Preface; Preface to the fourth edition; Introduction: economic differences between mediaeval and modern society; Part VI. The Mercantile System: 1. Of the mercantile system in general; Section 1. The Reign of Elizabeth: 2. Nationalism; 3. The policy of Burleigh; 4. The landed interest; 5. The monied state; Section 2. The Stuarts: 6. The necessities of state; 7. Privileged companies for commerce; 8. The regulation of social and industrial conditions; 9. The beginnings of expansion; 10. Economic investigation and maxims; Section 3. Parliamentary Colbertism: 11. The English revolution; 12. Public finance; 13. Currency and credit; 14. Parliamentary regulation of commercial development; 15. Changes in the organisation and distribution of industry; 16. Scripted proprietors and substantial tenants; 17. The beginning of the end; Part VII. Laissez Faire: 1. The workshop of the world; 2. The introduction of machinery in the textile trades; 3. Aggravations of the evils of transition; 4. Human welfare; 5. Facilities for transport; Postscript; Appendix A. Wages assessments; Appendix B. Enclosure and depopulation in 1607; Appendix C. The action of James I and Charles I in regard to trade and the colonies; Appendix D. Colonial and commercial administration under Charles II; Appendix E. Complaints from the counties, 1650; Appendix F. Statistics of progress, with diagrams showing (i) the increase in revenue and of the charge on the debt, and (ii) the growth of population and of the charge for the poor-rate; Appendix G. Some difficulties in the interpretation of historical statistics; Bibliographical index; General index.