^^6 A. D. 1 1 89. 



made againfl it, particularly in the council of Weftminfler in the 

 year 11 02, lEadmer, p. 68] was not entirely given up in the reign of 

 Henry II. Merchants, but apparently more frequently robbers and pi- 

 rates, exported flaves, who were partly trepanned, and were partly child- 

 ren bought of wretched parents, who were in great want. In the year 

 1 172 the refolution of the Irifli, who had hitherto been great purchafers 

 of Englifh flaves, to buy no more, and to fet at liberty thofe they had, 

 [Giraldi Camhr. Hib. exp. L. i, f. 18] gave a great check to that inhuman 

 trade. After that time, though there occur frequent notices of flaves 

 transferred from one proprietor to another *, and of the prices paid for 

 them, we do not, I believe, find them any longer mentioned as articles 

 of foreign trade. 



The other articles exported from England at this time, fuch as honey, 

 wax, cheefe, falmon, &c. were apparently trifling in quantity and value. 



Of the imports of England at this time, wine, produced in the king's 

 French dominions, formed a very conliderable part. Some woad for 

 dying, together with fpiceries, jewels, filks, furs, and other luxuries f , 

 confl:ituted the remainder. In years of fcarcity corn was alfo imported ; 

 and the flores of it colleded in London made that city be called the 

 granary of the whole kingdom. [W. Malmjb. Gejla pont. J^ 133 b.] 



All the goods imported into England, except wine, woad, and occa- 

 honally corn, were in demand only among the fuperior ranks ; and, 

 though they were fold at very high prices, they amounted to but an in- 

 confiderable fum upon the whole. On the other hand, the goods ex- 

 ported, being adapted to the wants of all the claflTes of mankind, were 

 in great and general demand : and thence there was a large balance in 

 fivour of England, which produced the abundance of filver remarked 

 by Henry of Huntingdon. But there is reafon to apprehend that much 

 of the money brought in by the commerce of the country was foon 

 taken out of the circulation of produdive induftry, and locked up in 

 die dead hoards of the great clergy and fome of the nobles. Roger 

 archbifliop of York died in 1181, poflefled of 11,000 pounds of filver 

 and 300 pieces of gold (' aurei'), befides a gold cup and a confiderable 

 quantity of filver plate. [A/. Paris, p. 140.] 



The great wealth of the kingdom, though perhaps very ill divided, 

 together with the policy of converting the king's fliare of the produce 

 of the crown lands, formerly paid in kind, into money rents, and the 

 great length of his reign, enabled Henry II to amafs fo much treafure, 

 that he could bequeath above forty thoufand marks of filver, and five 



* In the year 1195 tlic arclibidiop of Canter- f Of tliefe fomc fpccification may be found in 



bury gave ten flaves, as part of the' price of tlie Fitz-Stephen's defcription of London in thij reign, 



manor of Lambetli, to the prior of Rocheller. Sec above, p. 329. 

 IFadera, V. i, p. 89.] 



