52 A. D. 1517- 



brought about in feveral kingdoms and flates of Europe. That great 

 event has proved very beneficial to thofe countries wherein proteflant- 

 ifm has been firmly eftablifhed ; fince, by fupprefling the idle drones in 

 the convents, and putting a flop to the great fums annually remitted to 

 Rome, and carried to other parts for pilgrimages, &c. their people are 

 more increafed and more profitably employed for the general benefit, 

 and their money, before fo unworthily diflipated, is now employed in 

 trade and commerce. Much more might be faid on this fubjed, to 

 Ihow the many benefits which have accrued to thofe feveral countries 

 which embraced the reformation of religion ; but as thefe general re- 

 marks may be fufficient for our prefent purpofe, we fhall leave our 

 readers to fupply the reft, as their feveral inclinations fhall diredt them. 



151 8. — On May-day 151 8, there was a fhameful riot (fays Hall in his 

 life of king Henry VIII, p. 62.) committed by the London appren- 

 tices, fervants, watermen, and priefls, againft foreigners, by pulling 

 down, and rifling their houfes, &c. The complaints againft them were, 

 ' That there were fuch numbers of them employed as artificers, that 

 the Englifh could get no work : That the Englifh merchants had little 

 to do, by reafon the merchants-ftrangers bring in all filks, cloths of 

 gold, wine, oil, iron, &c. that no man almoft buyeth of an Englifh- 

 man : They alfo export fo much wool, tin, and lead, that Englifh ad- 

 venturers can have no living : That foreigners compafs the city round 

 about, in Southwark, Weftminfter, Temple-bar, Holborn, St. Mar- 

 tin's (le Grande), St. John's ftreet, Aldgate, Tower-hill, and St. Ca- 

 therines ; and they foreftal the market, fo that no good thing for 

 them Cometh to the market, which are the caufes that Englifhmen 

 want and ftarve, whilft foreigners live in abundance and pleafure : 

 That the Dutchmen bring over iron, timber, and leather ready ma- 

 nufadured, and nails, locks, bafkets, cupboards, ftools, tables, chefts, 

 girdles, laddies, and painted cloths *.' Dr. Bell's Spital fermon on 

 Eafter-Tuefday, had greatly increafed the people's jealoufy of foreign- 

 ers. I faw, faid John Lincoln (the chief inftigator of the people), on 

 a Sunday this Lent, 600 foreigners fhooting at the poppinjay with crofs- 

 bows. This riot was over by dawn of day, called Evil May-day. Se- 

 veral of thofe rioters were hanged, and the king pardoned the reft. 

 The pretended crimes of thofe foreigners were probably their working 

 cheaper, and being more induftrious than our own people, whole ex- 

 clufive privileges within the city kept the foreigners in thofe out-parts 

 above named out of the freedom ; thereby getting much of the trade, 

 &c. from the freemen f . 



A treaty was now concluded between king Henry VIII and Francis I, 



* Thefe actufations throw fome h'glit on the riot is given by Stow, who dates it in 15 17, in liis 

 commercial condition of I^ondon at this time. Annales, p. 84^, cJ. 1600 ; Survey of L'liiJuii, 



f A very circiiniRautial account of tin's great p. i^i,ed. 1618. M. 



