It would be the same as apprenticing somebody to a company. Although there wasn't companies as we know them now, the precedent was there. Somebody signing up for the army would sign up to serve the crown rather than who ever was on the throne at the time of signing. Likewise, a sailor would sign to a ship and serve the master, they would have continuity of employment even if the master dropped dead in the middle of the Atlantic. They would still serve on the same ship and still serve the master, the master may have a different name but he would still be the master. I would be good to have an authoritive opinion though. John At 23:27 15/02/2007, Robert Hillier wrote: >Thanks John , that sounds very reasonable . I have doubts however - was it >legally possible to tie the apprenticeship obligations to a property