1 88 The Company and the Trade. 



freedom before he had served his full term, even 

 when the apprentice had served seven years. 

 Apprentices were frequently bound for eight years, 

 and Instances even occur In the Company's 

 records of bindings for as long as eleven years. 

 Seeing that the minds of many have been and 



Responsibility ^^^ sometlmes exerclsed with regard 

 of Apprentices, ^q ^]^q questlon of the responsibility of 



a minor in fulfilling his articles of apprenticeship, 

 as well as with the allied question of the liability 

 of an apprentice who attains his majority before 

 he has fulfilled his obligations, It may not 

 generally be known that the statute already 

 alluded to, viz., 5 Elizabeth, c. 4, section xxxv., 

 takes cognizance of the difficulty and disposes of 

 It In the following words: "And because ther 

 hath bene and ys some question and scruple 

 moved whether any pson being w^^'In thage of one 

 and twentye yeres and bounden to serve as an 

 apprentice in any other place than the said CItie of 

 London shoulde bee bounden accepted and taken 

 as an apprentyce. For the Resolucbn of the said 

 Scruple and Doubte be yt enacted by aucthorlte 

 of this pnte Pliam* That all and every suche 

 pson or psons that at any time or times from 

 hensforthe shalbe bounden by indentures to serve 

 as an apprentice In any Arte Science Occupacon 

 or Labour according to the tenor of this Statute 

 and in maner and fourme abovesald albeit the same 

 apprentice or any of them shalbe within the age 

 of one and twentye yeres at the tyme of making 

 of their severall Indentures shalbe bounden to 



