I humbly conceive of the so much unsetled Estate of this Kingdome according to the knowne Lawes It is not the abatement of Tunnage and Poundage as the case now stands with us will much conduce to the saving or inlarging of Trade or to the better vent of our Manufactures it may rather prove of bad consequence for if wee make an abatement forraigne Princes and States which now make little account or esteeme of us witnesse the Emperour of Muscovia who hath taken all our Merchants priviledges from them which may prove the undoing of all our Trade in his Territories As also the Gran Signior by his so much adhering to the strange suggestions of Sir Sackvile Crow against our Levant Merchants which had like to have been the losse of all the Estates they had in his Dominions which to save cost no small summe of money and yet not knowne what the issue may be notwithstanding what your Majestie hath since done in their behalfe viz. by sending or dispatching hence of another Ambassadour and your effectual writing unto the Gran Signior touching that businesse it shewes however how sensible your Majestie is and was of their great and unjust sufferings but as have said if wee make an abatement of duties upon goods they in forraigne States may make an Inhaunsment now that they are fallen into the making of such Manufactures as are here made the better to advance and put forward the making of their owne and for other advantages they may make unto themselves thereby This Remedy oâ—Medicine may make the disease worse but timely application of the other will doubt esse make it better and more easie as have said to be borne for then will your Majesties Subjects of all degrees and in all parts be encouraged to go on with confidence in the usuall wayes of their severall professions and callings improving that little which they have yet left which otherwise will inevitably at last be consumed and the Trade of the Kingdome almost lost specially in forraigne parts which being chiefly in Woollen Manufactures must cease if the materiall be wanting which want must follow if that small remainer of Sheep be consumed and such a consumption will ensue together with the Workmasters of the said Manufactures some of them through want of meanes to subsist with by their usuall labour here in their native Countrey will doubtlesse as divers already as before said goe and seeks it in forraigne parts and others staying at home take other bad courses for their support as is in the Remonstrance set forth if these distractions still continue Thus have I as briefly as I could made bold to make knowne unto your Majesty according to my weake ability the most materiall of what hath been offered unto me touching this subject humbly desiring your Majesty would be pleased to make such a favorable construction thereof as he undoubtedly doth of your earnest and longing desire of a speedy composure of these unhappy differences and the welfare of your Majesties subjects That is Your Majesties most humble and loyall Subject John Battie TO THE Right Honorable the tvvo Houses of Parliament To the Army under the Command of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax AND To the rest of his Majesties Subjects in generall IT is the part of every true lover of his Countrey specially in a time of publick sufferings to employ his utmost endeavour for the generall good and not to have the least thought on particular or private ends then will he have his thoughts much busied about the state and condition of it which if finds good will bee ready in as much as in him lyeth so to keepe it if bad seeke an amendment and if danger threaten indeavour the prevention Now wee being still in a way of losing our Golden Fleece the onely life as it were of our Manufactures and consequently of all the considerable part of the Trade of the Kingdome it behoves us all to recollect and call up all the wisdome and knowledge wee have and imploy the same to the prevention of so great so irreparable a losse To which end or purpose I have taken the boldnesse to addresse my selfe unto His Majestie the head of our Body politique as in the first place I was and am in duty bound shewing the cause some of the bad effects and remedy of the melady of the which find His Majestie very sensible O that wee his Subjects were the like as also very ready to doe whatsoever in reason may be expected from a Gracious King And now I addresse my selfe unto you all being members of the same Body politique and the matter of equall concernment to both King and People humbly desiring that as His Majesty on His part so you would on yours be sensible of the sufferings of Trade and as He so you would also be ready to joyne together in a way of timely prevention of such further mischiefs as by decay of our Manufactures may befall it that your Children and all future Ages which shall succeed may not have the least cause of complaint against you for any remisnesse or neglect of or in a worke of such high concernment to the Commonwealth Which if they will be ready to say what a kind of men were our Forefathers The King was willing and ready but they not and so blame them for the non-discharging of their duty to their Countrey condemne them for their great ingratitude both to King and Kingdome and lastly cry out O that wee never had had our being from such Ancestors I need not in this place trouble you with repetition of any particulars mentioned in the Letter to His Majestie but referre you to the same of the which it is my earnest desire you will 〈◊〉 take a view as likewise of the ensuing discourse of the excellency of our Wooll in the improvement by or in our Manufactures Of all which and of what is here said that a benigne construction may bee made it is the humble desire of Him that is a true lover of all good men and a hearty welwisher of the welfare of this poore distressed Kingdome and to that end hee heartily prayeth for the removall of all feares and jealousies a totall forgetfulnesse of all errours and mis-understandings on all sides an unfained reconciliation of all differences between King and People as also between Subject and Subject and a speedy setling of a firme and lasting peace which ought or rather is and still will be the prayer of all good men as it is againe and againe of Him that is His Majesties humble and loyall Subject and the Kingdomes cordiall Servant JOHN BATTIE I crave leave to make this Addition occasioned by the Kings late Message to the two Honorable Houses of Parliament HAving this lying by me ready for the Presse came His Majesties Gracious Message from the Isle of Wight dated Novembr. 16. of the which all impartiall and unbiased men take speciall notice still declaring His
THE MERCHANTS REMONSTRANCE PUBLISHED In the time of the late Warre Revived and inlarged Wherein is set forth the inevitable miseries which may suddenly befall this Kingdome by want of Trade and decay of Manufactures With Copy of A Letter to the Kings Majestie presented unto Him at Hampton Court October 30. 1647. SHEWING 1. The want of such a due regard as was fit for the preservation of Trade in the time of the late Warre 2. Some of the bad effects it hath since produced 3. The offer of the Authors opinion what may best bee done for Remedy ALSO A Letter to the Right Honorable the two Houses of Parliament To the Army under the command of His Excellency Sir Tho. Fairfax And to the rest of His Majesties Subjects in generall Whereunto is annexed A Discourse of the Excellencie of Wooll manifested by the Improvement in its Manufactures and the great good thence arising before the late Warre By JOHN BATTIE of London Merchant Published by Authority London Printed by Ric. Cotes for William Hope at the Vnicorne in Cōrnehill neare the Royall Exchange 1648. To the Reader READER MY Profession being that of a Merchant thou must expect the Language and stile in this REMONSTRANCE answerable thereunto Let thy thoughts be upon the matter it selfe weigh it well for it is of such concernment to the welfare of the whole Kingdome that it must stand and fall with it Farewell John Battie To my much esteemed Friend Mr. Battie SIR I Perused with no lesse profit then pleasure your manuscript wherein you discourse with so much judgement of Trade discovering the causes of the present impairment thereof and how it may be improved hereafter Whereby I find that a publike soule and the affections of a good Patriot dwell in you things God-wot which are rarely found now in England such is the hard fate of the times wherein men scrue up their braines and stretch all their sinews to draw water to their own Mills only though to the prejudice of the Common-good But they are much out of their account who think that private fortunes can long subsist if the publike begin to languish unlesse a care be had of Ware River Middletons pipes will run but poorly and every one will find it in his private Cisterns This Tract of yours may serve for a true prospective to the English Merchant to see the visible calamities that are already upon him as also for a Larum bell to awake his slumbring spirits to a timely prevention of farre greater And well fare your heart for it So I rest Your faithfull friend to dispose of Iames Howell To the Reader OUr worthy Merchant shewed hath the pare Of a good Subject and his Countries friend And as a knowing man a man of Art He hath prescrib'd a way Trade to amend Let us the counsell then of Battie take It may revive us All and happy make A dang'rous wound admits not long delay Lest it prove mortall so may't be with Trade Whilst time is offered and when we may Let us apply the * Mea'cine he hath made Or rather us advis'd Trades wounds to cure Nothing in reason so certaine so sure However let 's unto our Merchant give Due thankes and praise for this his good respect Unto our Trade he showes how it may live Whilst many carelesse are and it neglect Of such wish we had lesse of Batties store And so farewell good friend I 'le say no more T. D. To the Reader PHysitian-like Battie showes the cause Of a disease that 's great 't is Trades defect Then he prescribes a medicine the knowne Lawes Which might it helpe then let 's not it neglect The like unto 't is not under Heaven Let 's pray and pray that it may be given And having thus prescrib'd a med'cine right On his discourse on Englands Gemme doth fall Whose splendour is so fulgent and so bright That dazle well it may the eyes of All Excelling all Gemmes else without dispute Let 's doe our best to keepe it in repute And to good Battie we are All much bound For the discov'ry he hath for us made Till then it seemed hidden in the ground Now let 's looke to 't the way he having laid In his small booke which great in worth doth show All which distressed England ought to know F. N. To Mr. Battie the Author IUdicious Friend thy Booke I viewed have The lines are few the matter much I finde And of such consequence that it doth crave The eares of All and All oblige and binde Their best assistance to afford and give It to observe All may the better live And live in peace abhorring thoughts of wars The spoyle of * That thou seekest to maintaine And free the Kingdome from unhappy jars Producing pounds of losse no penny gaine Profit and losse accompt doth tell us so But thou advisest a gaining way to goe Thankes we thee give thou showest still thy care Of this poore kingdomes welfare and it 's good And as before so now thou do'st declare Thy selfe for peace an enemy to blood At first thou sayd'st it would be Traffickes bane Together with this Kingdomes long wonne gaine And now good friend take this for a farewell That when pale death thy life hath ta'ne away This thy small Booke shall after Ages tell Thou did'it thy part to help our Trades decay Good men will joyne with thee they 'l not sit still But ready be to stop so great an ill R. P. To all the Merchants of England IN this small booke our friend doth open lay The cause the bad effects and onely cure Of a Disease that 's bad it 's Trades decay Me thinkes you should it feele and not endure So great an ill but presently extend Your utmost helpe and force it to amend For you my noble friends may well discerne Nothing is better for this Kingdomes good But you in speciall it doth concerne 'T is your chiefest welfare your livelyhood If you be forc'd from Traffick to desist How then will you be able to subsist And of our Merchant have a good esteeme He it deserves for he his part hath done This Kingdomes Trade and Commerce to redeeme From losse and keepe the gaine it hath long wonne And so my Merchants I bid you all Adieu Wishing good may of this Advice ensue G. T. To the Reader THis I le post over and you shall surely see That which our Nation wants it's excellency Commerce its welfare is the kingdomes gaine See Battie cares for All from King to Swaine He shall admired be in after times He proves our Fleece above great Philips Mines And when our Nation shall with Peace be blest The King and People live with joy and rest A due remembrance let of him be made He did his utmost to preserve our Trade He loves His King the Lawes Concord and Peace Knowing they are the meanes of Trades Increase When from these principles you start aside Let Plunder Famine
thought they equalled the value if not exceeded all the Silver Gold and all other Commodities imported out of India into Spaine in one yeare which might be estimated to import the value of 4 or 5 Millions of pounds of our English money by the which may be gathered in how great measure His Majesties Subjects in generall in one kind or other were benefitted by the Trade arising from the said Manufactures To the which may be added the great benefit other Kingdomes and States had thereby partly in matter of duties paid unto them upon or by the same as also upon such commodities as wee had from them in returne of the Proceed amongst which chiefly Spaine for the great duties paid there a very great increase of that Kings Revenue And partly in matter of Trade not onely at home among themselves and their neighbouring countries but also into others farre more remote as for example The Gran Signior or Great Turkes Subjects in Constantinople Aleppo send a good part of the Clothes they buy there of our Levant or Turkey Merchants into divers parts of this Dominions many hundreds of miles distant thence The Spaniards carry great store as have said into West India The Portuguezes or Portugall Merchants into East India some but more to Brazil and other parts belonging to the Crowne of Portugall The Hollanders and Hamburgers into Russia as also into parts within the Baltick Sea and sundry other Countries notwithstanding the Trade we have our selves in most of those parts with the like Manufactures I could inlarge my self much in shewing the great benefit they further have by our said Manufactures but this may suffice And now I come to the Improvement of Wooll in our Manufactures by the foure particulars before mentioned And first for the Say a sort commonly called a Hundscot Say contayning in length 24. yards or thereabout and might weigh 13. pound to the making whereof might so much Wooll bee spent as stood in or cost the Clothier 17 s. and was sold to the Merchant in those times I meane before the warre for 52 s. which shipt for Naples and the proceed returned in Naples throwne Silk a good returne for the setting of the poore on worke came to be sold here by the Merchant for a matter of 4 l. 7 s. 6 d. Secondly the Perpetuano Cont. in length 23. yards and might weigh 16. pound the Wooll for its making might stand the Clothier in 21 s. and was sold by the Merchant for 62 s. which sent to Dantzigk and the proceed returned in the best Flax a good returne likewise to set the poore on worke came to bee sold by the Merchant for a matter of 5 l. Thirdly the Baye cont. Flemish Elis 52. each Ell being â— of a yard English measure for by the Flemish Ell Bayes are sold by the Clothier and might weigh 38. pound the Wooll for its making might cost the Clothier 35 s. and was sold to the Merchant at 2 s. per Ell is 5 l. 4 s. which sent for the parts of Spain and the proceed returned in Oyle Leakage deducted came to bee sold by the Merchant for 9 l. 6 s. 8 d. Fourthly the Cloth cont. in length 32. yards and might weigh 76. pound so much Wooll for its making might be spent as cost the Clothier 4 l. and was sold to the Merchant for 12 l. which sent to Hamburg and the proceed returned in Steele came to be soâ—â—â— for 15 l. A further proofe of the Improvement might be made in another of our Manufactures viz. a paire of white Worstead knit Stockings for a man to the making whereof might be spent so much Wooll as cost 6 d. and sold by the maker or knitter for 4 s. But what have said of th' other 4 particulars may suffice to shew the Excellency of it viz. Wooll by the improvement in our Manufactures Now here being a great Advance or Improvement raised from Wooll the materiall of our said Manufactures beside what was gained by the first owner of the Wooll or Wooll Grower viz. From 17 s. Which the Wooll of the Say cost to 52 s. the Clothiers price and after to 4 l. 7 s. 6 d. the Merchants price of the returne for proceed From â— 21 Which the Wooll of the Perpetuane cost to 62 s. the Clothiers price and after to 5 l. the Merchants price of the proceed From 35 s. Which the Wooll of the Baye cost to 5 l. 4 s. the Clothiers price and then to 9 l. 6 s. 8 d. the Merchants price of the returne of the Proceed From 4 l. Which the Wooll of the Broad Cloth cost to 12 l. the Clothiers price and then to 15 l. the Merchants price of the Proceed It will be thought the Clothiers and Merchants Gaines were not a littie specially the Merchants to which answer And first for that of the Clothier who if he gained clearely a matter of 2 s. by a Saye of the price of 52 s. thought it well the rest of the money went among the Workefolk which were many some of their payment being no more then from 2 d. to 6 d. for a dayes worke A small gaine for the Clothier it may be thought indeed to be no more then 2 s. in 50. And so the gaine unto other Clothiers may bee judged to bee thereabout arising unto them from other Manufactures in such a proportion as was answerable to the value or price of their Manufactures as if a long Cloth of 32. yards might bee sold to the Merchant for 10 l. which being 4 times the value of the Saye this Gaine might be 4 times so much as that of the Saye viz. 8 s. and sometime lesse according as the market rul'd Secondly the Merchants Gaine it was then so little and is now lesse then it may be made appeare for some yeares past most of them have not gained by their Trade one time with another 10 per Centum per Annum and for the most part raise their Gaine by their Commodities exported and lose by what is imported but this indeed more particularly by that Company or Fellowship commonly called by the name of Merchant Adventurers That Trade is certainly best for the Kingdome by which the Gaine ariseth from what is exported and losse by what is imported So that this great advance of or from the materiall Wooll commeth to arise first from the Manufacture or making secondly from sundry sorts of charges or duties whence that duty of Tunnage Poundage commonly called Custome was much improved Trade increased Ships imployed and all His Majesties Subjects of all professions in one kind or other were bettered or profited by it And now having done with this discourse leave it unto rationall and knowing men to judge of what excellency our Wooll was in its Manufactures before the late Warre and well weighing what have said thereof suppose it will be concluded that it farre exceeded all Spaines Silver mines in West India as also all
the Dominions of Spaine not any in those times nor before being there made And among the Merchants in Her Majesties time were Sir Thomas Gresham Her Majesties Cape or chiefe Merchant and Sir John Spencer an Alderman of London both of no little note the former famous for the building of the Royall Exchange so named by Her Majestie at his owne charge which cost with the purchase of the ground as I have heard 36000. l. or thereabout a great deale of money specially in those times The latter much taken notice of in regard of his great estate which was thought to be 300000 l. or rather more both which got a great part of their respective Estates especially the former by their Trade in English Cloth in the parts of Spaine before said But upon the breaking out into a warre with that King some great reason of State doubtlesse urging he not onely prohibits all Commerce or Trade with England but likewise the importing of all English Commodities by all others in amity with Him by which meanes His Subjects comming to want their usuall supplies of our Cloth fell into making of Cloth themselves procuring some Workefolke from abroad and is since so much increased that store hath been and is still sent into the parts of Italy and elsewhere so that we came wholly to lose the vent of that Manufacture not onely in those parts but also in others which make use of the Cloth of Spaine otherwise ours t is like might have found vent in the said parts Hence it followeth that warre with forraigne States is destructive to our Manufactures The totall losse then of our broad Cloth in Spaines Dominions and the great decay of the said Manufacture caused by the aforesaid project of Sir William Cockaine gave it such an incurable wound asit could never since bee healed nor like having contracted such a Malignant humour in the body of the Manufacture of our old Drapery that it corrodeth daily more and more like unto an exulcerated Cancer or Canker never ceasing untill it hath pearced the vitall parts And so is it like to bee with the Manufacture of our new Drapery viz. Bayes Kersies Perpetuano's Sayes Stockings c. which came to a great height in the time of King James and of our Gracious King Charles till of late giving such a life to trade that it seemed not to be very sensible of the decayed condition of our old Drapery but likewise it viz. our said new Drapery is already fallen into a very consumptive disease causing it to languish and waste much and unlesse some good meanes bee forthwith used to restore both old and new to some measure of strength againe they will daily grow more and more infirme till at last for recovery leave or forsake this our English Aire and goe into forraigne specially where they first received breath which was chiefly Flanders for till King Edward the thirds time wee had little or no broad Cloth made here in England but shipt out our Wooll for the parts of Flanders before said which in those times was to be had very cheape And the King foreseeing the great good the making of Cloth would bee unto this Kingdome attempted to put it in practise and to that end he procured sundry Workemen from abroad endowed them with sundry priviledges and immunities and put them upon making of Cloth which in processe of time tooke such effect that partly by reason of the want of our Wooll and partly in regard of the goodnesse and cheapnesse of the said Cloth Flanders came almost to lose that Manufacture but upon this Innovation or change Flanders prohibited the Importation of all English Cloth so that our Clothiers who had store on their hands could not vent them The King buyes the Cloth and burnes it lest the Clothiers should have been inforced for want of imployment to give over the making supposing it seemes that the people of Flanders would be inforced at last in some measure to make use of those made here The premisses considered the preservation of our Manufactury me thinks should bee as Thornes or Goads unto out sides to put us in minde that in all respects wee ought to have such an especiall care thereof as not to attempt any thing which may in the least expose our Manufactures to the hazard of losse no losse almost that can befall this Kingdome being comparable unto it But admit that forraigne Nations notwithstanding what hath been said will in some measure have need of some of our Woollen Manufactures wee shall not bee able to furnish them therewith the chiefe materiall Wooll being wanting which want must follow when our Sheep are destoyed and with them all other kinde of Cattell if this most unnaturall war continue but a short time The Hollanders are an industrious and diligent people and watch all opportunities to ingrosse all the Trade they can into their owne hands they have certainly a vigilant eye over our Actions that Lethargie which hath seized on us will make them the more watchfull they will make no little use of our distractions they will be ready to take hold of what wee let loose and with great eagernesse pursue what wee let goe wee shall not so soone be out as they will be in Lastly if the Trafficke of this Kingdome be once lost what will then become of it what will then be preserved Our Ships the wals of this Land will rot and moulder away Our wealth and Estates will be consumed and no meanes left for recovery Tenants will bee disabled from paying their Landlords and they viz. the Landlords for want of supplyes of moneys by their usuall Rents will not be able to furnish themselves Families with commodities needfull vented by men of sundry Trades viz. Woollen and Linnen Drapers Mercers Grocers Silkmen Habberdashers Vintners c. Together with most sorts of Handicraftsmen or Artificers Part of the commodities wherein they deale being native or of our owne Conntrey both for the materials and Manufacture and part brought into this Kingdome from forraigne Countries Now those sorts of Trades-men failing of the vent of their commodities the Trade of Merchants into other Kingdomes must cease there will be no need of them thence will follow the decay of Ships Mariners and sundry sorts of Artificers Labourers and many others that have their dependency upon them This mischiefe will not be altogether confined and bounded within our owne Land it will extend it selfe like an Epidemicall disease into all or most other Kingdomes where we have Trade For if wee take not off the commodities of those Countries in exchange of ours they must suffer and that not a little by it and for remedy partly for want of their accustomed imployment and vent of their said commodities and partly by reason of the want of ours bee inforced to seeke out and learne others Trades and very likely pitch or fall upon the making of such as are here made For as in the Body
earnest and longing desire of a speedy settlement of these unhappy differences well knowing that the continuance will on all sides be destructive to the well being of this Kingdome especially unto Trade 'T is not very improbable notwithstanding His deepe insight in maâ—ters of Estate which are so obscure and intricate that 't is impossible for the wisest States-man on earth of himselfe yea I may say hundreds of States-men joyned together to foresee and know all the mischiefes which occurre and happen in an Estate or may befall it without the helpe and information of others but more especially of or from such men that have either a present sense thereof in their owne particular or in regard of their Negotiations at home or abroad in forraigne parts besides His Majestie neither hath been nor is in such a capacitie or condition as formerly to receive such intelligence as was or is fit for the prevention of such evills as may befall an Estate 'T is not I say improbable but that small information which His Majestie had from mee by my weakâ— pen without vaineglory bee it said shewing not onely the great sufferings of this Kingdomes Trade by the present decay of our Woollen Manufactures but also the danger of losing hereafter the totall vent of all or most of them in forraigne parts might bee some motive unto Him so speedily to send unto the two Houses of Parliament so gracious a Message though His Majestie indeed needs not the least quickning to the effecting of any thing which He conceives may conduce to the welfare of His subjects but whether or no that which was made knowne unto Him by me was any motive unto Him His Majestie being as have said very ready to afford His assistance to the good of Trade and to the rectifying of what else is amisse mee thinkes you should the sad condition not onely of Trade but all things else considered forthwith joyne with Him And I beleeve that you of the two Honorable Houses of Parliament as also divers of you of the Army with many more of His Majesties Subjects are very inclinable so to doe but that some feare of future safety as I conceive of the which is neare and deare unto you possesseth you in regard of the bad effects farre beyond your expectation or the least of your thoughts which the wayes you have taken to rectifie what before this Parliament was amisse have produced But admit you should run some hazard of losse the ancient-Romans may be a good president for you to follow Their Histories tell us they waâ—â—ed all private interest for the publique good not any thing was so neare and deare unto them so great was their respect and love unto their Countrey having stillin their thoughts non nobis naâ—i sumus But be assured you have no just cause of any such feare as you may fancy unto your selves 't is true indeed the disaffections of many men one unto another are very great in regard of their manifold sufferings by adhering to this or that side but not the least doubt but that His Majestie would first on His part be unfaignedly reconciled with you He hath often declared it and then would be so forward and carefull as could be desired to reunite the so much disunited affections of His subjects and no doubt but would take effect All men except such as have their subsistence by divisions greedily thirsting after a quiet settlement of these unhappy differences and that an inviolable peace may follow so hatefull now unto them are differences and dissentions whence their sufferings have been so great and right well know that the continuance would make them at last so insufferable that they should be enforced into a desperate condition and not care in the end how or in what manner they might free themselves But I have done onely desire I may first have leave to adde that which followes though perhaps it may at first sight bee thought by some impertinent to Trade yet if well weighed it may be judged otherwise hope however it will not give offence And that is in point of this Kingdomes Honour in the person of the King which by the Lawes of God and man we are all bound to maintaine If the King the life as it were or fountaine of Honour lose His due respect disrespect on all sides will follow viz. to the Nobilitie Gentry Magistrates and to all men in authoritie and command even to masters of private families and Commanders or masters of Ships it is already too too apparent wee have the sad experience of it not onely at home but also abroad in forraigne parts Secondly if Honour be taken from the King it 's taken from His hopefull Progeny the like Kingly Issue not knowne at this day on earth so that the Blood Royall of England in times past so famous and so highly esteemed both at home and abroad will come to lose its respect and at last become so contemptible that not any Prince of worth will match with us but if by us kept up and maintained in its ancient repute and esteeme the greatest Prince or Princes in Christendome will bee ready to match with us which may prove many wayes very advantagious to the Crowne of England Hereunto is annexed a Discourse of the improvement of Wooll in our Manufactures which may well deserve the notice of all His Majesties Subjects in generall A briefe Discourse of the Excellency of Wooll manifested by the Improvement in its Manufactures and the great good unto the Kingdome thence arising before the late War THat if I should say our Wooll was so rich a Jewell before the late War being as it were the Basis or foundation upon which the Frame of Englands Trade did stand and that it exceeds in worth the Spanish Silver Mines in West India and that Spaine might farre better want those Mines then England could Wooll I should not say amisse for that Spaine without the Silver issuing from the said Mines would be able to draw Trade unto it from forraigne Parts in respect of the native fruits or commodities it affords which England if Wool be wanting could not in any considerable measure doe It is not its Lead Tin and Coales would doe it these three would beget very little Trade and consequently little employment And that it is such a Jewell as I say or of so much worth unto this Kingdome may bee demonstrated partly by the imployment of people in and about the Manufactures And partly by the Improvement by or in its Manufactures And first for Employment The Spanish West India Mines were not in a manner comparable unto iâ— by many degrees it may bee rather said there could be no reasonable comparison between them for admit that in the Mines are or were fiftie thousand men employed they are of the meanest sort of mankind most of them Negro's brought as Merchandize out of the parts of Africa into India Heathens unlesse since their comming thither
other commodities usually imported into Spaine out of that vast part of the world well may I terme it so being judged to be the fourth part of the whole though a very great part not inhabited at least not by Christians O that wee had been so provident before this Kingdome was so unhappily engaged in a War as to have looked back to the times of King James of famous memory and before the said War to these of our most pious and prudent King Charles we should have seene what a flourishing Estate the Trade of this Kingdome to the inriching of many thousands was brought unto to what it was in former times when hardly a Merchants Ship of the burthen of 150. Tuns was to be had and since are many from the said burthen of 150 to 600 Tuns and some greater an undoubted signe of the great increase of Trade and no little addition to the strength of the Kingdome for the which wee have no little cause not onely to remember but also highly to commend the great wisdome and care of these two most worthy Princes but in stead thereof there want not some malignant and most unworthy spirits among us that are ready to cast foule aspersions upon them traduce their government blast their best actions and desire rather a perpetuall oblivion then a thankfull remembrance of their majestie O most transcendent and monstrous ingratitude both to God and man To God in not acknowledging his goodnesse in bestowing on us such great blessings To man for remunerating or returning so much evill forto much good Surely me thinkes if we as Tradesmen before we were ingaged as I say in a War had had the least thought of decay onely of Trade and had not looke further into the many more dismall calamities of the which we have already more then a bitter taste that would certainly befal this kingdome by a civil War it would or might have been motive sufficient unto us to have employed our utmost endeavors for its preservation but alas most of us like men demented or bereaved of their wits run a quite contrary course weedid what in us lay to further and hasten its destruction and to that end we could not be at quiet or at rest till wee were quit of our monies and redouble our diligence in and about the speedy advancing of that which would undoubtedly bee its bane and expose the kingdome to the hazard of utter ruine The Author having done with this discourse assumes the boldnesse to adventure on a few lines of Poetry which though it be out of a Merchants Road and may perhaps be thought by some not to become this subject hope never the lesse it will admit a candid construction the intention being good though in the manner or way of expression there may be failing To the Clothiers MY worthy Friends by what is said you feele At present more then many others doe Witnesse your want of worke with loom and wheele Joyne hand in hand and altogether goe Trade to uphold and Commerce to maintaine By losse you 'l perish All you 'l live by Gaine Thousands of you from youth to youths defect By daily labour live and well subsist But who will you maintaine who 'l you protect When you are forc'd from labour to desist Then Clothiers poore what will of you become Some beg steale others will and worse will some As some already out of the land they 'l flie And elsewhere seeke imployment as have said Their Art they 'l others teach which will the eye Or eyes put out of Englands Clothing Trade Then out will be the Wooll of England spunne And this our Kingdomes Trade almost undone But my good Friends let not your minds be bent Or have a thought to leave your native soile In forraigne parts to goe with full intent Others to teach which hazard may the spoile Of our Manufactures O that 's an Act Would be 'gainst Nature it would sure extract The vitall blood out of your mothers heart Which let be never on their Clothiers part To all English Merchants Trading in forraigne parts YOu that are Instruments of forraigne Trade Worthy English Merchants of much Renowne Forthwith bestirre your selves let not be said That you sate still and suffer'd to fall downe Your Countries Commerce 't is of that esteeme That nothing almost greater can you deeme As partly by this small booke is made appeare To which referre you needlesse to say 't againe But more I 'le adde to make it the more cleare Trade boldnesse gave to passe the Ocean maine Discoveries new in forraigne parts to make An Enterprize not small to undertake For men were oft to struggle and to strive With th' elements Fire Water Earth and Aire Which if be Conquerers of life deprive But they did boldly face them and out dare It showes a noble mind and spirit brave Death to contemne for Honor life to wave But on they went such dangers were not all From North to South from East to West they runne From rising of the Sunne unto the fall Passing the Aequator and when t' was done By labour much they came unto the shore Where yet they met with dangers more and more Danger by hidden Rocks by Shelves of Sand Danger by want of knowledge of the Tide Danger by an Enemy on the Land So that danger they found on every side Yet they went on they dangers did disdaine In hope they should what they desired gaine Profit and Honour and our Trades increase Were the chiefe things where at those men did ayme Will you by your remisnesse let them cease And not endeavour up to keepe their fame With so much danger wonne and so much cost No no by your neglect let not be lost But as before so now I say againe Bestirre your selves let nothing be in you Deficient our Commerce to maintaine Which will your Predecessors fame renew It will this Lands reputation keepe And carry 't still beyond th' Ocean deepe So will you Honour get so will you praise So will you profit get by forraigne Trade So you your selves and families may raise What more to stirre and move you can be said To you my noble Friends then onely this Youl'l get Earths happinesse and Heavens blesse If what you doe be in an honest way For God abhorres Actions foule and base And on th' actors doth heavy curses lay A curse of shame at home abroad disgrace A curse of poverty and all things scant But more then these of Heavens joy the want Adieu my friends I bid you All farewell By what have said it may be well foretold That Traders all must cease to buy and sell If these distempers still among us hold And hold they will without our royall King Whom God let 's pray in safety home to bring To the Seamen ANd now brave English Seamen one and All I come to you likewise to crave your Ayd You 'r the Managers of this Kingdomes wall Which cannot stand without