18 



enough, but rather discordant when you approached too near 

 the performers." It seems curious to discover in this remote 

 part of the kingdom, the continuance to this day of the primitive 

 method of fulling cloth as it was practised in York in the 14th 

 century. 



As to the extent of the population of the city at this period, 

 the materials are too scanty to lead to any safe or satisfactory 

 conclusion. One or two facts may be stated which will perhaps 

 form a basis for some calculation on the subject. During the 

 first half of the reign of King Edward III., viz., from 1327 to 

 1352, the aggregate number of citizens inroUed was 1760, 

 giving an average of about 70 per annum. During the second 

 half of the same reign, viz., from 1352 to 1377, the aggregate 

 nimiber was 2350, being an average of 94 per annum. Now, 

 during the 75 years which elapsed between the accession of 

 King George III. and the year 1834, ^ the average number of 

 freemen admitted was not more than about 100 per annum ; and 

 it must be taken into account that, whilst in modern times a 

 considerable number of non-residents were inrolled as citizens, 

 there can be no doubt that in the infancy of the municipality, 

 none were admitted to the franchise but such as were, and 

 intended to continue, resident members of the community. 



The following list of those who were inrolled in the year 

 1272 (1st Edward I.), will exhibit the manner in which the 

 population of the city was increased by a gradual supply from 

 the towns and villages in the immediate neighbourhood : for, if 

 the opinion of Camden be correct, that the use of surnames was 

 not generally adopted by the mass of the people until the reign 

 of Edward II., the names of the towns attached by the prepo- 

 sition de to the Christian names of these new citizens must be 

 taken to denote the places of their birth or previous residence : — 



In the time of John le Specer, Mayor. 



Thomas de Fulford, cordwainer. 

 Robertus de Clifton, pelliparius. 

 Galfridus de Knapton. 



1 The population of the City of York in 1831 was about 25,000. 



