164 A. D. 1579- 



in their own parifh, fo as to be fuftained within the fame, without 

 being chargeable to others, or to flrangers. A very good law this, had 

 it been duly executed. But though it was afterward ratified in the fame 

 and following reigns, and in the reign of Charles II, work-houfes, called 

 houfes of correftion, were appointed for employing the poor in all 

 burghs, and overfeers appointed in every parifh for colleding contribu- 

 tions for that end ; and though all former laws were ratified by laws of 

 the late King William, yet this point is not to this day efFedually pro- 

 vided for. 



The laws made this year in Scotland againft the exportation of faked 

 flefh and coals feem. to us, at this diftance of time, not fo well calcu- 

 lated for the benefit of that country ; which, breeding an infinite num- 

 ber of black cattle, and producing coals in vafl quantities, it fliould 

 feem to have been more prudently devifed, and more for the benefit of 

 that nation, to encourage the exportation of both. 



By another Scottifli acl of parliament of this year, every one refiding 

 in the Netherlands for commerce was to pay Lio Flemilh, (or about 

 L6 Sterling) as entrance-money, for leave to trade there. Another law 

 of this fame year confifcates all the goods and merchandize of non-free- 

 men trading thither ; of which confifcation, two-thirds were to go to 

 the crown, and one-third to the Scottifli confervator in the Netherlands. 

 This lad law was confirmed in the year 1597. 



From thefe laws it appears that the Scots trod in the very fam.e fleps 

 with the Englifh, in relation to exclufive or refi:ri<5tive laws in commer- 

 cial matters, and alfo perfifted therein long after England faw the in- 

 conveniencies of them. 



We have feen, in various periods of time, that the merchants of Eng- 

 land had charters from the crown for regulating their commerce into the 

 Eafl: country, a name of old, and flill given by mercantile people to the 

 ports of the Baltic fea, but more efpecially in Pruflia and Livonia. 

 Queen Elizabeth now, agreeable to the genius of the age, granted them 

 a charter, exclufive of all who fhould not take up their freedom in 

 their company, by the name of the Fellowfhip of Eaft-Iand merchants. 

 Their privileges were, ' to enjoy the fole trade through the Sound, 

 ' into Norway, Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, (excepting Narva, which 

 ' was within the Ruflia company's charter) Prufila, and alfo Pomerania, 

 ' from the river Oder eaflward, Dantzik, Elbing, and Koningfberg ; 

 ' alfo to Copenhagen and Elfinore, and to Finland, (here called an ifle) 

 ' Gothland, Bornholm, and Oeland ; to have a governor, deputy, or 

 ' deputies, and twenty-four afliflants, who may make bye-laws, and im- 

 * pofe fines, imprifonment, &c. on all non- freemen trading to thofe 

 ' parts.' It was principally defigned by the queen for the encourage- 

 ment of her own merchants, in oppofition to the Hanfeatics. 



