5 and 6 Edward
VI., that trade was confined to Norwich, and all other corporate
and market towns in the country."

"About that time (says a _History of Trade_, published in 1702) we
suffered a great herd of French tradesmen to come in, and
particularly hat-makers, who brought with them the fashion of
making a slight, coarse, mean commodity, viz. felt hats, now called
_Carolinas_; a very inferior article to beavers and demicastors,
the former of which then sold at from 24s. to 48s. a piece."

In the _Privy-Purse Expenses of Henry VIII._, we read, under the date
1532:--

"Item the xxiij day [October] paied for a hatte
and a plume for the King in Boleyn [_i.e._
Boulogue] ... xvs."

And again--

"Item the same day paied for the garnisshing of ij
bonetts, and for the said hatte ... xxiijs. iiijd."

These entries are curious, as the purchase of the hat was made in a
foreign country. It was probably something that took the King's fancy,
as we can hardly suppose that his majesty had neglected to provide
himself with this necessary appendage before he left England.

Several interesting notices concerning hats, and apparel generally, may
be seen in Roger Ascham's _Schoolmaster_, 1570, which I do not remember
to have seen quoted; but the literature of this period abounds in
illustration of costume which has been but imperfectly gleaned.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

* * * * *

EXTRACTS FROM OLD RECORDS.

If you think the insertion of scraps from the mutilated Exchequer
records useful, I shall be most happy, from time to time, to contribute
a few. The following are extracted from fragments of a book of entries,
temp. Charles I.: the book appears to have been a large folio, and each
leaf torn into at least four pieces. It is much to be regretted that the
work of selection and mutilation was not assigned to more competent
persons than the ignorant porters who I am told were entrusted with it.

ROBERT COLE.

_Fragment dated 1640._

John de Critz, Serjeant Painter, p't of
2158. 13, for a debt in the great
wardrobe 60 0 0
{ 200 0 0
S'r James Palmer, Kn't, for the Tapestrie { 362 10 0
makers and painters at Mortlach { 300 0 0