The ^\(atural Hijlory 
ings^ puthimfelf on thinking of a nearer way : whereupon ha- 
ving obferved the contrivance of the flitches by unravelling a 
Hocking^ he deligned a Loom accordingly, which fucceeded fo 
well, that (with but fniall alteration) it remains the fame to this 
very day. 
1^8. And 'tis confidently vouched, that the for cut- 
ting of handles of Knives, we commonly buy cut into thofe va- 
rious figures^wzs firft inventedznd. prafticed here in Oxford by Tho- 
mas Piercer Cutler, whofe apprentice now practices the fame Jrt 
in London : But not with fo much accuracy as Robert Aider ano- 
ther Cutler of Oxford^who only by obfervance of the others work, 
andlongftudy, atlaft found it out alfo, and hath improved it 
much: which two laft, as I am informed, are the only two j^^er- 
fons that can do this in England^ perhaps I may f^y ith' World. 
Nor can I pafs by the Invention in the Coopers Trade, of making 
barrels without hoops, whereof 1 found a fpecimen in St. Ebbs 
Parifli Oxon. though 1 know the Invention belongs to another 
place, of which more when 1 come thither. 
169. Y ox Improvements^ 'tis certain that the BlanJ^eting trade 
of Witney is advanced to that height that no place comes tiear it ; 
fome I know attribute a great part of the excellency of thefe 
Blankets to the ahfterfive nitrous water of the River Windrufi where- 
with they are Ccoured, as was mentioned before, cap. 2^ §. 12. 
but others there are again that rather think they owe it to a pecu- 
liar way of loofe /pinning the people have hereabout, perhaps they 
may both concur to it : However it be, 'tis plain they are edeem- 
ed fo far beyond all others^ that this place has engroffed the whole 
trade of the Nationfov tKis Commodity:, in fo much that the wool 
fit for their ufe, which is chiefly /e// i^^oo// (off from Sheep-skins^ 
centers here from fome of the furthermoft parts of the Kingdom^ 
vir^ from Uumney-marjh^ Canterbury., Colchefier^ Norwich^ Exeter., 
Leicefier-, Northampton., Coventry.^ Huntington^ h'C, of which the 
Blanketers, whereof there are at leaft threefcore in this Tom^ that 
amongft them have at leaft i<o ^60/725-, employing near 3000 poor 
people, from children of eight years old, to decrepit old age^ do 
work out above a hundred packs of wool per week. 
170. This Fell wool they feparate into five or fix forts, viz^. 
long fell woolly head wooll bay wool., ordinary., middle^ and tailwooll : 
Longfellwooll iliQy {end to Wells., Taunton^Tiverton,,isrc. for ma- 
king 
