ARTS : LIBERALL AND MECHANICALL. 95 



of Champagne, whence they acquired the name of Valli-scholares, or Scholars of the Valley. Mr. 

 Hatcher adds, that the College at Salisbury, which was founded about 1260, derived its name, and 

 probably its system of instruction, from this community in France. J. B.] 



The consistorie of this church (Salisbury) was as eminent for learning as any in England, and the 

 choire had the best method ; hence came the saying secundum usum Sarum. Over every stall there 

 was writt hoc age. These old stalles were taken down about 1671, and now they sitt in the quire 

 undistinguisht, without stalles. 



But it was at the Abbey of Malmesbury where learning did most flourish in our parts, and where 

 most writers were bred, as appeares by Pitseus, Baleus, &c. 



MECHANICALL ARTS. Cloathing. [See also subsequent chapters on this subject.] At Salisbury 

 the best whites of England are made. The city was ever also famous for the manufactures of 

 parchment, razors, cizers, knives, and gloves. Salisbury mault is accounted the best mault, and they 

 drive there a very considerable trade in maulting. Also it is not to be forgotten that the bottle ale 

 of Salisbury (as likewise Wilton, upon the same reason, sc. the nitrous water) is the best bottle ale of 

 this nation. 



Malmesbury hath been an ancient cloathing town ; where also is a considerable manufacture of 

 gloves and strong waters. Also Troubridge, Calne, and Cliippenham are great cloathing townes. 



The Devises is famous for making excellent Metheglyn. Mr. Tho. Piers of the Swan did drive a 

 great trade in it. [See ante, p. 68.] 



Amesbury is famous for the best tobacco pipes in England ; made by .... Gauntlet, who markes 

 the heele of them with a gauntlet, whence they are called gauntlet pipes. The clay of which they 

 are made is brought from Chiltern in this comity. [See ante, p. 35.] 



In King James the First's time coarse paper, commonly called whitebrowne paper, was first made 

 in England, especially in Surrey and about Windsor. 



At Bemarton near Salisbury is a paper mill, which is now, 1684, about 130 yeares standing, and 

 the first that was erected in tin's county; and the workmen there told me, 1669, that it was the second 

 paper mill in England. I remember the paper mill at Longdeane, in the parish of Yatton Keynell, 

 was built by Mr. Wyld, a Bristow merchant, 1635. It serves Bristow with brown paper. There 

 is no white paper made in Wiltshire. 



At Crokerton, near Warminster, hath been since the restauration (about 1665) a manufacture of 

 felt making, as good, I thinke, as those of Colbec in France. Crokerton hath its denomination from 

 the crokery trade there ; sc. making of earthen-ware, &c. Crock is the old English word for a pott 



It ought never to be forgott what our ingenious countreyman Sir Christopher Wren proposed to 

 the silke stocking weavers of London, Anno Domini 16 , viz. away to weave seven paire or nine 

 paire of stockings at once (it must be an odd number.) He demanded four hundred pounds for his 

 invention ; but the weavers refused it because they were poor ; and besides, they sayd it would 

 spoile their trade. Perhaps they did not consider the proverb, that " light gaines, with quick returnes, 

 make heavy purses." Sir Christopher was so noble, seeing they would not adventure so much 

 money, he breakes the modell of the engine all to pieces before their faces. 



[This chapter contains many other remarks on trades, inventions, machinery, &c. similar in 

 character to the above. J. B.] 



