Prince Butler's Tale: REPRESENTING The State of the Wooll-Case, or the East-India Case truly Stated.  

The Argument.  
Part I.  

shows why in doggerel Verse this Tale  
Was first begun o'er Pot of Ale;  
shows Rise, and Progress of the Trade  
To India driven, and Who 'twas made  
The first steps to our wool Trades ruin,  
And how it proved to Folks undoing;  
What done to stop its further growth,  
And how those Measures came to nought;  
How Golden Fleece lay very dead;  
How Act for Burying it was made;  
And how, if we were truly Wise,  
We should their Trangums all despise;  
Our Money save, Employ our Poor,  
From starving keep, and from our Door;  
Who then could drink, Some Ale, Some Sherry,  
And Laugh, and Quaff, and all be merry.    

PROLOGUE.  

IN place, one day, as I was standing,  
Where folks were printed Papers handing  
To those that would, or red, or buy 'em,  
These Remarks made, as I stood nigh 'em:  
I saw, a mighty, zealous Crew,  
Some for Old Stock, and some for New,  
Were Pro and cunning their hard Cases,  
By the chief Dons of several Classes,  
'Mongst which Grandees I sometimes fell in,  
And heard most dismal Stories telling;  
The one, the other, much arraigned,  
And credit of their Causes stained.  
Thus having heard each side complain,  
Methoughts, 'mongst both, were K— s in grain:  
And that when such, fall out and scold,  
An injured Case might then be  told:  
And on the Old Proverb made me think,  
The more they stir, the more they stink;  
And did conclude from all these Hearings,  
There's neither Barrel better Herrings.  
I saw a Case, concerning wool,  
With Reasons stuffed, both clear and full;  
Which plainly shew'd our certain ruin,  
These mighty Talkers were pursuing,  
Yet saw, that many, at first sight on't,  
There were, that made but very light on't,  
And found there were but few attend it,  
But very few that would defend it;  
amazed I stood, and much dejected,  
So great a Cause should be neglected.  
Soon after that, I saw, with vigour,  
Verses catched up, about fight of tiger,  
By Old and Young, by Fools and Witty,  
And by the great Dons of the City.  
Thought I, this Case, if I should writ,  
In such a manner, Folks would buy't,  
And red, for sake of doggerel rhyme,  
Which Thought improved; I lost no time,  
But presently, over Pot of Ale,  
Writ a great part of this sad Tale,  
Which, if you like, you may have more on't,  
For I now have, or shall, have store on't.    

The Tale.  

WHen first the Indian Trade began,  
And Ships beyond the tropics ran,  
In quest of various Drugs and Spices,  
And sundry other strange Devices,  
〈◇〉 〈◇〉 and like Trading.  
 
Bengals, and Silks, of Indians making,  
Our Merchants then refused to take in,  
Knowing it would their Country ruin,  
And might prove to their own undoing.  
Nor did they carry Gold or Bullion,  
To fetch home what suppliants our Woollen;  
Nor were this Nation fond to wear  
Such Indian Toys, which cost so dear:  
Then were we clad in Woollen Stuffs,  
With cambric Bands, and Lawn Ruffs,  
Or else in Silk, which was Imported  
For Woollen Goods, which we Exported;  
Which Silk our English Weavers bought,  
And into various Figures wrought.  
Then scarce a Child was to be seen,  
Without Say Frock, that was of green,  
Our Hangings, Beds, our Coats, and Gowns,  
Made of our wool in Clothing Towns.  
This Nation then was Rich and Wealthy,  
And in a State which we called healthy.   

But since the Men of Gath arose,  
And for their Chief goliath choose.  
And since that mighty Giants Reign,  
Whose chiefest Aim was private Gain,  
This Trade was driven on by such measures,  
As soon Exhausted much our Treasures,  
For then our chiefest Artists went  
With Patterns, and with Money sent,  
To make and purchase Indian Ware,  
For which this Nation pays full dear.  
Then by great Gifts of finest touches,  
To Lords and Ladies, Dukes and Duchess,  
So far prevailed, as set the fashion,  
Which Plague-like soon spread o'er the Nation.  
Our Ladies all were set a gadding,  
After these Toys they ran a madding;  
And nothing then would please their fancies,  
Nor Dolls, nor Joans, nor wanton Nancies,  
Unless it was of Indians making;  
And if 'twas so, 'twas wondrous taking.  
This antic humour so prevailed,  
Tho' many 'gainst it greatly railed,  
'Mongst all degrees of Female kind,  
That nothing else could please their mind.  
Tell 'em the following of such fashion,  
would beggar and undo the Nation,  
And ruin all our Labouring Poor,  
That must, or starve, or beg at door,  
theyed not at all regard your story,  
But in their painted Garments glory;  
And such as were not Indian proof,  
They scorned, despised, as paltry Stuff:  

This humour strangely thus prevailing,  
Set all the poorer sort a railing,  
Or else with grief their Case bewailing.   
The richer seeing what was doing,  
And how the Nation ran to ruin,  
To King in Council did complain,  
In time of Charles the seconds Reign,  
On which were several Lords appointed,  
By him who was the Lords Anointed,  
To hear the Case, and sad Complainings,  
Of those that Then were for Restrainings;  
Who plainly did their Lordships tell,  
What mischiefs to our Trade befell;  
How both our Men and Bullion went  
To work in India, and be spent  
In needless Toys, and gaudy Dresses,  
For Ladies, Madams, Trulls, and Misses.   

The Case thus heard, they were inclined  
Some proper Remedy to find;  
And something was in order doing,  
To put a stop to further ruin,  
But by the Craft of great goliath,  
Who all the Host stood in defy-a.  
There is this story passing Current,  
That say 'twas he that stopped this torrent,  
By pouring Gold in plenteous showers,  
In Ladies Laps, who bore great Powers,  
Which strangely altered all their Measures,  
Such charms there are in hidden Treasures.  
Thus Barrocading all Complaints,  
driven Iehu-like, without Restraints  
filled Town and Country soon so full,  
As ruined much, our Trade in wool:  
And such great Stocks of wool and Cloths,  
Were hoarded up, and eat by Moths,  
Made Clothiers all, and Growers grumble,  
When clothes and Fleeces o'er they tumbled.  
And further mischiefs to prevent,  
Complaint was made in Parliament:  
And 'cause the wool, so near affencted,  
This Salvo for't was then projected,  
That since the Living would not bear it,  
They should, when dead, be forced to wear it;  
This helped in part, but the Grand Ill  
Remains upon the Kingdom still.  
Yet this our Ladies so offended,  
As all our Female Sex contended,  
And fain would had this Act rejected,  
But then their councils were neglected,  
And Time has reconciled it so,  
To this wool Act they're now no Foe:  
So that from Ladies great, to Skullion,  
All butted lay in our own Woollen.   

And happy thrice would England be,  
If, while their Living, we could see,  
Our noble Ladies but beginning,  
To wear our wool of finest Spinning,  
Or in such Silks our Workmen make,  
For which our Merchants Cloth do take,  
Which soon would bring them in such fashion,  
As they'd be worn throughout this Nation,  
By all Degrees, and Sex, and Ages,  
From highest Peers to lowest Pages;  
Nor would the meanest Trull or Besses,  
Delight to wear these Indian Dresses,  
Which certainly would Profit bring,  
To them, their Tenants, and our King,  
And Heavn's Blessings in the bargain,  
Because they'll keep our Poor from starving,  
For they would soon be then employed;  
Our Money too at Home would' bide,  

And happy then both great and small,  
With Mirth in Parlour, and in Hall,  
When thus, with Plenty, Beards wag all.     

EPILOGUE.  

AND now this Tale, thus far being ended,  
Methinks I see some Folks offended,  
And 'gainst this doggerel Poet rail,  
Because he've  told so plain a Tale,  
And New and Old Stock, Jobbing Throng,  
Crying it down, be't right or wrong;  
But if they do, and away fling 'em,  
'tis a great Sign, they're Truths that sting' em.  
But let them spend their Lungs, and hollow,  
Such blustering Sparks he needs not value,  
Since all his aim, and his designs,  
Are to beat down their Indian Blinds,  
That all true English Men may see,  
What cause, their real Misery,  
That so they may prevent their ruin,  
And save this Nation from undoing:  
But if they still will shut their eyes,  
And demonstrations plain despise;  
And if his Tale shall be rejected,  
Or if this Cause be still neglected,  

He only this has more to say,  
That he can shift as well as they,  
And that he writ this, not for Pay.      

LONDON: Printed, and are to be sold by A Baldwin in Warwick-Lane. 1699   

Part II.  
Prince Butler's Queries Relating to The East-India Trade.  

1. SInce some very good Friends, of both Old and New Stocks, are endeavouring, by all honest ways, together to join, and in order thereto, are Writing, Pleading, and Printing their Cases; and since Losers have always the Liberty to speak, why may not I as well Print and pled my Case; For I am sure I have as much, nay more reason to do it than they?  
2. If these two contending Stocks be made one, and the English Manufacturers Case be not taken some care of, I can, without Star-gazing, plainly foresee, That they, and some other Folks, soon ruined will be; And therefore pray, Mind what I say; If not for their sakes, for your own, be pleased to take care on't.  
3. Is it not much more demonstrable, That the East-India Trade is of greater advantage to England than 'twas two Years ago; For since that time, it has in a great measure Ruined the Canterbury Silk Trade, and obliged most of the London Silk Weavers, Throwsters, &c. to give over their several Trades and Employments?  
4. Will not this be of great Advantage to all the Clothing Counties in England, because some of these poor People, rather than starve, are gone to Ireland, and set up Trade there; others fallen to Comb, carded, and Spin; make Cloths, Stuffs and Serges; who being at the Principal Market, can make and sell them as well, or better, than the Country Weaver and Clothier can do?  
5. Does not Sir Jos. Child, who is well known to be Skilful in Trade, prove plainly, That the East-India Trade ought to be greatly Encouraged, when he tells us in Print, 
Discourse of Trade. The Preface.  That the expense of Foreign Commodities, especially Foreign Manufactures, is the worst expense a Nation can be inclinable to, and ought to be prevented as much as possible?  
6. Has not the Author of the Essay on the E. India Trade, as sufficiently proved it Gainful, not only to us, but all Europe, when he tells us, They had been Richer by a full Third than they now are, 
Essay on the East-India Trade page. 14.  if that Trade had never been Discovered or Undertaken; and that it bears hard only upon those Countries that Consume those Commodities?  
7. Is it not plain, That it bears not hard upon England, since it could never be proved( and I challenge any now to do it) That we Consume at Home, in Ireland, or our Plantations, above nine parts in ten: Or that in Foreign Parts( except our Plantations, &c) there are Consumed above one eighth part of the Wrought Silks, Bengals, and Printed calicoes?  
8. Since 'tis allowed this Trade is hurtful to Europe, and all are agreed in a General Peace, What if they should agree to Banish it out of all their Dominions? But if not, Why should we restrain any part, Since we have nothing from thence of solid Use,( but) Materials for Luxury, and perishable Commodities, for our Gold and Silver, which is there butted, as the same Author tells us? 
page. 12.   
9. Is it not better we should be at four or five hundred thousand Pounds Charge per An. for Indian Vanities, having such plenty of Money, than for the sake of employing our own Poor, upon our own wool, disoblige several Maids and their Mistresses, who would then be at a loss how to Dress up themselves, their Chambers, Parlours, and closerts?  
10. Is it not our Interest( as the Essayer tells us) to wear these Indian Manufactures, because they would soon bring down the price of our own so low, That we may Export them to all Foreign Markets, and be able to under-sell all Nations; For( surely) they neither can, 
page. 29.  or will ever think of falling in their Prices as we do.  
11. Or if they should, rather than leave off and starve, sell their Commodities as cheap as we, Pray what shall we get by this Learned Advice, since after all our Reducing, the Indians that Work for a penny a Day, will outdo us all, unless we're resolved to Work as Cheap, or Cheaper than they?  
12. Will not the Falling the Prices reduce the Wages of the Poor, and by that means make the Nation grow Rich, since Sir Jos. Child has very well observed, That where ever Wages are high, throughout the whole World, it is an infallible Evidence of the Riches of that Country; 
Preface.  And where Wages for Labour runs low, 'tis a proof of the Poverty of that Place?  
13. But if bringing down the Prices will be such an Advantage, Why may we not as well sand for the Corn we spend to the East Country, for theirs is much cheaper than ours? And then we may sand our own Corn with our own Cloth, &c. to seek Abroad for a Market; Would not this soon Raise the Value of all the Rents and Lands in England?  
14. And to save yet the more, employ the Dutch Shipping, for they always Sail much cheaper than we do, and then we may sand our own Ships to all Foreign Nations, that either want, or will hire them, or else save the Building of more, to the much greater Preservation of both our Seamen and Timber?  
15. And 〈…〉