A defence of Paul Bassano the suruiuing patentee for the importation of fresh salmons and lobsters, &c. by a new inuention, which hee most humbly submitteth to this honorable house of Parliament.

❧ A Defence of Paul Bassano the suruiuing Patentee , for the Importation of Fresh Salmons and Lobsters , &c. by a new Inuention , which hee most humbly submitteth to this Honorable house of Parliament .

That the Inuention is New . 1. IT is a new Inuention amongst the English heere , to bring Lobsters aliue in Ships by Sea from forraigne Seas , and streames ; although the Dutchmen who are Forrainers can doe the same . And howsoeuer he a little before the Patent did sell some Lobsters to the Fishmongers here , yet did not they know the secret of his Inuention how they were taken , how preserued & fed , and the Art how they were brought ; for euery Wel-Boate will not bring them , nor is there yet any Shipwright in England that knowes how to make a Well for that purpose without particuler instruction . Nor did euer the Fishmongers , or any other before the Patent , bring any Lobsters by this or any other Inuention aliue , by Sea from any forraine parts . So there is no question of the newnesse of the Inuention : but whether it be the only Inuention of the Patentees , or of the Stranger . And who ought in our Common-weale to bee preferred , they or wee . But the now opposers did neuer buy of the Stranger , nor bring any Lobsters by Sea , by this or any other Inuention , before the Patent .

The benefit therof to the Common-wealth . 2. That the Flemming was the first Inuentor of bringing Lobsters aliue by Sea wee deny not : but that hee was the Inuentor of those thinges for our good wee deny . And contrariwise affirme , that by the Authority of this Patent , wee haue turned this Inuention which they deuised for their good , to the good of our Common-wealth . For when the Patentees vpon their owne aduenture had imployed Ships to Sea , and from remote Coasts had brought Lobsters by English-men to London , by the secret of this new Inuention : 1. Then did they inuent how to preuent the extreame exaction wherewith the Dutch-men circumuented and brought the English into thraldome . 2. How also to preuent and suppresse the exaction , which those few Fishmongers ( who bought the Commodity of the Dutch ) did make vpon the Company of Fishmongers , and so consequently vpon the Subiect . 3. How to make the Dutchman a Seruant , who before was a Master , and to keepe him within the compasse of reasonable gaine , that our Nation might haue the better penyworth . 4. How to haue the commodity solde Cheaper , without any exaction vpon aduantage of scarcity . 5. How to bring them more certainly then they were before . 6. In more continued Plenty . 7. And better conditioned , and preserued in reputation good and Marchantable , which before was oftentimes bad and naught , euen to the loathing of the same , and the Subiect defrauded and cousened . 8. How the eater thereof becomes more content . 9. How to raise the little benefite that is gotten ( in respect of the good which ariseth ) out of the Strangers purse , not our Countrymens , and yet our Nation to reape a setled benefit hereby . 10. How to preserue ( at our charge ) our Bullion and Coyne in our Kingdome , which was , and otherwise would bee subiect to bee embazeled by the Dutchman ; Two or three thousand pounds in a yeare , being disbursed to them for this commodity . 11. How to encrease our Nauigation and Nauigators , and to weede out the Dutchmen by degrees , as by encouragement of gayne wee can strengthen our owne Nation , ( knowing the secret of this Inuention now as well as they ) or at the least to make the other our Seruant at a more reasonable price , then wee can possibly effect the same . 12. Wherein none are restrained that had a benefit before . 13. The retayler hath more gayne , and the buyer better content . 14. Former partiality is auoyded , and the commodity is distributed equally to the Company of Fishmongers , aswell poore as rich . 15. The Patentees haue beene at more charges , for the good of the Common-weale to bring these thinges to passe , then yet they haue receiued . 16. And the opposers are few ; but there is a generall assent that this Patent may stand .

So as in conclusion , all things are carried in an euen ballance , whereby all parties receiue encouragement in their labours ; and this Common-weale the benefit , since this Pattent was graunted , which by no other meanes can be effected . And this Pattent as it hath been gouerned , hath procured a commodity to this Common-weale and no discommodity ; but if any be , it is to the Stranger whose exaction is preuented , and not to vs . And yet though he doth not attaine to the height of his expectation , he rests contented , because he hath no better remedy , so long as this Pattent is in force , and dayly makes sute to be imployed .

And herein the Patentees doe not stand alone to iustifie themselues , but the Master and Company of Fishmongers vsing the Trade , doe generally affirme and know the same : onely some few contradicters , who ( wanting experience , or for other priuate respects ) doe oppose the same . Neither can the opposers denie it , were they particularly examined and deposed to the questions aboue-said . This Pattent also vpon former opposition hath beene generally approued by the whole Company of Fishmongers . And confirmed by the Lords of the Counsaile , with this testimony by them added , that it deserueth to be continued and countenanced by our State and Kingdome .

And whereas it hath beene obiected that we would by vertue of this Patent , seaze vpon the Lobsters of any other of our Country-men that should bring them from other parts , Our desire is so much for the good of the Common-weale , to encourage our owne Nation , as we are ready and willing to giue free way ( notwithstanding the Pattent ) to any of our Country-men that wil vndertake it and performe it accordingly , better then now it is . Onely we ( for that purpose ) will , as wee doe , by vertue of this Pattent keepe off the Stranger from exacting vpon our Nation .

And now we most humbly submit it to your Honourable consideration , who speakes most for the good of the Common-weale , either the opposers , or the affirmers . And whether , this Pattent not being mannaged , ( as some others haue bin ) to the preiudice of any but to defend vs from the exaction of the Stranger , and for the generall good of all : and these particulars being proued , your graue iudgements shall hold the same worthy your fauours , and to be continued and countenanced for the good of the Common-weale . For they desire not if it be not found good for the State and Kingdome , that it doe continue . Onely they humbly desire it would please this Honourable house to call before you , or some Committee for that purpose , the Master and Company of Fishmongers vsing this Trade , and ( if these reasons seeme of any importance ) to make tryall thereby of the truth of that which we haue affirmed .

So as the substance of the premises is this . 1. The exaction of the Dutch is preuented . 2. The exaction of the Fishmongers also vpon their Company . 3. The Dutch-man is made our Seruant . 4. The commodity is solde better cheape . 5. It comes more certaine . 6. In more continued plenty . 7. Better conditioned . 8. The eater is more content . 9. The benefit is made from the Stranger not our Nation . 10. Our Bullion is preserued . 11. Our Nauigation encreased . 12. None restrayned that had benefit before . 13. The retayler hath more gaine . 14. Former partiality is auoyded . 15. The Patentees haue beene at more charge then profit . 16. The opposers are but few , the assent is generall . 17. The whole Company of Fishmongers haue approued the Pattent vpon opposition . 18. It hath bin confirmed by the Lords of the Counsaile . 19. Free liberty is giuen to any of our Nation to bring Lobsters from other parts . 20. It stands with the pollicie of this State , by this Pattent , to preserue our Nation from the exaction of the Dutch , which otherwise cannot be done .

And all is humbly submitted to the pleasure of this house .

Of these in order .

The Proofes .

1. THe exaction of the Dutch preuented . For whereas before the Patent , by degrees they raised the Lobsters 35. shillings in a hundreth , we haue brought them back 20. shillings in abatement of the price ; and by degrees would haue brought them lower : for they would not stand to the casualty of the Market when they came , but be sure of their money before they went , howsoeuer the market fell out here .

2. The exaction of the Fishmongers vpon their Company auoyded . For whereas they who bought the Ships ladings of the Dutch in grosse , did retayle them at 7.8 . and 9. pound the hundreth ; they are now neuer solde aboue 6. pound : and if they bee small , they haue two or three hundred for one .

3. To make the Dutchman a Seruant . For now wee know the Inuention : if hee will not goe for reasonable gayne , wee can set others on worke , and none can draw him from vs by proffer of greater gayne .

4. The commodity better Cheape . For the Fishmongers buy them at 6. pound the hundreth , whereas before they haue beene solde for 9. pound : and this is caused also by the dayly comming of them , and the orderly vsage thereof , as the Fishmongers themselues will iustifie .

5. It comes more certaine . Because wee make the Dutch all become partners , though wee doe employ 20. Ships , for none may goe before or behinde another , but 19. of them shall helpe to lade and furnish away the 20 . th : So as by that meanes wee haue euery day a Ship ready to come away , if the winde serue from that place , Whereas otherwise if euery man should lade himselfe , they would be a Fortnight or three weekes before they could bee prouided of a fraight to defray their charges , And so sometimes they would come altogether vpon a cluster , and be spoyled before they could be vented , and some whiles none in a Fortnight or in a Month together , whereas now they are heere euery day during the Season , the winde seruing .

6. The plenty is greater . For wee haue that dayly by this order , which before wee had but once in a Fortnight or in a Month : and then 4. Ships might happen to come together , and sometimes but one , which confusednes caused a scarcity afterwards .

7. Better conditioned . Which must needs follow , because they now in two or three dayes lade a Ship , all helping together being partners , and they are brought away more speedily , which must needes come better , then when euery one lading for himselfe , is two or three Weekes lading his Boate , by which meanes some are spoyled and dead whilst the rest are taking .

8. The eater is more content . Which followes by the former reasons ; for the Goodnes , certainty , and cheapnes being approued , he is encouraged to eate them .

9. The benefit is raised from the Stranger not our Subiects . For wee haue brought him downe from his former exaction , to a lower price , from whence ariseth the profit that is made , and yet they are solde cheaper to the Fishmonger .

10. Our Coyne and Bullion is preserued in our Kingdome . For wee hyre one of their owne Nation heere to giue them Bils of exchange to receiue their money in their owne Countrey out of his estate there , and so they receiue nothing from vs but Paper .

11. Nauigation is increased . Because wee hauing learn'd the secret of this Inuention , haue imployed our owne Countrymen , and still doe , in Ships bought by our selues , wherein wee haue lost two Ships at Sea among the rockes in the Aduenture : and doe offer our Nation for their encouragement 10. shillings more in a hundreth , then the Strangers hath for Lobsters , and by degrees as we can increase our owne Nation , doe intend to weed out the Dutchmen . But all cannot be done vpon the sodaine : for if wee barre the Dutchmen before we haue increased our owne Countrymen to serue the turne , then would these opposers complaine much more that the Market is not serued ; and wee doe the rather a while forbeare , because of the vncertainty of the Patent : for if we should build 20. Ships our selues ( as wee imploy no lesse for this seruice ) it would bee a great preiudice and losse to haue them lye vpon our hands . But wee will vndertake , if wee may haue the fauour of our State to our Patent , to weede out the Dutch quite within three or foure yeares , and to plant our owne Nation wholly in the Trade , as wee haue begun already , if it shall so seeme good to this Hon: Assembly .

Neither is there any hope to encrease our Nauigation in this kinde , but by vertue of this Pattent . For otherwise were the Dutch-man at liberty , as he was before : hee would first weary our Nation in vnder-selling them , and when the Trade were come into his owne hands , exact vpon them infinitely by degrees at his pleasure as he did before , which he will effect by these meanes . First , he is more industrious , and liues more hardly then our men . And next . He can haue money in his Country at 4. or 5. pound in the hundreth : so as if he make but ten pound in the hundreth , he is a great gayner . Whereas with vs money is at ten pound , and we shall be loosers ( regarding our hazard of Ships and Goods ) if wee make not 15. pound in the hundreth . And thus will he vndermine vs , and then make his owne price as afore-said .

12. None are restrayned that had any benefit before . These fewe opposers neuer had any Trading as afore-said . But for those Fishmongers who bought Lobsters of the Dutch-men , The Patentees were so ready to auoyde any cause of grieuance , as they did graunt the one halfe of the benefit of the said Pattent to them , so as they rest well contented , though it abridge them of their former gaine , because of the good to the Common-weale , and that by experience they doe finde the confusion that was before : the good Order that is now , and what thraldome they should fall into hereafter , in respect of the enuie of some , if this Pattent were put downe , as also the Master and whole Company in generall will not denie .

13. The Retayler hath more gaine , because that which was wont to come monethly , comes now dayly , and because they are solde to him cheaper , and better as afore-said : so the eater being encouraged to buy , they sell the more , and neuer loose by them , being now good , which they often did when they were bad .

14. Former partiality is auoyded : for whereas before the Fishmonger who bought a Ship of Lobsters of the Dutch , If there were profit to be gotten thereby , would sell them to none but to his particular friends by hundreths , who traded with him for other Commodities , so as the poorer sort could sildome or neuer get any , but to their losse in a glutt . Now they are made out by lesser parcels , equally , and so distributed to poore as well as rich : They haue them without money , and pay not till they haue made their profit , and sometimes neuer pay .

The other points , are sufficiently explaned in the former discourse , and therefore to auoyde prolixity omitted here .

ONely this we are bold to adde , that the Patentees haue also in this Graunt a Priuiledge , for bringing Salmons fresh and vnsalted by a new Inuention ( wherein though they did not vndertake so much ) yet haue they by their Inuention brought Salmons aliue from Scotland to England in the hottest and most vnseasonable times of the yeare : and for a sample and testimony thereof , presented one aliue to the Lord Mayor of London that then was : which neuer any English man or other did before . Yet seeing our Pattent hath beene dayly opposed by some vaine-glorious , or enuious spirits of the Fishmongers , and threatned to be throwne downe ; we haue forborne to put the same in further practise , least wee should with the Bee , gather honey for Drones to sucke , till wee see how this Kingdome will cherish our good endeauours for the Common-weale , as the Lords of the Counsell haue done already . For it stands with the pollicie of all States and Kingdomes , to support and countenance new Inuentions with most fauourable constructions , when they tend and are imployed to the good of the weale publike , and to the hurt of none . As this Pattent is mannaged .

An answer to diuers fayned surmises and obiections made against this Pattent .

1. Obiect . THat it is not the Inue●tion of the Pa●entees : but some Fishmongers maintayned two Boates along the coasts of England , and the Dutch brought them by the same Inuention from the Holy Ilands two or three yeares before the Pattent .

Resp. That this is a new Inuention 〈◊〉 , for it was neuer knowne or practised by any Nation till two or three yeares before the Pattent . It is not denied that the Dutch did bring this Inuention first to light . But for two Boates pretended to be imployed by Fishmongers vpon the English coast two or three years before the Pattent ; It is not affirmed by the Pattent that the Patentees were the onely Inuentors , and if he that had such skil● , 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for a priuiledge , no doubt but he should haue been embraced , but he is dead and was a poore man ( no Fishmonger ) & learnt it of the Dutch. 〈◊〉 we are , these few opposers neuer knew nor practised any such Inuention before the Pattent , and that the Patentees knew not at that time any such man , nor learned any such skill of him . But the Patentees are the first that euer brought this Inuention to perfection , and setled the gouernment thereof for the good of this Kingdome . And for any English man who can i●stly pretend skill in this Inuention , or will imploy himselfe ; we will willingly giue way to him to Traffick to places formerly Traded to by the English , and will giue him more by a crowne , or an angell in the hundreth of Lobsters then the Stranger hath of vs for his encouragement . Though the opinion of Master Atturney Generall that last was , certified to the Lords of the Counsell ; is , That it is no Trade vnlesse it were of seauen yeares continuance before the pattent .

2. Obiect . That two Fishmongers were imprisoned by the now Lord Chancellour for opposing the pattentees , and driuen from their Trade .

Resp. These men were no Traders with the Dutch , or otherwise venturers for Lobsters before the pattent : but setting themselues against the pattent ; they bought some Lobsters of the Dutch , who came stragling from their fellowes , with a polliticke purpose to breake the good order which was begun for the good of the Common-weale , and thereby to bring all to confusion againe . A complaint being thereof made to the Lord Chancellour ; vpon due consideration of their bad in●ention , and examination of the matter , ( they being refractory and refusing obedience to the pattent ) his Lordship committed them , and vpon their submission released them againe . And the most worthy of them was afterwards so farre respected by the Patentees , as he was accepted to be a partner with them to his good content . And that this was iust , and a fault in the opposers , appeares in this , for that vpon like complaint made to the Counsell Table , by the same men and others , their Lordships ( notwithstanding ) confirmed the pattent against their opposition , seeing the same to be conuenient and good for the Common-weale .

3. Obiect . That the Dutchmen brought Lobsters in such plenty before the Patent , as they solde them for 3. pound and 40. shillings the hundreth .

Resp. This is most false , for the Dutchmen would neuer goe but he would be sure of his price before he came hither , which was 5. pound 15-shillings the hundreth : and if then when they were bad and naught , they were rarely solde at 3. pound , it was to the Fishmongers great losse , and discouragement to the eater for euer buying the commodity againe . But when they were good and scarcer , they were solde for 9. pound the hundreth to the Fishmonger , but much more to the Subiect , which was a great exaction : and now they are neuer solde aboue 6. pound , which is the lowest price they were solde for at any time before , ( vnlesse it were to great losse ) and they haue two or 3. hundreth for one if they bee small . So as one hundreth at 6. pound , in such manner deliuered good and sweet , is better then a hundreth that are starke naught at 5. pound , whereby the Subiect is but deceiued , and brought to a loathing of the commodity .

4. Obiect . There are many Lobsters now solde by the Fishmongers which are extreame bad and naught .

Resp. It is very true ; but these are such dead Lobsters as are brought by Marriners from Newcastle , ready sodden , which seldome or neuer come good . But those that come by this Inuention are deliuered sweet and Marchantable .

5. Obiect . The Lobsters are kept at Quinborough , to the great losse of the Flemming and spoyle of the commodity .

Resp. This is a most false suggestion . For there is no comparison of them that dye there and of those that dyed heare before the Patent : for if at any time they stay there , they are kept for preseruation in their owne element the Sea , and so fed . Whereas being taken out before they are ready to be spent , they are out of their element , and kept in Ware-houses ( which must needes be worse ) foure or 5. dayes together , where they pine away , dye , and corrupt infinitely to the detestation of the commodity : But from Quinborough they are brought aliue , and if any doe pine there , they are cast away at the Strangers charge ; the rather because there shall be no scandall vpon the commodity , nor offence thereby to the eye , stomack , or purse here . For we doe not suffer any that are bad to come hither . Nor is there any aduantage by vs made in this vpon the Subiect , for the price is neuer raysed : so as the opposers haue rather cause to giue vs thanks for our care , then thus to requite vs with false aspersions , if either they remembred what hath beene heretofore , or vnderstood what would follow . But nothing will serue their turne but a dissolution , though themselues who are most forward to oppose ( were the Pattent dissolued ) would soonest finde and feele the smart .