777^
CRAFT GUILDS OF FRANCE.
189
under such circumstances, the assistants were only fit to undertake very
non-technical work, and that the state of things thus pictured could only last so
long as the master and his apprentice sufficed of themselves for all the finer work. As soon
as trade in general developed, the need of skilled assistants must have made itself felt hence
evident
IS
tliat,
common and
we
new grade
find a
of the masters, as
it
instituted
free
working
journeyman.
became a journeyman
appear to have
It does not
etc.
stage he should travel the country
his
;
of the
This further tended to the monopoly
lengthened the term of probation.
The apprentice being
varlet, jargon,
—that
for a certain
however, the journeyman
;
variously called aide, com.pagnon, valet,
been absolutely prescribed that in tliis
;
the statutes usually confining themselves to insisting upon
As a matter of fact,
of years in the pay of other masters.
did take advantage of this portion of his career to see the world,
number
working for short periods with the various masters in the towns which he visited making,
as he called it, " his tour of France."
To assist him in this object, and for other reasons that
;
commented upon
panionage was instituted.
will be
in the next chapter, the very curious organisation of the
Com-
Before attaining to the master's privileges the workman or compagiwn was required to
achieve a masterpiece.
And here, again, we meet with a singular institution, of which there
is no sign elsewhere.
As we shall soon see, there may have been many reasons which
rendered
for the
it difficult
workman
to
undergo this ordeal.
In that case he was allowed
onerous masterpiece, and received the title of periKtual companion. With this
qualification he was allowed to work in his own chamber for his own account, but was
prohibited from opening a shop or employing other workmen.^
to
make a
less
The achievement
and the precautions
was the crowning point of the workman's career:
The nature of the test was decided
obviate fraud were very severe.
of the masterpiece
to
by the authorities of the craft, and sometimes the execution entailed months of labour. The
workman had to perform every operation under the immediate surveillance of the judges in a
locked chamber; and no friends