The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part C.: From Henry VII. to Mary
David Hume · en
In 1528, hostilities commenced between England and the Low Countries;
and the inconvenience was soon felt on both sides. While the Flemings
were not allowed to purchase cloth in England, the English merchants
could not buy it from the clothiers, and the clothiers were obliged to
dismiss their workmen, who began to be tumultuous for want of bread. The
cardinal, to appease them, sent for the merchants, and ordered them to
buy cloth as usual: they told him that they could not dispose of it as
usual; and, notwithstanding his menaces, he could get no other answer
from them.[*] An agreement was at last made to continue the commerce
between the states, even during war.
It was not till the end of this reign that any salads, carrots, turnips,
or other edible roots were produced in England. The little of these
vegetables that was used, was formerly imported from Holland and
Flanders.[**] Queen Catharine, when she wanted a salad, was obliged
to despatch a messenger thither on purpose. The use of hops, and the
planting of them, was introduced from Flanders about the beginning of
this reign, or end of the preceding.
* Hall, fol. 174.
** Anderson, vol. i. p. 338.
Foreign artificers, in general, much surpassed the English in dexterity,
industry, and frugality: hence the violent animosity which the latter on
many occasions expressed against any of the former who were settled in
England. They had the assurance to complain, that all their customers
went to foreign tradesmen; and in the year 1517, being moved by the
seditious sermons of one Dr. Bele, and the intrigues of Lincoln, a
broker, they raised an insurrection. The apprentices, and others of the
poorer sort, in London, began by breaking open the prisons, where some
persons were confined for insulting foreigners. They next proceeded
to the house of Meutas, a Frenchman, much hated by them; where they
committed great disorders; killed some of his servants; and plundered
his goods. The mayor could not appease them; nor Sir Thomas More, late
under sheriff, though much respected in the city. They also threatened
Cardinal Wolsey with some insult; and he thought it necessary to fortify
his house, and put himself on his guard. Tired at last with these
disorders, they dispersed themselves; and the earls of Shrewsbury and
Surrey seized some of them. A proclamation was issued, that women should
not meet together to babble and talk, and that all men should keep their
wives in their houses. Next day the duke of Norfolk came into the city,
at the head of thirteen hundred armed men, and made inquiry into the
tumult. Bele and Lincoln, and several others, were sent to the Tower,
and condemned for treason. Lincoln and thirteen more were executed. The
other criminals, to the number of four hundred, were brought before the
king with ropes about their necks, fell upon their knees, and cried for
mercy. Henry knew at that time how to pardon; he dismissed them without
further punishment.[*]