Part II, of which an English translation is to appear shortly.

Bibliographies in S. and B. Webb, _op. cit._ and _Industrial Democracy_; Unwin, _op. cit._, Galton, _op. cit._, Cunningham _op. cit._, and Fay, _Co-operation at Home and Abroad_.

_Contemporary._--1. _Documentary authorities_: Records of a seventeenth century strike are printed in Unwin, _Industrial Organisation_, App. A. Petitions by weavers, feltmakers, etc., are to be found in the House of Commons Journals, Vols. 27, 36 and _passim_. Galton, _op. cit._, covers the eighteenth century. For collections of price lists, _e.g._, tailors, printers, brushmakers, bookbinders, basketmakers, see Webb., _op. cit._ bibliography; also for early rules and minutes of the Unions of keelmen, cotton spinners, miners, etc. Official material for the history of the Combination Acts and their repeal is in the Report from Committee on Artizans and Machinery, 1824 (V), and on Combination Acts, 1825 (IV). There was a Report on Friendly Societies in 1825 (X).

2. _Literary authorities._--Descriptions by those who were actors in the events of the early nineteenth century are given in the Life of Robert Owen (by himself), in The life and Struggles of William Lovett (by himself), and The life of Thomas Cooper (by himself). Early Trade and Chartist Journals are important sources:--The United Trades Co-operative Journal, 1830, The Poor Man's Guardian, 1831-5, The Crisis 1832-4, The Ten Hours' Advocate, 1846-7, The Stone Masons' Circular, 1834. Other material for the early history of combinations is to be found in rare pamphlets, such as A Voice from the Coal Mines, 1825 (see Webb Bibliographies, _op. cit._).

1. A STRIKE OF THE JOURNEYMEN FELTMAKERS[364] [_Feltmakers' Court Book_],1696-99.

_November 16th, 1696._ It is agreed and ordered by this Court that from and after the 21st day of this present month of November until the month of September next coming, the wages to be given by the master workmen of the Mistery living within the city of London and four miles compass of the same to the journeymen of the trade making of hats shall be as followeth (that is to say):--

s. d. A Beaver 3 0 with diet. A hat of any price from 18s. to a Beaver 2 6 " " " " 16s. price 2 4 " " " " 14s. " 2 2 " " " " 12s. " 1 10 " " " " 10s. " 1 6 " " " " 8s. or any other price up to 10s. 1 2 " " " " 7s. or 6s. 1 0 " " " " 5s. 0 9 " "

And also that if the journeymen free of this Company do not accept of the wages before set down and expressed of, and from any workmaster living within the limits aforesaid, then and in such case it shall and may be lawful for all and every workmaster living without the freedom of the city to employ and set to work as a journeyman any person or persons of the Mistery being natives of this kingdom, so as such person or persons in that case to be employed make proof before a Court of Assistants of this Company that he or they have served his or their apprenticeship of seven years in the said Mistery. Upon which proof so made and on payment of the sum of twenty shillings fine to the use of the Company, besides the Clerk and Beadle fees according to ancient custom, such person or persons may be admitted a foreign journeyman or journeymen of this Company, any bye-law or bye-laws, ordinance or ordinances of this Company to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. And it is further ordered that none of the masters or journeymen of the Mistery do give or take more than the rates above mentioned upon pain that the party offending shall forfeit for every time he shall be found to act contrary to the true meaning of the above order such sum of money, not exceeding the sum of 5l., as the Court of Assistants of this Company shall think fit to impose on him or them.

* * * * *

_Nov. 30th, 1696._ Geo. Burkeridge and others to the number of 12 journeymen of the Mistery to this Court on behalf of themselves and all the journeymen of the trade within the limits of the Corporation, that they are come to a resolution among themselves not to accept of any less wages for making of hats than what they formerly received and desire that the late Order for lessening their wages may be set aside.

* * * * *

_June 20th,1698._ George Burkeridge, Thomas Newby and one other journeyman came to this Court on behalf of themselves and the other journeymen for the accommodation of the matters in difference between them and the Company, and offered that in order thereto all matters relating to the trade might stand on the same foot as in 1682 and suits touching the singeing boys to be forborne. After long debate thereupon had, the Court acquainted them, that if they would give an ingenuous account and full discovery of their combinations and collections of money against the Company by Wednesday next, they might expect some favour, which the journeymen promised to comply with.

_August 5th, 1698._ The Master reported to this Court that the committee appointed last Court to meet several journeymen of the trade with Mr. Cox and Mr. Cholmley in order to accommodate the matters in difference between the masters and journeymen, who had then declared their sorrow for their unlawful combinations to raise their wages and promised to subscribe an Instrument declaring the same, and that they would for the future be obedient to the bye-laws of the Company and discover all such evil practices. And a draft of such Instrument or submission being read, it is ordered that the same be engrossed with such alteration as the Clerk shall think fit and be signed by the persons indicted and fifteen more of such of the journeymen as the Master and Wardens shall direct. And thereupon the prosecutions shall be stayed. [The Instrument.]

We whose hands are hereunto subscribed and set, being journeymen Feltmakers in and about the city of London and borough of Southwark, do hereby acknowledge:--that we with other journeymen of the said trade have held several meetings wherein we have conspired and combined together to enhance the prices for making of hats, for which several of us now stand indicted, and being now greatly sensible and fully convinced of the unlawfulness of such conspiracies do hereby declare our hearty and unfeigned sorrow for the same, and we and every one of us do hereby promise and agree to and with the Master, Wardens and Commonalty of the Company of Feltmakers, London, that neither we nor any of us (nor any other journeyman of the trade with our or any of our privity or consent) shall or will at any time hereafter do any act or thing whatsoever that may in any wise tend to the promoting or encouraging of such conspiracies or combinations. But that we and every of us shall and will do all that in us lieth to discourage and prevent such conspiracies and combinations for the future, and also will endeavour to raise and collect money among the journeymen Feltmakers what they shall freely contribute and pay towards prosecuting the French or any other unlawful workers in the said Trade. And for that purpose shall and will truly pay such money that shall be raised by such contributions into the hands of the Master of the said Company for the time being. And we do further promise that we will for the time to come behave and demean ourselves tractable and conformable to the government and bye-laws of the said Company.

_July 3rd,1699._ The Masters reported to this Court that on Tuesday last he attended, with others of the Company, on the Parliament Members for the County of Surrey, according to a Rule of the Court made by the Lord Chief Justice Holt at the last Assizes at Kingston. And after hearing them and the defendants and other journeymen of the trade, they made an award and therein made no other alteration of the rates than 2d. allowance on a Beaver, a penny on a 14s. hat, and a penny allowance on an 8s., and so on to a 10s. hat, and they directed the indictment to be discharged and bill in Chancery to be dismissed.

[Footnote 364: Quoted in Unwin, _Industrial Organization in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries_, App. A. pp. 248-52.]

2. A PETITION OF MASTER TAILORS AGAINST COMBINATION AMONG THE JOURNEYMEN[365] [_British Museum, f._ 816 _m._, 14 (_II_)],1721.

The case of the Master Tailors residing within the Cities of London and Westminster, in relation to the great Abuses committed by their Journeymen. Humbly offered to the consideration of Parliament.

The Journeymen Tailors in and about the cities of London and Westminster, to the number of seven thousand and upwards, have lately entered into a combination to raise their wages, and leave off working an hour sooner than they used to do; and for the better carrying on their design, have subscribed their respective names in books prepared for that purpose, at the several houses of call or resort (being public houses in and about London and Westminster) where they use; and collect several considerable sums of money to defend any prosecutions against them.

At this time there are but few of them come to work at all, and most of those that do, insist upon, and have, twelve shillings and ninepence per week (instead of ten shillings and ninepence per week, the usual wages), and leave off work at eight of the clock at night (instead of nine, their usual hour, time out of mind), and very great numbers of them go loitering about the town, and seduce and corrupt all they can meet: to the great hindrance and prejudice of trade.

Upon complaint made to some of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, they have issued out their warrants against these offenders as loiterers; by virtue whereof some of them have been bound over to the Sessions, and others have been taken up, and bound over to appear in His Majesty's Court of King's Bench at Westminster, and the subscription books seized by virtue of the Secretary of State's warrant: Yet they still continue obstinate, and persist not only in putting the abovesaid difficulties upon their masters, to the great prejudice of trade in general; but also in collecting great sums of money to support their unlawful combinations and confederacies.

This combination of the Journeymen Tailors is and may be attended with many evil consequences: inasmuch as the public is deprived of the benefit of the labour of a considerable number of the subjects of this kingdom, and the families of several of these journeymen thereby impoverished, and likely to become a charge and burden to the public: And the very persons themselves who are under this unlawful combination, choosing rather to live in idleness, than to work at their usual rates and hours, will not only become useless and burdensome, but also very dangerous to the public; and are of very ill example to journeymen in all other trades; as is sufficiently seen in the Journeymen Curriers, Smiths, Farriers, Sail-makers, Coach-makers, and artificers of divers other arts and misteries, who have actually entered into confederacies of the like nature; and the Journeymen Carpenters, Bricklayers and Joiners have taken some steps for that purpose, and only wait to see the event of others.

These Journeymen Tailors, when there is a hurry of business against the King's Birth-day, or for making of mourning or wedding garments (as often happens) or other holidays, and always the summer seasons, are not content with the unreasonable rates they at present insist upon; but have demanded, and have had three or four shillings a day, and sometimes more; otherwise they will not work; and at such times some will not work at all; which is a great disappointment to gentlemen, and an imposition to the masters; and, if suffered to go on, must increase the charge of making clothes considerably.

As to the said houses of call, or public-houses, there are a great number of them in London and the suburbs, where these journeymen tailors frequently meet and use, and spend all or the greatest part of the moneys they receive for their wages; and the masters of these houses of call, support, encourage and abet these journeymen in their unlawful combinations for raising their wages, and lessening their hours.

The laws now in being for regulating of artificers, labourers, and servants, were made in the fifth of Queen Elizabeth, and might well be adapted for these times; but not altogether so proper for the trade of London and Westminster, &c., as it is now carried on.

Therefore, the masters humbly hope this honourable house will take such measures, by passing of a law for redress of the public grievances aforesaid, or grant such other relief, as in their great wisdom shall seem meet.[366]

[Footnote 365: Quoted in F.W. Galton, _The Tailoring Trade_, pp. 1-4.]

[Footnote 366: A Committee of the House of Commons reported on this petition "that the petitioners have fully proved the allegations," February 16, 1721. The Journeymen petitioned in reply. Stat. 7 Geo. I, 1