DEFINITE COMMERCIAL POLICY 79 



been in the hands of foreigners. Elizabeth followed and developed 

 the commercial policy of England, which first assumed a deliberate 

 continuous shape under Henry VII. Foreign traders were dis- 

 couraged, and English merchants favoured. The Hanseatic League 

 lost the last of its privileges ; the Venetian fleet came to England 

 less and less frequently, and at last ceased altogether to fly its 

 flag in the Channel. The import of manufactured goods was 

 checked. The export of raw material and of English sheep was 

 narrowly restricted, though long wool, as the staple of a great trade, 

 was still sent abroad freely. The Government realised to the full 

 all the abuses of patents and monopolies ; but they did not hesitate 

 to grant both privileges in order to stimulate native enterprise. 

 Companies were formed with exclusive rights of trading in par- 

 ticular countries. The oldest and most powerful of these Companies, 

 the Merchant Adventurers, obtained a royal charter in 1564. The 

 Muscovite, Levant or Turkey, Eastland or Baltic, and Guinea or 

 African Companies were formed to push English trade in foreign 

 parts. In 1600 the East India Company was chartered. The 

 mercantile marine was encouraged by fishery laws, which gave 

 English fishermen a monopoly in the sale of fish. Men who argued 

 that abstinence from meat at certain seasons was good for the 

 soul's health risked the stake or the rack ; but, for the sake of 

 multiplying seamen, the Government did not hesitate to ordain 

 fast-days on which only fish was to be eaten. 1 To foster the home 

 manufacture of cloth, it was made a penal offence for any person 

 over the age of six not to wear on Sundays and holy days a cap 

 made of English cloth. Stimulated by such methods, trade throve 

 apace, and English goods were carried in English-built ships, owned 

 by Englishmen, and manned by English seamen. While foreign 

 merchants were discouraged, foreign craftsmen, especially religious 

 refugees from France or Flanders, were welcomed as settlers, 

 bringing with them their skill in manufacturing paper, lace, silk, 

 parchments, light woollens, hosiery, fustians, satins, thread, needles, 

 and in other arts and industries. 



The English wool trade was restored to more than its former 



1 The rule of eating fish twice a week was continued from Catholic times ; 

 but a third day was added by Elizabeth from motives of " civile policy." 

 " Accounting the Lent Season, and all fasting daies in the yeare, together 

 with Wednesday and Friday and Saturday, you shall see that the one halfe 

 of the yeare is ordeined to eate fish in " (Cogan, Haven of Helthe, ed. 1612, 

 p. 138). 



