And at this moment the craving for such a protection was strengthened by the general growth of wealth and industry.

The smaller proprietors of the counties were growing fast both in wealth and numbers, while the burgess class in the cities were drawing fresh riches from the developement of trade which characterized this period.

The noble himself owed his importance to his wealth.

Poggio, as he wandered through the island, noted that "the noble who has the greatest revenue is most respected; and that even men of gentle blood attend to country business and sell their wool and cattle, not thinking it any disparagement to engage in rural industry." Slowly but surely the foreign commerce of the country, hitherto conducted by the Italian, the Hanse merchant, or the trader of Catalonia or southern Gaul, was passing into English hands.

English merchants were settled at Florence and at Venice.
English merchant ships appeared in the Baltic.