When the Apprentice obtained his training papers, which showed that he had completed his time of Apprenticeship, he was given a sendoff, with clothes, money, and food by his initial Master. The Journeyman was now on his own. In the language of the Guilds, he was "tramping", and his life was not far from that of a tramp. When he called at village or city, he might find work. If so, he could stay there a while and build up a little cash reserve. If he did not find work, he would have to go on to another place. The Journeyman could spend several years in his travels and might see a lot of Germany and perhaps foreign countries. His papers were his passport, and, even though he was far from home, he could show that he had a legitimate reason for being there.
Dr. Schmahl related that one Journeyman left the south and found his way to Hamburg. With his savings he purchased a ticket to America. Normally, the authorities looked with suspicion on anyone who was away from home without a passport but the Journeyman's papers would carry the day. Usually emigrants had to pay an exit fee from their native principality.
Upon arriving at a city, with the intention of finding work, the Journeyman would report to the "Herberge" 1 , the guesthouse or inn of his trade. If the locality were small, then the Journeyman might report to the gatehouse. A person from the gatehouse would go to a Master of the craft, if one existed in the village, to see if he needed a Journeyman. At the guesthouse (Herberge), the Journeyman would announce himself with the traditional greeting of his trade. This greeting was an informal claim that the newcomer was indeed a member of the craft.
If he found work, he might stay until the Master's work was caught up. Or, he might get the urge to wander on. If no work was to be had, the Master was supposed to give the lad some money from the funds of the Guild.
Each Guild had, besides the formal letters of identity, secret rituals and words which served to identify the Journeymen. There were passed on orally to the Apprentices who were approaching their departure from their Master. It must also be remembered that not all Journeymen could read and write.
The Apprentice learned rules and useful information by memorizing and reciting proverbs which were often poetic in nature and structure.
Entry into a Guild, even at the Apprentice level, was not easy. It helped to have a father who was already a Guild member. Some boys whose fathers were employed in specific ways would not be eligible for a Guild. These were forbidden occupations. One reform by the Imperial Council in 1731 abolished these restrictions, at least formally. The Guilds were very much opposed to these new rules.
(01 Oct 02)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.