A. D. 1661. 



499 



At this time King Charles II fhamcfully delivered up to France the 

 country of Nova Scotia, and i'uch part of Canada as was held by our 

 people *. 



The treaties of alliance made by King CHiarles with Sweden and 

 Denmark contain nothing new or particular concerning commerce. 

 [General Coll. of 'Treaties, V. iii, pp. 240, 253, 254, 263.] 



Many and lotid complaints had been made by the merchants and 

 clothiers of Exeter and other parts of the weft of England (whom the 

 company of merchant-adventurers called interlopers), as particularly 

 in the year 1638, to the houfe of commons, and alio in the years 1643 

 and 1645. They now again complained to the parliament, and in their 

 remonftrance termed that company monopolizers and obftruclors of 

 the fale of our woollen manufadures. As it is pollible that fome fuch 

 objedions, ho\Vever flightly grounded, may fome time or other be 

 hereafter renewed, and as it will alfo throw fome light upon the ftate 

 of our juftly-favoured woollen manufacture, and will give a diftinct ftate 

 of that company's condition at that time, we ftiall as briefly as poflible 

 fet down their objedions, with the company's anfwers. 



In general it was objeded. 



That confining the whole trade of the manufactures of wool fent to 

 Germany and the Netherlands, being the greateft ftaple commodity of 

 England, to one particular company of men, who call themfelves the 

 only merchant-adventurers, is detrimental to all in general, and parti- - 

 cularly to thofe of Exeter and Devonftiire : For, 



I) They make the clothiers take what price they pleafe, by not buy-- 

 ing their goods brought to market, until neceflity obliges them to fell 

 even for lofs. They moreover frequently ftint or limit the number of 

 cloths to be ftiipped, and allot to each merchant how much he ftiall 

 fliip for his particular proportion ; fo that the governor, deputy, and 

 committees, may ferve themfelves and friends with the greateft ftiare ; 

 which is not only prejudicial to the reft, but does alfo hinder the put- 

 ting off fo much more cloth abroad. 



II) The company confine the vent of this great ftaple commodity to 

 a few places at home, as the trade of all the weft countries to London ; 

 whereas Exeter and other places ought to have liberty to ftiip oflf their, 

 goods from the neareft port, whereby much charge might be faved f. 



III) By the two refolutions of the houfe of commons in 1624, for • 

 liberty to all merchants, as well as thole called merchant-adventurers, 

 to export dozens, kerfies, and new manufadures, as well as dyed, 



* I doubt if any part of Canada was then pof- \ The reftrHion of the ftaple for cloths to. one 



lefTcd by oar people. Hiftorians are fo carclefs or two towns ii- each foreign country, e.g. Rot- 



in their accounts of thofe countries, that they terdam for all Holland, was alfo complained o', 



feem not to have thought them wcitliy of their as prejudicial to the manufafturers r.t home and to , 



attention, A. the confumcrs abroad, y/. 



3 R 2 



