Reasons given to the House of Commons why Ingrossing, and Transporting of Will and
Eullens earth, doth prejudice and destroy that rich and precious life of Trade
of this Nation.
1 THe Ingrossers, Jobbers and Broggers, do go between the barke and the Tree;
between the Growers and the Manufactures,and ingrosse the greatest part of
the Wooll,and make it so dear to the Clothiers, that they cannot live upon their trades
and maintaine the poor with worke, nor bring their goods to the Market at reasonable
rates, so that the Merchants may carry them cheap to their Markets beyound
the seas, because other Countries can afford them cheaper then we, which is
the main hindrance of the Trade of England.
2. The Ingrossers do usually abuse, and corrupt the wooll when they have it in their
hands,and mix severall Countries woolls together,which deceives the Clothiers,causeth
much false and bad Cloth to be made in England,and consequently bringeth four
English Commoditie and Nation to be out of credit and esteem in other Countries,
which destroyes the trade of England. Their corrupting and abusing of wooll, hath
been fully proved before a Committee of Parliament.
3. When the Ingrossers cannot have unreasonable prizes for their wooll of the Clothiers,
or the Manufacturers; they do and will Transport it beyond seas, and there
its made into Manufactures,which causeth many Workes to go from hence,to bee
imployed there; which will, nay, hath already, almost lost the Trade of this once
floorishing Nation.
4 It occasions much Fullers Earth to be transported to other parts; both which
heretofore were restrained by Law, and judged destructive to the Nation; but now
frequently practised and connived at, by many Covetuous Wretches and Enemies
to their County. It was a Principle that ruled in the Plenty of wooll in England,
should and ought to cause the cheapnes of Commodities made of it; and thereupon
did forbid any to buy,but those that made it into Manufacturers.
The House of Commons ordered this businesse to be taken into consideration on
the Friday following.
The House ordered that Col Walton should have the Reports concerning the three
Castles in Kent ready to make to the House on the Munday Following.
This day Letters were sent from the Councell of State to Major Gen.Ashton into
Lancashire to give account of the late overtures of Captain Bamber and the rest,who
are to give account of the reasons of their not disbandings when they were thereto
required, Also by what Commissions they acted, and what they have to answer for
themselves therein: That so accordingly the Councell of State, may proceed either
to their tryall or discharge,
The House of Commons ordered that the personage of Morgan, and Martimes in
M[unr]ag in the County of Cornewall, with the Personage house and gleabe, to be Setled
on Mr. Sampson Bond.
Sunday May 20.
This day came letters from oxford, That the day before some of those Levellers
taken at Burford condemned by a Councell of Warre, were executed, Correct
Tompson was the first that died, he did (either through distraction,Penitency or hope
of pardon)confede the just hand of God upon him to bring him to that sad end, Corporal
Perkins was the next, he Looked upon his sorrowfull father, and looked upon
his fellow prisoners on Burford Church-leads, without any remorse and [unr]