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to be committed to the care and charge of the principall Cities
and Townes in the Clothing Counties； because by ancient Statutes
not repealed； all Clothes and Kersies ought to bee brought to the
next City； Borough； or Towne Corporate； to be sealed； before they
be put to sale。 And if such Clothes so sealed； prove defective；
that Corporation or Towneship that so hath sealed them； shall
forfeit the whole value thereof。
The reformation of which abuse will redound to the benefit of
the Clothier； as well as the Merchant。 For none is more hurt with
false Cloth； then that Clothier which maketh true Cloth： because
his markets are alwayes hurt by the cheapnesse that false Cloth
may be afforded at。 Therefore to facilitate this Remedy； I have
made a collection of all the principall Cities and Townes in the
Clothing Counties for this purpose； as by a list thereof； fixed
to the end of this discourse may appeare； that so a worke of this
nature be no longer deferred； wherein the Honour of the King； and
the Benefit of the Publique are so much involved。
Under the Merchant I observed the Cloth…Trade to suffer at
Home and Abroad： At Home； either by exporting the Materials of
Clothing； or by Ore…lading the Cloth…Trade with charge。 The
Remedy in the former； were to lay a restraint of exportation of
Wools and Wool…fels out of Ireland； and to quicken the execution
of the Statute for that purpose in England； by encouraging the
discoverers of such abuses。
The latter is the Sur…charging of the Cloth Trade； either
generally or specially： this last； in the Impositions and Impress
monies imposed by the Merchant Adventurers： which as it is a
charge laid upon the Drapery of the Kingdome； I conceive； under
favour； is a matter that trencheth into the Suprmeme power and
dignity of the King； and is peculiar to Him alone。 And if for
Government； or other just causes in Societies and Corporation；
there be a necessity of paying of debts； or defraying of
necessary charge； I should thinke it better policy to spare the
Cloth； and other the Native Commodities of the Kingdom； and to
implore His Majesties favour； to levy such charge upon the
Forreine Commodities： according to the Counsell of Stephanus； Si
Vectigal nouum euitari non potest； tune onerentur inerces
perigrinae； auae ad luxum magis quam ad necessitatem faciunt。 And
this I conceive would be a good remedy for easing the Cloth Trade
of the present charge under the Merchants： which would also bee a
meanes for paying of their debts； with a little more length of
time； and a great deale of encouragement； both to Clothiers and
Merchants in the Cloth Trade。
And Abroad； if it appeare upon examination； that the
Residence of the Merchant Adventurers at Delft in Holland be
inconvenient for the Trade： As His Majestie was graciously
pleased to five them that liberty for a tryall； so it may please
His Majestie to dispose thereof； in some more fit place for
their's and the Publique good。
The Forreince Causes of the Decay of the Drapery； I noted to
bee Generall； as the Warres； or Speciall； as the great Imposition
in Holland。 The one is the worke of God； the other of the King；
to remove the same。 To whom I recommend them both。
And thus farre for the Remedies in the Matter of Trade；
considered in Money and Merchandize： the Forme followeth in
Governed and Ungoverned Trade。 In the Former I observed a too
strict； and in the latter a too loose forme of Trade。 The Remedy
in the One； if it seeme good to the high wisedome of His
Majestie； may be Privative； in racing and rooting out the name
and use of Monopolies from amongst this Nation； as His Majestie
hath royally begun in that His Gracious Proclamation before
mentioned。 And to free and open the course of Trade； where now it
is unequally stopt； to the encouragement of the subjects； and the
benefit of the Publique。
In the other Positive； by disposing the Trades of His
Majesties subjects that are now distracted； into Order and
Government。 Whereof none hath more need； as hath been shewed；
then those that Trade into the Dominions of the King of Spaine。
Whose Trade the rather calleth for redresse； because it exporteth
Cloth and other the Manufactures of the Kingdome； and importeth
Treasure； the life of Trade： In both which thre is now a
marveilous great defect； and Trade in all mens hands become so
poore and leane； that it doth scarce； haerere ossibus。 For where
Trade is disordred； and the Traders ungoverned； there they are
like a house devided； which cannot long subsist： according to
that of the Orator； Nec domus ulla； nec Civitas； nec Societas；
nee Gens； nec hominum universum genus stare； nec rerum natura
omnis； nec fine imperio mundus ipse potest。
｛Greek phrase omitted｝
The Principall Cities and Towns for execution of the Statute for
searching and Sealing of Cloth； are in Counties；
Three Greater：
Wiltshire： Salisbury； Wilton； Westbury； Trubigde；
Wooton…Basset； Deuizes； Malmsbury； Chipnam； Castlecomb； Calne；
Bradford； Bromhil； Beckinton； Warminster。
Somersetsh。： Bath； Wells； Freshfor； Tauton； Philips…Norton；
Frome； Somerton； Wellington； Bridgewater； Ilmister； Axbridge；
Glastonbury。
Glocestersh。： Glocester； Tedbury； Sttowdwater； Dursley；
Wotten…underhedge； Ebley； Witcomb； Winchcomb； Thornbury；
Teuxbury； Cirencester。
Six less：
Oxfordshire： Burford； Witney。
Worcesters。： Worcester； Kidderminster。
Herefordshire： Hereford； Lidbury。
Warwickshire： Watwicke； Coventry。
Devonshire： Exceter； Tanton。
Hampsh。： Southampton； Portsmouth。