A SUMMARY, OF Certain PAPERS About WOOL, As the INTEREST OF ENGLAND Is Concerned in It.  
By W. C.  
London, Printed for the Author Anno Dom. 1685   

TO THE READER.  
HAving wrote a Treatise, about fifteen Years ago, and then presented to his Late, and Present Majesty, Entitled ENGLAND'S INTEREST by the Improvement of the MANUFACTURE of WOOL, the same was pretended to be answered in Anno 1677, tho' it was not, by a PAPER Entitled REASONS for a LIMITED EXPORTATION of WOOL, to which I made a REPLY in the same Year, and there detected the weakness and insufficiency of that ANSWER.  
But finding in my Attendance on a late Committee of the Honourable House of Commons, appointed to consider a Bill depending before Them, for the Explanation and better Execution of two Acts of Parliament, made in his late Majesty's Reign, Prohibiting the Exportation of Wool, that ANSWER was urged by some against me, supposing no REPLY was made to it: I have for that and other Reasons, now reprinted an ABSTRACT, both of my first DISCOURSE my Opponents ANSWER and my REPLY thereunto, werein I have endeavoured to remove that Gross mistake, as if the hindering the EXPORTATION of WOOL was the Cause of the low Price thereof, the Cause of the Fall of RENTS and Value of LANDS, the contrary whereof I do Assert, and shall plainly Demonstrate the true Cause thereof, Evincing, that the hindering the EXPORTATION of WOOL will Cause the recovery of our TRADE, the raising the Price of WOOL, and Consequently of LANDS which is the Principal Drift and Design, of the Following DISCOURSE.  
I will for Arguments sake, suppose that by a Liberty to Transport such a limited quanty of Wool as is propounded; the price of a Pack of rough Wool, for one or two Years were advanced from 8 l. to 10 l. which is 40 s. p. Pack more then 'tis now, and that the Price of a Pack of kembed Wool were advanced from 20 l. proportionable, for the latter is the sort of Wool, which is most usually exported to France, a Pack of such kembed Wool, manufactured, makes Stuffs and Stockings worth above 120 l. Stir. as more particularly hereafter appears.  
But if we Export our Wool unkembed, we give the French another advantage, in mixing it with their own course Wool and and fine spun Linen for Druggats, by which means, one Pack of our unkembed Wool Exported to France unmanufactured, worth 10 l. as aforesaid, prevents the working up of two Packs in England, which I thus prove; if the French had not our Wool, they must have our Woollen-Manufacture, but the French by having and working our Wool to supply themselves, with Stuffs Druggats, and Stockings, that they have no occasion for those sorts of our Manufacture, and by that means, the more Wool remains in England, on the Graziers and Farmer's hands, and so the 40 s. per Pack advanced as supposed, for one Year or two at first by such an Exportation, would in a short time, not only sink to nothing; but the price of the Pack at 8 l. would dwindle and consume in like manner; because the French making so much more Manufacture of a Pack than we do; and refusing to accept of our Manufactures it cannot but naturally follow, that our Wool at home will grow cheaper and cheaper, notwithstanding such a Limited Exportation.  
Upon enquiry it will appear, that before such quantities of Wool were Exported as lately have been, the City of Exeter alone vended above the value of three hundred thousand pounds Stir. every Year to France in Serges and Perpetuanys more than now; that City does in any one Year.  
And Dorcet, and Hampshere almost depended upon the French Trade, besides many parts in England, especially Norwich for Stockings, which Trade is almost lost.  
Give me leave to name two Towns (viz.) South-hampton, and Rumsey, where within this 20 Years, 30 Clothiers and upwards employed in making Cloth Rash's, most of which, was sent to France, and now there is not 10 Clothiers in both these Towns who make that Manufacture, and those drive but very small Trades; I am somewhat sure, not a 3d. part if a 4th is now made in those Towns, of what was formerly, and that which is made is so much debased in the price, that the Clothiers are discouraged from making it, and all caused by the Transportation of Wool; and yet those Gentlemen, that are Favourers of Transportation of Wool, are complaining of the low price of it, which is the Natural Effect of that Transportation.  
Now we will suppose to Illustrate this Argument further, that there was only Kent in Fngland, that produced Wool, and only Pickardy in France, that did take of and consume our Manufacture of that Wool, and admit that there grows Yearly in Kent, 6000 Packs of Wool, more or less (Rumney-Marsb alone producing 1670 Packs by my Opponents computation) and admit that all this were manufactured here, and exported into Pickardy, two thirds of it into Stockings and Stuffs, and one third part in Cloth, for that is the usual proportion; suppose the Stockings and Stuffs, sold here at 120 l. Stir. per. pack, and the Cloth at 50 l. per Pack, comes to 579999 l. when the Wool of those Packs at 10 l. per Pack comes to 60000 l. so that the County of Kent, if those Packs were exported raw would lose, 519999 l. which Instance I mention as a Plea to the Charge given by my Opponent, pa. 5th wherein he reflects upon me for cruelty in detecting and prosecuting the exporters of Wool he supposing that for want of Exportation of Wool, was lost in Rumney-Marsh 12320 l. which if it were true the comparison of this loss in Rumney-Marsh (which by the computation, is near one third part of the Wool in Kent, as before mentioned) I say when the comparison is truly made, I hope to be cleared by the Impartial Reader, and the cruelty justly to be charged upon the said Exporter, that shall hinder so much profit to the Poor in Kent, as well as to the Gentry in Kent, upon which occasion I will use my Opponent's own words (Viz.) By which pray ye Judge how many Millions are Yearly lost through all England: where is now the Cruelty? I must confess this contention is not with any pleasure, but mere necessity draws it from me.  
Besides the loss of our Manufacture to France, we of course comes to another and greater loss, by the Exportation of our Wool to France: For the French by this means not only prevents the Importation of our Woollen-Manufacture, but becomeing Rivals with us in the said Trade, can undersell us in other more remote parts, having this advantage of us, if they paid double the Rate for Wool, that the English doth, because the Workmanship is 5 times more than the worth of the Wool, and the French working at half the wages, or less than the English.   

AN ABSTRACT OF England's Interest, by the improvement of our Woollen- Manufacture.  
IF I should value the discouragements of appearing in public in this Matter, I should be silent, but observing the Nature of this National Mischief of exporting Wool, and the necessity of preventing it; that the greatest Strength of the Nation in People, the greatest Power upon the Seas in Shipping, the greatest Revenues of his Majesty, being his Customs, do all arise from Clothing.  
And considering these great Advantages are endeavoured to be gained from us by a powerful Neighbour abroad, while some at home are not only reasoning, but appear in Print for it, and others despairing upon a preposest opinion, that all endeavours to recover ourselves, will be rendered fruitless and vain.  
The consideration whereof, hath prompted me to use the utmost of my little Skill, that the threatened Ruin of all may be prevented, and some good part of that, which is lost, may be recovered,  
I shall therefore in this Discourse relate very little more than Matter of Fact; the Wool of England, before King Edward the 3d's time, was always of great account and esteem abroad, sufficiently testified by the great Amity which it begat, and for a long time maintained between the Kings of England and the Dukes of Burgundy, only by the great advantage from that Commodity did accrue to those People (who at that time had the sole Manufacturing of Wool) in so much that they received the English Wool at 6 d. per l. and returned the Cloth made thereof into England at 10 s. per yard, (whereas Wool now worrh 10 d. per l. will not make Cloth worth above 6 s. per yard.) to the great enriching of the Burgundian State, both in the advancement of the Revenues of their Dukes, and in a full Employment of their People, whereby the Merchants of England were occasioned (as a People unwilling to be wholly dispriviledged of so great abenefit) to transplant themselves (with their Families in great numbers) into Flanders, from whence they held a constant Commerce with most parts of the World, this Amity continued without intermission, between England and Burgundy, until King Edward the 3d. made his mighty Conquest over France and Scotland, and during his residence in Flanders, where he acquainting himself with the Flemings Affairs, and obtaining then by his assistance in their War with France, thereby gained a good opinion amongst them, and he, in order to draw over the Woollen Artificers into England, represented to them, the danger they were in by the bordering Wars with France, and the peaceable condition of England and freedom of the People that are Subjects here, propounds an Invitation for them to come over hither, wherein he promises them the same Privileges and Immunities with his own Subjects, which they accepted and came over, and brought their families with them; and the said King most Royally performed those promises, and by it also replanted many of his own Subjects in England, who had been long settled in Flanders, and in a short time by Act of Parliament prohibits the exportation of Wool, the advantage whereof hath been very great to this Nation thereby, for some hundred years past, by the vigilancy of the Government, and the protection of its Laws, in the careful execution thereof upon Offenders; but so it is (for some years passed) the French by their Diligence to enrich themselves upon us, hath so far exceeded our Care to preserve ourselves that its come to, if not beyond, a question who may have the greatest benefit of the Manufacture of English Wool, they who have no right to it, or they to whom of right it doth belong.  
That this is so will appear, that not only Holland hath for a long time been Rivals with us in our Trade: But France is like to be too hard for us also, for the reasons before given, besides our damage, in putting that value on the French Fancies, by giving them double the worth for the same Manufacture, (which we ourselves make) of our English Wool, so much have we been deceived (in this matter) that whereas in the time of the late War with the Dutch and French, that French Druggets, and other Stuffs, not coming so freely from France, some English broad  striped, at 10 s. per yard, were rend in 3 parts (Viz) Breadths, and put in the form of French Druggets, and each part sold for 8 s. per yard, which makes that one yard come to 24 s. which, as English Cloth was sold for 10 s, and the like Fancy many have for Dutch Black Cloth, if it have the name of Dutch, tho' of our own Make, this is real matter of Fact.  
To return, it's averred, that the Exportation of English and Irish Wool is of a Dangerous and Destructive Consequence to the very Being of our Trade, and to the riches and strength of this Kingdom, and to his majesty's Customs, notwithstanding the Objections produced against it, with respect to the Graziers Advantage thereby, supposing, as before at large premised, that 40 s. upon a Pack of Wool was advanced for a year or two by Exportation, yet other things would be lessened by it, it being not to be denied at the same time, that the poor and laborious People can be employed, as to have money to buy them Bread, Beef, much less Mutton, the want of which must of necessity fall the price of all manner of Victuals, and if we name only Mutton (which is relative to our subject) and that be sold but 6 d. per quarter the less, which being 2 s. in the carcase, which comes to 10 l. for 100 Sheep, they producing a Pack of Wool, which at that rate is the value of the said Pack modestly computed: But then for Beef and Corn, if that be lessened proportionable, it must be of course a greater damage to the Farmer and Grazier, it being reckoned three times the value of Wool throughout the Nation, one with another. And supposing there should be grown yearly in England Fourteen Hundred Thousand packs of Wool, one year with another: And supposing that once in four years the sheep were all killed, (Viz) 25 yearly, which 25 Sheep valued so low as 10 l. which is the value of the Wool yearly shorn.  
It may therefore prevail upon us to believe, that Beef and all sorts of Corn must be of a far grater value than Mutton, (and consequently of Wool) because the greatest number of People by far, are the poor and laborious People which consume Beef, Bread and Bear, and few of such do often buy Mutton, or at at least any quantity proportionable to other provision, and therefore whatever some others think, that a Country can be enriched without the poor laborious People, I am of another opinion: For it's matter of Fact, that in England itself, in those parts where the inhabitants are thin, and the Countries not full of People, that the Land in those parts will not yield much above half the value, as Land of the same goodness will yield near Towns well Inhabited, or Countries where Trade is good, and if thus in England it's much less in Ireland, which I think is a good Demonstration; for the Clothier can no way possibly conceal his Markets, being betrayed by his hastening his Cloth not then ready for the like Market, by which means the Grazier raiseth the price of his Wool, and the Workfolks advance their wages, the profit whereof goeth to the said Grazier and Farmer, it being obvious such people do not lay up their money, but lay out most for the Belly.  
These things considered on the other hand, it will manifestly appear, that the Exportation of Wool unmanufactured will not only be destructive to the Merchants and Clothier's Trade, and the exposing the poor to distress, for want of employment; but confequently the Farmer and Grazier will not be able to pay his Rent: For if it be so, that whilst we have have some little Trade left, there are such general complaints, what may be expected if our Foreign Trade should be wholly taken away, which is now in more danger, by the French, than it hath been this three hundred Years past, and we seem to sleep and take no notice of it.  
And then we may consider what price Wool will bear, when we, some of us by our remissness, and others wilfulness have lost our Trade, by the circumventing practices of Foreigners, and we ourselves helping forward, for fear they should not be able to do it alone, and all this for a mere fancied and supposed profit, for there was not more Art and Skill used by our Ancestors, to bring home the workers at first to the Wool, and Prohibiting the Exportation thereof, and settling the Manufacturing of it in England, than is now used to Export the materials unmanufactured to Foreign Artificers; and if by the means of that which is exported already, Wool is now made so cheap as it is, a greater Exportation would make it yet cheaper, supposing ten thousand Packs shipped into France, which by their sort of working it and mixing it with Lining, and their own course Wool, and thinness of their work, goes as far there, and makes as many yards in the whole, as twenty thousand Packs if Manufactured here, into more thick and substantial Cloth and Stuffs, which Ten Thousand Packs, if they were not Exported into France, it would avoidable follow, that France would take of us the quantity of Twenty Thousand Packs, in our Manufacture.  
By all which it's obvious, that in time to come, the Wool in England will be much more cheaper than now it is, because, by the aforesaid means, more Wool will be Exported, and less will of course be used in England, and that little which will be Manufactured here can bear little or no price, Foreigners making that themselves, which we should furnish them with; which if it be true, as it's generally asserted, that Wool is as cheap in France, as in some parts of England at this time, it's but rational to think it must be much cheaper hereafter, when our Wool does increase on our hands, and our Manufacture decrease, both in quantity and value.  
For the better clearing of this point, give me leave to insert one instance or two, as matter of Fact: That when Wool was wholly Manufactured in England, and very little, if any at all Exported raw, the price thereof for several years together continued, betwixt 12 d. and 18 d. per l. weight, and I verily believe as much, if not more, Wool was grown in England at that time, (Viz) betwixt 20 and 30 years ago, then is now at this time, the reason is plain, from the great quantity of our Woollen Manufacture vended beyond Sea, which was so considerable, that it kept up the price of Wool at home. On the other hand in Ed. 3's. time, when all the Wool was Exported Un-manufactured, it was sold for 6 d. per pound, as is before asserted, by which its manifest, that the advancement of the price of Wool, consists in the consumtion and vent of our Manufacture freely beyond the Seas, and not in the Exportation of our Wool Un-manufactured.  
Before I conclude, give me leave to add here, what Sr. Walter Rawlegh in his time presented to King James the first, (Viz) that by means only of the Exportation of Cloth undyed and undressed, was lost to the Kingdom above Four Hundred Thousand Pounds yearly, in the Workmanship, which the Dressers and Dyers, and other Artificers would have gained thereby, besides the damage to the King, in discouraging the Importation of Dying Stuffs, which pay a considerable Custom.  
Now, if it was thus with England when the Wool was made up into Cloth, and that only for want of the Dressing and Dying it here, so much loss came to this Kingdom thereby, what must the loss be, when 'tis not Manufactured here at all, but the Materials Exported raw, without any manner of gain to any Artificer at home?  
For if we first consider his majesty's loss, next the Merchants and Clothiers, after which must follow, the Detriment to all other Persons depending on Trade, there being such a connexion of Trades one to another, that the damage of one harms the rest, and profit of one advances others, while the whole is enlarged by the abounding of working and laborious people, who supply the Farmer and Grazier with money, with which he pays his Rent to the Nobility and Gentry, and they again disperse it amongst Tradesmen, by which circulation all degrees of Men are either employed or enriched or both, and hence naturally comes content, harmony and pleasure, that one condition of Men take in the other, the poor being by employment delivered from fear of want, the Nobility, Gentry, Merchant and Trades-man, being also secure from those inconveniencies, the want of poor may naturally expose them to, employment rationally is the strength of any People, but Idleness brings Poverty, Shame, and Ruin, which is a temptation to Theft, and all manner of villainy; certainly we are all concerned more or less in this rich treasure of Wool, because 'tis that which sets more than half the hands of the Nation to work, I may say three parts of the laborious and industrious employed about it, considering that much of the Shipping is employed in this affair, and also many other Tradesmen depending, either for materials, provision, or other necessaries on the Clothing Trade, and so from his Majesty down to the meanest, all are more or less concerned, the King mostly, not only in that his People are by that most employed, and provided for, but because so great Revenues comes directly into him, upon the Trade of Importation occasioned thereby.  
But before I conclude this first part of my discourse, give me leave here to insert the advantage we do receive by one Pack of Wool, manufactured into Stockings, being that which is obvious to the meanest capacity, (viz.) a Pack and half of fleece Wool, worth 10 l. per. Pack, making a Pack of combed worth 20 l. and one pound of such Wool, at that rate comes to 20 d. which will make two pair of Hose at 5 s. per pair, or three pair at 3 s. and 4 d. or the slightest, four pair at 2 s. and 6 d. per pair; either sort, the pound of Wool is improved from 20 d. to 10 s. So that a Pack of such Wool containing 240 pounds weight, being so many 10 s. in Stockings, comes to 120 l. out of which deduct 20 l. for the Wool, and there remains 100 l. Sterling, gained only by the labour of spinning and knitting, besides the dying, leging, packing and fitting it for Sea; but there are some sorts of Stockings made about Norwich, worth 7 or 8 s. per. pair, made of fine Wool, and one pound will make 3 pair of such Hose, so that such a Pack would be worth 200 l. and more, and some sorts of Stuffs made in Norwich, worth 6 l. and the Wool not worth above 10 s.  
I shall in the next place, Impartialy relate the substance of what hath been objected against me, in my Opponents answer, called Reasons for a Limited Exportation of Wool.  
FINIS.