existence. The result of his investigation has already beeri 

 mentioned. His book is adorned with several exquisite 

 engravings, consisting of plans of Hull in former times, 

 and other antique relics. It is written in a gentlemanly 

 and polished style ; and the fact, be undertakes to 

 substantiate, is so clearly elucidated, as to set at defiance 

 all endeavours at refutation. There cannot even be a 

 doubt, that more than a century before Edward's time, 

 Hull was a considerable port, inferior in wealth and sub- 

 stance only to London, Boston, Southampton, Lincoln, 

 and Lynn. Even so early as the beginning of the 13th 

 century, it was an entrepot, as at present, for the foreign 

 wines with which this country was supplied, and also for 

 wool, great quantities of which were thence smuggled out 

 of the kingdom, through the instrumentality of foreign mer- 

 chants. Mr. Frost found in the Pipe Roll, of the 6th John, 

 1206, an entry of a charge in the Sheriff's account, made 

 under the authority of the King's writ, of 14s. 11 d., for the 

 expenses of carrying the King's wines from Hull to York, 

 to which city other documents prove it to have been superior, 

 at that time, as a place of trade. Tn the same roll, there is a 

 Compotus, in which William De Wroteham and his compa- 

 nions accounted for the duty called Quindena or Quinzime, 

 received between the 20th July, 4th John, 1203, and the 30th 

 Nov. 6th John, 1205, amounting to 4,958. 7s. 3|d., out of 

 which 344. 14s. 4d. were paid by Hull. It was at that 

 time called Hull, from being situated on the banks of the 

 river of that name. When Edward visited it, Wic or 



