But as this hope faded away a fresh hope dawned on the king from another quarter.

Flanders, still bleeding from the defeat of its burghers by the French knighthood, was his natural ally.

England was the great wool-producing country of the west, but few woollen fabrics were woven in England.

The number of weavers' gilds shows that the trade was gradually extending, and at the very outset of his reign Edward had taken steps for its encouragement.

He invited Flemish weavers to settle in his country, and took the new immigrants, who chose the eastern counties for the seat of their trade, under his royal protection.