500 A. D. 1 66 1. 



drefled, and coloured cloths, into Germany and the Netherlands, the 

 Englifh traders increafed m number, and the Dutch fell ofFfo much, that 

 they did not make 4000 cloths in the year 1632. But the company 

 being again encouraged by means of their purfe, &c. the Dutch again 

 increafed to 20,000 cloths in the year, and many of our manufacturing 

 people fettled in Holland. 



IV) This company make their embarkations but thrice in the year, 

 which hinders the clothiers from felling their goods but juft at thofe 

 times, and that only to two towns beyond fea. 



V) The heavy impofitions and fines they lay on the manufacturers 

 amount to near as much as the king's cuftoms, infomuch that from 

 1616 to 1641, they raifed, as per their own books, Li82,295, befide 

 what duties they received beyond fea ; whereby the cheapnefs of our 

 commodities is hindered, and the Dutch are encouraged to improve 

 their manufacture of woollen goods, as they have greatly done for the 

 lail forty or fifty years. 



VI) The company ItriCtly tie their members to trade only to two 

 towns, viz. Hamburgh and Dort, the later of which is inconveniently 

 fituated for vending the goods into the inland parts. 



VII) In the company's prefent condition, they are indebted for vail 

 fums, which cannot be discharged but by raifing it on our manufac- 

 tures. 



VIID The company arrogate powers of impofing oaths, and levying 

 fines and taxes, on their fellow fubjeCts, though they were never yet 

 eftabhflied by law, and have been complained of from time to time 

 thefe 160 years. 



IX) This monopolizing company did in all tranfport but 225 pieces 

 of woollen goods from midfummer to michaelmas 1661 ; and yet five 

 or fix Exeter merchants, not free of the company, did within the fame 

 quarter of a year buy and export beyond fea 9254 pieces. The com- 

 pany employ fliips but feldom, in comparifon of other merchants, nor 

 the fourth pare of the mariners that other merchants do. 



X) The unlimited power given to this company by their charter is a 

 great inconveniency, and repugnant to the flatute [12 Hen. VlT, c. 6] ; 

 for they are thereby empowered to make what rules and ordinances 

 they fhall think fit for the fupport of their privileges, and may not only 

 compel thofe of their fellowfliip, but even all others ufing trade with 

 woollen manufactures in their precinCts to obey the fame *. 



On the other hand, the company in their vindication replied in fub- 

 flance as follows, viz. 



• Parker (in a pamphlet called Free trade, fell liis own goods, which obliges mevchants not 

 1645), fays that this fellowfhip in the marts belonging to their fellowfliip to fluin thofe marts. 



oollcn 



abroad levy a fnie of L40 fterling upon every to the great prejudice of the fale of the vvooll 

 .Englilliuian on his anival for liberty to buy and cloths of tiiis 



I 



