Great Mogul. ^ And the East India Company has existed
for nearly half a century. Those hazy dark dreams of
foreign lands have long since faded away, replaced by
dazzling visions of El Dorado, and lands and cities full
of silver, gold, and diamonds. What the mariner's
compass has effected for the world,^ the telescope has and th«
effected for the skies ; ^ we are now engaged in investi- * ^^^
gating boundless space, and

' Some had lately in the moon
Fotmd a new world to th' old unknown ;
DiacoFered sea and land Golmnbua
And Magellan could never compass.'

Briefly, the period includes a total change in the ^°^®^, ,
names and feimilies, the dwellings, the arms, dress,
manners, thought, habits, rehgion, and in many respects
the food of Englishmen. Awake old John of Gaunt to
look at Buckingham, he would with diflSculty recog-
nise that he was in England — ^tiU reminded by a requi-
sition to pay his contribution to the last ' fifteenth and
tenth;' for during the whole of this long period of
changes there was little practical alteration in our But there
system of taxation. The fiscal history of the times ^^getn
is therefore easily accomplished. After a few minutes' Engiand.^"^
delay at starting, to consider the memorable Poll Tax

' See commission to H. Heydon and C. Glemham. * Whereas wee
(Jac. L) have been moved by smidrie letters, messages^ and requests from
the Great Mougull to gratifie him with some choice arts and rareties
which our dominions are &med to afford no lesse usefuU than unknown
in those parts, &c.' 14 Sept. 1622. Foedera, xvii. 407.
* La boussole ouvrit le monde. Voltaire.
