SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
5IS
3, Abusive language, or giving the lie in the Cbapel — a solace.
4, To be drunk in the Chapel-^a solace.
d, For any of the workmen to leave his candle burning at night — a solace.*
6, If the compositor let iall his composing- stick, and another take up— a solace.
7, Three letters and a space to lie under the compositor's case — a solace.
8, If a pressman let fall his ball, or balls, and another take it or them up— a solace.f
These solaces were to be bought off, for the cood of the Chapel ; nor were the prices alike, for some were 12d. M. Ad. 2d. li., according to the nature and quality of the solace. But if the delinquent proved obstinate or refractory, and woula not pay his solace at the price of the Chapel, they solaced him thus : — ^The workmen take him by force and lay him on his belly, athwart the correcting stone, and hold him there, while another of the workmen, with a paper- board, gives him Wl. and a jnirie, viz. eleven blows on his buttocks, which he lays on accord- ing to his ovra mercy.
These nine solaces were all the solves usually
wid generally accepted; yet in some particular
did, other solaces, viz.
Chapels the workmen did, by consent, make
That it should be a solace for any of the workmen to mention joining their penny, or more, a piece, to send for drmk.
To mention spending chapel money till Satur- day night, or any other before agreed time.
To play at quadrats,^ or excite any of the cbapel to play at quadrats, either for money or drink.
This solace is generally purchased by the master printer, as ifSl because it hinders the work- men's works, as because it batters and spoils the auadiats, for the manner how they play with lem is thus, — they take five, or seven, or more, St quadrats (generally of the English body) and holding their hand below the surface of the cor- recting stone, shake them in their hand and toss them upon the stone, and then count how many Tiiclu upwards each man throws in three times, or any number of times agreed on ; and he that throws most wins the bet of all the rest, and stands out free, till the rest have tried who throws fewest nicks upwards in so many throws, for all the rest are free, and he pays the bet
For any to take up a sheet, u he received eopu-moneu ; or if he received no copy-money, and did ttike up a sheet, and carried that sheet or sheets out of the printing-house till the whole book was printed oCT and published.
Any of the workmen may purchase a solace for any trivial matter, if the rest of the Chapel consents to it As if anv of the workmen sing in the Chapel, he that is offended at it may.
- Thanlu to the inTsntion of gat for doing away with
KTcasy boxes.
t.SaiM'M'l^ by ^< OM of the composition roller.
t Ivined jeffing, and is always played with nine m qoad- rata, called gidn a practice very prevalent in the piesent day.
with the Chapel's consent, purchase a'penny or two-penny solace for any workman's singing after the solace is made ; or if a workman or a stranger salute a woman in the Chapel, 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 Chapel ; and a penny solace may perhaps cost the purchaser six-pence, twelve-pence, or more, for the good of the chapel. Yet sometimes solaces may cost double the purchase, or more : ' as if some compositor have (to affront a press- man) put a whisp of hay in the pressman's ball- racks ; if the pressman cannot 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 Chapel cannot in justice refuse to grant it, because it tends to the good of the Chapel; and being granted, it becomes every member's duty to make what discovery he can, because it tends to the further good of the Chapel; and by this means it seldom happens but the aggrressor is found out
Nor did solaces reach only the members of the Chapel, but also strangers that came into the Chapel and offered affronts or indignities to the Chapel, or any of its members; the Chapel would determine a solace : example — it was a solace for any to come to the King's printing- house and ask for a ballad :
For any to come and inquire of a compositor whether be had news of such a galley at sea :
For any to bring a wisp of hay, directed to any of the pressmen :
And such strangers were commonly sent by some who knew the customs of the Chapel, and had a mind to put a trick upon the stranger.
Other customs were used in the Chapel, which were not solaces, viz. every new workman to pay half-a-crown, which is called his Uenvenite. This being so constant a custom, is still looked upon by all workmen as the undoubted right of the Chapel, and therefore never disputed; he who has not paid his bienvetiHs is no member of the Cbapel, nor enjoys any benefit of Chapel money. If a journeyman wrought formerly in the same printing-house, and come again to work in it, he pays but half a bienvenue. If a journeyman tmout more or less in another print- ing-house, and anv of the Chapel can prove it, he pays half a bienvenue.
I told you before that abusive language, or giving the lie, was a solace ; but in discourse, when anv of the workmen affirm any thinr that is not believed, the compositor knocks with the back comer of bis composing-stick against the lower ledge of his lower-case ; and the press- man knocks the handles of his ball-stocks to- gether, thereby signifying the discredit they give to his story.
It is customary for all the joumevmen to make every year new Paper-Windows, whether the old will serve again or no ; because that day they make them, the master-printer g^ves them a Way-goote, that is, he makes them a good feast, and not only entertains them at hisown
VjOOQ IC
