By the Rev. R. II. Cluiterbuch. 



81 



Tf I am to attempt to describe who all these were I should weary 

 you even more, and leave myself nothing to say another time. So 

 I give you, as almost my last instalment, the remedies the committee 

 I mentioned recommended. They said they conceived these would 

 be found to meet the evil : — 



" To help the expense of cloth within our Kingdom that there may be less left 

 to vent abroad and less vainted in the expense of Silk and foreign Stuff. That 

 the nobility and gentry of this Kingdom might be persuaded to the wearing of 

 cloth in the winter season by example rather than commandment. 



" That the meaner sort of people as Apprentices Servants and Mechanics be 

 enjoined by proclamation to the wear of cloth and stuff of wool made in this 

 Kingdom which would be more durable and less chargeable. 



" That when blacks are given at funerals they be of cloth or woolen stuff made 

 in this Kingdom. 



" And yet that housewives may not make cloth to sell again but for the pro* 

 vision of themselves and their families, that the clothiers and drapers be not 

 discouraged. 



" And lastly because many questions arise from time to time between the 

 woolgrower, clothier and merchant we humbly propound to your Lordships 



" That a Commission be granted by his majesty to some selected persons who 

 may thereby have authority 



" To hear and determine all such difference 



" To look into the Statutes of imployments by Strangers and denizens 



" The licences and privileges for wool and dying wool 



" And generally for all other things which may conduce to those ends 



before propounded whereby trade may be orderly governed and 



duly balanced." # 



See here the detection (not for the first time) of the mischief of 

 licences such as the Queen held. 



Thus, then, I have shewn that there was this depression in drapery 

 in 1622. I am most ready to admit that, in itself, the fact is one of 

 those the importance of which does not live with time, and-— except 

 that it led to some legislation which affected the cloth trade — the cus 

 cumstance is not very well worth the mentioning. But the delightful 

 science to which we are addicted has this endless charm, that it 

 collects around almost every incident of the past a rich growth of 

 interest from its connection with times and men and places, just as 

 a stray shell will come up from the ocean-bottom, battered, and not 



• State Papers, Domestic Series, James I., vol 131—53. Dated 22nd June, 1622. 

 VOL. XXII. — NO. LXIV. G 



