By the industry and foresight of its female members the ordinary household was supplied with all its necessary linen without any need for entering the market, the expenses of middlemen and salesmen being so avoided. Nevertheless, it is evident that a considerable sale for linen had always existed, for the linen drapers were an important corporation in many towns. This sale was increased through an invention made about the middle of the century: By printing patterns on linen a material was produced which closely imitated the costly muslins, or calicoes as they were then called, imported from India; but at so reasonable a price that they were within the reach of a servant’s purse. Servants were therefore able to go out in dresses scarcely distinguishable from their mistresses’, and the sale of woollen and silk goods was seriously affected. The woollen trade became alarmed; riots took place; weavers assaulted women who were wearing printed linens in the streets, and finally, Parliament, always tender to the woollen trade, which furnished so large a part of the national revenue, prohibited their use altogether. The linen printers recognising that “the Reason why the _English_ Manufacture of linnen is not so much taken notice of as the _Scotch_ or _Irish_, is this, the _English_ is mostly consumed in the Country, ... whereas the _Scotch_ and _Irish_ must come by sea and make a Figure at our custom’s house,”[251] urged in their defence that “the linens printed are chiefly the Growth and Manufacture of _North Britain_ pay 3d. per Yard to the Crown, ... and Employ so many Thousands of _British_ poor, as will undoubtedly entitle them to the Care of a British Parliament.”[252] Footnote 251: _Case of British and Irish Manufacture of Linnen._ Footnote 252: _Case of the Linen Drapers._