HAving seen a Proclamation wherein your Majesty complains of the Injuries you receive in your Customs , I could not withhold , but , as in duty bound , humbly present you with a few of those malignant roots from whence they spring , whereby Navigation and Trade are also much decayed , their lustre being much concerned in the well management of your Customs : for those wholesom Laws provided for the encrease of Navigation , and advance of Trade , are intrusted in the same hands your Customs are ; so that he that shall be Ignorant , negligent , or corrupt in the one , cannot be understanding , faithful , and diligent in the other : Therefore it being of so great concernment not only to your Majesties Receipt , but to the publique good , I humbly crave your Consideration in the premises following , wherein it will appear that the most readiest ways that can be invented for the ruine of your Customs is now practised .

First , All Officers are left at liberty , without Bonds , Security , or Oath , given for the faithful Discharge of that Trust imposed on them , which doth greatly encourage them to act their will and pleasures towards your Revenues ruine , for their own benefit .

Secondly , As if this were not sufficient to lead them to betray that Trust imposed on them , they are inforc'd by meer necessity to fraudulent practices , their Salleries being reduced so low , they cannot live upon it ; so that it is become a Proverb between the Merchant and Officer , Live , and let live : Which is , the Merchant and Officer to share your Majesties Revenue , so far as they make it not publique to every eye .

Thirdly , To inforce them to make the quicker and greater spoil of your Majesties Receipt , their Places are made so uncertain in the enjoyment of them , that let them be never so able and faithful , a slanderous Accusation , laid by such as are either great , or in favor , outs them without audience , which inforces them to provide for the future , and , as the Proverb is , To make Hay while the Sun shines .

Fourthly , The number of supernumerary Officers being great , and necessitated , will be supplied by your Revenues ruine , which makes the spoil the greater .

Fifthly , Their bestowing Places by favor , without regard had to the persons , parts , and abilities fitting the place or no ; by their carelesness herein great prejudice to your Receipt doth ensue : For by the ignorance of one Officer there may be as much loss , as by the knavery of another ; your Customs varying as the quality of Goods doth , and one commodity having various denominations , the one sort shall pay three or four times the duty of the other , and through the ignorance of an Officer , the best shall pass under the worst denomination .

Sixthly , The cutting Masters of Ships off in their Portage draweth an inconveniency upon your Tidesman : for formerly , upon the allowance all Masters had for Portage , the Tidesman , who hath the whole charge of your Receipt aboard , and cannot stir without prejudice to it , could aboard have commanded things necessary and convenient , as his Diet , or the like ; but now is inforc'd to comply with the Master , to do him some favor for what he receives .

The onely Persons that are by these practices discouraged , and necessitated , are those in whom the sole Trust of the Income of your Revenue lieth ; who are the two main props and pillars that keep up your Revenue , if faithful ; if corrupt , lets it fall to the ground ; which persons are onely two , your Land-Waiter , and Tidesman : For from the first Entrance of any Ship or Vessel into any Port , until delivered , your whole Revenue , night and day , lieth under the Tidesmans charge ; and what he doth faithfully preserve and keep , is to be delivered by your Land-Waiter , according to the true quantity and quality for which the Custom is payd : If the Coast , which is most shamefully sleighted , were secured to conveigh your Receipt into the Ports , and your Tidesman and Land-Waiter but faithful and diligent , your Customs would have a vast improvement : but if necessity and opportunity will make a Thief , it is impossible your Officers can be honest , by what they are now , through discouragements and necessity , put upon .

NOw that your Majesty may have able , faithful , diligent Officers , which are the support of your Revenue ; and that they may be so preserved and kept , these following Proposals I tender .

Let a Pardon first be past for all Offences hitherto committed ; and the reason is , I be●ieve very few Officers , either in London , or the Out-Ports , but have , as I may say , sold themselves to the Merchants : And if any Action hitherto they have done , the knowledge whereof will make them uncapable of their employment , without a Pardon they must be slaves for the future , not daring to be any other , for fear their former frauds and bribes be discovered ; therefore first set them free , and I doubt not but these following preserves them honest .

First , Let no Officer be emp●oyed in the Customs , but what are bound in good Sums , with good Sureties , for the faithful Discharge of their Duty ; and he that shall betray the trust on him imposed , to the prejudice of your Majesties Receipt , to forfeit his Bond , and lose his Place , never to be employed more ; for the taking them in again , after once convicted , dot● but imbolden others to commit the like crimes .

Second●y , Let your Officers be allowed a sufficient Sallery , if it be something extraordinary , more than a competency , your Majesty cannot better improve what you give , except the Merchant were so honest he would freely pay his Customs : But otherwise , if that it be advanced by your Officers faithfulness and care , or spoiled by his negligence and corruption ; to enco●rage them to the one , and prevent them in the other , is to allow them a sufficient Sallery .

Thirdly , Let them have an assurance of the certain continuance of their Places , so long as faithful ; for the parting with understanding men , and taking in the ignorant , doth but strengthen your Adversaries , and weaken your Receipt : for none knows how better to deceive your Majesty , and help the Merchant , than those that have served you .

Fourth●y , Let the number of Officers be lessened , who being necessitated , and not able to live , must make the greater spoil : therefore let them be reduced to as many as are needful ; and the extraordinary charge your Majesty is put to with supernumeraries will very much supply the extraordinary charge of those Officers necessary .

Fifthly , That your Majesty may for the future have able Officers , let none be taken into your Customs ( I mean , below-stairs ) above a Tidesman ; and in case a Surveyors place be made voyd by death , or otherwise , let the eldest Land-Waiter enjoy it ; if a Land-Waiters place , the eldest Tidesman : this future hopes of bettering their condition will be a strong tye to keep them faithful ; besides , by this means your Officers will be fitted with parts and abilities , not onely for the place they enjoy , but also to judge and instruct those beneath them ; and it will the more deter them beneath from fraudulent practices , having them above them that have past through their places , and understand their ways and opportunities .

Sixthly , Let Masters of Ships have their former allowance for Portage , and the Mariners something , as your Majesty shall think fit , according to the proportion of the Receipt of their Cargo ; then shall your Tidesman have no engagement lie upon him for those things necessary he receives , and the rugged Sailer will be more respective , and timerous in acting for the Merchant to your prejudice , for fear of losing what is his own .

These things considered ; First , A competent Livelihood ; Secondly , An assurance of the certain continuance thereof ; Thirdly , The future hopes of a better condition will undoubtedly make that man faithful , that hath either any spark of honesty , or common reason in him : But if there should be any so foolish , as not to value these , which I think there is none but will ; yet the forfeiture of his Bond , and the certain loss of his employment for ever , will undoubtedly deter him from the breach of that Trust imposed on him .

Let but these Remedies be forthwith applied , and you will finde in this Vintage what a vast improvement of your Customs will be made hereby , and what a vast spoil hath been made in your Revenue ; to make which appear , this I propound , That there are many Ships gone for Burdeaux , and other places , for Wines this year , which came loaden home the last year ; at their return let a strict care be taken at the delivery of them , and by comparing last years Entries with this , it will be found , how shamefully short they made out their Tunnage , besides the great quantities of Wine entred for Vinegar ; Vinegar paying but 5. s. per Tun , and Wine 6. l. per Tun : To make this appear , if your Majesty think fit , I shall use my weak endeavors , and give satisfaction herein : If then it shall appear , that a vast loss hath been in Goods of such bulk and danger in removing , what must there be in fine Goods , and others , that are to be conveyed away with more ease and safety .

I know not whether I am the first in this Work , or no , but I judge I may , the number being so few that understand it ; and of those that do , few but are benefited by the spoil of it , besides the discouragements they shall meet with that undertake it , their adversaries being so many and great ; so that , if not supported by your Grace , it will soon be smothered , and the Author , or any other , for the future discouraged . There are several other things practised , which are very destructive to your Receipt , which at present , for fear I should be too prolix , I omit . Therefore I shall add no further at present : But if these few lines , clad in a Russet stile , may finde acceptance with your Majesty , he shall further enlarge himself , that is