To the King's Most Excellent Majesty and the lords spiritual and temporal in Parliament assembled the humble petition of Ezekiel Goddard of Kings Lynn, in the county of Norfolk, in behalf of many millions now employed in the wollen manufacture of this Kingdom.

MOreover, If an Act might pass, to pardon all such as have been guilty of Exporting Wool, Woolfells, or Yarn made of Wool; provided they will make Confessions, and acknowledge under their Hands and Seals, and name the Places of their Abode, and make full Confession, what Quantities of the said Goods, to the best of their Remembrance or Knowledge, they have been guilty of Exporting, and who were the Owners or Part-Owners of the same; in what Vessels the same were sent, and to what Places the same were sent, and to whom the same were con∣signed, and whether they were Owners of the same, or in Partner-ship with others; and what others by Name, or whe∣ther they shipp'd the said Goods by Commission from others, and what they had for so doing; and by whom they were paid, and how the said Goods were pack'd, whether any part thereof was combed Wool, and how much, and of whom it was bought; whether any part of it was passed as Coast∣ways by Coquet, and how much, and what Methods were taken to clear the Bonds; whether it was convey'd aboard by Boat, or by what means; at what Places it was shipp'd, and whether in the Day time, or in the Night; whether any part and how much, was sent over under the Notion of other Goods, and what sort of Goods, whether Tobacco, Sugars, or Wollen Cloths, or what other Goods, and what Money was received for Exportation of the said Goods, which such Wool was passed or shipp'd under Colour of; whe∣ther the Masters of the Vessels had any share thereof, or were privy to the said Exportations, and what Security was given for securing the Vessels, and what Fraights were usually given for the same; and Finally, what Methods were taken, to prevent the Discovery of the said Exportations, to the best of their Knowledge.

And if any Person that hath been guilty of such Practices, shall neglect to make and sign such Confession, upon his,

her, or their Oaths, or shall neglect to deliver the said Con∣fession (Attested and Witnessed before some Justice of the Peace) to the Lord Mayor of the City of London for the time being, and whose Clerk shall Record the same; and the Party guilty of such Exportation shall deliver the said Confession as aforesaid within Thirty Days after the publishing of the Act, and shall pay the Clerk for Recording the same; which Clerk shall keep a Catalogue of the Names of the Parties Confessing, and the place of their abode; in order that this High Court of Parliament may at their pleasure have a sight of the said Confessions, and the names of them that are to be indemnified; and if any Person that shall be found guilty of such Crime, and hath not made and delivered such Confession so as aforesaid, then he, she or they, shall upon due proof that they have been guilty, forfeit all their Goods and Chattels, Lands and Tenaments, and be banished out of this Kingdom as Persons not fit to live therein; one Moiety to him, her or them that shall make the same Matter appear upon the Oaths of two Wit∣nesses or more; and the Parties that shall be instrumental in discovering the same, shall receive the benefit of the Pardon; the other Moiety to be to the Poor of the Parishes where the Offenders live.

And that a Clause may be made annex'd to the Act, to cause all Men above the Age of sixteen Years (Noblemen and their Sons excepted) to take an Oath, that they will not Export, or send out of this Kingdom any Wool, or Woolfells, or Yarn made of Wool; nor will not directly or indirectly, aid or assist any so to do; and that they will dis∣cover all such, as shall (to their Knowledge) be any ways instrumental in so doing, and will to the best of their Abi∣lity hinder all such Practices.

And your Petitioner doubts not, but by making of Laws to the same Effect, as in this his Petition mentioned; that all Exportation of Wool will be hindred and great Sums of Money saved, which have been paid to the Exporters of Wool, under the Notion of Goods that receive back Money

to the Owners when Exported; and that it will, to the great Admiration of this High Court of Parliament, bring to light many great Abuses put upon the King and the whole Kingdom: And if any Objections shall be made against what is petitioned for; I hope, that the Answer to such may be sufficient, that never any Law was ever made, but some or other might object against it; but if it was made for the benefit of the Major Part of the Nation in General, as I am sure, this will be to the benefits of Thousands to the Hin∣drance of one; then all Men will grant that it will be a good Law. And I think my Cost and Charge, and great Labour well bestowed; which otherwise I could ill have undergone, being weak in Body and of mean Estate,

And to conclude, I question not but those that are the great Engrossers of Wool, will be found to be the Cause why so much Wool is exported, and ought to be hindred from buying and selling of any Wool; and I am very con∣fident, that without the hindrance of Wool from being Ex∣ported, the Nation will be ruined, and that suddenly.

FINIS.