A Medieval Labor Contract
In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, many serfs fled the protection and obligations of manor
life to settle in European towns. There they hoped to join a guild and learn a trade, gaining the
guild’s protection. Young people who wished to become craftspeople served as apprentices to
master artisans; parents often signed their children over to a master for a training period which
could last between three to twelve years, depending upon the craft. After completing the
apprenticeship, young people became journeymen or journeywomen and worked as day laborers
in their masters shops, being paid for each day of work. Some of the contracts between masters
and parents have survived, such as the one below, dated 1248, between Peter Borre, and Peter
Feissac, master weaver.
“I, Peter Borre, in good faith, place with you Peter Feissac, weaver, my son
Stephen, for the purpose of learning the trade or craft of weaving. He is to live at your
house, and to work for you from the next feast of Easter [medieval calendars often made
alot of reference to religious holidays or saints’ days] for four continuous years. I
promise that he will neither steal nor take anything away from you, nor flee nor depart
from you for any reason, until he has completed his apprenticeship. And I promise you
by this agreement that I will reimburse you for all damages or losses that you suffer on
account of my son.
“And I, Peter Feissac, promise you, Peter Borre, that I will teach your son
faithfully and will provide food and clothing for him. Done at Marseilles, near the tables
of the money-changers and witnessed.”
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How did a young person learn a craft?
How long was the training period for an apprentice?
What craft or trade was Stephen Borre supposed to learn?
What did Peter Borre promise his son’s teacher?
What would have broken this contract?
What did Peter Feissac agree to provide for his apprentice Stephen?
What is similar between the labor contract and the oath of fealty between a knight
and squire?
8. For what professions today is the training comparable to the type of training an
apprentice received?