PllOHlBITORY ENACTMENTS. 



45 



dad not the democratic hands employed in those manu- 

 Tiiotories repeatedly revolted, owing to their determi- 

 nation to resist a tax on looms, and being at length 

 punished and dispersed, found their way in no long 

 Ume to Holland. While in the last place, the spirit 

 of sedition still being dominant, certain of their party 

 attacked and killed some of the civil authorities, for 

 which they had to make a precipitate flight to England, 

 where they settled as peaceful citizens, and instructed 

 our people in the working of wool. This occurred in 

 1420, from which time neither skill, money, nor enact- 

 ments, have been spared to enable us to retain so valu- 

 able a trade. In the reign of Edward IV., every pack 

 of English wool was liable when exported to a custom 

 of 50s., a goodly sum in those days, and one which 

 brought a yearly revenue of L 250,000. This exces- 

 sive custom, almost amounting to a prohibition, added 

 to the above mentioned opportunities, in a manner 

 compelled the people to manufacture for themselves, 

 and in this they succeeded so well, that by the time 

 of Elizabeth, the exportation of live sheep and wool 

 was prohibited on pain of having the right hand struck 

 off. It does not appear that this enactment was ever 

 repealed, though supposed to be so by the 12th of 

 Charles II. cap. 32, see. 3, which, without taking 

 away the penalties imposed by former statutes, imposes 

 a new penalty ; — 20s. for every sheep exported, or 

 attempted to be exported, together with the forfeiture 

 of the sheep. 



(50.) Severity of prohibitory enactments reprobated. 

 —By the 14th of Charles II. chap. 18 the exporta- 

 tion of wool was deemed felony, and punished accord- 



