Owling was a common term for the smuggling of sheep or wool from England to another country, particularly France. The practice was illegal in England from 1367 until 1824.[1] Participants were called "owlers"; their ships "owling boats".
The origins of the term are obscure, and it appears to have developed toward the end of the 17th century, well after owling was first outlawed. It is presumed to derive from owlers' preference for performing their work at night (traditionally the time of the owl). The earliest citation in the Oxford English Dictionary is Narcissus Luttrell's report in 1699 that a recent outbreak had been suppressed. The practice seems not to have had a particular name attached to it before that point.[2]
The principal reason for the protectionist law was to shield English clothing manufacturers from foreign competition, since England had a large supply of wool but a less successful textile industry. The wool industry was England's most lucrative in the late 12th and early 13th centuries; in fact, in discussing the origins of the wool protection laws, David Hume claims that wool was England's only valuable export commodity at the time. However, the law was enacted by Edward III in the first place, and maintained throughout its history, as part of a particular grudge against France, as Hume points out.[3] The original statute was strengthened several times; in 1566 owling was made punishable by "cutting off of the left hand and nailing it in a public place", and in 1660, as it became more professionalized, by the seizure of the ship used.[4]
The law gained particular currency after a 1689 bill outlawing all trade with France. Owlers were able to take advantage of a significant black market, and smuggling increased rapidly during the 1690s. According to G. N. Clark, period sources indicate that by 1689, 480,000 pounds of wool per year were being smuggled to France.[5] Troops were sent to Romney Marsh, the chief point of departure for owlers, in 1693; conflict in the area over the practice (including both owlers and local wool manufacturers opposed to owling) came to a head with a riot in Rye, East Sussex in 1696. The government began to get the upper hand soon afterward, and owling was apparently no longer common when the law was repealed in the 19th century.[5]
Referencesedit
^Raven, Matt (2022). "Wool smuggling from England's eastern seaboard, c. 1337–45: An illicit economy in the late middle ages". The Economic History Review. 75 (4): 1182–1213. doi:10.1111/ehr.13141. ISSN 1468-0289.
^ abClark, G.N. "Trading with the Enemy and the Corunna Packets, 1689-97." The English Historical Review, Vol. 36, No. 144. (Oct., 1921), pp. 521-539.
February 16, 2024
owling, internet, internet, meme, common, term, smuggling, sheep, wool, from, england, another, country, particularly, france, practice, illegal, england, from, 1367, until, 1824, participants, were, called, owlers, their, ships, owling, boats, origins, term, . For the internet fad see Owling internet meme Owling was a common term for the smuggling of sheep or wool from England to another country particularly France The practice was illegal in England from 1367 until 1824 1 Participants were called owlers their ships owling boats The origins of the term are obscure and it appears to have developed toward the end of the 17th century well after owling was first outlawed It is presumed to derive from owlers preference for performing their work at night traditionally the time of the owl The earliest citation in the Oxford English Dictionary is Narcissus Luttrell s report in 1699 that a recent outbreak had been suppressed The practice seems not to have had a particular name attached to it before that point 2 The principal reason for the protectionist law was to shield English clothing manufacturers from foreign competition since England had a large supply of wool but a less successful textile industry The wool industry was England s most lucrative in the late 12th and early 13th centuries in fact in discussing the origins of the wool protection laws David Hume claims that wool was England s only valuable export commodity at the time However the law was enacted by Edward III in the first place and maintained throughout its history as part of a particular grudge against France as Hume points out 3 The original statute was strengthened several times in 1566 owling was made punishable by cutting off of the left hand and nailing it in a public place and in 1660 as it became more professionalized by the seizure of the ship used 4 The law gained particular currency after a 1689 bill outlawing all trade with France Owlers were able to take advantage of a significant black market and smuggling increased rapidly during the 1690s According to G N Clark period sources indicate that by 1689 480 000 pounds of wool per year were being smuggled to France 5 Troops were sent to Romney Marsh the chief point of departure for owlers in 1693 conflict in the area over the practice including both owlers and local wool manufacturers opposed to owling came to a head with a riot in Rye East Sussex in 1696 The government began to get the upper hand soon afterward and owling was apparently no longer common when the law was repealed in the 19th century 5 References edit Raven Matt 2022 Wool smuggling from England s eastern seaboard c 1337 45 An illicit economy in the late middle ages The Economic History Review 75 4 1182 1213 doi 10 1111 ehr 13141 ISSN 1468 0289 Oxford English Dictionary entry for Owling Hume David The History of England Volume I available at Project Gutenberg Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Owling Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Cambridge University Press a b Clark G N Trading with the Enemy and the Corunna Packets 1689 97 The English Historical Review Vol 36 No 144 Oct 1921 pp 521 539 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Owling amp oldid 1131487469, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
