The administration of the ulnage and subsidy on woollen cloth between 1394 and 1485 : with a case study of Hampshire

The purpose of this work has been to examine the ulnage records that have survived between 1394 and 1485. The work identifies the classes of records which are available and evaluates them. Having made a general survey of the records, those for Hampshire have been considered in more detail. The study shows that records survive which give insight into the administration of this early excise duty and into the use that was made of the revenue raised. It identifies uses to which these records may be put. It therefore rejects the general condemnation of the ulnage records which arose from work by Eleanor Carus-Wilson, while accepting her conclusion that some of the later Particular records are of little use.The study of the records, that show who held the office of ulnager and who were the recipients of the money which they collected, are topics which have not been systematically examined before. They cast light on sub-sets of society normally too significant to attract attention outside local studies. In addition, an analysis has been made of the people who paid ulnage fees and it has been shown that the wooden cloth trade was dependent on external financing in addition to internal sources of finance.