FRANCIS MONK, and others, having made ſeveral Attempts to obtein a Commiſſion, to Empower them to put in Execution the Laws for Prohibiting the Exportation of WOOL &c. Petitioned the Late King of Bleſſed Memory to that end, the Conſideration whereof was referred to the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Trade, who made their Report thereupon, which, together with the ſaid Petition by Order of Council, was referred to the Right Honourable the Lords of the Treaſury; and their Lordſhips, for their better Information, referred the Matter, with the ſaid Monk's Propoſal and Papers, to the Attorney General, to the Commiſſioners of the Cuſtoms, and the Hamburgh Company; who having ſeverally made their Reſpective Reports, the ſaid Propoſers not being recommended thereby, as Perſons fitting for ſo great an undertaking, their Project took no effect.

And in regard, ſome of the ſaid Propoſers, in former Seſſions of Parliament, had endeavoured to ſet on foot new Bills, to alter and abate the Penalties of the Laws, already made, to Prohibit the ſaid Exportation; it was doubted, whether they were Perſons qualified for a hearty carrying on the pretended Prohibition.

Therefore, in July 1684, Benjamin Craker, Charles Craker, and Joſeph Reeve, Staplers, William Brewer, John Wood, John Walkley, Richard Scott, Thomas Smale, Thomas Crundal and ſeveral others, Clothiers and Factors, hearing of the Attempt of the ſaid Monk and his Partners, Petitioned the Lords of the Treaſury, ſetting forth, that the ſaid Propoſal (if honeſtly intended) being of great Moment, and univerſal Concern to the Kingdome, was not fitting to be truſted in the hands of ſuch (or any) private Perſons; and therefore pray'd their Lordſhips to recommend the ſame to the Hamborough, Eaſt-India, Turkey, African, Ruſſia, and Eaſtland Companies, and other general Woollen Traders, of whoſe Prudence and Integrity there could be no ſuſpition, to conſider the ſaid Propoſals, and to report to their Lordſhips ſuch Rules and Methods, as they thought ſit, for the Effectual putting the ſaid Lawes in Execution.

In anſwer to which Petition, the Right Honourable the Lords of the Treaſury, by their Letters to the ſaid ſeveral Companies, of the 25 of July 1684; taking notice that the effectual Prohibition of the Exportation of WOOLL would be of great advantage, not only to his Majeſty, but all his Trading Subjects, Tranſmitting alſo a Copy of the ſaid Propoſal and Papers, deſired the ſaid Companies, or ſome Members by them Deputed, to meet together, to conſider the ſaid Papers, and report ſuch rules and methods, for putting the ſaid Prohibition in execution, as they ſhould conceive moſt effectual for that end; and to inform their Lordſhips, whether they were willing to take the care of ſeeing the Lawes put in Execution, for Prohibiting the ſaid Exportation.

Hereupon, ſeveral Members were Deputed by each of the ſaid Companies of Merchants to meet; who at a Conference together agreed, that the ſaid Prohibition could not be effected, without raiſing a Fund to defray the expence thereof, and that it was not fit to put the KING to the charge of it; but rather that all the Woollen Artificers and Traders ſhould contribute thereunto, that ſo thoſe Perſons, who feel the ſaid Greivance, ſhould be inſtrumental and aſſiſting in the Redreſſing thereof.

The Factors of Blackwel-Hall did alſo chuſe one or two Perſons out of each Hall, to attend the Committee of the ſaid Companies of Merchants; who having declared their readineſs to Contribute to ſo good a Work, ſeveral of them entered into a Subſcription to pay voluntarily ſeveral Rates upon all ſorts of Woollen Manufactures conſigned to them (viz.) for every Cloth 2d. for every Searge 1d. and ſo proportionably for all other ſorts of the Engliſh Woollen Manufacture, which Subſcription was cheerfully Signed by ſeveral of the moſt eminent Factors.

Now becauſe, at ſeveral Seſſions of Parliament, there have not been wanting ſome Perſons, who have attempted to overthrow the wholeſome Lawes, already made for prohibiting the ſaid Exportation. And therefore it is likely, the ſame Deſigns will again be ſet on foot, either by the ſame or ſuch like Perſons.

And the Seſſion of Parliament being near approaching, for the prevention thereof it is propoſed, that all maner of Woollen Manufacturers in the ſeveral Counties of England, would join in the ſaid Subſcription for the carrying on ſo good a Work, by ſo light and eaſie Contribution as aforeſaid, only for an Experiment of three Years, that ſo the Progreſs already made therein may not be obſtructed; the Merchants being likewiſe willing to Contribute thereunto conſiderably. And for the ſatisfaction of all Perſons aſſiſting in ſo great a Work, that there may be no juſt Objection againſt it: It is Propoſed, that the Clothiers and Factors ſhall have Liberty to appoint Members out of themſelves to join with the Merchants, deputed to conſider of the Method, and diſpoſe of the Moneys collected, that it may be impoſſible the Contribution ſhould be abuſed or imployed to other Purpoſes; it being not likely to imagine, that, where there is ſuch a joint united Aſſiſtance of all manner of Perſons concerned in the Wollen-Trade, ſo many incorporated Companies of Merchants and others concerned, the Clothiers and Factors by their Deputies being preſent and privy at all Conſultations, there ſhould be any Miſcarriage.

And the ſaid Prohibition can never be Managed with that Candor and Vprightneſs, by private and particular Perſons. Who, as they declare undertake it, to get Money by it; Whereas theſe Companies do propoſe to ſpend both their Time and Mony without any manner of Deſign of private Benefit to themſelves, but with a conſtant Annual Charge, freely Contributed for the Publick Good.

Now for as much, as, in former Seſſions of Parliament, the whole matter of the ſaid miſchiefs of Exportation hath been throughly conſidered, and Concluded, that the Acts in force againſt the ſaid Exportation, wanted only Explanation and Execution; to the end that a ſhort Bill to that purpoſe may paſs, this next Seſſion, its deſired that the Woollen Manufacturers, in the ſeveral Counties, will engage their reſpective Members to promote the ſame.