LAW IN POLITICS. 379 



affecting human labour which was entirely new 

 in the history of the world. The change thus 

 effected is a signal illustration of the relation in 

 which Natural Law stands to Positive Institution 

 in the realm of Mind. Let us look for a moment 

 at its history and results. 



The Common Law of England had placed no re- 

 strictions upon labour. The only restrictions which 

 existed arose either from the special monopolies of 

 Corporate Bodies, or from the General Statute of 

 Apprenticeship. This statute had been passed in 

 the reign of Elizabeth. It provided that no man 

 should work at any craft on his own account until 

 he had served an apprenticeship of seven years. 

 But the Statute of Apprenticeship being in dero- 

 gation of common rights, had always been con- 

 strued strictly by the Courts of Law ; and so it 

 had come to pass that two great rules of limita- 

 tion had been applied to it. First, it was held to 

 apply only to such crafts of skill as were known 

 at the time of its being passed ; and secondly, it 

 was held not to apply at all to rural districts, but 

 only to market towns. From these two rules of 

 limitation, it resulted, first, that all trades and 



