?'S BEITISH WOOL TJiADE. 



(43.) Regulations regarding Staples — The staple^ 

 or market for wool, was fixed by act of Parliament 

 (27 Edward 111.) in particular towns of England, but 

 was afterwards removed by law to Calais, and English 

 merchants were prohibited from exporting any goods 

 from the staple, or, in other words, foreign navigation 

 was abandoned. To the custom of taking subsidies 

 in kind, may be traced the principle of those multifa- 

 rious regulations wliich fixed the staple in certain towns, 

 either in England, or more commonly on the continent; 

 and to the fluctuating state of politics may be ascribed 

 the shiftings which those staples so frequently under- 

 went ; but it is not easy to see the drift of many of the 

 provisions relating to it, some of which tend to the bene- 

 fit of foreign, rather than of British, commerce. 



(44.) The progress which this manufaciure made ia 

 a very short period, may be well illustrated by the 

 following table of exports and imports in woollen, 

 about the middle of the fourteenth century, or twenty 

 years after the arrival of John Kemp and his establish- 

 ment. 



EXP0ET8. 



Thirty-one thousand, six hundred and 



fifty-one and a half of wool, at L.6 



value each sack, . . .€189,1)09 



Three thousand, thirty, six hundred 



and sixty-five fells, at 40s. value, 



each hundred at six score, . 6,073 1 8 



Whereof the custom amounts to . 81,6-24 1 1* 

 Fourteen last, seventeen dicker, and 



JC2 77,606 2 9 



