16 REINHOLD PAULI, 



apprentishode vvithovvt any consideiacion of the welth of the lioll reame, 

 that in kyng Edwardes dayes the wolle that Godde yerly gaff to Eng- 

 land by werke of housbondry, receyvyng clothyng with bodily levyng, 

 was not able to suffise the nomber of Staplers, which than was encresed, 

 that sought in the reame to have staple wolle oon before a nother^), Than 

 begane the Staplers to enhaunce the price of wolle, and oon to bye wolle 

 before a nother begane to giff rewarde to fermours and to ther wifFes 

 to have wolle oon before a nother. By reson so many Staplers daily 

 encreasyng somoch, the more wolle sought they daily to bye, as no mer- 

 chaunt can bye withowt merchaundisez, wher than by meane of so many 

 Staplers occupieng so moche the more quantite of wolle, reysing the price 

 of wolle, caused wolle to be the scarser and derer to the clothraakers. 

 So the more Staplers , that caridd the more staple wolle owt of the reame 

 to Caleis, daily encreasyng the more quantite of wolle ther to seile, causid 

 the lesse quantite of wolle remaynyng than in England to the use of 

 the clothraakers. Yitt that tyme that begynnyng of distruccion of the 

 reame was not espied , for than the first marte in the Loo countreis a 

 this side Almaigne was holden in Brügge in Flaunders, when all nacions 

 first resorted most comonly theder. That tyme Londoners hadde füll 

 recourse theder and gate riches plentuously , before so great nomber of 

 adventurers than was not encreased as after was and now is. As all 

 inordinate companyes made by mens wisdome , encreasyng into syngler 

 weale, distroyeng comon weale, hath but a beeng and endyng for a cer- 

 tayn age, induryng swiche owt of a right contrary Goddes ordinancie 

 cannot endure, like as no thyng under the sonne is of it seif ever after 

 but as vanyte. 



At that tyme of kyng Edwarde^) Londoners begänne to pay costu- 

 raes to the kyng by bryngyng straunge merchaundisez into the reame from 



1) Schon 1476 galten sie als schlechte Zahler: marchauntes of the Estaple 

 whyche at a prove ye shall fynde per case so slakke payers, that ye myght be de- 

 seyvyd ther by. I knowe dyverse have lost mony er they cowde gete ther dywtes 

 owte off the Staple. Pasotn Letters, ed. J. Gairdner III, 166. 



2) IV. 1461—1485. 



