's
Chamberlain, the Earl of Shrewsbury, settled on his own estate at Sheffield,
and the neighbourhood thenceforward became known for the manufacture of
shears, sickles, knives of every kind, and scissors.

About this time (1613), according to a survey, Sheffield contained about 2207
inhabitants, of whom the most wealthy were "100 householders, which relieve
the others, but are poore artificers, not one of whom can keep a team on his
own land, and above ten have grounds of their own, which will keep a cow." In
1624, an act of the incorporation of cutlers was passed, entituled "An act
for the good order and government of the makers of sickles, shears, scissors,
and other cutlery wares in Hallamshire and parts near adjoining."

Gilbert, seventh Earl of Shrewsbury, the last of the male line of the house
of Talbot, who inherited the Hallamshire estates, died on the 8th May 1616,
leaving three daughters, co-heiresses. The Lady Alethea Talbot, the
youngest, married the Earl of Arundel, and the other two, dying without issue
in 1654, the whole estates descended to her grandson, Thomas Howard, Earl of
Arundel, who was restored to the title of Duke of Norfolk by Charles II., on
his restoration, and in that family a considerable property in Sheffield
remains to this day--not without narrow escapes of extinction. Charles James
Fox's friend, Jockey of Norfolk, was one of a family which seems to afford
every contrast of character in possession of the title.

In the great civil wars, Sheffield was the scene of more than one contest. In
1644, on the 1st August, after the battle of Marston Moor, the castle was
besieged by twelve thousand infantry dispatched by the Earl of Manchester,
compelled to surrender in a few days, and demolished by order of parliament.

The manor was dismantled in 1706 by order of Thomas Duke of Norfolk, and the
splendid park, shaven of its great trees, was converted into building land,
or accommodation land, part of which is still known by the name of the Park.

During the eighteenth century the Sheffield trade was entirely confined to
the home market, and chiefly conducted by pack horses. In 1751 a step toward
extension was made by the completion of works, which rendered the Don
navigable up to Tinsley. In 1819 the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal was
completed; and now Manchester, Leeds, Hull, and Liverpool, are all within a
morning's ride.

The art of silver-plating was invented at Sheffield by Thomas Bol