404 A. D. 1638. 



' of England.' [Foedrra, V. xx, p. 270.] What, in the name of com- 

 mon fenfe, had the conftitution of any church to do with the trade of 

 weaving ? 



One of the king's proclamations of this year was for a verv praife- 

 worthy purpofe, viz. for deducing fix pence per month from fea of- 

 ficers pay, and four pence per month from all Tailors wages, in the mer- 

 chants fervice in the port of London, to be applied for the relief of maim- 

 ed, fhipwrecked, or otherwife difi:refl"cd failors in the merchants fervice, 

 and of the poor widows and children of fuch as fhould be killed or loft 

 in merchandizing voyages. This money to be under the management of 

 the corporation of the trinity-houfe, then kept at RatclifFe : excepting, 

 however, failors in the Eafl:-India company's fervice, who had even fo 

 early as this time, as they ftill have, a provifion of this kind fettled on 

 them. \^Fa'i/era, V. xx, p. 278.] In our own days a charitable corpora- 

 tion, for this good purpofe, has been lately ereded in London, fupport- 

 ed by voluntary contributions of merchants, 8j.c. 



King Charles fomewhat relaxed his claim of fhip-money for the fuc- 

 ceeding year : for although it is faid to be levied all over England, as in 

 the two preceding years, yet it was now to be only for eighteen (hips 

 and pinnaces ; but, how the aifefllnent for this levy was made, does not 

 appear. Poflibly the clamour that the levying of it at all, without the 

 confent of parliament, and Mr. Hambden's trial for refufing to pay it, 

 had now begun to make that prince more cautious in the extenlion of 

 his prerogative, and he now direfts his lord-admiral, the earl of North- 

 lunberland, to fupply, as vifuaU fhips out of his own navy for fuch 

 counties whofe fituation difabled them irom fitting out any themfelves, 

 and to apply the money they fhall pay to him as therein direded. [i^r- 

 dera^ V. xx, p. 286.] 



King Charles iflued a proclamation againfi; felling or exporting tii\ 

 from Devonihirc and Cornwall, until it be duely aflayed, weighed, and 

 coined, (as the fiiamping of it is termed by the ftannary laws) by his 

 officers. He alfo prohibited the Importation of tin from foreign parts. 

 \Fa'dera, V. xx, p. 289.] 



The Engliih Kaft-India company having reprefented to King Charles, 

 the great fcarcity of Spanifh filver, whereby they were diiabled from 

 iupplying themfelves with a fafficient quantity for their intended voy- 

 age to Perfia and India with three fliips ; he licenced them to export 

 L20,ooo in foreign gold ; or if that could not be done, in Englifh gold; 

 any law, ftatute, a61: of parliament, proclamation, &c. to the contrary 

 notvvithflanding. {Fccdn-a, V. xx, p. 298.] 



There was coiiied at the mint in the tower of London, from March 

 1 6 19 to March i6.:58, L6, 900,042 : 11 : i in gold and filver. [Happy 

 futurejlat- of England, p. ']'i, folio, 1698.] 



Cardinal Riclilieu feems to have underflood, very early, the great im- 



