A. D. 1 62 2. ^jr 



our own dominions may be fupplied in time of want, and yet, in time 

 of plenty, the hufbandry of this realm may not be difcouraged. 



Confider alfo, that whereas our Eaftland merchants did formerly load 

 their Ihips with undrefled hemp and flax in great quantities, which fet 

 great numbers of our people on work in drefllng the fame, and convert- 

 ing them into linen cloth ; which kind of trade we underfland is of late 

 almofl; given over, by bringing in hemp and flax ready drelfed, and that, 

 for the mofl: part, by Arrangers. How may this be redrefled ? 



And becaufe the Eafl;-India company have been much taxed by many 

 for exporting the coin and treafure of this realm, to furnifli their trade 

 withal, or that which would otherwife have come in hither, for the ufe 

 of our fubjefts ; and that they do not return fuch merchandize from 

 India as doth recompenie that lofs unto our kingdom ; we authorize 

 you to inq,uire and fearch whether that company do truely and juflly 

 perform their contradl with us concerning the exportation of money ? 

 And by what means that trade, which is fpecious in fliew, may really 

 be made profitable to the public. 



And as much treafure is yearly fpent in linen cloth imported at dear 

 rates; and for that, if the fifliery, fo much defired by us, be thoroughly 

 undertaken and our ftiipping increafed, it will require a much greater 

 produdion of hemp for cordage, &c. in the fifliery, which would fet an 

 infinite number of our people on work. Confider how the fowing of 

 hemp and flax may be encouraged. 



Alfo how the cloth and fluffs made of our own wools may be more 

 generally worn by our own fubjedb. 



All which you fliall report and certify to the body of our privy coun- 

 cil as foon as the feveral points fliall be duely confidered by you. 

 iFcedera, V. xvii, ^. 410.] 



With refpeft to the merits of this commiflion of inquiry, it may be 

 proper to remark, that though in every age there have been, and pro- 

 bably ever will be, caufelefs and groundlefs complaints of the decay of 

 commerce, yet there feems at this time to have been fome real grounds 

 for complaint: for, ift, the Hollanders had greatly improved their 

 woollen manufadtures, which now confiderably interfered with ours in 

 foreign parts ; 2dly, the hot difputes between the merchant-adven- 

 turers company and our feparate traders and exporters of v/oollen cloth 

 ran high at this time, and did real hurt alio to the fale of that manufac- 

 ture ; 3dly, as wc fliall prefently fee that the general balance of fo- 

 reign trade went this year againfl us, it is no wonder that there were 

 complaints of the fcarcity of money ; 4thly, the Dutch had alio at this 

 time (as we have feen) vaftly increaled their herring and cod lllhery, 

 whilft our own people negledled it too much ; no marvel therefore that 

 our navy or fhipping was at this time fo much fliort of theirs. But with 

 refped to the exportation of wool and yarn from Ireland in article 2d, 



Rr2 



