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56 B.R.O., 04447(1), fo. 39. On the whole, 6 (6.5%) of the 92 cases which were discharged by the court in Bristol were the result of the master's death.

57 B.R.O., 04445, 04447(1), 04447(2), passim. Of the 92 petitions presented at court, 9 (20.7%) were released on economic grounds or as a result of the master's departure from the town. For petitions stating the departure of a master, at times indicating his departure to the countryside or overseas, 04434(1), fos. 533, 532, 531, 527, 517, 465.

58 B.R.O., 04352(5)a, fo. 106; 04359(2)a, fo. 215.

59 In a sample of 99 apprentices who were discharged in Bristol between 1600–1645, only 46 were at the same time recorded as transferred to another master.

60 In the mid-sixteenth century between a fifth and a quarter of the number of young men admitted as apprentices were recorded as new freemen; in the 1610s the proportion of new freemen to the no. of apprentices annually registered was 23.6%, in the 1620s–16.5%; and in the 1630s–24.7%. B.R.O., 04352(l)–04352(5)b, 04358–04359(2) a–b.

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