ABSTRACT
In William Rowley’s A Shoemaker, A Gentleman (1608), Barnaby, a journeyman shoemaker, tells Leodice, the daughter of Maximinus, co-emperor of Rome, that she has every right to complain about the poor quality of the shoes she is being offered since they have been made by a mere apprentice who does not yet master his trade: LEODICE. Who made my shoes, sirra? They pinch me. BARNABY. Indeed, sweet lady, you must pardon this young man. ’Tis his fault, he has not yet the true handling of his work; he cannot go through stitch yet. […] LEODICE. You’re pleasant, sir. And what is this? A ’prentice? BARNABY. Alas Madam, I would be loath to discredit the young man, he’s but a colt yet, a subsizar, 1 as they say. […] Alas, madam, he’ll pinch your toes if I do not instruct him; he’s but a cobbler yet. (Rowley 2002, 2.1.63–104)
