manufactories, which at present are manufactured abroad, must be encouraged at home. There are several commodities in this kingdom, which cannot be had in any of our neighbouring countries, which ought to be wrought up at home; but we encourage foreign wrought goods to be brought here, and send our unwrought goods to our neighbouring countries, who manufacture the same. By such methods we may well wonder what is become of the trade of the nation, whereby our merchants are undersold at markets abroad in those commodities which cannot be well had elsewhere but from England; which, if they were manufactured at home, and kept amongst our merchants to export, it would be an inlet to the selling of several other commodities, which are supplied now by the Dutch, and others of our neighbouring countries. But our trade is over-burthened by duties laid on our wrought goods, and our unwrought encouraged to be expected, with several other obstructions too tedious to set forth; by which the poor tradesmen and their families are become a far greater tax to the nation than all that the king's customs amount to. Likewise in our merchants goods, which are imported and exported again in less than a year, are allowed to draw back the duty so formerly paid by them, if the property be not altered, by chipping, cutting, grinding, garbling, shaving, or rasping, or otherways altering thereof; so that the Dutch and other countries employ their poor, in doing that which ours ought to do; by which their merchants serve abundance of markets abroad with such goods as we cannot do, because, if the property be altered, the draw-back will not be allowed; which is in several goods about twenty-five pounds per cent. which is a great hindrance to the merchant, and quite loses the profit of working the same here. And suppose the property should be altered, so that the same be exported in time, it would occasion a greater employ of the poor, and it would be no detriment or hindrance to the King in his customs, nor obstruct our navigation, and our merchants may serve other countries with those commodities as well as the Dutch and others. The Dutch consider how to employ their poor, and prepare all the work they possibly can contrive for them; and all goods, which are capable of labour, they commonly have it done before they will part with it; which is the reason they have none but what get their living at one thing or other. They employ their poor in rasping dyers woods, which they have commonly from us, and serve all markets abroad with that commodity, which we cannot do, by reason of that obstruction at the custom-house, in not allowing the draw-back where the property is altered. And in abundance of other goods too long to insert here. The Dutch buy their hemp at Riga, and other places where we buy ours; but they employ their people to manufacture the same into sailcloth, and they import it on us, and we, to encourage them, use it for our royal navy, and all our merchants ships, and all other small vessels, hoys, busses, lighters, and boat-sails; which trade, were it encouraged here, would go a great way in the maintenance of our poor, and great gain is to be had thereby. We had at first our woollen manufactory from the Dutch, we sold them wool and fulling-clay, and we took their woollen-cloth, and now we take their sail-cloth; but after we prohi bited our wool and fulling-earth from being sent to Holland, and their cloth from coming here, it put our workmen on invention, and in a little time we became the famousest at that trade in the world; and so we might be as well at sail-cloth, were we encouraged, and the Dutch discouraged. We ought to contrive all ways to employ our poor, and keep within ourselves the working up of all our own commodities; as leather, lead, fulling-clay, wool, copper, Calaminaris, tin, pewter, and all other of our own product. The planting of trees is neglected, by which in a little time we shall lose the making of iron and steel, the refining our brass and other metals, and great part of our lands lie waste and barren, not cleared or tilled, whilst thousands of our people want employment, and many thousands hide themselves in obscurity, in places remote from their beings, for fear of arrests, who are not able to pay their debts, and would willingly fly any where for refuge. Bad debts contracted to relieve some in necessity, and many others in prisons without any satisfaction to the creditor but revenge, and their families become chargeable to the parishes wherein they are; many by their poverty, are driven to the last extremity, take to ill courses to rob and steal, and our counties sued; great sums of money paid for apprehending and trying these robbers, and several other great mischiefs occasioned by poverty, which is burthensome to the country; which if all matters were computed is more loss to the nation than the charge will amount to in clearing most of our barren lands throughout the kingdom; and rightly considering, so sure as the people work in clearing and tilling the ground, so consequently those lands will be so much richer, and what is laid out will bring in again with considerable profit, and inrich the nation. It would be better for the kingdom in general, that there were a tax laid on every parish to regulate these great mischiefs, than to lie under the burthen thereof, without any hopes of relief. Therefore this following method is humbly proposed, By William Goffe. THE PROPOSALS. Imprimis, That there be a tax laid on every parish throughout the kingdom, according to the poor tax-rate, to be continued for three years, and paid quarterly. 2. That there be six pounds per cent, per annum, allowed to any person or persons who shall lend the said three years tax at once, that there may be money sufficient to carry on the undertaking, 3. Near each fishing-port throughout the kingdom, there are commonly barren lands, which may be rented at four pence or six pence, per annum, an acre. 4. That a convenient parcel of such lands, near each fishing-port, be rented or purchased at the nation's charge, to erect fishing factories on, for sewing hemp and flax, and planting of trees, such as are convenient or building of ships, hoys, and busses. 5. That there be some knowing men chosen out of the neighbouring parishes, near each of these fishing-ports, to mark out the land into parcels, and that they ascertain the price of every acre what the labour is worth to clear the same. 6. That there be a proclamation published throughout the kingdom, that all persons that are willing to work in clearing those lands, at the price ascertained, shall have ready money for their labour as they constantly do their work; and each of them shall have ground given them to build a house on free. And all those who are in debt, and do deliver up to their creditors all the effects they have, wearing apparel and household goods only excepted, shall be protected from being arrested or molested from any such debt or debts; and all tradesmen likewise, that are willing to inhabit or settle there on any of the fishing-factories, shall be likewise protected. 7. That these persons shall not be protected at any other place or places, but at these fishing-ports or factories, or whilst these persons are fishing or selling their fish in any other markets throughout the kingdom. 8. And that whereas, at most of these ports are places, where wool is commonly sent away at stealth, and prohibited, and other custom-goods privately run a-shore, that any person belonging to these fishing-factories, who shall seize any of such goods, shall be allowed one half-part of all such goods, to themselves. 9. That, at every of these fishing-ports, there be four fishing-busses belonging to each factory, with all nets and other fishing-tackle, provided with the master, and manned with fishermen to teach the people to catch fish, and they to be paid first, at the publick charge. And all those belonging to these factories, that are willing to go a fishing, may every one take their turn each month; and that two thirds of all such fish be divided amongst those who go a fishing; the other third of the fish to be sold, and applied towards wear and tear and charges in nets and tackle. And, that some of the masters and officers belonging to the neighbouring parishes be chosen to take charge of the same, and see all things performed. 10. That, in every of these factories, some of the military officers be appointed to discipline these men, every week or fortnight, and they to be the governors over these people, at each of these fishing factories; the men to be paid by the publick, those days they exercise. 11. That all the parishes throughout the kingdom do send their ablest poor to be employed at these factories; some to dig, plant, and till the ground, and the others to be employed to work up the hemp and flax, and to make sail-cloth, cordage, nets, twine, lines, and sails; the women to spin, and make coarse linnen, &c. and, as the profits come in by this undertaking, the parish-taxes will abate throughout the kingdom. 12. That there be a large work-house, or work-houses, erected at every of these fishing-ports, and that there be master-workmen, paid at the publick charge, to teach the people to work, which, in time, will teach one ano ther; that these master-workmen be men of knowledge and understanding in making of sail-cloth, nets, cordage, twine lines, and all other necessaries belonging to the fishing-trade. And that they do take care, that the people's stock of goods be not embezzled, and that they do give account to the masters of the neighbouring parishes, who shall be appointed for that purpose every week, and that they be appointed to pay and receive all goods, and to keep the stores, and give an account of all rising profits. 18. That, in every particular sort of work the full current price for every thing be ascertained, and that they be allowed a sufficient rate for their work, until their slow hands be brought to quick working, for afterwards, the price will fall in course, and those which are become used to clearing of lands will take lands of their own accord, and clear it to get themselves a livelihood; and so likewise, in fishing, they will in time be able to join together, and go a fishing at their own charge, when they find the profit thereof. 14. To encourage this undertaking, that all the sail-cloth which shall be used for the royal navy be wrought up at these workhouses belonging to these fishing-factories; and to bring the merchant-men to buy theirs, in the nation, the following method is proposed: 15. That there be a high duty laid on all new sails of foreign-made cloth, which shall be used to any of our English ships, hoys, lighters, busses, boats, or any others; that the duty be collected at the customhouse, which will in time hinder merchant-men, and others, from buying their sails at markets abroad; and that all our sail-cloth be made with some blue stripe or other mark through every piece. 16. That all foreign nets be prohibited from being imported, because now most nets come from France and other parts. 17. That in every parish throughout the kingdom there be work houses erected; and, instead of supplying the poor's necessities with money, as now they do, that they be obliged to supply them with a stock of goods to work up, and let them have the full price for the same. It is better for each parish to receive goods, which carry the intrinsick value with them, than to lose all the money so gathered every year, as they now do. 18. That all charity-money, voluntarily given by any person or persons to the poor of each parish, be laid out in unwrought goods, and equally divided, to every one share and share alike; and that the parish be obliged to take all such goods so made by the poor, and give them ready moncy for the same, or more stock of unwrought goods to put them to work again. 19. That the poor be most encouraged to work on those commodities, which at present are wrought beyond sea, as, sail-cloth, hemp and flaxdressing, making of coarse linnen and woollen-cloth, &c. We ought o consider how to force all trades, and how to find as much employment for our trades, as possible; therefore it is proposed, 20. That all foreign hemp and flax be imported duty-free. 21. That there be a high duty laid on all unwrought lead and tin exported. 22. That all manufactured lead, or tin, be exported duty-free. 23. That there be a duty laid on all fulling-earth, tobacco-pipe clay, and calaminaris, to be paid at the pit, at so much a yard, or. rod; and not suffered to be dug without oath first made, and a certificate from the next justice of the peace, of what quantity, and what use, and where to be sent, and the duty gathered by those of the parish, who collect the King's tax, &c. For the duty-sake these pits will be taken notice of, which will hinder the carrying it away by stealth. 24. That there be a duty laid on all unwrought leather exported. 25. That all leather, manufactured into shoes, boots, harnesses, &c. be exported duty free. 26. That all raw silks, cotton, or any other commodities, which are useful to employ the tradesmen, imported, may not be allowed any draw-back at the custom-house on exportation, as in other goods, which will hinder merchants from exporting them abroad again, that our tradesmen may be supplied, as cheap as our neighbouring countries, with those goods they want to put them to work. 27. That all goods, which are imported, and exported again in time, may be allowed the usual draw-back at the custom-house, as well in goods where the property is altered, as in others where the property is not altered; by which means several of our poor may be employed, and all those who want work, and are in debt, and have not to pay, will flock to these fishing-factories; and, instead of lying in jails, and their families becoming burdensome to the parishes, we shall have our barren lands cleared, tilled, manured, and well wooded with fine groves of trees fit to build shipping; which will shelter those bleak and wild places; and those ports in time will become famous fish-markets, and these men well disciplined, which will be good outguards for our kingdom, ready to assist in time of necessity, and will breed up a nursery of seamen ready to man our royal navy on any occasion. By this, our lands and our livings will be secure from the attempts of any foreign enemy, our trade will flourish, and our poor be provided for, and will be an everlasting safety and happiness to our kingdom and government: Which God long preserve. THE STATE GAMESTERS ; OR THE OLD CARDS NEW PACKED AND SHUFFLED. Folio, containing two pages. A SET of gamesters all together met, Some came to play, and others came to bet. The cards produc'd, they first for dealing cut, |