FEw Princes have such means to support their splendour and Greatness, as His Majesty of Great Britain, nor have many Countries such a va­riety of staple Commodities within themselves, and in such abundance, as th [...]se Kingdoms.

So that if these Advantages were duly improved, this Kingdom might be a general M [...]rt, for these parts of the World. But,

That those Adventages are not improved, is obvious to all that look into it, by the so [...] complaints that are frequently made of the great Poverty and decay thereof; and indeed, (which is worst of all) by that general d [...]speration of Spirit, which will not put orth a hand to help, support or prevent the total desolation fo [...]r Country, up [...]n a prepossest opinion, that all en [...]eav [...]u [...]s will be rendred [...]ruitless and abortive.

The consideration whereo [...] hath greatly prompted me, who must confess my self the meanest of Thous [...]n [...]s, to use the utmost of my little skill, to try what might be done, towards the management of some Methods, that may prevent the [...]; and (if possible) that some good part of what is lost may be recovered.

I shall confine my self to those things only, whereof I have had not only credible information, but a considerable (though a sad) experimental knowledg; and in a more particular and especial manner, that of the Ma­nufacture of Wooll in England, which, amongst [...]any, is the richest Trea­sure in his Majesties Dominions; the Flower, Strength and Sinew of this Nation, and therefore of full Merrit, to be had in parpetual remembrance, defence and encouragement, for the most advantagious improvement thereof.

The Dukes of Burgundy, (who had, as [...] am informed, the greatest, if not the whole Manufacturing of our Wooll,) well understood, and long enjoyed; before King Edward the Third, the benefits accruing to that People by English Wooll, which they received at six Pence per pound, by their industrous Manufacturing thereof; returned again to us in Cloath, at ten shillings per yard, to the enriching of that People, and advancing the Revenue of their Soveraign; which being perceived, by the vigilent and industrous Prince, King Edward the Third, upon a visitation made by him­selfe, to the Duke of Bungundy, during his residence there, he imployed such able Agents, amongst the Flemish Clothiers, representing to them, the Danger they were in by the bordering Warrs with France, and the peaceable Condition of England, and Freedom of the People that are Sub­jects there (which are great Motives) propounds an Invitation for them to come over hither, wherein he [...]romises them the same Priviledges and Immunities with his own Subjects, by which promises) he pre­vailed with a great number of them to come into England soon after him, where He most Royally performed those promises, and also replanted many of his own Subjects, who had been long setled in Fla [...]ders.

And as a suitable improvement of so great a mercy, did wisely project, and also accomplish the Manufacture of Wooll within the bowels of this Kingdom, to the great enriching of his own People, and also to the peo­pleing of his new-Conquered Dominions: the Memory of whose Wis­dom and Care for his People, is worthy to be had in remembrance, by En­glish men, unto the Worlds end.

The said King having thus setled the Manufacture of Wooll, within the Kingdom of England, confined it by a penal Statute, which (at first) reached not only to Goods, Chattels and Lands, but also to Mem­bers, and L [...]fe it self; but, in a short time repealed; the two latter there­of, continuing the other in its full force, to remain to future Generations, which exceeding greate advantage, to the propriety of the English Trade, hath now coutinued three Hundred Years, by the vigilency of the govern­ment, and the Protection of its Laws in the careful execution thereof upon offenders, with more than a little diligence, to provide against the th [...]st­ing desires o [...] Forreigners, to wrest this Nations priviledg out of English hands; which by the Providence of God, through the care of our Ances­tors, has been (for many Ages) enjoyed by the Nation, as it is indeed its proper right.

But so it is, (for some years past) the diligence of Forreigners, to enrich themselves upon us, hath so far exceeded our care to preserve our selves, that its come to, if not beyond a question, who hath the greatest benefit of the [Page 3] Manufacture of English Wooll? they who have no right unto it? or, they to whome of right it doth belong?

That this is so, will appear by considering, that not only Holland and Flanders, have long suckt the sweetness of our Trade, but France is like­wise learning to be too hard for us, as is manifest by the great quantity of Wooll, that (of late years) have been imported there; how injurious it must be to us, is also unquestionable, if we consider the necessary conse­quences thereof.

For every Pack of Wooll sent to France, doth prevent us (not only) of the benefit, of the Manufacturing thereof; but, of much more, by reason of the advantage that they make of their own course Wooll, and fine spun Linnen in their Drugets and Stuffs.

Besides our Damage in putting that value on the French Fancies, by giv­ing them double the worth for the same Manufacture (which we our selvs make) of our English Wooll, so much have we been deceived in this Matter, that whereas in the time of the late War with the Dutch and French, that French Druggets, and other Stuffs, not coming so freely from France, some English broad Cloaths striped, at 10s. per Yard, were rent in three parts ( viz.) Breadths, and put in the form of French Druggets, and each part sold at 8s. per yard which makes that one yard comes to 24s. which as English [...]loth was sold for 10s. and the like Fancy many have for Dutch Black Cloth, if it have the Name of Dutch, tho' our own Make, this is real Matter of Fact.

Now if we consider, what damage we sustain, by exporting one pa [...]k of Wooll unmanufactured, (by which we may judge of the rest,) that a pack of Wooll worth ten pound, if it be Manufactured here, and so exported, would be improved to be wor [...]h one Hundred Pounds.

That it is so, doth most evidently appear by worsted-hose, that one pound of Kembed Wooll, worth twenty pence, will make two pair of Hose worth five Shillings the pair; or three pair, worth three Shillings four pence; which reckoned either way, s [...]ten shillings for one pound of Wooll, (though some is less, some more) there being twelvescore pound of Wooll in a pack, is so many ten shillings, makes a Hundred and Twenty Pound.

For when it shall be observed (as I have now demonstrated) that a Pack of Kembed Wooll worth 20l. does, when Manufactured at home yeild 120 l. here in the English Market, out of which deduct 20 l. for the Wooll there remains 100 l. Starling, gains by the Labour of Spining and Knitting, besides the Dying, Leging, Packing, and fitting it for the Sea; when the additional advance thereon by home, and forreign Customs, Freight, Land-Carriage and other incident expence, together with the [Page 4] Profit on s [...]le in Foreign Parts, shall be considered; it is reasonable to conclude that this single Pack so Manufactured, and Exported by the En­glish Merchant, will Purchase Forreign Commodities to neare the value of 20 [...] l. by that time the Customes of Importation are answered for the same.

And indeed the thing is naturally so obvious, and the loss to England in [...] Years so apparent that t [...] may justly [...]lence the greatest oppos [...]r, and convince any thinking Person tho hims [...]l [...] never so indifferent, or uncon­cerned in point of intrest.

And if it be so that the single Exportation of one Pack o [...] English Wooll unwrought be so great a [...]amage to the Nation, it is an amazing thing o [...] [...]al­culate what the loss has been and does daily prove to the King [...]n [...] K [...]g­dom, while so many Thousand Packs have been, and still are Yearly Tran­sported; the mischeife ha [...] not perhaps been [...] to every one, but is very easily discovered by such who give themselves the leastle sure to consi­der.

To return it's aver'd, that the Export [...]tion of English and Irish Wooll is of a Dangerous an [...] Destructive Conseque [...] to the very Being of our Trade, and to the riches and strength of this Kingdom, and to his M [...]jes­ti [...]s Customs, notwithstanding the Objections produced against it, with re­spect of the Graziers Advantage thereby, supposing 40 s. upon a Pack of Wooll was advanced for a year or two by Exportation, yet other things would be lessoned by it, it being not to be denyed at the same time, that the poore and laborious People can be em­ployed, as to have money to buy them Bread, Beet, much less Mutton, the want of which must of necessity full the price of all manner of V [...]ctuals, and if we name only Mutton (which is relative to our subject) 2 s. in the [...]arkass, which comes to 10 l. for [...] Sheep, they producing a Pac [...]o [...] Wooll, at that rate [...]s the value of the sa [...]d Pack modestly computed: But then for Beef and Corn, [...] that [...]e l [...]sned proportionable, it must be o [...] course great­er damage to the Farmer and G [...]azier, it being reckoned three times the value of Wooll throughout the Nation, one with another. And supposing there should b [...] grown yearly in En [...]land Two Hundred Thousand packs of Wooll, one year w [...]th another: And supposing that once in [...]our years the sheep were a [...]l kill'd, ( Viz.) 25 yearly of [...]00, which 2 [...] Sheep valued so low as 10 l. which is the value of the Wooll yearly shorn, from the 100 Sheep.

It may therefore prevaile upon us to beleive, that Beef and all sorts of Corn must be of a far greater value than Mutton, (and consequently of Wooll) because the greatest number of People by far, are the poor and laborious People which consume Beef, Bread and Bear, and few of such [Page 5] do often buy Mutton, or at least any quantity proportionable to other provision, and therefore whatever some others think, that a Country can be inriched without the poor laborious People, I am of another opinion: For it's matter of Fact, that in England it self, in those part, where the in­habitance are thin, and the Countres not full of People, that the Land in those p [...]ts wi [...] not yeild much above half the value, as Land of the same goodness will yeild near Townes well Inhabited, or Countries where Trade is good, and if thus in England it's much less in Ireland, which I think is a good Demonstration.

T [...]ese things considered on the other hand, it will manifestly appear, that the Exportation of Wooll unmanufactured will not only be destructive to the Merchants and Clothiers Trade, and the exposing the poor to dis­tress, [...]o want of employment; but consequently the Farmer and G [...]asie [...] will not be able to pay his Rent: For if it be so, that whilst we have some little T [...]a [...]e left there are such general complaints, what may be expected if our Foreign Trade should be wholly taken away, which is now in more danger, by the French, than it hath been this three Hundred Years past, and we seem to sleep and take no notice of it.

And then we [...]a [...] consid [...]r what price Wooll will bear, when we, some of us b [...] our remiss [...]es [...], and o [...]her w [...]fulne [...] have lost our Trade, by the circumvent [...]ng practises of Forreiners, and we our selves helping forward, for fear they should not be able to do it alone, and all this for a meere fancied and supposed profit, for there was not more Art and S [...]ill used by our A [...]cestors, to bring home the workers at first to the Wooll, and Pro­hibiting [...]he Exportation thereof, and setling the Manufacturing of it in England, than is now us'd to Export the materials unmanufactured to Forreign Artificers; and if by the means of that which is Exported al­ready, Wooll is now made so cheap as it is, a greater Exportation would make it yet cheaper, supposing ten thousand Pa [...]ks shipped into France, which by th [...]ir sort of working it, and mixing it with Lining, and their own course Wooll, and thinn [...]s of their work, goes as far there, and makes as many yards in the whole, as twenty thousand Packs if Manufactur­ed here, into more firm and substantial Cloth and Stuffs, which Ten Thou­sand Packs, if they were not Exported into France, it would unavoydably follow, that France would have of us the quantity of Twenty Thousand Packs, in our Manufacture.

B [...] all which it's obvious, that in time to come, the Wooll in England will be much more cheaper than now it is, because, by the aforesaid meanes, more Wooll will be Exported, and less will of course be used in England, and that little which will be Manufactured here can beare little or no price, Forreigners making that themselves, which we should fur­nish them with; which if it be true, as it's generally asserted, that Wooll [Page 6] is as cheap in France, as in some parts of England at this time, it's but rational to conclude it will be much cheapter hereafter, when our Wooll dos encrease on our hands, and our Manufacture decrease, both in quantity and value.

For the better clearing of this point, give me leave to insert one instance or two, as matter of Fact: That when Wooll was wholly Manufactured in England, and very little, if any at all Exported raw, the price thereof for several yeares togeather continued, betwixt 12 d. and 18 d. per l. weight, and I verily beleive as much, if not more, Wooll was grown in England at that time, ( Viz.) betwixt 20 and 30 yeares agoe, then is now at this time, the reason is plain, from the great quantity of our Woollen Manufacture vended beyond Sea, which was so considerable, that it kept up the price of Wooll at home. On the other hand in Ed. 3's. time, when all the Wooll was Exported Un manufactured, it was sold for 6 d. per pound, as is before asserted, by which it's manifest, that the advance­ment of the price of Wooll, consist, in the consumption and vent of our Manufacture freely beyond the Seas, and not in the Exportation of our wooll un manufactured.

As the Price of Wooll to be Set at a const [...]nt Rate without vary­ing, it is very Improbable, if not Imposible, for that which Rules the Market's in this Affair is the Sale of the Woollen Manufacture beyond the Seas.

For Example Suppose the Pack of Stockings before mentioned stands the Merchant at home, at first buying 120 l. besides other growing Charges; now if this Pack be sole abroad by the Merchants for 100 l. only, the Merchant at his next buying cannot pay 120 l. but the maker must with­al ab [...]te proportonable, first in the Wooll he shall next buy, and then in the Wages, his Work folks in proportion being re [...]uced in their pay­ments. So on the other hand, if this Pack of Stockings valued at 120 l. here, be Sold for 200 l. Clear of all Cha [...]ges, this advance puts the Mer­chants upon a Speedy buying, by which the Price is Advanced by the Merchants, and consequently the price of Wooll, and Workmens Wages.

Now to answer an Objection, that we do not so much depend upon the Export, as upon the were and Consumption within the Kingdome, the mistake is so visible that all which gives themselves the least trouble to look into Trade knows, that not above the 5th. part of the Woollen-Manufacture made in England is wore here at home: and that at least 4 parts of 5 of what is made here is Exported; and further quantities wiill be demanded when the Exportation of Wooll unwrought is effectually prevented.

Before I conclude, give me leave to add here, what Sr. Walter Rawleigh in his time presented to King James the first, ( viz.) that by meanes only of the Exportation of Cloth [...] and undressed, was lost to the Kingdom above Foure Hundred Thousand [...] yearly, to the workmanship, which the Dressers and D [...]ers, and other Artificers would have gained thereby, besides the damage to the King, in discourageing the Importation of Dying Stuffs, which pay a considerable Customs, besides the hin­dring Navigation.

Now if it was thus with England when the Wooll was [...]de up into Cloth, and that only for want of the Dressing and Dying it here, [...]o much loss came to this Kingdom thereby, what must the loss be, when it's [...] Manufactured here at all, but the Materials Exported raw, without any manner of gain to any Artificier at home.

For if we first consider his Majestie's loss, and next that of the Mer­chants and Clothiers, after which must follow, the Detriment to all o­ther Persons depending on T [...]ade, there being such a connexion of Trades one to another, that the d [...]mage of one harmes the rest, and the profit of one advances others, while the whole is enlarged by the abounding of working and laborious People, who supply the Farmer and Grazier with money, with which he payes his Rent to the Nobility and Gentry, and they again disperse it amongest Tradesmen, by which circulation all de­degrees of Men are either employed or enriched or both, and hence natu­rally comes content, harmony and pleasure, that one condition of Men take in the other, the poor by being employed are delivered from the fear of want; the Merchants and Artificers encouraged by certain markets, and ready Sale; the Nobility and Gentry secured in their Rents by thriving and able Tenants. And thus it is plain that em [...]loyment rati­onally is the strength of any People, but Idleness brings Poverty, Shame and Ruine, which unavoidably followes the want of Trade. But to re­turn, in short there is such Connextion and Dependancy one upon another in England, that if one faile, all the rest more or Less, either near, or more remotely are concerned. All Trades and Degrees of men, as Mer­chants, Artificers, Farmers, Seamen, Fisher-men; being the People, which by their study and labour do principaly, if not only bring in, or give accasion to the bringing in of W [...]lth to the Nation, and the Nobi­lity, Gentry, Lawyers, Physitions, Schollars of all sorts; Shop-keepers are they that receive from these, and distribute it again, and all are conse­quently concerned in this rich Treasure of Wooll, because this being a Manufacture at home, sets more hands at work than half the Nation.

May I not with modesty and within Compass, say three parts of Labo­rious and Industrious People? Considering that most of the Shipping is [Page 8] imployed in this Affair, and also so many Trades that depend immediatly upon this of Clothing, that most of other [...] are but for Provision, ei­ther in Food or Conveniencies for [...]: and so from his Majesty to the meanest, all are more or [...] concerned, The King mostly; not only in that his People are by th [...] most imployed and provi [...]ed for, (nor in that such a Staple Trade the li [...]e whereunto the Wooll hath not maintained with so good Advantage;) but because so gre [...]t a Revenue comes directly into him up [...] the Trade, occasioned thereby: Thus as the King gains, or suffers [...], so the Persons that have the greatest Estates or Trades, and so [...] proportionable to the Beggar. And also concerning that an accusto­ [...]ry thing begets such an habit that is hard to reduce; as in our rough and und [...]est Cloth to Holland, so it will be with all our Manufactures in France. I am the more large in the Demonstration of this affair, not only because this hath cost me many years labour and study to consult all sorts of concerned Persons, besides mine own experience about it; [...]o [...] because it is so hard to convince people of the me [...]n [...]st capacity, but some of the wiser sort, how to cure this dismal malady: which some dispairing of, have rather thoughts of setting up s [...]m [...] other Manufacture (in Lieu of endeavours to prevent the exportation of Wooll and Manufacturing of that at home, look­ing thereon as a thing not to be overcome,) as that of Linnens in some capable parts of England, and a better in provement in the product of For­reign Plantation, which may also be set upon together herewith as an Ad­dition; so as several sorts of Persons may be set better on worke, not ca­pable of this employment, and yet no prejudice to this of Clothing: For all other Countries have the Advantage of England, or a [...]e equal to us in other Manufactures proper to their Countries, but not in this of [...] h­i [...]g: and it will be found that all Trades in England, wholly distinct from this of Clothing, brings not the tythe of the Advantage that this doth.

Having given an Account in General, of the [...] to England b [...] the Woollen Manufacture, I did intend to have decended to Parti­culars, how all Persons are Concerned: But my time will not permit now; Leaving that for another season.

Notwithstanding what I have before said, I find by Discourse with several Gentlemen of great Honour and Worth, that there are some Mistakes yet remaining in their minds, who Impute the Cause of the low Price of Wooll, the fall of Rents, and value of Lands; because Wooll is no more freely exported; to rectifie which mistake I have been labour­ing many years, because the consequences of such mistaken Notions is dan­gerous to this Kingdom; but if there was nothing more in it at this conjuncture, this were sufficient to oppose it, that it contributes to the Greatness of the French King, into whose Dominions our Wooll is imported, and who hath given so great an encouragement thereunto, that to the Town of Caellis alone, there hath been at least, within two years, brought in 40 Thousand Packs of Wooll, from the Coast of Kent and Sussex (besides what is imported in other places of France, from Ire­land, and the western Parts of England) for Rumney [...]marsh-Men (who so much complain) are not content only with the Exportation of their own Grouth, but buy Wooll 10 or 20 Miles up in the Country, and bring it down to the Sea side, and Ship it off; besides much Wooll is carried from London, to make a Trade of Exporting of it un-manufactured: Kent is the place, out of which more Wooll is exported, than out of all other parts of the Kingdom besides; so the Woollen-manufacture in that Countrey, which before Wooll was so much exported, was considerable, is now almost lost, tho' some seems to be well pleased, that they have by that Means, rid themselves of their Poor in that County: I would desire such to consider, what they would do with their Sheep, Bullocks, and Corn, if all other Countryes that now are employed in the woollen­manufacture, which is brought to London, and there sold to maintaine Trade was as Barren of the Poor as Kent is, tho' with it, they have lost the benefit of so great and good Trade: Give me leave to compare the Pro­fit with the Loss, and suppose Kent was wholy Independant, and that it did produce Six Thousand Packs of Wooll yearly, and put the Rate of Ten Pounds upon a Pack, which in the whole amounts to Threescore Thousand Pounds, and so exported. And then to consider, what it would be worth [...]f made into Stockings and worsted Stuffs, that wooll being most of it fit for it. And supposing that a Pack and half of rough wooll, made one Pack of Kembed wooll, and as such worth Twenty Pound, which if made up into Stockings, would Yeild one Hundred and Twenty Pounds, as be­fore demonstrated, which would amount to Seven Hundred and Twenty Thousand Pounds; so that if the said Wooll was Manufactured in that County, the profit by the Manufacturing thereof, would be six hundred and sixty Thousand Pounds, which instead of this Profit, the Kentish Gen­tlemen are willing to content themselves, with fourty shillings per. Pack ad­vance [Page 10] upon their Wooll exported, which amounts to but Twelve Thou­sand Pounds, tho' it be only to the enriching and strengthening the French King, who alone has the Benefit of most of the Wooll exported, and tho' this in reason should be satisfactory to any, yet I shall Answer that question, how we can work up the Wooll if not exported, Matter of Fact is not often disputed, that it is matter of Fact, that before there was such great quantities of Wooll Exported to France, all the Wooll grown in England, and what was imported from Ireland, was all made up into one sort of Manufacture or other, and a great part of it exported to France, which now having our Wooll, Prohibits ou [...] Manufacture; so, that were the wooll wholy stopt, we should quickly work it up, and then no complaint of wooll upon hand. For I have known for several years together, when little wooll has been exported, that at Sheering-Time, there hath been but a very small quantity of wooll left on hand.

Give me leave further to add, that by the said Exporiation of Wooll to France, Exeter alone, hath lost the sale of Three Hundred Thousand Pounds worth of the woollen-manufacture P. An. next is the loss of a great part of the Cottens and Bays, made [...]n Dorcetshire, as also Cloth-Rashes in Hampshire, from the Town of Hampton and Rumsy, two thirds of the Trade is lost in 20 Years time, next may be considered Welch Cot­tens, Manchester Bayes, and Yorkshire K [...]s [...]s, worsted stuffs and stockings, formerly a great Trade to France; And last of all, fine broad mixt Cloth from London, which Trade is now lost, for one Merchant in London, that had the buying of Fifty Thousand Pounds worth of Cloth Pr. An. Sterling, now have nothing, which is the effect of Exportation of wooll to France; who as they have tas [...]ed the sweetness, and have sound the Sinues of our Trade, so they have not spared any Cost to gain it from us, by getting our wooll, either by Craft or Force from us, for there was not more Art and Skill used by K. Edw. 3d. in bringing home the Ma­nufacturers at the first to the wooll, than is now used to Export our wooll; the consequence of which is not only I [...]jurious to us in the manufacturing of it in France, but in another Advantage to them, by the Improving every Pack of Raw wooll, as before hinted, by their sine-spun Linning and Course wooll (otherwise only fit for Ruggs, or Seamens Garments) that it makes as much manufacture as three Packs, if used in England, which together by the Cheapness of wages under sels us, and without our wooll, the French can make no middle sort of Cloth, nor Stuffs, or Stock­ings, there being none in the Known parts of the world, to my best In­formation, fit for those manufactures, which is the greatest Trade in Europe. for confermation, give me leave to add the words of an English Merchant, [Page 11] living in France, in a Letter to a Friend of mine here, dated the 16 of March 1669, (viz.) we Englishmen, have our Throats Cut with our own Weapous, wondering at the Stupidity of the English, that they should so long omit, to possess the King's Majesty with their Deplorable and dangerous Case, in respect of the present and future Inconveniency thereof, in having such great quantities of Wooll that is stolen into France, by which the French Make Cloth called Serge-de-Berry, in which they Cloath their Soldiers, and all made of English wooll, by which Means, the English Men have the Reputation of be­traying their Father for two pence, than no Marvel if they betray their Coun­try.

And in another Letter from the same Person to my self, dated the 5th. of March 1671, Respecting Stockings, thus (viz.) I have much reason to believe, unless some are made Examples, there will be a continual Abuse of the Comodi [...]y, both English and Irish, raw and kembed, abound much in these Countries, that they make abundance of Fabricks, and without our wooll they cannot make it. There is a City called [...]ourney, that makes all sorts of woollen S [...]ockings, it's but few Years ago, that they betook themselves to it; a Trade which in my Minority, was considerable from London into these Countrys, but it's now lost; it is not above three Years ago, that there was a Scarcity of kembed Wooll in that quarter of the Country, and could have contemedly given double the Price for the said Wooll; I tould them care was then taking in England to prevent it. I Remembred at that time ( viz) the beginning of the Year 166 [...], upon my Address to K. Char. 2d. by the Importunity of some Merchants in Exon, for some Friggats at Sea, and a Party of Horse at Land, and strict Orders then given, as at large else-where doth appear, a great stop was then put to that mischeif, but I being discouraged, and also falling Sick in 1671, that Wooll was then Ex­ported in great plenty, that the same Gentleman saith. That Wooll abound­ed, both English and Irish, that it fell in few Months one third part of its Price, and there he concludes thus, (viz.) you may easily see how Englands Hearts-Blood is drawn from them; in a word France rejects our Fabricks at this day, presuming they shall never want our wooll to make their own Fabricks, which are so variable, as puts a gre [...]t stop to the Current demand, that used to be of our Sollid Fabricks, for which they will pretend to give the Mode to all the world; and so by this Means, in time all the world will be disgust with our Fabricks, when they shall receive the Mode from the French, con­sider this I pray, that so there may be some speedy Remedy.

What hath been done in pursuance of this Letter, I have else where wrote at large; I shall here only incert the main Objections, made a­gainst what I have here Asserted, ( viz.)

1st. That for want of vending our superfluous wooll abroad, that the Tenant and Landlord are so much damnified, that the one cannot pay his Rent, nor the other sustain his Taxes; and this is the chiefest, if not the sole Reason of sinking our Rents, and throwing up of Farms, and the Misery of the whole Country.

2d. That it is much more the Concern of the Nation, to preserve the Nobi­lity, and Gentry, rather than regard a few Artifficers, who are employed in the working up the wooll, or the Merchant who gains by the Exportation of our Manufacture.

3d. That it will be more for the Advantage of our woollen Trade, and less for that beyond the Sea, than the hindring of it hath been.

4th. That if a large Custom was put upon all wooll that was exported by Strangers, and that at least by this Means, they may come to pay double the Price of what our Clothiers do, and not only so, but by this Means also, His Majesty may receive an advantage by the Customs, that is Imposed upon it.

5ly. That our Fore-Fathers did never Prohibit the Transportation of Wooll, unles upon some great Occasion, and for a certain Season, till of late Years, for making good of which, a Summary of several Statutes are brought, from the Time of Edward the 3d. downwards, to our Times.

6th. That the decay of our Clothing, doth not lie in the Exportation of our wooll, but on the contrary, (viz.) because our wooll is not more freely Exported than it is, that in as much as the decay and fell of our Manufacture, comes properly from the Prohibition of our wooll, the stopping or hindring of it, is but the applying to our distemper a wrong Remedy.

To all which Objections, I make the Reply following, which I desire may be Impartially considered; and if therein, there be any thing of Rea­son, Truth, or Argument; I question not, but that Persons of Honour and Reputation, will not oppose their own Judgment, especially when their Intrest is truly, and so nearly therein concerned.