ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. 85 its fee-furm rent in consequence of its " poverty and ruined state."' In the later notices of the city I perceive few signs of any increased prosperity in this particuhxr branch of industry. The duties payable by weavers had fallen into disuse, when the citizens in the beginning of the reign of Henry VI. inspected the ancient records of municipal taxation, and " viso coninuini consuetudinario civitatis," revived the old charge of Is. per an. on every tapener who made *' chaloncs et keverlytis," which is stated to have been long unpaid. (Bl. Eook, f. 23. b.) I think it may be safely conjectured that this "commune consuetudinarium" was the very instrument of which a copy is now before us. In the fifteenth century, the city authorities seem to have become sensible of the necessity of inviting, instead of discouraging, the access and settlement of strangers within its walls, and to have relaxed their doctrines of exclusive dealing by giving to all merchants, etc. free liberty to buy, sell, and work within the city without the payment of toll or custom.^ In the reign of Henry VIII, an attempt was made to re-establish the favourite maxims of protection to domestic industry, and a convocation in 2 Henry VIII. forbade all strangers or aliens to sell any wares, except to freemen of the city." In the same reign, no person except a freeman was allowed to take an apprentice." In the previous reign a fine was imposed on all able citizens, who were unwilling to accept freedom. ^ It is plain that the manufacturing and commercial prosperity of Winchester was irrecoverably gone when this experimental and pre- posterous system of municipal legislation was adopted. "Free trade," " Organisation of labour," and "Protection of native talent," were all equally unavailing. The funds of the corporation failed. Its officers obtained compensation for the deficiency of fees by fixed salaries. The mayor was relieved from the burden of public breakfasts and " boromote bankets,"" and Winchester finally saw its favourite looms and cloth halls transfen-ed to more successful rivals. Of the different classes of weavers two are specified ; viz, the burellers and the tapeners. The former wove burcUs and the latter chalons which are mentioned, as we have seen, in connexion with coverlets. The word Tapinum is noticed by Ducauge, who supposes it to be a mistake for tapicium; but the word is probably the parent of the word tapenarius,ic occurs in other instruments besides the one before us. The looms are described as great looms for burells, and small looms for chalons ; and these small looms are again subdivided into turs looms and single looms, corresponding with the looms for great or double chalons, and the looms for small or single chalons respectively, mentioned in the inquest of Edward I. already referred to. I am unable to propound any authentic explanation of the Turs looms ; but I suspect them to be Turkish looms. The word may relate to the Turks or to Tours ; but as an article of cloth called Turkins is known in our old statutes,' and the " tapis de Turquie," is noticed by Ducange in ^ 49 Henry III., Madox's Exch., 231 ; ? Jh., fol. 58. Ord. 17 Henry VIII. and 13 & 14 Edward I., Ihid. » y^.^ fol. 46. Ord. 22 Henry VII. " See an ordinance, temp. Gylrayn, " Sec Black Book, temp. Edw. VI., mayor, 8 Henry VI., Black Book, fol. 28. fol. 83, and elsewhere.
- Black Book, fol. 51. > Stat. 1 Ilichai-d III., c. 8.
