LINEN. 557 



of the sixteenth century this material is extensively used for 

 shirting and surplices, in later times it appears to be employed 

 for towelling, for napkins, and similar objects. I have noted, 

 between 1589 and 1681, the earliest and latest of my entries, 

 sixty-three years in which this article is priced. With the 

 exception of one year, 1600, when it costs 22s. the dozen at 

 Cambridge, the price does not go above 1 9^. 6d. or below 1 is. 9 

 and is generally at about 1 $s. An average of the whole number 

 of entries, the price declining at the close of the time, is almost 

 exactly i$s. $d. 



There are four entries of buckram. I find nothing which 

 shows that it was the stiffen ed material with which we are at 

 present familiar. The average of the four entries is 155-. 6d. 



I have found Dowlas fifteen times. The price varies very 

 much. In 1658 I have found it, described as broad, at 34^. 

 the dozen, in 1660 it is purchased at los. 6d. In 1631 Caryll 

 buys it at 33*. In 1645 Cambridge buys it in large quantities, 

 apparently for table-linen, at 13^. 9^., while New College 

 gives 15^. I conclude that the difference of price lay in the 

 breadth of the material. The price is most commonly at 

 almost i6s. Towards the end of the period huckaback is 

 found; in 1698 at ijs. the dozen, in 1702 at 40*., when it is 

 described as fine. Tufted canvas is found in 1598 at 28^., 

 in 1649 at 19*. $d. a dozen. 



In 1621 and 1626 red cotton is quoted at 2$s. and 2os. the 

 dozen. It was probably bought for lining, as is also the blue 

 linen of 1598 at i6j., and purple linen at 13^. in 1673. Bed- 

 ticking, or tyke, is bought in 1631 at 14^., in 1654 at 2is. t in 

 1663 at 195. 3^. the dozen. 



In the earlier years, especially at King's College, Cambridge, 

 whose rents were largely received in kind by that corporation, 

 sacking is frequently purchased by the bolt. I conclude that 

 this quantity contained about twenty-four yards or ells, for the 

 average price is nearly i is. 6d. The sack generally contained 

 four bushels. Sacking by the yard or ell costs on an average 

 of thirteen entries about Ss. the dozen. 



I 



