The Languishing State of our WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE, Humbly Represented to the PARLIAMENT.  
OUR Woollen Manufacture brought to its perfection( in former days) was the commanding Commodity in Trade at all Foreign Markets, which true merit rendered it the Darling of this Honourable House; as appears by the Statutes from Edward the Sixth, to the 21st of King James; during which time, the Country flourished, Wool sold at double the Price it hath done since.  
The neglect of which,( these latter times) hath occasioned as great a Sickness in Trade, as will appear by a due Examination of all Parts of the Manufacture in our Nation, where the Charge for Relief of the Poor, exceeds all Taxes to the King; and indeed are become an Emblem of Poverty, which will appear in more visible demonstrations, if some speedy Care be not taken.  
But being now( by good providence) come upon the same Foot again, as appears by his Majesty's recommending the balancing of Trade to this great Council. An Abstract of the Grievances about our Woollen Manufacture, are here humbly represented.  
1. The Exportation of our wool into France and other Parts, which by their cheap Workmanship hath lessened our Trade Abroad, whilst the making it felony, hath only been a shelter to the practise, and no way answered the End.  
2. The debasing and falsifying our Manufactures hath been a great hindrance to their consumption; hereby we have given away that excellent Advantage( that Providence hath afforded us,) whereby we are capable of exceeding the whole World, and suffered the Dutch and other Nations to out-do us in Trade. And I can see little hopes of good Success in Trade, whilst there is Error in fundamento; and the sinister practices of straining and falsifying our Goods, are the chief wheels that brings our Gain, which for some time may answer private Ends, but will soon be prejudicial to the public; which is no way to be prevented, but by fixing our Manufactures to a certain length, breadth and weight, and preventing the great abuse of straining.  
3. The neglect of preserving the Merchandise of our Woollen Manufactures in English Hands, to be Exported to Flanders, Germany, Holland and Spain, who are the only true Patriots to preserve the Reputation of our English Commodities. So soon as the Foreigner became Principal in our Markets in Buying, he soon beat down the Price, and let loose the Reins as to the intrinsic value of the Commodity, which always kept a check upon the Dutch, who are our chiefest Competitors in Trade; by which means our Cloth was soon debased, whilst there was never more care taken in Holland to preserve the Goodness and Reputation of their own. Hereby we have lost the Advantage of our merchandise, have given an Advantage to Foreigners to sell the Native Commodities of their own Countries at the top of our Markets, and lessened the number of English Merchants so far, that Three Hundred Pounds with an Apprentice now, is not reckoned so much as One Hundred Pounds Forty Years past; which is not to be remedied but by an Establishment of the Company of Merchant Adventurers of England, by Act of Parliament, in the most Comprehensive manner that can be contrived.  
4. The neglect of preserving the public Market of Blackwel-hall, in London, for the Sale of Cloth, according to ancient custom, which hath been like the opening of Pandoras's Box to the Manufacturers, or leading of them into Egypt: Hereby the Maker hath been dispossessed of the Sale of his own Goods, and trained up a Servant to become his Master; who to procure a farther Profit to himself out of Wool, hath brought on a long Credit with Cloth, which hath put the Clothiers Stock out of his own command, and obliged him to take his Wool of the Factor at extraordinary Prices. Which long Credit hath been of very oppressing consequence to the poor Labourers, and forced them into the hands of engrossers and Badgers for an immediate subsistence; hath occasioned many bad Debts to the Makers, from Foreign Merchants, from Packers and Factors, to the very great lessening of the Stock of the Country, and hereby( the command of the Sale of Cloth being wholly in their own Hands,) our Substantial Merchants that paid ready Money, hath been discouraged, and the commanding Commodity of our Nation, put into weak Hands, that support themselves by Credit, whilst nothing can relieve the Country but a nimbler circulation of the Clothiers Stock, which by no means can be effected, but by preserving the public Market, which is humbly offered in a Bill.  
5. The unnecessary Charge that hath hereby been brought upon the commanding Commodity of our Nation, at least Eight per Gent, which was wholly prevented whilst the Clothier sold his Cloth to the English Merchant; which dead weight doth not a little hinder the master Wheel of our Trade.  
6. The neglect of encouraging the consumption of the proper Effects of our Woollen Manufacture from Flanders and Germany, which instead thereof, hath been doubly charged in our Customs, ever since the 12th of Garol. II. whilst like Children we have been kept quiet with Rattles, Painted Callico's, Soft Muslings, and the curious landscapes of an Indian Fan, brought home with our Bullion.  
7. The engrossing of Commodities in Trade, Cutchaneal, indigo, &c. which by the Laws of the Romans in some cases was no less than Death.  
The Proper Remedies for these Grievances we humbly submit to this Honourable House.   

The STATE Of our Woollen Manufactory; or the Complaint of the Country.