THE SHEER 
55 
WOOL. 
What, it may well be asked, did the wool-growers hope for by forcing up the price of wool by such expedients ? To the 
mere occupier of the land a forced rise of the raw material could only be beneficial during a passing term. On the termination 
of the lease, the benefit would go to the owner of the land in the shape of increased rent. Thus, in order to raise the rent of 
land, the wool-growers were prepared to lay a tax on every consumer of wool, that is, on every individual in the kingdom, and to 
cripple the trader in his means to maintain his equality in the foreign markets. It is known that, in these times, the great danger 
to the manufacturing prosperity of the country, is the progress of other nations in those arts in which we have hitherto excelled, 
and that our relative superiority in such arts can only be maintained by our being enabled to supply the productions of them on 
the cheapest terms ; and granting that the wool-growers could, by means of an ill-judged monopoly, have forced up for a time the 
price of the native wool, would they not thereby have abandoned a yet more safe and permanent means of effecting the end, 
namely, that which would have resulted from increasing the demand for the manufactured commodity ? The injurious measure 
contended for was, however, happily resisted, never, it is to be trusted, to be brought forward again; and the trade of wool, by 
being thrown open to the world, has been placed on a far surer foundation than if it had been made to rest on the narrow and 
insecure basis of monopoly and restriction.* 
The woollen trade of England has been cherished by the laws from early times, and has been long regarded as a main branch 
of the industry of the country. The Homans extended and perfected the arts of spinning and weaving in Britain, as in other of 
their provinces, and taught the natives to clothe themselves after the Homan fashion. They established factories, of which that 
at Winchester was long distinguished. But the garments and woollen fabrics of the people were for the most part spun and 
woven by themselves, under that system of domestic manufacture which is the first in order of time in all rude countries. The 
employment of spinning and weaving was chiefly devolved on females, whence the term Spinster, which has been in use from time 
immemorial. Edward the Elder, who died in the year of our Lord 925, married, we are told, the daughter of a shepherd or 
countryman of mean rank ; and being desirous that his children should have a princely education, “ he sette his sons to scole, and 
his daughters he sette to woll werke, takyne example of Charles the Conquestour.” f 
In the succeeding times of the Norman princes, the state of the woollen trade is made known to us by the records of customs, 
subsidies, fines, and fiscal regulations. Wool formed the chief revenue of the prince, and the subject of continued exaction on the 
people. Sometimes the woollen subsidies were paid in kind, but more generally in heavy duties laid upon the sale or exportation 
of the wool. In these early times the raw material alone was exported. It was carried chiefly to the Low Countries, where it 
was manufactured into cloths and worsted stuffs by the Flemings, then become the great weavers of Northern Europe. These 
industrious people maintained their superiority in the woollen manufacture for many ages, and during this period acquired that 
wealth which enabled them to render their country the most populous and fruitful in Europe. Their chief dependence for the 
raw material was on England, which alone could supply them in the due quantity with the wool which their innumerable looms 
required. They returned the manufactured commodity at a high price ; and yet the trade was mutually beneficial, and calculated 
to advance the industry of the ruder, as well as the more cultivated people. But Edward III., soon after his accession to the 
crown, resolved to wrest the woollen manufacture as much as possible from the Flemings, and establish it at home. He encouraged 
the resort of foreign artisans to England ; and, availing himself of certain discontents in Flanders, he invited over weavers, dyers, 
fullers, and others, and established them in different parts, affording them protection and privileges. He caused it to be enacted, 
that all merchant strangers and denizens might buy and sell within the realm, freely and without interruption, and that all 
foreign cloth makers should be received from whatever foreign parts they came. To encourage the home manufacture he even 
resolved to prevent the exportation of English wool, and the importation of foreign cloths. At a parliament held in March 1337, 
it was enacted that no wool of English growth should be transported beyond sea, and that none should wear any cloths made 
beyond sea. But this statute soon gave in to the exigencies of the exchequer, and the temptation of imposts, licenses, and fines. 
This prince has been regarded as the great founder of the manufacturing prosperity of England,—with what justice, let the 
records of his exchequer, and the complaints of his harassed subjects, declare. He bestowed his favour upon the woollen trade, it 
is true, but merely as an engine for extorting money ; and in no previous reign had the exactions on this part of the industry of the 
country been more grievous. We are amazed at the sums he drew from forced subsidies, customs, fines, and otherwise. On one occa¬ 
sion having, without the sanction of Parliament, and contrary accordingly to Magna Charta, laid a heavy impost on all wool sold 
within the kingdom, the Commons agree to give him 30,000 sacks of wool for his relief, on condition that he should keep to the cus¬ 
toms ordained by law ; and the Lords, after humbly praying “ that the great wrong set upon wool be revoked,” offer him in return the 
* Author's Remarks on Wool. 
t Fabian's Giron. 
