WOOLLEN CLOTHS. 575 



In 1323 a large towel is bought, perhaps a jack or round towel, 

 for y. Again, table-cloths are purchased at is. $d. in 1319, 

 and at iod. and 4^. in 1344. 



WOOLLEN CLOTHS. The interpretation of the various kinds 

 of woollen cloths and stuffs is attended with great difficulty, 

 and in many cases I can do little more than guess at the 

 meaning of the various entries. Many of these woollen stuffs 

 are of foreign, some are manifestly of English origin. 



Imported woollen stuffs were liable to certain Customs 

 duties, exacted under the inspection of a body of officials 

 called c aulnagers,' who were empowered to demand certain 

 fees. In fulfilling their duty to the Exchequer, these 

 persons were entrusted with another office, the significance of 

 which was relative to the purchaser, for the aulnager certified 

 that the cloth which passed through his hands fulfilled the 

 conditions of the statute. 



The most important enactment by which these imported 

 commodities were regulated is that of 27 Edw. III., which 

 prescribed that the pannus of coloured cloth should contain 

 26 yards in length, measured by the crest (far le dos\ and 

 should be 6\ quarters broad ; and that Ray cloth should contain 

 28 yards in length, measured by the list (far le llste}^ and 

 should be 6 quarters broad. But it is clear, from numerous 

 entries, that the pannus, when purchased for consumption in 

 England, measured 24 yards in length. 



Of the various kinds of woollens, the cheapest appear to be 

 those which are known by the names of c bluett,' c russet,' and 

 'blanket.' In the former of these, however, two qualities at 

 least may be traced. The second appears to have been almost 

 uniformly an inferior article; but the third is the cheapest 

 of all. The first two terms point to the colour of the stuff, 

 blanket being undyed stuff. It seems that sometimes russet 

 is understood to be cloth made from black wool. 



Bluett is quoted by the yard, and by the pannus or piece; 

 and is generally a cloth of very superior quality when it is 

 reckoned in the latter form. Thus a piece of this cloth 



