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NOTES ON SOME WILTSHIRE MERCHANTS' MARKS. 



By T. H. Baker. 



The Rev. J. A. Lloyd, late Vicar of Mere, 1 made a collection of 

 Merchants' Marks, with the intention of writing a paper on the 

 subject.but being prevented by illness, has handed over the material 

 for publication in this Magazine. Although the list of those 

 relating to Wiltshire is by no means exhaustive, yet it forms a 

 valuable nucleus for a complete collection, containing the greater 

 part of those existing in the southern part of the county. Mr. 

 Lloyd says " The practice of each merchant to affix a distinguishing 

 mark to his bales of goods was necessary, when people could 

 neither read nor write, but they would be able to recognise a mark. 

 These marks were in general use in the thirteenth, fourteenth' 

 fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. They often exhibit the cross 

 and banner of the Agnus Dei ; sometimes a monogram seems to be 

 intended. They were formed under no fixed rules, the marks 

 really depending upon the fancy of the merchant. They were 

 used by the better class of shopkeepers, and not confined to 

 foreign traders or owners of vessels, and they were hereditary, a 

 distinguishing difference being taken by various branches of the 

 family. Merchants placed their marks upon their houses and on 

 shields in Churches, as in Mere, Wilts, and they are to be found 

 amongst the coats of arms of those promoting the restoration of 

 Churches. This is noticed in " Piers Plowman's Creed " in the 

 fourteenth century: — 



Wyde wyndowes y-wrought 



Y-wryten ful thikke, 



Shynen with shapen sheldes, 



To shewen aboute, 



"With markes of Merchauntes 



Y-medeled betwene. 



Mo than twentie and two 



Twyse ynoumbbred." 



1 The Society is indebted to the Rev. J. A. Lloyd for the kind gift of the 

 three blocks illustrating this paper. 



