6^2 A. D. 1437. 



Brctagne exported fait, wine, creft cloth, and canvufs. The Bretons, 

 efpecially thofe of S'. Malo, were much addifted to piracy, and cared 

 very little for the authority of their duke. They ofren plundered the 

 eaft coafls of England, and levied contributions, or ranfoms, from the 

 towns. 



The exports of Scotland confifted of wool, wool-fells and hides. The 

 Scottifh wool, mixed with Englifh, was made into cloth at Popering and 

 Bell, manufaCiuring towns in Flanders. The Scottifli veflcls carried 

 home from Flanders mercery, haberdaihery ware, and even cart-wheels 

 and barrows. 



The exports of Prnjfia were beer, bacon, ofmunds, copper, fleel, bow- 

 flaves, wax, peltry, pitch, tar, boards, flax, thread of Cologne, fuftian, 

 canvafs, card?, buckram, and alfo filver purchafed from Bohemia and 

 Hungary. The returns from Flanders were woollen cloths of all colours. 

 And many of rhe Pruflians ufed to fail to the Bay of Bifcay for fait. 



The Genoefe, in great carracks, imported into England cloth of gold, 

 fiik, black pepper, woad in great plenty, wool, oil, wood-alhes, cotton, 

 roche-alum, and gold for paying their balances. They took in return 

 wool, and woollen cloth of all colours, which they fometimes carried to 

 Flanders, where the chief ftaple of their trade was. 



The Venetians and Florentbics imported into England, in large gallies, 

 all kinds of fpiceries and groceries, fweet wines, apes and other foreign 

 animals, and many trifling articles of luxury. In return they received 

 wool, cloth, and tin. The balance appears to have been in their favour; 

 for the author is much difpleafed, that 



' Thti bere the gold out of this lond, 

 ' And sowketh the thrifte out of our hond, 

 ' As the waspe sowketh houy of the be'.' 

 The Venetians were alfo dealers in exchange and lending money at in- 

 tcreft, which they found fo profitable, that, when they bought the Eng- 

 lifh wool on credit, they did not mind felling it at Bruges five per cent 

 under the coft, in order to have the comiuand of the money for lending, 

 till it flioidd fall due. They alfo ufed to travel to Cottwold and other 

 parts of England to buy up the wool, cloth, tin, &c. Thereupon the 

 author regrets, that they were not compelled to unload in forty days, 

 and to load in other forty, nor obUged to ad under the controul of an 

 hofl; or landlord-broker, as fcrmcrly, and as the Engiifli at Venice were 

 obliged to do *. 



In the marts or fairs of Bralnut the Engliih (and probably other for- 

 eigners alio) were obliged to fell their cloths, &c. in fourteen days, and 

 make their purchales, eonfifting chiefly of mercery, haberdalhcry, and 

 groceries, in as many'more, on pain of forfeiture. Thole fairs wc re 

 frequented by the Engiifli, French, Dutch (or Germans), Lombards, 



* Qu. Is there any earlier notice, equally authentic, of Englidimcn tradmg to Venice. 



