348 A. D. 1 1 89. 



their predeceflbrs. Anketil, a monk of S'. Albans, about the begin- 

 ning of the twelfth century, was lb famous for his works in gold, filver, 

 gilding, and jewelery, that he was invited by the king of Denmark to 

 fuperintend his works in gold, and to be his banker, or money-changer. 

 A pair of candlefticks made of filver and gold, and prefented by Ro- 

 bert, abbat of S'. Albans, to Pope Adrian IV, were fo much efleemed 

 for their exquifite workmanfhip, that they were confecrated to S'. Peter, 

 and were the principal means of obtaining high ecclefiaftical diftind;ions 

 for the abbay. Neither were the Englifh ladies of this age lefs famous 

 for their works in embroidery than thofe of the Anglo-Saxon race. 

 The fame abbat alio fent the pope a prefent of mitres and fandals mofl 

 wonderfully embroidered by the hands of Chriftina, priorefs of Margate. 

 {M. Paris, Vita, pp. 59, 71, 73.] More examples of the fuperiority of 

 the Englifh m.ale and female artifis in thofe branches might be produced, 

 if it were neceffary. 



As flax and hemp are enumerated by the council of Weflminfler in 

 the year 1175, along with corn, wine, the increafe of animals, wool, 

 cheefe, and all other things annually reproduced, as iubjed to the pay- 

 ment of tithes, it appears that fome flax and hemp were cultivated, 

 which could only be for the purpofe of making cloth and cordage. 

 [Gervas. Dorob. col. 1431.] The cultivation of them was probably in- 

 troduced, or at leafl became fo general as to attrad the notice of the 

 clergy, after the conqueft ; for they are not included in the lift of tith- 

 able articles made out in the fourth year of William the Conqueror : 

 but, on the other hand, the profits made by mills and by merchandize 

 (' negotialionibus'), which are charged then, \_Knyghton, col. 2356] are 

 now omitted. 



May 7"' — Frederic emperor of Germany, at the requeft of Adol- 

 phus earl of Schowenborch, gave a charter to his (Adolphus's} citizens 

 of Hamborch, granting them a free paffage for their fliips and men from 

 the fea to their city, without paying any toll or ungelt, or any impofition 

 whatever in coming or returning ; but with a condition, that the goods 

 of ftrangers, brought in their vefTels, fhould pay duty to the emperor at 

 his city of Stade*. He grants them an exemption from all exadions in 

 the whole diftricl belonging to the earl, and the right of preventing any 

 perfon from building a caftle within two miles of their city, with the 

 right of fifhing in the Elbe two miles above, and two miles below, the 

 city. Alio any perfon, delirous of exchanging money in the city, might 

 do it in any place moft convenient, except before the money-houfe : 

 and the community had authority to examine the weight and ftandard 

 of the money ifllied by the coiners f. The charter alfo exempts the 



* StaHe is fuuated at the moutli of a fmall as liigh as this town. \_Helmoli!i Chr. Slavorum, 



river running into the foulh-weft fide of the Elbe, L. i, c. 15.] 



below Hamburgh. About the year I coo, the f That 1 n-iay not be accufed of negledling fo 



Danidi pirates plundered the banks of the Elbe important an objeft in commercial hiitory as the 



* f'Ji 



