Anno xi henrici vij Statuta bonu[m] publicum concerne[n]tia edita in parliamento tento apud westmonesterium xiiij die Octobris anno regni illustrissimi Domini nostri regis Henrici septimi.

An acte concernynge takynge of apprentyses in the Cyte of Norwyche Capitulo Vndecimo

PRayen the comens in this present parliament assembled that where the Cyte of Norwyche whiche is an auncyent Cyte. is greatly decayed. the especyall cause wherof is for asmoche as there is a statute made at westmestre the seuenth yere of the regne of kynge Herry the fourth conteynynge amonge other thynges. that noo man nor woman shall putt sone or doughter to be ap∣prentyse within ony Cyte or towne within the realme but yf they haue londes or rentes to the value of .xx. s. at the leeste by the yere and that to be testyfyed vnder the Seales of two Iustices of peas where the sayd childe was borne. by force of whiche statute many and dyuers greate vexacions trowbles & losses haue be done to the Cyteyzins of the sayd Cyte aswell for the receyuynge of the∣yr owne children as other to be theyr apprentyses wherby the moost substancial crafte in the sayd Cite callyd wortedeweuers & Clothyers by whiche craftes y^e weele of the sayd Cyte hath and sholde be mayntened supported and contynu∣ed amōge other dyuers craftes there vsed ben greately decayed. by reason whe¦reof the yonge people of the sayd Cyte ben gyuen to ydylnesse vyces and other dyuers mysgouernaunce. And yf noo remedy herein be had / it is lyke to be the vtter dystruccōn of the sayd Cyte. wherfore pleas it your hyghnes of your mo∣ost benynge grace in consideracō of the premisses bi thassent of the lordes spiri∣tuall & temporall & the comyns in this present parlyament assembled & by auc¦torryte of the same / to enacte / ordeyned & establysshed that the sayd Citeyzyns & euery of theym for euer from hensforth shall be at theyr lybertees to receyue and to take to theyr apprentyses the sone or doughter of ony persone or perso∣nes whiche woll put theyr sayd sones or doughters to be apprentyses in y^e sayd Cyte the statute aforsayd and the paynes in the same conteyned not withstond¦dyng. And that they and euery of theym for euer from hensforth shall be forpri∣sed and excepte out of euery punysshment and hurte conteyned in the sayd sta∣tute / ¶Moreouer where in the sayd Cyte in tyme paste hath of longe tyme be vsed. that there sholde no mā take vppō hym to shere worstedes called tēyerdes Stamyns ne other worstedes but yf he had be apprentyse to thoccupacyon or sherynge of worstedes by the space of .vij. yeres. So that he myght haue the kno¦wlege and cunnynge in y^t crafte how be it now of late many and dyuers perso¦nes aswell alyence straungers as other foreyns not dwellyng nor inhabyted ha∣ue within your sayd Cyte by suportacyon and mayntenaunce of dyuers perso∣nes inhabitauntes in the sayd Cyte for theyr synguler lucre. take vpon theym the occupacyon of sheryng of worstedes and stamyns which haue not the syght nor connynge in that occupacyon nor haue be apprentyse to the same by who∣me grete hurtes and dyuers losses haue be for the defawte of cunnynge by cut∣tyng and other wyse of the sayd worstedes / to the owners and other your sub∣gettes in this your realme. infamy also and sclaunder aswell to thoccupacyons

of worstedes and worstede shermen / as to the marchauntes whiche put theym so hurt and kytte in the sheryng to sale / And yf redy remedy be not had in thy∣se premysses and reformacyon bothe the sayd occupacyon of worsted makyng and also of worsted sheryng whiche god forbyd / is lykely to be distroyed for lac¦ke of good polycy and ordre / Wherfore it may pleas your highnes by thaucto¦ryte aforesayd for the comyn wele of your marchauntes and other your subget∣tes of this your realme / and for the conseruacyon and susteynyng of the sayd oc¦cupacyon of worstedes and worsted sheryng to enacte ordeyne and establysshe. that from hensforth no man shall take vpon hym to shere worstedes wythin the sayd Cyte but yf he hath be apprentyse to the sayd occupacion of worstede she∣ryng by the space of .vii. yere or suche as the maysters of the sayd occupacyon w^t¦in the sayd Cyte for the tyme beyng approuyng theyr cunnyng with the aduyse of the Mayre for the tyme beyng wyll admytte. And they that take vpon them the contrary & the mayntenours of hym or them soo mysdoyng as afore is sa∣yd eche of them to forfeyt for euery defawt .xx. shelynges halfe to you gracyous and souerayn lorde. and halfe to the sayd Mayre and maysters of the sayd occu¦pacyon of worstede sheryng for that tyme beyng / And y^t noo man inhabitaunt in the sayd cyte cytezyn or other beyng no shereman kepe ony sherman of wor∣stedes wythin his hous after the feste of Ester next comyng vnder the payne of xl. s. as oft as he be in defaute in y^e same / thone half to. be enployed to you our so¦uerayn lorde / and thother halfe to the sayd mayre & maysters of the sayd occu¦pacyon of sheryng of worsted And that the sayd maysters of the sayd occupacy¦on of sherynge of worsted haue fre serche of the sayd crafte of worsted sheryn∣ge in euery place aswell wythin the dwellyng places of shermen dies and calen¦derers of the. same worstedes & other inhabitauntes in the sayd cyte & precyncte of the same. and yf ony cytezin or inhabitaunt of the sayd cyte. denye the sayde wardens of worsted sheryng due serch or go contrary to this prouysyon & ordi¦naunce / shall forfayte y^e somme. of .xl. s. for euery defawte / the moyte therof to you souerayn lord and thother moyte to the forsayd Mayre and maysters of the sayd ocupacyon / The sayd paynes to be leuyed after the fourme and ordynaū∣ce purueyed for the correction of the crafte & occupacyon of worsted weuers w^t¦in the sayd Cyte / Prouyded alway that the sayd occupacyon of worsted sherȳg shall make or do to be made none ordynaunce concernyng the sayd occupacyon among themself but suche as the mayre for that tyme being with his brederne aldermen shall thynke necessery and proufytable to the kynges subgettes.