4 



limits of the city, and under the protection of its municipal 

 government. 



A careful and minute examination of the contents of this 

 register from its commencement in the first year of Edward I., 

 to the close of the reign of Edward III., comprehending a 

 series of 105 years, has furnished numerous facts, which are 

 calculated to throw considerable light upon the state of trade 

 and manufactures in York, the extent of its population, and 

 the social condition of its inhabitants, at this early period of 

 our history. 



In considering the results of this investigation, the time 

 over which it has extended will be divided into two nearly 

 equal portions : — the first will embrace the reigns of Edward I. 

 and Edward IL, occupying a period of 55 years : — the second 

 will comprise the long reign of Edward III., which was 

 precisely half a century in duration. 



During the first of these eras, the trades in which the citizens 

 of York were engaged, appear to have been principally those 

 which supply the common necessaries of social life. By the 

 Butcher] [66], ' the Fisherman [24], and the Fishmonger [25], 

 the Baker [77], and the Cook [30], (or, as they are named in 

 the register, Carnifex, Piscator and Piscarius, Pistor, and 

 Cocus,) the people were provided with the more substantial 

 articles of their diet. A small number of Pulters^ [7], 

 Salters ' [13], and Saucers [6], furnished the wealthier class 

 of citizens with some of the luxuries of the table, and the Specer 

 or Spicer * [22], supplied condiments and probably the few 

 medicinal drugs then known. Towards the close of the reign 

 of Edward II. the admission of a Maltster, a Brewer, and a 

 Camber, ^ denotes the introduction of ale or beer as an article 

 of trade. There are only two Chesers and one Fruter, during 

 this long period. Nine is the whole number of Taverners ; so 



' The fibres within brackets denote the number of persons admitted in each 

 trade. 



2 Poletarius. (Due.) 'Item, duos magistros Coquorum, Lardenarium, Pole- 

 tarium, Scultellarium, Salsarium," &c. Fleta. lib. 2. c. 14. s. 3. 



* Salsarius, (Due.) cui salsariae cura commissa est in coquina regi&. 



* Speciarius, (Due.) qui omne genus species vendit. — Espicier, Fr. 



* Cambarius. (Due.) Confector cervisise. 



