CHANGE IN THE QUALITY OF WOOL 81 



the pre-eminence, with Leominster as the centre of its trade. 

 " Lemster ore " was the equivalent of the " golden fleece " of the 

 ancients, and poets compared the wool for its fineness to the 

 web of the silk- worm, and for its softness to the cheek of a 

 maiden. 



During the Tudor period, a change was passing over the wool 

 trade, which may have influenced the labour troubles of the period 

 as well as the policy of land-holders. As enclosures multiplied, 

 sheep were better fed, and the fleece increased in weight and length, 

 though it lost something of the fineness of its quality. In other 

 words, the wool was less adapted for the manufacture of broad- 

 cloth. The old pastures were also wearing out. During long and 

 cold winters, if the sheep is half-starved, the fleece may retain its 

 fineness, but it loses in strength. There also was a deterioration 

 in the quality of short wool. How far these considerations may 

 have influenced pasture-farming is necessarily uncertain. But it 

 is at least a coincidence that, in spite of the increase in the number 

 of sheep, there was, in the early years of the Tudor period, con- 

 siderable distress in the clothing trade. As the reign of Elizabeth 

 advanced, the great development of home manufactures provided 

 a remedy. The newly established Merchant Companies opened up 

 fresh markets abroad for English cloth. At the same time France 

 and the Low Countries, distracted by civil or religious wars, ceased 

 for the moment to be our rivals in the trade. English broad- 

 cloths were exported abroad in increasing quantities. The suspen- 

 sion of continental manufactures checked the exportation of English 

 long wool. But again the religious troubles of the Continent 

 relieved the situation. Foreign refugees settled in England, bring- 

 ing with them secrets in the manufacture of worsted, light woollen 

 stuffs, and hosiery, for all of which English wool was specially 

 adapted. 



Thus England was once more growing prosperous, and farming 

 shared in the general prosperity. As the reign advanced, agri- 

 cultural produce rose rapidly in price. The rise no longer depended 

 on those fluctuations in the purity of the coinage, which had been 

 so frequent that no man knew the real value of the coin in which he 

 was paid. For a time the influx of silver had cheapened the precious 

 metals, diminished their purchasing power, and so created dearness. 

 But the great expansion of trade gradually absorbed the new 

 supply of silver. The later rise in agricultural prices was due to 



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