An Essay to the Restoring of our Decayed Trade.

Wherein is Described, the Smuglers, Lawyers, and Officers Frauds &c.

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That I may proceed in as good an Order as I can, (although I cannot pretend to Learning, or Ability to Compose a Book in a Methodical way,) but do wish that such a task as this, had been undertaken by some other, that might have been able abundantly better to have mannaged it, to satisfaction of the Reader; Yet by reason of my former imployment in the Trade of a Cloathier, and afterwards in the Office of Surveyor of one of the Ports of this Kingdom, at the Custom-House, I am experimentally enabled to speak to those things, which shall follow.

And if there fall not out such an Harmonious Order, in the ensuing Discourse, by the necessary connection, or orderly introduction of one thing to another, as might be expected, (as before in my Epistle so again,) I do humbly beg the best and most favorable construction, and censure of the matter; for having in my breast, the true heart, and Spirit of an English-Man, for his King and Country; I cannot bear with those dayly abuses, and evil practices, so frequently and notoriously put upon the King and Kingdom, but that I do reckon my self Obliged, in all duty and good conscience to my King and Country, to make them as publiquely known and manifest as I can, and then leave the Remedies, to be provided and answerably applied, by the Ministers of State, which I hope in a short time will be effected.

And here I shall endeavour, First, to make it to appear, that there is no Nation nor Kingdom in the World, that hath those advantages, whereby to inrich themselves, as this our Kingdom of England, by the Manufacture of our Wooll, and consequently to maintain our strength, and Honor; omitting to speak of many other staple Commodities, of this our Kingdom, though many Rich and Profitable, because I am intended to Treat principally about the Subject of Wooll, and the Manufactures thereof with the dependancies thereupon.

Now that such advantages as might accrue to the Kingdom are not laid hold on, and the Commodities improoved to what it might be, is too too evident to all men, that have any feeling of the case, or that do make any inspection into it; which may also be sufficiently confirmed to all others, by the sad complaints, and frequent moanes, that are dayly made concerning the miserable decay of Trade, to the great loss of many perticuler men, and to the King, and Nation in General, and principally in the Trade of Cloathing.

But if the Wooll of England, and Ireland were improoved to the best advantages, and secured from exportation to Forreigners, doubtless England would be the General Market for the whole Universe, for matter of Cloathing, and what would soon be the Riches, greatness, and Splendor thereof, (by the Almighties blessing) is not a thing very difficult to be imagined, by any sober judicious Person, Merchant, or Traveller.

And that no Nation hath such good Wooll, for the general Trade of Cloathing is evident, elce what makes so many Forreigners of other Nations, so greedy of our English Wooll, if they had as good, or near as good of their own, and how highly was it formerly esteemed, by the Dukes of Burgundy, and what benefit and advantage did that People under his government make of it; when they paid but sixpence the pound for our English Wooll, they returned it to us in Cloath at Ten shillings the Yard; by which may very easily be computed, what profit did redound to that people, in the working up the Wooll, which thing occasioned many English Families, to transport themselves into those parts, for their profitable livelihood and subsistence.

But after the Victorious Conquest, made by Edward the third, of Famous Memory, he caused to be ordered and set up the Manufactures of Wooll in this Kingdom, to the great increase of the Riches of his own People; the memory of whom, for his provident care for the wellfare of his People; is worthy to be perpetuated to all succeeding Generations.

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