The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-25

lures were then few and simple, being confined.
for the most part. to isolated communities. Tho
fine arts and works in metal aud ombroideries
were known only to tho monastcrics. which also
imported such commodities. The immense min
cral wealth of tho island in iron and coal was
left practically untouched. The great mass OF
tho population was engaged In agriculture, and
every man had, so to speak, II stake In tho
land, and belonged to n manor or an overload.
A landlcss man was altogether outside tho palo
OF social life. Land. IN fact, was the basis OF
everything, and IL Is for this reason that 1t is so
important to understand the conditions OF tenure
and the whole land system Of that age. Trade,
both internal and foreign, was small in the Anglo
Saxon period. though 1t gradually expanded
Ms tho country became moro pcaceablc and
united. Unqucstionably trade of all kinds had
suffered u severe blow when tho Roman quilted
Britain, but even after the Saxon conquest Eng
lish merchants still carried on a limited amount
OF foreign This was
greatly stimulated by the Danish inva-
sions and settlements. II is n curious
fact that many OF the names OF towns
and places on the coast OF Britain have Scandi-
navian forms-for instance, those terminating in
ness. rick, and dy. The inference has bcendrawn
that English maritime trade, not only In tho
Danish districts, but even outside them. was
mainly In tho hands OF the Northmen. This is
not surprising when VIC remember that the
Danes, before ever they came to England, were
most cnterprising navigators, ms is shown by
their very early with Russia and the
East, their colonization OF Iceland "a. d.. s7I
and their discoveries OF Greenland "a. ID. 1851
and the cast coast OF North America. Though
they were cruel and savage pirates, they wero
traders also. and. when they had settled
down. as. they did In such largo numbers in
the north and east of England. they formed an
active. industrial. and mercantile population.
and often became merchants Of great impor-
lance. To the Danes also may be traced the be-
ginnings OF some English towns. since their mer-
chants required fixed centres for their COM
mercc. Besides this, they were instrumental in
causing IL development of English trade with the
north of Europe. and, in general. they gave a
needed stimulus TO navigation, which the Saxons,
for some unaccountablc reason. neglected as
soon as they found new homes in England. A
sign OF Danish influence is seen in the DOOM"
or decree. probably OF the tenth century,
which provided that "if a merchant thrives
SO that he fare thrice over the sea by his own
means. then is he OF theign right worthy :
this theign right gave him q comparatively high
rank. The settlement Of German merchants in
London, which likewise points to an increasing
continental traffic. dates from the time OF Ethel
red the Unrcady. about A. d. 1000 Much of
lIlS bEtlRh lEhut, butl al u vac hHi ~ Nti
tainly was not very great. lay in the quantities
OF precious metal and stun for embroideries
which were imported for use in the monasteries.
A list OF such imports is given by the merchant,
who is supposed to speak in Aelfric'S Saxon Ola
logue.' He mentions purple. silk. gems, ivory.
clothes. dyed stuffs. dyes. wine, oil, brass. tin. glass
and sulphur; while the dangers of the foreign
traders calling are expressed in his remark
that sometimes l suffer s~hipwreck with the
loss of all my goods, scarcely escaping myself"
Besides the imports enumerated may be named
furs and skins (which gradually came to be i'm
ported instead of exported. as wild animals died
out in England). weapons of war and iron work.
The exports which were exchanged for these
were chiefly raw products. including wool. which
a!terward became more and more important,
cattle and horses. with tin, lead, and, possibly.
iron. There was a very large export trade in
slaves, and their prices are recorded in the
laws OF the period. Bristol was a great CEN
tire OF this traffic, and remained SO till
the twelfth century: English and Dan
ish slaves formed a staple merchandise
in the markets OF Germany. The devout Gytha,
Earl Godwin's wife. is said TO have shipped
whole gangs. especially OF young and pretty
women. for sale in Denmark. As regards the
travels of English merchants, we know that
they went AS far as Marseilies and frequented
the great French fairs OF Rouen and ST. Denis,
in the ninth century, while. from a rather earlier
period, comes an interesting document, the first
English treaty Of in fact. dated A d.
700. by which Charlemagne agreed 10 grant
protection TO certain English traders from MGR
cha. In King Alfrcd's days one English Bishop
is said to have penetrated prosperously"
rs far as India. bearing the Kings gifts to the
shrine OF 81. Thomas and the Malabar coast. !
This, however. is an isolated case. and, although
Alfred tried TO encourage navigation by his care
for the navy and by his interest in the advent
furious voyages OF Otherc and Wulfstan, the
fact remains that foreign merchants. including
Jews. came TO England in greater number than
the English ventured abroad