Cocket to the Customer and he to send a Copy of it to the Clerk of the Licenses or otherwise the Bonds be deliver'd to the Mayor of the Staple to be put in suit These Rules being observed I dare undertake to answer for every pound of Wool wrong transported and without some such Expedient the Manufactures of England as well as Ireland will be ruined by the Transportation of Irish Wools to foreign Markets This Company of Staplers being the first Corporation of England for the Regulation of Trade it was dandled and hugg'd by the State as that which contained the spirit and life of all the Traffique of the Kingdom not only to regulate the abuses of Trade but to recover their Trade out of the hands of Foreigners especially the Yeild of the Hance beforementioned who by reason of their great Stock and Credit from so many foreign Cities incorporated with them ingrossed the chief Trade of England particular Merchants being not able to thrive under their shadow which was the reason the Staple was so often removed from Country to Country and City to City still to way-lay and interpose betwixt the Yeild of the Hance and the Trade of England The original or beginning of the Yeild of the Hance I find not but Fitz Stephen a Monk of Canterbury who wrote in the time of King Stephen observes that Merchants of all Nations had their distinct Keys and Wharfs in London the Hance or Dutch had the Still-yards the French for the Wines the Vintry c. William of Malmesbury who wrote in the time of the Conqueror called London a Noble City frequented with the Trade of Merchandizes from all parts of the World Malmesbury cites Clifford declaring the same in Edward the Confessors time 1042. and how long before is uncertain but so long it was that they had ingrossed the chief Trade of England c. and had taken such deep root it cost the State great trouble and the Staple great labour before they could loosen them Edward the first began it at Westminster then removed it to Canterbury in Honour of Thomas Becket then to Bruges in Flanders from thence to the divers places in England and Ireland beforementioned next to Calice in order to strengthen and support that Garrison at which time the King had granted him in Parliament the twenty sixth of his Reign Fifty shillings upon every Sack of Wool transported for six years and at the same time there were yearly transported more than one hundred thousand Sacks of Wool that during the six years the said Grant brought into the Kings Exchequer one Million five hundred thousand pounds sterling In the 37th of Edward the third it was granted to him for two years to take twenty six shillings and eight pence upon every Sack of Wool transported and the same year the Staple notwithstanding the Kings Oath and other great Estates was ordained to be kept at Calice and twenty six Merchants the best and wealthiest of all England to be Farmers there both of the Town and Staple for three years every Merchant to have six Men of Arms and four Archers at the Kings cost he ordained there also two Mayors one for the Town and one for the Staple and he took Mala capta commonly called Mallorth twenty shillings and of the said Merchants Guardians of the Town forty pence upon every Sack of Wool In the 44th of Edward the third Quinborough Kingstone upon Hall and Boston were made Staples of Wool which matter so offended some that in the 50th year of his Reign in a Parliament at London it was complained that the Staple of Wool was so removed from Calice to divers Towns in England contrary to the Statute appointing that Citizens and Merchants should keep it there and that the King might have the Profits and Customs with the Exchange of the Gold and Silver that was there made by all the Merchants in Christendom esteemed to amount to Eight thousand pounds by the year the Excharge only and the Citizens and the Merchants so ordered the matter that the King spent nothing upon Souldiers neither upon Defence of the Town against the Enemies whereas now he spent Eight thousand pounds by the year in the 51th year of Edward the third when the Staple was settled at Calice the Mayor of the Staple did furnish the Captain of the Town upon any Road with one hundred Bill-men and two hundred Archers of Merchants and their Servants without any Wages In the year 1388. the 12th of Richard the second in a Parliament at Cambridge it was ordained that the Staple of Wools should be brought from Middleborough in Zealand to Calice In the 14th of his Reign there was granted forty shillings upon every Sack of Wool and in the 21th was granted fifty shillings upon every Sack transported by Englishmen and three pounds by Strangers c. It seems that all Commodities of the Realm are staple Merchandizes by Law and Charter as Wools Leather Wool Fells Led Tin Cloth c. King Henry the sixth had six Wool-houses within the Staple at Westminster those he granted to the Dean and Canons of St. Stephen at Westminster and confirm'd it the 21. of his Reign Thus much for the Staple have I shortly noted out of Stows Survey of London fol. 496 497. Now by this account of the Staple it is easie to imagine of what a high value it was both to the Kings and Parliaments of England for upwards of 200 years no new Corporations for Trade were constituted and as they increased in Trade it abated of its ancient vigor and splendor after it had worn out all Foreigners and rescued the Clothing Trade from the Dutch that the Wools of England were prohibited the Transportation of which being its chief support But Ireland yet transporting most of its Wools it can lay the Foundation of a Corporation for the Increase of its Foreign Traffique upon no better basis the Statute Staple being yet in force in Ireland it will make their Constitution legal until a Parliament be called and no better Methods and Rules can be contrived than what the Statute Staple institutes CHAP. II. The second Expedient to recover Irelands Decays in its Trade and Wealth is to endavour to convince England that it is the Interest both of King and Realm to promote it 1. THat it is the Interest of England that the English Interest in Ireland should grow and flourish in Trade and Wealth is manifest though it hath been its ruining fate to have it otherwise apprehended by Statesmen of England both in Court and Parliaments which must proceed from taking wrong measures of the English Interest of Ireland especially since the suppression of the last Rebellion For it is with Politick as with Natural Bodies whilst the peccant Humour that seeds the Disease is most predominant the Body must be kept low but so soon as the natural Strength gains the dominion over the Distemper the more ye nourish it the faster
c. at Court the charge of new Honours and Offices p. 88 The charge of Educating the Sons of Noble Persons c. in Foreign Vniversities and Inns of Court p. 87 The whole Charge of Ireland in the several Branches computed to nine hundred and thirteen thousand four hundred sixty five pounds four shillings per annum And amounts to for the period of 15 years to thirteen millions five hundred and twelve thousand six hundred and sixty pounds thirteen shillings and ten pence THE CONTENTS OF THE SECOND PART CHAP. I. OF Banks and Corporation-Trade the several kinds of Banks p. 1 2. Land or dry Banks most suitable for Ireland p. 3. Ireland's great damage by Insolvent Bankers p. 4. The Method of this dry Bank p. 5. Holland and Venice c. raised themselves by Banks and Company Trade p. 6. The Constitution of the Dutch East-India Company p. 7. The benefit of the Bankers by their joint Stock in Trade p. 8. The Royal Countenance necessary to secure the Credit of the Bank p. 9. The benefit of this Bank-Credit to a Countrey in General p. 10. It will lower Interest ibid. Lower Exchange p. 11. Propagate Manufactures p. 11. Banks will inable Trades-men with small Stocks to manage great Trades p. 12. Secure the Peace as well as increase the Wealth of Ireland p. 12. Banks c. will rescue our Trade out of the hands of Foreigners p. 13. Banks c. will increase our Shipping and promote the Fishing Trade ibid. Bank Security more safe more ready and less troublesome than any other Specialty p. 14. Banks a great conveniency 1. To Gentlemen possessing Estates in several parts of the Kingdom securely to return their rent c. p. 15. A great encouragement to young Merchants with small Stocks ibid. To Clothiers Tanners Chandlers c. where Markets fail p. 16. To persons surprised by Judgments before they can raise Money ibid. A great conveniency to the Nobility and Gentry ibid. To the poor and needy p. 17 The Hans-Towns of Germany raised their Trade by Banks ibid. The great Trade of the Guild of the Hance in the Stillyards in London erected and managed by Banks p. 18 England Ireland's best example which was as low in Trade as Ireland is now till improved by Banks ibid. The Kings and Parliaments of England have encouraged and augmented their Trade by countenancing the old and erecting new Corporations of Trade p. 19 No Expedient but this one can promote the Trade of Ireland p. 20 Corporation-Trade opposed in England by whom and with what success p. 21 22 By Company-Trade the English and Dutch c. have diverted the Trade of Venice c. and sell Persian and Indian Commodities where they used to buy p. 22 25 The Indies unknown until Company-Trade discovered them p. 23 England and Holland obtain'd their great Trade and their true Religion together by sheltering persecuted Christians ibid. Spanish c. Inquisitions a persecution drove away their Trade ibid. When the Dutch and English sent their first Fleets to the East-Indies p. 24 27 Corporation-Trade hath enrich'd all places of its residence p. 25 26 When England prohibited the Transportation of Wools and Importing foreign Cloath p. 25 The Original and great Wealth of the East-India Company at London p. 27 His present Majesty hath Confirmed the Companies He Founded and Erected the Affrican c. Honoured it with Royal and Noble Members and Dignities p. 28 The inconveniency of a confused Trade in the hands of particular Merchants to themselves and the Countrey p. 29 30 The Authors Experience of it in Tallow and Wools c. p. 31 32 Why though England c. divides their Trade into several Companies Ireland should have but one p. 33 Why the ancient Guild of the Hance after above 300 years flourishing was dispriviledg'd p. 33 34. The Solvency of Bank-Security p. 35 36 37. The method of managing the Bank p. 37 38 To place the Authority of the Bank c. by Act of State on the Statute Staple until a Parliament meet p. 39 46 The only Expedient to prevent the Transportation of our Wools p. 39 40 41 42 The Original of the Guild of the Hance very ancient p. 43 The great benefit the Kings of England made of the Staple and how it was mov'd from place to place and striven for by all places p. 44 45 CHAP. II. The Interest of England to promote the Prosperity of the English Interest of Ireland 1 ARgued from the different Constitution of Ireland now to what it was before the last Rebellion p. 1. The English the greatest Proprietors of Land and chiefly inhabiting Cities and Wall-Towns p. 48 The last Act of Settlement differs from all former Royal Grants in several considerable particulars to the advantage of the English Interest p. 50 Ireland under the sole Government of English Magistrates p. 51 England can in nothing so much promote the prosperity of the English Interest of Ireland as by countenancing its Trade p. 51 Englands only way to secure its self against Foreign Invasions and ruine of its Trade is to promote the Potency of the English Interest in Ireland p. 52 Englands neglect herein was the cause of the late Massacre and Rebellion p. 53 The neglect hereof hath cost England more Money c. than Ireland is worth ibid. Lord Deputy Sidney of the same opinion p. 54 Neglecting Trade and Manufacturie the cause of the degenerating of the English and why p. 55 Multitudes of Irish Papists are now English Protestants p. 55 56 58 Mr. Spencers and Heilins opinion of the best way to promote the Protestant Religion in Ireland p. 56 57 Ireland now so constituted it cannot fail of an English Protestant Parliament p. 58 The names and numbers of the Corporations of Ireland sending Members to Parliament p. 59 to 63 A Catalogue of the present Peers of Ireland summon'd to Parliaments in two Columns by which may be observ'd the Protestant Peers far exceed the Papists in number and interest p. 63 to 67 A Catalogue of the Nobility of Ireland anno 1571. And another 1641. by which may be observ'd the antiquity and precedency of the present Noble Families of Ireland p. 70 to 73 It is the interest of the Irish Papists to promote the Potency of the English Interest of Ireland p. 73 Though the subduing of the many Rebellions hath cost England dear yet the Irish at last paid the reckonings p. 73 Englands ancient claim to the Sovereignty of Ireland and the Legality and Justness of their Title by Conquest p. 73 to 75 The weakness of the English Interest of Ireland the cause of the many Rebellions since they deriv'd their States and Honours from the Crown of England p. 75 The degenerate English more dangerous Rebels than the Native Irish p. d6 The Popes Instigation and Encouragement to Desmond and Thomas Fitz-Geralâ— to rebell and to root out the Protestanâ— Religion as a mad and venomous Dâ—ctrine and hellish Opinion p. 76
all their lives should be so rude to accuse and condemn them then when they will have no other Friend to plead for them or that their faithful Ministers who frequently warn'd them from the Pulpit will be so little Gentlemen as to witness against them at that Bar or that the merciful Judge will be so severe to send them away with a Go ye cursed into Hell fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels for the omission of so smaall a Duty as they now esteem sincere and timely Repentance Or at the worst if he should the Devils will be afraid to seise them lest they should take it for an Affront that deserves a Cudgelling or at least will not be so ungrateful as to torment such faithful Servants to their Interest in the World that were always at their beck and never rejected one of their Temptations these are such as the Prophet Isaiah complains of in his time who said We have made a Covenant with Death and with Hell we are at an agreement when the overflowing Scourge shall pass thorough it shall not come unto us I say no thought can be so vile nor imagination so absurd no day-dream nor Enthusiastical delusion can parallel the depraved Fancies of these Professors of Prophaneness if we may judge the Tree by their Fruits or mens Hearts by their Lives who Saint Paul reproves with Tears Philippians 3.18 that they so walk as they are a shame to the Christian Religion whose God is their Belly whose Glory is their Shame c. And in vain shall we strive to rescue the Obstruction of our Trade and Consumption of our Wealth from the Desolating Influences of these four sorts of Debauchees until Atheism and Prophaneness are esteemed more God-provoking Sins and more ignoble and ingentile Qualities Herbert Oh how corrupt's the Nature of mans Will That breaks those Laws which very Beasts fulfil When we have lost our way to God how level How easie to be sound 's the way to 'th Devil CHAP. VI. Stating the intolerable Charge and Expence Ireland is at by maintaining Foreigners to its peculiar Interest in the most profitable Imployments and Offices I shall only make my Observations of what Ireland hath suffered thereby these fifteen years viz. from the 28th of July 1662. the Duke of Ormond first entred on the Government until the 24th of August 1677. the Earl of Essex surrendered which Charge and Expence I shal reduce to these seven Heads 1. By the Court of Claims 2. By the Farmers of the Kings Revenue and Treasury 3. By special Grants upon the Treasury of Gratuities and Pentions to Non-residents 4. By Foreign Merchants and their Factors 5. By exporting and importing on Foreign bottoms 6. By Absentees 7. By the Chief Governours  Yearly Charge Total 1 BY the Court of Claims the Commissioners all Foreigners besides several Counsellors Assistants and Servants and tho' there were reasons why the Judges of this Court shuold be such as were not interested in the Estates of Ireland yet what they gained was so much loss to the Country for   Besides what other advantages and profits they made they receiv'd 1 penny per Acre upon all Lands passing their Court being 6883 846 Acres which amounts to  28682 13 10 All other advantages to them and theirs coming in and going out with them cannot be estimated to less than  5000 00 00 2. The last Sett of Farmers with their Commissioners all Forreigners and about 20 of the best sort of their Officers came and returned with them   1. The Profit of their Farm estimated at per an 10000 00 00  for seven years amounts to  70000 00 00 Besides the Interest the King paid for their seventy thousand pound advance-money at per annum 7000 00 00  which for seven years amounts to  49000 00 00 2. The Salary of their five Commissioners at 500 l. each is per annum 2500 00 00  which for seven years amounts to  17500 00 00 3. Twenty Officers Foreigners at 100 l. one with another is per ann 2000 00 00  which for seven years amounts unto  14000 00 00 I take no notice of the first sett of Farmers because they were our Countrymen and our Common-Wealth did enjoy them and their Gains after their Farm was determined   The Contracters for the Treasury being not accountable we cannot so well compute their Gains but I have heard some more capable of guessing affirm that when all their Arrears are got in they cannot gain less than 60000 l. 2 thirds of them being Foreigners is damage to the Country 40000 l. their Commissioners being most our Country-men or staying with us I shall not account their Salaries loss to the Country and I cannot learn they imploy'd many Foreigners under them  40000 00 00 3. Special Pentions and Annuities payable by the Establishment for Ireland to persons not inhabiting there computed at per ann 5000 00 00  which for fifteen years amounts to  75000 00 00 4. The fourth Expence is by Foreign Merchants and their Factors which can no way be exactly computed but by examining the Custom-house Books but at least one moyety of the whole Traffique of the Nation is carried on by Forreign Stocks the whole Profit accrewing to the Foreigner is estimated to be at least per ann 40000 00 00  Then one half of this Trade is managed by foreign Factors which must amount unto at least the eighth part of the profit of their principals which is per ann 5000 00 00  this charge for 15 years amounts to  675000 00 00 For what Factorage is given to our own Inhabitants 't is no loss but gain to the Country all which may be easily preserved to them without obstructing Trade or lessening the Kings Customs as I shew in the Chapter of Company Trade   5. Our trading in foreign bottoms is a vast Charge to this Kingdom computed at least to amount unto per annum 60000 00 00  Besides the loss of the Seamens Habitations and Families expences the chief Inhabitans of Port-towns as also the many Artists imployed in building repairing rigging of Ships c. at least per annum 30000 00 00  damage as I shall further evidence in the Chapter of Shipping which may all be saved by Corporation-Trade as appears in that Chapter   This expence of 90000 pound per annum for 15 years amounts to  1350000 00 6. Above any of 〈◊〉 the Stock drained ou◠of this Kingdom by Absentees which is now augmented above treble what it was formerly by the great Estates the Adventurers possess who being most of them estated men in England live there and draw over a vast sum of Money yearly they possess of the Lands of this Kingdom 787326 Acres which valued at 2 s. an Acre one with another much of their Lands lying in the best parts of the Kingdom
vast Trade Spain had ingrossed both in the East and West Indies and in Africa they might yet have enjoyed had not cruel de Alva by his inhumane severities forced the Dutch to cast off the Spanish iron Yoke and defend their Liberties whereby as Sir William Temple observes by the great multitudes of people crowded together in a narrow compass of Land they were necessitated to improve their Industry at Sea and after the Spaniards and Fortugals who were then the Subjects of Spain had entirely enjoyed the enriching Trade of the East Indies c. as before for almost one hundred years viz. from Anno 1498. until 1595. the Dutch sent a Fleet from Amsterdam and then in 1600. the English sent four Ships viz. the Assention the Dragon the Hector and Susan under the Command of Captain Lancaster since which by the prudent Government of that Company hath equalized the Portuguies and Dutch having erected Plantations and Factories at Ormus c. in Persia at Agria Cambasan Suraâ— c. in the Moguls Country at Man Salupan Armagon Pecana Siam on the Coast of Chormandel the Isles of Sumatra Bantam c. that now they furnish Italy and Turkie with all those Indian Commodities which about fifty years ago they bought there to the ruine of the Trade of Syria and Egypt c. who have now only an Inland Trade by Caravans from Aleppo Damasco and Mecha c. And out of the Ashes of their Barbary Company ruined by the Civil Wars of Fez arose the Levant or Turkie the most flourishing and beneficial Company now in England incorporated by King James I do but hint these things here to evidence the undoubted advantage of Company Trade insisting largely upon them in my Treatise of Traffique in the Chapter of Discoveries of new Trades And that this way of Corporation-Trade has not only greatly enlarged Trade but enriched the places of its Residence we have manifold instances the ancient Company of Merchant-Adventurers now called the Hamborough Company erected by Edward the first in 1296. was courted by the Duke of Brabant to make their Residence at Antwerpe where they first settled the English Staple and had granted to them great Priviledges and made the City flourish in Trade which being observed by that inspectious Prince Edward the third he to bring the Trade to his own Ports prohibited the Transportation of Wools and granted great encouragement to Dutch Weavers to set up their Craft in England and soon after prohibited all foreign Cloth from being transported into the Realm confirmed by Edward the Fourth who settled their Priviledges by Charter in the year 1406. which hath been confirmed and enlarged by all his Successors Queen Elizabeth for the better vending their Cloths when their Quantity exceeded home Markets gave them power under the Great Seal to treat with foreign Princes and States for places to settle the Residence of their Factors and Stores upon which all the Princes and States in Flanders Holland and Germany strove who should enjoy them and wheresoever they removed they drew a vast Trade after them their present Residence is at Dortrech for the Netherlands and Hamborough for Germany where the chief Court of their Fellowship now resides they transport all sorts of Cloths dressed and dyed Lead Tin Oyl Stockens Hats Spanish Fruits and Wines and make their returns in Linnings Rhenish Wines Mather Hops Sope Wire Copper Brass Iron Steel Quick-silver Gunpowder Flax Hemp Allom Wax c. This Company hath power by their Charter yearly to elect a Governour Deputy Governour and Assistants and to settle their Residents Courts in any parts beyond Sea and several places in England as London York Hull Newcastle c. with power of making Acts and Ordinances so as they are not repugnant to the Law of England for the better Government of their Trade likewise power to hear and decide Causes to implead sine and punish Offendors This grew to be the most flourishing Company for Trade in the world until Philip and Mary erected the Muscovy Company which soon wrested a great part of their Trade from them which were at first called the Corporation for Discovery of new Trades a Design that would well sute with the present state of Ireland whose great Priviledges were confirmed and enlarged as before by Queen Elizabeth much after the method of the other and their Trade much the same and after this studious Princess for the Improvement of the Trade and Wealth of her Country added to these she found the three other Companies beforementioned viz. the Levant or Turkie Company which made the first Discovery of that vast Trade since driven in the Signorie of Venice and the Dominions of the Grand Seignior and thereby oserved the vast Trade betwixt Aleppo and other Levant Ports with the East Indies managed by Land carriage which encouraged them to enquire into a more cheap and gainful way to obtain East India Commodities at first Hand And that produc'd that most famous Country-inriching Company called the East India Company who obtain'd a Charter for great Priviledges from the Queen and hath managed their Trade by a joint Stock reported to be 600000 l. whereby they have built and maintained a gallnt Fleet of stately Ships for War as well as Burthen imployed multitudes of people in their Plantations Ships and Factories to the great Honour and Wealth of their Country And after this in the 21. year of the Reign of that most famous Queen that is in the year 1579. did she incorporate the Eastland Company and endow them with great Priviledges and Immunities to trade in Denmark Sweden Poland Prusia and Pomerland from the River Odera Eastward And it is worth observing how small beginnings in Trade beget great increase Trade like that Grain of Mustard-seed our Saviour speaks of being cast into the ground grows up to a great tree that the Fowls of the air may lodge in the Branches of it and it is also observable if foreign Traffique did live yet it never flourished in this part of the world until it was managed by united Stocks and Policies as in the forementioned instances in our own Country besides what is of the same kind amongst all our Neighbours flourishing in Trade And as in these many examples from past times evidence that they esteemed this way of Traffique the only way to increase Trade so is their Wisdom approv'd and confirm'd by the prudent in this age His Majesty that now is hath set to his Seal that Corporation-trade is the strength of foreign Traffique by his not only confirming what his Royal Predecessors before did but also by his adding the African and Canary Companies the first not only endowed with priviledge that sounds like Princely Prerogatives as power of Peace and War raising Forts building and equipping Ships of War c. to appoint Governors to constitute Laws c. and dignified with the title of the Royal Company and well they may when His Royal Highness hath bore
Office and the chief Princes and Nobles of England enrolled Members as Prince Rupert Duke of Buckingham Duke of Albemarle Earl of Peterborough St. Albans Sandwich Bath Arlington Shastsbury c. and the Teritories of this Royal Company is from Sally in South Barbary to Cape de Bona Esperanza a Princely Dominion And having thus briefly hinted how the Wisdom and Experience of past ages and many Nations have set to their Seals to the rationality peculiar advantage to this way of improving Trade by united Stocks Policies I shall hint some inconveniencies attending its omission First the want of settled Correspondency for want of Intelligence is the ruine of Trade for when men grope out a Trade as blind folk do their way they stumble at many a stone and run their heads against many posts which light would prevent And few single persons at least in Ireland are able to carry on such a Trade as will maintain Servants or Factors to inform them how the Rates of Goods rule at the several parts they trade with but must depend upon the Advice of such persons upon the place whose Interest it is to encourage their Principles to confine to them let Goods turn to Profit or Loss they will deduct their Provision c. which contracts much perplexity and confusion in Trade whereas Trade in Company managed with united Stocks prevents them being able to bear the charge of able Factors in the Country they trade unto and able to bear a considerable loss which would ruine a particular person able to keep their Goods when Markets are low till they rise able to ingross the Bulk of a Commodity when brought low by unadvised clogging of Markets and thereby raise Rates for by their well governed Correspondency they are inform'd not only what Rates Goods go at but what quantity of them are in the Stores at each foreign port and what time they will probably take for consumption what kind of Vintage or Crops is in the Countries producing them c. and by these views can discourage their increase at home until their Markets mend abroad that they may make their Commodities pay Interest for their lying and without these and the like expedients no man can secure a Trade to turn to any certain Account but as a meer Lottery some Voyage brings a prize and some a blank whereby men of small Stocks are oft times undone and the best perplex'd and discouraged Secondly This Trade in Company with a considerable united Stock will preserve a Trade from ruine by Interlopers that will be nibling at Traffique they understand not as Pedlars at Land so these at Sea perplex and ruine the Trade of skilful able Merchant sand do themselves no good for as Pedlers may undersell the ablest Shopkeepers in some small Wares by living after a beggerly vagrant way paying no Rents nor bearing no charge in their Country and maintaining themselves by conditioning where they sell small Markets to have Victuals c. into the bargain so these Sea-pedlers much after the same manner maintain themselves and thereby are able to undersell the Merchants who have great Families to maintain at home besides chargeable Factors abroad great Duties to pay to the King chargeable Offices to bear in their Cities c. and if the Merchants shall have no more priviledge from the State than the Interloper he will be discouraged c. and the Trade of the Country ruined from these and the like inconveniencies c. which I have observed to attend the Trade of Ireland by the small Trade I have driven there my self 1. In the Trade of Wools one of the chief Commodities of the Country greatly damnified their Wools sometimes vended at half their value near to the undoing of the Sheep-master c. Proceeding principally from the abuse of Trade by Interlopers for although Wools must rise and fall with the Manufactures of England where they are chiefly vended yet as the principle Clothiers of England will store up their Cloths and Stuffs when Markets fail until they can sell them to profit so should the principle Sheep-masters reserve their Wools and the Wool-Merchants store up poor mens small parcels until Trade mend and then not tumble over great quantities to clog and lower Markets but to feed Markets as they observe their Trade requires by which means the Wools of Ireland were kept up to a competent Rate for 7 years together by my self as both the Sheep-masters and Skinners in the Province of Leinster and Connaght have often owned to me 2. So for Tallow and Butter c. trading in them becomes a Lottery from the same cause as my self experienced several times and perticularly in the year 1670. having occasion to buy a considerable quanty I agreed for several Tuns at 24. and it fell I bought more at 23. it still fell to 22. and in some parts of the Kingdom 21. I marvelled at it my Intelligence giving no advice that any great quantities were in the Merchants hands either at London or in foreign Markets but bore a competent rate only low in the West of England I suspected it only proceeded from our Blind man buff Merchants cloging the Market I stopt shiping my own and presently bought up all I could in Dublin at price current and writ to my Correspondents and Factors in all parts of Ireland to do the same upon my account upon which the Price presently started and rise to 24 and 25. and so held it that season By which Experience in these and several other Commodities I observed the Trade of Ireland was ruined by disorder and was preservable and capable of Improvement if rightly managed by considerable Stocks either in single hands conducted by the prudence of an experienced Merchant or in Company by a prudent Governor and Court of Assistance according to the paterns of the aforementioned Companies of England c. 3. This is the only Expedient to rescue the Government of our Trade out of the hands of foreigners at whose mercy we are whether we shall have a high or a low Rate for our Native commodities for they that command the largest Capital or Stock of a Kingdom or State will rule and govern the Trade of it and set the Rates on all Commodities exported or imported Object Englands Trade is divided into Companies which you have named as Hamborough Muscovy Levant East India c. and would you propose all the Trade of Ireland to be contained in the circuit of one Company Answ Though the great Trade of England and Holland c. may well bear and fully imploy several Companies with joint stock c. yet the Trade of Ireland will not England began with one Corporation for Trade in Edw. the thirds time and erected no more until Philip and Mary who granted their Patent for the Muscovy Company which was upwards of 200 years for Trades as well as Pastures may be overstock'd and thereby starved for no Trade thrives where the Merchant
Commerce of this Society be prescribed by the major part of its Members at their annual Councils at which time the Governor c. are to give an account of their whole Transactions for the time past and to propose to the general Assembly what they shall think fit to be then considered for the Proceed of the Company the ensuing year 3. That a known place be provided near the Exchange and the Office to be open from nine to twelve in the forenoon and from three to six in the afternoon and as business increaseth so the time to be enlarged 4. That a Bank Lumber be erected to supply the occasions of the poorer sort with small sums of Mony upon Pawns at reasonable rates 5. That the whole Constitution of the Bank and Corporation with its Priviledges and Securities be confirmed by Act of Parliament 6. For the mutual Security not only against each other but also betwixt the Bank and all persons it shall give or receive Credit from that they do agree that all their Bills and Tickets do bear the force of Bonds of the Staple by prevailing with the City of Dublin c. until a Parliament meet that the Governor of this Society to be still chosen Mayor of the Staple the profit of all Statutes acknowledge for Debt not relating to the Bank-trade to be still entred in the City Book and paid to the City Treasurer or whom they shall appoinâ— to receive it as also all their Entries and Certificates to bear the Credit of a Publick Notary by swearing one Clerke of the Office in that capacity which will strengthen the credit of their Security and facilitate all their transactions Besides this Affair upon the Foundation of the Law of the Staple will give a legal stamp until the Kings Patent be obtained and a Parliament of Ireland meet to enact the same It may be serviceable to both Kingdoms in executing the Laws against Transporting our Irish Wools into Foreign parts which hath been the bane of the Clothing Trade of England as well as Ireland for by the advantage of our Irish Wools both France and the Low Countries have been able to work up their own Wools to the height of our English Staple which otherwise they were not capable of for as the Wools of Spain and the more southerly parts of France are too tender and fine for strong thick Cloth so the Northerly Wools are too course and harsh to produce it but mixing our Wools with either they produce Cloth of what sort they please by which advantage the great Trade for Woollen Manufacture of the Hamborough Eastland and Muscovy Companies are much damnified who vended the greatest proportion of our Northern course and middle Cloths c. Poland Silesia c. having not only much increased the number of their Sheep but improved the Staple of their Wools of late years and encouraged great numbers of the English Weavers c. to settle amongst them besides the Prince Elector Palatine hath carried over into his Country many thousands of English Families all Artists in the Woollen Manufacture within these twenty years But if the transporting of our Irish Wools could be prevented it would put a violent check to their progress for which we have good and severe Laws only want persons interested to prosecute and execute them and it would be the interest of this Corporation to use their utmost diligence therein both in order to increase their own Manufactures for the supply of their Exportations and discourage foreign Manufactures to preserve their Market And as it would be much their Interest so will they be in a capacity to effect it above any other Judicatures by the advantage of their Factors and Correspondents in all Ports who will easily discover all attempts of that kind especially having the Authority and observing the method of the Staple which 1. Limits the Transportation of staple Commodities to certain known publick places to be bought and sold as Newcastle upon Tine York Lincolne Norwich Westminster Canterbury Chichester Winchester Exeter and Bristol in Ireland at Dublin Waterford Drogheda and Cork and for Wales Carmarthen where all Wools Wool Fells Leather Led c. were to be brought and weighed at the Kings Beam and every Sack or Bag of Wool to be sealed by the Mayor of the Staple c. 2. As they are by the said Act confined to places for Markets so to Ports for Shipping as for York at Hull Lincoln at Boston Norwich at Yarmouth Westminster at London Canterbury at Sandwich VVinchester at Southampton to be again weighed at the Ports before the Customers and an Indenture signed betwixt the Mayor of the Staple and the Customers all which with the Weight and Custom paid to be express'd in the Cocket at that time every Sack of Wool paid six shillings eight pence two hundred Wool Fells twenty shillings a Last of Leather thirteen shillings four pence and every Sow of Lead three pence Foreigners paid a third more besides the Merchant to take an Oath before the Mayor of the Staple c. that they should hold no Staple beyond the Sea of the same Commodities according to the 27th of Edward the Third Chap. 1. State Staple Now if our Ancestors found reason to keep this methodical Check upon the Transportation of Wools only to preserve the Kings small Duty before England attained the Woollen Manufacture much more ought there now to be a stricter Check observed when not only the Kings great Duty but Manufacture which is the Wealth and Glory of the Country depends upon it And for Ireland the Staple being confined to the four Ports beforementioned all upon the English Sea both for Markets and Shiping if it were now observed with these following Rules added they could never wrong us of a Bag of Wool 1. That as our Ports are prescribed so the Markets of the Staple appointed as before observed in England and every Town prescribed its Port to ship that the Staplers at every such Market should maintain a sworn Weigher who should certifie to the Staple Port the Quantity and Quality of the Wool then weighed and to whom sold 2. That no person be permitted to buy or sell Wools c. but a Brother of the Yeild of the Staple who upon their Freedom are sworn not to transgress its Laws If Foreigners to give Security to observe the Staple Rules 3. That no Ship be permitted to transport Wool that do not belong either to the Port where it was taken in or the Port in England it is consign'd to 4. That no Security be accepted but known substantial Inhabitants of the Port the Goods are ship'd from 5. That the Clerk of the Licenses register every License and issue no more to that person until he bring a Certificate or a Copy of the Cocket from the Custom-house of the due shiping of the former to be â—il'd That the Certificate of its true landing be returned in six months after the date of the
a considerable standing Army and Fleet to prevent French Invasion at double the charge of preserving Ireland now and the Invader with two ordinary Squadrons of Ships one at Brest and the other at Baltimore Bantrie or any of those bold Western Harbours they would so distress the Trade of England a Ship should with much difficulty pass Southward without a great Convey but they would seize him and then possessing the Wools of Ireland they would utterly ruine the Clothing Trade of England and if nothing else can that will convince England when too late that the strength of the English Interest of Ireland is their Bulwark as to foreign Invasion of their Country and violent wresting from thence their Trade The second Reason is because Englands neglect herein hath been the cause of that intolerable charge Ireland hath cost England in preserving and recovering its Interest in Ireland in times past more than Ireland was worth to be bought and sold when Henry the second first conquered it Cambden in his Appendix to Eliz. tells us Tyrones War cost England one million one hundred ninty eight thousand seven hundred and seventeen pounds Borlacy in his History of the Rebellion of 1641. computes the Charge of England in that War unto twenty two millions one hundred ninty one thousand two hundred fifty eight pounds three shillings then compute the Charge of its first Conquest by Henry the second with the suppressing of the several Rebellions from that time unto Tyrones Rebellion 1595. to cost England but double as much as Tyrones Suppression did which if Spencer mistakes not were every seven years in the Queens time and he writ his View of Ireland in the later end of her long Reign of forty four years which were at least six Rebellions in the Queens time and it is evident by our Histories as I have noted in my Catalogue Ireland never enjoyed seven years peace together from its first Conquest to that time then Ireland hath cost England twenty four millions five hundred eighty eight thousand six hundred ninty two pounds which is near three pounds per Acre one with another for all the Land they possess in Ireland which is above double its value now and above four times its worth to purchase Anno 1172. when Henry the second conquered it and so sensible were our Predecessors hereof that in the 11th year of Queen Elizabeth Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy in the Preamble to the Act of Parliament for a Subsidy they thus expressed themselves to the Queen viz. Considering the infinite masses of Treasure able to purchase a Kingdom that your most noble Progenitors have exhausted for the Government Defence and Preservation of your Majesties Realm of Ireland and in the body of the said Act thus We for the Alienation of some part of your Majesties inestimable Charge do revive the said Subsidy yet after this Desmond and towards the later end of the Queens Reign Tyrone were chargeable Rebels to Ireland and that most excellent Governour of whom Campion gives this Character A man much beloved stately without disdain familiar without contempt very continent learned in many Languages a great Lover of Learning skilful in Antiquities in utterance happy c. This Noble person who had spent the most part of his Life in Ireland viz. from the third of Queen Mary to the thirteenth of Elizabeth March 25. 1571. in his most elegant Speech in Parliament printed at large by Campion in Reply to some that grumbled at the Charge of the Army reasons thus Many a good fellow talks of Robin Hood that never drew in his Bow and many an idle Head is full of Proclamations c. but let me see which of them can justifie that Ireland can spare the Army c. Are your Enemies more tractable are they fewer are your selves of force to match them if you be then were England stark mad to disburse thirty thousand pounds a year for no other purpose but to vex and grieve you that were like the Husband who gelded himself to anger his Wise c. whose Arguments are still in force for the keeping up a potent Army in Ireland notwithstanding the Charge I could give many instances of the vast Charge Ireland hath put England unto above what it was ever worth to purchase all which intolerable Charge hath proceeded from the not improving the English Interest in Ireland by Trade and Manufactures whereby the English Planters have been constrained to betake themselves to Husbandry amongst the Irish for their livelihood and the Irish being better acquainted with the nature of the Soyl and accustomed to a more frugal way of living have eaten up the substance of the English by which they have been constrained to court their Friendship and by their Fosterings and mixtures by Marriage multitudes of them have embraced their Religion Customs and Manners and degenerated to their Interest as was manifest in the last Rebellion the strength of the Irish consisted in the degenerate English And as Ireland is thus altered in its Estates strong Holds c. treble to what it ever was before so the Inhabitants both Irish and degenerate old English are many of them now English Protestants there are many of the Tooles Burns Cavenaghs Releys ô Neales ô Bryans ô Moores ô Sulivants Mac Cartys Mac Laughlins Mac Guires c. are now English Protestants and more might have been long since saith Spencer if the English Government had done their parts to have supplied the Country with learned pious and painful Preachers that would have out-preach'd and out-liv'd the Irish Priests in holy and godly Conversations which that most intelligent Observer of Englands Defects in the Irish Affairs pag. 113. saith thus In planting of Religion thus much is needful to be observed c. that it be not sought forcibly to be impressed into them with terror and sharp penalties as now is the manner but rather delivered and intimated with mildness and gentleness so as it may not be hated before it be understood and their Professors despised and rejected And therefore it is expedient that some discreet Ministers of their own Countrymen be first sent over amongst them which by their meek persuasions and instructions as also by their sober lives and conversations may draw them first to understand and afterwards to embrace the Doctrine of their Salvation for if the ancient godly Fathers which first converted them when they were Infidels to the Faith were able to pull them from Idolatry and Paganism to the true Belief in Christ as St. Patrick and St. Columb how much more easily shall godly Teachers bring them to the true understanding of that which they already profess wherein it 's a great wonder to see the odds which is between the Zeal of Popish Priests and the Ministers of the Gospel for they spare not to come out of Spain from Rome and from Rhemes by long toyl and dangerous travelling hither where they know peril of Death awaiteth them and