living in 16th century england

Chapter 4 Too Much Ideas, Too Little Money

"So far?" Her mother chased after her.

A man came running: "Shut your mouth...Master, Irene will go."

Matthew looked at her parents: "If you agree, buy her some decent clothes that match her status, at least three sets, and the money..."

He took out a gold coin: "Let me pay."

The man took it with a smile on his face: "I am happy to serve you."

Matthew has a strange expression: "Of course, you can go back on your word at any time, and you don't have to worry about the gold coins... just treat it as a gift from me, um... or compensation... When I was young, I stole your chicken."

Everyone present couldn't help laughing.

How much is a gold coin worth?

In the middle and late 16th century when prices doubled, woolen cloth production in England was already common.A weaver never earns more than 5pence a day.Skilled craftsmen earn about 9 pence a day.

Many people have never seen gold coins in their lives, and their trade with each other is based on barter.Many people can eat and clothe warmly, have strong houses to shelter from wind and rain, and have land to farm or raise sheep.But penniless.

So, is money really wealth?
Matthew went to see the water mill again.This facility did not gradually disappear until the 19th century.It is the core facility of the farm.

If you want to produce woolen cloth, the process of rinsing is essential.Manual processing costs are high and efficiency is low.Hydraulic machinery is essential.

Matthew touched the rotating shaft of the mill, looked at the wear and tear, and was very satisfied.Need to build a few more... Another expense.

Matthew seldom engages in inventions and creations. One is that he doesn’t understand these antiques, and the other is that he doesn’t need them at all.

He said that he wanted to make cannons out of iron because he had seen cast iron cannonballs.

With all the cast iron, cast iron artillery is of course a matter of course.In the future museum, there will be many of these things.

In this era, copper is the mainstream artillery material.In fact, the first cast iron cannon in Europe appeared in 1543.

In fact, there is also a kind of forged artillery, which is knocked out with a hammer.But England is now a remote area in Europe, and he has never seen it.This gun is not strong, easy to explode the chamber.Far less reliable than copper.

The Hawkins family is in the wool business. In addition to raising sheep on their own enclosure, they will also purchase sheep.Many self-cultivating farmers will raise a few or even a dozen heads.How much is uncertain.

However, Matthew has found that the amount of wool acquired is decreasing.The reason is that there have been many cloth merchants and cloth producers in the southwest counties of England.

Although there is no news about further places, it is estimated to be similar.

Unlike modern people's imagination, this kind of production is a family form.Rural areas are the main force of woolen production, while cities are very few.Many so-called woolen merchants had to do the work themselves.There are very few people whose scale is so large that they are completely out of production like Andrew.

Are so many farmers making such choices in this information-obscured era, are they all geniuses with a keen sense of the market?Really not, remember the merchant king?It was he who ordered the export of high-quality wool banned, and only poor quality wool to be sold to competitors.Encourage the production of woolen fabrics for higher profits.

Then he can collect more taxes.

In the area around Plymouth, a lot of idle wool was collected by Andrew, but other places did not buy his account.This is not the era of the free market.

So don't look at the doubled income this year, but Matthew has already felt the crisis.It can be said that it was rolled in the 16th century.

Wool exports will definitely become woolen exports in the future.Those who can't keep up with this round of upgrades will be eliminated.

According to Matthew's idea, he intends to win by scale.The first step is to hire 100 looms... or hand over to 100 reliable families.The annual wool production can exceed 3000 pieces.If there is still enough money, he will buy wool as he buys wool.As long as you have scale, you can reduce costs and influence pricing.

Do you want to have a guild?Forget it, let's talk about it later.

It is rare for these so-called woolen merchants to have more than a dozen looms.At that time, it will not be an opponent at all.

The only problem is lack of money.

When he got home, Matthew confided his plans.Although Andrew agreed, he was not eager.

"Do you think the wool business can't go on in the future? Don't worry, I can sell any amount of wool."

Matthew: "No, my concern is that in the future the woolen producers in continental Europe will no longer buy wool."

Andrew wondered: "...how could it be?"

Matthew: "It's very simple. They won't have a price advantage. Although there are still a few years, maybe longer. But in the end they can't compete with England. And smuggling wool will make the king unhappy. It's better not to do it."

That's why Andrew wanted to make woolens, but didn't act.William's family's trading ships sometimes transport Andrew's high-quality wool.

Is this a crime?No, this is one of the reasons why European kings were later emptied by capitalists.

This is where the conflict between kingship and capital lies.Capital naturally does not like control.Even if Matthew understands that this is actually wrong, but holding so much wool in his hand, he wants to drink the northwest wind because of this ban?
Especially getting the wool out was a breeze for the Hawkins family.The wharf officials, customs supervisors, and others are all "old friends" of the Andrew family, and some of them still have the surname Hawkins.

What Matthew didn't know was that the person who would create the slave triangle trade in the future was also surnamed Hawkins.And Plymouth is one of this "triangle".

Andrew: "Have you ever thought about making our own looms?"

Matthew: "Think about it, but there are too many problems, the stall is too big, and it is easy to capsize. Let's get the artillery first."

Andrew: "Do you really think that the king will lend you money when he sees the new artillery?"

Matthew smiled and said: "Whether there is artillery or not, as long as he thinks we have the ability to pay back, he may pay."

Andrew understood a little, but not enough: "Because we can't run?"

Matthew smiled and said: "Not only...he is a creditor who cannot repay his debts."

Andrew also laughed, what Matthew said was too essential.Andrew also occasionally lends money to acquaintances, but under Matthew's insistence, he does not charge high interest, nor does he like rolling interest.This gave Andrew a lot of prestige.

Matthew thought for a while: "It's better to have a new type of artillery than nothing... If there is a new type of sailboat..."

Andrew stared immediately: "Do you still want to build a ship?"

Matthew said with a smile: "I will definitely do it in the future, let's make a model for now."

"Remember, the old king liked the navy, and the new king will too."

Andrew asked puzzledly, "How do you know?"

Matthew: "We're an island. If Henry VIII doesn't like this, he's an idiot. England is screwed."

Andrew, who is illiterate, can become a local snake in Plymouth just based on some suggestions from his son, which is already considered extraordinary.But it never occurred to him to build a ship.

He glared again: "So you're not afraid that the stall will be too big and the boat will capsize in the end?"

Matthew: "It's too early to say this, let's talk about it after I've been to London."

Andrew sighed: "You have been smart since you were a child, I hope you are right... I found a helper for you, someone with sword skills, on the way to London, he can protect your safety."

Matthew: "English?"

Andrew: "Of course, he is learning the fencing skills of the Fei Helei school. It is estimated that he has been outside for a long time."

Matthew: "Trustworthy?"

Andrew: "His home is in Plymouth, and I know him too."

Matthew frowned: "Aside from swordsmanship, what else can he do?"

Andrew: "I seem to have been a sailor..."

Matthew nodded: "Sailor? Very good...I will have a conversation with him."

Daisy's voice came from downstairs: "Andrew, it's time to eat... Matthew..."

The father and son said in unison: "Come here."

(End of this chapter)