ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses general assessment of the contribution of Bristol's illicit trade to the city's economic development and of the probable extent of smuggling in other parts of the country. If the trends in the illegal export of foodstuffs and leather are to be evaluated, the first step must be to determine the extent and nature of the restrictions placed on these goods. David Harris Sacks was aware of the problem of smuggling, as his published doctoral thesis makes clear. The level of evasion in the grain trade would have varied from zero during the brief periods when the Crown removed all restrictions on exports during the more frequent periods when political constraints prevented the Crown from issuing any export licences. For instance, Norman Gras discussion of English corn exports in the medieval period must be questioned on the grounds that much of his analysis was based on data drawn from the customs accounts.
