A COMMERCIAL DAY BOOK 27 



Before the close of the 16th century the Dutchmen, who 

 were respected for their honest dealing and great industry, 

 had " attained to a far greater substance than any of the 

 markets of the town." The trade with Spain was much 

 reduced by the war with that country in 1739, and very soon 

 after the trade had in a great measure moved to the West 

 Country and the North, where living was cheaper and coal 

 plentiful. By 1784 the Dutch workers had all left the trade, 

 many having become merged in the native population. An 

 old Bag and Sag factory now an almshouse exists at 

 Dedham, but of " Bag " or " Sag " I was told that a sample 

 or two of a few inches square is all that remains in some 

 Museum of the actual old stuff. 



One shipment by Mr. Richards, of 52 pieces of Colchester 

 Bags, p. " Rose " galley, Abraham Le Mesurier, Master 

 comprised " scarlets in grain, whitened, Emerald greens 

 Reds, Blacks, Yellows, and deep Blews, Scarllet and Striped, 

 and flowered Calamaucos (a glossy woollen stuff much used 

 in the 18th century), comprising some of ' the very choicest 

 of Norwich.' ' Other manufactures were " women's scarlet 

 and men's short black hose," mixed serges of Exon, men's 

 short knitt Guernsey and women's Jersey hose, and Rowling 

 Guernsey hose, to name only a few of Mr. Richards 's dealings 

 in woollen manufactures. 



Next to wool the most valuable import was that of wine 

 in the various qualities of Sherry or Xeres, Tents, Red 

 Galician, which seems to have been allied to Red Port, Canary, 

 Moinitani Malaga, &c. The Import duties were very heavy, 

 amounting to half and sometimes as much as 2-3rds of the 

 gross selling price on landing. Tavern keepers were large 

 buyers, taking as a rule two to twelve butts at 25. Among 

 the Taverns named are " The Salutation " at Billingsgate, the 

 " Sun," Milk Street, the " Fountaine " in the Strand, the 

 " Dolphin " in Tower Street. 



Oil was an important item ; one account is for 156 Butts 

 and 73 hhds. and an ullage of Seville Oyle, value 4,540, and 

 110 gallons, sold to the trade in various quantities from 1 



