THat our English Wool , and the Manufacture of it , for these many Ages past , hath not only been the Wealth and Publick Stock of our Kingdom , but the chief and principal Support and Maintenance of our Trade and Commerce with all our neighbouring Kingdoms and States , we need not here make it any part of this to prove ; the present decay thereof , both in the low price of our Wool at home , and in the sinking of our English Cloath-trade abroad , give us sufficient experience of this truth .

What Care and Industry hath been used by our Kings and Parliaments in former Ages , to preserve and encourage this Woollen Manufacture of our own growth , and to engross it wholly within the bounds of our own Nation , for the employing of our Poor , and for the furnishing us with such a Staple-Commodity which should enable us by the return thereof to bear up a Trade with other parts of the world for their Commodities which we wanted , without exhausting our Money , the several Acts and Statutes of Parliament made in the Reigns of King Edward the Third , Richard the Second , Edward the Sixth , Queen Elizabeth , and King James , may sufficiently inform us : And no question , had not the late unhappy and destructive War ( the onely Cause of this and all other Miseries the Nation at this day can complain of ) broken out upon us , there would doubtless have been the same ( if not greater ) care taken for the Preservation of this Trade , in all our later Parliaments ; and not have suffered it thus miserably to be abused both in the Making and Selling of our Cloath . The engrossing whereof into the hands of a few private persons ( called Factors ) set up in the late Rebellion at Blackwell-hall , adds much to the hindring and decaying of this our Trade , by the want of that Freedom our Clothiers in all former times ever had to Dispose and Sell their own Cloath themselves . The Complaints of those , with what may be the Causes of the low price of our Wool , the which is more largely discours'd in some few sheets , called A Treatise of Wool and Cattel , is humbly offered to the Judgment and Consideration of this present Parliament , the onely High Court before whom this Case can come for Redress .

There can be no greater or more prevailing Argument used to beg your Care of this great Business , than to minde you of the industry and diligence of your Predecessors in all former Parliaments ever since the Manufacture became our own , to preserve it to our selves ; and of what an unvaluable Concern they ever lookt upon it to be to the Interest and Trade of this Kingdom , that the endeavouring the Abuse of it in some Cases hath been made Felony .

But if to encourage your zeal herein , we should offer to your Consideration , how much your private , and every Members particular Concern is linkt even to this very Trade , and that the low price of our Wool ( as at this day ) makes your Rents come in so slow , and some perhaps not at all , and brings all the Lands and Estates of the Kingdom concern'd therein , to a far less Value now than they were at when this Trade had an encouragement , and was in Reputation in the world .

We cannot but hope we shall yet , by your great Wisdom and Prudence , live to see the same restored to its ancient Credit and Esteem again ; and to have your chief and principal Care for its Increase and Advancement , as well by removing all Causes of its decay on the one hand , and by promoting the general Use and Wearing of our own Cloath , and spending of our Wool among our selves , on the other ; as by improving those present opportunities we have at this day with our Neighbours ( more than possibly we may meet with at another time if this be omitted ) to advance this Woollen-trade , by procuring that part of the Manufacture thereof now abroad , to return to its natural Soil , where for these many Ages past it hath onely flourish'd , and hath been the great business and employment for our People , the Staple-Commodity of our Nation , and the chief and principal Support of our Trade .

The Reasons of the Low price of our Wool , and Decay of this Trade , will be humbly offered to that Committee your Wisdoms shall appoint to examine it .