8 



towards a general improvement of the condition of society- 

 The numbers admitted in the several trades connected with 

 the supply of food, increase very considerably during this half 

 century. ' The English names of Bocher, Bakster and Baker, 

 Fyscher and Fyschmanger now first appear, together with the 

 Mele-maker and Milner. Towards the latter part of this reign, 

 occurs the first instance of the Vyntner and the Wyndragher, 

 which are probably synonymous. The Taverners become much 

 more numerous : and perhaps no fact more plainly indicates an 

 improvement in the habits of the people than that the supply 

 of water was of sufficient importance to create a new business 

 called Water-leder, and by that description several persons were 

 admitted. There is a slight increase of the number of Maltsters 

 and Brewsters ^ or Cambers, and a single example occurs of 

 the Braciatrix. In addition to the Saucers [13] of the pre- 

 ceding reigns, there are some called Sausmakers [5], which has 

 probably the same meaning. That the commodity made or 

 sold by these traders, was something very difierent from the 

 stimulating luxuries now used at table under the name of sauces, 

 will be readily believed ; but it is not easy to determine what 

 was meant by sauce, in the 14th century. An eminent Anti- 

 quary thinks that culinary vegetables were designated by this 

 word, ^ and in that case Sausers were what we now call 

 Green-grocers. But the term Sausmaker conveys the idea 

 that some kinds of sauces were manufactured, and not vegetables 

 in their natural state. "* By a sumptuary law made in 1336, ^ 



^ Butchers, 120 ; Fishennen, 34 ; Fishmongers, 44 ; Pulters, 11 ; Bakers, 

 91 ; Cooks, 63 ; Spicers, 44 ; Taverners, 23. 



2 Robert de Kilbum was admitted in 1356 by the title of " Braciator Sancti 

 Leonardi." — Braciator, (Due.) Confector cervisiae. — Brace. Graai species ex quo 

 cervisia conficitur. 



3 Comp. in expenc. v'sus Londonia, 17ih Edw. I., with notes by theEev. Joseph 

 Hunter. Ret. Rev. I. 271. 



* "I want cunning, by order to descrive 



Of every course, the diversities ; 



The strange sewes, and the subtleties. 



That were that day served in that place." 



Lydgate's Siege of Troy, temp. Hen. V. 

 « 10th Edw. III. 



