Legal Definitions - ulnage

Ulnage is an archaic legal term that refers to the official inspection, measurement, and taxation of woolen cloth. Historically, an appointed officer, known as an alnager or ulnager, was responsible for examining cloth to ensure it met specific quality and size standards, and then levying a duty or tax upon it. This process was crucial for maintaining quality control in the textile trade and generating revenue.

• Example 1: Quality Assurance and Measurement

  Imagine a cloth merchant in 15th-century London preparing a large consignment of woolen broadcloth for export to continental Europe. Before the shipment could be legally sold or leave the port, an official ulnager would arrive at the merchant's warehouse. The ulnager would meticulously unroll and inspect each bolt of cloth, checking for defects, verifying the weave quality, and precisely measuring its length and width against the statutory standards of the time. Only after this thorough inspection, confirming the cloth met all requirements, would the ulnager apply an official seal, signifying that the cloth had passed the necessary ulnage process and was fit for trade.

• Example 2: Taxation and Revenue Collection

  A historical record from a medieval English borough might contain entries detailing "ulnage collected" from various weavers and drapers within a specific quarter. These entries would represent the duties or taxes paid to the Crown or the local lord for each piece of woolen cloth that had been officially inspected and approved for sale. This illustrates ulnage as a significant source of revenue, where the act of quality and measurement inspection was directly linked to a compulsory payment, contributing to the public coffers.

• Example 3: Enforcement of Trade Standards

  Consider a dispute arising between a buyer and a seller of cloth in a historical market. The buyer might allege that the woolen fabric purchased was not of the promised quality or that its length was significantly shorter than agreed. In such a scenario, the local ulnager could be called upon to perform an official re-inspection and measurement of the disputed cloth. The ulnager's findings, based on the established standards of ulnage, would be legally binding, determining whether the cloth met the required specifications and if the seller had complied with trade regulations.