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Sept. 2. |
56. Note of remembrances, being extracts from a book of entries
of business done [probably in the Signet Office]. [¾ page.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor. |
57. Warrant to Lord Stanhope of Harrington, Treasurer of the
Chamber, to pay to Geo. Shiers, one of the King's apothecaries,
and his servitor of odiferous things, all sums due for physic and
odiferous things delivered by him for Prince Henry, Charles Duke
of York, and any other the King's children, his bills being allowed
by the persons to whom their tuition is committed, or by their
physicians. [¾ page, copy.] |
Sept. 9. |
58. The King to Sir Rich. Lovelace, keeper of Cranborne Chase,
Windsor Forest. As we would prevent the late spoil of the deer
in the New Lodge Walk, Windsor Forest, we authorise you to call
the verderers and regarders of the said Forest unto you, and take
view what deer are within the said walk, and take especial care of
them, signifying to Richard Stafferton that neither he nor any in
that place, kill any deer before they have acquainted you with it;
and those to kill in such places as you think fittest, for the preservation of the game; and that either you or some one to be
appointed by you shall be present at the killing of them. [1 page,
draft.] |
Sept. 10. |
Passport for Pedro Verastigny, servant to Don Pedro de
Cuniga, ambassador for the King of Spain, to transport certain
English boys, servants to Count Villa Mediana, late ambassador
here, and his horses, dogs, and carriages. [Docquet.] |
Sept. 29. |
59. List of seven yeomen prickers, three grooms, and one
waggoner belonging to the office of the buckhounds. [2/3 page.] |
Sept. ? |
60. Objections made by English merchants trading with France
to Council, against the edict made 20 April 1600:— |
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Upon the first edition of that law, the merchants perceiving that
it would tend to their overthrow, complained to the late Queen, who
procured a treaty by commissioners, and a conference on either part.
At the next Parliament the Commissioners of England moved the
same to the whole Estate, and signified Her Majesty's pleasure for
establishing some Act to enforce the making of cloth, if it might
be, answerable to the said edict, or to restrain the deceit in cloth;
when it was resolved that the drapery of this kingdom could not
be drawn to the perfection the edict required; but to satisfy the
French King, and avoid deceit in cloth, which was the pretext of
that law, an Act was made only tolerating the use of the tenter
to strain a wrought broad cloth, one yard in length, and one half
quarter in breadth, and a kersey and cotton half a yard in length
and a nail in breadth. |
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Thereupon the execution of the edict was deferred, and the
merchants hoped that it would have been repealed. These proceedings show the rigour of the edict, and what course has been taken
therein; yet the merchants offer the following further exceptions:— |
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First. By the edict, all coloured cloth is prohibited to be trans
ported to France unless dyed in the wool, which is impossible in
divers colours, for all grain colours, as violets, blacks, tawnies, &c.,
are wrought upon other colours; and the edict is therein contrary
to all former treaties, and even against the custom now used in
France, where they dye all or the most part out of white. Besides
that in Brittany and Gascony, where the greatest part of English
drapery is vented, there are no dyers, nor would any part of France,
but Rouen, Paris, and Dieppe, receive cloths of that sort. |
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Second. Most part of English cloth transported for France is made
of the coarsest wools, as kerseys, cottons, and bays, serving for linings,
and cannot be made as the edict would enforce. By their laws,
all cloth made in France for linings, and exceeding 2s. the French
ell, is not subject to search, and may be sold in false colours; twothirds of our cloth exported is of that sort; but the same law is
imposed upon the coarsest English cloth as upon the finest French. |
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By the edict, the search and seizure of the English drapery is
referred to the master and wardens of the Drapers' Company in
France, which is very partial; in this kingdom, all matters between
merchant strangers and merchants of the realm are inquired of by
a jury half English and half strangers; and there are no such master
and wardens in France, except at Rouen, Paris, and Dieppe. |
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Faulty English cloth has no less penalty than confiscation, nor
other judges than the merchants' greatest adversaries; so that the
merchants would be in continual danger of loss; for since the making
of the said edict, cloths viewed and searched according to the edict,
and found lawful, being sent to another market, have been confiscated; and the visitors appointed by the edict are so malignant,
that they on purpose defer their search. |
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Lastly, the merchants can conceive no possibility to continue their
trade, without continual loss, unless the edict is repealed, and the
French King will admit of cloth found to be according to the statute
of 43 Eliz. now in force; or else, that by a new Act of Parliament,
all tenters and stretching may be restrained in all cloths vendible
in France, which is the chiefest matter insisted upon and impugned
by the edict, and which will give best satisfaction to the French,
and therein procure their safest and firmest trade. [1 page. See
Domestic James I., Vol. XV., Nos. 19,54.] |