that houses of public entertainment, or for the reception of 

 travellers, were not in much request. Of the trades and 

 handicrafts for the supply of clothing, it is remarkable that the 

 Girdler [Zonarius] and the Shoemaker and Cobbler [Alutarius — 

 Sutor] are the most numerous. This circumstance combined 

 with the fact that the principal if not the only manufacture 

 existing in York at this time, was that of leather, seems to 

 confirm the opinion of a statistical writer who tells us that 

 *' most of the lower people wore leather doublets and stays or 

 boddice, for cheapness and duration, which were a considerable 

 part of their intire clothing." ' During these 55 years, nearly 

 100 persons were inroUed as citizens under the designation of 

 Tannator, ^ and Tannour : and about half that number who 

 are called Pelliparius^ and Pelter, with a few Couraours, 

 Dubbers and Tewers. * It may be inferred that the neigh- 

 bourhood of those streets which yet retain the name of Tanner 

 Row, Tanner's Moat, and Barker Hill, was a principal resort 

 of the Tannatores, but it is obvious from the number of persons 

 engaged in it, that the manufacture was carried on in many 

 other places ; and probably the vast number of horns, which 

 have been found, on excavating in various parts of the city, 

 point out the spots where our ancestors had their tan-yards. 

 At this time, the value of horn had scarcely been discovered. 

 The trade of Horner, does not appeared on the register, until 

 the reign of Edward II., and then only three were admitted. ^ 

 In our own times, Horn-breaking and Comb-making have 

 formed an important branch of business in York. It seems 

 probable that the Zonarius or Girdler, ^ was not employed 



J Anderson I. 298. 



* Tannare, Coria subigere. — Tanner, Fr. 



3 Pelliparii, (Due.) qui peUes parant, prsparant, vendunt. 



* To tew. [Aug. Sax. Tawian.\ To beat so as to soften. 



* The art of working in horn is one, in which the English were mucli skilled. 

 In 1464, the Homers presented a petition to Parliament, against strangers who 

 came to "understond the konnyng and feate of making horns." Rot. Pari, IV. 

 567.— Prompt. Parv. 247. 



8 Modem improvements have swept away one side of Girdlergate, the old 

 street of the York Girdlers. The name is altogether abolished, and it is to be 

 lamented that so interesting a memorial of the customs and habits of former 

 times was not permitted to remain. 



