English Gilds.*

there was a fine . The greatest reverence had to be paid to the father and mother . In this inn the Shoe-servants could obtain a meal for two groschen ( 2 id . ) , and a nigbt s lodging for four pfennige ( about a halfpenny ) . Work was also found for

iiim here ; and no wandering Shoe-servant was -allowed to enter the service of a master before he had been at the inn . The fraternity was governed ; by the whole body of Shoe-servants , who met -every fortnight for the purpose . Religious service

was held before every meeting . All Shoe-servants had to attend the meeting , with the exception of masters sons who worked with their own father ; for as they were not obliged to travel , the chief ¦ object of the fraternity did not concern them .

But masters sons who did not work with their father were obliged to appear . Those who came ate were fined . Two elders presided at the meetings . But no meetings could take place , no

regulations could be framed , and no decisions come to ¦ without the presence ofthe masters deputies , who were elected annually . The journeymen had also their own box , containing their articles , their seal ,

and whatever other documents or valuable effects the fraternity possessed . The box was provided with two , and sometimes with three , locks , the keys of which were kept respectively by one of the elders and one of the masters , so that neither

¦ could open the box in the absence of the other . The seal of the journeymen could only be used with the consent of the whole fraternity and the deputed masters . The opened box was the sign that the meeting had begun , just as with the Craft

Gilds . While , therefore , the box was open , all present had to remain with uncovered heads , and during such time all disrepectful conduct , as well as improper clothing , cursing and swearing—in

short , all that showed want of respect—was severely punished . On the other hand , we find that , whilst the box was open , a social cup was handed round , to the expense of which all had to contribute . One of the elders had to collect this ,

as well as the other contributions ; and in case he neglected this or any other duty , he incurred punishment . The other contributions of the members consisted in one groschen ( l | d . ) entrance fee , in a fortnightly contribution of six pfennig en

( about three farthings ) , with one groschen ( l ^ d . ) every quarter . In return the members received support in sickness , for which , however , they had to make repayment if they were restored to health ; and in the event of death they were buried at the

expense of the fraternity . All journeymen had to attend the funeral ; and this was also the case when a member of the master's family died . The statutes contain , besides , regulations for promoting orderly conduct and good morals among the

Shoeservants . Associating with common women , playing at dice , immoderate drinking , inducing others to drink , gaming , and such like things , were all punished . No one was allowed to go about the streets except in decent clothes . and

all who insulted or calumniated others were also punished . Especially interesting , too , with regard to modern trade-unions , is the craft gilds' practice of punishment by Sclielten , reviling , i . e ., declaring any one infamous . Both master and journeymen

were reviled in this manner ; and , indeed , on the most silly grounds , as , for example , when any one had killed a cat or touched a dead dog ; as also for infringements of gild principles , as when any one enticed away another s custom . Every gild

and every journeymen's fraternity kept a " black list / 5 In this , as well as in the testimonials of travelling journeymen , the names of the reviled were entered , so that the warning against them spread through the whole country . As soon as

the journeymen heard of the occurrence of such a reviling , they turned out of the workshop of the reviled master , or refused to work with the reviled journeyman , until these had made atonement , and were again recognised as honourable by the governing body of the Gild .

But frequently—as , for example , when the Gild omitted to punish a master who had infringed any of the trade customs of the journeymen , or who in their judgment was not honourable , or when the masters , by means of the local authorities , had carried a resolution which was to be entered in

their book of articles—all the journeymen of a place struck work , and then wrote to the journeymen of other districts , warning them from coming to the places of strike . Such occurrences took place especially atMayence , Wiirzburg , Augsburg .

The most famous of them , that of the Augsburg Shoe-servants in the year 1726 , was in fact the cause of the Imperial decree of 1731 , which was directed against this and several other abuses of the handicrafts . The Imperial laws , however ,

were never carried out , and the decrees of the territorial princes remained ineffectual , since the handicrafts throughout the whole of Germany hung together . Further tumults . on the part of