After wool in importance comes leather ; and the
high price of the leather, and increase in all the branches
of industry connected with the manufacture, had no
small share in prompting that conversion of arable
lands into pasture of which so much has previously been
stated. One of the first Acts of the reign of Elizabeth has
for object the reformation of the mystery of tanning of
leather ; ^ and several other Acts are passed subse-
quently in relation not only to tanners, but also to cur-
riers, shoemakers, and other artificers occupying the
cutting of leather ; in hopes of * remedying the goodness
of leather and the excess prices thereof.'^ Whilst
abundance of raw material is secured to shoemakers
and other artificers of the realm working in leather, by
prohibition of exportation of leather, tanned or un-
tanned, or any hides for sale abroad,^ or any sheepskins,
woolfells, shorhngs, morelings or skins of any stag,
hind, buck, doe, goat, fawn or kid : * though, in 1565,
' forasmuch as great multitudes of Her Majesty's Uege
people have been set on work by converting of sheep-
skins and lambskins into tawed leather and parchment,'
the prohibition is removed as regards tawed leather of
sheepskins and lambskins.^ The girdlers also, and the
saddlers, glovers, point-makers and such like handi-
craftsmen in London and other cities, towns, and



* 1 Eliz. 165S, cc. 9, 10. As to tanners, see also 2 & 3 Edw. VI.
1548, ell.
* Forming part of the long series of Acts termed Statutes of Oord-
wainers, ue. Shoemakers, from Cordwain, Cordovan, leather from Cor-
dova, in Spain — Spanish leather.
s 1 Eliz. 1558, c. 10; 5 Eliz. 1562, c. 8; 14 Eliz. 1572, c 4; 18EUz.
1676, c. 9.
