History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 42

at least 60 percent since the Black Death.

GYPSIES from 1500
Gypsies began to arrive in small numbers around this time. Elizabeth I tried to expel
them with her 1562 Egyptian Act.

HUGUENOTS 1560-1720
Protestants from France began coming in earnest around 1685, and increasingly after
1688. W. Cunningham writes that around 80,000 landed in England and Ireland. Some
moved to America and Germany and perhaps around 40,000 remained. The CRE
estimates 50,000 Huguenot newcomers between 1680 and 1720.
In 1558 the population was around 2,500,000. Between 1603-1625, it has been
estimated at between 4-4.5 million, and 5,600,000 in 1630. In 1750 the population of
Great Britain was probably a little over 7,000,000.

PALATINES 1693-1709
Palatines from the German Palitinate were largely unskilled and destitute. They were
based initially in Southwark. By October 1709, an estimated 13,000 had arrived in
England. Some moved on to Bolton and Liverpool, while others continued to Ireland, the
West Indies and America.

AFRICANS 1555-1833 and onwards, and WEST INDIANS
Africans arrived in small numbers due to Britain's involvement in the slave trade. For
example, Elizabeth I issued an open letter on 11 July 1596 when the population of
Britain was around 3 million, which read:
Her Majestie understanding that there are of late divers blackmoores brought into this
realme, of which kinde of people there are allready here to manie … Her Majesty's
pleasure therefore ys that those kinde of people should be sent forth of the lande, and
for that purpose there ys direction given to this bearer Edwarde Banes to take of those
blackmoores that in this last voyage under Sir Thomas Baskervile were brought into this
realme the nomber of tenn, to be transported by him out of the realme. Wherein wee
require you to be aydinge and assysting unto him as he shall have occacion, therof not
to faile.
Again in 1601 she issued a proclamation which declared herself to be: highly
discontented to understand the great numbers of negars and Blackamoores which are
crept into this realm … who are fostered and relieved here to the great annoyance of
her own liege people … should be with all speed avoided and discharged out of this Her
Majesty's dominions.
Numbers continued to remain small -- albeit to manie for Elizabeth.
However, towards the end of the 18th century, at the height of the slave trade, there

42