Wooll Shipped off.
There are many of our Sea-Port Towns, and several Creeks, and holes along the South-shore of England, besides Dover, Rumney Fairlee, Hastings, Poleston, Rye, Bredhempston, &c. where these things are practised; and indeed in the Summer time, when it is fair weather, goods may be Landed on the Shoar, and Shipped off from the Shoar, on Vessels all along the Coast, almost from Dover to the Lands end, in Cornwal; and many times there are both brought ashore, and carried off such Goods as are Prohibited both wayes, both for coming into the Land, and carrying out of the Land, and this done in a fair night, and the goods brought in, lye sheltred in Countreymens houses, which can hide and secure them till there be a convenient opportunity to dispose otherwise of them with safety, and these Countreymen help them to Horses, to carry them to London or other Markets.
Neither do I here mention any thing of the North-Coast, because I have hitherto been altogether unacquainted with those parts, although I have reason to beleive, that the same Smuggling Trade is also practised in those quarters, for their Coast lying over against Holland, doubtless the people there are as ready to comply privately, in forbidden tradeing with the Dutch, as along the South-Coast, they are with the French, notwithstanding there is sufficient Provision made, in our Lawes against such sinister and evil Practices: But about Kent and Sussex, are most frequently imported Prohibited goods from France and Flanders, and they are goods of such value, that a single Horseman may carry five, or six hundred pounds worth about him, and yet it shall hardly be known that he hath any thing with him.
Chatham River.
Now if these things were well considered, what quantities of goods are privately imported, and so as that they are seldome discovered, with what also comes into the River of Medway (alias Chatham) which lies about twenty seven miles from London, by Land; and the most convenient River in England, (I beleive) to Land goods privately: it would easily appear, what loss it is to his Majesty in perticular, in his Customes, which by these and such like Practices are stollen, and in general to the Trade of the whole Kingdome.
Smugglers make many friends.
It is also well known, that those which steal the Duties of the King’s Customes, and do Import and Export Prohibited Goods and Commodities, are none of the meanest persons in the places where they dwell, but such who oftentimes have great interest with the Magistrates about those places, and seeing they get their money so easily, by not paying the Kings due Custome for their goods, as honest Merchants do, and being Purse-proud, do not value what they spend, to ingratiate themselves into the favour of such Gentlemen, as have authority as aforesaid; and then make it their business by the assistance of such Magistrates, and their countenance, to destroy all such as shall discover their fraudulent dealings, or elce by some small Bribes to stop their mouths, that so these Cheats may avoid the penalty of the Law, and prevent others from the future from discovering their doings.
The King’s Customehouses, ought to be so many locks and Keys to the Kingdome, to let what is warrantable and lawful to come in, and to keep out what is forbidden its entrance, and to prevent the great abuses that are so frequently complained of, both in the Exportation of our Prohibited goods, and the Importation of Forreign goods forbidden by Law; and if the Officers were but as vigilant and faithful as they ought to be, they might easily and readily prevent these enormities with their care and diligence, which are so dayly practised.
Blank Certificates a Cheat.
Exchanging the Master of the Vessel.