144 The Animal-Lore of ShaJcspeare’s Time. 
heard of a sheepe in Buckingham-shier in the flock of the L. P. that had 
shorne from it at one time, one and twentie pound of wood. After the 
shearing of our sheepe, we doe not use either to annoint or wash 
them, as they doe in other nations, but turne them foorth without 
their fleeces, leaving them like meadowes new mowen, with expecta¬ 
tion of another fleece the next yeare.” (Page 624.) 
The number of sheep reared in the country rendered 
the employment of the wool in various manu¬ 
factures a matter of national importance, and 
protection was resorted to in order to secure the monopoly. 
The introduction of felt hats interfered to a great extent 
with the sale of the woollen caps that had been previously 
worn. Accordingly, the cappers, or knit-capmakers, of 
England applied to Parliament for relief, and in 1571 
obtained a law purporting—- 
<f that every person above seven years of age, should wear, on Sundays 
and Holidays, a cap of wool,knit, made, thicked, and dressed in England, 
and dressed only and finished by some of the trade of cappers, on the 
forfeiture of three shillings and four pence for every day so neglected 
to be worn: excepting, however, out of this act, maids, ladies, and 
gentlewomen, and every lord, knight, and gentleman, of twenty marks 
in land, and their heirs; and also such as have born office of worship 
in any city, town, or shire, and also the wardens of London Companies.” 
(Anderson, Origin of Commerce, p. 135.) 
Notwithstanding this extreme measure, the superiority of 
the felt hats obtained for these articles an easy victory. 
They were lighter, stronger, more ornamental, and afforded 
greater protection against wind and rain, and in a few 
years knit caps were only to be seen in remote parts of 
the kingdom. 
In consequence of the diminution of religious disputes 
in England, and the continuance of the like dissensions 
abroad, artisans of all kinds were induced to come to this 
country for security during the reign of Elizabeth. Hence 
fresh impulse was given to the woollen trade, which had 
languished under this queen’s predecessors. Several 
towns near the coast, such as Norwich, Canterbury, 
