144 TRADE AND MARKETS. 



year, 6 Rich. II, cap. 8, under which foreigners were allowed 

 to import in default of English ships being in foreign ports. 

 The 4 Hen. VII, cap. 10, a new Navigation Act, provided that 

 no wine or Toulouse wads could be imported to England, 

 Wales, Calais, and Berwick-on-Tweed, except in English ships, 

 on pain of forfeiting the cargo. English produce too was to 

 be exported in vessels of similar origin. This Act had been 

 renewed by 23 Hen. VIII. Still the mercantile marine needed 

 fostering, and the expedient which Henry's government de- 

 termined on, was to issue a scale of charges for freight. 

 These charges on different kinds of goods, as they varied with 

 place and distance, give an account of the principal articles 

 of export. The Act says nothing about the freight of wool, 

 but provides for the price which shall be paid for the carnage 

 of woollen cloth to various ports. The cost of freight consists 

 of a variable sum for carriage, and two other items called load- 

 manage, which appear to be the same as the labour of storage, 

 and primage. 



The rate of freight from Flanders to London, with which 

 country the principal part of the foreign trade was carried on, 

 was in three quantities, the fardel, which was to be carried ac- 

 cording to size and bargain made with the shipper at 20^., i6s., 

 i$s. 4d., los.j and 8^., the maund, which was to vary from 

 6s. 8d. downwards, and the fat at the same rates. The case 

 of velvet containing 14 pieces was to be carried for 5^., a 

 bale of sayes six feet high for $s., a bale of fustian or camlet 

 for is. 8d., a bale of Cologne hemp or thread for 2s., a bale of 

 madders or almonds for 2^., a bale of currants for 3^. 4^., a 

 barrel of nails (it will be seen that Flemish nails became a 

 frequent article of use) at 2J., a chest of trussing, of sugar, 

 and a ton of iron at the same rate. A bag of pepper and 

 a hogshead of prunes and dates at is. 8d., a hundred-weight 

 of hops at 6d., a flasket of soap at 4^., and a piece of Brasel 

 at id. 1 



These various articles, not being all the produce of Flanders, 



1 Trussing is a package of various goods. Brasel is a kind of red dye. 



