Page:Studies in Irish History, 1649-1775 (1903).djvu/105

Charles II Irish vessels; but by an amended act passed three years later, Ireland was excluded from all trade with the colonies, and, by an act of 1670, this exclusion was confirmed." The blow thus struck at Irish prosperity was a serious one; it was almost immediately followed by another more serious still. The excellence of Irish pasture had long been famous, and, within a few years after the subjugation of their enemies, the Cromwellians had begun to drive a thriving trade in cattle. During the years which immediately followed the Restoration English rents fell heavily; and this fall was very generally, but very erroneously, attributed to the Irish trade. It was the general opinion of English statesmen that "in a point evidently for the benefit and advantage of England, Ireland ought not to be put into the scale, because it would be some inconvenience there," an opinion which was long accepted in England as axiomatic. A Bill was accordingly introduced and passed with almost indecent rapidity, absolutely prohibiting the importation into England of Irish cattle, meat, butter and cheese. The House of Lords would have been content to describe the traffic as a "detriment"; the Commons stickled for the harsher word, "nuisance"; Lord Ashley wished that it should be made a felony and subjected to 93