10 



The number of persons admitted during this period in the 

 various trades and handicrafts for the supply of clothing, is 

 surprising. So many as nearly 300 Mercers ' and 70 Drapers " 

 in the course of fifty years must have been occasioned by the 

 demand of a large and increasing population. Above 300 

 Cissores and Taillours, and S20 Cordwainers shew that the 

 operatives kept place with the shopkeepers. A considerable 

 increase of Hatters, Hosiers,^ and Glovers, the appearance 

 of several Capmakers, Pouchmakers, and Pattenmakers, and a 

 decrease of Girdlers, as compared with other trades, indicate 

 a departure from the coarseness and simplicity of apparel 

 prevalent during the preceding reigns, and a more general 

 diffusion of a taste for articles of comfort and convenience. The 

 trade of Haberdascher * appears towards the middle of this 

 period ; and a considerable number of Chapmen * [50], who 

 were a kind of petty merchant. 



In the various mechanical arts and trades connected with 

 building, a corresponding improvement is manifest. Carpen- 

 ters, Masons, Plumbers, Teighlers or Teighle-makers, Plasterers 

 and Payntors, are admitted in considerable numbers ; and to 

 these are now added Joigneours, Pinners, Sawers, and Glasen- 

 wrights : only five of the last mentioned trade are registered, 

 and those, towards the close of the reign. 



Besides Cowpers and Tumours, we have now Boilers, Molde- 

 makers, and Cartwrights, and also one Bellows-maker. The 

 invention of the bellows is attributed to the Germans, and an 



* Mercerius, Mereenarius, (Due.) Mercator; minutae mercis propola, vulgo 

 Mercier. 



* Some writers suppose that Drapers were makers of cloth, but it seems more 

 probable that they were sellers of it only, 



3 Osa. (Due.) Germanis, Hose. Cambro-britt. Hosen. 



* S^bt ihr doss. Germ. Johnson in voce. 



* Ang. Sax. Ceapman, mercator. The register contains a single example of 

 the Hukester, which means a person who sold by outcry. The latin name for 

 hukester was ' Auccionaritis,' and hence the modem name ' Auctioneer,' 



" Hail be ye, hokesteres, dun by the lake, 

 With candles and golokes, and the pottes blak. 

 Tripes and kyne feet, and sheepes heads." 



. Harl. MS. date 1308. Prompt. Par. 252. 



