69 
Furs out of Fashion. 
which were written about the year 1300, may possibly 
be Topsell’s authority for his assertion as to the value of 
the sable. Describing the tents of some grand khan 
of Tartary, Marco Polo says :— 
“ Withinside they are lined with the skins of ermins and sables, 
which are the most costly of all furs; for the latter, if of a size to trim 
a dress, is valued at two thousand besants of gold, provided it be 
perfect, but if otherwise, only one thousand. It is esteemed by the 
Tartars the queen of furs. The animal, which in their language is 
named rondes, is about the size of a polecat.” ( Travels , ed. Marsden, 
1817, p. 344.) 
The following letter from the Muscovite Company in 
London to their agents in Russia, in 1560, shows that 
at that date foreign furs Avere already going out of 
fashion. The ladies of the period had, no doubt, exerted 
their influence in support of the development of British 
Avoollen manufactures: — 
“ The sables which you sent this yeere be very base. Among them 
all we could not make one principall timber. We have alwayes written 
unto you to send them that bee good or else none. The wolverings 
were indifferent, and some of the wolves; the rest verie base, the 
lusernes but meane, the lettes not so large skinnes as we have had: 
the best is, they were of a new death. As for the ermines, they cost 
more there with you then we can sell them for here. Therefore buy 
no more of them, nor of squirrels, for wee lost the one halfe in the 
other. The wares that we would have you provide against the 
comming of the shippes are waxe, tallowe, trayne oyles, flaxe, cables and 
ropes, and furres, such as we have written to you for in our last letters 
by the shippes : and from hencefoorth not to make any great provision 
of any rich furres except principal sables and lettes; for now there is a 
proclamation made that no furres shall be worne here but such as the 
like is growing here within this our realm. The sables that you doe 
mind to send to us let them be principall and fayre, and not past foure or 
five timbars; for they will not be commonly worne here as they have 
bin with noble men: and likewise of luserns send fewe and principal 
good.” ( Hakluyt's Voyages , vol. i. p. 342, ed. Evans, 1810.) 
A timber, or timmer, of sables, martens, or ermines, was 
a bundle of 40 skins; of other furs it included 120 skins. 
