Wilts Notes and Queries. 379 
the art and mystery of cloth-making, which by statute they ought 
to be,] but, contrary to the laws, do let the seal to farm unto 
clothiers that have mills, in their own hands; whereby infinite 
abuses and deceits in cloth-making are committed.” 
“The Alnager and Sealer neglect the execution of their office, in 
that they do not make due search of every cloth made, to be 
measured both length and breadth, being wet from the mill, and 
before they be set upon the rack to be dried ; but suffer the clothiers, 
having the seal at farm and in their own custody, to set to the seal 
before the cloths be measured accordingly. And thereby great 
defect in cloth making encreaseth. 
“The Alnager executeth not his office, in that he causeth [not ?] 
every clothier to set to his seal of lead unto every of their cloths 
and kerseys, in which seal the true and just length of every cloth 
and kersey should be contained ; but suffereth the clothier to put 
the Alnager’s seal without controlment, or survey that the cloth be 
ordered accordingly to the intent of the laws. Whereby such 
letting of the seals to farm, deceit in clothmaking aboundeth, and 
the Alnager forfeiteth his office.” 
“Therefore,—Peter Blackborough deferreth [proposeth] in 
recompence of all his charge, time, and travail, to be Alnager and 
Sealer in the said three counties; who, being expert [acquainted 
with the trade] will not only execute the office duly, but also pay 
£20 more yearly for every county than heretofore hath been paid.” 
[About the period in question, or at any rate a little previously, Devizes and 
Beckington had a name for blankets, termed in medieval Latin, blanchetti, 
from their whiteness, in the same manner as blue and scarlet cloths bore the 
epithets of bluetti and cochinelli.] 
J. WAYLEN. 
Brrraprace or Prrr.—William Pitt first Earl of Chatham was 
long supposed to have been born at Old Sarum, and in this belief the 
editor of Seward’s Anecdotes published an engraved view of the old 
Manor house! there, as the spot signalised by that occurrence. 
1 Mawarden Court, the Manor House of Stratford sub Castro, a house which 
(as suggested by Mr. H. J. F. Swayne) very probably takes its name from the 
Mawardyn family, one of whom appears as Sheriff in 1389 and 1394, It has long 
been the property of the Deans of Salisbury, frequently held on lease by different 
. 
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