按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Nurseries of Trade。 For the Fishing； the infinite treasure that
Strangers search out of our Seas； the variety of Trade that
thereby they purchase； the multitude of Mariners they breed； the
Fleets of Shipping they maintaine； me thinkes should every of
them apart； or all of them together； be unto us as so many
provocations to rouze us up to the exercise thereof： Whereby His
Majestie might receive such a Tolle or Custome of them； as other
Princes doe in like case； and be once again Lord and Master of
the Seas； for all the dispute of the Author of Mare liberum： and
the Native subject encouraged by some Immunity or Priviledge； to
lay hold on that benefit； which God and Nature hath brought home
to our doores。
For the Clothing； that also is a point of State and great
consequence。 The Causes of the decay whereof； I observed to bee
either Domestique or Forreine。 The Domestique some past； some
present。 In which former； it may perhaps seeme strange to speake
of a Remedy for a thing past。 Wherein the best Remedy I can
thinke of； is； to be warned by those harmes； not to disturbe or
distract Trade upon any suggestion； though never so specious。 It
is a safe rule； that in Rebus nouis constituendis euidens esse
debet utilitas。 And in Projects； though they promise much； yet
the utility is commonly Contingent； which may be； or may not be。
But in the mutation of the naturall course of Trade； there ought
to be Perspicuity and apparency of evident utility： Else a Breach
may be sooner made in Trade then can be repaired： and the Current
once diverted； will hardly bee revolved； into it genuine Source
and Course againe。
The present Domestique Causes of the Decay of Clothing； I
considered in the Trade under the Clothier； or under the
Merchant。 Under the Clothier； I noted the Ill making and False
sealing of Cloth： and both through the Non…execution of the
Statute of 4 of the King。 the abuse wherof is growne to be very
great； and the reformation hath beene by His Majesties
Proclamations and otherwise； so much and so oft attempted of late
years； and nothing therein effected； that it seemeth a very
difficult matter to reforme the same。 Neverthlesse if it may
please His Majestie； to commit the care of the execution of the
Statute； to some of the Principall Cities and Townes in the
Clothing Counties； where Broad Clothes； Kersies； and Perpetuanoes
are made； and to make them the Overseers mentioned in the
Statute； instead of those ignorant and negligent Searchers； with
reasonable allowance for their paines； I am confident it would
prove a singular Remedy。 For we have not only the example of the
Low Countries； where this course is taken； but also here with us：
as Worcester for that sort of Clothes； Colchester for Bayes； and
Canterbury for Sayes。 In all which places the former abuses are
removed by this means； and the Clothes； and Bayes； and
Manufactures of those Cities； triumph in great credit and
estimation。 Which execution of the saide Statute； is the rather
to be committed to the care and charge of the principall Cities
and Townes in the Clothing Counties； because by ancient Statutes
not repealed； all Clothes and Kersies ought to bee brought to the
next City； Borough； or Towne Corporate； to be sealed； before they
be put to sale。 And if such Clothes so sealed； prove defective；
that Corporation or Towneship that so hath sealed them； shall
forfeit the whole value thereof。
The reformation of which abuse will redound to the benefit of
the Clothier； as well as the Merchant。 For none is more hurt with
false Cloth； then that Clothier which maketh true Cloth： because
his markets are alwayes hurt by the cheapnesse that false Cloth
may be afforded at。 Therefore to facilitate this Remedy； I have
made a collection of all the principall Cities and Townes in the
Clothing Counties for this purpose； as by a list thereof； fixed
to the end of this discourse may appeare； that so a worke of this
nature be no longer deferred； wherein the Honour of the King； and
the Benefit of the Publique are so much involved。
Under the Merchant I observed the Cloth…Trade to suffer at
Home and Abroad： At Home； either by exporting the Materials of
Clothing； or by Ore…lading the Cloth…Trade with charge。 The
Remedy in the former； were to lay a restraint of exportation of
Wools and Wool…fels out of Ireland； and to quicken the execution
of the Statute for that purpose in England； by encouraging the
discoverers of such abuses。
The latter is the Sur…charging of the Cloth Trade； either
generally or specially： this last； in the Impositions and Impress
monies imposed by the Merchant Adventurers： which as it is a
charge laid upon the Drapery of the Kingdome； I conceive； under
favour； is a matter that trencheth into the Suprmeme power and
dignity of the King； and is peculiar to Him alone。 And if for
Government； or other just causes in Societies and Corporation；
there be a necessity of paying of debts； or defraying of
necessary charge； I should thinke it better policy to spare the
Cloth； and other the Native Commodities of the Kingdom； and to
implore His Majesties favour； to levy such charge upon the
Forreine Commodities： according to the Counsell of Stephanus； Si
Vectigal nouum euitari non potest； tune onerentur inerces
perigrinae； auae ad luxum magis quam ad necessitatem faciunt。 And
this I conceive would be a good remedy for easing the Cloth Trade
of the present charge under the Merchants： which would also bee a
meanes for paying of their debts； with a little more length of
time； and a great deale of encouragement； both to Clothiers and
Merchants in the Cloth Trade。
And Abroad； if it appeare upon examination； that the
Residence of the Merchant Adventurers at Delft in Holland be
inconvenient for the Trade： As His Majestie was graciously
pleased to five them that liberty for a tryall； so it may please
His Majestie to dispose thereof； in some more fit place for
their's and the Publique good。
The Forreince Causes of the Decay of the Drapery； I noted to
bee Generall； as the Warres； or Speciall； as the great Imposition
in Holland。 The one is the worke of God； the other of the King；
to remove the same。 To whom I recommend them both。
And thus farre for the Remedies in the Matter of Trade；
considered in Money and Merchandize： the Forme followeth in
Governed and Ungoverned Trade。 In the Former I observed a too
strict； and in the latter a too loose forme of Trade。 The Remedy
in the One； if it seeme good to the high wisedome of His
Majestie； may be Privative； in racing and rooting out the name
and use of Monopolies from amongst this Nation； as His Majestie
hath royally begun in that His Gracious Proclamation before
mentioned。 And to free and open the course of Trade； where now it
is unequally stopt； to the encouragement of the subjects； and the
benefit of the Publique。
In the other Positive； by disposing the Trades of His
Majesties subjects that are now distracted； into Order and
Government。 Whereof none hath more need； as hath been shewed；
then those that Tra