THE COMPANIONAGE.
an aspirant, he hands
this franc
benefits of the society.
an
pay 6
asj^irant to
back
227
to him, as the aspirants
have no share in the pecuniary
The remaining 4 francs are employed as above.
francs to the box the first time he is embauche
Some
crafts require
any one town, but
in
nothing on any future occasion. In these societies the aspirant also pays a monthly subscripand he then becomes entitled to relief, although he is still debarred
from joining the assemblies of the Companions.
tion to the fraternity,
The Rouleur
is
bound
to
be present at
all
He
care that their accounts are adjusted.
partings between master and man, and to take
calls a special meeting, when the accounts
then
between the society and the joiirneyman are likewise
settled, also
any obligations towards
his
fellow-workmen.
On arriving at a fresh town, the society there always inquires of the branch
at the last city in which he worked, whether the member had cleared off all scores ?
A
master must not employ in one shop the members of two different societies. If lie
extra help, he applies to the premier Compagnon, who instructs his officer, the
^
If he is dissatisfied with the
Roidenr, to procure him the number of workmen required.
desires
members
of one great division, he
chiefs of another family.
is
divided,
discharge
them
all,
and send in
his request to the
which allegiance
locksmiths, and carpenters; and even then the
the stonemasons, joiners,
very much reduced by the fact that
viz.,
master's option
may
This, of course can only apply to those trades in
if a society is once firmly established in
leave it a clear field, and refrain from setting up a fraternity of their
usually
If a master seriously offends the society, his shop is placed under interdict until he
a town,
own.
is
its rivals
renders satisfaction
;
if his
fellow masters support him, the whole
town
is
banned.
It is
add that the journeymen usually carry the day.
The earliest strikes I
have met with are those of the bakers in 1579, for a rise in wages,- and of the linen weavers
scarcely necessary to
of
Eouen
in 1691, against a reduction.^
A
still earlier
one of the masons of Montpellier in
1493 has been mentioned in the preceding chapter.
A Companion about to leave a city to resume his travels was honoured with a convoy
beyond the gates. The leave-taking with his master was usually on a Saturday afternoon. The
On Sunday morning he
special assembly took place in the evening.
the convoy then started.
All the
members who
treated his friends, and
are anxious to assist, decorate themselves in
Companionage colours, and a band, or at least a fiddler, is commonly engaged. First starts
the Rouleur, carrying the knapsack or bundle of the traveller, then the ^jrcj^ii'cr Companion
and the departing brother arm in arm, the others follow two and two, all of course armed
full
with their long canes.
Thus they pass through the gates, singing their Companionage songs,
and having arrived at some distance from the town in a wood or other quiet place, " a ceremony takes place, which differs according to the society." Perdiguier is far too conscientious
to describe this
"
"
ceremony, but he adds, they howl or not, as the case
they drink
This is the regular convoy or Conduite en
may
be,
but in
all cases
!
"
regie,
but
it
sometimes gives
rise to a false
convoy
In some London trades this system is still in force for instance, with the niatmakers.
If a master is dissatisfied
a workman, he discharges him and
to the Matmakera' Union for a fresh hand, which they at once send him.
applies
;
witli
If the discharged
chance
°
V-
workman, however, can show
his
Union that he has