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Laborers.
disorderly Servants to the House of Correction, and that by the Statute
of 7 Jac. cap. 4. |
Chap. 58. |
§. 6.
Was compellable
to
serve. |
Now by the Statute of 5 Eliz. every person
unmarried, and every other
person (married) being under the age of thirty years, having been brought
up in any of the Arts, Sciences, or Trades in the Statute mentioned, is
compellable
to serve in any the said Trades upon request made by any person
using the same Trades except such persons be lawfully retained with some
other; or have 40 s. in Land, &c. or 40 l. in Goods,
and so allowed by
two Justices of Peace, under their Hands and Seals; or have some Farm
in Tillage, whereupon to imploy themselves, ' or be retained with any other
' person in Husbandry, or in any the same Arts, or any other Art, nor
' retained or in office with any Nobleman or Gentleman. |
5 Eliz. 4.
P. 2. |
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Also every person between the age of Twelve years
and threescore
(not being lawfully retained according to the Statute, nor being a Gentleman
born, nor a Scholar; nor having means of 40 s. per annum, or in
Goods
10 l. as aforesaid; nor Parents living, having 10 l. in Lands,
or 40 l. in Goods
and being their Heir apparent) shall be compellable to serve in Husbandry
by the year, upon request, &c. See more what persons be compellable
to
serve. Hic postea. |
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§. 7.
Wages. |
' As for Servants Wages generally, they are grown
so excessive at this
' day (in many Countreys) that the poor Farmers are thereby much disabled;
' for remedy wherein, the Justice of Peace shall do well to take it
' into better consideration, and give remedy. |
p. Just. 66.
& Lamb. 4. |
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Any two Justices of Peace may imprison without Bail
the Master for
Ten days, and the Servant, Work-man, or Laborer, for Twenty one days,
that shall give, or shall take or receive excessive Wages, scil.
Any greater
Wages, or other commodity, contrary to the Rates or Wages assessed by
the Justices of Peace at their Easter General Sessions; and Proclamation
thereof made in that County. ' And all Retainers promise gift or
payment
' and every Writing, or within six weeks after. |
5 Eliz. 3. |
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' Now concerning the Wages of Servants, &c.
The Justices of Peace
' (at every their Easter Quarter Sessions) shall do well to call
some grace
' and discreet persons of that County, and they together respecting the
' plenty, or scarcity of the time and other necessary circumstances to
assess
' the Wages as well of Servants, as of all Artificers, Handicrafts men,
and
Laborers, &c. according to the Statute, at their discretions (and yet
they
' to assess the Wages in such manner, as that Servants, &c. may reasonably
' maintain themselves therewith: And that their Masters should in
no wise
' exceed or give above such Wages, by way of Contract: But yet Masters
' may reward a well deserving Servant, &c. (over and above his Wages)
' according as he shall deserve; so that it be not by way of promise, or
' agreement, upon his Retainer. See the Preamble of the Statute 5
Eliz. 4.
' that considering the advancement of prices of all things belonging to
Servants
' and Laborers, if more reasonable Wages and Allowances be given
' them than is limited by former Statutes, it would be too great a grief
and
' burden tot he poor hired Servants and Laborers. |
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' Of which Rates, Proclamation shall be made, and
the Justices may
' every year alter and reform the same, as in their discretions shall seem
' meet. And every Justice of Peace shall be present at the Taxing
such
' Wages, unless reasonable cause of his absence upon Oath, to be allowed
' by the said Justices, or forfeit 10 l. |
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' By the Law of God, Thou shalt not oppress an
hired Servant, that is
' needy and poor; but thou shalt give him his hire speedily, for
therewith he
' sustaineth his life. Deut. 24. 14. 15. |
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