56 REINHOLD PAULI, 



long tyme decaide. Also I thynke it were good , that the kynges niost 

 honerable cownsell, yf they wyll refornie the realme, to make an act of 

 Parlenient er other wyse a decre in the Starre Chamber, that all cities 

 and townes within this realme to make ordynawnce for the welth of the 

 Saide cities and townes, and that than the inhabytaunce of all cities and 

 townes to have in commawndement, that they do make and ordeyne among 

 them . that no thyng be brought by any of the kynges subiectes frome 

 any stränge place beyonde the see , the which may be wrought in any 

 partie of the kynges domynyon^), upon payne of forfit of body and goodes 

 to the kynges highnes, and that all workers of artificialitie to be set to 

 worke as well strangers as Englyshmen, and that because the good work- 

 manship of all artificialitie is most comenly sene in strangers and that 

 is by reason of exercisyng themselves in workyng of althynges in maner 

 the which is occupied in Englande, so that all Englyshe men hath cleane 

 loste all corage to Studie for all such feates . and that because we have 

 so many marchantes, the which hath no other lyvyng but only to by all 

 maner of artyficiall workes, wroughte by artyficers in the parties beyonde 

 the see, and to bryng than hether in to this realme , so that the whole 

 realme is stuffed with fances and tryfulles, that in maner the rychese 

 of the whole realme lyeth in stränge merchandyse, the which byers and 

 Seilers bryngyth in to the realme other wyse to call them marchauntes, 

 the which dothe as moche as in them liethe to dystroye the welthe of 

 the whole realme. Also it wolde be decreed, that what stranger so ever 

 he warr that brought any maner of workes of artificialitie in to this 

 realme at any tyme, that they may costome^) it and do with it what they 

 wolde and as they now do and to earne it or way or gane at theire 

 pleasure , so that no inhabitaunt within this realme do by it upon pane 

 to forfit it and theire bodie and goodes to be at the kynges pleasure ex- 

 cepte such thynges, which cannot be wrought within this realme, which 

 decre shall cawse no stryffe nor variance betwene prynce and prynce in 



1) They marchaunt must be prohybytyd to bryng in any such thyngys wych may 

 be made by the dylygence of cur owne men. Cardinal Pole in Starkey's Dialogue p. 174. 

 2) to custome, verzollen. 



