Whether it is convenient that our Manufactures of Cloth and Stuffs, should be allowed to be transported out of the Land white (or undied) because it is a very common practice of the Dutch and English too, so to do, and then they Dye them and Dress them in Holland, by the which they set many people on work, and all that imployment is lost to England: but this is not all, for the Dutch do so handle the matter, as that they mak our own goods more acceptable and saleable in Forreign Countries, than we usually do, with the same sort of goods which we Dy in England, to the great profit and credit of the Dutch abroad among strangers, and to the great loss and dammage of England, besides the disreputation by that means to England, yea many times the same goods that were carryed over to Holland white, are returned to us again, when the Dutch have Dyed them and dressed them, and then they are esteemed the best Colours, and therefore most vendible among us.
Quære 19.
Whether it would not be very conducible to the publique good, that those perticuler Statutes should be put into effectual Execution, which do positively appoint, that all Merchants Forreigners, Tradeing into England with Commodities of their own Countrey growth, and vending them here, should lay out their money again in our English Manufactures, and not be permitted to carry money out of the Land, directly nor indirectly; but lay it out in the goods, and wares of England (their necessary expences excepted) according to the true intent and meaning of the said Statute.
Quere 20.
Whether it be not worthy to be taken into consideration, concerning the fineness and weight of our English Coin, above and beyond the Coin of our neighbouring Nations, and whether that be not the cause of its Exportation out of the Land; a broad twenty shillings peice of Gold, being worth in France, Flanders, and Holland, twenty seven shillings, and a Crown piece of silver worth six shillings; so that I suppose we may cease wondring, what is become of the money of the Kingdome, considering it is such profit to the Merchant to transport it beyond Sea.
Quære 21.
Whether it would not very much increase Trading, and be highly advantageous to the King’s Majesty, to have money plentiful in the Land, and greatly benefit the Common-Weale, if money in England was in some measure made sutable or equal, to the weight and fineness of money in other Lands, and whether this would not be a great means of bringing in money from other Lands, and then keep it in the Kingdome being brought in; by such means the King would be sure to have a speedy supply on all demands, for his occasions; and it is granted on all hands, that good Treasures of Money are the principal Sinews of War.
Quere 22.
Whether we in England, ought not in reason, to take the same care, for the preservation and advancement of our Native Commodities, as every other Kingdome and Countrey doth for theirs, as in Spain, the labour of the people is in their Vineyards, for the Production of Wine and Fruit, concerning which they take great care, that they make the utmost, and spend little of these things themselves, that they may make money of them to furnish their needs, with what is sutable, and many times they will not part with these their goods, for Barter, or Exchange for other goods, but will have ready money, and at dear rates too, as I have heard by those that have traded into those parts; some have given to the Spaniards, at the Canaries 100 peices of Eight, for an ordinary Pipe of Wine, in ready money; which 100 Peices of Eight are well worth twenty two pounds Sterling, with us, and likewise in France concerning their Wines, Salt, Brandy, &c. what care is by them taken to make the best of them, that may be, and what vast quantities of French Wines, Brandy, Vinegar, &c, do come over into England in a year; to pay for which I doubt, there goes a great deal of ready money: and if so in other Countries, why should not the same care be taken in England, for the advancement of our Manufactures, endeavouring thereby to imploy our Poor, and so to inrich the Kingdome, especially considering the far greater advantages of so doing, that we have in England, than any other Nation hath, as hath been already at large set forth.
Quere 23.