7 Hoe ee Crass I. 
manufactures among the Britains, in the hiftories 
of thofe times. | “Ne 
On the coins or money of the Britains are feen 
imprefied the figures of the horfe, the bull and the 
hog, the marks of the tributes exacted from them 
by the conquerors*. The Reverend Mr. Pegge 
was fo kind as to inform me that he has feen 
on the coins of Cunobelin that of a fheep. Since that 
is the cafe, it is probable that our anceftors were pof- 
feffed of the animal, but made no farther ufe of 
it than to ftrip off the fkin, and wrap themfelves 
in it, and with the wool inmoft, obtain a comfort- 
able protection againft the cold of the winter 
feafon. 
This neglect of manufacture, may be eafily 
accounted for, in an uncivilized nation whofe wants 
were few, and thofe eafily fatished; but what is 
more furprifing, when after a long period we had 
cultivated a breed of fheep, whofe fleeces were fu- 
perior to thofe of other countries; we ftill negleét- 
ed to promote a woollen manufacture at home. 
That valuable branch of bufinefs lay for a con- 
fiderable time in foreign hands ;° and we were obili- 
eed to import the cloth manufactured from our own 
materials. There feems indeed to have been many 
unavailing efforts made by our monarchs to pre- 
ferve both the wool and the manufacture of it a- 
mong ourfelves: Henry the fecond, by a patent 
* Cambden, 1. Preface. cxili, 
granted 
