will restore the loss and damage on the security of
herself and all her goods, should Michael do wrong.

II. Marseilles.
April the ninth. I, Peter Borre, in good faith and without guile,
place with you, Peter Feissac, weaver, my son Stephen, for the purpose of
learning the trade or craft of weaving, to live at your house, and to do
work for you from the feast of Easter next for four continuous years,
promising you by this agreement to take care that my son does the said
work, and that he will be faithful and trustworthy in all that he does, and
that he will neither steal nor take anything away from you, nor flee nor
depart from you for any reason, until he has completed his apprenticeship.
And I promise you by this agreement that I will reimburse you for all
damages or losses that you incur or sustain on my behalf, pledging all my
goods, etc.; renouncing the benefit of all laws, etc. And I, the said Peter
Feissac, promise you, Peter Borre, that I will teach your son faithfully
and will provide food and clothing for him. Done at Marseilles, near the
tables of the money-changers. Witnesses, etc.

>From Hibbert, Francis Aidan, The Influence and Development of English
Gilds, 1891 p.52-3 typed in, any mistakes mine

INDENTURE OF APPRENTICESHIP FROM THE MERCERS' COMPANY'S RECORDS A.D. 1414
Haec Indentura testatur etc. inter Johannem Hyndlee de Northampton,
Brasyer, et Gulielmum filium Thomae Spragge de Salopia, quod predictus
Gulielmus posuit semetipsum apprenticium dicto Johanni Hyndlee, usque ad
finem octo annorum, ad artem vocatam 'brasyer's craft', qua dictus ohannes
utitur, medio tempore humiliter erudiendum. Infra quem quidem terminum
praefatus Gulielmus concilia dicti Johannis Hyndlee magistri sui celanda
celabit. Dampnum eidem Johanni nullo modo faciet nec fieri videbit, quin
illud cito impediet aut dictum magistrum suum statim inde premuniet. A
servicio suo seipsum illictie non absentabit. Bona et catalla dicti
Johannis absque ejus licentia nulli accomodabit. Tabernam, scortum, talos,
aleas, et joca similia non frequentabit, in dispendium magistri sui.
Fornicationem nec adulterium cum aliqua muliere de domo et familia dicti
Johannis nullo modo committet, neque uxorem ducet, absque licentia magistri
sui. Praecepta et mandata licita et racionabilia magistri sui ubique pro
fideli posse ipsius Gulielmi, diligenter adimplebit et eisdem mandatis
libenter obediet. Et si praedictus Gulielmus de aliqua convencioned sua vel
articulo praescripto defecerit, tunc idem Gulielmus juxta modum et
quantitatem delicti sui magistro suo satisfaciet emendam aut terminum
apprenticiatus sui duplicabit. Et praefatus Johannes et assignati sui
apprenticium suum in arte praedicta meliori modo quo idem Johannes aciverit
ac poterit tractabunt docebunt et informabunt, seu ipsum informari facient
sufficienter, debito modo castigando, et non aliter. Praeterea dictus
Johannes concedit ad docendum et informandum dictum Gulielmum in arte
vocata 'Peuterer's Craft' adeo bene sicut sciverit seu poterit ultra
convencionem suam praemissam. Et idem Johannes nullam partem artium
praedictarum ab apprenticio suo concelabit. Invenient insuper Johannes et
assignati sui dicto Gulielmo omnia sibi necessaria, viz. victum suum et
vestitum, lineum, laneum, lectum, hospicium, calceamenta et caetera sibi
competencia annuatim sufficienter, prout aetas et status ipsius Gulielmi
exigerint. In cujus rei testimonium etc. 1414.
http://art-science.com/Ken/Genealogy/Patrick/ch9.html
The Money Men and the London Guilds and Trades
Apprenticeship was one of the principal means of learning and gaining
admission in medieval times to a trade or profession. Guilds of traders and
craftsmen originated in the early Middle Ages both as social institutions
and as a means of regulating admission to trades and crafts, and
maintaining standards of workmanship and trading.
The rules of behaviour between Master and Apprentice were clearly spelt out
as this extract from Indenture of apprenticeship shows
"during which term the said apprentice his said Master faithfully shall
serve - his secrets keep - and his lawful commands gladly do. He shall do
no damage to his said Master, nor see it done by others, but that he, to
his power shall hinder, or forthwith give warning to his said Master of the
same. He shall not commit fornication, nor contract matrimony within the
said terms. He shall not play cards, dice, tables, nor any other unlawful
games, whereby His said Master may have any loss. With his own goods or
others during the said term, without licence of his said Master, he shall
neither buy nor sell. He shall not haunt taverns, nor playhouses, nor
absent himself from his said Masters service day or night unlawfully, but
in all things, as a faithful Apprentice, he shall behave himself towards
his said Master, and all his, during the said term.
And the said Master his said Apprentice in the same art and mystery which
he useth, by the best means that he can, shall teach and instruct, or cause
to be taught and instructed".
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~nyterry/terry/sam1.html
Taken from the Notes of Terry Families, in the United States of America.
By Stephen Terry, A.M. published 1887

October 15, 1650
Know all men that I Samuell Terry with the consent of my present master
William Pynchon of Springfield gent have put myself an apprentice to
Beniamin Colly of Springfield weaver his heirs & assigns to serve him or
them in any kind of Imployment that the said Beniamin Cooly shall command
me for and during the space Of three years 6 months & some odd days from
the tyme of the date here of:
In consideration whereof I the, said Beniamin Cooly doe bynde myself my
heirs & executors to pay unto the said William his heirs or assigns the
some of nine pound viz fifty shills at the 10 day of Aprill next 1651 and
fifty shillings more at the 10 day of Aprill 1652 & fifty shillinge more at
the 10 day of Aprill 1653 & thirty shilling the 10 of Aprill 1654 at, the
house of the said Mr Pynchon in good & merchantable wheat at five shillinge
p bushell or in some merchantable pease at, three Shillinge p bushell
moreover I the said Beniamin Cooly doe bynde myself my heirs assigns to pay
unto the said Samuell Terry now assigned & set over unto me as abovesaid,
fifty shillinge, in merchantable wheat & pease at the prise abovesaid for
the first years service & fifty shillinge for the 2d. year & fifty
shillinge for the 3d year & for the last half year & some odd dayes thirty
& five shillinge & also in the paid space to find the said Samuell Terry
meat drink & lodging fitting as servants ought to have:
and also I doe here bynd myself to instruct him and teach him the trade of
linen weaving according to the use of it in this Towne of Springfield
provided he will be willinge & carefull to learn it:
And the said William Pynchon doth promise to the said, Samuell Terry for
his better in couragement to remit his last years, service which his is
bound by his Indenture made in England to serve him more than is expressed
in this present agreement with Beniamin Cooly, & doe also freely give him
all the apparell that he hath at present both woolen & linen & doe also
promise to give him twenty shillinge more in such necessaries for apparell
as he shall call for in his first years service with Beninmin Cooly; & the
said Samuell doth bynde himself to be dilligent in service to the said
Beniamin & not doing him any damage according to his covenants expressed in
his indenture to, the said Mr Pynchon which said indenture the said Mr
Pynchon doth assigne set over & deliver into the hande of the said Beniamin
Cooly for the use & behoof of himself or any of the said persons mentioned
in this contract until the said Samuell shall have performed the a fore
said service of 3y 6 months & odd dayes from the date hereof; & for the
Ratifienge of the said agreement the said Mr Pynchon hath entered this
agreement in his book of public Records and also all the [indistinct]
persons have hereunto set their hands this present 15 day of october 1650
SAMVELL TERRY
the mark of
BENJAMIN B COOLEY
WILLIAM PYNCHON
Witness
RICHARD MAUND
JOHN BENHAM
Abraham Jephcott junr
Abraham Jephcott senr
sealed and delivered by all parties
in the presence of us as witnesses
William Jephcott of Foleshill
Willam -------- Coventry
http://www.camulos.com/tjs/15appren.htm
A 19th Century Apprentice's Indenture
The following is a transcipt of an Apprentice's Indenture. The precise
terms and wording of these documents vary according to the nature of the
Apprenticeship and is normally based on a standard format, with particular
clauses and conditions being added such that it sets out clearly what is
expected of each party.

This Indenture Witnesseth That Abraham Jephcott junior doth put himself
Apprentice to his father Abraham Jephcott senior of Bradford Street
Coventry in the County of Warwick doth of his own freewill put himself to
his father the aforesaid Abraham Jephcott of the City of Coventry as
Apprentice to learn his Art and with him after the manner of an Apprentice
to serve from the ninth day of December one thousand eight hundred and
ninety nine unto the full End and Term of Seven Years from thence next
following to be fully complete and ending
During which term the said Apprentice his Master faithfully shall serve his
secrets keep his lawful commands everywhere gladly do he shall do no damage
to his said Master nor see to be done of others but to his Power shall tell
or forthwith give warning to his said Master of the same.he.shall not waste
the Goods of his said Master nor lend them unlawfully to any.he.shall not
commit fornication nor contract Matrimony within the said Term.he.shall not
play at Cards or Dice Tables or any othis unlawful Games whereby his said
Master may have any loss with his own goods or others during the said Term
with out Licence of his said Master shall neither buy nor sell.he.shall not
haunt Taverns or Play houses nor absent himself from his said Master's
service day or night unlawfully But in all things as a faithful Apprentice
he shall behave himself towards his said Master and all his during the said
Term
And the said Master Abraham Jephcott Bricklayer of Number Seven of Bradford
Street Hill Fields in the City of Coventry in the County of Warwick and the
said Master shall use the utmost of his endeavours to teach or cause to be
taught and instructed the said Apprentice in the trade and Mystery he now
professeth occupieth or followeth and shall teach his said Apprentice in
the Art of Bricklaying which he useth by the best means that he can shall
teach and instruct or cause to be taught and instructed Finding unto the
said apprentice sufficient Meat Drink Apparel Washing and Lodging and all
other Necessaries during the said Term
And for the true performance of all and every the said Covenants and
Agreements either of the said Parties bindeth himself unto the other by
these Presents
In Witness whereof the parties above named to these Indentures
interchangeably have put their Hands and Seals the ninth day of December
and in the sixty second Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Queen
Victoria by the Grace of God of the united Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland Queen Defender of the faith and in the Year of our Lord One
Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety Nine

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from English Historical Documents v.IV 1327-1485, edited by A.R. Myers
New York, Oxford University Press 1969

626. An indenture of apprenticeship at Preston, 1393 (Lancashire Record
Office, MS.No.DDHO/M 686 (310) [Latin])
This indenture made at Preston in Amounderness on the Monday next before
Christmas Day, 17 Richard II (22 December 1393) between John de Walton of
Preston, mercer, on the one hand, and John Adamson of Foxton of Walton on
the other hand, witness that the aforesaid John Adamson of Foxton will
serve and minister to the said John de Walton in pure apprenticeship for
the term of six years fully to be served from the day of the sealing of
this present agreement and he will pay to the same John de Walton a small
and reasonable sum from his goods and merchandise, for merchandise and
payments as often and when he shall be required to do so by the same John
de Walton, and he shall be bound to do all and singular things for the same
John de Walton as such an apprentice is rightfully bound to do for his
master, during the aforesaid term. And also the aforesaid John de Walton
shall instruct and inform the aforesaid John FitzAdam in his art and shall
let him out reasonably and shall keep him in food and clothing, in shoes
and all other necessary things during the aforesaid term as other merchants
do for their apprentices of similar condition in the city or in the borough
and as they are bound to do by common custom. And the aforesaid John
Adamson de Foxton shall not be found free from the exercise of his art
without the license of the aforesaid master nor shall he be excused from it
without reasonable cause. He shall not leave doors or windows of his master
open at night by his negligence. He shall not know any of the woman
servants of his master carnally, and he shall not take a wife within the
term aforesaid without his master's consent, on pain of the doubling of the
aforesaid term. He shall see no harm come to his master without making
compensation as far as he can or letting his master know about it. He shall
not hide any money lawfully due to his master nor take it away, on pain of
double the sum thus hidden. And the aforesaid John de Walton during the
sixth year of the aforesaid term shall pay to the said John Adamson of
Foxton ten shillings of silver of good and lawful money for his pay for
that year, on pain of doubling of that ten shillings. In witness whereof
the aforesaid parties have interchangeably affixed their seals. Witnessed
by Geoffrey son of Nicholas mayor of Preston, Richard Blundell, William de
Erabune, Henry de Walton and others.
Given on the day and place aforesaid.

551. An apprentice claims that he has been deprived of his schooling,
c.1451 (P.R.O., Early Chancery Proceedings, Bundle 19, No.492 [English])
Thomas Bodyn of London shows meekly to your gracious lordship that whereas
accord and covenant were made between him and one Robert Chirche, citizen
haberdasher of London, the fifteenth day of February the 20th year of the
reign of King Henry the VI after the Conquest, by the mediation of friends,
your said suppliant then being within the age of fourteen years, that he
should be apprentice to the said Robert in and of the craft of haberdasher,
from the feast of All Hallows then last past to the end of twelve years
then next coming, provided always that the said Robert should find the said
Thomas a place at school at his own costs and charge during the first two
years of the said term, that is to say, a year and a half thereof to learn
grammar and the residue of the two years, which amounts to half a year, to
go to school to learn to write. And thereupon the said Thomas by the advice
of his friends, trusting to have been found a place at school in the form
aforesaid granted the same fifteenth day by indentured deed then made
between him and the said Robert to be true apprentice to the said Robert
during the said term of twelve years, of which term of twelve years he has
continued in the service of the said Robert as his apprentice in the said
craft from the said feast of All Hallows to the end of eight years and
more. And often times at the beginning of the same term and many times
since the said Thomas with his friends has prayed and required the said
Robert to put and find him to school in form aforesaid according to the
tenor of the said covenant and accord, which the said Robert will not do
but at all times has utterly refused to do to the great harm, hurt and loss
of the said Thomas. May it please your good and gracious lordship to
consider the foregoing and that the said Thomas may have no remedy for this
by the course of the common law of the land. And thereupon may it please
you to grant a writ to be directed to the said Robert to appear before the
king in his chancery on a certain day and on pain of a considerable penalty
to be determined by your gracious lordship, there to answer and to do and
receive of and in these matters aforesaid as by the court of the same
chancery shall be then ordained, and he shall pray to God for you.

1393 is fairly close to the target date.
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