WOOL. 55 



a time, ten of the provinces remained subjugated, but seven 

 achieved their independence, and became, under the name of 

 the Seven United Provinces, or Republic of Holland, one of 

 the most powerful nations of Europe. On the death of Philip, 

 in 1598, the subdued provinces enjoyed a kind of repose ; but 

 the commerce that made them powerful was gone, and all 

 their arts were in a state of decay. During forty years of 

 war and misrule, multitudes of artisans had migrated with 

 their families to other countries, and in an especial degree to 

 England, where they were received with sympathy and fa- 

 vour. It is supposed that about 50,000 of these unfortunate 

 refugees found shelter in England soon after the first inva- 

 sion of the barbarous Duke of Alva. They were settled in 

 all parts of the kingdom, and contributed to give that perfec- 

 tion to the English manufactures, particularly of the finer 

 stuffs, in which they were formerly deficient. This, in con- 

 nexion with the growing commerce of the country, extended 

 the woollen trade of England to every part of the world, and 

 made it be regarded as the most important department of 

 national industry. The illustrious De Witt, in lamenting 

 the destruction of the woollen manufacture of the Nether- 

 lands, first by injurious laws at home, and then by the cruelty 

 of the Duke of Alva, observes, that afterwards " The English 

 by degrees began to vend their manufactures throughout 

 Europe, and then they became potent at sea ; and he who is 

 powerful at sea is a lord at land, and more especially a king 

 of England. " 



During the reigns of the princes of the House of Stuart, 

 the woollen trade continued in a languishing condition. The 

 commercial legislation of this period, with respect to wool, 

 was marked by the spirit of monopoly and exclusiveness, a 

 short-sighted regard to little interests, a petty intermeddling 

 with the details of trade, and a jealousy of particular classes, 

 interests, and countries. The Dutch, then becoming a ma- 

 nufacturing as well as a trading people, were the subjects of 

 especial jealousy and dislike. They had become the princi- 



