The eographical discoveries of this period gave a great impulse to foreign trade with Africe, Brazil, and North America.  The wool trade continued to increase, and also commerce with the East Indies.  In 1600 the East India Company was established, thus laying the foundation of England’s Indian empire, and ships now brought cargoes direct to England by way of the Cape of Good Hope.

Sir Francis Drake did a flourishing business in plundering Spanish settlements in America and Spanish treasure ships on the sea, and Sir John Hawkins became wealthy through the slave trade,—­kidnaping negroes on the coast of Guinea, and selling them to the Spanish West India colonies.  The domestic trade of England was still carried on largely by great annual fairs.  Trade, however, was much deranged by the quantities of debased money issued under Henry VIII and Edward VI.

Elizabeth reformed the currency, and ordered the mint to send out coin which no longer had a lie stamped on its face, thereby setting an example to all future governments, whether monarchical or republican.

VI.  Mode of Life, Manners, and Customs

414.  Life in the Country and the City.

In the cities this was an age of luxury; but on the farms the laborer was glad to get a bundle of straw for a bed, and a wooden trencher to eat from.  Vegetables were scarcely known, and fresh meat was eaten only by the well to do.  The cottages were built of sticks and mud, without chimneys, and were nearly as bare of furniture as the wigwam of an American Indian.

The rich kept several mansions and country houses, but paid little attention to cleanliness; and when the filth and vermin in one became unendurable, they left it “to sweeten,” as they said, and went to another of their estates.  The dress of the nobles continued to be of the most costly materials and the gayest colors.

At table a great variety of dishes were served on silver plate, but fingers were still used in place of forks.  Tea and coffee were unknown, and beer was the usual drink at breakfast and supper.

Carriages were seldom used, except by Queen Elizabeth, and most journeys were performed on horseback.  Merchandise was also generally transported on pack horses, the roads rarely being good enough for the passage of wagons.  The principal amusements were the theater, dancing, masquerading, bull and bear baiting (worrying a bull or bear with dogs), cockfighting, and gambling.

Ninth Period[1]

“It is the nature of the devil of tyranny to tear and rend the body which he leaves.”—­Macaulay

Beginning with the Divine Right of Kings and Ending with the Divine Right of the People

King or Parliament?

House of Stuart (1603-1649, 1660-1714)

James I, 1603-1625
Charles I, 1625-1649
“The Commonwealth and Protectorate,” 1649-1660
Charles II, 1660-1685
James II, 1685-1689
William and Mary,[2] 1689-1702
Anne, 1702-1714