EFFECTS OF THE CONQUEST OF EGYPT. 657 



entries are from the expenditure of opulent persons. Nor do 

 I doubt that the price of this article was during this period 

 everywhere in England at such rates as my entries represent, for 

 I am sure that it would have been found for occasional feasts 

 given at the visits of distinguished persons, if the price had not 

 been considered too extravagant for prudent purchase, and too 

 much to expect from any host, however grateful, expectant, or 

 anxious he might be. Between 1490 and 1510 it rapidly declines. 

 In 1495 and 1503 it is about 2s. <)d. the dozen. After the con- 

 quest of Egypt these later prices are more than doubled. 



Sugar was manufactured (Vol. I, p. 147) at Sicily, Cyprus, 

 Crete, Amorea, Marta, but especially at Alexandria, for the 

 last place is named as its origin. I make no doubt that an 

 industry had been developed in Egypt, to the great con- 

 venience of Western Europe, in this article, and that the 

 produce had been rapidly cheapened. The conquest of Egypt 

 annihilated both manufacture and trade, and left Europe 

 dependent upon other and minor sources of supply, till such 

 time as the passage round the Cape became familiar and con- 

 venient. But this new traffic was developed slowly. It is 

 possible, sometimes easy, to ruin centres of trade, it is very 

 hard to establish new entrepots. In the sixteenth century, for 

 instance, Englishmen spoke with pride of Milford haven as the 

 finest in the world, and predicted for it a great future. But 

 the creation of a considerable trade at Milford haven is still a 

 prediction 1 . Similarly the growth of commerce by the Cape 

 was very slow, and the merchant's venture very precarious 

 for some time after the period with which these volumes close. 

 It was probably owing to the block of the last remaining 

 channel of ancient and medieval commerce that an attempt 

 was made to establish a caravan trade through Central Asia 

 to Astrachan, and thence by the Volga into Eastern Europe, 

 and that Edward VI in 1553 sent Willoughby on his unlucky 

 voyage to Archangel. 2 



1 Coke's ' Debate between the Heralds,' p. 102. 



2 See Vol. I, p. 626 

 VOL. IV. U U 



