APPENDIX, No. IV. 31 



It has been commonly aflerted, and generally believed, 

 that the woollen manufacture was introduced into England 

 by Edward III. but the fa£l is, that this manufadlure had 

 been always confidered in this ifland, from the days of the 

 Romans in it, as its chief and favourite manufacture. This 

 was fo much the cafe, that Gervafe of Canterbury, who wrote 

 about the year 1 200, found this manufadlure of fuch old 

 (landing in Britain, that no trace of its origin, nor tradition 

 concerning its introduction there, could be obtained. " The 

 art of weaving (fays he) feemed to be a peculiar gift beftowed 

 upon them (the people of Britain) by nature *." 



Madox, in his hiflory of the Exchequer, has alfo prefer- 

 ved many interefting faCls, which clearly prove that the 

 woollen manufacture was an old eftablifhed bufinefs, carried 

 on to a vaft extent, even in feparate departments, by nume- 

 rous and powerful guild fraternities, long before the time 

 our hiftorians have faid it was introduced into the country. 

 From thefe notices the following ftriking faCls are feleCted. 



Anno 1 140 (the 5th of King Stephen), he takes notice, 

 that 



** The weavers of Oxford pay a mark of gold for their 

 gild." 



** The weavers of London, for their gild, L.xvi." 



*< The weavers of Lincoln, two chafceurs, that they might 

 have their rights. *' 



" The weavers of Winchefter, one mark of gold, to have 

 their cuftoms and liberties, and right to eleCl the alderman 

 of their gild." And, 



" The fullers of Winchefter, L.vi for their gild f.'' 



Thus it appears, that weaving was at this time an old and 

 long-eftablifiaed bufinefs, carried on to a great extent by 

 guild fraternities eftablifhed in many and far diftant parts 

 of the country ; and that even the fubordinate department 

 of fulling was not only carried on as a diftinCt employment 



by 

 * Gerv. Chron. ool. 1349 f ATadox fiift. Exch. p. 33a, 



