5. For any of the Workmen to leave his Candle burning at Night, a
_Solace_.
6. If the _Compositer_ let fall his _Composing-stick_, and another take
it up, a _Solace_.
7. Three _Letters_ and a _Space_ to lye under the _Compositers Case_, a
_Solace_.
8. If a _Press-man_ let fall his _Ball_ or _Balls_, and another take it
up, a _Solace_.
9. If a _Press-man_ leave his _Blankets_ in the _Tympan_ at Noon or
Night, a _Solace_.
These _Solaces_ were to be bought off, for the good of the _Chappel_:
Nor were the price of these _Solaces_ alike: For some were 12 _d._ 6
_d._ 4 _d._ 2 _d._ 1 _d._ _ob._ according to the nature and quality of
the _Solace_.
But if the Delinquent prov’d Obstinate or Refractory, and would not pay
his _Solace_ at the Price of the _Chappel_; they _Solac’d_ him.
The manner of _Solacing_, thus.
The Workmen take him by force, and lay him on his Belly athwart the
_Correcting-stone_, and held him there while another of the Work-men,
with a Paper-board, gave him 10 _l. and a Purse_, viz. Eleven blows
on his Buttocks; which he laid on according to his own mercy. For
Tradition tells us, that about 50 years ago one was _Solaced_ with so
much violence, that he presently Pissed Blood, and shortly after dyed
of it.
These nine _Solaces_ were all the _Solaces_ usually and generally
accepted: yet in some particular _Chappels_ the _Work-men_ did by
consent make other _Solaces_, viz.
That it should be a _Solace_ for any of the Workmen to mention Joyning
their Penny or more apiece to send for Drink.
To mention spending _Chappel-money_ till _Saturday_ Night, or any other
before agreed time.
To Play at _Quadrats_, or excite any of the _Chappel_ to Play at
_Quadrats_; either for Money or Drink.
This _Solace_ is generally Purchas’d by the Master-Printer; as well
because it hinders the Workmens work, as because it Batters and spoils
the _Quadrats_: For the manner how they Play with them is Thus: They
take five or seven more m _Quadrats_ (generally of the _English Body_)
and holding their Hand below the Surface of the _Correcting Stone_,
shake them in their Hand, and toss them up upon the _Stone_, and then
count how many _Nicks_ upwards each man throws in three times, or any
other number of times agreed on: And he that throws most Wins the Bett
of all the rest, and stands out free, till the rest have try’d who
throws fewest _Nicks_ upwards in so many throws; for all the rest are
free: and he pays the Bett.
For any to _Take up a Sheet_, if he receiv’d _Copy-money_; Or if he
receiv’d no _Copy-money_, and did _Take up a Sheet_, and carryed that
Sheet or Sheets off the Printing-House till the whole Book was Printed
off and Publisht.
Any of the Workmen may purchase a _Solace_ for any trivial matter, if
the rest of the _Chappel_ consent to it. As if any of the Workmen Sing
in the _Chappel_; he that is offended at it may, with the _Chappels_
Consent purchase a penny or two penny _Solace_ for any Workmans singing
after the _Solace_ is made; Or if a Workman or a Stranger salute a
Woman in the _Chappel_, after the making of the _Solace_, it is a
_Solace_ of such a Value as is agreed on.
The price of all _Solaces_ to be purchased is wholly Arbitrary in the
_Chappel_. And a Penny _Solace_ may perhaps cost the Purchaser Six
Pence, Twelve Pence, or more for the _Good of the Chappel_.
Yet sometimes _Solaces_ may cost double the Purchase or more. As if
some _Compositer_ have (to affront a _Press-man_) put a Wisp of Hay
in the _Press-mans Ball-Racks_; If the _Press-man_ cannot well brook
this affront, he will lay six Pence down on the _Correcting Stone_
to purchase a _Solace_ of twelve Pence upon him that did it; and the
_Chappel_ cannot in Justice refuse to grant it: because it tends to the
_Good of the Chappel_: And being granted, it becomes every Members duty
to make what discovery he can: because it tends to the farther _Good of
the Chappel_: And by this means it seldom happens but the Agressor is
found out.
Nor did _Solaces_ reach only the _Members of the Chappel_, but also
Strangers that came into the _Chappel_, and offered affronts or
indignities to the _Chappel_, or any of its Members; the _Chappel_
would determine it a _Solace_. Example,
It was a _Solace_ for any to come to the _Kings Printing-house_ and ask
for a Ballad.
For any to come and enquire of a _Compositer_, whether he had News of
such a Galley at Sea.
For any to bring a Wisp of Hay, directed to any of the _Press-men_.
And such Strangers were commonly sent by some who knew the _Customs of
the Chappel_, and had a mind to put a Trick upon the Stranger.
Other Customs were used in the _Chappel_, which were not _Solaces_,
viz. Every new Workman to pay half a Crown; which is called his
_Benvenue_: This _Benvenue_ being so constant a Custome is still lookt
upon by all Workmen as the undoubted Right of the _Chappel_, and
therefore never disputed; yet he who has not paid his _Benvenue_ is no
Member of the _Chappel_, nor enjoys any benefit of _Chappel-Money_.
If a Journey-man Wrought formerly upon the same Printing House, and
comes again to Work on it, pays but half a _Benvenue_.
If a Journey-man _Smout_ more or less on another Printing House, and
any of the _Chappel_ can prove it, he pays half a _Benvenue_.
I told you before that abusive Language or giving the Lye was a
_Solace_: But if in discourse, when any of the Workmen affirm any thing
that is not believed, the _Compositer_ knocks with the back corner of
his _Composing-stick_ against the lower Ledge of his _Lower Case_,
and the _Press-man_ knocks the Handles of his _Ball-stocks_ together:
Thereby signifying the discredit they give to his Story.
It is now customary that Journey-men are paid for all Church Holy days
that fall not on a _Sunday_, Whether they Work or no: And they are by
Contract with the Master Printer paid proportionably for what they
undertake to Earn every Working day, be it half a Crown, two Shillings,
three Shillings, four Shillings, _&c._
It is also customary for all the Journey-men to make every Year new
Paper Windows, whether the old will serve again or no; Because that
day they make them, the Master Printer gives them a _Way-goose_; that
is, he makes them a good Feast, and not only entertains them at his
own House, but besides, gives them Money to spend at the Ale-house
or Tavern at Night; And to this Feast, they invite the _Correcter_,
_Founder_, _Smith_, _Joyner_, and _Inck-maker_, who all of them
severally (except the _Correcter_ in his own Civility) open their
Purse-strings and add their Benevolence (which Workmen account their
duty, because they generally chuse these Workmen) to the Master
Printers: But from the _Correcter_ they expect nothing, because the
Master Printer chusing him, the Workmen can do him no kindness.
These _Way-gooses_, are always kept about _Bartholomew-tide_. And till
the Master-Printer have given this _Way-goose_, the Journey-men do not
use to Work by Candle Light.
If a Journey-man marry, he pays half a Crown to the _Chappel_.
When his Wife comes to the _Chappel_, she pays six Pence: and then all
the Journey-men joyn their two Pence apiece to Welcome her.
If a Journey-man have a Son born, he pays one Shilling.
If a Daughter born, six Pence.
The _Father_ of the _Chappel_ drinks first of _Chappel Drink_, except
some other Journey-man have a _Token_; viz. Some agreed piece of Coin
or Mettle markt by consent of the _Chappel_: for then producing that
_Token_, he Drinks first. This _Token_ is always given to him who in
the Round should have Drank, had the last _Chappel-drink_ held out.
Therefore when _Chappel-drink comes in_, they generally say, _Who has
the Token?_
Though these Customs are no _Solaces_; yet the _Chappel_ Excommunicates
the delinquent; and he shall have no benefit of _Chappel-money_ till he
have paid.
It is also Customary in some Printing-houses that if the _Compositer_
or _Press-man_ make either the other stand still through the neglect of
their contracted Task, that then he who neglected, shall pay him that
stands still as much as if he had Wrought.
The _Compositers_ are Jocosely call’d _Galley Slaves_: Because
allusively they are as it were bound to their _Gallies_.
And the _Press-men_ are Jocosely call’d _Horses_: Because of the hard
Labour they go through all day long.
An Apprentice when he is Bound pays half a Crown to the _Chappel_, and
when he is made Free, another half Crown to the _Chappel_; but is yet
no Member of the _Chappel_; And if he continue to Work Journey-work in
the same House, he pays another half Crown, and is then a Member of the
_Chappel_.
A _Founding-House_ is also call’d a _Chappel_: But I suppose the Title
was originally assum’d by _Founders_, to make a Competition with
_Printers_.
The Customes used in a _Founding-House_ are made as near as may be to
those of a _Printing-house_: but because the Matter they Work on, and
the manner of their Working is different, therefore such different
Customes are in Use, as are suitable to their Trade, As
_First_, To call _Mettle_ Lead, a Forfeiture.
_Secondly_, A Workman to let fall his _Mold_, a Forfeiture.
_Thirdly_, A Workman to leave his Ladle in the _Mettle_ Noon or Night,
a Forfeiture.
The Printers of _London_, Masters and Journey-men have every Year a
general Feast, which since the re-building of _Stationers Hall_ is
commonly kept there. This Feast is made by four Stewards, _viz._ two
Masters and two Journey-men; which Stewards, with the Collection of
half a Crown apiece of every Guest, defray the Charges of the whole
Feast; And as they Collect the Half-Crowns, they deliver every Guest a
Ticket, wherein is specified the Time and Place they are to meet at,
and the Church they are to go to: To which Ticket is affixed the Names
and Seals of each Steward.
It is commonly kept on or about _May-day_: When, about ten a Clock
in the Morning they meet at _Stationers Hall_, and from thence go to
some Church thereabouts; Four Whifflers (as Servitures) by two and
two walking before with White Staves in their Hands, and Red and Blew
Ribbons hung Belt-wise upon their left Shoulders. These go before to
make way for the Company. Then walks the Beadle of the Company of
_Stationers_, with the Companys Staff in his Hand, and Ribbons as the
Whifflers, and after him the Divine (whom the Stewards before ingag’d
to Preach them a Sermon) and his Reader. Then the Stewards walk by two
and two, with long White Wands in their Hands, and all the rest of the
Company follows, till they enter the Church.
Then Divine Service begins, Anthems are Sung, and a Sermon Preached to
suit the Solemnity: Which ended, they in the same order walk back again
to _Stationers Hall_; where they are immediately entertain’d with the
City Weights and other Musick: And as every Guest enters, he delivers
his Ticket (which gives him Admittance) to a Person appointed by the
Stewards to receive it.
The Master, Wardens and other Grandees of the Company (although perhaps
no Printers) are yet commonly invited, and take their Seats at the
upper Table, and the rest of the Company where it pleases them best.
The Tables being furnsh’d with variety of Dishes of the best Cheer: And
to make the entertainment more splendid is Usher’d in with Loud Musick.
And after Grace is said (commonly by the Minister that Preach’d the
Sermon) every one Feasts himself with what he likes Best; whiles the
Whifflers and other Officers Wait with Napkins, Plates, Beer, Ale, and
Wine, of all sorts, to accommodate each Guest according to his desire.
And to make their Cheer go cheerfuller down, are entertained with
Musick and Songs all Dinner time.
Dinner being near ended, the Kings and the Dukes Healths is begun, by
the several Stewards at the several Tables, and goes orderly round to
all the Guests.
And whiles these Healths are Drinking, each Steward sets a Plate on
each Table, beginning at the upper end, and conveying it downwards,
to Collect the Benevolence of Charitable minds towards the relief of
_Prinners_ Poor Widows. And at the same time each Steward destributes a
Catalogue of such Printers as have held Stewards ever since the Feast
was first kept, _viz._ from the Year of Christ 1621.
After Dinner, and Grace said, the Ceremony of Electing new Stewards
for the next Year begins: Therefore the present Stewards withdraw into
another Room: And put Garlands of Green Lawrel, or of Box on their
Heads, and White-wands in their Hands, and are again Usher’d out of
the withdrawing Room by the Beadle of the Company, with the Companys
Staff in his Hand, and with Musick sounding before them: Then follows
one of the Whifflers with a great Bowl of White-wine and Sugar in his
Right Hand, and his Whifflers Staff in his Left: Then follows the
Eldest Steward, and then another Whiffler, as the first, with a Bowl
of White-wine and Sugar before the second Steward, and in like manner
another Whiffler before the Third, and another before the Fourth. And
thus they walk with Musick sounding before them three times round the
Hall: And in a fourth round the first Steward takes the Bowl of his
Whiffler and Drinks to one (whom before he resolved on) by the Title
of Mr. Steward Elect: And taking the Garland off his own Head puts it
upon the Steward Elects Head. At which Ceremony the Spectators clap
their Hands, and such as stand on the Tables or Benches, so Drum with
their Feet that the whole Hall is filled with Noise, as applauding the
Choice. Then the present Steward takes out the Steward Elect, giving
him the Right Hand, and walks with him Hand in Hand, behind the three
present Stewards another Round about the Hall: And in the next Round,
as aforesaid, the second Steward Drinks to another with the same
Ceremony as the first did; and so the Third Steward, and so the Fourth,
and then all walk one Round more Hand in Hand about the Hall, that the
Company may take notice of the Stewards Elect. And so ends the Ceremony
of the Day.
This Ceremony being over, such as will go their ways; but others that
stay, are Diverted with Musick, Songs, Dancing, Farcing, _&c._ till at
last they all find it time to depart.
A