Norwich was the largest and wealthiest provincial city in England throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. It was well-governed and justly famed for its contributions to England's economic development and for its far-sighted initiatives with poor relief, which served as guidelines for the great Elizabethan poor laws. As with other towns, Norwich suffered from economic depression in the early 16th century, especially of its textile trade, but this was offset by developing its functions as a major provincial centre and by attracting large numbers of Dutch and Walloon refugees.