Great Britain -- Economic conditions; Great Britain -- Social conditions
The points wherein the masters, mistresses, dames, and servants do so
abuse the two foresaid branches, that they be in a manner to frustrate.
It is too manifest, that divers and sundry servants, retained as well in
husbandry as in other the arts and sciences aforesaid, and others out of
those sciences throughout the whole Realm do daily, notwithstanding this
act, and without any fear of the penalty thereof, at their pleasures
before the time of their covenanted service be expired, either purloin
somewhat from their masters, mistresses, and dames, and so suddenly run
away, or else, not willing to be rebuked for their faults, do quarrel
with them, and so boldly depart away without any certificate[281] or
testimonial for their discharge: and being thus disorderly departed do
forge a testimonial, or get one to forge it for them, although they give
12d. or 2s. for the doing thereof, whereas, if they had orderly
departed, [it] should have cost them but 2d.: and with such testimonial
dare boldly pass from one shire to another, yea some time from one
parish to another, and there be retained till they find the like means,
or pick the like occasion to depart in like disorder. And the very cause
why they dare thus boldly and disorderly depart, leaving their masters,
mistresses, and dames destitute in their most need, is for that no order
is kept, according to the Statute, in the making, signing, and
delivering of the testimonials: but [they] be made by the masters
themselves or by some other in their houses that can write, and being so
disorderly made, do, as disorderly, sign and deliver the same without
calling either parson, vicar, or other officer to the same: which is a
very good cause for a very simple servant, seeing how slight a
testimonial will serve him to pass with, to move him to forge the like
at all times after to serve his turn. And yet if they were orderly made,
signed, and delivered, according to Statute, it could no better serve
his turn to pass with than one of these: for if he pass a shire or two
off from the place where he last served, neither the marks nor names
thereunto signed be there known scarce to one among a thousand.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account