I shall now proceed by way of _Quæry_, to propound and insinuate something, that may tend towards a remedy, for these Maladies, formerly complain’d of, and to be a restorative to our decaying Trade, and to help it to life again; for as Physitians having found out the cause of the Distemper, know the readier how to apply what is sutable, in order to the Cure. So here I having I hope discovered the causes, and occasions of our lose of Trade, shall take the boldness to give in tacitly my advice, most humbly begging pardon for such a presumption, and in all submission, presenting my conceptions to better judgements.
Whether it would not be convenient to have a Committee of Clothiers, some of the principal of all Counties, with Merchants of the several Cities, and some other Tradesmen, and Artificers, to be appointed; whose other weighty affairs might not obstruct this great design of reviving and advancing our Trade, to its former height, and luster, and that some of those Gentlemen sit at a certain known place, as their occasions may permit, so that some of them may be ready at all times, to receive Petitions, or Projections from workmen, which may any way tend to the encrease and encouragement of Trade; and for such Committees, to prepare and digest the same, into such a Method and form, as might occasion the Production of such further Lawes (if so thought necessary) for the future, as might restore and advance the Clothing Trade, and the well making of Cloth, and all sorts of goods, both in the old and new Drapery; and the rectifying such abuses among all other Tradesmen, that are any way imployed about the said Draperies.
Whether all those Laws against Exportation, and Importation of Prohibited goods, and for the punishment of unfaithful Officers of the Customes, and others intrusted that do connive at such abuses (to the King and Kingdome) and neglect the faithful performance of their duty, ought not to be put into effectual Execution, and whether all other Lawes, tending to the same matter, or have any relation to these things, ought not once in a moneth, upon the market day to be publiquely read and declared, especially in the Sea-Port townes, round about the Land, that by this means all the common people, who have the best and greatest opportunities for discovering Offenders, might know the Law, and so consequently know how, and wherein to do the King and Countrey service, such as might be very acceptable to them, and should not be unprofitable to themselves, if they would be careful and diligent to watch and look out.