The England’s Immigrants Project Teacher Scholar Scheme 2016

How far was England a nation of traders and migrants before 1560?

Lesson 1

‘ …there dwell men from most of the nations of Europe, employed in

various mercantile arts; such especially as regard the working of iron and other metals, added to that they execute with surprising skill the weaving of woollen cloths and rich

embroidered tapestry.’

Nicander Nicius, commenting on his visit to London in 1545.

Now, and in the past, we live in a nation of traders and migrants….

What is the relationship between trade and migration?

On your mini whiteboards, create a diagram using images or symbols only which suggests what the relationship might be.

Investigation 1: What was the state of England’s trade in the early 16th century?

WOOL !

Investigation 1: What was the state of England’s trade in the early 16th century?• The wool and woollen cloth industries dominated England’s

trade. They were very important for employment and for customs revenue.

• In medieval times England was known as a producer of raw wool but by the 16th century England had become a major cloth

producer. England produced a rough broadcloth.

• The textile industry was a cottage industry ie women spun the yarn and men wove the cloth in their homes or small

workshops.

• The main producing areas were East Anglia, Western Yorkshire and the West Country.

Investigation 1: What was the state of England’s trade in the early 16th century?

• The Merchant Adventurers, leading merchants based in London, controlled the sale of woollen cloth.

• Most English wool and woollen cloth was exported to the Netherlands through the port of Antwerp.

• Woollen cloth exports boomed in the early 16th century but started to decline from the 1540s.

• Wool was so important that the Lord Speaker in the House of Lords still sits on a woolsack.

• Between the 1450s and 1550s exports roughly trebled.

Investigation 1: What was the state of England’s trade in the early 16th century?

• Read over Worksheet 1A.• Create a tweet which sums up why the wool

and woollen cloth trade was so important to England at this time.

Investigation 1: What was the state of England’s trade in the early 16th century?

The wool and woollen cloth industries led to strong ties with other countries:

• Many foreign merchants worked in London• English merchants frequently travelled abroad• Foreign craftsmen came to England. Flemish weavers had been

invited into England as early as the 14th century

BUT wool is not the whole story...

You are going to conduct your own research into what other trades and crafts were being pursued in England and the role of foreign migrants in them.

You will be using a database that has collected together evidence of ‘aliens’ or foreigners living and working in England.

Investigation 2: What were the main trades and the role of migrants in them the early

16th century?

The database uses these two main kinds of evidence: • Alien Subsidies (1440-1483) These were taxes imposed on

foreigners living in England in order to raise money or because of security at a time of international tension. The Tudor subsidy of 1523 also recorded immigrants by levying a double rate of tax for foreigners.

• Denization roll: These are lists of people who applied for a letter of denization – a bit like a certificate of citizenship today.

Letter of denization issued to Godfrey van Upstall, born in Brabant in 1393.

What difficulties might there be in working with documents like this?

Investigation 2: What were the main trades and the role of migrants in them the early

16th century?

Team 1: Alien subsidy 1483

Team 2: Tudor subsidy 1523

Team 3: Westminster Denization Roll 1545

• Read Worksheet 1B carefully.• Do all four tasks –divide them between your team.

• Record your key findings on Worksheet 1B.

Investigation 2: What were the main trades and the role of migrants in them the early

16th century?

• Form into new groups with representatives from the three different research teams.

• Share your ideas and complete Worksheet 1C- the overview chart. • Prepare to feedback to the class.

Investigation 2: What were the main trades and the role of migrants in them the early

16th century?

Summing upUse this class discussion to fill in section 1 of Worksheet 1D with the

main points.

• While textiles was by far the most important industry, what other trades and crafts were significant?

• What role was played in these by migrants?• What was the economic and social status of migrants in England at

this time?

Follow up and homework

Investigation 3: How did trade and migration affect Tudor society?

• Use the further reading provided to find about the so-called ‘Evil May Day Riots’ of 1517.

• Come up with 3-4 suggestions in answer to the question above using this reading.