England's improvements in two parts : in the former is discoursed how the kingdom of England may be improved ... : in the latter is discoursed how the navigation of England may be increased and the soveraignty of the British seas more secured to the crown of England ... / by Roger Coke.

Consequences.

The Dutch found an opportunity of encreasing their Trade of Woollen Manufactures; and the Polanders giving en∣couragement to the Silesians (who bordered upon them, and then only made course Sleses) to work Woollen Manufactures in Poland; and the Wools of Poland being much finer than those of Silefia, these Silesians by themselves, and much more by instructing the Polanders, have in a great measure so sup∣plied Poland with Woollen Manufactures, that whereas before the year 1640, the East-land Company vended yearly 20000 broad Clothes, they now do not 4000: of 60000 Kerseys, now not 5000: of 40000. Doubles, now not 2000.

About the middle of King James his Reign, the State of that part of Suffolk and Essex was in so flourishing a con∣dition by reason of the East-land Trade, that Sir Edward Coke, at the request of the Inhabitants of Ipswich, built Ful∣ling Mills at Bourn-Bridge, a mile from Ipswich. When they were built, the Town proffered him 240 l. per Annum, in case he would let them to the Town; but Sir Edward told them, at their request he built them for a publick benefit, and so he would continue them. In his Grandson Sir Edw. Coke's time these Mills fell to 80, 60, and 40 l. per Annum; and of late, in his Son Sir Robert Coke's time, they fell to six pounds per Annum, though the Mills cost above 2000 l. the building: and at last the Rent would not pay the sixth part of the charge of Repairing them; so as now they are thrown up for want of Work.

Nor is the Fate of the Hamburg-Company much better than that of the East land, and from the same cause: for after the Civil Wars broke out here in England, and the City of London zealously affecting the Cause, and preferring it before any Temporal Interest; the Company either out of Zeal, Necessity, or both, did not so well supply Hamburg as be∣fore; which the Dutch took the benefit of, and have so well managed that advantage, that, as before we supplied Jutland, Holstein, and the North and North-west parts of Germany with Woollen Manufactures, we now scarce go halves with the Dutch in that Trade; and this Company is become so poor, that they can hardly maintain their half in it.

Even the Turky-Company (which we so much glory in) by their Monopoly of vending our Woollen Manufa∣ctures once in two years to Turky, and exposing the West-Country-Clothiers to bring up their Clothes to London be∣fore they please to buy them, (a charge equal to Turky from Bristol, or other Western parts) and then to send them as far East, and then through the Channel, makes but room for the French, Dutch, and Venetians to establish Trades of Woollen Manufactures in Turky; and so much better, by how much this Company charges and restrains ours.