Part 3

And without doubt, there is much Wooll Shipped off from _Ireland_ annually, unto forreign parts; which might be as well wrought up in the countrey among themselves, there being no want of people, and such as for the most part live a lazy kind of life, (as I have credibly been informed) or elce their Wooll (if they work it not up) might soon be transported over into _England_ in twenty four hours time, or thereabout with a fair wind, and be wrought up in _England_, which would turn to a treble account of profit, as hath been already demonstrated; but this I shall refer to others, that are more knowing in the Irish trade; but I am very apt to beleive the reports that I have heard, concerning great quantities of Wooll carryed from thence, both to _France_ and _Holland_; but to lay aside the informations of others, although very well worthy of belief in all points, I shall according to my promise, in my Epistle, speak to those things of which I have had some large experience.

[Sidenote: _Clothiers leave off._]

I was a Clothier my self, and Apprentice to the Trade, many years, and afterwards set up for my self, and followed my Trade many years, thriving very well thereby, till about nineteen years agoe, that I was burnt out of all, and put upon the adventures of fortune; and taking notice of the occurrances of affairs, I did find large testimonies of the decay of Trade, with the occasions thereof, but while I did keep the Trade going, I have rode far and near, to get Spinsters, and other work folkes, and gave great Wages, as also did all other Clothiers, and yet could not procure half so many as we would have imploy’d: but suddenly after our disorders, and disregard to our Lawes as aforesaid, the Market fell, and many Clothiers were forced to leave off their Trades, because they could not vend their commodity.

All those poor people formerly so imploy’d, were ready to starve for want of bread, in and about those places, where the Clothiers left off and failed; and every day it grew worse and worse, and those confusions among us increased more & more, that very few men were of one mind, and hardly any at all, that minded the publique good: but now some thoughts are busied of restoring things to their Lustre, and trade to what it was before the decay.

Some wise men have been of the opinion, that the abating the interest of money, would greatly increase and advance trade, and very probable it might be a good lift to it.

Others again, being out of hopes of the recovery of the former trade, think men must imploy their wits, and knowledge, in the invention of some new sorts of Manufacture; and some covetous wretches, have been very ready to declare their opinion, that the increase of the interest of money, and the abatement of Servants and Workmens wages; to which, adding great frugality, and good husbandry, would make the Kingdome to be happy, and flourishing again; and many there are, that make it their business and study, to outwit and destroy other men, and under pretence of honesty, and many by clandestine means, swallow up the good and pious gifts, of our Ancestors, belonging to the Church and to the Poor; for in this our Iron age, men have left off to do good, and lost their obedience to the Lawes of the Land, and have ceased from the exercise of those two unspeakable graces, Faith and Charity.

[Sidenote: _Kingdome flourished under King +Charles+ the first._]

And therefore truly I fear we have little hopes of happiness, or being restored to our Pristine flourishing condition, till we do return to our old obedience, and exercise our selves in love and good works, fearing God and honouring the King, and not giving our minds to change, but let every one endeavour to amend one, and strike off from the error of his own waies, and endeavour his utmost to discharge a good conscience, first to God, and then to mind the publique good, calling to mind the happy condition of Trade in the Reign of King _Charles_ the first of blessed memory, when all men dreaded his Lawes, and lived in love one with another, which made the Kingdome flourish, in our trading with great success, and increase of Riches; and indeed we enjoyed so much happiness as made us proud, and forgetful of God’s mercies, and so murdered the best King in the world, by which we stript our selves of all but God’s just judgements upon the Nation, and left our selves certain of nothing but of uncertainties.

[Sidenote: _Staples appointed._]

[Sidenote: _Many good Lawes made._]

I find by our good Lawes, that great care was taken about Wooll, and all other prohibited commodities; as first in the Reign of King _Edward_ the Third, _Cap._ 1. then wooll was wholly prohibited to be exported, which was the first beginning of the promotion of making Cloth in _England_, but it seems the Nation at first could not work up all the Wooll, that was of our own growth, till the Trade was dispersed throughout the whole Kingdome, and people instructed in the Art. So that an Act of Parliament was made for the transportation of Wooll into other Countries, to a Staple appointed, at first at _Callis_, paying their due Custome first in _England_; so that those which had our Wooll in those daies paid well for it: another Statute was made to this purpose, that if any Forreigner would have any of our Wooll out of _England_, and found none at the Staple, he was to bring to the King’s Mint, an Ounce of Gold, as a duty for every sack of Wooll; and many other good Laws I find for the prevention of Abuses concerning Wooll and Cloath; and for the prevention of the Transportation of Wooll, but what did first pay the King’s duty in _England_; and was to the intent that our People might afford their Cloaths so, as to undersel Strangers; And several Staples were appointed in _England_ where Wooll was to be sold and bought, and not elsewhere; and none to be carried or lodged neer to the Water-side, nor bought nor bargained, but by _Cloathiers_ and such as wrought it up, or by Merchants and their Factors under several Penalties: Many other good Laws have been made since the time of King _Edward_, for the keeping our Wooll and Fullers-earth in _England_, to imploy our own poor People, and advance the Manufacture of the old and new Drapery, so happily set on foot by the prudence and diligence of that King, & then there was Obedience from all persons rendred to the good Laws of the Land; which good Laws have been Successively ever since continued, by almost every Parliament, with such Additions or Exemplifications as were found to be necessary, for the prohibition of the Exportation of Wooll and Fullers-earth; by which means we both got, and kept the whole Manufacture of our own Wooll, and a good part of other Countries among our selves in this Kingdom, till the time of our late unhappy Confusions.

And if the Book called the _Golden Fleece_, with some of Sir _Walter Rawleigh’_s Works, which do fully demonstrate the great blessings of God on this Kingdom of _England_ above any other, for the imployment of the poor people were well inspected, and answerably improved, it would be a means to make the Kingdom happy and flourishing.

_I shall here give a brief Recital of several Statutes more concerning Wooll and Cloath._

[Sidenote: _Stat. 15. of Ed. 3. ca. 8._]

First, that no Cloath made beyond Seas, shall be brought into the King’s Dominions, on pain to forfeit the same, and to be further punished at the King’s will.

[Sidenote: _Stat. 15. of Ed. 3. ca. 5._]

That all _Cloath-workers_, and Artificers in the trade of Cloathing, that came out of other Countries into the Kingdom, had the King’s Protection to dwell where they pleased, and convenient Franchizes and great privilidges were at first allowed them for their incouragement; maintained at a publique charge out of the King’s Exchequer.

[Sidenote: _Stat 18. of Ed. 3. cap. 3._]

[Sidenote: _Stat. 8. Hen. 6. ca. 22._]

[Sidenote: _Stat. 23. H. 8. cap. 17._]

[Sidenote: _Stat. 31. Ed. 3. ca. 8._]

[Sidenote: _Stat. 13. E. 3. cap. 9._]

I find there that Strangers as well as Natives, might have bought Wooll as they could agree, and that great care was taken to avoid Deceits, to abate and lessen the prices of wooll, and to avoid false Packing, false Winding, and false Ballances, and to have one just Weight throughout _England_, proved and tried by the respective Sheriffs of every County, according to the Standard of the Exchequer: and that no buyer of Wooll, (Stat. 13. of _Edw._ 3. cap. 2.) should make any refuse or wast, but an equal hand should be carried between buyer and seller; and this upon grievous Forfeitures, as Stat. 12. _Rich._ 2. cap. 9. Also that all Wooll-felles and Leather bought in the Countries, should be brought to the Staples which were appointed on purpose, where Wooll and such commodities were to be sold, and should remain there fifteen days at least, for the supply of our own people who were to have the first choice, or as much as they would work up, and then the remainer which could not be wrought up in _England_, were to be sent to publique places in the day time, and from thence to the Ports appointed on purpose for the staples to be Transported, after the Buyers had paid their due Customs and Subsidies, (_Viz._) for every sack of Wooll, which contained 94 Pounds, 2 pounds 10 shillings: and for every 300 of Wooll-felles two pounds ten shillings, and for every last of Leather, five pounds; and that no wooll vendible should be lodged, shewed or sold, within three miles of the Staple, by any Merchant, Buyer, or Transporter, or any others, but such as had of their own growth, and no other: And the Chancellour, Treasurer, with the advice others of the Kings Councel, had power to defer the Transportation of Wooll, when, and as often as they saw it convenient.

[Sidenote: _Stat. 2. of Hen. 5._]

It was then ordered, that no Merchant of the Staple, should Transport Wooll, Woollfells, Lead, or Tin, without the King’s Licence, until they were brought to the Staple, on pain to forfeit the same.

[Sidenote: _27. Ed. 3. ca. 3._]

[Sidenote: _28. Ed. 3._]

[Sidenote: _8 Hen. 5. cap. 2._]

It was then made Fellony to Transport Wooll, by the Statute of the Staples, as you may find it concerning the Transportation of Wooll, by _English_ Merchants, but this Statute for Fellony was repealed, the 38 of _Edw._ 3. _Stat._ 1. and 6. and the forfeiture for Lands and Goods, was still continued, and in _March_ the 37. of _Edw._ 3. the Staple for the sale of Wooll was fixed at _Callis_.

[Sidenote: _Stat. 47. E. 3. cap. 1._]

Then the Staple aforesaid was removed from _Callis_, and clearly put down, 43. _Edw._ 3. _Cap._ 1. and the Staples appointed and fixed in _England_, at the places following: _Viz._ at _Newcastle_, _Kingston +upon+ Hull_, _St. Buttolphs Boston_, _Yarmouth_, _Quinborough_, _Westminster_, _Chester_, _Winchester_, _Exeter_, and _Bristol_, and the Staples of _Ireland_ and _Wales_, were to be kept where first they were ordained, and several other good clauses were added concerning the Regulation of the Staples, as may be seen at large, in the Statute of the Staple, 27. _Edw._ 3.

[Sidenote: _Sta. 8 Hen. 5. cap. 2_]

[Sidenote: _Stat. 8. He. 5. cap. 2._]

[Sidenote: _Stat. 1. Ed. 6. cap. 6._]

[Sidenote: _Stat. 2._]

[Sidenote: _Stat. 3. Ed. 4. cap. 5._]

It was there appointed, that all Merchants, Strangers, that bought wooll in _England_, to conveigh to the _West_ parts, or elsewhere, that did not bring them to some of the Staples to be sold, were to bring to the Master of the Kings Mint, for every sack of Wooll which contained ninety four pounds, an ounce of Gold Bulloin, or the value in silver Bulloin, on pain to forfeit such Wooll, or the value thereof to the King absolutely. I also find that great care was taken that no persons in _Norfolke_ should buy wooll there, and in divers other Countries thereabout, for fear they should Transport it, but only those Merchants which carried it to the Staples, or those which did convert it into Yarn, Hats, Girdles or Cloth: And that such woolls as were bought in _Norfolke_, and _Norwich_, and those Countries, were to be sold and retailed in the open Market, if not carryed to the Staples: And that those in _Hallifax_, were to sell what Wooll they bought to those poor people in the town, or parts adjacent; who to their knowledge did work up the same into Cloth, or Yarn: and if the Wooll driver did sell his wooll out of _Hallifax_, or if any of the town bought to sell again, unwrought, into yarn, or cloth, every such Offender did forfeit their double value of the wooll, so sold, or uttered, the one half to the King, and the other half to the Prosecutor, and the Justices of the Peace, in their Sessions, were to determine the same. Many sorts of wares and Merchandises were prohibited to be brought into the Realm, ready wrought, which were wrought and made by Hand-crafts-men.

[Sidenote: _Stat. 14. cap. 121. 13._]

That all forreign Bone lace, cuttings, Embroydery, French Bandstrings, buttons, needle-work, &c. were prohibited to be brought into this Realm.

[Sidenote: _Stat. 12. cap. 2. 32._]

None shall export any sheep, or wooll, wooll felles, Martlings, Yarn, Fullers earth, Fulling clay, nor carry, load, nor convey the same to be transported, upon several penalties, as well upon the owners of the sheep, as the persons that shall convey the same. This Statute at large is worth the perusing, and might do much good to the Kingdome, if it was duly observed, by all the Kings Subjects; but the behaviours of our people in _England_, are not as they were in former times, for then a Law was no sooner made, but all men took immediate notice of it, and did willingly yield their obedience thereto; but the people have been so accustomed to the breach of Law, and Rebellion, that in reason, it cannot suddenly be forgotten, and desisted from, by many people, for men now adayes are grown so Critically wise to do evil, that let the King, with the advice of the Lords and Commons, make use of their best discretion, and judgements, in framing Laws for the publique good, and wording them according to the most proper sence, by them intended, yet some ordinary fellow, that hath store of confidence, and a little money, (and that it may be gained by Cheating too,) one way or another will find a hole in them, to transgress those Lawes, and if they are called in question, then they have tricks and evil devices, enough to torment those that do faithfully discharge their Oathes, and Consciences for the publique good, as I my self can speak sufficiently, concerning this and such like cases, by my sad experience.

[Sidenote: _Stat. 13 E. 3._]

It was made Fellony for any English, Welsh or Irish, to transport Wooll, wooll felles, Leather, Lead, &c. and a second clause in the last Act was, that no English, Welsh, or Irish-man shall transport any of the said commodities, in any strangers name, or keep a servant beyond the Seas, to survey the sale thereof, or to receive money therefore; a third clause in the said Act was, that there should be no exchange of wares for Merchandise of the Staple, but Gold or Silver, or English, Welch or Irish Merchandise, neither shall any Merchant make any confederacy, in fraud or deceipt to this Ordinance, upon the paines aforesaid. A fourth Clause in the said Act was, that it should be lawful for every man to carry his own Wooll, Wooll felles, Leather or Lead, to the Staple, warranting the packing of this Wooll.

[Sidenote: _Stat. 4. H. 4. ca. 15._]

Merchants were prohibited the exporting the money, which they received in _England_, for their Merchandise, and goods imported, but they were to lay out their money again, upon some of the Merchandise of this Realm, except their reasonable Expences.

[Sidenote: _Stat. 17 E. 4. cap. 1._]

All Merchants strangers, were enjoyned to lay out their Money, they received for their Merchandise imported into this Realm again, in some Merchandise of this Realm, and to prove the laying of their money so out, and by whom it was so layd out, before the Officers of the Port, where it was so disposed of, or laid out, upon the penalty of forfeiting all his goods found within the Realm, and to suffer a years Imprisonment.

[Sidenote: _Stat. 15. Hen. 4. ca._]

[Sidenote: _Stat. 1. Ric. 3. cap. 16. 9._]

All Merchants strangers were bound to give security, to the King’s Customer and Controller, to imploy their money upon the commodities of this Realm, their reasonable costs excepted, and Italian Merchants were to sell their Goods where they did land them in gross, and not by retail, and their money so received, to be laid out again in the Realm, within the space of eight moneths.

These and such like Statutes and Lawes might do very much good, to encrease the Tradeing of the kingdome, if they were enquired into, and revived with such addition as might be necessary, for now we send all our money out of the Kingdome, and vend but small quantities of our Manufactures, but onely our native commodities, which are prohibited, which quite ruines our Trade.

[Sidenote: _14 cap. 2. Stat. 14._]

It shall be Fellony for any that shall transport any Sheep, Wooll, wooll fells, martlings, shorlings, yarn made of wooll, wooll flocks, fullers earth, fulling clay, Tobacco-pipe clay, _&c._ this Act I do beleive if not repealed, will do much injury now adaies, although it was intended for publique good, for I fear it will hinder many people from discovering the Offenders, and breakers of the Law, though they were sure to have never so great a reward for it, for many men will be very cautelous, how they touch the life of a man, though they do deserve death, more a thousand times than the Theif that robs on the High-way, for a Theif doth but take away part of a particular mans Estate, but these wretches that transgress the Kings Laws in transporting Wooll, _&c._ to forreigners, destroy as much as in them lyes, the happiness of a whole Kingdome, and are the procuring causes and Instruments, to bring many thousands to great miseries and languishing deaths.

There were many good Laws made, for the setling the Aulingers Office, and preventing frauds and deceipts in work, in all sorts of Drapery, both old and new, which are too tedious to recite, though many of them be very necessary to be observed, for the credit and reputation of our Manufacture, but I shall only set forth, where they are to be found, and refer the ingenious, and judicial, to the perusal of the Statutes themselves, which are the Statutes concerning Wooll and clothing. _25. of Edw. 3. Cap. 4. 27. Ed. 3. Stat. 4. 50. Ed. 3. Stat. 7. and 8. 3. Ric. 2. cap. 2. Stat. 7. Ric. 29. 13. Ri. 2. Stat. 10. 13. Ric. 2. Stat. 11. 17. Ric. 2. Stat. 2. and 13. 13 Hen. 4. Stat. 24. 9 Hen. 4. Stat. 2. 11 Hen. 4. Stat. 6. 11 Hen. 6. Stat. 9. 4 Ed. 4. Stat. 1. 7 Edw. 4. Stat. 2. 17 Edw. 4. Stat. 3. 7 Edw. 4. Stat. 5. 1 Rich. 3. Stat. 3. and 4. 3 Hen. 7. Stat. 7. and 71. 3 Hen. 8. Stat. 7. and 8. 5 Hen. 2. Stat. 8. 1 Hen. 8. Stat. 11. 6 Hen. 8. Stat. 9. 25 Hen. 8. Stat. 18. 27 Hen. 8. Stat. 11. 6 Hen. 8. Stat. 9. 25 Hen. 8. Stat. 18. 27 Hen. 8. and Stat. 13. 33 He. 8. Stat. 3. 33 Hen. 8. Stat. 19. 4 Eliz. 6. Stat. and 2. and 5. 3 Phil. and Mary 11. 4 and 5 Stat. 3 Phil. and M. Stat. 4 and 5. 5 Phil. and Mary Stat. 5. and 8. 7 Eliz. Stat. 12. 33 Eliz. Stat. 9. 27 Eliz. Stat. 18. 39 Eliz. Stat. 11. 29 Eliz. Stat. 20._

Cards for Wooll, were prohibited to be brought out of other Countries into _England_ or _ Wales_; none were to transport sheep beyond Sea, without the King’s Licence, there was a limitation upon keeping Sheep, and an appointment how many sheep each man should keep, upon the penalty of 3 Shill. 4 pence, for every sheep more than his number.

[Sidenote: _Loss by the Poor not set at work._]

And if it be as the Company of Silk-Weavers, and Ribbon-weavers say, (as doubtless it is,) there are an hundred thousand people small and great, that depends upon that trade in and about the City of _London_, then how many may be supposed rationally to be in the whole Kingdome, that have their dependance on the trade of clothing, in the old and new Drapery, and other Trades, which have a dependence upon, or relation unto the Trade of Clothing, and which know not how to earn a penny any other way, since that trade is in a great measure lost, and left off; but these poor people live idly, and go a begging for their bread, among which also are many children from 8 years of age to 15, which can very well get a living about the trade of clothing, for that they can sort Wooll, mix it, Spole, Quil, Pick Teasels, prick Card-wiers, &c. and which in the time of good trading, could constantly earn eighteen pence, twenty pence or two shillings a week, but now very few of them, have any imployment as aforesaid; and if I should suppose but a Million of such poor people, throughout the Kingdome, which should every one get his eighteen pence a week, it would amount to, Three Millions nine hundred thousand pounds in a year, which is so much clear loss to the Kingdome; besides I know that there are many hundred thousands more of such people which live idly, and get nothing. Since we have left off so much of the Clothing trade in _England_, as hath been already intimated, the evil effects and consequents thereof, I humbly desire to leave and commit to the consideration of those that are more judicious in the Political affairs of the Common-wealth, to have suitable Remedies, as to their grave wisdome and Prudence might seem to be meet and necessary, I endeavouring only to be a layer open of the sore, and refer to the skilful Chyrurgeon for a healing Plaister.

[Sidenote: _Lawes to be Prosecuted._]

[Sidenote: _Punishment of Offenders._]