BOOK IV. VIEW OF THE NAVIGATION, COMMERCE, MAÑU- CHAPTER I. British, Saxon, and Danish Periods. 1. British Period.-Early Commerce of the Britons- Regard paid to the Shield, Weapons-Authorities -Character of the Anglo-Saxons, and their improv- - 1. Anglo-Norman Period.-Increasing Commerce of Chivalry-Tournaments - Sports and Pastimes, Hunting, Gaming, Religious Play's, Mysteries and Miracles, Inferior Sports-Food and Liquors Character of the Times-Oppression of the Jews, Treacherous Conduct towards them when they quit England.-2. Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries. Improved State of Commerce, Importa- tion of Wines, Protection of Dutch Fishery, Un- just treatment of Foreign Merchants, Laws of Eng- land concerning them, Establishment of Woollen Manufacture, Restraints on Trade, Imports and Exports, Foreign and British Merchants-English Shipping-Principal Ports traded with-English Manufacture of Woollen Cloth, &c. - Various Standards of Coin-Sports and Pastimes, The Tournament, Games of inferior Persons, Religious Plays and Pageants, Mummers and other per- formers, Character of ordinary Sports in the Fif- teenth Century, Wakes, Strange Exhibitions- Feastings and Cookery, Wines, Spices, Subtleties, Ancient State-Dishes, Ceremonies and Order of Meals, Cooks, &c. in Monasteries-Absurdities of PAGE CHAPTER III. ' From the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Century. Encouragement of Commerce by Henry VII.-Pro- posal of Columbus-Settlement of the Flemings in England, who engross the Trade-Commerce and Navigation under Henry VIII-Establishment of the Trinity Company-Coin-Maritime Discover- ies and Commercial intercourse under Elizabeth, Her Trade with Muscovy and Turkey, Conduct of the Hanse Merchants, her Navy-Reduction of the Coin-Commerce, Navigation, and Manufactures under James 1., Colonies-Trade under Charles I. and the Commonwealth-After the Restoration- Improvement of the Navy by James II.-Increase of English Manufactures-State of Coin-Autho rities-Gradual improvement of Manners in Eng- land, Pageants and Ancient Pastimes-Feasts and Household Arrangements-English Dress from ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN. CONTINUATION OF BOOK II. VIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT AND LAWS OF GREAT BRITAIN. CHAPTER I. LAW AND GOVERNMENT OF ENGLAND FROM THE ROMAN INVASION TO THE CONFIRMATION OF MAGNA CHARTA. 1.-Innovations and Changes effected by the Norman Government.-There never was a more rapid and extensive change than that which took place in the government of England, soon after the entry of the Normans; for, by force of arms and forfeitures, the consequences of ill-contrived revolts,-William I. soon became almost the sole VOL. II. A lord of the landed property of the nation, which gave him the power of introducing the Feudal System in its most rigorous form, to which he was attached both by habit and by policy. It is commonly supposed, that the institution of this system was derived from the military policy of the Northern nations, when a successful general bestowed portions of a subdued territory on his principal folowers, who again divided them into smaller parts with the inferior soldiers, whence they received their ancient names of Feuds, Fiefs, and Fees, or rewards. They were to be held, however, by taking the Oath of Fealty to the chief by whom they were granted, and doing him faithful service both at home and abroad. Before the arrival of William I., the lands of the Saxons were held chiefly in Socage or Burgage: that is to say, by a certain rent, or performance of certain services, either in husbandry or any others agreed upon, not military. On the invasion of the Normans, their leader having appropriated 1422 manors, with numerous forests, &c. for the support of the crown, he lavishly distributed to his followers the remainder of the country. Thus, to his nephew, Hugh de Abrincis, he gave the whole of Cheshire, to the Earl of Mortaigne, 970 manors, and 430 to Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, his half-brothers; whilst the Earl of Bretagne received 440, of Warren 298, Bigod 123, Gifford 107, of Clare 171, and Percy 119. These estates were now converted into Feudal Tenures, both towards the King as chief lord, and towards the Barons as inferior ones; thus establishing the ancient law maxim, that all lands were held directly or indirectly of the Sovereign. The distinction of these |