To the Right Hon: the Lords Spirituall and Temporall, of the Higher House of Parliament.
The humble Petition of the Drapers of the Towne of Shrewsbury.
WHereas there is a Bill passed in the Lower House of Parliament, for the free Trade and Traffique of Welch Cloathes in and through the Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales, by which the Inhabitants of Wales are enabled freely to sell by way of Barter or otherwise, all their welch Cloathes at their wils and pleasures, to any persons who may lawfully buy the same; And that any persons who by the Lawes of this Realme may lawfully buy any such Cloathes, may freely buy the same of any persons inhabiting within the said Dominion of Wales; Any Charter, Graunt, Act, Order, or any thing else heretofore made or hereafter to bee made to the contrary notwithstanding; And further giueth certaine liberty to any persons vsing the Trade of Marchandize, to transport the said Cloathes into the parts beyond the Seas, out of any Ports or Hauens of Wales, &c. vt in billa: which Bill if it shall also passe this Honorable House: these inconueniences would ensue.
1. To the Towne of Shrewsbury.
The Clothiers of Wales may sell their Cloathes by retayle or otherwise in Shrewsbury, contrary to an auncient Charter of Corporation graunted to the Drapers by Edward the 4.th, and confirmed by the Kings Maiesty that now is, and others his Ancestors: And so for this Commodity it doth take away their Priuiledge, and the Priuiledge of all other Corporations of England.
The Drapers are prohibited by the French Patent to transport the said Cloathes into France as formerly they vsed to doe; and so if this Act passe, will be depriued of their Trade both abroad and at home; Which home-Trade for Welch Cloathes, they haue founded, continued and maintained, euen time out of minde.
Many poore Sheermen and their Families, to the number of 800. persons, that liue there by Dressing the said Clothes, will be vndone or forced to seeke them new dwellings in the farthest parts of Wales, where dwellings are scarce.
The Towne in generall wanting its accustomed Trade, will bee impouerished and made vnfit to doe his Maiesty seruice, as heretofore it hath done.
2. To the Country of Wales.
The Marchants transporting thence onely at certaine times of the yeare, will ouerthrow the weekely Market at Oswestrey; Without the which the poore Clothier cannot liue, at which Market the Drapers of Shrewsbury, Oswestrey, and Whitchurch, did bestow 2000. pounds or thereabouts, euery weeke.
3. To the King.
By transporting out of those partes and selling in diuers Markets; the King will be defrauded of his Custome and Aulnage; or be at a greater charge in receiuing of it, then the profit will amount to.
4. To the Kingdome.
Forraigne partes will be furnished by forraigne Marchants, with the better sort of those Cloathes (which are very vsefull) and at a cheaper rate then our owne Kingdome.
Vnder colour of transporting Cottons out of those creekes, the Marchant will transport Rawe hydes, Wooll, Tallow, and other prohibited goods.
THe Lords of the Priuie Counsell aswell in the late Queenes time, as in his Maiesties time that now is, haue, vpon graue and mature deliberations and refferences, to diuers Honorable personages and graue Iudges, both of England and Wales (who heard the allegations on all partes) made seuerall Orders for the setling of this Trade; which by this Act will be ouerthrowne.
It may therefore please your Honour to haue consideration of these precedent Reasons, and to lend your Honorable Assistance for the rectifying of the said Bill; for the good of the said Towne and Common-weale.