1
THE CRAFT GUILDS OF FRANCE.
88
statutes contain suuli
"
Master X., of such a craft, stated that the customs had
The code contains no certified approval by the king, or even
words
always been as follows."
as,
by Boileau.^
The
which have been handed down
statutes of various trades in otlier cities,
chiefly of later date,
and are
all
stamped with the approval of some higher
their general tenor they resemble those of Boileau.
As
of the craftsmen seems to have been a laudable one,
on
a previous apprenticeship
;
street, or the
In
autliority.
in all trade unions the primary intention
to insure
good workmen, by insisting
by providing for a masterpiece as a test of skill
number of officers to make periodical and unexpected
viz.,
able masters,
good work, by appointing a certain
visits to the
to us, are
;
workshops, and by forbidding these shops to be otherwise than open to the
That these institutions deteriorated
work to be carried on by candle-light.
in course of time,
and became the frame-work of a system of trade monopoly,
natural consequence of the perversity of our
human
is
only the
nature.
Before summarising the principal regulations of these guilds, it wiU be well to once more
call attention to my previous statement, viz., that in a country so diversified as France
in
its
internal relations, no absolute uniformity existed or could be expected to exist.
following description must therefore only be accepted as a general guide.
No man could exercise any craft or calling unless he had been apprenticed
to
The
it
and
received as master.
The apprentice was required to be of legitimate birth and a Catholic
and in certain
he had to prove his identity, that he was of good and honest conduct, and that he
had never been under any judicial sentence.
The apprenticeship usually commenced at an age varying from twelve to eighteen years
it lasted from two to twelve
years, and seven years was a very general term.
;
districts
;
The master was
some codes
it is
at liberty
to receive
quaintly put that he
may
him with or without premium,
him for pay if he can get it
—
take
as he chose.
{si
avoir
In
U j)mt).
In most trades the master was only allowed to receive one apprentice at a time. The
avowed reason being, that the instruction of the youth thus became better assured but it is
;
obvious that this regulation tended to limit the number of admissions to the
secure an easier monopoly for the families of those who were already masters.
craft,
and
Of a
similar
to
nature was the proviso that a master's sons, nephews, and even the sons of his wife born in
lawful marriage, did not count of these he might receive as many as he liked.
In some
;
instances he
was allowed
to take a second apprentice before the first
had quite completed
his term.
In very early times, and in some trades, an apprentice who had served his full time apparIn Boileau's code of the
ently became master at once, provided he could prove his efficiency.
masons, plasterers, etc., it is provided that the master might have as many assistants and
servants as he pleased, provided he instructed
master of the craft
'
them
in
no part of the mystery;
i.e.,
in no
and the apprentice who had served his time was brought before the
and sworn on the saints to keep the craft and all points thereof. But it
trade usages and secrets
:
In the Livre des Metiers, Boileau's
name
is
written Boiliaue.
By
other writers of different dates,
it
is
given as
Tlie authorities of the British
Boylesv, Boiliaue, Stephanus Boileue, Stephan. Bibensaquam, and Stepli. Boitleaue.
Museum have struck out a line for themselves, unauthorised by any work I have met with they make it
:
Boylcau.