APPRENTICES not SLAVES. An ANSWER TO A Nameless PAMPHLET Lately published as an ACT, declaring what HABIT APPRENTICES Are to wear.  
With an Additional Order forbidding their wearing of Points, Ribbons, and other Trim whatsoever.  
THE Scribbler of this Pamphlet, for he is not the Author, except in some nonsensical places of his own intercalation and Addition seems to be the Tell-Stripe Clerk of Bridewell, or the Keeper's man of Little-Ease, who having by the corruption ruption and Bribery of a Pot of Ale, got some idle Clerk to turn over some musty Rolls, got these Motheaten Orders of Apparel to be transcribed, and then with a bold Title at Random, not assigning any Time when they were Enacted by the City, supposeth (as his intention is to impose upon the Reader) the Prentices (as it is in Law) will take uncertain time for the Present, and buy it out of Curiosity or Indignation; and then his turn is served.  
The whole drift of this Libel looks very like the Story of the Gibeonites, who with mouldy bread and clouted Shoes, came to make Indentures with the Israelites, and by them were made Hewers of Wood and Drawers of Water.  
The manner of this Libellous design is a little different from the Gibeonites, he pretends not to come a far of from antique, obsolete, and old Customs, but obtrudes these mad Whimsies, as of the present times and newly fitted and furbished up for the next mode and fashion, and that from no less Authority than Be it Enacted, etc.  
But before we come to that let us consider the Preface, which should by custom show the Reasonableness and ground of such an Act. 'tis this, For Reformation of many abuses growing by reason of Excess, and strange fashion of Apparel used by many Apprentices within the City of London and the Liberties thereof; [Good Mr. Gravity] and for satisfying such others [mark the Wisdom of the Lawgiver] who being well disposed are contented with such Apparel as is fitting, and their Masters well; l able to afford them. Be it Enacted, etc.  
Sure this came out of the Oracle of the black Pot especially the Hinder Part or Rump end of it; it's a pretty doubsul and ambiguous sentence betwixt sense and English, to satisfy such as are contented already with their Clothes. Mighty man of Reason! Can he find no better dress of words for the City's meaning, or was it on purpose to clothe their Intentions with the same Impertinencies and absurdities as these Orders would the Apprentices. Indeed he graceth the City in the same manner as the odd and antic kind of Habit, enjoined in the ensuing orders, would, if received into monstrous use again, out of which for Forty years' last past it hath been exploded and dismissed.  
But this Cato talks of Reformation, a dangerous word, and mainly driven on lately by Shoemakers and Tailors, and we all know what it proved. It is a maxim of State, that even evils of Custom, and which are deep rooted in the minds of men, are rather to be endured then to substitute new ones in their places, which might bring danger to the Commonwealth by the alteration of them. (Add hereto the long prescription to the contrary) and that the Reformation of the Apparel of Prentices as the case stands, may not be of as evil consequence as may appear by several reasons) we refer it to the Reader to judge. For London is no Algiers, where the captive slaves have their several Badges by which they are to be known, though it may be presumed the rigidness of some Masters cared not even in this City if there were Brands put upon Servants as they do upon Horses, to show their absoluteness and Propriety. Nor are the Apprentices like the Helots' to the Lacedæmonians at the unlimited unbounded will of their Masters, having no power of their own, not so much as of the faculties of their understanding. Nor have their Parents by committing them to the care of their Masters, wholly quitted and resigned their right and Interest in their Children, by their Indentures. No there's no such matter, they are English men born, and cannot lose that natural Freedom, and 'tis as absurd, that a municipal Franchisement, the freedom of one City should swallow up and annul that of the whole Nation and Kingdom, as 'tis for a smaller thing to contain a greater, for a Gudgeon to devour a Pike. Besides this Common Liberty there are many and those thousands which can and justly do pretend to greater Privileges by their Birth and Descent which as well by Custom as the Courtesy of England are due to them; so that as to these persons who as is said are so numerous, it is impossible these Orders should take effect. And the exception of them out of this yoke, will and must be stretched to those who make up the lack of Gentile Fxtraction by Wealth and Estate, of which there is near one third of the Prentices. This likewise maugre all opposition will fall into the Imitation of those who being of as honest Parentage, will ambitiously think in some degree to follow the Fashion; so that it will be a work of more difficulty to reduce them then a bare be it enacted.  
On the contrary side see what Honour this handsomeness and fashionable of Apparel worn now by the Apprentices hath done to this City and the whole Kingdom. [It is the happiness (as it was the acknowledgement of one of the best and greatest of them) of the Kings of England that they rule not over Slaves but Subjects.] It was generally confessed and spoken by Strangers, that the Auxiliary Regiments of London, the last general Training day, were the finest, bravest, Sight they ever see, being equally mixed with terror and delight; so that London which was reported to them for a Hell, seemed plainly to be a Heaven for Servants; and that it was no little addition to its former glories.  
Indeed the Buff Doublet better becomes such brave Spirits then Leather Breeches, and 'tis known to whom the City was beholding for her Safety, during all the dangers of the late Anarchy, and it would be a very ill requital to give them a Fool's Cap, who never feared to expose their heads without Helmets for their Security.  
This City is now another place then what it was formerly, not only to the Gentility and Wealth of those that are bred in it, (many persons being sent hither as Sir— Bollen Lord Mayor of London Ancestor to Queen Eliz. ad Aedificandum domum Antiquam to build up and repair their ancient Families) but also in regard of its Potency and Commerce; we deal now in our own Shops with most People of the World, from whom we have learned Civility with their fashions, and therefore 'tis fit Apprentices should not be in that despicable Habit as to cause men to disdain converse with them, which is the only means of promoting Trade. Whereas formerly the Easterlins managed all the foreign business, very few English Merchants being then resident here, but were content to truck as it were under those Foreigners. So that it is requisite that to this opulency there should be a suitable bravery, and 'tis the most innocent (as it's a natural) pride that floweth and ariseth from Plenty.  
'Twould be a mad antic Sight to see now out Dames and Mistresses in their wide Farthingales, with which they could scarce enter in at a Church door, and the Apprentices in their close order, in a Jack a Lents pair of Breeches, ready to run in at a Mouse hole, instead of civilly becoming their Shops. And sure the world especially London, hath been frantic long enough and needs none of Tom Bedlams Guegawes for their divertisement, unless they will profess themselves Quakers, as well as they stiffly say they will be P—  
For the rest of this Pedlery, it will raise so much dust if we brush it, having lain so long by, that though it was thought fit at first to beat it, that it might foul no Fingers, it shall now rot with this Epitaph on these Monuments and Records of the Tyranny used formerly to Apprentices, that the Kent Street Warchouse compared with it is a Complete Wardrobe.  
In sum, It is supposed that Pamphlet was intended to beget some broil in the City, by those who are restless in their endeavours against our present, and we hope, perpetual peace, which hath therefore obliged this Answer thereto.  
FINIS.