and died about the year 1115. He appears to have resided in Baldwin-street, and to have engaged in mercantile transactions to a considerable extent for the age in which he flourished.

From the commencement of the twelfth century to the reign of Edward the Third, the commerce of Bristol does not appear to have made any very considerable progress, nor to have suffered any material interruption. In this reign, the enterprise and industry of the inhabitants took a new direction, and to the character of merchant was now added that of manufacturer. This change was effected by the introduction of the woollen-manufacture into England, and by the activity with which the citizens embarked in the business. This alteration took place about the year 1340. The manufactories were principally situated in Tucker and Temple Streets; and among those who particularly distinguished themselves as manufacturers, was Thomas Blanket, who has been already mentioned as the individual who first manufactured the article which still preserves and will probably perpetuate the name of BLANKET.* The woollenmanufacture long continued to flourish in Bristol ; but the difference in the price of labour operating

* Vol. II. p. 181.

with other causes, has long since removed it to the North.

The commerce and manufactures of Bristol appear to have made a considerable progress during the next century, about the middle of which flourished the celebrated Canynge. This extraordinary man employed 2853 tons of shipping* and 800 mariners, during the space of eight years. He appears to have carried on an extensive trade with Ireland, Denmark, Dantzic, and the nations on the shores of the Baltic. From this extensive commerce, Canynge not only derived wealth, but a high degree of consideration; and peculiar attention was paid to him by the most powerful men of the age. This appears from two recommendatory letters by Henry VI. in 1449, of which one is addressed to the Master-General of Prussia, and the other to the magistrates of Dantzic. In these letters, the king styles Canynge" his beloved eminent merchant of Bristol;" and their object is to request all possible favour and countenance for two of his agents, who then resided in Prussia. In the following year Canynge was exempted by the king of Denmark from a prohibition, which he

For the names of these ships and their respective burthens, see Vol. II. p. 285.

Rymer's Fædera, p. 226, and Barrett's History, p. 169.

ap

issued to England, of trading with certain parts of that monarch's dominions. This indulgence to our distinguished merchant was sanctioned by the probation of the king and parliament of England; and he was allowed to employ two vessels in this trade during the space of the two ensuing years. Canynge died in 1474, in the sixty-ninth year of his age.

Many of the contemporaries of Canynge were excited, by his success, to emulate the spirit of enterprize of which he had given them so splendid an example. Among these, Robert Strange acquired great distinction.

In 1459, a ship laden with spices and other valuable productions of the east was plundered in the Mediterranean by the Genoese. This vessel was the property of Mr. Strange, and was valued at nine thousand marks. When this act of violence was known in England, Henry VI. seized the property of such Genoese merchants as resided in London; which was detained, under a threat of confiscation, till full restitution was made for the capture. This decided and spirited act of justice seems to have produced the desired effect, and not only deterred the Genoese from repeating similar aggressions, but from interrupting in any way the commerce of

England in the Mediterranean. After this event, Mr. Strange appears to have engaged extensively in that commerce. It is however certain that he

was thrice advanced to the dignity of first magistrate in Bristol, and evinced the benevolence of his disposition by founding the alms-house which at present bears the name of St. John. Strange probably died about the year 1491.

Robert

When the talents and perseverance of Columbus had given another world to that spirit of adventure which had then begun to exhibit itself, the merchants of Bristol became eminently conspicuous among those who were anxious to share both in the glory and advantages of the new discoveries.* In 1494 they prepared a fleet for this purpose, the command of which was bestowed upon John Cabot, who was to be accompanied by his sons Lewis, Sanctius, and the distinguished Sebastian. The result of this voyage was the discovery of Newfoundland; and on the return of the Cabots to Bristol, was laid the foundation of a commerce which has proved highly advantageous to the city.

* For a more detailed account of the voyages of discovery which were engaged in about this period, the reader is referred to Hack luit's Voyages; of which a new edition has been recently published.

In 1497 another fleet was fitted out from Bristol, the command of which was conferred upon Sebastian Cabot. In this voyage he revisited the former discovery of Newfoundland, and sailed as high as the 67th degree of north latitude; then shaping his course southerly, he explored the whole coast of North America as far down as the 38th degree of latitude. This part of the continent he expressly says was afterwards named Florida.* Consequently, Cabot was the first who discovered the continent of America; as Columbus did not fall in with it till the following Contemporaries with Cabot were Elliot, Ashurst, Guy, and Thorne. In 1502 Elliot and Ashurst obtained letters patent for embarking in a voyage of discovery. Elliot was ranked among

year.

the most eminent navigators of his age, though it does not appear that he made any considerable additions to the discoveries of Cabot.

John Guy was the first who colonized Newfoundland. He seems to have possessed not only a spirit of daring adventure, but also of prudence and perseverance. Those who accompanied him

* Some account of the discoveries of Cabot is contained in the Life of Henry VII. by Lord Bacon; a work which the reader who wishes for more ample information on the subject will do well to consult.

+ Stowe's Chronicle, continued by Howes.