A. D. 1 66 1. roi 



I) The company do not pretend to be the only merchant-adventur- 

 ers, although their charters flile them the merchant-adventurers of 

 England : yet they count it their honour, that they are no company of 

 one city, town, or burgh, but a national corporation, and difperfed all 

 over the kingdom : that they all meet together in their marts abroad, 

 where their confultations are for the intereft of the whole kingdom in 

 the clothing trade, and where a majority of the freemen and traders 

 prefent governs in all matters. Yet nothing can be concluded in that 

 chief mart town beyond fea, but by the concurrence of that other court 

 which refides in the United Netherlands, and of this here in London. 

 And this court at London maintains a correlpondence all along with all 

 other their dillindl courts, as of York, Hull, and Newcaflle : and Exe- 

 ter once had one of their moft confiderable courts in it, though now 

 there be only one member there. 



II) They deny their opponents accufations of ftinting the exporta- 

 tions, or of diftrefling the clothiers in the fale of their goods ; as alfo 

 their confining the vent of the weftern counties to London, feeing any 

 freeman may fhip his goods diredly abroad from the next port, as from 

 York, Hull, Beverley, Newcaflle, Hartlepoole, Stockton, Norwich, Yar- 

 mouth, Lynn, Ipfwich,Colchefl:er, and all other ports of England, where 

 they have members. 



III) As the flatute [i 2 Hen. VII, c. 6] relates only to a freedom of 

 commerce during the four marts, for which alfo they were to pay the 

 company ten marks, that ad can be of no force at prefent, feeing thofe 

 •marts are in difufe in the Netherlands. And it is enough that the fel- 

 lovvfliip fubmits to the parliament's pleafure to admit all men that can 

 relilli government on fuch conditions and limitations of fines as they 

 ■fhall dired. 



IV) In anfwer to the fum of Li 82,295 faid to be raifed on the trade 

 by the fellowlhip in 25 years time, they fay, that when they were dif- 

 folved, in order to make room for Sir William Cockayne's project of 

 dying and drefling cloths before exportation, the fellowfliip was indebt- 

 ed a good fum of money ; that after their charters were reflored, they 

 were engaged in feveral iervices to the king and queen of Bohemia, and 

 to King James and King Charles I ; to which, if the charge of fix feveral 

 refidences, and of courts abroad and at home be added, it will appear 

 they were no ill hufbands, and that this fum was not fo burdenfome to 

 be raifed on the manufadures in fo long a tracl of time. For the im- 

 pofition laid on cloths is but about i per cent ; and, in recompenfe for 

 this I per cent, the company's immunities abroad, and their freedoms 

 there, by treaties, from taxes, tolls, watch and ward, &c. which others 

 not free of the fellowfliip mull pay in the Netherlands and Germany, 

 are worth 3 per cent to their members. 



