As children are oft unruly and frequently ill-used to learning from unskilled parentage, it behooves the good of all societies for those that can learn, to be apprenticed to those who have achieved some level of facility or mastery.
These apprenticeships shall take the form of the paternal or maternal relationship. As with a child, the apprentice shall not know payment, but will in all cases be provided food, lodgings and clothing, plus all those tools which are necessary for the learning and plying of the trade in question. In return, the apprentice shall obey as loyal child to father or mother, and shall seek to preserve the name of their master at high cost. Moreover all work performed by the apprentice shall inure to the benefit of the master at whatever price the latter may command for it.
No boy or girl should by custom be apprenticed before the age of 10. Neither should a boy begin his apprenticeship after 18, and no girl after 16. Those who reach this age of majority, without a trade, should settle into serfdom under the protection of a lord, and raise children for his lordships estate.
An apprentice who goes missing shall be sought by his master for a period of at least one day, and not more than one week. An apprentice who has run off without permission should be permitted one right of return, but upon a second offense be discharged from his masters care.
An oath which adheres to the following pattern will be sufficient to bind a master and apprentice in all courts of all the known realms. First, the one desiring apprenticeship shall take a knee before his intended master.
Master: What do you seek?
Apprentice: I seek admittance into your household as your faithful and true apprentice.
Master: How will you work?
Apprentice: From sun up to sun down, on all days demanded, save the Suns Day and all Feast Days held by custom.
Master: How will you be paid?
Apprentice: I will accept no coin, but be paid for all my labors in raiment, room and board, and in the knowledge of your craft.
Master: How will you learn?
Apprentice: I swear to learn faithful and true.
At this point the intended master shall either bid the seeker to depart, or else place his hand upon his new apprentice's head.
Master: I accept you into my household and will provide all that you ask.Upon acceptance, an apprentice should be made to qualify as a journeyman within seven years. Those which have not produced a masterpiece by the seventh year must be supported by his master for as long as the master lives, allowing the apprentice to inherit though a trueborn child, or else find settlement into serfdom under the protection of a lord
A masterpiece will not attest on the word of the master alone, but be shown to at least one other of the same craft who will accredit it of sound workmanship and quality.
No master, having accepted an apprentice, can dismiss the same except for the crimes of theft or dishonor. Any master having deliberately murdered or maimed his apprentice will be known as a kinslayer and upon conviction of a noble court, be made to suffer the same fate.
