We have hitherto confined ourselves to a consideration of rural life. Undoubtedly this was for long the most important aspect of English society, but it is necessary before going further to say something of the condition of the mediæval town.

A few of the towns were survivals from Roman times, but, as is well known, the Saxon invasion broke entirely the continuity of town life—many towns lay for centuries in ruins. Some have been repaired, but others, such as Silchester (Calleva) and Pevensey (Anderida), lie in ruins to this day.

Other towns grew up round the monasteries. Oxford owed its first origin to the religious houses of St. Frideswide and Oseney, and to its university. Abingdon, Reading, St. Albans, Coventry, Durham and York owe their existence to the ecclesiastical associations for which they are famous. Bristol, Norwich, and Southampton were important by reason of their convenience for trade. Yarmouth, Grimsby, and Scarborough were early famous for their fishing. As has been already pointed out, in the early times the capitalist tradesman did not exist. Artisans possessed no stock beyond their tools; the raw material which they were to work up was supplied by the customer. Merchants and shopkeepers, except in the large towns, did not exist for the purpose of supplying the country with commodities. The rural population received its supplies from periodical fairs and from the travelling packman. The merchant was a person who traded abroad.