The PRINCE ( as aforesaide ) is iustly offended , and the Merchant likewise hath laide downe his Griefes . These are the foure sorts of Officers that attend on Custome-causes : namely , CVSTOMERS , SERCHERS , COMPTROLLERS , & SVPERVISORS : amongst whom , if any complain , these last haue no Reason to looke to be pittied . For that , obtruding themselues into other mens work , and vndertaking a taske exceeding their skil ; as Men in a maze they striu'd to go forward , and in dooing lesse then Nothing , woulde theme to do all . Like ignorant austere Huishers that know no Rules to teach by but beating the Schollers .

But by way of Parenthesis . Let this be worth the noting . How generally iust as consequently true , these ancient Rules of Art , and Assertions of Reason continue and stand , namely , Quàm frustra sit per plures quod fieri debet per pauciores . And Institutio ab initio invtilis , ex post facto nunquam convalescit . For , as these Supervisors doubting at the first the skill and good abearing of those they sought to vse , and were to put in trust : and seeing the weake foundation of Comptrollers before them to be but Actum agere , and easily out-fac ; t : by their new Accesse , the Seruice grew so violent , so intricate , and withall so out of Order ; that the Serchers , who by office as they haue the best meanes to attend vpon Trafficke , so they should by Duty depend vppon the Customers , or concurre with them at least ; leaue them to wilde Company and vnquiet Custom-houses , and swaruing with the ballast inquire out the neerest way to their own priuate profite .

In which Distresse , the Customers in displeasure with the PRINCE ; in disgrace with the world , in the midst of a hungry , lawlesse , ignorant & wilful kind of Men , obtruded vpon them by ialousie and misconceite , that like defectiue Heteroclytes wrangle as it were with the very Rules of Grammer ; pittying the Merchant in regard of his Traffick ; silently bemoan themselues in this manner .

That the meanes to enable them to performe their Duties , aswell Maintenance as Countenance , are so with-held from them , that leauing the worlde and all preferments by it , to serue at the Altar , they are not thought woorthie to breath and liue thereby , Their Scruice being euery way like the Bricke-makers of Egypt , who wanting meanes to do their Taske , had ydle Taske-maysters , to ouer-see but what they wrought , whose Credites had no being , but in their Disgrace .

That the Law it selfe , so good and iust in generall , Ialousie and Suspition out of superstitious zeale to Customes and Trafficke , haue ignorantly in all ages so incensed PARLEMENTS against Customers , ( without distinguishing the Out ports from London ) that of Free-men borne , like Bondslaues , they are beaten to all workes , with theyr hands tide behinde them , and trusted with Nothing . is made hurtfull to the PRINCE in their publique Functions , and iniurious to themselues in their priuate Callings . For that whereunto they becom precisely sworn at their Admissions , namely , the aduancement of Customes and consequently Trafficke ; the Customers of all Men are forbidden by Statute , to wit , not to meddle or deale with Trafficke , and their Seruice being euery way no thankes to themselues , is a special Meanes of Mamtenance and Countenance to others . SIC VOS NON VOBIS fertis Aratra Boues , nideficatis Aues ,

That they notwithstanding , vnderly all Expences incident to Customs vnthankfully , which others neuer touch , and for only crying aime , reap thankes and Reward . For ( omitting extraordinaries ere they come to their Places ) their Bonds and Sureties for the Princes behoofe and subiection besides , is an vnknowne burthen that the rest little feele .

They also are to hire and finde out at each Port of their charge a conventent Custome-house ( which the Prince should prouide there as well as at London ) that , No Customhouses , no publick Wharses nor Storehouses builded by the Prince in the Out-portes , as there are at London . alone besides Seats , Tables , Shelues , and other necessarie thinges are hard to be compassed vnder 4 or 5. pound . So that for example , where fiue Ports are in charge , the Head-Customer stands chargeable yearly for fiue Custome Houses with 25. li.

At each of these Houses a discreet and able Person , and of honest education , the Customer is to finds for his owne indemnity , that stands bounde for all . Whereas Any fit the rest , The Farmers by ayming at these proportions , finde it by Experience to be most for theer profit . bee they neuer so vntoward . And vnto such , lesse then 100. markes per annum , ( to maintaine a Family , ) cannot well hee giuen : which fiue all put together , makes 400. pounds a yeare , the head Customer being but doubled according to proportion .

At these fiue Custome-houses what is yearely spent in publicke , for Incke , Parchment , paper , and wax , the Customer supplies , which may amount some yeares to 8. or 10. li.

Besides the hazard of turning vp to London , and putting in of moneyes ( before Traffick became farmed ) by Bils and otherwise , No Portage Money allowed Customers , in the Out-Ports , as all Collectors in Counties haue . beeing allowed no Portage Money , as all Collectors els but Customers are , which the Rest breake no sleepe for .

Theirs are also all Expences casuall , and needefull ( besides Trauayle for their paines ) about sending or riding from Port to Port , aswell by Letters or Directions from the Councell , L. Thresaurer , or Exchequer ; as by Processes and Writs , how generally soeuer directed vnto all .

Lastly , The Customers Charge & Expence in pasting Accompts . they put in their Bookes ( before the generall Farme ) twice a yeare duly to their double charge and paines , which the others did but once with little or none attendance , leauing stil the Customers so to abide , follow , and pay all Fees and duties , that the best halfe of their owne , if not two parts of three they leafte behinde them , before they came to see their Quietus est , beeing more encombred with the Entries and writings of the Others Bookes then of their owne , which they rather insulted on , then car'd for to mend : colouring their Doings still with the Princes onely Seruice , and vrging all Extremities , cride The Most for the King .

This being the Countenance and Seruice of Customers in the Out-Portes of this Kingdome , slightly runne ouer for breuities sake , together with their charge ; now see but their Maintenance , which alone and by it selfe but indifferently waighd , may helpe to excuse them , though the time for the present seeme hopelesse of releefe .

The Fees and Rewards ioyntly to Customers and Comptrollers ( the Searchers are allowed the moity of their Seisures ) before the generall Farme , The Fees and Rewards to Customers , &c. in the Out-Ports allowed by the Prince . amounted to the sum of 1240 , li. little vnder or ouer : whereof the Comptrollers had 340. & the remainder being 900. serud the Customers among them . This 900. diuided into three parts ( as abouesaide ) two beeing spent in attending , clearing , and passing of Accompts , the remainder 300. is the Customers onely , to maintaine both them and theyrs , and recompence their Bondage , beeing lesse then that Comptrollers haue with all freedome and ease . A Proportion odly euen , and hard to be beleeued without Experience , yet the same compared with the late ioynt Supervisors , made a farre stranger reckning . For where the Head Customers beeing in number some 19. diuided amongest them but 300 li. ( deductis deducendis as aboue said ) and that vpon Acompt to at the years end : These Supervisors in number being but 4. receiued by Debentur at euerie Quarters end , 425. li. which was 1700. li. a yeare for 16. yearee together , without accompt or reckning .

These 4. supposing Trafficke to be some Essex cheese , as it seem'd by they Endeuours , surueighd Her in the Out-Ports by wilde Rats and Mice , and spirits of the Aire , and whipt Her vp to London where now She liues confind : and left the Customers like Beares tyde to stakes , sit now for nothing but baiting & beating , with the onely choise and freedome to statue or liue by shifts . So that the Customers still setuing at the Altar , and yet held vnworthy to breath and liue thereby , their fare growing slender , and their drinke but small and scant , by Cockets , Entries , and ordinary Fees , ( as all publicke Offices and officers haue ) out of meete necessity and want of Employments , they dippe but their dishes in their Neighbours Cisternes ( with good leaue & liking ) to quench their thirst , and at noone tide in their Gardens crop a few of their Lockes ( with their owne free consents ) to keepe them from staruing : and this now addes Oyle to the fire of their Furnace , their breaths are accused to infect with their sent and poison the aire , though the rest eate Onions and feed on Garlicke . So that howsoeuer in others it stand with right and reason ; That , Volentibus non siunt iniurie , and , Quod Necessitas cogit , The onely motiue of this Abstract . necessitas defend●t , yet in Customers of all men it becomes a great and a horrible Sin , Burglary at least , complaind of now in PARLEMENTS , and that by Merchants , and those of London too

As if Customers ( forsooth ) by Companies and Societies , did bandy themselues , and liu'd by Decrees of their owne contriuings , neither fit nor to bee squared with GODS Lawes , KINGS Lawes , nor TREATISE of Entercourse , had broken into STAPLES , prophan'd our Soueraignes MINTS , transported all his Load-stones ( ordaind to draw in BVLLION ) turn'd Money into a Merchandize , vndermin'd the State with Vsurie , and at Mid-night robd a CHVRCH , to keepe GOD from his Duties , and KINGS from their Rights as London Marchants do .

¶ Namely , The Golden Fleece the Order of Honor of the Dukes of Burgundie , by English Wools in Flanders . as if They and none but they ( I meane Customers of the Out-Ports , and none but Customers , let others cleare themselues and London to ) engrossing all the Wools and Woolfels of the Kingdome ( the wonders of the world , and sometimes Englands glory ) and stapling them beyond seas , had made them forraigne Trophees and Ensignes of our shame , without Exchange of BVLLION , like Merchants of the olde Haunce , The Society or Company of Merchants of the Staple . cald Marchants of the STAPLE .

¶ Or , As if they and none but they , being put in trust with the Creame as it were , and Credite of the Kingdome ( Cloth ) by stapling it beyond Seas at priuate Mart-Townes , had brought our Clothyers to distresse , our Clothes to be despised and our Clothing vnto nothing , at least nothing lesse then Bullion , The Society or Company of Marchant - Aduenturers . and turn'd our Customes into Vsury by Hysteron proteron and Billes of Interest which Marchants terme Exchange , as the Marchant ADVENTVRERS were larely wont to do .

¶ Or , As if they ( the Customers ) and none but they , seeing Trafficke cloath'd in Whites , feed thousands beyond seas , and starue more then Millions , for want of worke at home , had vndertaken to draw her starke naked , from the Lime-kill to the Cole-pit , and by a new Deceptiovisus , The newe Society or Company of March-Aduenturers . turne Cat but in the Pan , and dye her into Motleyes , and neuer thinke of Bullion . As the New March-ADVENTVRERS do beare in hand to do .

¶ Or , Lastly and Instar Omnium , As if they , and none but they , the Out-Port Customers , seeing Trafficke heartlesse , pulselesse , and almost out of breath , like a horse already tired in a weary wilde goase chase , offered to Ranke-riders to be ridden againe in post , without Diet , Drinke or Dressing , The Society or Company of East-India Marchants . had vndertaken in the Indies to barter her for Drugs or pouldre her with Pepper , or with her owne Blood turne her wholly into Mummey , without regard of Bullion . As the India Marchants do .

Whereby , as in the Empire it fares with Emperors , by Popes and Popery , so with Christian Kings and Kingdomes , by Conclaues and Societies . For , As Honor and Reuerence ( the Father and Mother of MALESTY ) were brought to offer Sacrifice to REMPHAM and to RIMMON , and MAIESTIES selfe in Emperors compeld to do Homage to their owne Popes and Vassals , by Extremity and Vsury ; SOVERA'IGNTY being stript of all her best Subsistence and supplements of Bullion , Money became a Marchandise ( ordaind for publique Vtility ( what ere became of Honesty ) was turn'd to priuate gaine : So MAIESTY in KINGS becomes to bee ecclipsed in their Kingdomes and Coines ; their SOVERAIGNTIES supplanted , and Bounties vndermin'd , ( without which in SOVERAIGNES no Subiects can be happy ) at least wise in Great-Britaine where BOVNTY now commands , and all for want of Bullion . For , as our Staples being transplanted , are still with-held beyond Seas by secular Popes and Popery ; Our Out-ports at home beeing like wise brought vnder by Conclaues and Societies ; Our Subsidies confounded of Tonnage and Poundage , aswel as our Customes by obstinate Precisenes , and out Trafficke as bewitcht by Auarice and Ambition , confin'd within the Circle of the famous Port of London ( for Greatnesse and wealth , ) and there set to sale au plus offrant , made apt to bee coniured : so Our Standarts by Degrees falling out to bee vncertaine , both in Number , Waights and Measure , and our Monies made a Marchandise engrost in few mens hands : all things waxt deere , our KINGS became weake for want of Gold and Siluer , their Subiectes poore for want of current Moneyes or Employments at least , whilst Coin it selfe by Vsury , which Marchants tearme Exchange , eates out industry in Trades ; and Marchants by Monopolyes conspire to strangle Trafficke within themselues in London , & London by her Marchants made the Box of Pandora to send forth all the euils that now perplex the Land . And all for lacke of Bullion , which Merchants by their Contracts and Societies peruert , or else withstand by all the means they can .

Yet , these are the Persons that defiling the waters which run down the Thames and slide along our Coasts , choake all our Ports with Oase , beray our cleannest Riuers , put TRAFFICK to her shiftes , and by daily aspersions since fault with the Out ports , and accuse the Customers , to excuse themselues ; as if none but they were sinners , or that London were a Sanctuary , and none but they were Saints .

For , These are the Men and the Marchants to , that Trade-lesse themselues , and of no Occupations , by Companies and Societies residing still in London , engrosse all our Trades , and liue by buying and selling : and so by buying as to sell for priuate gaine , that making Money a Marchandise , they raise all their profits still from others Trades and paines , crying Lueri bonus oder est ex quolibet qualibet , and preferring euer Vtile before Honestum Qua , nul a permties maior vitae hominum potest afferri .

Yea , These are the persons , that to hold all men vnder , and themselues still aboue , deale wholy out of sight , and with publicke weapons maintaining contentions for priuat wrongs , breed nothing but complaints with vnkind iarres at home , and Enuy abroad , to the endlesse care and cumber of KINGS and COVNCELL-TABLES , and PARLEMENTS too . And all for lacke of Staples .

For , Enter-lopers in England , are as Hugenots in France . These are the Marchants and speculatiue kinde of Men , that seuering themselues from the Body of our Commerce , call all men Enter-lopers that are not of their Conclaues or priuate Common wealths , and liue by their Decrees , thought euery way as Catholicke and as Free-borne an they , and perhaps better Christians , though not so Iesuited . And wandering out of sight , bewitch all they meete with , and were it but possible , woulde seduce the wise , perswading all and euery where , that TRAFFICKE of her selfe is a parillous biting Beast , and that to bring her home againe vnto her owne Creekes and Ports , were to worry our sheepe in Cotsal Groundes , and sinke our ships on Cheuiot Hils that saile on Barham Downes And by a bare pretence of Order still , and orderly transporting the Load-stones of the Lande ( without regard of BVLLION ) as with a wodden Dagger , stab all they finde or heare of , that write or speake of Staples , for seare of our Nauy , and decay of our shipping .