ALNAGER

ALNAGER, Aulnager, or AULNEGER, q. d. a Measurer by the Ell; signifies a sworn public Officer, who, by himself or Deputy, is to look to the Assize of woollen Cloth made through the Land, i.e., the Length, Width, and Quality thereof; and to the Seals for that purpose ordained.See ALNAGE, CLOTH, etc. There are now three Officers relating to the Alnage or Regulation of Cloth; all which were anciently comprised in one Person.—These bear the distinct Names of Searcher, Measurer, and Alnager. A Duty being imposed on woollen Cloths, for the Maintenance of an Office to look to that Manufacture, and the Loyalty, as they call it, of the Stuffs produced therein; the Alnager, who had the Direction of the whole, is now become only the Collector of that Duty or Subsidy granted to the King: though he still holds the ancient Denomination, because the Collection of that Subsidy was committed to him.—Nor was he abridged of his Measuring and Searching, till by his own neglect it was thought proper to separate the two Offices. So that there is now a peculiar Measurer, distinct from the Alnager, or Collector, to allow the Assize of the Length and Breadth of every Cloth made in England and Wales.