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Cloth Manufacture,
Kendal
MR. URBAN, - You are entitled to many thanks for the
interesting paper in your last Magazine on the"Ancient
Commerce of Westmerland," including the history of the
woollen manufactures of Kendal, yclept Kendal cottons; and,
as the whole subject is capable of much further
illustration, I now offer to your notice a few observations.
I engage with the greater alacrity in an endeavour to
elucidate the early history of Kendal cottons becauseI am
just now gleaning fresh materials for a new edition of my
"Annals of Kendal."
The two points of interest more immediatley called in
question are, first, Whether the woollen manufactures were
introduced into Kendal so early as Edward III.? and how John
Kemp is idenitifed therewith? 2ndly. As to the "milk-white
cloth" worn by the Kendal bow-men at Flodden Field, and the
derivation thence of "White Hall."
Firstly, You ask on what authority John Kemp is declared to
be one of the founders of the woollen manufactures; and by
implication you inquire how I claim John Kemp for Kendal
when the Pictorial History of England, and some other
authorities, omit the mention of Kendal altogether?
In regard of John Kemp nothing more can be required than the
proofs I here forward you in the copy of the "Letter of
Protection" granted by King Edward III. to Johnn Kemp, as
translated from Rymer's Foedera, vol.ii. p.823.
A.D. 1331, 5 Edw. III.
On behalf of John Kempe, of Flanders, cloth weaver,
concerning the exercise of his craft.
The king to all bailiffs, &c. whom it may concern,
greeting. Know ye that whereas John Kempe of Flanders,
weaver of woollen cloths, hath come to dwell within our
kingdom of England for the purpose
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