A. D. 1597. 211 



for that end to purchafe goods or lands, not exceeding the yearly value 

 of 200I. ; the other laid a farther tax on every parifh for the relief of 

 foldiers and mariners, the higheft rate of any parifh being eightpence, 

 and the lowefl twopence, weekly. [39 Eliz. cc. 5, 21.] 



We have a fecond inftance this year of the fallibility of fome ads of 

 parliament relating to commerce, in a corroboration [39 Y.U%. c. 1 1] of 

 an adl [23 Eliz. c. 9] which ' prohibited the ufe of logwood or block- 

 ' wood in the dying of cloths, 8cc. as a pradice falie and deceitful ; di- 



* reding all logwood, wherever found, to be burnt, and that neither 



* cloth nor wool fhould thereafter be dyed therewith *.' Neverthelefs, 

 in after times, logwood has proved extremely profitable, ufeful, and pro- 

 per in dying. And it is in our days found to be a great inconveniency 

 to our commerce that our logwood-cutters are perpetually difturbed in 

 the bay of Campechy by the Spaniards, pretending an exclufive proper- 

 ty in that bay, though never yet planted by them, as will be feen under 

 the year 1662 and 171 7. 



The parliament of Scotland again prohibited the exportation of wool, 

 and ordained, that craftfmen flrangers be brought home for working it 

 up. \^AB, Ja. VI, pari. 15, c. 250, ed. Murray.'] They laid a duty of 

 five per cent on all foreign cloth and other merchandize imported; but 

 allowed peers, barons, and freeholders, without paying any cuflom, to 

 fend their own goods beyond fea, for their own particular ufe ; and to 

 import wines, cloths, and other furniture, only for their own particular 

 ufe, but not to make merchandize thereof, conformable to the laws and 

 liberties granted to them before. [Pari. 15, f. 251.] This ill-judged 

 exemption fruftrated the whole intent of the ftatute, as the landed men 

 of every country (and eminently fo of Scotland), with their retinues, 

 were then the great bulk of the people, and undoubtedly the principal 

 confumers of foreign merchandize ; befides, that under colour of the 

 above exemptions, many frauds might be, and doubtlefs were, com- 

 mitted. 



They alfo prohibited the importation of Englifh woollen goods ; the 

 fame cloth (fays the ad) having only for the moft part an outward fliow, 

 wanting that fubflance and flrength which ofttimes it appears to have, 

 and being one of the chief caufes of the tranfportation of gold and fil- 

 ver out of this realm : — the only true and folid reafon for this law. 

 {Pari. I S, c. 252.] 



They enaded this fame year, that three new towns be ereded in difr 

 ferent parts, for the better entertaining and continuing of civility and 



* The Englifli were not infenfible of the utih'ty for Perfia, therefor recommended to him to endea- 



of logwood in dying, but they were ignorant of vour to learn the method of fixing the colour given 



tlic method. Mr. Hakluyt, in liis inllruftions to by it. 31. 

 Hubbiethorne the dyer, when he was fetting out 



Dd 2 



