AN ANSVVER To Those Printed Papers published in March last 1640. by the late Patentees of Salt in their pretended defence and against free trade Composed by IOHN DAVIES Citizen and Fishmonger of London a well-wisher to the Common-wealth in generall Sal sapit omnia Ne scis quid valeat Printed in the yeare 1641. To the Honourable House of COMMONS now assembled in PARLIAMENT THe ensuing Treatise concerning the opposing of the project and Patents for Salt tending to the good of his Majesty and of the Subjects in generall wherein all faithfull endeavours on the Authors part are performed is most humbly presented praying that if any error is therein committed whereof he is not conscious may by this Honourable Assembly be pardoned An Answer to those Papers falsly intituled A true Remonstrance of the state of the Salt businesse c. lately published in print in March 1640. by the Projectors of the first and second Patents for Salt in their owne pretended defence and against the free trade of all Merchants Navigators and Traders for Fish and Salt of the City of London and all other Ports and of all Salt makers and Salt refiners and of all other his Majesties Subjects within the extent of their severall Patents between Barwicke and Weymouth as followeth IN this Answer it will not be necessary to bee limited within the strict time where the Projectors began which was in Anno. 1627. thereby to serve their own occasions but is intended to declare the truth of the most usuall and constant prices of Salt at the City of London as it hath beene sold for 40. yeares last past as in the sequell shall appeare That in Anno 1600. even till the latter part of the yeare 1627. the most usuall price either of white or bay Salt was neare about 50. s. or 3. l. a Wey and often sold under that price as can be sufficiently proved That in the said yeare 1627. the Warres began betweene the Kings Majesty of Great Britaine and the French King and the King of Spaine in which time till the peace was concluded betwixt those Kings the commoditie of Salt was very deare and scarce especially French Salt which was at 6. s. or 7. s. a bushell at the City of London which came to passe in regard the Salt-workes in France were destroyed First at the I le of Ree by the Duke of Buckinghams designe Secondly by the French King himselfe in the warres when he tooke in Rochel And thirdly by intemperate Raine which fell that time in France So that the Kingdome of France it selfe which was wont to supply many other parts as England Ireland Holland the Eastland and Germany was thereby necessitated with want of that commodity for its owne occasion And therefore not to be admired that the French King made an Edict in Anno 1630. that no Salt should bee exported out of his Kingdome untill his store should bee supplyed againe Which scarcity in France for that present forced all men to send into Spaine for Salt and thereupon a great number of Ships from all parts arriving there at one time gave the King of Spaine occasion to make use of the present necessity and layd a great Impost on the Salt that should bee transported from thence The very same cause also moved the Kings Majesty of Great Britaine and the Lords of the Councell to order in that time of scarcity of Salt by meanes of a Petition exhibited to the Lords by the Lord Maior of the City of London and divers other Ports in Anno 1630. that no Salt should be transported into any forraigne parts which was effectually granted them by the Lords But when in one or two yeares after and that in France there were erected Salt-workes and Salt was made plentifully againe as in the yeare 1632. then by the Edicts of the said Kings the great imposition of Salt in Spaine and France ceased and Salt became cheape againe and Trade free as in former yeares as about 3. l. or 3. livre. 10. s. per Wey for English or French and 4. l. per Wey for Spanish Salt at most which continued till December 1634. So that the cause of the dearth of Salt in France Anno 1628. till Anno 1632. hapned through Warre and intemperate Weather as before is specified and not by the pleasure of Princes by laying of a great Impost upon it as they the Patentees falsly pretended but the Projectors were desirous to make that an occasion of bringing their covetous desires to effect and about that time they beganne to devise to bring an Impost on the English native Salt which was and is dearer to the makers of it then any other salt spent in this Kingdome For French and Spanish Salt being made onely by the heat of the Sunne stands not the makers of it in above 10. s. or 20. s. or 30. s. a London Wey at the most according to the drinesse or the wetnesse of the Summer whereas the English Shields Salt at 1. d. per Gallon which is the cheap price the Patentees boast of stands the makers of it in 53. s. 4. s. the like Wey at least being also the weakest Salt of all other by one third part and therefore cannot beare any Impost without destroying the English manufactures as these Projectors have all this time practised to the destruction thereof although they pretended the contrary It is to be observed that a Wey of Salt at the City of London containeth 40. Bushels and every Bushell 10. Gallons which is the right measure according to the Statute from which in most other Ports it much differeth That in December 1634. the first Projectors consisting of twenty two in number whereof five were Knights the other seventeene had the titles of Esquires and Gentlemen having determined and practised formerly to doe mischiefe in this Land wherein they were borne and bred and being all or most of them unexperienced in the matter they tooke in hand devised and obtained this Monopoly of Salt mis-informing his Majesty and the Lords of the Councell that it would be a great benefit to this Kingdome of England and that of Scotland to erect workes for the making a sufficient quantity of Salt c. and at a certaine moderate price as they so termed it not exceeding 3. l. a Shields Wey which is after the rate of 5. l. 12. s. for a Wey delivered at London which is an intolerable exaction upon a native manufacture made and spent in this Kingdome as by their Patent more fully doth appeare although the Salt pannes in those places were erected long before and not by these Patentees Which Patent being obtained by them they practised to oppresse the Subject from January 1635. untill August 1638. all which time the first Patentees having made a Monopoly in taking all the old Workes and Pannes at the Shields into their hands forced white Salt at the City of London to the price of 4. l. 15. s. per Wey and for
the most part to 5. l. per Wey and so in all other Ports according to that rate And Bay Salt by reason of their great Impost of 48. s. 6. d. per Wey which was raised by a privy Seale procured by Edward Nuttall and others his associates but nothing brought to accompt for his Majesty as yet appeares was not all that time sold at London under 5. l. 10. s. per Wey at least but commonly at 5. l. 13. s. 4. d. per Wey or 6. l. whereas the Westerne parts which were free of their Patent as Southampton Exeter Plimouth Bristol c. had it in that time at or about 3. l. the like Wey and sometimes under that price which was most unjust and unequall that the Easterne parts should suffer so much thereby not onely in the price but also in hindrance of Navigation and losse of Trade That about July 1638. the first Patentees having difference with Master Murford of Yarmouth who had a Patent granted before theirs at Shields prevailed against them and some of them of the first Patent being wearied with the designe voluntarily laid downe their Patent That after the first Patentees gave over their Patent the Salt-makers at Shields in August 1638. reassumed their Pannes and sold Salt there cheape againe and thereby both Scottish and Shields Salt was sold at London for 3. l. per Wey or near thereabout untill January following that Thomas Horth and his associates obtained a grant of their Patent which they presently after put in execution yet Horth and his associates of the second Patent had no time to raise the price of white Salt at Shields to that height as they desired for the Scots presently after the first Pacification in August 1639. brought it downe at London to 2. l. 17. s. per Wey whereas Horth and his Associates in June and July 1639. would sell none at London under 4. l. 10. s. per Wey That whereas the first and second Projectors of both Patents to cleare themselves of the great wrong done by them to his Majesty and his Subjects doe in their printed Papers lay the blame on the traders in Salt of the City of London seeking therby to glosse over their oppressing the Subjects even in the face of this Honourable Parliament still pretending as formerly that what they did was for his Majesties profit benefit of Navigation support of home manufacture and generall good of the subject and many such like things all which pretences are meere falshoods and suggestions For first his Majesties Revenew is no way increased as doth appeare by their payments into his Majesties Exchequer being in all but 700. l. whereas they have received Impost and remaine debtors to his Majesty many thousands as by further examination and proofe of their accompts will appeare Secondly Navigation hath beene much hindred thereby as by a former Petition of the Trinity house to his Majesty and the Lords of the privy Councell appeareth as also it hath beene sufficiently proved before the Committee for the Salt businesse by the Master and Wardens of the Trinity Company who are most sensible of the destruction and advancement of the Shipping and Navigation of this Kingdome Thirdly they have so cherished the home manufacture by laying a heavy Impost upon it that those that had 240. Pannes of their own and were thriving people at the Shields before their Patents were of force and were the makers there of Salt are by the meanes of these Patentees become so poore that the greater part of them are not able to buy coals to set their Pannes on worke And those the Patentees who bought 34. Pannes of the old traders did cease working for the most part of the yeares 1639. and 1640. by reason they could not attaine to their intended price of 56. s. 8. d. per Wey at the Shields So that whereas there was formerly made at the Shields before their Patents began about 16000. Wey per annum they made in the time of the first Patent which continued about three yeares and a halfe not above 10000. Wey per annum And in the time of the latter Patent but 8000. Wey per annum even before the comming in of the Scottish Army into those parts by all which appeares how much they have destroyed the native manufacture and have no wayes advanced or increased it as they pretended Fourthly for their pretences of the generall good of the Subject in place whereof they have so oppressed the Subject in generall that not onely the traders in Salt of the City of London have justly complained of their grievances to the Honourable Court of Parliament but also Salt-refiners of Essex and Suffolke also many Merchants in the West parts as far as Weymouth as also from Yarmouth and many other ports North as farre as Newcastle that came up to London onely to informe the Court of Parliament of the great burden they have beene forced to lye under even to many of their undoings And many more would come up had they not beene so impoverished by them the Patentees that they are not able to beare their charges in comming so farre to complaine of their grievances In generall they have been the oppressors of Fishermen and all the subjects of these North East parts of England to the value of many thousand pounds in estimation above fourescore thousand pounds since the time of their entring into these Patents which can be made plainly to appeare by one yeares importation for forraigne and Scottish Salt collected out of the Custome-house bookes and Meters bookes of London and for native Salt out of their owne bookes Viz. In the yeare 1637. which was in the time of their first Patent of Bay and Spanish Salt there was imported but 1364. Wey which at 48. s. 6 d. per Wey is impost 3307. l. 14. s. whereas in the yeare 1634. when the trade was free there was 4620. Wey of forraigne Salt imported by which may be observed the decay of forraigne Trade during the time of their Impost That the Impost of forraigne Salt was received and taken of all the Subjects between Barwicke and Southampton by vertue of Privy Seale dated in May 1636. procured by Edward Nuttall and others his associates but nothing brought to accompt by them nor paid to his Majesties use for the two yeares and 6. moneths as can yet appeare That of Scottish and native white Salt Shields measure there were expended for land use about 16000. Weyes which at 10. s. per Wey Impost and 10. s. per Wey increase of price which came to passe by the Patentees contracting with the Scotch for deare selling and can appeare to be damage to the subjects at least in one yeare in the price of the white Salt 16000. l. That for Fishers use of Scottish and native Salt an estimate of 3000. Shields Wey and upwards at 3. s. 4. d. per Wey Impost and 6. s. 8. d. increase of price is at least 1500. l. Whereby it
Billingsgate And whereas the Patentees alledge that white Salt was sold for 2. s. a pecke at that instant day when they published their printed papers it is manifestly to bee proved that ten or twelve daies before they published them white Salt was cryed in London streets at 5. d. a pecke and so ever since which proves their printed papers to be scandalous and false in laying forth so many imputations upon the Traders in Salt as though they were the cause of deare selling which was only their continued impositions and the occasion of the time as afore is shewed That before the Patentees had obtained their Patent for Salt there was imported yearly to London great quantities of Spanish Straits and French Salt by Merchants Navigators and Traders And that many hundred Weyes thereof were from thence yearly transported for Flanders Holland Denmarke and the East Countrie whereby ships had their imployments both inwards and outwards his Majesties Customes improved and many poore people as Porters and Labourers had their maintenance thereby which trade of Importation is in a manner wholly decayed since the time these severall Patents were obtained Objections and Observations THat their Patents are found by the Committee appointed by the Parliament for hearing the Salt businesses to be illegall and a Monopoly by reason they brought an impost on the native Manufacture and many other oppressions to the Subject That the prosecution hath beene most violent by imprisonments and forcing many out of their Trades and also Salt Refiners and Saltmakers at Shields and great Yarmouth from their works and the first Patentees forced divers at Shields to let them their Pannes at a Rent which after two yeares and sixe monthes use they returned into their hands much decayed and not satisfied for Rent That they would have forced his Majesties Subjects to the only use of white Salt which is not so sufficient for fishing Voiages and many other uses as the forraigne That they forced the price both of white Bay Salt in the time of their Patents to one third part more then otherwise it would have beene sold for That there was a far greater quantity of Salt made in England before their Patents began then in the time of the continuance of their Patents That Horth at a hearing at Councell Table the 19. of December 1638. to maintaine his unjust cause in taking his Patent and upon some speech which was moved about the insufficiency of white Salt for preserving of Fish and an ancient Trader there saying that the very scales fell off through the weaknesse of the white Salt he the said Horth did most falsly reply and affirme that Codde and Ling Fish had no scales which he did to convince them of error who came to oppose him and he with others whose names are well knowne did then and there before his Majesty and the Lords of the Councell so farre maintaine it that they were believed and that the others that spake the truth were rejected whereby the King and Lords were abused by the said Horth and others by denying that to the creature which it had received in the creation either for defence or ornament That it is and hath beene proved both before his Majesty and the Lords and also before the Committee by the Trinity house Masters that if forraigne Salt be prohibited or some heavy impost be laid upon it Navigation will be much hindred and decaied That Horth alone above the rest of his partners obtained a Commission out of the Exchequer and did thereby put men to their corporall oaths to confesse what Salt of their owne or of others they knew to be imported and told the Commissioners hee was at Councel about that particular and his Councell advised him it must bee so and to bee sure would bee with the Commissioners himselfe and urge it That the settled moderate rate as the Patentees pleased to call it of 56. s. 8. d. per Wey Shields measure will stand the Adventurer delivered at London in 5. l. 6. s. 8. d. per wey which is now since their Patent ceased sold at this City of London for 3. l. 10. s. per wey and long before their Patents began it was sold cheaper that time of three or foure yeares of hostility with France and Spaine when there could be little forraigne Salt imported onely excepted And Bay Salt at present is sold at 3. l. per wey That beyond the power of the Patents Horth constrained the Salt refiners of divers Counties to pay a double Impost That if the commodity of Salt be free for all men to import or make it there cannot be that ingrossing forestalling or regrating made which may be done by a few monopolizing Patentees who having the command of it all may conferre the commodity upon some few particular Traders for some sinister respects to the destruction of others in their Trades as the late times of their Patents have made manifest And for those 27. yeares afore specified the commodity of Salt being then free of Impost the price was alwayes reasonable and would be so now and so continue without the helpe of any Projector That a free trade which is now so much desired of the subject and a settled price desired of the Patentee cannot consist for a constant price forced upon a native manufacture is a principall part of a Monopoly That forraigne Salt being absolutely necessary for speciall uses the inhibition thereof cannot be admitted but to the great prejudice of the subject That these Projectors which pretend so much of supporting the home manufacture of Salt have in a maner destroyed it by laying so heavy an Impost upon it as 16. s. for every London Wey And if it be not supported by taking off the foresaid Impost it is like utterly to decay and then indeed the Salt Wiches onely excepted this Kingdome must wholly depend upon forraigne parts for all the Salt shall be therein expended The premisses considered the humble request to the Honourable House of Commons now assembled in PARLIAMENT is That they would be pleased that the Projectors and late Patentees for Salt may be brought to an account upon the premisses that so it may appeare what profits have accrued to his Majesty and what disadvantage to the Subject and what persons have beene molested and vexed by reason of them that so reparations and redresse may be made to the parties so vexed and grieved as in the judgement of the Honourable Assembly shall be thought expedient FINIS