FOR Prevention of Wools going to France from Ireland; The Port of Exon was shut up, lest Vessels coming about Lands End with Wool for Exon, might thereby have an opportunity to go for France.

Since which time, viz, in the 10 and 11th of King Willam, by an Act, Intituled, An Act, To prevent the Exportation of Wooll, out of the Kingdom of Ireland and England, into Foreign Parts, and for the Incouraging the Wollen Manufacture in Eng­ amongst other things it is Enacted,

That the Merchant who intends to Import any Wooll from Ireland, must give in the Quantity, Marks, Numbers, Package, with the Name of the Vessel, and Mastre, and must take a Licence, and enter into Bond with suffi­cient Sureties in treble the Value, to bring it to such a particular Port in England.

That no Vessel shall take any Wooll on Board in Ireland, until Bond be given by two Inhabitants of the place, Who are known to the Officer to be Sufficient Responsible Men, in double the value of the Wooll, to Land it in England.

That a Register be kept in the Custom-House of London, to whom Certificates are to be returned of all Wool Exported, from Ireland, and Imported in England, with the Marks, Numbers, Quantities, Qualities, Duplicates of the Bonds, Certificates, Names of the Persons, Signing all Cockets, and Returns, which shall be Writ on Paper, and not on Parchment, with the Names of the Vessels, Persons Exporting and Importing.

Vnder Divers other Limitations, and Restrictions required in the said Act, besides the Officers Forfeiting their places, and 500 l. for Omitting their Duty or for neglecting, or Coniving at any thing contrary to this Act.

All which, with other things which the said Act requires, being consider'd it is very unlikely that a Man in his Wits, who hath entred in the Custom-House, should attempt to go for France, by coming about Lands End.

• 2. By means of shutting up the Port of Exon, there is seldom a Vessel coming a­bout the Lands End, so that the way is clear to all Owlers, and if they get off Shore, there is none to discover them. A Thief would think he had a great Priviledge, if the Watch were removed, and none to go in the Streets.
• 3. Vessels may come from Chester, Wales, or any Port of Scotland, or England, about the Lands End, for Exon, on a single Bond, and why not from Ireland, under all the aforesaid Restrictions.
• 4. Vessels may come from London to Exon, where they must Sail within 7 Leagues. of Callis, why may they not then come from Ireland, where they need not Sail within 40 Leagues of any Foreign Port.

The Dammage of the City of Exon, by means of shutting up their Port.

• 1. by Computation of the Serge-makers, they Work up Two Hundred Bags of Wool in the City and Subburbs Weekly, and in Crediton, Ashburton, Tottness, Newton and other Places Adjacent, they convert the Value of Two Hundred Packs more into Serges, which Four Hundred Packs Cost the Carriage, being near Forty Miles, Five Shillings the Pack, which is One Hundred Pound per Week, and is Per annum Five Thousand Pounds.
• 2. Wool is a Commodity known to draw Water Insensibly, on Ship-Board, be the Vessel never so tight, and therefore it is the custom in Exon, to take the Packs at the weight they weigh'd at the Weigh-house in Ireland, without breaking the Packs, but now they must carry it Forty Miles, the Packs are broaken, and they cannot take them by Invoyces, and many hundred Makers, not being able to Buy a Months Wool and pay for it before hand, are necessitated to have it in Exon, and either to pay for all the Water it gained on Ship-board, and all the Dirt and Rain it gathered in Forty Miles Carraiage; or otherwise must run all hazards. For if the Carrier take a Stone out of a Pack, the Rain (if it be wet weather) or the dashing of the Horses, carrying all on Horse-back, will makeup the weight so that no Man can possibly know how much Wool, and how much Water he hath for his Money; and not one Man living that drives such a Trade, can tell what he doth; it cannot be com­puted that they pay so little, as for 12 Pound of Water upon a Pack, which at 8 d. the Pound, is 8 s. a Pack, and on 400 Packs a Week, is 200 Pound, and is 10000 l. per annum. It is found by Experience, that Wool hath Increased a Tenth part, and not to be discerned by handling.

All which Premises being Humbly Referred to the Wisdom of this Honourable House, it is Prayed and Hoped, that a Clause may be brought in for Wool to be Imported at the Key of EXON, under what ever Restrictions, and Limitations, shall be further Required.