1 Ch. 63.

Rapin, P. 498.

Note 5. Pryn. H.IV.

12. It is enacted, that the Merchants of Italy fhall pay but four Marks Subfidy for every Sack of Wool, as English Men do *.

Petition.

13. That the shipping of Wools may be at Ipfwich, and not at Yarmouth from henceforth.

Anfw. The fame Shipping with the Tunnage of Wools, fhall be at both Places until the next Parliament. At the Request of the Commons, the King pardoneth 6s. 8 d. of every Sack of Wool.

14. All Merchandizes may be fold in grofs, as well to all others, as to the Citizens of London †.

15: The Commons continued the Duty on Wool, as in the laft Parliament.

16. It is to be noted, that in the 14th Year of Richard II. the Subfidy and Custom of Wools came to 160,000l. over and above Poundage, Tonnage, Aulnage, Pellage, &c.

17. Cloths fhall not be tacked together and plaited before the Aulnager bath fet his Seal to them. 11 Hen. 1V.

c. 6.

18. Mer

A Miftake this; four Marks being exactly the Subfidy paid by Aliens, which was 10s, above what Denizens were to pay, as fee §. 11.

This Statute recites, That whereas Cloth-makers, &c. by the Mayor, Sheriffs, Aldermen, Drapers and • Merchants of London, were grievously conftrained to fell their Cloths, &c. only to the Merchants and Inhabitants of the faid City, to the fingular Profit of them of London, ⚫ and particular Hurt of the Cloth-makers, &c. and general Damage of the Community.' Therefore it was ordained, &c. notwithstanding any Franchise or Liberty to the contrary,' (See Chap. 63.)

The Duty on Wools 14 Rich. II. (See Chap. 8. §. 30.) was 40s. per Sack; but whether with, or without the old Custom of half a Mark, does not appear. But admit the whole Duty to have been no more than 40s. a Sack, this proves Duty paid in that fame Year, for 80,000 Sacks exported, which is 130,000 Packs.

See Chap. 5. §. 34. 27 Edw. III. c. 1. Ch. 7. §. I. Note. Chap. 8. §. 2, 10, 15, 18, 25, 33. Chap. 11. §. 2, 19. Note: all tending to prove, that the ufual Subfidies from Wool were only from Wool exported..

18. Merchants Strangers fhall pay to the King the Cufroms and Subfidies granted to him by the Commons for Cloth cut in pieces, and for Cloths cut into Garments proportionably after the Rate of a whole Piece. Cap. 7. 19. Duties on Wool continued.

Petition, &c,

20. That no License be granted to export Wools, U. belonging to the Staple, other than to Ĉallice.

Anfw. The King will forbear to grant any License for Wools growing on this Side the Water of Cocket, fo always as the Men of Berwick may pafs Wools growing beyond the faid Water.

21. That all Merchants may freely transport any Staple Merchandize, fo they pafs the Streights of MoTOCCO m.

Anfw. The King thereof will be advifed.

Rapin,
Note 3.

501.

m Gibral

tar.

22. Duty on Wool continued for one Year longer. Rapin,

P. 502.
Note 6.

СНАР.

Х.

HENRY the Fifth.

1. D. 1413. The Parliament granted the King for four Years; the like Subfidy on Staple Wares (of which Wool was one) as had been granted to K. Hen. IV.

2. Merchandizes of the Staple, viz. Wools, &c. fhall not be carried to any Part beyond the Sea without the King's Licence, until they be firft brought to the Staple, upon Pain of Forfeiture of them. 2 Hen. V. c. 6.

Petitions, &c.

3. That the ftreight Cloths, called the Dozens of Pryn. Devonshire and Cornwall, may pay Cocket Cuftoms, 3 Hen. V. after the Rate of broad Cloths.

Anfw. The King will be advised.

4. The

1

4. The Commonalty of Coventry, prayen that four of them yearly to be chofen, may furvey the Dyers of the fame Town.

5. For keeping of Money within the Realm, it is 7 Hen. V. enacted and alfo that certain Wools be bought and fent into Normandy, any Statute, for the Staple, to the contrary notwithstanding.

6. Every Merchant, Stranger, buying Wools in England to carry to the Weft Parties, and elfewhere, not coming to the Staple to be fold, fhall bring to the Mafter of the Mint one Ounce of Bullion Gold, for every Sack, or the Value in Silver. (See Ch. 11. §. 3.)

I.

CHA P. XI.

HENRY the Sixth.

Rapin, 1.A.D. 1422. The Parliament granted the King 335. 4d. on every Sack of Wool exported for

P. 536.

Note 5.

two Years.

2. The Penalty if any carry Wools, &c. not cuftomed out of the Realm, to any Place faving to Callice, fhall be to forfeit them, and to be imprisoned. 2 Hen. VI. c. 5.

3. Merchant Strangers fhall only pay 43s. 4 d. for every Sack of Wool, notwithstanding the Grant made. 7. Hen. V. (See Ch. 10. §. 6.

4. Sheep fhall not be tranfported beyond Sea without the King's Licence. 3 Hen. VI. c. 2.

5. A. D. *Because divers Perfons do from time to time carry out of the Realm great Number of Sheep with Fleeces into Flanders, and other Countries beyond the Sea; and there they fhear them, and fell as well the fame Sheep, as the Wools of the fame, to Men of the fame Country; fo that by fuch Perfons the Sheep within the fame Country of Flanders are likely to be much increased, the Customs ' of Wool leffened, and the Price of Wool abated, as well at the Staple of Callice, as here in England.' Therefore it is enacted, &c. (except he have the King's Licence.)

་

But note, Prohibitions of Parliament, in these Terms, which occur very frequently, can only be understood, as fo many Devices for fqueezing Money out of the People for the granting of fuch Licences.

5. A. D. 1425 t. The Parliament granted the Rapin, King 43 s. 4 d. on every Sack of Wool from Strangers, P: 544and from Denizens 33 s. 4 d.

6. Subfidy of Wools as before.

Petition, &c.

7. That no Subfidy be paid for Lambs Wool, fherling and fcalding, but only Poundage.

Anfw. The King will be advised.

8. Every City and Borough shall have a common Balance and Weight. Who may buy Wool and Yarn . 8 Hen. VI. c. 5.

9.

* None fball force, clack or beard any Wool. 8 Hen. VI. c. 22.

10. No Thrums or Woolen Yarn shall be carried out of the Realm. c. 23.

11. Autho

Note 2.

Pryn, P. 446. 8 Hen. VI.

A. D. 1425. Computus of the Prior and a Canon of Chron. Burcefter, Oxf. in Dr. Kennet's Paroch. Antiq. For 21 pret. p.80 Lambs, 47. For 36 Sheep Skins of two Years old, 9s. For 23 Tod of pure Wool, (at 9 s. 6d. the Tod) 107. 185. 6d. N. B. In this Year (fee Chap. 4. P. S.) the Shilling was altered from 142 to 176 Grains. So that according to the former, this Price of 9 s. 6d. per Tod, was equal to near 15s. 6d. of our prefent Money; according to the latter, to P. 82. 19s. 4d. For two Yards of Ruffet Cloth for the Shepherd, 2s. 6d.

This A&t recites the Grievance of Auncel, not yet it feems rooted out of the Nation, and therefore enacts,

• That Wools, &c. fhall be weighed by the Balance", fo." Chap. 5. ⚫ that the Tongue of the Balance do not incline more to the §. 30. one Party than the other; that the Weights be fealed. That every City, Borough and Town, wherein is a Conftable, furnish fuch Balance and Weights. And that no • Man fhall buy Woolen Yarn, unless he will make Cloth

'thereof.'

'Forafmuch as great Hindrance cometh to the King in his Cuftoms, by them that do clack and force the good Wools of the Realm to carry them out of the fame; it is ' ordained, That no Stranger fhall caufe to be forced, clacked, nor bearded, any manner of Wools, to carry ⚫ them out of the Realm.'

Because the Weavers in this Realm be accustomed, ' when they have wrought a Cloth near to the End, to cut away

Pryn.

9 H. VI.

to H. VI.

Rapin, P: 556.

Note 3. Pryn.

ii H. VI.

11. Authority is given to the Chancellor of England, to end the Suit between Lewin le Clark Burgefs of Gaunt, and William Brampton of Chesterville in Derby, touching a Bargain of Wool,

Wools carried any where but to Calice forfeit. 10 Hen.
-Petition, &c.

VI. c. 7.

12. The Commons of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmoreland, and of the Bishoprick, prayen that the Merchants at Newcastle may at all times buy and transport their Wools.

Anfw. The King will be advised.

13. That two Perfons of every Hundred within the Realm, may by Commiffion be appointed to fearch the due making of Woolen Cloths, and to feal the fame, taking therefore one Penny +.

14. A Grant for one Year of the Subfidy of Wool. 15. Of what Length and Breadth Cloths called Streights fhall be. 11 Hen. VI. c. 9.

16. A. D. 1433. The Parliament granted a Subfidy of 53 s. 4 d. of every Sack of Wool for three Years,

17. All

៩ away for their private Profit the Thread which is left unwoven, and call the fame Thrums, which they fell to fuch Perfons as carry them into Flanders, &c. tho' the King ' have thereof no Profit or Cuftom. And under colour of fuch Thrums, divers Perfons do carry great Quantities of • Woolen Yarn, to the Hindrance of the King's Cuftoms and Subfidies from Cloth. Wherefore it is, &c.'

Though the two Searchers here required, in several Hundreds in the Kingdom, might not be neceffary, and in many, the Number might be too fmall for the Occafion; yet the Nature of the Petition is an Argument, that the Woolen Manufacture had at this Time fpread itself throughout moft Parts of the Kingdom. Which is to be noted against the Opinion of thofe, who not only think the Woolen Manufacture in England, and the allowed Exportation of Wool to have been incompatible, but also that the English had not made any Progrefs in this Manufacture before the Reign of Queen Elizabeth.

This Act prescribes the Duty of the Aulnager in refpect to the feveral Sorts of Cloth, and is an Evidence of the Growth of the Woolen Manufacture in England.