The following is the text of an indenture of an apprenticeship which I have copied from an original:-
This indenture made the 10th day of November in the 20th year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith, etc., and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty six, between Henry ffaithwaite of Littledale, in the county of Lancaster, yeoman, and John ffaithwaite, his sone, of the one part, and John Gibson of Lancaster in the said County, Mercer of the other part witnesseth that the said John ffarthwaite hath of his own free will, and with the consent of his said father, put and bound himself apprentice to and with the said John Gibson, to learn the art of a mercer, and with him after the manner of an apprentice to dwell, remain, and serve from the day of the date hereof for, during, and until the term of seven years thence next following be fully compleated and ended. During all which term, the said apprentice his said master will and faithfully shall server, his secrets shall keep, his lawful command shall do, fornication or adultery shall not commit, hurt or damage to his said master he shall not do or consent to be done, but to his power shall lett it, and forthwith his said master thereof warn; taverns or alehouses he shall not hant or frequent, unless it be about his master's business there to be done: at dice, cards tables, bowls or any other unlawful games he shall not play; to goods of his said master he shall not waiste nor lend or give to any person without his master's licence; matrimony withing the term shall not contract, nor from his master's service at any time absent himself; but as a true and fathful apprentice shall order and behave himself towards his master and all as well as in words as in deeds during the said term; and a true and just account of all his said master's goods, chattles, and money committed to his charge, or shall come to his hands faithfully he shall give at all times when thereunto required by his said master, his executors, administrators, or assigns. And the said John Gibson, for an in consideration of the sum of fifty pounds pf lawful money of Great Britain to him in hand paid by the said Henry ffarthwaite at and before the execution of these presents, to and with the said Henry ffarthwaite, the father of the said apprentice, that he, the said John Gibson, his executors, administrators, or assigns, shall and will teach, learn and inform him, he said apprentice, or cause him to be taught, learned, or informed in the said art, mystery or occupation of a mercer which the said master now useth after the best manner of knowledge, that he or they may or can, with all circumstances hereunto belonging; and also shall find and provide to and for him, the said apprentice, sufficient and enough of meat, drink, washing, and lodging during the said term. And the said Henry ffarthwaite for himself, his executors, and administrators doth covenant, promise and.................

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