Though a seafaring population lived round our coasts, we did not fish our own seas, but left it to the industrious Dutchmen to catch the fish, and supply our markets.

It was not until the year 1787 that the Yarmouth people began the deep-sea herring fishery; and yet these were the most enterprising amongst the English fishermen.
English commerce also had very slender beginnings.

At the commencement of the fifteenth century, England was of very little account in the affairs of Europe.

Indeed, the history of modern England is nearly coincident with the accession of the Tudors to the throne.

With the exception of Calais and Dunkirk, her dominions on the Continent had been wrested from her by the French.