‘Privy Council: Registers. James II. Vol 1. 17th July 1686. Catalogue Ref: PC 2/71. f.155
The registers of the Privy Council consist of the minutes or notes of its proceedings, its orders, some proclamations, committee reports and their papers.
Glossary
Glossary for starred words*. Other meanings given in square brackets.
- Réans: a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.
- Apprenticeship: a system of employment common in European towns and cities, whereby young men, and less commonly young women, were trained in a trade or craft. Apprenticeships were regulated by livery companies and guilds; only after serving a full apprenticeship could an individual become a freeman of a company, licensed to practice their trade independently. In England, apprenticeships were unusually long, often lasting seven years.
Transcript
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Gideon Godfrey- Lycenced [licensed] to make felt hats, beyond the Limitts [limits] of the charter of the felt makers.
Vpon [upon] reading this day at the Board The Petition of Gideon Godfrey feltmaker, setting forth that the Petitioner served his apprenticeships* to a feltmaker at Réans*, where he some time dwelt, and being lately necessitated to come into England, resettled himself to exercise the said trade, beyond the Limitts [limits] of the felt makers charter, where for [wherefore] some time he peaceably worked, but of late hath been arrested by them and in danger to be ruined, and therefore praying his Majesties Lycence [license] to worke [work[ on his sayd [said] trade, under what limitations his Majesty should thinke [think] fitt [fit]. His Majesties being graciously pleased to grant the request, did order, and it is this Day in Councell [Council] accordingly ordered, that the said Gideon Godfrey bet he is hereby [next page] licensed and permitted to exercise the sayd [said] trade of making Hatts [hats], notwithstanding the statue of 1.R.3. Cap. 9. Or any other statues, provided hee [he] take not above two apprentices, and those English, unless his owne [own] sons [sons], and employ two English for every French man and provided hee [he] continue to lease himself aboue [above] five miles from London, beyond the extent of the sayd Company of feltmakers Charter, whereof the sayd [said] Company, and all persons concerned are to take notice.
- Why has Gideon Godfrey petitioned to King James II?
- Why do you think Gideon Godfrey was ‘necessitated to come to England’?
- How does Gideon Godfrey justify his right to practice his trade in England?
- What conditions does the Crown set for Gideon Godfrey if he wants to continue to work at his trade?
- List the ways in which these two sources 4a and 4b differ.
- Whose point of view is being privileged in each source?
- How does the Crown attempt to satisfy both the French and English tradesmen in each source?
- Explain one way in which opportunities for Huguenot migrants in the seventeenth century were different from opportunities for migrants to Britain in the twentieth century?