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account of the condition of English agriculture at the beginning of
the fourteenth century：
'In the year 1327 Lord Spencer counted upon 63 estates in his
possession； 28；000 sheep； 1；000 oxen； 1；200 cows； 560 horses； and
2；000 hogs： giving a proportion of 450 sheep； 35 head of cattle； 9
horses； and 22 hogs to each estate。'
From this statement we may perceive how greatly； even in those
early days； the number of sheep in England exceeded that of all the
other domestic animals put together。 The great advantages derived
by the English aristocracy from the business of sheep farming gave
them an interest in industry and in improved methods of agriculture
even at that early period； when noblemen in most Continental states
knew no better mode of utilising the greater part of their
possessions than by preserving large herds of deer； and when they
knew no more honourable occupation than harassing the neighbouring
cities and their trade by hostilities of various kinds。
And at this period； as has been the case in Hungary more
recently； the flocks so greatly increased that many estates could
boast of the possession of from 10；000 to 24；000 sheep。 Under these
circumstances it necessarily followed that； under the protection
afforded by the measures introduced by Queen Elizabeth； the woollen
manufacture； which had already progressed very considerably in the
days of former English rulers； should rapidly reach a very high
degree of prosperity。（2*）
In the petition of the Hansards to the Imperial Diet； mentioned
in Chapter II； which prayed for the enactment of retaliatory
measures； England's export of cloth was estimated at 200；000
pieces； while in the days of James I the total value of English
cloths exported had already reached the prodigious amount of two
million pounds sterling； while in the year 1354 the total money
value of the wool exported had amounted only to 277；000 l。； and
that of all other articles of export to no more than 16；400 l。 Down
to the reign of the last…named monarch the great bulk of the cloth
manufactured in England used to be exported to belgium in the rough
state and was there dyed and dressed； but owing to the measures of
protection and encouragement introduced under James I and Charles
I the art of dressing cloth in England attained so high a pitch of
perfection that thenceforward the importation of the finer
descriptions of cloth nearly ceased； while only dyed and finely
dressed cloths were exported。
In order fully to appreciate the importance of these results of
the English commercial policy； it must be here observed that； prior
to the great development of the linen； cotton； silk； and iron
manufactures in recent times； the manufacture of cloth constituted
by far the largest proportion of the medium of exchange in the
trade with all European nations； particularly with the northern
kingdoms； as well as in the commercial intercourse with the Levant
and the East and West Indies。 To what a great extent this was the
case we may infer from the undoubted fact that as far back as the
days of James I the export of woollen manufactures represented
nine…tenths of all the English exports put together。（3*）
This branch of manufacture enabled England to drive the
Hanseatic League out of the markets of Russia； Sweden； Norway； and
Denmark； and to acquire for herself the best part of the profits
attaching to the trade with the Levant and the East and West
Indies。 It was this industry that stimulated that of coal mining；
which again gave rise to an extensive coasting trade and the
fisheries； both which； as constituting the basis of naval power；
rendered possible the passing of the famous Navigation Laws which
really laid the foundation of England's maritime supremacy。 It was
round the woollen industry of England that all other branches of
manufacture grew up as round a common parent stem； and it thus
constitutes the foundation of England's greatness in industry；
commerce； and naval power。
At the same time the other branches of English manufacture were
in no way neglected。
Already under the reign of Elizabeth the importation of metal
and leather goods； and of a great many other manufactured articles；
had been prohibited； while the immigration of German miners and
metal workers was encouraged。 Formerly ships had been bought of the
Hansards or were ordered to be built in the baltic ports。 But she
contrived； by restrictions on the one hand and encouragements on
the other； to promote shipbuilding at home。
The timber required for the purpose was brought to England from
the baltic ports； whereby again a great impetus was given to the
British export trade to those regions。
The herring fishery had been learned from the Dutch； whale
fishing from the dwellers on the shores of the Bay of Biscay； and
both these fisheries were now stimulated by means of bounties。
James I more particularly took a lively interest in the
encouragement of shipbuilding and of fisheries。 Though we may smile
at his unceasing exhortations to his people to eat fish； yet we
must do him the justice to say that he very clearly perceived on
what the future greatness of England depended。 The immigration into
England； moreover； of the Protestant artificers who had been driven
from Belgium and France by Philip II and Louis XIV gave to England
an incalculable increase of industrial skill and manufacturing
capital。 To these men England owes her manufactures of fine woollen
cloth； her progress in the arts of making hats； linen； glass；
paper； silk； clocks and watches； as well as a part of her metal
manufacture； branches of industry which she knew how speedily to
increase by means of prohibition and high duties。
The island kingdom borrowed from every country of the Continent
its skill in special branches of industry； and planted them on
English soil； under the protection of her customs system。 Venice
had to yield （amongst other trades in articles of luxury） the art
of glass manufacture； while Persia had to give up the art of carpet
weaving and dyeing。
Once possessed of any one branch of industry； England bestowed
upon it sedulous care and attention； for centuries treating it as
a young tree which requires support and care。 Whoever is not yet
convinced that by means of diligence； skill； and economy； every
branch of industry must become profitable in time that in any
nation already advanced in agriculture and civilisation； by means
of moderate protection； its infant manufactures； however defective
and dear their product