32 A P P E N D I X, No. IV. 



by individuals, but had alfo attained to fuch a magnitude, as 

 to be creeled into a feparate guilds and all this two hun- 

 dred years at leaft before the days of Edward III. the fup- 

 pofed introducer of the woollen manufafture into Eng- 

 land. ^ 



That the art of dying was carried on by a gmldry^ I have 

 not been able to learn, though it is highly probable 5 but 

 that it was carried on as a feparate, honourable, and lucra- 

 tive bufinefs, is clearly proved by the following faft that 

 incidentally occurs in the fame author. 



*« Anno 1 201, David the Dyer pays one mgrk, that his 

 manor of ■ may be made a burgage *." 



That fome adequate notion may be obtained of the mag- 

 nitude and importance of the woollen manufacture in thofe 

 days, when compared with others, I fliall feledt from the 

 fame author the following fadls, by which the reader may 

 compare the wealth and power of the weavers and the bakers. 



" Anno 1 150. The weavers of London {land charged with 

 ui marks of gold for the farm of their gild for two years j 

 the bakers of ditto, with one mark and vj ounces of gold." 



*' Anno 1 164. The weavers of London rendered L.xij 

 per annum for the farm of their gild ; the bakers of ditto, 

 li.vj per annum f." 



In both thefe cafes, it Is obfervable, that the gild of 

 weavers pay precifely twice as much as that of the bakers ; 

 "which proves in a moft convincing manner, that it muft 

 have been at that time a very great and flourifliing manu- 

 fac^ure, indeed the flaple of the country, as no other gild 

 paid fb much in thofe days. 



Other notices prove that the woollen manufacture was 

 then carried on to a very great extent, and that the fale of 

 cloth had even been a great bufinefs, and of old {landing, at 

 this early period. Thus, 



" Anno 1 140. The men of Worcefler pay C fhilllngs, 



that 



• Mad. Hift. Exch. p. 37?. f lb. p. ajZ, 



