To his Highness the Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, &c.  
THe humble Representation of the Promoters, Contrivers, and inventors of the Art, Mystery, or Trade of Frame-worke-knitting, or making of silk Stockings, and other work in a Frame, or Engines; Petitioners to your Highness, that they may be united, and incorporated by Charter under the Great seal of England; whereby their just Right to the Invention may be preserved from foreigners, the Trade advanced, abuses therein suppressed, the benefit of the Common-wealth by Importation, Exportation, and otherwise increased; and hundreds of poor Families comfortably relieved by their several employments about the same, who will otherwise be exposed to ruin, having no other Callings or Trades to live of.  

May it please your Highness,  
AMongst all the civill ways of improvement of a Common-wealth( next after Agriculture) Merchandise and manufacture( where, and whensoever orderly regulated) in all ages and times, have been, and are most securely beneficial and prosperous, during their cherishment and retention: But they are very apt to become volant, as soon as slighted or disordered into neighbouring 
* Many places have had their vicissitude of prosperity and decay, occasioned by access and reading of Trade: as witnesseth( amongst many others) Gaunt in Flanders, and those towns from whence the Engl sh Staple hath removed.  places and Regions, always hospitable to so welcome guests, as bring with them not onely their own entertainments, but also profitable advantages to their Protectors, leaving behind them unto the place of their former residence, an over-late and remediless repentance, of such improvidence, and most commonly an irrevocable consumption.  
The experience whereof, hath anciently and generally made it a principal and maxim in State, to encourage by all favourable means requisite, the Erectors and Practisers of trading; and hath notified for one of the greatest errors in State-government, the discountenancing and disordering thereof.  
Whence in succession of time( from the the antiquity of all Records) have arisen the great variety, and multitude of Incorporations, over-spreading the face of all the eminent parts of the civilly-govern'd World, flourishing under the favour and protection of the several Princes and States thereof; each Province striving to exceed its Neighbours in numerosity of them, and enlargement of all convenient privileges, and powers grantable unto them, and reaping innumerable benefits at the cheap rate of countenance, encouragement, & protection of the industrious labours of the Natives; who, in retribution unto the State for licence and privilege to earn their own subsistencies, do disburden the Common-wealth( by employment or maintenance) of many poor, keep themselves in closer order, and less circumference than others, in ready ability for public service, pay all public charges and impositions; draw Commerce into their Country, with profit unto the State, by Importation and Exportation, and furnish their own, and all others necessities with useful commodities. So( and many ways much more) profitable, is encouraged and well governed industry, which is discouraged, and denied order, in the practise, prosecution, and exercise thereof: It sometimes hath,( and ever will) most certainly become a disadvantage, weakening and impoverishment to the Common-wealth, and an advancement, strength, and enrichment of the Neighbours, who are( or may prove) enemies.  
In prevention whereof, all Nations that live not in absolute slavery to their sovereigns, but enjoy a propriety in their Estates and Goods, by claiming also a right of propriety in the fruits of their own endeavours( which was never yet denied, but to the great prejudice of the contradictors) have provided, and do allow, 
Many profitable Arts have perished with their Inventors, and many have shifted Countries upon the gripes of State-Officers.  that as they severally or successively arrive to any assured profit, they are included within their own territories, and appropriated unto the particular deservers, with Grants in perpetuity of the regulation of affairs of Trade, merely as matter of power, or the immediate Ministers thereof, unless for justice against infringers and Invaders of such establishments, as have to that purpose been obtained. And it hath been( and remaineth) a great part of the felicity of England, That by the grave advice and approbation of the State, it aboundeth with indulgent presidents and provisions of this kind, to the great encouragement and comfort, both of present and future industries.  
Whereby the Petitioners are emboldened( now at length) to offer to your Highnesse consideration and grave judgement, the fullness of capacity they humbly conceive themselves to have long been in, to receive the like grant of favour, trust and protection, which many other Companies have( upon fewer and less weighty inducements) obtained; and whereof there is apparent necessity, their trade being no longer manageable by them nor secureable unto the profit of this Common-wealth without it.  
Which Trade is properly styled Frame-worke-knitting, because it is direct and absolute Knit-worke in the stitches thereof; nothing different therein from the common way of Knitting( not much more anciently for public use, practised in this Nation, than this) but onely in the numbers of needles, at an instant working in this, more than in the other, by an hundred for one, set into an Engine or Frame, composed of above two thousand pieces of Smiths, joiners, and Turners work, after so artificial and exact a manner, That( by the Judgement of all beholders) it far excelleth in the ingenuity, curiosity and subtlety of the invention, and contexture, all other Frames or Instruments for Manufacture in use, in any known part of the world. And for the skill requisite to the use and manage thereof, it well deserveth( without usurpation, as some others impertinently have) the titles of Mystery and Art, by reason of the great difficulty of learning, and length of time necessary to attain a dextrous habit of right, true, and exquisite workmanship therein, which hath preserved it hitherto( from the hands of foreigners) peculiar onely to the English Nation, from whence it had extraction, growth, and breeding, unto that perfection it is now arrived at: Not only able to serve your Highness Dominions with the Commodities it Merchantably worketh, but also the neighbouring Countries round about, where it hath gained so good repute, that the vent thereof is now more foreign than domestic, and hath drawn covetous eyes upon it to undermine it here and transport it beyond the seas.  
Of whose sinister workings to that pernicious end, these Petitioners( as most interested) standing in the nearest sent, think themselves in the common duty of well affencted persons to your Highnesse and their Country( besides their own case of necessity) bound to make address unto the wisdom, protection, and care of your Highnesse( as their predecessors in former times have done to the Rulers of this Nation) speedily to restrain and suppress all attempts, to bring so great a detriment, and inconvenience upon this Common-wealth.   

Now so it is, may it please your Highnesse,  
That this trade of Frame-worke-knitting, was never known nor practised either here in England, on in any other place of the world, before it was( above fifty yeares past) invented and found out by one William Lea of Calverton, 
William Lea of Calverton, in the County of Nottingham, Gentleman, the inventor.  in the County of Nottingham, Gentleman; who by himself, and such of his Kindred and Country-men, as he took unto him for servants, practised the same many yeares, somewhat imperfectly, in comparison of the exactness it is sithence brought unto, by the endeavours of some of these Petitioners. Yet even in the infancy thereof, it gathered sufficient estimation of a business of so extraordinary a national profit and advantage, as to be invited over into France, upon allurements of great rewards, privilege and honour; not long before the sudden murder of the late French King Henry the fourth, unsuccessefully accepted by the said Mr Lea, 
An attempt to carry the Art of Frame worke-knitting to rouen in France, and set it up there, done, and frustrated.  at that time wanting due encouragement at home. And transporting himself with nine workmen, his servants( with some Frames) unto rouen; there wrought to so great applause of the French, that the Trade was in all likelihood, to have been settled in that Country for ever, had not the decease of the said King disappointed Mr Lea, of his expected Grant of privilege, and the succeeding troubles of that kingdom, delayed his renewed suit to that purpose, into discontentment and death at Paris, leaving his workmen at rouen to provide for themselves. Seven of which returned back again into England( with their Frames) and here practised and improved their Trade: Under whom( or the Master-workmen since risen under them) most of these Petitioners had their breeding, and served their apprenticeships. Of the other two which remained in France, onely one is yet surviving: But so far short of the perfection of his Trade( as it is used here) that of him, or what can be done by him, or his means, these Petitioners are in no apprehension of fear; nor have not been( since then) endangered in foreign Countries, by any that have served out their full times of apprenticeship here.  

An endeavour to set up the said Art in Venice, frustrated.  But near about that time, a Venetian ambassador gave five hundred pounds for a remnant of time of one Henry Mead, then an Apprentice to this Trade, and conveyed him( with his Frame) from London unto Venice, where although his work and manner of it was( for a while) admired, and endeavoured to be imitated: Yet as soon as necessity of reparation of his Frame, and instruments happened, for want of Artificers experienced in such work there, and of ability in him to direct them, the work prospered not in his managing; so that( his bought time of service being expired) affection to his native Country brought him home again into England. And after his departure, the Venetians grew disheartened in the Trade, and impatient of making vain trials, they sent his disordered Frame( & some of their own imitations) to be sold in London; at very low valuations.  

An endeavour to set up the said Art in Holland, frustrated.  And within few yeares afterwards, the Trade was greatly endangered by one Abraham Jones; who having( by under hand courses and insinuation, and not by service as an Apprentice) gotten both the mystery and skilful practise thereof, did( contrary to his Articles with the rest of the Company, that had taken some jealous notice of him) pass himself with one more unto Amsterdam; and there( taking some Dutch unto him as servants) erected Frames, and wrought for the space of two or three yeares, until the infection of the plague seized on him and his whole family, and carried them all to the grave. His Frames also( as things unprofitable to them that could not find out their right use, without an able teacher) were sent to London for sale at slight rates.  
These preservations and escapes of this Trade from transplantation into foreign Countries, these Petitioners do with thankfulness aclowledge, and ascribe to have been brought to pass by the divine providence, limiting his bounties and administrations whither he hath been pleased to direct them. For it may well seem marvelous in human judgements, how otherwise this Trade should remain( notwithstanding all the covetous and envious attempts to the contrary, practised both at home and abroad, for the space of forty yeares past) an Art peculiar onely to this our Nation: And to the nimble spirits of the French; the fertile wits of the Italians, and the industrious inclinations of the Dutch, a concealed mystery unto this day.  
Yet a continued negligence in presumption thereupon, would ill beseem the receivers of so many dammageles warnings, and may soon prove of hard consequence unto these Petitioners, who are without intermission, environed with the like or greater dangers. 
The intruders abuses.  For there are by other means than the way of apprenticeship, so many intruders crept into this Trade, that ill work and ill ware is every where offered to sale; and the ignominy and disparagement thereof, commonly imputed to the whole Manufacture, not without much loss, hindrance, and interruption to the true and allowable artisans, and tending to their utter impoverishment, who( in continual workmanship) produce the best, finest, and most approvedly Merchandable and useful ware ever sold or bought in the memory of Man, otherwise the Petitioners could not have driven their Trade( through many oppositions and difficulties) up unto that height it is now brought, and into faire expectation and open way of large increase, if intrusion were barred, and transportation( and teaching of the mystery unto foreigners) restrained; And none of this our Nation( either Artisan, Apprentice or Intruder) be permitted so mischievously to seek for gain; As one here in London maketh his profession and custom to do; 
One maketh it his pr●f●ssion to teach the art to our own Natives or foreigners, for any inconsiderable Rates.  exposing himself a teacher of this Art and Trade, for any inconsiderable parcel of money, unto all manner of people( without distinction, whether native or not) hitherto uncontroleably; nor to inveigle and corrupt Apprentices from their Masters, to discover and teach unto them the whole Trade; and( having gotten it) pretend upon scruple of conscience( in matter of Religion) or some other occasion, to depart your Highnesse Dominions, and set it up in practise in a foreign Country; as one not long since hath done, whom these Petitioners are labouring all they may to reduce, and are not hopeless to find prevalent means to recover him back again timely enough, if they receive encouragement in this their humble suit. Wherein they further show,  
That although this Manufacture may be wrought in any other materials that are usually( or can possibly be) made into the form of Knit-work: yet hath it chosen to be practised in silk, the best and richest of all other in use and wearing, and most crediting the artisans, and of greatest advantage unto this State and Commonwealth, yielding several payments to the use of the State before it pass out of the hands of the Traders therein, 
The benefit to the Common-wealth, by Importation and Exportation.  and increasing Merchandise by both the ways of Importation and Exportation of the self same material, imported raw at cheap rates, exported ready wrought at the utmost extent of value; so that the distance of those valuations is totally clear gain to this Common-wealth, and esteemed upwards of six parts in seven of the whole quantity of this material in the highest value thereof, wrought up by this manufacture; which hath vindicated that old proverbial aspersion, cast upon this Nation by foreigners. The stranger buyeth of the English man, the case of a Fox for a Groat, 
place =" margin" An Improvement.  and selleth him the tail again for a Shilling; And may now invert and retort on them: The English man buyeth silk of the stranger for twenty Marks, and selleth him the same again for an hundred pounds.  
That this Trade encourageth and setteth on work other Artificers also; as Smiths joiners, and Turners, for the making, erecting, and repairing of the Frames, and other necessary instruments thereunto belonging: and hath bread up many excellent workmen among them for further public service.  
That the artisans of this Trade, do moreover employ a multitude of hands( besides their own) about the preparation and finishing of the material, 
Many employed.  and ware they work: On which do competently subsist and thrive; The Winders, Throwesters, Sizers, Seamers, and Trimmers thereof: and also their Needle-makers totally depend thereon.  
That although these Petitioners seem in the eyes of the world, to be( at present) under a cloud, and every moment ready to be undone by intruders and foreigners; 
The prejudice by abuses of Intruders and want of order.  so that many people fear, and forbear to bind their children Apprentices unto a trade of such instant hazard and irregularity, until a settlement thereof, under a Corporation, to the great retarding an increase of able artisans; who are therefore but few, in comparison of the number of Knitters, the way common to other Nations; yet do they subsist by their labours, in a more substantial and serviceable degree in the Common-wealth, disburdening it of many poor of both sexes: Whereas that common tedious way multiplieth needy persons here, rather because the people of other Nations, outworke those of this therein, then by any hindrance they receive from the best Artisans of this Manufacture, that bend their endeavours( all they can) to the foreign vent, in general( as well as in their own particulars) most profitable to this Nation, leaving the home-sale( in great part) unto the common Knitters, uninterrupted, unless by the intruders into this Art, whose multiplication( if not restrained) will be equally as pernicious and destructive unto them, as unto these Petitioners; who onely( and not the common Knitters) have shewed unto this Common-wealth, that it is able abundantly to serve itself, & ultra, with all commodities of Knit-worker, as stockings, Calceoons, Wastecoats, and many other things, without the help( or rather inconvenience) it formerly had of importation of the same in quantity, ready wrought from foreign parts. That this Trade is in no kind impertinent or damageable to the Common-wealth, nor driven in trifling, base or unnecessary stuff & ware( seeing al the world, where habits are worn, is in general and permanent use thereof) But to the contrary, it worketh on the principal of stuffs, and maketh commodious and decent ware, for the cover and ornament of the whole body of man, perpetually unchangeable in the fashion; endeavouring( as much as in the artisans lieth) to found an inexhaustible mine within this Nation, already prepared, to become( if it shall please your Highnesse so to establish it) henceforth, the place of sole resort, as to a special Mart, of the rich and stable commodities wrought by this Manufacture, for the general service of all the great, honourable and better sorts of Inhabitants, of the whole communicable world.  
That the Petitioners have made a large and competent probation of the worth of this Manufacture in itself, and merit thereof to the Common-wealth( for the proportion of its growth) far exceeding any other that tradeth with foreigners in their own materials, extracting from them( to the use of this Common-wealth, 
The great improvement of this Art.  and maintenance of the people of this Land, at foreign charge) upwards of fourscore in every hundred, De claro, of the whole value now, or that may be hereafter, upon a regular way of trading, dealt in, and defraying out of the other parcel of the hundred( being less than twenty currant) all customs, Imposts, and freights, both homeward and outwards; and also reserving the remainder of the twenty, to the manage of the Merchant, for as much new unwrought material: Which eighty in quick passages and returns of home-trade( by the way twice accounted for unto the Officers of Excise) suddenly and insensibly diffuseth and disperseth itself through very many hands, either totally maintaining, or otherwise adding unto the subsistencies of many other severally( in part) before enumerated Trades and Professions, besides this Manufacture the prime wheel, gathering onely thereby, an ordinary ability, 
A multitude depending on the Art for benefit and subsistence.  to make the rest to move: Viz. Merchants, Owners of Ships, Hosiers, Dyers, Winders, Throwesters, Sizers, Seamers, Trimmers, Wire-drawers, Needle-makers, Smiths, joiners, Turners, with many other assistants, all having their sufficient contents and inablements to live, out of the clear product of the foreign vent, raised and furnished by the labours of these Petitioners and their servants; who have voluntarily amongst themselves, kept order in their trading, according to the duty of probationers( hitherto) without making any request unto the State, for particular countenance and protection, until they found themselves now risen into a number, not uncapable of an Incorporation; and their trade into foreign parts, of so great a growing increase( were the momentary dangers of utter ruin, for want of regulating power, diverted) that it may well be esteemed the most favourable way of benefit and advantage of this kind, apparent to this present age, and( within some late hundreds of yeares past) offered unto this Nation, and presented unto the State( as this now is to your Highnesse) for an enclosure within the boundary of its native soil, where it may receive its proper husbandry.  
That if these Petitioners had no other Inducements to offer, but what every other trade, which is( common also to foreigners) in fear to be over-wrought, and out-sold by them, hath heretofore presented as motives and means to obtain Charters and privileges, and consequent provisions by Statute, upon reasons drawn from conveniences accrueing by civill education of some youth of the Land, employment of idle persons; serving this Common-wealth with commodities better wrought here, then those transported hither from beyond the seas, and maintaining many of our people at home, with the same money which foreigners did get from hence for maintenance of theirs: Yet might the Petitioners( in confidence of the mere right of Subjects) sue for( at least) the like Grant of privilege, and power, subordinately( according to the laws and constitutions of this Land) to regulate their own endeavours in a Company and fraternity among themselves. But these Petitioners stand not in the same sole capacity that the Pinmakers and others did, at the times of their incorporations: For these have( additionally thereunto) an higher measure of merit towards the Common-wealth, whose interest in all the forementioned extraordinary advantages and benefits, 
In this Art a higher measure of merit towards the Common-wealth, then in others formerly Incorporated.  and in the further uses of them, is annexed unto the prosperity of this Manufacture, and wholly dependent thereon; insomuch, as the Petitioners( in this their humble suit) do pled unto your Highnesse, a general cause of the Common-wealth in gross, for an inestimable concernment to all posterity, and crave in their own, to be but barely preserved, as their lawful endeavours have qualified them, the temporary instruments and servitors to that public use; which they may reasonably hope shall not now( first of all sorts of men, ever Petitioning semblable favour) begin to be refused unto them, who have not been wanting to the Common-wealth, in the main service thereof, during its late extremities of danger, but have all been faithful to their country in every thing, according to their utmost abilities, and have( many of them) undergone much loss of worldly goods, and peril of life, by and against the common enemy, and some of them continue in Military Office unto this day.  
And seeing the Mistress of knowledge( Experience) hath taught, that the sole proprietary of a generally-desired commodity, hath a Master-key to command the lock of trading; which whosoever can prudently manage, hath no small mastery over the wealth of the universe. And seeing that this Art of Frame-worke-knitting here in England( as Printing formerly in Germany, out wrought all the manual writers of the world) is likewise able to out-worke all the Common Knitters amongst all Nations, and make the commodity( without divulging of the mystery) generally desirable and entertained( as that other was here) with grace and privilege of importation( by provision of Statute, 
More capable of being kept secret, than the Art of Printing  1 Rich. 3. cap. 9.) And seeing this is much more capable of secreting then that, by reason of the great difficulty to attain this with long practise, and the facility of the other to be be conceived at first sight. This arising within an entire Dominion, and that other in a region full of divided principalities. This is endowed with a quality retentive, to continue for many ages, if not ever( although the other could not so in Germany) a peculiar in propriety unto this Nation of England. Therefore it is fit to be owned as a Native, and( by the hand of your Highnesse) established in that rank, and as the non-pareil of handicrafts, to be taken into your possession inclusively, within your power of command, and special protection; who is herein not slightly concerned, because entrusted to husband the Common-wealth, and is the balance of Reason, to distinguish between the Allegations and aims of good and bad Patriots. Some striving to scatter abroad( about all the earth) that harvest, whereof others desire the storing in a Magazine; and some urging the same exploded clamours against the use of engines in trading, which the file and hammer-workers of a single pin, did heretofore, to divert or retard the priviledging of the Company of Pin-makers, in opposition to those that( now) sue and refer themselves to be considered, according to discretion at home; for what they might writ their own conditions every where abroad; if piety to their native Country, as strongly restrained not them, as they implore the coercive power of your Highnesse to restrain their ill-wilers, from dwelling the entrails of the Common-wealth, and giving( or yielding) opportunity unto strangers, to gather them up, and make that common to all the world, which is( naturally) particular in sole propriety unto this Nation, and prepared for the management of your Highnesse, in such manner as( in your Highnesse wisdom and great favour) shall be thought expedient for the best advantage of this Common-wealth, ever in thriving condition, and flourishing by exportation of Commodities, as well artificially as naturally appropriated unto this iceland, not unknown to your Highnesse, to have suffered some late decay, in the main supports of its foreign trading, which may receive a great supply and increase, by means and good encouragement of this Manufacture, onely in present necessity of the like protection and privileges that have been granted, confirmed, and are enjoyed by many others, though of foreign invention and use, and never in possibility of becoming, as this is solely, from hence importable unto all other Nations; all which is humbly submitted to your Highnesse pleasure, with great hopes that you will graciously patronise and cherish the honest endeavours of such as aim at the public good, as well as their own private interests.  
And your Petitioners will ever pray, &c.  
FINIS.