The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-25

chic, ~ not the only capitalists Of the Norman
and Angeyip period, Il IL evident that the i'm
portance OF their relations to the English COM
munity can scarcely be overestimated; for the
Crown had the power. by bringing pressure to
bear upon the jews. OF causing something like
q financial crisis at any moment. Mr. Hubert
Hall. who discusses the subject in the volume
before u.s. is convinced that the influence
which the Jews pxerted upon English COM
mercs in the thirteenth century was OF beneht
to the civic population. for the reason that
they served as n sort OF buffer between the ma
tive traders and the dominant landed interest.
The victims OF their usury were almost always
the improvident landowners whose feudal
turbulence had been the greatest drawback to
the prosperity OF the country. 1t was In the
interest Of the Indebted landowners that the
Jews we're finally expelled. measure which
may also be regarded as n desperate expedient
on the part OF the Crown to compel its feudal
tenants TO contribute me ore literally to Its ne
cessities: since. Jewish creditors having for
feited their abandoned estates TO the Crown.
pressure could be put upon their Christian
debtors to dis sharge outstanding obligations.
The m manufacturing progress OF the thirteenth
century cannot. on the whole. be regarded as
very considerable. The national wealth was
still measured by the welfare OF the landed in
forest Native enterprise and adventure toiled
painfully In the wake OF the free cities OF the
continent: indeed. down to the eve OF the In
dustrial revolution in the eighteenth century.
the textile fabrics for which England had long
enjoy cd the highest reputation. were petty In
iustries supplemsnting tho national occupa-
ton Of agriculture. the gathering OF the
harvest OF the sen, and the feverish
quest OF the treasures hidden In the
earth. But. although We should vainly
seek in the thirteenth century or long after
a TO- nj NJ EnCliah mi n ufactur-
ing coin parable with those Of the great factories
OF Florence there is no doubt that there was
su ficient skill in the textile arts to satisfy the
demands OF the bulk OF the population. The
clothing OF all the lowly and most middle
class hou SO holds was man ufactured at home.
though this might be supplemented on rare
occasions by the purchase. at one OF the great
fairs. OF the fine cloth imported from Flanders
and Italy or OF that substantial product OF the
Anglo Flemish looms. tho cloth OF assze.
manufactured by tho weavers guilds In
nearly all thu great towns Of England.
For the most part. howeber. the village crafts
answered all the wants OF the villagers In
| every hamlet wool and hemp were ready to
Hand for a score OF spindles. and the stout
| yarn produced could be woven into coats and
| shirts which needed not. In the eyes OF their
wearers. tho Embellishments OF scarlet grain.
| or Flemish madden. The great mobiles hung
the Kings officers stretched them on benches
or on their exchoquer table; but tho churl and
| william the monk and sometimes the franklin
| wore them on their backs. The village tanner
| and bootmaker supplied long gaskins OF soft
| leather for SUCH as needed more protection for
| their feet than homemade sandals. The
| professiona hunter OF wolves cats. or offers.
| and oven the humble mole catcher supplied a
| head covering to those who did not go bare
ID 49, Nl.a
| textile arts. we find a smith In every village
and possibly a carpenter. for the construction
| Of ploughs and carts Even the ropes Of hair
| or hemp which formed tho chief part OF their
| harness were home made. For the building
| OF a church or castle indeed carpenters and
! masons were imported from distance. like
| the stone and shingles and lead with which
| they work ed but the peasant erected his own
| wattled cabin. Just as the sherifTs men built
the local Jail with saplings from the
Kings forest. The mill, which was under the
| lords control. was another instance OF
sef.sufficinR industry. Here all the tenants
| were virtually compelled to grind their
! corn, and O mill was consequently q paying
| concern from the date Of Domesday survey
down to comparatively modern times 1t does
| not appear that even in the towns. manufae-
| turing was very extensive during this period.
| We do find. however. In them considerable
! population OF artisans. including weevers.
| fullers. bakers. and cordwainers. The most
skilful artisans were OF Flemish extraction.
| The colds miths were in high repute. but artis-
| tic metal work. like armor. seems to have been
| usually imported. We read. nevertheless. OF n
| shield maker at York ami OF a saddler who
was fneI Tor selling arms to the Kings enc
mics In 1l73. and. slightly earlier. merchan ts
OF Gloucester were forbidden to equip
the English Adventures for the conquest OF
Ireland. In the reign OF John appears u list OF
naarly thirty towns In which trade In dyed
cloths had been carried on for half a century.
Il Is plain, indeed. that tho arrangements OF
the medieval shop were made with view to
manufacturing on the premises the dwelling
chamber beln: the upper story over All apar-
| ment used as II workshop. while tho goods were
exposed for sale on q bench beneath the over
hanging porch 1t was . feature Of these urt an
Industries that the respective crafts were
brought together. each in a distinct quarter OF
the city. an arrangement that facilitated the
close supervision exercised by tho guild on
GERS over the quality and workmanship oil
their wares.
v.
That the advent OF the NormAns produced q
vast improvement In manners, morals. and
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