The thing was latent throughout North-Western Europe.  There were democratic ideals (these came in part from the States - this was at one time a very important fact - cf. also import of socialist revolutionary ideals from Russia).  There was also a bourgeoisie and all that follows from that - e.g. banks.

But it was in England that they got the point.

Because England was a little less refined but also a little less complex.

It's a little like the situation of the Vikings in the early Middle Ages - they could "use it" without feeling the effects of "it" - until later.

All the little English traders and pirates (this is also like the Vikings - those guys ate Spaniards).  At home they started competing and quarrelling.  The result was a price- and quality- war, out of which grew the need for better, quicker and more efficient production.  Machines.