Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
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A43846
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Proposals for building, in every county, a working-almshouse or hospital as the best expedient to perfect the trade and manufactory of linnen-cloth
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Haines, Richard, 1633-1685.
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1677
(1677)
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Wing H205; ESTC R8843
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16,691
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31
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only as some Counties are greater more populous c. they may have more or less proportionably Obj. 8 There still remains one Objection and that is What shall we do for Hemp And Flax Answ To which I Answer That Hemp or Flax one or the other may plentifully be had in every County of England Take Sussex as an example any indifferent good Land Chalky c. from the foot of the Downes to the Sea-side with double Folding or Dunging and twice Plowing will produce Hemp in abundance yet though their Land be rich enough dry c. it will not produce good Flax But to supply that many Thousand Acres of the Wild of Suffex will produce Crops of Flax worth some four some five some six Pounds an Acre and that kind for Hemp as aforesaid worth as much Besides for encouraging the Planting the same at home it may be convenient to lay an Imposition of Four or Five Shillings in the Pound or upwards upon all Hemp Thread Cordage or Linnen Imported from Foreign parts by means whereof we may raise it at home cheaper than buy them abroad and then everybody will Plant Hemp and Flax abundantly as a thing of course enriching those that promote it But why 4 or 5 Counties should as some have proposed enjoy this great Wealth and Advantage of promoting the Linnen Manufactory and Improvement of Lands and not the rest I cannot understand nor for what reason so many people should be drain'd out of all the Nation into four or five Midland Counties since those Counties next adjoyning to the Sea ought to be kept most populous But to what purpose should so much Hemp be planted I Answer Hemp is of greater strength than Flax therefore of more excellent use for great advantage as Cables Ropes and all kinds of Cordage Sails Sacking c. As also Thread for all Nets for Fishery for which and other purposes we now buy yearly several hundred Thousand Pounds worth from beyond the Seas so that without controversie there 's as much Hemp to be used as Flax and consequently the Hemp-Mill may be as useful as the Spinning-Instrument Having we hope satisfactorily Answered all Material Objections against the main Body of this Design it remains to consider of the Order and Method of Governing these great Families or Corporations but the Particulars thereof we leave to the deeper Wisdom and judicious Care of Authority only in general propose 1. That for the better encouragement and support of so many poor people labouring in so profitable a Manufactory each Alms-house be provided with and allowed a publick Granary for stocking themselves with Corn when it is cheapest against the time of Dearth a priviledge we conceive not to be so properly advisable for other Companies or Handicrafts as some propose and desire because that would always keep Corn too cheap and consequently undo the Tenant or Landlord or both For what makes Wheat as often at 4 s. a Bushel under which it is known the Farmer cannot live as at 2 s. 6 d. but because all people in the Nation that have occasion must buy of the Land-Occupiers at the same time when it is scarce But by such general Granaries the hopes of 4 s. per Bushel will be banisht the Markets but in our case painful Husbandry that ancient Employment may well allow Granaries both because this Manufactory and Design eases their Charge to the poor and is of more advantage to the Publick than some 20 Trades besides and particularly because it helps to improve their Lands by Flax and Hemp that now they need not so much relie upon Corn for raising their Rent Besides if other overstockt Trades want Bread let them quit their Station and come to Weaving and then they may enjoy the benefit of these Granaries also 2. That the Maiden-Children brought up in this Corporation may after they attain to the Age of 15 Years or other fit time be permitted to go forth to Service to learn good Huswisry and the Lads to Husbandry or Trades if they think fit nor will there be need of so great caution to prevent the Marriages of the meaner fort since now the Parishes need not so much fear a Charge knowing a means how to employ all their Children as fast as they come to be five or six Years old nor can a young man have better choice for a Wise than here amongst so many all bred up industriously under strict Discipline and in a way to live And therefore this Method will be so far from causing any depopulation that it may encrease our Inhabitants and the more the better since we know how to dispose of them in such laudable Employments Moreover hereby the distracting cares of poor honest Parents oft occasioned by a foresight of their incapacity to provide for their Children will be removed so that they may pass their time in peace knowing that a good honest comfortable Employment and Education is provided for their Children and their Childrens Children nor may this less remove the Temptations both in Parents and Children which cause them to be guilty of such Misdemeanors as sometimes bring them to the Gallows so that the Expedients offered for the accomplishing this Manufactory will produce a happy change in the whole Nation viz. no more want of Work or Bread for the poor no more Parishes oppressed no more Beggars a great abatement of Felons Thieves Cheats Nurses of Debauchery c. many Lives preserved and which is an hundred thousand times more than all the rest many Souls saved Much more might be said in this cafe to set forth the excellence of this Design but I leave it as a work more deserving the skill of the most Learned and Godly Divine and shall only add In order to that last mentioned incomparable end and for the better Education and Instruction of this great Family That there may be placed in each House an Able Honest Godly Minister of a good peaceable kind disposition and exemplary Conversation that so no means may be wanting for promoting Gods Glory and their Edification To which purpose on Holidays and other spare times all or the most docible part of the People train'd up here may likewise be taught to read c. So may our most Great Prince and Worthy Senators become further Instruments for the Nations Prosperity and the Salvation of many Souls Thus may the Blessing of Heaven crown all their Honourable Enterprizes and Prudent Counsels with most prosperous Success which that it may be so is the hearty Desire of Your most Humble Obedient and Faithful Subject and Servant R. H. FINIS POSTSCRIPT HAving received the princely Approbation of that most Judicious and publick spirited Promoter of Englands Weal and Prosperity and all such Ingenuites as tend to general Good and whose Noble Actions have given matchless proofs of his great zeal thereunto viz. His Illustrious Highness Prince Rupert who having condiscended to peruse the preceeding Proposals was pleas'd to Honour