It was not until the year 1787 that the Yarmouth people
began the deep-sea herring fishery; and yet these were the most
enterprising amongst the English fishermen.
English commerce also had very slender beginnings. At the
commencement of the fifteenth century, England was of very little
account in the affairs of Europe. Indeed, the history of modern
England is nearly coincident with the accession of the Tudors to
the throne. With the exception of Calais and Dunkirk, her
dominions on the Continent had been wrested from her by the
French. The country at home had been made desolate by the Wars
of the Roses. The population was very small, and had been kept
down by war, pestilence, and famine.[3] The chief staple was
wool, which was exported to Flanders in foreign ships, there to
be manufactured into cloth. Nearly every article of importance
was brought from abroad; and the little commerce which existed
was in the hands of foreigners. The seas were swept by
privateers, little better than pirates, who plundered without
scruple every vessel, whether friend or foe, which fell in their
way.
The British navy has risen from very low beginnings. The English
fleet had fallen from its high estate since the reign of Edward
III., who won a battle from the French and Flemings in 1340, with
260 ships; but his vessels were all of moderate size, being
boats, yachts, and caravels, of very small tonnage.
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