A kind of low-priced woollen stuff

Thomas Boys« Meaning of  Cadewoldes »Notes and queries: a medium of enter communication for literary, Londres, Bell & Daldy, Second Series, vol. 8, juillet-décembre 1859, p. 98.

Meaning of « Cadewoldes »– Perhaps you will accept of a conjecture, which is offered with the hope that other correspondents may be able to contribute something more definite. Mr. Rilet is inclined to think that by «  cadewoldes » a kind of prepared wool is meant; and there are some considerations which decidedly favour this opinion. Caddis was a coarse article in common use, – worsted ribbon used as trimming for servant’s dress, or woollen stuff ( Halliwell and Wright); and to caddis corresponds the Fr. Cadis, a kind of low-priced woolen serge (« sorte de serge de laine d’un bas prix, » Landais). Again, wolder is an old East-country word, signifying to roll up. May not « cadewoldes » then have been the woollen (serge or stuff) rolled up into bales? Cadi-woldes, literally woolen bales, i.e. bales of woollen stuff.