An Abstract, almost Verbatim (with some Necessary Addition,) of the Customers APOLOGY, written 18. years ago, to show their Distress in the Out-ports, aswell through want of Maintenance and Means to bear out their Service; as Countenance and Credit in regard of Others.  
¶ Now, see what hath been said, and so hast to an End.  
The PRINCE (as aforesaid) is justly offended, and the Merchant likewise hath laid down his Griefs. These are the four sorts of Officers that attend on Custome-causes: namely, CUSTOMERS, SEARCHERS, controllers, & SUPERVISORS: amongst whom, if any complain, these last have no Reason to look to be pitied. For that, obtruding themselves into other men's work, and undertaking a task exceeding their skill; as Men in a maze they strived to go forward, and in doing less than Nothing, would theme to do all. Like ignorant austere Ushers that know no Rules to teach by but beating the Scholars.  
But by way of Parenthesis. Let this be worth the noting. How generally just as consequently true, these ancient Rules of Art, and Assertions of Reason continue and stand, namely, Quàm frustra sit per plures quod fieri debet per pauciores. And Institutio ab initio inutilis, ex post facto nunquam convalescit. For, as these Supervisors doubting at the first the skill and good abearing of those they sought to use, and were to put in trust: and seeing the weak foundation of controllers before them to be but Actum agere, and easily out-fac; t: by their new Access, the Service grew so violent, so intricate, and withal so out of Order; that the Searchers, who by office as they have the best means to attend upon Traffic, so they should by Duty depend upon the Customers, or concur with them at least; leave them to wild Company and unquiet Custom-houses, and swerving with the ballast inquire out the nearest way to their own private profit.  
In which Distress, the Customers in displeasure with the PRINCE; in disgrace with the world, in the midst of a hungry, lawless, ignorant & wilful kind of Men, obtruded upon them by controversy and misconceit, that like defective Heteroclytes wrangle as it were with the very Rules of Grammar; pitying the Merchant in regard of his Traffic; silently bemoan themselves in this manner.  
That the means to enable them to perform their Duties, aswell Maintenance as Countenance, are so withheld from them, that leaving the world and all preferments by it, to serve at the Altar, they are not thought worthy to breath and live thereby, Their service being every way like the Brickmakers of Egypt, who wanting means to do their Task, had idle Taske-maysters, to oversee but what they wrought, whose Credits had no being, but in their Disgrace.  
That the Law itself, so good and just in general, 
jealousy and Suspicion out of superstitious zeal to Customs and Traffic, have ignorantly in all ages so incensed PARLEMENTS against Customers, (without distinguishing the Out ports from London) that of Freemen borne, like Bondslaves, they are beaten to all works, with their hands tied behind them, and trusted with Nothing.  is made hurtful to the PRINCE in their public Functions, and injurious to themselves in their private Callings. For that whereunto they become precisely sworn at their Admissions, namely, the advancement of Customs and consequently Traffic; the Customers of all Men are forbidden by Statute, to wit, not to meddle or deal with Traffic, and their Service being every way no thanks to themselves, is a special Means of Mamtenance and Countenance to others. SIC VOS NON VOBIS fertis Aratra Boves, nideficatis Aves,  
That they notwithstanding, underlie all Expenses incident to Customs unthankfully, which others never touch, and for only crying aim, reap thanks and Reward. For (omitting extraordinaries ere they come to their Places) their Bonds and Sureties for the Prince's behoof and subjection beside, is an unknown burden that the rest little feel.  
They also are to hire and find out at each Port of their charge a conventent Customhouse (which the Prince should provide there as well as at London) that, 
No Customhouses, no public Wharses nor Storehouses builded by the Prince in the Out-portes, as there are at London.  alone besides Seats, Tables, Shelves, and other necessary things are hard to be compassed under 4 or 5. pound. So that for example, where five Ports are in charge, the Head-Customer stands chargeable yearly for five Custom Houses with 25. li.  
At each of these Houses a discreet and able Person, and of honest education, the Customer is to finds for his own indemnity, that stands bound for all. Whereas Any fit the rest, 
The Farmers by aiming at these proportions, find it by Experience to be most for their profit.  be they never so untoward. And unto such, less than 100 marks per annum, (to maintain a Family,) cannot well he given: which five all put together, makes 400. pounds a year, the head Customer being but doubled according to proportion.  
At these five Custome-houses what is yearly spent in public, for Ink, Parchment, paper, and wax, the Customer supplies, which may amount some years to 8. or 10. li.  
Besides the hazard of turning up to London, and putting in of moneys (before Traffic became farmed) by Bills and otherwise, 
No Portage Money allowed Customers, in the Out-Ports, as all Collectors in Counties have.  being allowed no Portage Money, as all Collectors else but Customers are, which the Rest break no sleep for.  
Theirs are also all Expenses casual, and needful (besides Travail for their pains) about sending or riding from Port to Port, aswell by Letters or Directions from the Council, L. Thresaurer, or Exchequer; as by Processes and Writs, how generally soever directed unto all.  
Lastly, 
The Customers Charge & Expense in pasting Accounts.  they put in their Books (before the general Farm) twice a year duly to their double charge and pains, which the others did but once with little or none attendance, leaving still the Customers so to abide, follow, and pay all Fees and duties, that the best half of their own, if not two parts of three they left behind them, before they came to see their Quietus est, being more encumbered with the Entries and writings of the Others Books then of their own, which they rather insulted on, then cared for to mend: colouring their Do still with the Princes only Service, and urging all Extremities, cried The Most for the King.  
This being the Countenance and Service of Customers in the Out-Portes of this Kingdom, slightly run over for brevities sake, together with their charge; now see but their Maintenance, which alone and by itself but indifferently waighd, may help to excuse them, though the time for the present seem hopeless of relief.  
The Fees and Rewards jointly to Customers and controllers (the Searchers are allowed the moiety of their Seizures) before the general Farm, 
The Fees and Rewards to Customers, etc. in the Out-Ports allowed by the Prince.  amounted to the sum of 1240, li. little under or over: whereof the controllers had 340. & the remainder being 900. served the Customers among them. This 900. divided into three parts (as abovesaid) too being spent in attending, clearing, and passing of Accounts, the remainder 300. is the Customers only, to maintain both them and theirs, and recompense their Bondage, being less than that controllers have with all freedom and ease. A Proportion oddly even, and hard to be believed without Experience, yet the same compared with the late joint Supervisors, made a far stranger reckoning. For where the Head Customers being in number some 19 divided amongst them but 300 li. (deductis deducendis as above said) and that upon Account to at the years end: These Supervisors in number being but 4. received by Debentur at every Quarter's end, 425. li. which was 1700. li. a year for 16. years together, without account or reckoning.  
These 4. supposing Traffic to be some Essex cheese, as it seemed by they Endeavours, surueighd Her in the Out-Ports by wild Rats and Mice, and spirits of the Air, and whipped Her up to London where now She lives confined: and left the Customers like Bears tied to stakes, sit now for nothing but baiting & beating, with the only choice and freedom to statue or live by shifts. So that the Customers still setuing at the Altar, and yet held unworthy to breath and live thereby, their fare growing slender, and their drink but small and scant, by Cockets, Entries, and ordinary Fees, (as all public Offices and officers have) out of meet necessity and want of Employments, they dip but their dishes in their Neighbour's Cisterns (with good leave & liking) to quench their thirst, and at noon tied in their Gardens crop a few of their Locks (with their own free consents) to keep them from starving: and this now adds Oil to the fire of their Furnace, their breaths are accused to infect with their scent and poison the air, though the rest eat Onions and feed on Garlic. So that howsoever in others it stand with right and reason; That, Volentibus non siunt injury, and, Quod Necessitas cogit, 
The only motive of this Abstract.  necessitas defend●t, yet in Customers of all men it becomes a great and a horrible Sin, Burglary at least, complained of now in PARLEMENTS, and that by Merchants, and those of London too  
As if Customers (forsooth) by Companies and Societies, did bandy themselves, and lived by Decrees of their own contriving, neither fit nor to be squared with GOD'S Laws, KING'S Laws, nor TREATISE of Intercourse, had broken into STAPLES, profaned our Sovereign's MINTS, transported all his Loadstones (ordained to draw in BULLION) turned Money into a Merchandise, undermined the State with Usury, and at Midnight robbed a CHURCH, to keep GOD from his Duties, and KINGS from their Rights as London Merchants do.  
¶ Namely, 
The Golden Fleece the Order of Honour of the Dukes of Burgundy, by English Wools in Flanders.  as if They and none but they (I mean Customers of the Out-Ports, and none but Customers, let others clear themselves and London to) engrossing all the Wools and Woolfels of the Kingdom (the wonders of the world, and sometimes England's glory) and stapling them beyond seas, had made them foreign Trophies and Ensigns of our shame, without Exchange of BULLION, like Merchants of the old Haunce, 
The Society or Company of Merchants of the Staple.  called Merchants of the STAPLE.  
¶ Or, As if they and none but they, being put in trust with the Cream as it were, and Credit of the Kingdom (Cloth) by stapling it beyond Seas at private Mart-Townes, had brought our Clothier's to distress, our Clothes to be despised and our Clothing unto nothing, at lest nothing less than Bullion, 
The Society or Company of Merchant- Adventurers.  and turned our Customs into Usury by Hysteron proteron and Bills of Interest which Merchants term Exchange, as the Merchant ADVENTURERS were larely wont to do.  
¶ Or, As if they (the Customers) and none but they, seeing Traffic clothed in Whites, feed thousands beyond seas, and starve more than Millions, for want of work at home, had undertaken to draw her stark naked, from the lime-kiln to the Coalpit, and by a new Deceptiovisus, 
The new Society or Company of March-Aduenturers.  turn Cat but in the Pan, and die her into Motleys, and never think of Bullion. As the New March-ADVENTVRERS do bear in hand to do.  
¶ Or, Lastly and Instar Omnium, As if they, and none but they, the Out-Port Customers, seeing Traffic heartless, pulselesse, and almost out of breath, like a horse already tired in a weary wild goase chase, offered to Ranke-riders to be ridden again in post, without Diet, Drink or Dressing, 
The Society or Company of East-India Merchants.  had undertaken in the Indies to barter her for Drugs or powder her with Pepper, or with her own Blood turn her wholly into Mummey, without regard of Bullion. As the India Merchants do.  
Whereby, as in the Empire it fares with Emperors, by Popes and Popery, so with Christian Kings and Kingdoms, by Conclaves and Societies. For, As Honour and Reverence (the Father and Mother of MALESTY) were brought to offer Sacrifice to REMPHAM and to RIMMON, and majesties self in Emperors compelled to do Homage to their own Popes and Vassals, by Extremity and Usury; SOVERA'IGNTY being stripped of all her best Subsistence and supplements of Bullion, Money became a Merchandise (ordained for public Utility (what ere became of Honesty) was turned to private gain: So MAJESTY in KINGS becomes to be eclipsed in their Kingdoms and Coins; their sovereignties supplanted, and Bounties undermined, (without which in sovereigns no Subjects can be happy) at least wise in Great-Britaine where BOUNTY now commands, and all for want of Bullion. For, as our Staples being transplanted, are still withheld beyond Seas by secular Popes and Popery; Our Out-ports at home being like wise brought under by Conclaves and Societies; Our Subsidies confounded of Tonnage and Poundage, aswell as our Customs by obstinate Preciseness, and out Traffic as bewitched by Avarice and Ambition, confined within the Circle of the famous Port of London (for Greatness and wealth,) and there set to sale au plus offrant, made apt to be conjured: so Our standards by Degrees falling out to be uncertain, both in Number, Weights and Measure, and our moneys made a Merchandise engrossed in few men's hands: all things waxed dear, our KINGS became weak for want of Gold and Silver, their Subjects poor for want of current moneys or Employments at least, whilst Coin itself by Usury, which Merchants term Exchange, eats out industry in Trades; and Merchants by Monopolies conspire to strangle Traffic within themselves in London, & London by her Merchants made the Box of Pandora to send forth all the evils that now perplex the Land. And all for lack of Bullion, which Merchants by their Contracts and Societies pervert, or else withstand by all the means they can.  O, that ever Merchants should sit so near our Holm! 
Yet, these are the Persons that defiling the waters which run down the Thames and slide along our Coasts, choke all our Ports with Oase, bewray our cleannest Rivers, put TRAFFIC to her shifts, and by daily aspersions since fault with the Out ports, and accuse the Customers, to excuse themselves; as if none but they were sinners, or that London were a Sanctuary, and none but they were Saints.  But, Hij Nigri sunt Omnes, Hostu REX MAGNE caveto. 
For, These are the Men and the Merchants to, that Tradelesse themselves, and of no Occupations, by Companies and Societies residing still in London, engross all our Trades, and live by buying and selling: and so by buying as to sell for private gain, that making Money a Merchandise, they raise all their profits still from others Trades and pains, crying Lueri bonus oder est ex quolibet qualibet, and preferring ever utile before Honestum Qua, nul a permties maior vitae hominum potest afferri.  
Yea, These are the persons, that to hold all men under, and themselves still above, deal wholly out of sight, and with public weapons maintaining contentions for private wrongs, breed nothing but complaints with unkind jars at home, and Envy abroad, to the endless care and cumber of KINGS and COUNCELL-TABLES, and PARLEMENTS too. And all for lack of Staples.  
For, 
Enterlopers in England, are as Huguenots in France.  These are the Merchants and speculative kind of Men, that severing themselves from the Body of our Commerce, call all men Enterlopers that are not of their Conclaves or private Common wealths, and live by their Decrees, thought every way as Catholic and as Freeborn an they, and perhaps better Christians, though not so jesuited. And wandering out of sight, bewitch all they meet with, and were it but possible, would seduce the wise, persuading all and every where, that TRAFFIC of herself is a parillous biting Beast, and that to bring her home again unto her own Creeks and Ports, were to worry our sheep in Cotsal Grounds, and sink our ships on Cheuiot Hills that sail on Barham Downes And by a bare pretence of Order still, and orderly transporting the Loadstones of the Land (without regard of BULLION) as with a wooden Dagger, stab all they find or hear of, that writ or speak of Staples, for sear of our Navy, and decay of our shipping.  
As, if the cherishing of woods were the way to ruin Forests, and hide our Timber-Trees. Or, that the raising of our Hives again were a consequence in reason to spill all our Honey, and smother all our Bees. Whereas, all Men now perceive it, and Experience makes it plain, though Customers hold their peace, that as our Clothier's with their Clothes (such as they are) having lost their homebred STAPLES (& therewithal, their Credits) are forced to come like Pilgrims, from East, West, North, and South, to one only Blackewel Hall: and there, if not against their Consciences, yet at least without Devotion, pitifully complaming and bemoaning one another, to stoop to every Saint, to crouch to every Cross, and run into Idolatry: so our Creeks in all our Coasts, creep now to one River. All our Rivers in our Countries run now to one Port. All our Ports about the Kingdom ioyve now to one Town. Al our Towns in all our Shires, make now but one City. And all our Cities in each Province, Metropolitan and all, are but Suburbs as it were, to one vast, unwieldy and disorderly Babel, that out-swelling all proportions, and in danger like to burst, contests within itself about the multitude of Buildings, which the world calls LONDON. And London by her Merchants contracted in herself, made a wilderness of Sin, and a Forest of Shifts. Whereby TRAFFIC now confined, and every way possessed with Rats and Mice, and spirits of the air (of whom as of Harpies may truly be said.  
Tristius haud istis monstrum nec saevior ulla,  
Pestis & ira Deum stygiis sese extulit undis.  
No Monsters like to these may hap, nor curse from God befall,  
Nor from the Pit of hell arise, to plague the Realm withal:)  
Is so become tormented both by Water and by Land,  
That how to help her now, God knows, I do not understand.  
Except it be by PARLIAMENT to restaure again our STAPLES, that K. JAMES may find his Bullion, as K. Edw. sometimes did after 15. years experience, and so became most happy, till Merchants got the Helm again, and Himself outshot his mark, by transplanting that of Kent from Cantorburie to Calays.  
For as London seems distempered now, and distracted in itself by the multitude of people, and magnitude of Buildings; had it all our TEMPLES down (as indeed it hath our Staples) that men might run on Pilgrimage to the shrined Saints of London; as our KING wants his Customs, so GOD might seek his Tithes, there or beyond seas, what ere became of Subsidies or Freewil-Offerings either. And what ere betide of TRAFFIC, 
Traffic and Shipping are relatives.  alias SHIPPING for all her merchants Orders, so seriously pretended; our justice Commutative might take her Enter-Iopers, inquire for true Religion, learn the way to heaven, and take her leave of LONDON, and ENGLAND too, for all our Fairs and Markets, or private Parish Churches.  
On whose behalf therefore, without self or side Respects, though my Faith be but frail, my spirits welnie spent, and my Credit almost gone, yet doth my vow compel me still to do my best endeavour, and to wish and pray for Staples as hearty as I can, for the Consequences sake. But in the mean season, and as the case now stands, seeing all make love to Tributes still, 
All seek to farm Traffic, in one thing or other, but care not for Customers.  and catch our Functions from us, both High and Low, Rich and Poor, Noble and Ignoble, because their Lessons spell Silver and Gold, and yet our Names they shun. Let jealousy be called for now, and let Impudence smell what Ignorance hath gained, and Extremity reform in all the Schools of Customs, by spelling well the Letters, but mistaking the purpose of a witty PREVY COUNCILLOR, that sometimes gave advice in this very case of Ours. 
Sir Tho: moors Epigram, de Fatorib. abolend.  Viz. 
Sectile ne tetros porrum tibi spiret odores,  
Portinus a porre fac mibi cepe vores, etc.  
In English thus:  
Lest eating 
1 CUSTOMERS.  LEEKS (saith he) should make thy breath to smell,  
Take 
2 controllers.  ONIONS strong, that sent will soon allay:  
And if thereby the savour seem to excel,  

3 SUPERVISORS.  GARLIC be sure will drive them both away.  
But if the nasty smell of Garlic stay,  
What helps us then? 
4 FARMERS.  TOBACCO? No: but at a word I think,  
There are that dare to 
5 Searching, sharking, undertaking, raking Waiters, at the Water's side.  UNDERTAKE, and make a viler stink.   
These as the Obloquys of Customers and Custome-houses scandals, fish still in puddled waters, and calling all things Customs, that indeed are nothing less, profane the Name of KINGS. These hunt and ferret Traffic in every port and creak, and so tumble and torment her as it were by Commission, to keep her still from rest: that She herself complains now, aswell within the Out-ports, as at every gate of London.  
Sicut Bufo Crati,  
Maledicti tot Dominati.  
Whilst the Out-port-Customers, being set to sweep the Houses that others still defile, and left to feed on Thistles, or to live by the air; out of heart, out of Friends, out of Credit and Request, dare find fault with nothing, but make Signs with their Pens, and write only, ADSIT REGULA.  
Tho: Milles.  
END