198 THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



(barrel staves), tonholtz (wood for tuns), bow staves (arrow shafts), 

 righoltz (rails or spars), bords (planks), delles (deals), renus (oars), 

 plyning bords (folding boards), masts, spars de firr (firewood spars)." 

 There would be a roll for London, and others for principal ports. The 

 one for the ports of the Humber — Hull, Grimsby, etc. — was in the Augmen- 

 tation Office, London, a centurj^ ago, and may now be in the Record Office. 

 In 1827 Charles First, F.S.A., published " notices relative to the early 

 historv' of the town and port of Hull," in which as an appendix he 

 printed this Hull and Grimsb}^ subsidy roll, saying : " It is a document of 

 singular interest as a mercantile record." The enrolment is in the Latin 

 of the period. " The number of wainscots landed is amazing, which, 

 with the low values, even with the then high value of money, suggest 

 thev were small in size." Elwes and Henry {op. cit. p. 342) quote 

 thus from a note in Hohnshed's Chronicles (vol. i. p. 357, ed. 1807) : 

 " According to Mr. J. C. Shenstone, Harrison of Redwinter in Essex, who 

 lived in the reign of Henry VIII. , was the author of this note: ' Of 

 aU oke growing in England the parke oke is the softest, and far more 

 spalt and prickle than the hedge oke. And of all in Essex that growing 

 in Bardfield Parke is the finest for joiners craft ; for oftentimes have I 

 scene of their workes made of that oke so fine and faire as most of the 

 wanescot that is brought out of Danske, for our wanescot is not made 

 in England. Yet diverse have assaied to deal with our okes to that end, 

 but not with so good successe as they have hoped, because the ab or juice 

 will not so soone be removed and cleane drawne out, which some attribute 

 to want of time in the salt water.'" It is therefore clear that at these 

 very early dates oak wainscot was imported into England. Elwes is in 

 some doubt about the meaning of " Danske," but there is little doubt 

 surely that it meant " Danzig." \\Tiat the words " spalt " and " prickle " 

 meant is doubtful, but it is likely that they relate to the kinder nature 

 of the timber. 



Of Danzig oak Laslett wrote : " It is of fair durability and is largely 

 used in the construction of the mercantile ships of this countr\% but only 

 sparingly for our ships of war, except for their decks, for which purpose it 

 is regarded as a specialite, as it stands well the wear and tear of gun- 

 carriages. For planking it is much esteemed, as the grain is straight, 

 clean, and almost free from knots. Further, it is so pliable and elastic, 

 when boiled or heated by steam, that it may be bent into the most 

 difficult of curved forms without showing any signs of fracture." The 

 use of this timber for shipbuilding has now, however, entirely ceased. 

 Moreover, it becomes each year increasingly difficult to obtain satisfactory 

 supplies, for the quality has deteriorated. The timber is now largely 

 used in the building of railway carriages and railway waggons. 

 [h) LiBAU Oak. See Riga oak. 



