THE Wisdom of all Ages hath accounted it one of the greatest acts of Prudence to cherish and incourage all such persons and things as have mostly tended to the preservation of the general Body of Men in an united, peaceable, and prosperous Estate; And as the natural Body is most at ease, and in the most calm and serene Estate, when discharged of those ill humours which do surcharge and weaken nature: So also doth the Body Politick best flourish and thrive when discharged of Incroachments and Inroads made on the Native Liberties and Priviledges, by the Law of Nature due unto them. Hence is it that Princes in former Ages, have always taken care to make a distinction between natural born Subjects and Aliens of other Kingdoms, and have never incouraged, nor indeed tolerated them in any thing further than that which might directly, or collaterally be judged and esteemed for the interest of their Natives. Neither were Aliens in any Age for any proposed advantages favoured and eased in any thing; but Experience immediately discovered many greater Mischiefs to attend. Some of which are enu­merated in an Act made for redressing those Grievances, An. 1. Henrici Septimi cap. 2. and are hereafter mentioned.

First, and principally, The advancing Aliens in Riches and Honour, and impoverishing the Native Subjects.

Secondly, The exhausting the Treasure of the Nation, and remitting the same into Foreign Nations.

Thirdly, The great hurt in impairing and lessening the King and Queens Customs, the publick Revenue of the Nation.

Fourthly, That Merchants Aliens colour the Goods and Merchandizes of other Strangers (not Naturalized or made Denizons) and Export great and considerable substance in their Names.

Herewith agree the Statutes of 11 H. 7. cap. 14. and 22 H. 8. cap. 8. pursuant to the design of which Laws, few or no Aliens were Naturalized during the Reigns of King Edward VI. Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and King James. And how greatly the Trade and Wealth of the Nation were thereby increa­sed during the prosperous Reigns of the two latter of the said Princes, none that are conversant in History can be ignorant of. And then it was rare to hear of a Merchant that failed: So that the Clothing Trade was in great request abroad: And the Clothiers and Country Farmers did much im­prove their Estates, by the punctual Payments that were made for those Commodities, and the good price the same then bore.

Besides which Mischiefs, experience hath discovered further inconveniencies, in admitting Aliens and Strangers to have and enjoy a free Trade up­on equal Terms with their Majesties Native Subjects. As

That the Trade, by Commission would be by Aliens taken out of the hands of their Majesties Subjects, both at home and abroad, and the English Merchants would be undersold in the prices of their Commodities by Aliens, who can live more hardly, and at less Charges, in Lodgings, &c. than the King and Queens Subjects, to the discouragement of the Gentry, in training up their younger Sons in Trade, which was formerly esteemed and proved a good Provision for them, and many arrived thereby to great Estates and preferment formerly, which few now do.

By the second rule in the Book of Rates, annexed to the Act of Tonnage and Poundage, Goods Imported, and again Exported by English in twelve Months, and Aliens in nine Months, draw back from their Majesties half the Customs paid by them on the Importation, and in some Cases more than half. And how much more of their Majesties Treasure will be exhausted, by admitting Aliens to the same advantages of Trade with the English, by Naturalization in this very Case, may easily be computed; They being allowed three Months longer time to Export their Goods, and draw back half Custom, than if they were not Naturalized they are allowed by the said Act and Rule.

By the Act of Tonnage and Poundage, Merchants English sustaining loss in their Goods Exported, by Enemies, Pirates, or perishing in the Sea, [...] back the whole Custom from his Majesty, which prejudice their Majesties will sustain from Aliens Naturalized.

By the Act of Navigation for the increase of Mariners and Shipping, It's provided, that sundry Commodities, such as Masts, Timber Boards, Foreign [...] Pitch, Tarr, &c. imported in any other Ship or Vessel than what is English built, or truly, and without fraud, belonging to the people of Eng­land, and which is otherwise Navigated and Manned than the said Act directs (viz.) the Master, and three fourths of the Mariners, not being English, shall be deemed Aliens Goods, and pay Customs, and City, Town, and Port-Duties, as the Goods of Aliens. Now if Aliens be Naturalized, the true intent of this Act is frustrated, the Mariners discouraged, and driven into Foreign Parts for a Livelyhood, and the building of Shipping (the strength of the Nation) made of little or no advantage.

The increasing the Importation of Commodities, and thereby their Majesties Customs, the only advantage proposed by the Naturalizing Aliens, will in half a years time, at furthest, be frustrated; Inasmuch as this Nation cannot consume all the Commodities Imported, which will occasion the price to fall, and so the importation by consequence to cease: for it's evident, that no Commodity bears a price, and turns to accompt, but the supplies are so considerable in three Months, that the same becomes a Drug.

[...]sides all which it's evident, That Naturalization of Aliens hath been a great cause of our Divisions in Religion. And Errors both in Doctrine and Discipline have thereby privily crept into the Church. And principally the Papists have by this project greatly strengthened their hands, and thereby gained opportunities of spreading their Erroneous Doctrine boldly and barefaced.

And moreover it's not to be forgotten, That even in Holland, where for reasons inconsistent with the nature and constitution of this Kingdom, they have admitted Foreigners to a Free Trade with them; Yet even there a very considerable difference is made between Aliens and Natives: for Aliens pay there, upon Importation or Exportation of their Commodities, considerable Duties and Tolls to the City, Town and Port, where they un­la [...]e their Goods, which are not paid by Natives.

The summe of all is, That it should seem great Prudence for all English Subjects, for the benefit of themselves and their Posterity, to use all discreet and lawful means to prevent the future Naturalization of Aliens; Or if any hereafter shall for weighty Reasons be Naturalized, that it may be under this Proviso, That they pay a greater Custom to their Majesties for the Goods and Merchandizes they shall Import or Export, than their Majesties Subjects pay. And all City, Town, and Port Tolls and Duties payable there­fore by Aliens: And hereby will the Protestant Religion be more likely kept pure and undefiled; The Customs (being the pub­lick Revenue of the Nation) increased; The Honour and Interest of the English and Native Merchants be preserved and main­tained; The younger Sons of the English Gentry preferred; and generally the good of all their Majesties Subjects be advanced.