nd lifted standards of
efficiency. These weight-driven clocks replaced water clocks, which had
a problem of water freezing, and sandclocks, which could measure only
small time intervals.

A linguistic unity and national pride was developing. London
English became the norm and predominated over rural dialects.
Important news was announced and spread by word of mouth in market
squares and sometimes in churches. As usual, traders provided one
of the best sources of news; they maintained an informal network
of speedy messengers and accurate reports because political
changes so affected their ventures. News also came from peddlers,
who visited villages and farms to sell items that could not be
bought in the local village. These often included scissors,
eyeglasses, colored handkerchiefs, calendars, fancy leather goods,
watches, and clocks. Peddling was fairly profitable because of the
lack of competition. But peddlers were often viewed as tramps and
suspected of engaging in robbery as well as peddling.

A royal post service was established by relays of mounted
messengers. The first route was between London and the Scottish
border, where there were frequent battles for land between the
Scotch and English.

The inland roads from town to town were still rough and without
signs. A horseman could make up to 40 miles a day. Common carriers
took passengers and parcels from various towns to London on
scheduled journeys. Now the common yeoman could order goods from
the London market, communicate readily with friends in London, and
receive news of the world frequently. Trade with London was so
great and the common carrier so efficient in transporting goods
that the medieval fair began to decline. First the Grocers and
then the Mercers refused to allow their members to sell goods at
fairs. There was much highway robbery. Most goods were still
transported by boats along the coasts, with trading at the ports.

Embroidery was exported. Imported were timber, pitch, tar, potash
[for cloth dying], furs, silk, satin, gold cloth, damask cloth,
furred gowns, gems, fruit, spices, and sugar. Imports were
restricted by national policy for the purpose of protecting native
industries.

English single-masted ships began to be replaced by two or three
masted ships with high pointed bows to resist waves and sails
enabling the ship to sail closer to the wind. 200 tuns was the
usual carrying capacity. The increase in trade made piracy, even
by me