These are the teeth of old men, and usefull to those of all ages. For, though some think themselves scarce Gentlemen with Knives, as good as they, conceive themselves scarce men without them, so necessary they are on all occasions. The most of these for com∣mon use of Country-people, are made in this County; whereof the bluntest, with a sharp stomack, will serve to cut meat, if before them. Sheffeild, a remarkable Market, is the Staple Town for this Commodity, and so hath been these three hundred years, witness Chaucer speaking of the accoutrements of the * 1.1 Miller.
A Sheffeld whitel bare He in his hose.
One may justly wonder how a Knife may be sold for one penny, three trades anciently distinct concurring thereunto, Bladers, Haft-makers, and Sheath-makers, all since united into the Corporation of Cutlers. Nor must we forget, that though plain-knife-make∣ing was very antient in this County, yet * 1.2 Thomas Mathews on Fleet-bridge London, was the first Englishman, who Quinto Elizabethae made fine Knives, and procured a Prohi∣bition, that no more ships-lading of Hafts should be brought from beyond the seas.