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apartment。PARKES' Essays； 1841； p。 495。
。。。＇
Long after Andrea de Ferrara's time； the Scotch swords were famous
for their temper； Judge Marshal Fatten； who accompanied the
Protector's expedition into Scotland in 1547； observing that 〃the
Scots came with swords all broad and thin； of exceeding good temper；
and universally so made to slice that I never saw none so good； so I
think it hard to devise a better。〃 The quality of the steel used for
weapons of war was indeed of no less importance for the effectual
defence of a country then than it is now。 The courage of the
attacking and defending forces being equal； the victory would
necessarily rest with the party in possession of the best weapons。
England herself has on more than one occasion been supposed to be in
serious peril because of the decay of her iron manufactures。 Before
the Spanish Armada； the production of iron had been greatly
discouraged because of the destruction of timber in the smelting of
the orethe art of reducing it with pit coal not having yet been
invented； and we were consequently mainly dependent upon foreign
countries for our supplies of the material out of which arms were
made。 The best iron came from Spain itself； then the most powerful
nation in Europe； and as celebrated for the excellence of its weapons
as for the discipline and valour of its troops。 The Spaniards prided
themselves upon the superiority of their iron； and regarded its
scarcity in England as an important element in their calculations of
the conquest of the country by their famous Armada。 〃I have heard；〃
says Harrison； 〃that when one of the greatest peers of Spain espied
our nakedness in this behalf； and did solemnly utter in no obscure
place； that it would be an easy matter in short time to conquer
England because it wanted armour； his words were not so rashly
uttered as politely noted。〃 The vigour of Queen Elizabeth promptly
supplied a remedy by the large importations of iron which she caused
to be made； principally from Sweden； as well as by the increased
activity of the forges in Sussex and the Forest of Dean； 〃whereby；〃
adds Harrison； 〃England obtained rest； that otherwise might have been
sure of sharp and cruel wars。 Thus a Spanish word uttered by one man
at one time； overthrew； or at the leastwise hindered sundry privy
practices of many at another。〃 *
＇footnote。。。
HOLINSHED； History of England。 It was even said to have been one of
the objects of the Spanish Armada to get the oaks of the Forest of
Dean destroyed； in order to prevent further smelting of the iron。
Thus Evelyn； in his Sylva； says； 〃I have heard that in the great
expedition of 1588 it was expressly enjoined the Spanish Armada that
if； when landed； they should not be able to subdue our nation and
make good their conquest； they should yet be sure not to leave a tree
standing in the Forest of Dean。〃NICHOLS； History of the Forest of
Dean； p。 22。
。。。＇
Nor has the subject which occupied the earnest attention of
politicians in Queen Elizabeth's time ceased to be of interest； for；
after the lapse of nearly three hundred years； we find the smith and
the iron manufacturer still uppermost in public discussions。 It has
of late years been felt that our much…prized 〃hearts of oak〃 are no
more able to stand against the prows of mail which were supposed to
threaten them； than the sticks and stones of the ancient tribes were
able to resist the men armed with weapons of bronze or steel。 What
Solon said to Croesus； when the latter was displaying his great
treasures of gold； still holds true： 〃If another comes that hath
better iron than you； he will be master of all that gold。〃 So； when
an alchemist waited upon the Duke of Brunswick during the Seven
Years' War； and offered to communicate the secret of converting iron
into gold； the Duke replied： 〃By no means： I want all the iron I
can find to resist my enemies： as for gold； I get it from England。〃
Thus the strength and wealth of nations depend upon coal and iron；
not forgetting Men； far more than upon gold。
Thanks to our Armstrongs and Whitworths； our Browns and our Smiths；
the iron defences of England； manned by our soldiers and our sailors；
furnish the assurance of continued security for our gold and our
wealth； and； what is infinitely more precious； for our industry and
our liberty。
CHAPTER II。
EARLY ENGLISH IRON MANUFACTURE。
〃He that well observes it； and hath known the welds of Sussex； Surry；
and Kent'； the grand nursery especially of oake and beech； shal find
such an alteration； within lesse than 30 yeeres； as may well strike a
feare； lest few yeeres more； as pestilent as the former； will leave
fewe good trees standing in those welds。 Such a heate issueth out of
the many forges and furnaces for the making of iron； and out of the
glasse kilnes； as hath devoured many famous woods within the
welds；〃 JOHN NORDEN； Surveyors' Dialogue （1607）。
Few records exist of the manufacture of iron in England in early
times。 After the Romans left the island； the British； or more
probably the Teutonic tribes settled along the south coast； continued
the smelting and manufacture of the metal after the methods taught
them by the colonists。 In the midst of the insecurity； however；
engendered by civil war and social changes； the pursuits of industry
must necessarily have been considerably interfered with； and the art
of iron…forging became neglected。 No notice of iron being made in
Sussex occurs in Domesday Book； from which it would appear that the
manufacture had in a great measure ceased in that county at the time
of the Conquest； though it was continued in the iron…producing
districts bordering on Wales。 In many of the Anglo…Saxon graves which
have been opened； long iron swords have been found； showing that
weapons of that metal were in common use。 But it is probable that
iron was still scarce； as ploughs and other agricultural implements
continued to be made of wood；one of the Anglo…Saxon laws enacting
that no man should undertake to guide a plough who could not make
one； and that the cords with which it was bound should be of twisted
willows。 The metal was held in esteem principally as the material of
war。 All male adults were required to be provided with weapons； and
honour was awarded to such artificers as excelled in the fabrication
of swords； arms； and defensive armour。*
＇footnote。。。
WILKINS； Leges Sax。 25。
。。。＇
Camden incidentally states that the manufacture of iron was continued
in the western counties during the Saxon era； more particularly in
the Forest of Dean； and that in the time of Edward the Confessor the
tribute paid by the city of Gloucester consisted almost entirely of
iron rods wrought to a size fit for making nails for the king's
ships。 An old religious writer speaks of the ironworkers of that day
as heathenish in their manners； puffed up with pride； and inflated
with worldly prosperity。 On the occasion of St。 Egwin's visit to the
smiths of Alcester； as we are told in the legend； he found then given
up to every kind of luxury； and when he proceeded to preach unto
them； they beat upon their anvils in contempt of his doctrine so as
completely to deafen him； upon which he addressed his prayers to
heaven； and the town was immediately destroyed。*
＇footnote。。。
Life of St。 Egwin； in Capgrave's Nova Legenda Anglioe。 Alcester was；
as its name indicates； an old Roman settlement （situated on the
Icknild Street）； where the art of working in iron was practised from
an early period。 It was originally called Alauna； being situated on
the river Alne in Warwickshire。 It is still a seat of the needle
manufacture。
。。。＇
But the first reception given to John Wesley by the miners of the
Forest of Dean； more than a thousand years later； was perhaps
scarcely more gratifying than that given to St。 Egwin。
That working in iron was regarded as an honourab