SACK AND SAIL CLOTH. NAPKINS. 555 



There are, however, other measures. The bolt is used for 

 sackcloth and for sail canvas. In the case of sackcloth, the 

 bolt is said to contain (Vol. Ill, p. 477, i) 24 yards, a quantity 

 which fairly, even closely, agrees with the price. In the case of 

 sail canvas the bolt contains 50 yards (Vol. Ill, p. 478, iv), a 

 quantity which agrees with the price paid for sails from 1561 

 onwards, where the bolt and the piece (see Vol. Ill, p. 491, i) 

 are apparently identical. There are occasions in which it is 

 difficult to interpret the piece. 



Under the year 1415 there is an entry of Irish linen by the 

 stany at 3^. In 1500, 1504. 1505, and 1506 the Sion nuns buy 

 stanyn by the piece apparently of the dozen ells at prices 

 between js. 4d. and 8s. 8d. each. Probably it is the same as 

 the stamyn at the same place in 1494. In 1502 (Vol. Ill, 

 p. 502, iii) ' stanyn ' is bought at ^d. the yard. 



Another measure, peculiar with one exception to lawn (this 

 is an entry of sackcloth in 1447, where the quantity is apparently 

 a yard), is the plygth, playte, plyth, or plique. Lawn is of ex- 

 ceedingly various value. Described as fine, it is bought by this 

 measure at los. %\d. in 1467, while the year before it is bought 

 for icd. In 1482 this quantity cost 2s. and 6s., three-quarters 

 of an ell in 1485 being at the rate of 4^-. In 1507 the plyt costs 

 8d. This is the last entry. 



In 1548 and 1549 sail-cloth is bought by the fardel, or rather 

 half fardel ; in the former year at 8oj., in the second at 75^. the 

 half fardel. The fardel appears to consist of 175 ells, and 

 apparently of three bolts or pieces. 



In the earlier years the ' crest ' appears to be a recognised 

 quantity. It costs is. Jd. in 1410, is. $\d. in 1411, is. ^d. 

 in 1437. Later on the article is purchased by the ordinary 

 measure. 



Napkins are frequently, particularly in later times, bought by 

 the dozen. They are generally described as diaper, this being 

 on the whole the dearest kind of linen cloth. The earliest 

 instance of such purchases by number is in 1496. After a time 

 it becomes universal. Table-cloths also in the later years are 



