XIV PREFACE. 



iinticnt authorities which they ought not to have neglecled, or gone 

 in defiance of, though in To doing I may incur the cenfure of fuper- 

 ficial critics. Where I differ from modern writei's, I have fcarcely 

 ever thought it ncceflary to produce their names or their arguments, 

 or even to obferve that there is fuch a difference ; for this is not a 

 work of controverfy. It is fufiicient that I produce unqueflionable 

 aiithority : it neccfl'arily follows, that whoever contradicts that runs 

 into error. 



The hiflory of the Britifh commerce during the middle ages rells 

 in a great meafure on the authority of pviblic records, partly print- 

 ed, and partly manufcripts, the later of which, I confulted in the 

 great national library in the Britiili Mufeum, and, on fome occafions, 

 in the Tower. 



The modern part of the work, though containing fewer quot- 

 ations than the other parts, is flill more afTuredly authentic, being- 

 founded upon the adls and records of parliament^ official accounts, 

 and other fuch imqueflionable documents. But in a work, for 

 which no materials can be fupplied from the fancy or judgement, 

 nor even from the unaided induftry, of the author, and in the fcarch 

 for which even money, which commands almoft all things, is of no 

 avail, it is proper to inform the reader how I have obtained docu- 

 ments, which have generally been withheld from preceding writers: 

 and in fo doing, I at the fame time gratify my feelings, by acknow- 

 leging my obligations to the great and worthy characflers, who 

 have enabled me to render my work more worthy of the approbation 

 and confidence of the public, and perhaps of fucceeding ages, than 

 it could otherwife have been — For the materials extra6led from the 

 manufcript records of parliament I am indebted to the favour of Mr. ' 

 Addington (now Vifcount Sidmouth), who was pleafed to fay, that 

 he confidered my work as an objed of public utility, and entitled 



