Lives of Guild Apprentices

The year is 1742. It is 6am in York, England. A 22 year old, downcast apprentice, Thomas Margrave, wakes up cold and hungry because his master once again hasn’t provided him with adequate lodgings. All he wants is some porridge, mutton and water. Is it really too much to ask?

From an indenture of 1734 between apprentice Thomas Margrave and his master, Joseph Kitchingman, it is evident that masters were required to provide sufficient meat, lodging, washing and drink in return for the service of their apprentice. Thomas was aware of this because he was an apprentice from the age of 16 - the required age for such a duty. He ignores his rumbling stomach as he pulls on his torn and dirty work clothes which were made of both linen cloth and wool. A 1645 indenture reveals that apprentices were also to be supplied with linen and wool clothing.

Thomas is used to ignoring his troubles, he’s been valiantly doing so for his sorrowful six years as an apprentice. He channels his hunger into learning from his master. Masters were expected to, 'teach, learn and inform', their apprentice. Thomas staggers over to the Merchant’s Hall, and typically, his master displays no interest in teaching him about trading. Despite his anger, Thomas knows the importance of appeasing his master. A 1630 court meeting decided that no apprentice will be admitted into the Merchant Adventurer fellowship unless their master 'certifies his just service.' Moreover, should an apprentice wish to be admitted into the fellowship without completing their eight year apprenticeship, they will have to pay at least £30 as a redemption fee. Thomas has had enough and decides to covertly begin trading with another apprentice who is also enraged by his master’s poor treatment of him. Trading between other apprentices was banned in 1650. Apprentices weren’t even allowed to trade for themselves; all their activities had to be for the gain of their master.  

Thomas and his trading partner apprentice meet up that evening in an alehouse, Ye Olde Starre Inn, to discuss their ambitions for wool trading. Apprentices weren’t even allowed to frequent taverns unless they were there to conduct business in the interests of their master. After imbibing a few pints of ale, the apprentices decide to embody the spirit of an 'adventurer' by risking their own funds. Not in the trade of wool or grain like a typical Merchant Adventurer though, but in the hope of gambling gains through card games. Unfortunately, games involving cards or dice were deemed 'unlawful'. After gleefully cashing out their winnings the apprentices sunk some more pints of ale and enjoyed a victory dance. Dancing was also considered an 'unlawful game.' Unfortunately, this catches the eye of one of the masters, who confronts both boys and threatens to summon them at the yearly Michelmas Court for infringing the terms of their indenture and oath.

There were generally at least four court meetings every year (Head Court, Court of Assistance, Midsummer Court and Michelmas Court). Court meetings were where elections took place, bonds were examined, and new members were admitted to the company (for a fee)!

The boys, despite feeling somewhat squiffy, realise they have the same master and ecstatically agree to summon him at the next court meeting. Having multiple apprentices is 'contrary to the laws of the court' and Master Draper Wood was summoned to appear at court for this reason.

Note on the research technique
Overall, apprentices' lives were strictly controlled. This indicates the oppressive nature of the governance and management of the poor apprentices. The research group have used items in the Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York from both the 17th and 18th centuries to show how this oppression spans both centuries. The narrative reflects the tool of critical fabulation: an attempt to address the silences in the archives, in this case the lives of apprentices, to offer an interpretation of the controlled nature of their lives through an engaging, albeit fictional, narrative.