the Importation of such Silks, which the Parliament in their Great Wisdoms shall think meet to prohibit; and to countenance and encourage the use and wear of our own Manufactu∣red Silks and Stuffs, which are the product of our own Woollen Manufactures; this would greatly increase the Consumption of Wooll: And the former Reasons and Arguments do sufficiently demonstrate to any impartial considering man, That the more Silk and Hair Stuffs manufa∣ctured here in England, are worn and consumed, the greater will be the Consumption of our English Wooll: And besides these undeniable Reasons, we appeal to the Clothiers themselves, who manufacture those Cloaths made of English Wooll, who doubtless are the most competent Judges in this case; and who are ready to assert the truth thereof, when called to it; and it is an undoubted truth, That he that wears a Silk or Mohair Garment of our own manufacturing, doth consume more English Wooll, than numbers of persons that wear Cloth; therefore if the Consumption of Wooll be a common Good to this Nation, as doubtless it is, they are the best Common-wealths-men, that wear Silks and Stuffs of our own Manufacturing.
Let it not be thought, that I hyperbolize, or over-speak and magnifie the usefulness and bene∣ficialness of this Silk Manufacture in England, out of Interest, or any other but good design; for what hath been said of it, hath not only been demonstrated by undeniable and convincing Argu∣ments, but is made good by Experience; for since that good Act, Prohibiting French Silks for three years, there hath been a far greater quantity of Silks made in England, than ever was be∣fore that time; and the Price of Wooll since that time, hath been much advanced; and now since there hath been an interruption of Trade to Turky, by reason of the War and Distractions there, the Price of Wooll is greatly lessened; which is a clear demonstration, That it is the want of Exportation thither, that is the cause of it, and not the wearing of our own Silks here. And as for for Fine Cloth, the consumption of which sort only, will be promoted by this Act, it hath been more generally worn in some years last past, by the Nobility, Gentry, and Trades∣men of best Quality, than in former years, and yet the Consumption of our English Wooll hath been little or nothing promoted by it; indeed it hath much promoted the Consumption of Spanish Wooll, which we do not grudg, but let it have its course, forasmuch as it employs ma∣ny people; but we hope the Parliament will not promote it by such a Law, that is to the preju∣dice of a Trade ten times more valuable and useful in all respects, as the weaving of Silks and Stuffs of our own manufacturing, hath been so plainly demonstrated to be.
An effectual Prohibition of all Foreign Silks that shall be thought prejudicial, and hinder the Consumption of our own Manufactured Silks and Stuffs, without any injunction to wear Cloth or Stuffs made of all Wooll, will be a sufficient Encouragement to, and greatly advance the Price of Wooll in a little season, and also populate the Nation; to the increase of the price of Lands, and the Fruits and Product of it: And if to this, the Parliament shall see cause to pro∣hibit the wearing of Painted Callicoes in Frocks, Petticoats, and other outward Garments, and lay no restraint upon any one, but give equal Countenance and Encouragement to all the Manu∣factures of Silks, Stuffs, and Cloth, this would not only advance the Price of Wooll, by reason of the great use of it, but in few years it will set some Hundred thousands of Persons at work, more than now is; it would also prevent the Exportation of our Wooll, and the Designs of those who are now Competitors with us in that profitable Trade to Turky; for there will be so much use of it by our Clothiers, and Stuff Weavers, that no person will have so much as a temptation to transport it, for want of a Price for it; and so that staple Commodity will be kept within our own Nation, to the great increase of it in Riches, Strength, and Power.
Forasmuch therefore, as this Trade is so useful and beneficial to the King, Queen and whole Kingdom, to the Protestant Interest, and every particular person in the Nation, we hope the Parliament will make a Fence about it, and secure it from all violation, that it may be as sacred as Magna Charta it self, and a brand of Infamy put upon those that shall endeavour to make the least breach upon it, and thereby prevent the Designs of all the Enemies to our Religion and Na∣tion. Therefore we Pray, That they would not only lay aside this Act, which discourageth; but pass such an Act, as in their Wisdoms they shall think most meet, to encourage this most use∣ful and beneficial Trade of the Nation, which for many years last past, hath been discouraged by Foreign Importations, unusual long Mournings, and other subtleties of the Enemies of this Nation, to the Ruin of many of the Manufacturers thereof. And this is no other than what we Hope for, do Expect, and yet have confidence we shall Obtain from our Protestant King, Queen and Parliament: Whom God long Preserve.