ARTS: LIBERALL AND MECHANICK.
CRICKLAD, a market and borough town in this county, was an University
before the Conquest, where were taught the liberall arts and sciences,
as may appeare by the learned notes of Mr. Jo. Selden on Drayton’s
Poly-Olbion, and by a more convincing and undenyable argument out of
Wheelock’s translation of Bede’s History.
This University was translated from hence to Oxford. But whereas
writers swallow down the old storie that this place takes its name from
certain Greek philosophers, who, they say, began here an university, it
is a fond opinion.
[Aubrey here quotes Fuller as to the etymology of the names of
Cricklade and Lechlade. That author, on the authority of Leland, had
asserted in his Church History that the one was originally called
Greek—lade, and the other Latin—lade, from “two schooles, famous both
for eloquence and learning”, which existed there anterior to the
Conquest. But, on the report of his “worthy friend Dr. Peter Heylin,”
he afterwards stated in his Worthies that “Cricklade was the place for
the professors of Greek; Lechlade for physick (Leech being an old
English word for a physitian), and Latton, a small village hard by, the
place where Latin was professed.” It will be seen by the next sentence
that Aubrey disputes even the amended theory of Fuller, and, with more
probability, derives the names of the towns in question from words
indicating the natural features of the localities.—J. B.]
But, as the saying is, “Bernardus non vidit omnia”. Had the learned Dr.
Heylin (that is Hoelin, little Howell) had a little knowledge of his
ancestors’ Welsh, he would not have made such a stumble, and so forced
these etymologies; but would easily have found that Cricklad comes from
kerig, stones; and glad, a country; which two words give a true
description of the nature of the country on that side of Cricklad,
which is, as wee term it, a stone-brash. Likewise Lechlade, from llech,
plank-stones, or tile-stones. As for Latton, it may very well come from
laith, which signifies a marsh, and is as much as to say Marshton, as
there is a parish thereby called Marston. Hereabout are some few other
places which retain their British names with a little disguise.
Without the close of Salisbury, as one comes to the town from
Harnham-bridge, opposite to the hospitall, is a hop-yard, with a fair
high stone wall about it, and the ruines of an old pidgeon house. I doe
remember, 1642, and since, more ruines there. This was Collegium de
Valle Scholarum (College de Vaux). It took its name from Vaux, a
family. Here was likewise a magister scholarum, and it was in the
nature of an university. It was never an endowed college. (From Seth
Ward, Bishop of Sarum.)
[Some historical particulars connected with this scholastic
establishment or college will be found in Hatcher’s History of
Salisbury, pp. 50, 92, 232, &c. The author gives a different etymology
of its name to the above. Quoting Mosheim, cent. 13, p. ii. he states
that the Professors of Divinity in the University of Paris, in the year
1234, assembled their pupils and fixed their residence in a valley of
Champagne, whence they acquired the name of Valli-scholares, or
Scholars of the Valley. Mr. Hatcher adds, that the College at
Salisbury, which was founded about 1260, derived its name, and probably
its system of instruction, from this community in France.—J. B.]
The consistorie of this church (Salisbury) was as eminent for learning
as any in England, and the choire had the best method; hence came the
saying “secundum usum Sarum”. Over every stall there was writt “hoc
age”. These old stalles were taken down about 1671, and now they sitt
in the quire undistinguisht, without stalles.
But it was at the Abbey of Malmesbury where learning did most flourish
in our parts, and where most writers were bred, as appeares by Pitseus,
Baleus, &c.
MECHANICALL ARTS.—Cloathing. [See also subsequent chapters on this
subject] At Salisbury the best whites of England are made. The city was
ever also famous for the manufactures of parchment, razors, cizers,
knives, and gloves. Salisbury mault is accounted the best mault, and
they drive there a very considerable trade in maulting. Also it is not
to be forgotten that the bottle ale of Salisbury (as likewise Wilton,
upon the same reason, sc. the nitrous water) is the best bottle ale of
this nation.
Malmesbury hath been an ancient cloathing town; where also is a
considerable manufacture of gloves and strong waters. Also Troubridge,
Calne, and Chippenham are great cloathing townes.
The Devises is famous for making excellent Metheglyn. Mr. Tho. Piers of
the Swan did drive a great trade in it. [See ante, p. 68.]
Amesbury is famous for the best tobacco pipes in England; made by ….
Gauntlet, who markes the heele of them with a gauntlet, whence they are
called gauntlet pipes. The clay of which they are made is brought from
Chiltern in this county. [See ante, p. 35.]
In King James the First’s time coarse paper, commonly called
whitebrowne paper, was first made in England, especially in Surrey and
about Windsor.
At Bemarton near Salisbury is a paper mill, which is now, 1684, about
130 yeares standing, and the first that was erected in this county; and
the workmen there told me, 1669, that it was the second paper mill in
England. I remember the paper mill at Longdeane, in the parish of
Yatton Keynell, was built by Mr. Wyld, a Bristow merchant, 1635. It
serves Bristow with brown paper. There is no white paper made in
Wiltshire.
At Crokerton, near Warminster, hath been since the restauration (about
1665) a manufacture of felt making, as good, I thinke, as those of
Colbec in France. Crokerton hath its denomination from the crokery
trade there; sc. making of earthenware, &c. Crock is the old English
word for a pott.
It ought never to be forgott what our ingenious countreyman Sir
Christopher Wren proposed to the silke stocking weavers of London, Anno
Domini 16-, viz. a way to weave seven paire or nine paire of stockings
at once (it must be an odd number). He demanded four hundred pounds for
his invention; but the weavers refused it because they were poor; and
besides, they sayd it would spoile their trade. Perhaps they did not
consider the proverb, that “light gaines, with quick returnes, make
heavy purses.” Sir Christopher was so noble, seeing they would not
adventure so much money, he breakes the modell of the engine all to
pieces before their faces.
[This chapter contains many other remarks on trades, inventions,
machinery, &c. similar in character to the above.—J. B.]