256 
by any means whatever, hire, allure or entice away from any other 
member his workmen before they have performed their contract, 
under a penalty of 6s, 8d. for every day, which penalty shall be 
recoverable by distress.” In Norwich, 1600, the overseers were 
instructed to seek for journeymen not possessing testimonials lest 
after a time they bring their family and become chargeable to the 
parish. 
Journeymen appear, however, to have sometimes gained their 
freedom. John Blowen, of Bath, after paying his quarterage for 
some years, was admitted 25th June, 1671. His father, who was 
also a Taylor, had died during the previous year, and his mother 
carried on the business, employing William Smith as a free sewer 
for whom 8d. was paid. 
The difference between journeymen and free sewers is not very 
clear, 
Foreigners, that is country tailors, were under the same restric- 
tions as journeymen with respect to opening a shop or working 
for a Master Taylor, and in addition could not send or bring into 
the city any kind of work or apparel made by them under penalty 
of 6s. 8d. if detected unless the owners had supplied them with 
the materials. 
THE CLERK OF THE COMPANY. 
The Clerk of the Company was not a Taylor. John Ball was 
Clerk until 1675, his salary having been fixed 21st September, 
1674, at ls. per meeting. John Masters succeeded. From the 
writing and signature I think he was the John Masters, Mayor of 
Bath, 1671, 1679, 1690. In 1706 the payment of the Clerk was 
raised to 2s. 6d. per meeting. L. Hugon, Junior, 1713; William 
Longman, 1716, 1734; J. Cochran-Baynes, William Holley, 
William Elkington and M. Webb are names which also occur in 
the Books. Cochran received 2s. 6d. extra 1717 for attending 
at the Town Hall “concerning the staywoman.” That female 
labour question was always a knotty point, and Aberdeen Taylors 
were the only company that admitted women to full privileges. 

