living in 16th century england

Chapter 3 The Hawkins Family

Starting from the 15th century, the enclosure movement that lasted for more than 300 years was very famous.But it's not serious at this time.

Because at this time the whole of the UK only had a population of 300 million.And after the abolition of serfdom in the 15th century, there were a large number of yeoman farmers.

How could Matthew not enclose the land for the problem of 200 years later?

That's right, the main force of the early land enclosure was actually wealthy farmers, who became landlords when they got rich.

This is a profit-driven process.Raise sheep to get wool, sell the wool to make money to buy more land, and then have more sheep.

If you can't buy it, you rent it, and if you can't rent it, you use violence to rob it.With the passage of time, various methods have become more and more serious, and the main force has become a privileged class... Finally, the state machine is used to legally rob.

有资料说，16世纪中期租贵族和修道院的土地，200英亩土地年租大约40～50镑。养羊后卖掉羊毛可以年收300～400英镑不等。

However, in 1509, prices had not risen sharply, and the number of wool income was much smaller than that in the middle and later periods.It needs to be divided by three, which is about one or two hundred gold coins.About barely enough to buy a small sailboat.

Don't underestimate these numbers, they are all genuine gold coins, and their purchasing power is overwhelming.The gold coin minted by the old king Henry VII is one pound, weighs 15.55 grams, and has a purity of more than 95%.

It is said that if you only cultivate land, you can get a net income of 200 pounds a year for 12 acres, which is not bad.

Andrew was originally a yeoman.Matthew was ten years old when he suggested raising sheep.The key point here is that someone has already made a fortune in the wool business.Moreover, Plymouth is a port, so there is no need to worry about selling it.The trading ships of the Hanseatic League will take everything they think is profitable.

England was a raw material production place in the early days, and wool was used for export in large quantities.Across the English Channel, the opposite Netherlands is a big buyer.

Matthew: "It's a matter of human effort. He has money, but I lack money. Then there is a possibility."

Andrew snorted and said, “I’m not short of money.”

Matthew hurriedly laughed: "Our family is short of money."

Daisy: "Just now you said...it's doubled."

Matthew: "We raised so many sheep and bought so much land. In the end, the big money was made by woolen producers, wool exporters, and the Dutch. Don't you want to change it?"

That's right, Matthew wants to upgrade the industry.

Andrew is not stupid, he actually had this plan long ago.It is a pity that not everyone can do many industries in this era.

The reason why the privileged class are more likely to succeed in doing things is not that they are more capable, nor that they are more diligent.It's because they are privileged.

Even the fact that the Hawkins family can expand the wool business is not simply because of the great abilities of Matthew and Andrew.

The surname Hawkins is a popular surname in Plymouth, and there are many people.In an era where there is no rule of law and things are done by oath and character.Fists and knives are the lowest level of protection.

Want to black eat black?Weigh yourself first, whether you can bear the revenge.

Even the nobles are not willing to provoke local snakes.

But if the hands are too dark, do things overbearing, do not talk about reputation, and have no integrity.The same can't go far.

This is also a balance.

Of course, Matthew is going to London. There is also a dispute for dominance in the Hawkins family.An aristocratic status is enough for these people surnamed Hawkins to dispel any thoughts they shouldn't have.

Danny has a friend named William, who is actually a distant relative, also named Hawkins.Their family used to be fishermen, but now they are engaged in maritime trade, making a lot of money.

Of course, some people surnamed Hawkins became housekeepers, wine shop workers, craftsmen, and even hired farmers and tenants.Andrew is always willing to lend a helping hand to impoverished distant relatives, and the wages are quite fair.

In the afternoon, Matthew went to Zhuangzi. He, the son of a landlord, likes to focus on grain production.He had to see this year's harvest, whether the barn was full.

Self-sufficiency is the characteristic of English farmers in this era. Even if prices soared later, there was no food crisis, only the shortage of supply caused by hoarding.

There were not many tenants, and they greeted Matthew warmly.It's not that Matthew is handsome and well-dressed.It was that Andrew had confiscated their rent for several years.The only condition is that the surplus food can only be sold to him, and the price is still very fair.

You don't need to spend a penny to gain a group of hardcore supporters.Some tenants even used to be yeomen like Andrew.

After Andrew's generosity, the land changed owners, the homesteaders improved their lives, and everything else seemed to be the same.Why not sell it?

Needless to say, it was all Matthew's ghost idea.The income from wool is stable, and the little profit from food is dispensable.

Therefore, every time Andrew organizes deforestation and other work, everyone is very active, not only free food and free wine, but also earn some wages.Why not?

Almost all the grain Andrew collected was used to make wine.

Things like wine were just needed in the Middle Ages. Without reliable drinking water, ale became a reliable source of drinking water for laborers.

However, these beers are not sold in England.Almost all manors and even farmers brew ale for their own use.Therefore, they are basically sold to trading ships in the port, and their demand is not small at all.

For example, every time William and his father come back, they only buy wine from Andrew's house to ship.Because not only the quality is good, Andrew will also give him the lowest price.

In fact, after transporting the goods to the destination, he sold the wine for a good price more than once.

Accompanied by Hawkins, the superintendent of the estate, Matthew looked and felt the barn.Also had a friendly conversation with tenant Hawkins.Finally, at the request of groom Hawkins, he saw his foal.

Well, even his father can't figure out the origin of these distant relatives.

This is the family network Andrew Hawkins built with the help of his son Matthew.

A lot of "Hawkins" depend on the generosity of Andrew Hawkins, and Andrew didn't disappoint.

Matthew said that one response is our guarantee, and no one dares to touch a finger of us.Neither can the Sheriff.

Plymouth is located in the southwest of England, belonging to Devonshire.To the south is the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel, and 300 kilometers to the east and north is London.

In the age of great voyages, the British almost always set off from here to the ocean.They stepped on the floating land, wrestled with the waves, and fought with the enemy.Defeat the Spanish Armada, smash Napoleon's French navy, and bombard the Arabs to free the white slaves.Traveled all over the world, led the industrial revolution, and eventually became an empire on which the sun never sets.

However, in 1509, even the trade routes of this small country were controlled by the Hanseatic League, and it was only a raw material production place.No one imagined what it would be like in 300 years.

Matthew knew but couldn't see.

His initial thought was to eat and drink without worrying about eating and waiting to die.He was not much taller than Napoleon now, but he was not short among the Englishmen.

But his 17-year-old brother Danny is half a head taller than him, and he is full of muscles and bones.

In order to eat and drink every day, and to protect his gold coins, he had to go one step further.

Repeatedly.

When she was about to go back, a girl called out, "Matthew...Master, I heard you are getting married?"

Of course he remembered his childhood companion.He didn't fit in as a kid.An adult can't play with little kids.But there are always some people whose kindness is still fresh in his memory.

Matthew thought for a while: "No, no. And I will travel next spring, would you like to go with me as a maid?"

This is not meanness.remember?The maid can rightfully become the queen.

The girl was instantly elated, should she be a peasant woman or a maid?Is this still an option?

She was happy from the inside to the outside, and her steps were jumping a little: "Of course I am willing...but where are you going?"

Matthew said: "London."

(End of this chapter)