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' 
 
REFLECTIONS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 EXPEDIENCY ofa LAW 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 NATURALIZATION 
 
 o F 
 
 FOREIGN PROTESTJNTS: 
 In Two Parts. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 Containing Historical Remarks on the 
 Difpolition and Behaviour of the Natives of 
 this Ida id, in regard to Foreigners; occafioned 
 by theRejedtion of the late Naturalization 
 Bill. 
 
 By JO SI AH rUCKER, M. A. 
 
 Re<5lor of St Stephen's in Bristol, 
 
 AND 
 
 Chaplain to the Right Reverend the 
 Lord Bilhop of B r i s t o l. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Piinted for T. T rye, nczr Grays- Inn Gate, Hollorn* 
 
 M.ir'CC.LI. 
 
 [Price One Shillino.'] 
 
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 Oi*^-^ ... - 
 
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1 
 
 [iil] 
 
 THE 
 
 \ 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 ^S the Author of the following Treatife basal- 
 -<^ ready appeared in Publick on a Subje£l of Com- 
 merce^* and undergone fome Cenfures for engag- 
 ing in Enquiries^ feemingly beftde his Profeffion ; he 
 begs heave to offer fome Reafons for his interfering in 
 thefe Matters^ andy at the fame lUme^ to vindicate 
 himfelf from the Suppofttion of having deferved the 
 ill Treatment he has met with. If it fhall appear 
 then, that he has not been wanting in his Endeavours 
 to difcharge his Clerical Duties punctually, as he hopes 
 it would appear, if Enquiry were made in his Parifh 
 (in which, though large and populous, he performs 
 all the Offices of his Function himfelf, according to the 
 bejl of his Abilities:) If, in this Particular, he is not- 
 found neglectful, and thefe Enquiries, which he profe- 
 cutes at his lei fur e Hours, are not, in their 'Tendency ^ 
 inconjijlent with Piety to God, and good Offices to 
 Man, — he flatters himfelf, that as long as he follows 
 thefe Studies, without neglecting his other Engage- 
 ments, and delivers his Opinion in an inoffenfive Man- 
 ner, he fhall he excufedin the Judgment of all candid 
 
 A 2 Perfons 
 
 * A brief EJJay on the Advantages and Difadvantages ijchich 
 yf/pefti'vely attend France and Great Britain vjith regard to 
 7 rade : With fome Propofah for remoting the principal Difad- 
 t'antages o/'Great Britain, in a neiv Method. 'The Second Edition, 
 correSed, ivith large Additions. London, printed for T. Tryc, 
 /wHolborn, 1750. 
 
 
 ^ ui 
 
 't^flfi^^^^ ^Di 
 
 rii 
 
 ■J^ T iTmm'^'^^^li 
 
Iv 
 
 The PREFACE. 
 
 'Perfons^ tho* the Warmth of Party Zeal^ or the Re- 
 fentment of thofe^ wbofe Interefi clajhes with that of 
 thePuhlicky may excite them to vilify and infult him. 
 It hath been thought excufabk for a Clergyman to 
 write on Subjects of yimufement, or on curious Points 
 cf Learning ; and therefore^ it may not be reckoned 
 cbfurd in a Clergyman^ to form a Judgment (and de^ 
 liver it modejily) on SubjeSfs, by which, not only na- 
 tional Wealth and Profperity, and the external Bkf- 
 fmgs of hife are encreafed\ but, by which, hidujtry. 
 Frugality, and Sobriety are promoted, — and promoted 
 too, by protecting perfecuted aw^ conrcientiousC/&r//^ 
 tians. 
 
 INDEED, it might be obferved, that every Plan^ 
 by which the Practice of facial Duties is advanced, 
 which contributes to make Men more Sober, Jufl, and 
 Frugal, (which is the Fund of Charity) is not foreign 
 to, but intimately conne£ied with the Clerical Cha~ 
 raSfer. And to deter the Clergy from fuch Enqui7'ies, 
 is to confine, in a great Degree, their Abilities of 
 doing Good. Or again, ^o propofe any Expedient, 
 by which the Encreafe of wilful and corrupt Perjury 
 may be prevented, is not unbecoming a Minijier of 
 that God, who will not hold him guiltlefs, that 
 taketh his Name in vain. Tet this would be pre- 
 vented, in the two CKz AT Sources of it, by avoid- 
 ing the Oaths now taken at Cuflom-Houfes, and 
 thofe by Freemen of Towns. A Scheme was humbly 
 offered by the Author of thefe Sheets, in an EfTay on 
 Trade, to avoid the former ; and his prefent Attempt 
 is, to point out the true Caufes and Origin of the lat- 
 ter-, together with fuch Remedies for thefe Evils, 
 as appear to him the mofi effectual. And, though he 
 may be mijiaken in the Means propofed, yet he is per- 
 ftvaded, that all ferious Chriflians will join with 
 
 hifu^ 
 
 'kM«*'' 
 
 j>-»- -Kaiiji*-* 
 
The P R E F A C E. v 
 
 limy in wijhing, that the Oaths of Freedom were al- 
 teredy from what they are at prefent \ and fo confli- 
 tutedt as not to reduce Men to the fad Neceffity of 
 deflroying their Commerce^ or preferring it by a con- 
 tinual* Profanation of the f acred Name of God. 
 
 UPON the Whole y though interfering with tem- 
 poral Things immoderately is derogatory to the Clerical 
 Character 'y yet as Commerce multiplies the Relations 
 of Menj and creates a Variety of Moral Obligations, 
 it will not be thought unbecoming that Order ^ who 
 are to ferve to the Glory of God, and the Edification 
 of Meny to remove Tempt ations, and propofe tempo- 
 ral 
 
 * Part of a Freeman's Oath, in the City of Lou Jon ^ is, " Ye 
 " (hall know no Foreigner to buy or fell any Merchandifc with 
 •* any other Foreigner within this City, or Franchife thereof, 
 " but ye (hall warn the Chamberlain thereof, or fome Minif- 
 
 " ter of the Chamber. Yc Ihall take no .Apprentice, the 
 
 " Child of any Alien." 
 
 Part of a Freeman's Oath, in the City of Brijinl, is as follows; 
 " You Ihall not know any Foreigner, or Stranger, to Iniy and 
 " fell with another Foreigner, within the Prccinfls of this 
 " City, but you Ihall give Knowledge thereof unto the Cham- 
 " beriain, or his Deputy, wiiliout Delay. You (hall not 
 *' take any Apprentice, — except he be born under the King's 
 " Obeyfance." 
 
 This national Antipathy againft Foreigner?, was the Stock 
 on which the Burgefles and Freemen grafted their narrow ex- 
 clufiva Schemes of Commerce, and Plans .* Monopoly. For 
 the Tenor of the Oaths of Freedom is much \'\^ fame in other 
 Towns and Cities, as in London and Brijioi. And, in the 
 language of thefe incorporated Places, the Word Foreigner 
 denotes not only an /Jlien, or one born out of the Kings Obey- 
 fance, but every EngliJ/.tnan, not free of their Corporation. 
 And even Lodgers, In-tenants, Houfe-kcepers, Free-holders, 
 ]>ook keepers, Clerks, Agents, Fa6\ors, Mariners, Merchants, 
 ic^c. though refiding in fuch Place,), are not allowed, by their 
 Bye-Laws, to buy and fell, of and to each other, if they are 
 not free themfelvcs. And all the Freemen are obliged, by the 
 cxprefs Terms of their Oath, to give Information of fuch Sales 
 iind Contradts, as foon as they conie to their Knowledge. 
 And yet, But I forbear: The Reader will fupply the reft. 
 
 l 
 
 ! 
 
 ^- 
 
 m 
 
 I 
 
 <^-r" 
 
vl 
 
 The PREFACE. 
 
 ral Rewards to Virtue; efpec tally, if thefe Schetnes 
 ej national Reformation pould be attended with an In- 
 treafe of Commerce^ and national Honour, with the 
 Security of Liberty, and its known Attendants, Learn- 
 ing, and true Religion. At leaji, if the Author may 
 he proved to have erred, he will gladly retire from 
 thefe Studies \ which he has hitherto fallowed upon 
 Motives of this Kind only, 
 
 IV 1^ II regard to the Naturalization <?/ foreign 
 Proteftants, ;/ any fiich BillfJjculd hereafter be laid 
 before the Houfes of Parliament, he is inclined to 
 wijh, with the greatefi Deference to the Opinion of 
 letter Judges, that two Rejlri^ions might be inferted 
 in it, more to obviate the imaginary Danger, which 
 prejudiced People apprehend from pafftng of it, than 
 any real ill Confequences from either Source. 
 
 FIRST, That naturalized Foreigners ffjould gain 
 no Pari fh Settlement -, that theyfhould neither become 
 a Burthen to the Natives of this Country, ncr have 
 atry'Tax levied on them to maintain our Poor. This is 
 equitable en both Sides, and may be neceffary to pre- 
 vent popular Clamours: — Though the Author can ven- 
 ture to affert (which he would not prefume to do with- 
 out good Authority) that the Foreigners, who have 
 fettled in this Kingdom for feventy Tears pafi, have 
 paid, at leaJi, a Pound Sterling towards the Sup- 
 port of the Englifh Poor, for every Penny that has 
 been levied upon the Englilli to maintain poor Fo- 
 reigners. And if thofe Gentlemen, who oppofed the 
 Introdu^ion of foreign Protefiants, under the Apprc- 
 henfion that it would encreafe the Poor-Tax (a Bur- 
 then too great already) would but give thcrafelves the 
 Trouble to make Enquiries in London, Briftol, 
 Southampton, Canterbury, cr any other Place, 
 where any Number of Foreigners hai^e rejiaed, they 
 
 n-ou'd 
 
 f 
 
The P R E !■ A C E. vii 
 
 ivouU entertain very different Notions of this y1ffair\ 
 and find Caufe to trujl nc longer to general Inveilives^ 
 popular Cries, and national Prejudices ; ly which the 
 bejt difpofed People arc often mijled, andfometimes in- 
 duced to join in Meafures, not only dejiru^Uve to the 
 Good of their Country, but fulmerfive of the Dilates 
 of Humanity, and the clearefi Precepts of the GofpeL 
 
 AGAIN, That no Foreigner fijould be capable of 
 a Place <j/Truft or Power by a general Naturaliza- 
 tion. The JVifdom of the Legiflattire might, by an 
 exprefs A£l, qualify a particular Perfon of extraor- 
 dinary Merit : And an open Admiffion of all natura- 
 lized Perfons^ would be made a Topick for popular^ 
 though groundlefs Declamation. 
 
 ONE more Obfervation is humbly offered on this 
 Subject, viz. That however prudent and expedient it 
 may be, to admit foreign Protejiants to be natura- 
 lized Subje£fs, yet unlefs there zvere the highefl Pro- 
 hdhility of bringing the Point to bear, to attempt it 
 and fail, would confirm the common People in their 
 Prejudices ; and ftrengthen the Credit of thofe, who, 
 thro* 'DifaffeStion, or a private Inter eft, incompatiable 
 with the publick Good, have oppofed this Meafure. 
 This will impower them to fpread ftrange Reports, 
 to impofe on the Credulity of the lower Sort of People, 
 and to infufs into them Sufpicions of the pernicious 
 Views of thofe Men, who propofed this dejlru5five 
 Proje£I',— which, co-inciding with the national Pre- 
 judice againft Foreigners, would be greedily received. 
 And when, by the Billys not paffmg, thefe Rumours 
 are not confuted by Kxperience, howfhall we convince 
 a Mob, who aSt by Pajfwn, not by Reflexion ; who 
 are to be gained byfinifier and meayi Arts, and there- 
 fore are not generally influenced by the wifefi, or heji 
 of Men, 
 
 v\ 
 
 — ^.■•-' ■_.>"'" 
 
 
Shortly will be Publijfjedy 
 
 fWith a Preface, Petting forth the avowed Doc- 
 trine, and cortjlant Prafkicc of the Church of 
 Romey concerning the Perfccution of 
 
 P R O T 1: S T ANTS.] 
 
 t 
 
 PART 
 
 11. 
 
 Containing important Queries relating to the 
 Improvement and Extenfion of Commerce: 
 — Materials for Employing the Poor, and the 
 Caufes of the Want of Employment : — The 
 Encreafe of Inhabitants, the Riches of a Coun- 
 try ; the Landed and National Intereft : — Taxes 
 of all Kinds, particularly the Poor Tax : — The 
 Birth-right and Privileges of Englijlmeriy and 
 the real Intereft of Tradefmcn: — The moft ef- 
 ficacious, as well as the gentleft Methods for 
 the Reformation of a People's Morals: — A 
 Regard to the Conftitutions both in Church 
 and State: — The Duties of Humanity, and 
 the Principles of the Chriftian Religion. To 
 which will be added, by Way of Appendix^ A 
 calm Addrefs to all Parties in Religion, con- 
 cerning Difaffedtion towards the prefent Go- 
 vernment ; firft Publilhed during the late Re- 
 bellion, and now to be republiflied with mate- 
 rial Additions* 
 
 #''*»-*v.,._^--"" 
 

 PART I. 
 
 CONTAINING, 
 
 Hijlon'cal Remarks on the Difpofittm 
 and Behaviour of the Natives of 
 this IJland towards Foreigners j oc- 
 cafeonedby the RejeElion of the late 
 Naturalization Bill. 
 
 ^Sjl T is obfervable, that every Na- 
 tion hath lome peculiar Blafs, of 
 a virtuous and a vicious Ten- 
 dency, which conftitutes the 
 diftinguidiing Charadleriftic of 
 that People: And even New- 
 Comers acquire, in a fhort Time, the fame 
 Difpofitions and Manners. The prefent French 
 and Spaniards feem to inherit both the good 
 and bad Qualities of the ancient Inhabitants 
 of Gatd and Spain, And the modern Englifh^ 
 
 B 
 
 though 
 
 
 I 
 
i 
 
 2 Historical Remarks o?t th^ 
 
 though a People but of Yefterday, in Compa- 
 rifon with the Pretenfions of other Nations to 
 Antiquity, are as much averfe to Foreigners, 
 as ever were the ar.*ient Britons, Thefe three 
 Nations, the French^ Spaniards^ and Englijh^ 
 however different in their prefent Difpolitions, 
 iprung originally from the fame Country, and 
 were noted for an Uniformity of Cufloms, 
 Laws, and Manners. 
 
 It would be difficult, and perhaps impof- 
 fible, to trace the Caufes of this Difference in 
 the Tempers of Mankind, removed to differ- 
 ent Situations. But fome Time may be ufe- 
 fiilly employed in examining, whether due 
 Care hath been taken to cultivate, regulate, 
 and improve the good Qualities of any People, 
 and toreftrain the bad ones by wholefomeLaws 
 and Difcipline. The Subjeft I am now upon 
 leads me to this Enquiry, as far as relates to 
 the Reception which Foreigners, even Mer- 
 chants, Tradefmen, and Manufacturers, have 
 Uiiially met with in this Kingdom. 
 
 From the Conqueft, till upwards of two 
 hundred Years afterwards, it doth not appear, 
 that Strangers were permitted to refide in Eng- 
 land, on Account of Commerce, beyond a 
 limited Time, but by a fpecial Warrant. For 
 they were confidered only as Sojourners, com- 
 ing to a Fair or Market, and were obliged to 
 
 employ 
 
 I' 
 
npa- 
 is to 
 |ners, 
 three 
 
 :iijh, 
 
 lions, 
 
 and 
 
 toms. 
 
 /^/^ Naturalizat ION Bill. 3 
 
 employ their Landlords as Brokers, to buy and 
 fell their Commodities. And we find, that 
 one Stranger was often arrelled for the Debt, 
 or punifhed for the Mifdemeanor of another t 
 as if all Strangers were to be looked upon as a 
 People with whom the Englijh were in a 
 State of perpetual War; and therefore, might 
 make Reprifals on the firfl they could lay 
 Hands on. This is fo glaring an Injuftice, 
 ^nd a Treatment fo impolitic, as well as cruel 
 to fair Dealers, that it would feem incredible, 
 if there were not fuch authentic Vouchers for 
 it in the Firft, Second, Third, and Fourth 
 Volumes of Rymer's Fa^dera, in Lord Coke's 
 Second Inflitute^ Page 204. and in the Statu te- 
 Book itfelf: — As will farther appear in the 
 Courfe of this Narrative. 
 
 But the Merchants of the Low Countries^ 
 of Flore7ice and Sien7Ja^ having at different 
 Times lent confiderable Sums to the Kings of 
 England^ and the great Men of the Kingdom, 
 the Prelates and Barons; they were at laft per- 
 mitted to hire Houfes of their own, and to 
 difpofe of their Goods themfelves to the beft: 
 Advantage. This mighty Privilege was firft 
 obtained about the Year 1284. and the 12th 
 of Edward L But great were the Clamours 
 raifed on that Occafion. And Fabian (as quot- 
 ed in the Memoirs ofWooly Page iy» Voh J.), 
 who places this Affair two Years later, viz, in 
 
 B 2 1286. 
 
 
 (.. 
 
 .«/ 
 
i 
 
 cc 
 
 (C 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 4 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 1286. pofitively tells us, that this Conceffion 
 was to the greate Hurt of the hole Realm 
 oi England** And i?^/»/« obferves, " That 
 the Commons granted the King a Subfidy of 
 the Fiftieth Part of their Moveables, to ex- 
 pel the Kingdom all fuch Foreigners, as 
 were a Burden to the Nation." The Bur- 
 den was, as explained by Fabian, That thefe 
 Strangers, by becoming fettled Inhabitants, 
 had greater Opportunities of adulterating their 
 Wares, and ufing falfe Weights and Meafures : 
 So eafy is it to find a Pretence, when we have 
 an Inclination to do it. As if thefe People had 
 no Opportunity of adulterating their Wares in 
 their own Country, or that the Englifh Land- 
 lord would not have connived at the Fraud, 
 provided He might fliare in the Profit; or, as 
 if there was greater Security for their Honefty, 
 when they were only Lodgers and tranfient 
 Guefts, than after they became fettled in 
 known Abodes. However, thefe Clamours 
 prevailed, and their Privileges were taken from 
 them, under a Colour that they were detected 
 in fuch bafe Practices. And this was judged 
 a fufficient Reafon for levying a large Fine 
 upon them, after they had fuffered " by a Sea-^ 
 " fon harde, and vyle PryfonementJ* 
 
 But in a very few Years, the Kin']^, and 
 th4 great Men, fo fenfibly felt the evil ^onfe- 
 queftces of expelling the Merchants Strangers, 
 
 that 
 
 V 
 
 ■■•»«-. 
 
 .^--. 
 
1 
 
 /^j/^ Natural I z ATioN Bill, j 
 
 that they tliought it neceflary to recal * them : 
 And then the City of Lofidon began their Com- 
 plaints; but met with an abfolute Repulfe: 
 For Experience had taught the King and the 
 Parliament to diftinguifh between the general 
 Interefts and Welfare of the Kingdom, and 
 the monopolizing Views of Individuals. This 
 Prince proceeded farther j and in the thirty firft 
 Year of his Reign, granted a Charter -f of Pro- 
 tedion to Merchants Strangers, which con- 
 tained coniiderable Privileges, when compared 
 to the Difficulties they had formerly laboured 
 under. 
 
 But the greateft Hardfhips ftill remained 
 unredrefTedj particularly, that a Foreigner 
 was liable to be arrefted for the Debt of ano- 
 ther, or to be puni(hed for his Mifdemeanor. 
 It feems likewife very probable, that the Con- 
 tents 
 
 cc 
 
 •c 
 
 C( 
 
 <( 
 cc 
 
 * Coke's Second Injiitute, Page 741. «« In the i8th 
 Year of Edivard I. (that is about five Years after the 
 Merchants Strangers had been fined and imprifoned, 
 as above related) in the Parliament Roll it is contained 
 thus, Cives London, petunt, quod AUegena Mercatores 
 expellantur a Cwitate^ quia ditantur ad Depaupera* 
 ** tionetn Civiunif &c, 
 
 *' Refponfio, Rex intendlt quod Mercatores extranet 
 ** funt idonei £*f utiles magnatibuSj &c. ^ non habct 
 '* Con/ilium eos expellendi** 
 
 t This Charter is not to be found among ihc Public 
 A£ls of Edward I. but among thofe of Edward III. 
 where it is recited at large, and confirmed anew. See 
 Rym. Vol. IV. Page 361. 
 
 
 Ji 
 
6 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 tents of this Charter were but little obferved in 
 the Reign of his SuccefTor, Edward II. For 
 this indolent Prince regarded nothing but to 
 pleafe his Favourite Gavejion, and to fpend all 
 the Money he could bring together, in Diver- 
 lions and Entertainments. In the mean Time, 
 the Citizens of Londony and the Inhabitants of 
 other Towns and Boroughs, were at liberty to 
 moleft the Foreigners as much as they pleafed. 
 And indeed, the Broils which enfued between 
 the King and his Barons, were another Caufe 
 which muft have difcouraged Strangers from 
 fetding here. 
 
 N o w, as it is obfervable, that during the 
 Times under our prefent Confideration, the 
 whole Trade of thefe Parts of the World cen- 
 tred in FlanderSy it may be worth while to 
 enquire, whether the fame Policy prevailed 
 there, or what other Meafures were taken in 
 relation to Commerce. And nothing can fet 
 this in a clearer Light, than the Anfwer of 
 Robert y Earl of Flanders, to the Requeft fent 
 him by our King Edward II. to cut off all In- 
 tercourfe with the Scotijh Nation, whofe 
 King, Robert Bruce , was, as he alledged, in 
 Rebellion againft him, and excommunicated 
 by the Pope. To this, the Earl returns a mofl 
 refped;ful Anfwer, but adds, * " We muft 
 
 " not 
 
 * " Un DE veftram Magnificentiam volumus non latere, 
 •' quod Terra noftra FlandriaVmyEKSn cujuscum- 
 
 « QU E 
 
 \J 
 
 "^^^iiJ^ik, 
 
^edin 
 For 
 
 C( 
 
 ut to 
 id all 
 
 
 >iver- 
 
 <( 
 
 'ime. 
 Its of 
 
 <c 
 <c 
 
 •tyto 
 ;aied. 
 
 cc 
 it 
 
 ween 
 ^aufe 
 from 
 
 cc 
 «c 
 <c 
 
 
 t( 
 
 /(?/<? Naturaltz AT ION Bill. 7 
 
 not conceal it from your Majefty, tb it our 
 Country of Flanders is common ro all 
 THE World, where every Per'jn finds a 
 FREE Admission: Nor can Wf. take away 
 this Privilege ^rom Perfons concerned in 
 Commerce, witiiout bringi-g Ruin andDe- 
 folation on our Country, \i the Scotch come 
 to our Ports, and our jubje(5ls go to theirs, 
 it is neither the Ir*:.ition of Ourfelves, nor 
 our Subjcds, to encourage them in their 
 Error, or to be Partakers of their Crime ; 
 but only to carry on our Traffic, without 
 taking Part with them." 
 
 It was the Opinion of this wife Prince, that 
 his Country could not have too many People 
 in it, though it was already the moft populous 
 in Europe : — Neither was he afraid, that the 
 Subjects of other Powers would fteal away the 
 Secrets and Myfteries of Trade, though Flan' 
 ders was known to be the Rendezvous of the 
 mofl expert and ingenious Artilans: — Nor yet 
 
 was 
 
 •' QjrE Regionis COMMUNIS EST, & cuiq; libcr In 
 ** eadem patet IngrefTus. Nee poflumus Mercatoribus, 
 ** fiias exercentibus Mcrcaturas, Ingrcflurn, prout hac- 
 ** tcnus confiieverunt, denegare, quin ifta cederent in 
 ** Defolationem nojira Terr^ dff Ruinam. Et 11 Scoti 
 *' ad nortios Portus declinant, & noftri Homines ad 
 ** Scotitc Portus dcclinaverint, Intentionis noftr«e, & 
 *' noltrorum, non eft eos propter hoc in Errore fovere, 
 ** nee in Crimine eum eis partieipiendo comitare, fed 
 *' folum Mereutiiras exereendo Partem minime facien- 
 «» tes." Rym /W. Tom. III. Page 771. 
 
 (,- 
 
 jf- 
 
8 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 was he apprehenfivc, that fuch a general Na- 
 turalization would tempt the Beggars and the 
 Lazy of other Countries, to come in Swarms 
 to eat up the Riches of his own, though his 
 Situation on the Continent ^ had this been a pro- 
 bable Confequence, might have given him 
 much more Caufe to fear it, than ours can 
 give us, who live in an Ifland :— Laftly, he 
 very juftly diftinguiflied between holding an 
 Intercourfe with People for the Benefits of 
 Commerce, and embracing their Principles, or 
 partaking of their Crimes, 
 
 But his Maxims were too large and noble 
 to be underftood by an ignorant, or relifhed 
 by a prejudiced People. And we do not find, 
 that Strangers were able to obtain any reafon- 
 able Settlement in England, or juft Protection, 
 till Edward III. came to the Throne. This 
 great and wife Prince, in the fecond Year of 
 nis Reign, renewed the Charter of Protedlion, 
 which his Grandfather, Edward I. had given 
 to Strangers. And finding that this was not 
 Encouragement enough, he caufed a Law to 
 be made feven Years after, for their better Se- 
 curity, and greater Inducement to fettle here. 
 This Statute was made in a Parliament held 
 at Tork, 1335. fome Parts of which juftly 
 deferve to be particularly cited. In the Pre- 
 amble it is obferved, " That grievous Damage 
 *• have been done to the King and his People, 
 by fome People of Cities, Boroughs, Ports 
 
 ^^ of 
 
 i< 
 
 I 
 
 / 
 
 
 S.rt.-^'V ■-•'---■''■" 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 ■I 
 
¥ 
 
 je 
 
 pro- 
 nim 
 can 
 
 he 
 an 
 of 
 !s, or 
 
 to' Nat UR A LIZ AT ION Bill. 9 
 
 of the ISray and otiier Places of the faid 
 Realm, which /;/ io/ig Time pa/l have not 
 " fufferedy nor yet will fiijfer Merchants 
 Strangers, nor others, which do carry and 
 bring in, by Sea or Land, Wines, Avoirda- 
 poize, and other Livings and Vidluals, 
 with divers other Things to be fold, nc- 
 ceflary and profitable, to fell or deliver fuch 
 Wines, Livings, Vidluals, nor other Things, 
 to any other than to themfclves: By reafon 
 whereof, fuch Stuff aforcfaid, is fold to the 
 King, and to his People, in the Hands of 
 the laid Citizens, Burgefles, and other Peo- 
 ple Denizens, more dear than they fliould 
 be, if fuch Merchants Strangers, and others, 
 which bring fuch Things into the Realm, 
 might freely fell them to whom they 
 would :" It was therefore enabled, that thefe 
 Merchants Strangers rtiould be at liberty to trade, 
 buy, and fell, according as they pleafed, with- 
 out Diflurbance or Interruption. 
 \ . - 
 
 ! Now this Prince always bore the Character 
 of being one of the moft fagacious, that ever 
 fat on the Englijl^ Throne. And Hiftorians 
 have obferved, that there were more good 
 Laws made in his Reign, than in the Times of 
 all his PredeceiTors. His Maxim was to pre- 
 fer tlie general Welfare of the Kingdom, to 
 the Intereft of any particular Society. Let us 
 
 therefore judge of this Law by its Effefts — 
 
 C I. There- 
 
 c: 
 
 (C 
 
 t< 
 
 << 
 
 <( 
 
 <c 
 
 «c 
 
 C( 
 
 (( 
 
 <c 
 
 (C 
 
 <c 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 (( 
 
 f« 
 
 cc 
 
 
 r: 
 
 ii 
 
10 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 « 
 
 <c 
 
 (C 
 
 fC 
 
 L Therefore in two Years after the pai^ 
 fing of it, we find an Adt made to prevent the 
 Exportation of Wool ; — Another againft wear- 
 ing outlandifli Cloth ; — Another againfl bring- 
 ing of ftrange Cloth into the Realm;— And 
 another to invite foreign Cloth-makers into the 
 King's Dominions. " And to the Intent," 
 faith the Ad, " the faid Cloth-workers (hall 
 have the greater Will to come and dwell 
 here, our Sovereign Lord the King will 
 grant them Franchifes, as many, and fuch 
 as may fuffice them." This Statute of Na- 
 turalization caufed great Commotions in fome 
 of the principal Cities : For the E?iglijh would 
 have rather chofe to have feen their Wool ex- 
 ported unmanufactured, as ufual, than be 
 taught by Foreigners to make it into Cloth, 
 But the King v^^as determined, that the Pur- 
 pofes of fo excellent a Law fhould not be 
 defeated for want of Execution. And there- 
 fore, when the Mayor and Magiftrates of Brif- 
 /o/ endeavoured to prevent the introducing of 
 Weavers, and other Manufadturcrs, by extort- 
 ing large Sums of Money from the Undertak- 
 ers, and by other Ad:s of OpprelTion and Vi- 
 olence, he fent them a very fevere Repri- 
 mand, and gave them to underiland, that it 
 was in vain to contend ag^ainft a Law which 
 he had refolved fhould be obeyed. And when 
 the Citizens of London proceeded to greater 
 Outrages, he fent them like wife the fame kind 
 
 of 
 
 I 
 ft. 
 
 I 
 
 a 
 
 
•■^ 
 
 /rf^<? Natu RAL I z ATioN Bill, ii 
 
 of expoftulatoiy anti threatniiig Letter. Thcfc 
 two Mandates are liich evident Proofs of the 
 narrow Spirit and Perverfenefs of our Fore- 
 fathers (whom too many aniong Us, even at 
 this Day, arc weak enough to copy after) that 
 I have inferted them below * for the Reader's 
 Satisfaction, 
 
 II. In 
 
 • Th e firft Mandate, viz. That to the Mayor and 
 Bailiffs of i?r///tf/, is dated the i $tU o( Novembery 1339. 
 that is, about two Years after pafling the Naturalization 
 A£t, and runs in thcfc Words; 
 
 «« REX, Major! & Ballivis Villa fuae Bri/iolli:r, 
 
 *' falutem: 
 
 <* Cum nuperdeaflenfuPrxlatorum, Comitum, Ba- 
 " ronum, ac aliorum, in P;irliamento noftro apud 
 ** 1VcJ}tmnaJleriu7n tunc convocato cxiffentium, ordina- 
 ** tuni fuillct & concordatuni, quod Lanec infra Reg- 
 *' num iiojhum in Pannos op£rarentur\ ti quod omncs 
 ** illi qui Pannos luijufmodi opcrari & faccre vellent^ 
 •' eos in fingulis locis cjufdem Rcgni operari & facere 
 ** poflbnt abfq;Impedimcntoqualicuniq; Jamq; expar- 
 ** te ThovifT Blanket y ti quorumdam aliorum Burgen- 
 " fium VilJje pra3di61a?, acceperiinus, quod cum ipfi 
 •' praetextu Concordix' & Ordinationis piaKdictarum, ac 
 " Proclamationis ibidem, ut dicltur, ex parte noftra indc 
 fadta*, diverfa inftrumenta proPannis hujufmcdi tcx- 
 cndis & faciendis in domibus fuispiopriis Hcri, i3 tcx' 
 *' tores ac alios opcrarios ex hoc causa conduci fccerint ; 
 *' vos ad przemifla confiderationcm non habciitcs, di- 
 " verfas Pecunia Sutmnas ab iifdem Thoma, & aliis occa* 
 ** fione confcdlionis & levationis inftrumentorum pne- 
 •* didtorum, exigitisy & ipfos ea occafione ntultipliciter 
 ** inqitietatis iff gravatisy ut aflerunt, minus juftb, in 
 ** ipforum Thomx & aliorum difpcndium non modicum, 
 
 C 2 *'. & 
 
 
 11 
 

 12 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 II. In the following Parliaments many Re- 
 gulations were made for the true and juft mak- 
 ing and meafuring of Cloth, as alfo for the 
 good Government of other Artificers; which 
 is a ftrong prefumptive Proof, that Trade and 
 Commerce were confiderably extended. 
 
 III. This 
 
 J 
 
 •* & contra formam ordinationis, eoncordiae, & procla- 
 •* niationis pra.*dicl<irum: Super quo fupplicarunt fibi 
 •' per nos dc coiigruo remedio in liac parte provider! : 
 •' Nos advertentcs ordinationem, concordiam, & pro- 
 *' clamationeni pr.xdidtas, fi in Regno noftro tcneantur 
 " & obfcrvcntur, ad nojlram ts" totius popuU uojhi cjuf' 
 *' dem Rcgnl utilitatem cedere pojfj \ volentefij; praefatos 
 •* Thomam k alios qui Pannos hujufinodi operari & fa- 
 *' cere volucrint, ac ipfos opcrarios co prxtcxtu ab inju- 
 '* riis & exaiStionibus indcbitis protcgi & tucri, Vobis 
 ** Mandamus, &c." See Rymer's Fa'd. Vol. V, 
 Page 137. 
 
 The other Mandate bears date the 12th of O^oher^ 
 1344. viz. 
 
 «( 
 
 REX, Majori & Vicecomitibus Londonla, falutem: 
 
 *' Cum in Parliamento noftro, TH'^xuMf^eJlmonnJierium, 
 ** anno Rcgni noilri Anglia undccimo, tento inter cae- 
 *» tera, pro communi utilitate didti Regni, concorda- 
 *' turn fuiflet, quod omnes operarii Pannorum de par^ 
 " tibus extraneis, de quacumquc terra fuerint, qui infra 
 " didtum Regnum noftrum, aut terras noftras Hibernia:^ 
 ** & IVallicSt venire, & ibidem morari vellent, in iif- 
 *' dem Regno & terris falvfc & fecurc fub protcdtione & 
 *' falvo condudlu noftris vcnircnt, & ubi in diclis Reg- 
 •* no & terris vellent, morarcntur, & quod nos eifdem 
 •* operariis, ut Ubentius ibidem venirent, tot & tales li- 
 " bertateSf quod eis fufficerent^ concederemuSf quam qui- 
 
 " dem 
 
 I 
 
A;/t' Naturalization Bill. 13 
 
 This 
 
 ///»/, 
 
 III. This famous Statute, made In the 
 ninth Year of liis Reign, is often confirmed 
 by fubfcqiicnt Parliaments, and fometimes 
 with ample Additions. And the very Words 
 of the feveral Conlimiations plainly imply. 
 That the Mayors and Societies of the refpec- 
 tive Cities and Boronq;hs, were extremely a- 
 verfe to obey this ufcful Law. But the Con- 
 firmations of it, pafled in the twenty fifth Year 
 of his Reign, Stat. IV. c. 2. and tlie twenty 
 feventh, Stat. II. c. 2. put it out of their 
 Power to molcfl foreign Merchants and Arti- 
 ficers for tlic future, in any other Way, than 
 by arrcftin:^ one F^oreio-ner for the Debt of ano- 
 thcr. This barbarous Cuilom had long pre- 
 vailed, and was fometimes made an Engine of 
 
 Oppreilion 
 
 (C 
 
 (C 
 
 <i 
 (I 
 
 *' dcm concordiam in Civltate prfediiSa, & in fingulis 
 Comitatibus dicti Rcgni noftri, tccimus proclamari, 
 ac jam intc'llcxeiinius, quod quiilcm MalcfajStores dc 
 Civitate priedidU, divcrlis hujufmodi operariis Pan- 
 noium, qui juxta proclamationcm pncditStam, fub 
 protcctione noftra, jamdiu eft, vcncrunt, & in did^a 
 Civitcitc, per tempus non modicum, meftcras fuas 
 cxcrccndo, funt morati, divcrfa danipna is' gravamina 
 ** intulcnint^ lif in die's inferunt^ ipfifq; de Vita & 
 ** McMJJRis in tantum coMMiNANTiiR, quod ibi- 
 *' dem uherius 7norari non audent, nifi eis per nos fubve- 
 " niatur in hac parte; nos, volcntcs omnes &: fmgulos 
 *' huJLifjnudi operarios, dc partibus exteris, in Regnum 
 *' noftrum pr;edii^tuni, ex causa prjedicl^ venientes, & 
 *' ibidem n^.orantcs, a violentiis & injuriis, quibufcumq; 
 •' prefervari, Vobis Mandamus, ^c." iitee Rymcrs 
 feed. Vol. V, P.igc 429. 
 
 
 /] 
 
' T.' 
 
 7 t 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 14 Hi s TORI cAL Rem ARKS ^« /^ 
 
 OpiMefTion in the Hands of the Freemen ol 
 one City or Town, againfl thofc of another. 
 For the Members of thefc little Societies arc fo 
 fcliifh and narrow-minded, as to confider eve- 
 ry Perfon as a Foreigner, that dotli not belong 
 to their Community. But tliough we learn 
 from Lord Coke, in his Second InjUtutc, Chap. 
 23. that the Knglijh themfelves were apt 
 enough to commit thefc Outrages on each 
 other, and fometimes did fo ; yet as every 
 Corporation could retaliate the Wrong done 
 to its own Member, upon the Member of ano- 
 ther Corporation, when he was found within 
 its Precinds, this beaimc, in fome Degree, 
 a reciprocal Check upon them. WJicreas the 
 poor Alien had no Prc^tedtion or Rcdrefs, All 
 being united again ft him, as their common 
 Enemy. And if this Cuftom had continued, 
 the Inhabitants of the Cities and Boroughs 
 would have rendered this Country fo unfafe for 
 Foreigners, that they muft all have left it, 
 notwithftanding the King and the Parliament 
 had encouraged them to fettle here. 
 
 Wherefore, IV. To flop the Progrefs of 
 thefe iniquitous Proceedings, a Law was made 
 to abolilli fuch a Cuftom for ever: Every 
 Word of which is fo exprefilve of national 
 Juftice, good Faith, and public Utility, that 
 lam perfuaded I fliall do my Readers a Plea- 
 fure to recite it at large. 
 
 Anno 
 
 ,"« 
 
 f: 
 
 \ 
 
?incn of" 
 mother. 
 ;s are fo 
 :ler eve- 
 belong 
 'c Icarri 
 , Chap, 
 ere apt 
 •n each 
 s every 
 % done 
 of ano- 
 within 
 Degree, 
 reas tlie 
 ^fs. All 
 Dmmou 
 itinucd, 
 :)roughs 
 ifafe for 
 left it, 
 lament 
 
 grefs of 
 s made 
 Every 
 lational 
 that 
 ti Plea- 
 
 Anno 
 
 /<;/r N ATUR ALI7ATI0N B 1 L L, I5 
 
 Anno 27mo Eihardi III. AnnoDom. I353« 
 Stat. II. c, 17, 
 
 " A Mf.rc«ant Stranger (linll not be im- 
 •' peached for another's Debt, but upon a 
 " good Caufc. Merchants of Enemies Coun- 
 *' tries ihall fell their Goods in convenient 
 " Time, a4ul depart. 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 <( 
 
 €C 
 ii 
 C( 
 
 <c 
 <( 
 cc 
 cc 
 «c 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 cc 
 <c 
 cc 
 cc 
 
 (C 
 
 <c 
 
 cc 
 
 *' Ite^.t, That no Merchant Stranger be 
 impeached for another's Trcfpafs, or for 
 another's Debt, whereof he is not Debtor, 
 Pledge, nor Mainpernor. Provided alwayb', 
 that if our liege i'eople, Merchants, or 
 others, be in(.lamaG;ed by any Lords of 
 llrange Lands, or their Subjeds, and the 
 fiid Lords (duly required) fail of Right to 
 our fiiid Subje(fts, we iliall have the Law of 
 Marque, and of taking them again, as hath 
 been ufed in Times pafled, without Fraud 
 or Deceit. And in cafe that Debate do rife 
 (which God defend) betwixt Us and any 
 Lords of ftrange Lands, We will not that 
 the People and Merchants of the faid Lands 
 be fuddenly fubdued in our faid Realm and 
 Lands, l>ecaufc of fuch Debate; but that 
 they be warned, and Proclamation thereof 
 publidied, that they fiiall void the faid 
 Realm and Lands with their Goods freely, 
 within forty Days after the Warning and 
 Proclamation fo made: And that in the 
 
 *• ipean 
 
l6 Historical Remarks onthe 
 
 " mean Time, they be not impeached, nor 
 ** let of their Paflage, or of making their Pro- 
 " fit of the fame Merchandizes, if they will 
 " fell them. And in cafe that for default of 
 ** Wind, or of Ship, or for Sicknefs, or for 
 •* other evident Caufe, they cannot avoid our 
 ** faid Realm and Lands w^ithin fo ftiont a 
 •* Time, then they (hall have other forty Days, 
 " or more, if need be, vv^ithin which they 
 " may pafs conveniently, with felling their 
 ** Merchandize as aforefaid." 
 
 
 Lastly, The prodigious Increafe of na- 
 tional Commerce, in Confequence of thcfe 
 Proceedings, is an Argument, above all others, 
 in favour of their Utility, rur a late Writer 
 hath obferved,* " That in the twenty eighth 
 *' YearofE^w^r^IIL that is, in the Year 1354. 
 ** [remarkable for being the Year after tlie 
 ** above Law was enad:ed] we have a Record 
 ** in the Exchequer, fhewing the Exports 
 " and Imports, by which it appears, that the 
 ** Ballance of our Trade produced 255,214/, 
 ** 1 3 J. 8 ^. which, conlidering the Difference 
 ** of Money then and now, is about 737,02 i /. 
 ** 165. II ^. as we reckon it at prefent [I be- 
 " lieve it could be made appear to be a 
 " much greater Sum] And yet there is no 
 " Notice taken in this Account, either of Tin 
 " or Lead, or of other flaple Commodities, 
 
 " which 
 
 ^^^ * The P receptor , V(^ll. II, Trade a'ul Ccmrfigrc'y Chap. 
 iii. Page 414. 
 
 
 ^\s 
 
 «:- 
 

 on the 
 
 :hed, nof 
 heir Pro- 
 they will 
 default of 
 (Sy or for 
 avoid our 
 fhont a 
 rty Days, 
 lich they 
 ing their 
 
 fe of na- 
 of thcfe 
 ill others, 
 :e Writer 
 ty eighth 
 ear 1354. 
 
 after tJie 
 a Record 
 Exports 
 that the 
 55'2i4/. 
 )iiFerence 
 37,021/. 
 It [I be- 
 to be a 
 re is no 
 r of Tin 
 nodities, 
 * which 
 
 rc'.'y Chap, 
 
 « 
 
 cc 
 
 <c 
 
 cc 
 
 I 
 
 late Naturalization Bill. 17 
 
 which we certainly exported : And yet, all 
 Things confidered, this muft appear a moft 
 amazing Proof of the early Profits of our 
 Commerce." The Remarks of this Au-' 
 thor are very jufi: : But he feems to be at a Lofs, 
 how to account for fuch a prodigious Balance' 
 in our Favour in thefe early Times : Yet I am 
 perfuaded, if he had confidered the Affair iri 
 the Light in which it now appears, he would 
 have found no Difficulty in accounting for it. 
 
 Upon the whole therefore, notwithflanding 
 fome Miflakes in Commerce, which indeed are 
 not to be wondred at, confidering thefe early 
 Times, and the Contefts for iV Crown of 
 France, which the Englijh Nation impoliticly 
 fupported, this great Prince mightily encreafed 
 the Trade of England-, by which Means he 
 was enabled to bear the Expences of a long 
 confuming War, and to leave his Kingdom 
 much richer than he found it. He laid the 
 Foundation for great Things: But the unhap- 
 py Biafs of the Engli/h wns alw^ays working 
 againft Foreigners. 
 
 Therefore towards the End of his Ion or 
 Reign, when the Hiftorians defcribe him, as 
 having deviated very much from his wonted 
 good Condud, the Mayor and Citizens of 
 London renewed their Solicitations at this Junc- 
 ture, and fet forth mofl amply the Grievances 
 fuppofed to be occafioned by the Admiliion of 
 
 D 
 
 Forpiguers, 
 
'■r 
 
 i8 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 Foreigners. Thefe are fummed up in their 
 own Words, as follows, * " And whereas, at 
 the laft Parliament, holden at Wejlminflery 
 it was anfwered to them [the Mayor, Alder-i 
 men, and Commonalty of the City of hon^ 
 don] that they fhould declare their Griev- 
 ances Jpedaify, and that they (hould have 
 good Remedy: Of which Grievances, a- 
 mongft divers others, thefe be, That any 
 Stranger might dwell in the faid City, and 
 keep an Houfe, and be a Broker, and fell 
 and buy all Manner of Merchandifes by Re- 
 tail ; and one Stranger to fell unto another, 
 to fell again, to the great enhancing of the 
 Prices of Merchandizes, and a Caitfe to make 
 them remain there more than forty Days: 
 Whereas, in Times paft, no Merchants 
 Strangers might do any fuch Thing, con- 
 trary to the Franchifes of the faid City, be- 
 fore thefe Times had and ufed; by which 
 Grievances, the Merchants of the faid City 
 are greatly impoverilhed, and the Navy im- 
 paired, and the Secrets of the Land, by the 
 faid Strangers, difcovered to our Enemies, 
 by Spies, and other Strangers, into thefe 
 Houfes received. May it therefore pleafe 
 your Majefty and Council, in this prefent 
 Parliament, to ordain, That the faid Mer- 
 chants Strangers may be reftrained in the 
 Points aforefaid j and that the faid Mayor, 
 Aldermen, and Commonalty of your faid 
 
 " City 
 * Seymour's Survey of London ^ Vol, II, Page 314= 
 
 
 
 ■ t 
 
 i }' 
 
5 on the 
 
 »P in their 
 ivhereas, at 
 yejlminfter^ 
 ^or. Alder- 
 ^y o^Lon-. 
 eir Griev- 
 ould havo 
 ■vances, a- 
 That any 
 City, and 
 r, and fell 
 fesbyRe- 
 3 another, 
 '^^% of the 
 fe to make 
 ty Days: 
 ^lerchants 
 jng, con- 
 City, be- 
 >y which 
 iaid City 
 *favy im- 
 [, by the 
 ^nemies^ 
 to thefo 
 ■e pleafe 
 ! prefent 
 id Mer- 
 in the 
 Mayor, 
 ur faid 
 City 
 
 late Naturalization BilI. 19 
 
 «' City may enjoy the faid Franchifes, any 
 ^' Law or Cuftom, heretofore made unto the 
 " contrary thereof, in any wife notwithfland- 
 
 c< 
 
 ing. 
 
 (< 
 
 But the King was not fo much altered 
 from himfelf, as not to fee through thefe Pre- 
 tences ; and therefore gave the Petitioners lit- 
 tle more than kind Words in redrefs of their 
 Grievances. For he ftill perfevered in his 
 former Sentiments, that he was as good a 
 Judge of what was for the general Advantage 
 of the Kingdom, the Increafe of the Navy, 
 and the Prefervation of the S. ate, as they were, 
 and had it as much at Heart: And all that he 
 did for them, was to make fome inconfiderable 
 Conceffions, conditionally, or rather indeter- 
 minately exprefled, while he denied the main 
 Part of their Suit. This Affair happened in 
 the fiftieth Year of his Reign, and the laft but 
 one of his Life. 
 
 B u t fo foon as the old King was dead, 
 the Mavor and Citizens of London addreffed his 
 
 J 
 
 Grandfon and SuccefTor, Richard IL and met 
 with better Succefs. For in the very firft Year 
 of his Reign, he deprived the Foreigners of 
 the Liberty of buying and felling of, or to any 
 other Foreigner,within the Precindts of the City 
 of London : This was confirmed by an Ad: of 
 Parliament, made in the fame Year, 2i%Seymour 
 relates ; but is not to be found in the Statute 
 
 D 2 Book, 
 
 I 
 
^1 
 
 20 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 Book. However it is plain, that the Inhabi- 
 tants of the Cities and Boroughs began to tri- 
 umph, in Confequence of aVid:ory over Foreign- 
 ers, and pra(^f ifed the fame Outrages and Infults 
 againft them, which they had formerly done. 
 To put a Stop to which, two Laws were enabl- 
 ed, one in the fecond, and the other in the ele- 
 venth Year of his Reign, which explain and 
 confirm the feveral Statutes made by his Grand- 
 father, Edward III. in favour of Foreigners, 
 
 B u T as we are not to expedl mighty Mat- 
 ters for the Public Good from a Prince of the 
 Charader of Richard II. fo we find in the 
 Year 1392. the very Year in which he received 
 ten thoufand Pounds, and two gold Crowns 
 from the City of London^ by way of Redemp- 
 tion Money for their Charter, that he was {o 
 mollified with this Sum, opportunely coming 
 in to anfwer his extravagant Expences, as to 
 pafs a Law to repeal the principal Advantages 
 granted by his Grandfather and himfclf to 
 Strangers. After having recited the A(ft of 
 Edward III. witli the feveral Additions, it 
 proceeds, " Neverthelefs, forafmuch as it feem- 
 eth to our Lord the King, that the faid Sta- 
 tutes, if they (liall be fully holden and exe^,. 
 cufcd^ iliall extend to the great Hindrance 
 and Damage of the City of London, as of 
 other Cities, Boroughs, and Towns of this 
 Realm, it is ordained, G?<:." There needs 
 no Comment upon tliis Part of the Statute; 
 
 the 
 
 tC 
 
 (C 
 
 <t 
 
 >ff 
 
 »c 
 
 ii 
 
 ^ 
 
 ■-:33C^ 
 
^• 
 
 Ks on the 
 
 at the Inhabi- 
 bcgan to tri- 
 overForeign- 
 ges and Infults 
 formerly done. 
 vs were enad:- 
 ther in the ele- 
 explain and 
 by hisGrand- 
 " Foreigners. 
 
 : mighty Mat- 
 Prince of the 
 e find in the 
 ch lie received 
 gold Crowns 
 y of Redemp- 
 that he was fo 
 :unely coming 
 rpences, as to 
 al Advantages 
 id liimfclf to 
 d the KQi of 
 Additions, it 
 uch as it feem- 
 t the faid Sta- 
 ilde7i and exe^, 
 ;at Hindrance 
 London^ as of 
 fowns of this 
 There needs 
 P the Statute; 
 the 
 
 to' Natural iz AT ION Bill. 21 
 
 the very Words declare, at whofe Infligation 
 the Law was made, and whofe \Juppofed\ In- 
 terefts it was defigncd to ferve. This Statute 
 deprived Merchants Strangers of the Benefit of 
 felling to another Merchant Stranger, who was 
 to fcil again. It was likewife ordained, that 
 no Merchant Stranger fliould fell by Retail, 
 but only in Grois: Nay, Merchants Strangers 
 were not allowed to put, that is, to expofe to 
 Sale any Manner of Wares or Merchandifes, 
 except Livings and Viduals. 
 
 '3. 
 
 But ftill there was a Shadow of Liberty re^ 
 maining ; particularly Merchants Strangers were 
 allowed the Benefit of refiding in ILngland as 
 long as they pleafed, and of dwelling in Houfes 
 of their own, and being their own Brokers irj 
 the Difpofal of theii: Effeds. Therefore a Law 
 was obtained the fifth of Henry IV. A. D. 
 1403. c. 9. which ordained, " That all Mer- 
 chants Aliens, and Strangers, shall sell 
 their Merchandifes, brought into this Realm, 
 ivithin a garter of a Tear next after their 
 coming into the famej and alfo that the 
 Money which fliall be delivered by Ex- 
 change in Englafidy be employed upon the 
 Commodities of the Realm, within the faid 
 Realm, upon Pain of Forfeiture of the fame 
 Money ; and that no Merchant Alien, nor 
 Stranger, fell any Manner of Merchandife to 
 any other Merchant Alien, or Stranger, up- 
 on Pain gf Forfeiture of the fame Merchan- 
 
 '' dife. 
 
 (( 
 
 ft 
 
 <t 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 <c 
 
 it 
 
 tt 
 
 tt 
 
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 ^ 
 
(C 
 
 
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 22 Historical Remarks 6n the 
 
 " dife. And alfo, it is ordained and eftablirti* 
 •* ed, that in every City, Town, and Port 
 ** of the Sea, in England^ where the faid 
 «* Merchants Aliens, or Strangers be, or (hall 
 be repairing, fufficient Hofts (hall be ajjigned 
 to the faid Merchants by the Mayor, She* 
 rifs, or Bailifs j-*and that the faid Mer-» 
 chants Aliens, and Strangers, (hall dwell in 
 no other Place, but with their faid Hofts fo 
 to be afligned; and that the faid Hofts, fo 
 to be afligncd, fhall take for their Travel in 
 *' the Manner as was accuftomed in old Time.** 
 By the Tenor of this Law, a Merchant Stran- 
 ger was not only deprived of the Benefit of 
 felling to another Merchant Stranger, who was 
 to fell again within the Realm, according to 
 the Statute of Richard II. mentioned above ; 
 but alfo he was reftrained from felling at all to 
 Merchants Strangers, though for the Purpofes 
 of Eocportation : So that it became a Crime, 
 by the Laws of the Land, to attempt to make 
 this Country the Centre of Trade, and a Ma- 
 gazine for other Nations. And yet this un- 
 happy national Biafs, joined with the narrow, 
 felfifli Views of Individuals, prevailed fo ftrong- 
 ly, that this very abfurd Claufe was confirmed 
 again by a Statute made the next Year, the 
 fixth 01 Henry IV. c. 4. There was indeed a 
 Repeal of the Obligation laid upon Foreigners 
 to fell their Merchandifes within a Quarter of a 
 Year after Importation : But particular Carb 
 was taken to add, " Saving always, the Fran- 
 
 *' chifes 
 
 :.n 
 
''IS 
 '1 
 
 6n thi 
 
 and Pore 
 J th& faid 
 ', or fhall 
 htaj/tgned 
 yor, She* 
 lid Mer- 
 
 dwell in 
 
 Hofts ib 
 Hofts, {q 
 Fravel in 
 i Time." 
 nt Stran- 
 ^nefit of 
 who was 
 rding to 
 
 above; 
 at all to 
 Purpofes 
 I Crime, 
 to make 
 
 a Ma- 
 this un- 
 narrow, 
 ftrong- 
 ifirmed 
 :ar, the 
 ideed a 
 eigners 
 :er of a 
 tr Carfe 
 
 Fran- 
 
 chifes 
 
 tt 
 
 (C 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 (C 
 
 <c 
 
 fC 
 
 /j/^ Nat URAL iz ATioN Bill. 23 
 
 chifes and Liberties of the City of London: 
 And further, Provided always, that the faid 
 Merchants Aliens, and Strangers, Ihall not 
 carry, or catife to be carried^ out of the 
 Realm, any Merchandifes brought ivithin 
 the Realm by the Merchants Aliens and 
 Strangers aforefaid." This was flrengthen- 
 ing the Evil; fo that even our own Shipping 
 were not to be employed in carrying the Goods 
 
 of Foreigners from one Country to another .. 
 
 We fhall prefently fee what Ufe the Citizens 
 of London made of thefe Statutes. 
 
 N o w as thefe Laws were made in the 
 Reign of Henry IV. it may be reafonably afkcd. 
 How a Prince fo politic and attached to his 
 Intereft, could be induced to pafs them? For 
 it was impoflible to avoid perceiving, that the 
 Duties and Cuftoms would be greatly diminifli- 
 cd by fuch Exclufions and Monopolies. And 
 yet perhaps he adted wholly upon the Prin- 
 ciples of Self-Interefl and State Policy in this 
 Affair. For he found it necefliiry to (land well 
 with the Citizens of London^ and to gain the 
 AlFedlions of the People at any Rate. Great 
 Difcontents then prevailed, on account of his 
 Behaviour to, and fuppofed Murder of the 
 depofed King. A Confpiracy and a dange* 
 rous Infurreftion were adually then on foot, 
 Belides, he had a favourite Point to be gained, 
 no lefs than the intailing of the Realms of 'Eng- 
 Imd ^nd Trance on his four Sons, which was 
 
 propofed 
 
d 
 
 I 
 
 f: 
 
 ii 
 
 ;i4 Historical Remarks on tbe 
 
 propofed and carried the Beginning of the next 
 Seffions of Parliament. But as foon as this 
 Point was obtained, his Complaifance grew 
 lefs 5 and a Law was palled the very fame Sef- 
 fions, to reftrain the Encroachments of the Ci- 
 tizens of London, viz. Anno 7mo Hen. IV. 
 A.D. 1405. c. 9, " liem. Whereas at the 
 grievous Complaint made by the Commons 
 in the faid Parliament, it is fliewed, how 
 that in old Time it was ufed and accuftomed, 
 that as well the Cloth-makers and Drapers 
 of whatfoever Place of the Realm, repairing 
 and having Recourfe to the City of London, 
 as other Merchants with divers Merchan- 
 difes, as Wine, Iron, Oil, and Wax, and 
 other Things pertaining to Merchandife, ex- 
 ercifing, repairing, and having Recourfe to 
 the faid City, have bought and fold in Grofs, 
 as well with Aliens as with Denizens, of 
 the Cloths and other Merchandizes afore- 
 faid, at their Will and Pleafure, paying in 
 this Behalf only, the Cuftoms and other De- 
 ■ voirs thereof, reafonably due: And never, 
 ' in all the faid Time, were difturbed, or in 
 ' any Manner hindered, to fell or buy in 
 ' Grofs with Merchants, Aliens or Denizens, 
 ' of fuch Cloths and Merchandifes at their 
 ^ Will and Pleafure, but only to Retail: And 
 ' now of late, as well the fame Cloth-mak- 
 
 * ers, as other the Merchants aforefaid, by 
 
 * the Mayor, Sherifs, Aldermen, Drapers, 
 
 * and Merchants of London^ be daily djjlurbed 
 
 ''• cud 
 
 % 
 
■^! 
 
 the 
 
 the next 
 1 as this 
 re grew 
 ime SeA 
 F the Ci- 
 len, IV. 
 at the 
 )mmons 
 d, Jiow 
 ftomed. 
 Drapers 
 epairing 
 London^ 
 erchan- 
 ax, and 
 iiie, ex- 
 011 rfe to 
 in Grafs, 
 ^cm, of 
 IS afore- 
 aying in 
 herDe- 
 1 never, 
 ^i or in 
 buy in 
 snizens. 
 It their 
 h And 
 b-mak- 
 aid, by 
 )rapers, 
 '■Jlurbcd 
 '"' end 
 
 (cc 
 
 tec 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 C( 
 
 cc 
 
 kc 
 cc 
 « 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 
 CI 
 Cc 
 
 cc 
 
 A7/t? Naturalization Bill. 25 
 
 ami let ;o fell and buy in the Manner aforc- 
 faid, as well in Grofs as in Retail^ and -iev- 
 ouily and continually conllraincd to fell cheir 
 faid Clothr, and Merchandifcs only to the 
 Merchants and Inhabitants of the iliid City, 
 to the lingular Profit and Advantage of them 
 q{ London^ and alio to the Damage and Lofs 
 of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and 
 the Commons of this Realm, as of the faid 
 Cloth-makers and Merchants fo grieved, and 
 a plain Enfample and Occafion to fuch 
 Cloth-makers and Merchants fo grieved, to 
 withdraw themfelves from the faid City from 
 henceforth, if Remedy be not rather pro- 
 vided in this Behalf: It is ordained and 
 eftabliflied, that as well the Drapers and 
 Cloth-fellers, as other Merchants, with 
 their fundry Merchandifes, fhall be free to 
 fell in Gvofi their Cloths, Iron, Oil, and 
 Wax, and other their Merchandifes, as wel! 
 to all the King's liege People, as to the Ci-^ 
 ti^ens oiLondoJi^ notwithftanding any Fran- 
 chife or Liberty granted to the contrary." 
 
 '-J 
 % 
 
 1 
 
 I T may be greatly queflioned, whether 
 the City of London ever had any Franchlfe or 
 Privilege of this Sort. But the Citizens af- 
 fumed to themfelves fuch a Prerogative, by 
 conftruing the Statutes made againfl Aliens and 
 Foreigners, as extending alfo to exclude Na- 
 tives of the Realm, if not free of their City. 
 For they have ever confidered all others, tlio* 
 
 E the 
 
"J. 
 
 << 
 
 cc 
 
 C( 
 
 cc 
 
 26 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 the King's natural born Subjedts, in the Light 
 of Foreigners j and give them this very Appel- 
 lation in their City-Laws. 
 
 B u T if this A(5t fecmcd to open a Door for 
 Foreigners to enter in again, effedual Care was 
 taken, by Statutes made in the following 
 Reigns, to (hut it up. One of thefe Adts pro- 
 ceeded fo far as to ordain, " That no EngliJJj- 
 man (hall within this Realm fell, or caufe to 
 be fold hereafter, to any Merchant Alien, 
 any Manner of Merchandifes, but only for 
 ready Payment in hand, or elfe in Merchan- 
 " difes for Merchandifes, to be paid and con- 
 " tented in hand, upon Pain of Forfeiture of 
 " the fame." This Law was made, A. D, 
 1429. and the Eighth of Henry VL c.24. but 
 being of a Nature too abfurd and extravagant 
 to be put in Practice, was repealed the follow- 
 ing Sellions. 
 
 It is a Matter of no fmall A(loni(hment, 
 that any Foreigners (hould remain, or come 
 into the Kingdom, after fuch inceilant Pains 
 to drive and keep them out. But, as if Pro- 
 vidence had decreed ^Qjhould be a Trading 
 Nation, in fpite of all Endeavours to the con- 
 trary, they rather encreafed than dimini(hed by 
 thefe Oppreflions ; — if the Accounts given in 
 the Preamble of the famous Statute of Richard 
 III. are to be credited. This bloody Tyrant 
 had rendered himfelf extremely odious by his 
 
 Ufurpation 
 
 ^€>^ 
 
 .-iitftW.-v'.--*^ At !,-.-.'■. 
 
m the 
 
 the Light 
 'ryAppel- 
 
 Door for 
 Care was 
 following 
 Adls pro- 
 Englifi. 
 r cauie to 
 It Alien, 
 only for 
 »^erchan- 
 and con- 
 feiture of 
 e, A. D. 
 24. but 
 ■ravagant 
 I follow- 
 
 ifliment, 
 
 >r come 
 
 nt Pains 
 
 if Pro- 
 
 he con- 
 
 fhedby 
 
 iven in 
 
 \ichard 
 
 Tyrant 
 
 by his 
 
 rpation 
 
 late Naturalization B i i ^. 27 
 
 Ufurpation and Barbarities. But as he well 
 underftood the Foible of the Englijl,\ he fought 
 their Reconciliation by palTing a very popular 
 Ad againft Foreigners. This Statute was 
 made in the firfl Parliament after his AccciTion, 
 principally to gratify the Citizens of London ; 
 and fets forth, " That our Sovereign Lord the 
 King, upon Petition made to him, in his 
 faid Parliament, by the Commons of Eng- 
 land^ hath conceived and underftood, That 
 whereas Merchants Strangers, of the Na- 
 tion of Italy ^ as Venetians, Florentines^ Apu^ 
 Ham, Cicilians, Lite alters^ Catelians, and 
 other of the fame Nation, in great Number 
 do inhabit and keep Houfes, as well in the 
 City oi London, as in other Cities and Bo- 
 roughs within this his Realm, and do take 
 Warehoufes and Cellars, and therein put 
 their Wares and Merchandifes, which they 
 bring into this faid Realm j and them, in 
 " the faid Cellars and Warehoufes, deceitfully 
 do pack, mingle, and keep the fame, till 
 fuch Time the Prices thereof be greatly en- 
 hanced, for their great Lucre } and thefime 
 Merchandifes and Wares they then fell to 
 all Manner of People, as well within the 
 Ports where they bring the faid Wares and 
 Merchandifes, as to other divers and many 
 Places within this Realm, as well by Retail 
 as otherwife : And alfo do buy in the faid 
 Ports and other Places, at their own Liberty, 
 the Commodities of this Realm, and fell the 
 
 E 2 " fume 
 
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Tf 
 
 28 HiSTOR ICAL Rem ARKS 0« ^/jt' 
 
 fame again at their Pleallirc, within the 
 fame, as commonly and freely as any of the 
 King's liege People doth, and do not em- 
 ploy a great Part of the Money, coming 
 thereof, upon the Commodities of this 
 Realm; but make it over the Sea by Ex- 
 change to divers Countries, to the King's 
 great Damage in Lofs of his Cuftoms, and 
 to the great Impovcrilhinc; of his faid Sub- 
 jects, of whom they Ihould buy the Com- 
 ** modities of this Realm. 
 
 (i 
 
 <t 
 
 C( 
 
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 " II. And the fame Merchants of Ifci/)\ 
 and other Merchants Strangers, be Ho/is, 
 and take to them People of other Nations, 
 and be with them daily; and do buy, fell, 
 and make privy and lecret Contrad:s and 
 Bargains with the fame People, to their 
 great Increafe and Profit, and to the impor- 
 tune Damage of the King's faid Subjects, 
 and contrary to divers Statutes in this Cafe 
 provided and ordained. 
 
 " III. Also, the faid Merchants of It^ly 
 ** do buy, in divers Places within this Realm, 
 ^* a great Quantity of Wool, and Woolleti Cloth, 
 " and other Merchandifes, of the King's Sub- 
 je(fls ; and Part thereof they fell again to tlic 
 faid Subjcds, and other within this Realm, 
 " to their great Advantage ; and much of the 
 " faid Wools they do dcli'ue)' to Cloth-maker 5,^ 
 ^^ thereof to make Cloth at their Pleafure. 
 
 " IV. MoR|:r 
 
 (( 
 
 cc 
 
 - "» f 
 
* 
 
 on the 
 
 vithin the 
 any of the 
 ^ not em- 
 K, coming 
 of this 
 cu by Ex- 
 be King's 
 :oms, and 
 faid Sub- 
 he Com- 
 
 of Itah\ 
 
 be Hojh, 
 
 Nations, 
 
 buy, fell, 
 
 ad:s and 
 
 to their 
 
 le iinpor- 
 
 Subjeds, 
 
 this Cafe 
 
 i o^ Italy 
 s Realm, 
 len Cloth ^ 
 ig's Sub- 
 n to the 
 Realm, 
 h of the 
 •makers^ 
 e. 
 
 MoR^- 
 
 « 
 <( 
 f( 
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 Aj/<: NaTUR ALIZ ATION B I L L. 29 
 
 " IV. Moreover, a great Number of Ar- 
 tificers, and other Strangers, not born un- 
 der the King's Obcyfnncc, do daily refort 
 and repair to the City of London^ and to 
 other Cities, Boroughs, and Towns of the 
 faid Realm, and much more than they were 
 wont to do in Timeb paft: ; and inhabit by 
 themlclvcs, in the faid Realm, with their 
 Wives, Children, and I-Ioudiold, and will 
 not take upon them any laborious Occupa- 
 tion, as going to Plow and Cart, and other 
 like Biifmcfs, but ufe the making of Cloth, 
 and other handicraft and eafy Occupations; 
 and bring and convey, from the Parts be- 
 yond the Sea, great Subftance of Wares and 
 Mcrchandiles to Fairs and Markets, and all 
 other Places of this Realm, at their Plea- 
 furc, and there fell the fame, as well by Re- 
 tail as otherwifc, as freely as any ot the 
 King's Subjects ufcd to do, to the great Da- 
 nv;iji;e and Impovcrifhment of the King's 
 faid Siibjeclsj and will in no wile fuffer nor 
 take any ot the Kin'^'s faid Subjcds to work 
 with tb.em, but they take only, into their 
 Service, People born in their own Country; 
 whereby the King's faid Subjeds, jh' Lack 
 of Occupation^ fall into Idkncjl^ and be 
 '•Thieves^ Beggars, Vagabonds, and People of 
 'V/cions Living, to the great Perturbance both 
 of the King, and all his Realm. And when 
 the Mcrdiants, Artificers, and Strangers, 
 
 *' before 
 
1. 1 ; 
 
 30 Historical R'EMARKi on the 
 
 * before rehearfed, have gained within this 
 
 * Realm, by Buying and Selling, and by fuch 
 
 * eafy Occupations and Handicrafts, great 
 
 * Subftance of Goods: With the fame Sub- 
 ' ftance they go out of the faid Realm, to 
 
 * fuch Parts beyond the Sea as them liketh 
 
 * beft, and there fpend the fame Goods often- 
 
 * times among the King's Adverlaries and 
 Enemies, to the great Damage of our So- 
 vereign Lord the King and his Subjects, and 
 Impoverifhment of this Realm, and the 
 Commons of the fame : And fo by the 
 Occafion of the Premifes, the Subftance of 
 the Inhabitants in the faid Cities, Boroughs 
 and Towns, now of late hath fallen, and 
 
 ' daily doth fall into great Poverty and De- 
 cay, to their great undoing, unlefs the King's 
 gracious Aid be to them in this Behalf 
 Slewed/' 
 
 The abfurd Snggeftions in this Preamble, 
 That a free Trade caufes a Monopoly, and 
 that the Buying our own Wool, anr" manu- 
 facturing it into Cloth at Home, tends to im- 
 poverifh a Country, feem naturally to point 
 out this Inference, — That if the Force of Pre- 
 judice in our Anceftors was fo ftrong, as to 
 m:ike them believe Propolitions, not only con- 
 tradidory to common Senfe, but alfo fo pal- 
 pably againft their own Intereft, We fhould be 
 the more cautious that our Judgments be not 
 biafled by any popular Cry, nor by any Re- 
 mains 
 
 
 i 
 
 3 
 
r the 
 
 thin this 
 1 by fuch 
 ;, great 
 ne Sub- 
 :alm, to 
 1 liketh 
 Is often- 
 'ies and 
 our So- 
 fts, and 
 md the 
 
 by the 
 tance of 
 oroughs 
 en, and 
 nd De- 
 ; King's 
 
 Behalf 
 
 iambic, 
 y, and 
 manu- 
 to im- 
 
 point 
 |)f Pre- 
 
 as to 
 y con- 
 b pal- 
 uld be 
 )e not 
 Re- 
 mains 
 
 late Naturalization Bill. 31 
 
 mains of this national Foible, whenever Ques- 
 tions relating to the Naturalization of Foreign- 
 ers come upon the Carpet. Befides, Suppofe 
 we allow it to be true, that the Merchants 
 Strangers did leave the Kingdom, after they 
 had acquired Riches in it, — Whom were the 
 Englijh to blame, but themfelves, as they had 
 taken fuch uncommon Pains to render this 
 Country an unfafe and difagreeable Place for 
 Strangers to refide in? And was it not natu- 
 ral for Foreigners to aflbciate together, while 
 they ftaid here, as they were fo hated and 
 ill-ufed by the Natives ? 
 
 However, a Law was made to redrefs thefe 
 imaginary Grievances : A Stranger was never 
 to fell by Retail, nor to be an Hoft or Land- 
 lord to any other, but to a Fellow-Country- 
 man : Aliens were to fell their Merchandifes 
 within eight Months after their Arrival, and to 
 lay out the Money, fo received, in buying the 
 Commodities of the Country;— yet they were 
 not allowed to buy or fell Wool, or Woollen 
 Cloth, nor to make Wool into Cloth, nor deliver 
 Wool to others for that Purpofe-, nor were even 
 the King's natural born Subjects to make Cloth 
 for Aliens, under Pain of Forfeiture of the 
 faid Cloth : Aliens were to take no Apprentices 
 or Servants, but the King's natural born Sub- 
 jedts; and if any Alien Artificers, or Handi- 
 craftfmen, fhould come into the Realm, after 
 •i, limited Time, thty were to return into their 
 
 own 
 
 '> 
 
 :« 
 
 ^-■*-4a^iaM 
 
 m^mitb^^mmt 
 
 ram 1^ I 
 
 " V *f „., 
 
 ^. 
 
I 
 
 f >,: 
 
 32 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 own Country, or fubmit to become Servants 
 to the Englljh of the like Occupation. 
 
 Y E f as Neceffity is always ingenious, the! 
 Strangers found Means to elude ii great Part of 
 thefe Penalties, by getting themfelves made 
 Denizens by Virtue of the Kirig's Prerogative* 
 Therefore in the Beginning of the next Reign, 
 {Henry VII.) as this was looked upon a fa- 
 vourable Jundlure, Application was made, 
 and a Bill obtained, That if Strangers were 
 made Denizens, they were to reap no Privi- 
 leges from that Grant. 
 
 And now, one would think, the 'Englijf^ 
 had gained a complete Vidtory over Foreign- 
 ers. Let us fee therefore, What were the 
 mighty Confequences ? All the trading Parts 
 of the Kingdom had joined v/ith the Citizens 
 of London againft the comyimi Enemy, But 
 when he was lubdued, did Trade raifc its droop- 
 ing Head? Did Wealth and Plenty, the iia* 
 tural Confequences of Commerce, follow on 
 this Expulfion of thofe, who were before re- 
 prefented as taking the Bread out of the Mouths 
 of the Natives? No, the Event verified what 
 plain, unbiafled common Senfe would have fore- 
 told, that an Encreafe of Trade neither would^ 
 nor could follow fuch an Expulfion. For the 
 fame narrow, felfiih way of Thinking, that 
 then prevailed in London^ the greateft trading 
 City in the Kingdom, againft Foreigners buy- 
 ins; 
 
 1 
 
 ■K 
 
 ■I 
 
 -tn^-m.^ 
 
on the 
 le Servants 
 
 nious, th<i 
 eat Part of 
 Ives made 
 erogative. 
 "xt Reign, 
 >on a fa- 
 is tnade, 
 ^ers were 
 10 Privi- 
 
 ; Englijfj 
 Foreign* 
 were the 
 
 ng Parts 
 Citizeiig 
 
 1)'. But 
 s droop- 
 the iia-* 
 llow on 
 ibre re- 
 Mouths ' 
 d what 
 I'e fore- 
 would, 
 "or the 
 l> that 
 :rading 
 s buy- 
 in 2: 
 
 :^ 
 
 hte Natu alization Bill. 3^ 
 
 W even our own manufadured Commodities, 
 as naturally, and upon the fame Principles, in- 
 duced them toengrofs the whole Trade of the 
 Kingdom to themfelves J as all greater Bodies 
 will do, where Trade is not free. And then 
 the fame Pretences were alledged againft the 
 Out- Ports, as the Inhabitants of the Out-Ports, 
 duped by the Artifice and Example of the Lon-- 
 doner i^ had formerly alledged againft Foreign- 
 ers. Tliey then began to be fenfible of an 
 Evil, which they would not feel before. 
 Therefore they petitioned the Parliament for 
 Redrefs ; and indeed it was high Time they 
 £hould do fo, fince no Merchant of the Out- 
 Ports was permitted to trade to Spain, Portu- 
 galy France, Ireland, Venice, Danfzick, Flan- 
 ders, Holland, and the Sea Coafts of Germany, 
 unlefs he paid 20/. fterling to the Fellowfhip 
 and Merchants of London : A great Sum in 
 thofeDays, efpecially to a Beginner! All this, 
 we may fuppofe, was done with a Pretence to 
 keep up the Credit of our Commodities in fo- 
 reign Markets, and to fupply them with pro- 
 per Scrtments of Goods ; the ufual, though a 
 very fenfelefs Plea, for all Monopolies : Bat the 
 real Confequence was, as is fet forth in the 
 Preamble to the Statute, exprefly mncle to 
 prevent this Encroachment, 19 Hen, Vil. c. 6. 
 That all Merchants, not being of the lame 
 Fellowship and Confederacy, idthdra\i/ 
 themfelves from the fliid Marts [of Spain, 
 Portitgal, France, &c.] whereby the Vv^ool- 
 
 F " '' Icn 
 
 << 
 
 <( 
 
 it 
 
 Si 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 MAw^Nm.* 
 
 udt 
 
fW 
 
 fe 
 
 34 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 len Cloth of this Realm, which is one of the 
 great eft Cojnmodities of the fame ^ by making 
 whereof the King's true Subjects be put in 
 Occupation, and the poor People have moft 
 tmiverfalty their Living, and alfo other di- 
 vers Commodities of divers and feveral Parts 
 of this fame Realm, is not fold nor uttered, 
 as it hath been in Times pad : But for lack 
 of Utterance for the fame in divers Parts, 
 where fuch Cloths be made, they be con- 
 veyed to London, where they be fold for un- 
 der the Price they be worth, and that they 
 cod the Makers of the fame j and at other 
 Times, they be lent to long Days, and the 
 Money thereof, at divers Times never paid. 
 And over that, the Commodities and Mer- 
 chandifes of thofe Parts, which the faid Fel- 
 low (hip Merchants of London, and other 
 their Confederates, bring into this Land, is 
 fold to your faid Complainants, and others, 
 the King's true Subjedls, at fo dear and 
 HIGH EXCEEDING Frice, that the Buyer of 
 the fame cannot live thereupon: By reafon 
 whereof, all the Cities, Towns, and Boroughs 
 of this Realm, in effecSt be fallen into great 
 Poverty, Ruin, and Decay** 
 
 Here is a very different Account given of 
 the Caufes of depopulating the Cities, Towns, 
 and Villages, from tliat fet forth before by the 
 Londoners : And the Reader is to judge, which 
 hath the Probability of bcinc! the true one. The 
 
 Foreigners 
 
 i 
 
•'''^• 
 
 s Oft the 
 
 is one of the 
 by making 
 s be put in 
 have moft 
 fo other di- 
 feveral Parts 
 nor uttered, 
 ut for lack 
 vers Parts, 
 ley be con- 
 fold forun- 
 i that they 
 d at other 
 's, and the 
 never paid. 
 5 and Mer- 
 le faid Fel- 
 and other 
 is Land, is 
 nd others, 
 
 )EAR AND 
 
 e Buyer of 
 
 By reafon 
 
 Boroughs 
 
 into great 
 
 t given of 
 Towns, 
 >re by the 
 je, which 
 one. The 
 oreigners 
 
 .1 
 
 late Naturalization Bill. 35 
 
 Foreigners were now driven out : Here is no 
 Complaint brought againft them-, and yet the 
 Evil was every Day encreafing. Nay, from 
 the firft Time Foreigners were put under 
 fuch Reftraints andDifcouragements, the Coun- 
 try became apparently thinner of Inhabitants. 
 And the Diminution of Inhabitants, much a- 
 bout this Jundlure, is a Circumftance taken 
 notice of by all Hiflorians, and even by the 
 Statute Book. For Laws were made from 
 Time to Time, with an Intent to people the 
 Country again. It was ordained, that all an- 
 tient dwelling Houfes, and Houfes of Huf- 
 bandry, fhould be kept in good Repair: No 
 Arable Land was permitted to be converted into 
 Pafture : The Number of Farms, which any 
 Perfon was fuffered to hold, was limited, as 
 was alfo the Number of Sheep he was allowed 
 to keep : Upon which laft Article, I remember 
 to have read fomewhere in Bifhop Latimer^ 
 that the Sheep, tho* mild Aninials, had de- 
 voured more Men in England^ than the mofl 
 ravenous Beafts of Prey. — He meant, that 
 Agriculture was neglected, the Towns and 
 Villages forfaken, and nothing to be feen, but 
 a few Shepherds with large Flocks of Sheep. 
 
 I T is eafy to perceive, that theie Laws did 
 not reach the Root of the Evil, and could have 
 very little EfFed: in removing the real Caufe 
 of Complaint. But the Englijh were refolved 
 to try all Expedients, rather than admit the 
 
 F 2 Perfons, 
 
 1 
 
 % 
 
 
 J 
 
k 
 
 36 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 Pcrfon?, againft whom the national Prejudice 
 was raifed lb high. Nay, in the very midft of 
 the Calamities of the Kingdom, the Citizens of 
 Lomkn gave a new Specimen of their heredi- 
 tary Hatred againft the few Foreigners that re- 
 mained, and obtained a fevere Decree in the 
 Star-Chamber, the twenty firit o^ Henry VIII. 
 to put all the penal Laws in Force againft them. 
 They took. Care to exaggerate every Circum- 
 ftance, and reprefented the Realm to be over- 
 run with foreign Manufacturers; which, if 
 true, mufl: have contradided all that had been 
 iaid before, concerning the general Decay of 
 Trade, the Depopulation of the Towns and 
 Villages, and the running into Decay of the 
 Farm Houfes. But the Trath is, they longed 
 to recover the Monopoly they had loft by the 
 nineteenth of Henry VII. r. 6. and therefore 
 began, as ufual, with making their firft At- 
 tack upon Foreigners or Aliens; in which they 
 were fure to do an acceptable Thing to the reft 
 of the Kingdom. Their Views will heft ap- 
 pear, by producing fome of the Articles of 
 their lanwitahle Bill of Complaint (thefe arc 
 their very Words) '•oiz. ** That Aliens, not 
 born within the King's Obeylance, exported 
 Bacon, Cheefc, Powdered Beef, Mutton, 
 and other Commodities of this Realm; — 
 and that by the continual Recourfe of Stran- 
 gers Handicraftfmen, great Portions of Corn 
 and Vi(5tual, grown and bred within the 
 Realm, were confumed." To which, and 
 
 the 
 
 c? 
 
 *c 
 
 <( 
 
 <c 
 
 (< 
 
 <c 
 
 ct 
 
 ;*3 
 
 .<* 
 
 % 
 
 '^^ 
 
 a^ 
 
w 
 
 s on the 
 
 al Prejudice 
 ery midft of 
 e Citizens of 
 heir heredi- 
 lers that re- 
 'Cree in the 
 lenryVlll, 
 ;ainft them. 
 fy Circum- 
 to be over- 
 
 which, if 
 It had been 
 I Decay of 
 ^owns and 
 -ay of the 
 ley longed 
 loft by the 
 
 therefore 
 r firft At- 
 'hich they 
 to the re/l 
 ! beftap- 
 Lrticles of 
 theie arc 
 iens, not 
 exported 
 Mutton, 
 eaJm; — 
 
 3f Stran- 
 
 of Corn 
 
 •hin the 
 
 ich, and 
 
 the 
 
 (C 
 
 <c 
 
 <( 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 <c 
 
 
 /^/e' Natural I z AT ION Bill. 37 
 
 the like dcflruBive Caufes, they imputed many 
 tragical Events; fuch as that " the Englifi 
 Artificers, for lack of Occupation, be con- 
 ftrained to live in Idlenefs, by Occalioii 
 whereof they do continually fall to Theft, 
 Murder, and other great Offences, and con- 
 fcquently, in great Numbers be put to Death 
 by the LavtrsV' And with equal Juftice, 
 the great Numbers condemned at prefent in 
 every Scflions at the Old Bailey^ may afcribe 
 their Deaths to the fame Caufe: And pro- 
 bably would have done it, if the Opponents of 
 the late Naturalization Bill had been fo happy 
 as to have fuggefted the Thought to them. 
 
 Thus Things went on, from bad to worle, 
 till there were fcarce any Remains of the Cloth- 
 ing Trade left in England. Foreigners being 
 expelled, and no Recruits fuffered to come in, 
 the native Ejtgli/Jj foon commenced Monopo- 
 lifts, and rofe the Price of their Manufactures 
 upon their Fellow Subjects, which was attend- 
 ed with three very fatal Confequences, viz, 
 I. The Cloth, imported from abroad, could 
 be had at a cheaper Rate than what was made 
 at home ; and whofoever fells cheapeft, be he 
 Foreigner or Native, will always have the Pre- 
 ference at Market. 2. The Englifi Journey- 
 men, and lower Manufadlurers, who had been 
 the moft noify in their Clamours againft Fo- 
 reigners, being now deftitute of Work at 
 home, were ^lad to retire to Foreign Coun- 
 tries, 
 
 1 
 
 m 
 
38 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 tries to feek for Employment. They then 
 found to their Coft, that the Expiilfwn of Fo- 
 reigners was the Caufe of taking the Bread out 
 of their Mouths, not the Admijfion of them. 
 3. The Confumption of Provifions growing 
 lefs every Day on thefe Accounts, there was 
 no Encouragement to the Farmers and the 
 landed Gentlemen to raife any Thing, but nu- 
 merous Flocks of Sheep, which they were 
 fure would turn to good Account by the De- 
 mand for Wool in Flanders, 
 
 Ai!iT> fo great was the Decay of the Woollen, 
 and all other Manufactures, that the very Re- 
 membrance feems to have been loft among us. 
 For moft Perfons ufually fuppofe, that thefe 
 Arts had gained little or no Footing in England^ 
 till the Reign of Q£een Elizabeth -^ whereas, 
 in fad:, flie was only the Reviver of them, by 
 purfuing, or rather by not oppofmg the Plan laid 
 down fo long before, by Ed'voard III, And it 
 hath been fully fliewn, in the Courfe of this 
 Narrative, that many Years before her Reign, 
 the Woollen Manufacture had been confidered 
 as the fiapk Commodity of the Kingdom, 
 which employed vaft Numbers of People in 
 the feveral Branches of it. 
 
 ' ,6 
 
 But having brought Matters to this Period, 
 I muft here obferve, that we owed the Re- 
 vival of our Mercantile Knowledge, and that 
 we ought to afcribe the great Progrefs which 
 
 hatlv 
 
 % 
 
 'I 
 % 
 
 5fe 
 
'T 
 
 2 t/jf 
 
 ley then 
 m of Fo- 
 ^readout 
 f them, 
 growing 
 lere was 
 and the 
 but nu- 
 ey were 
 the De- 
 
 ^oollen, 
 ery Re- 
 long us. 
 it thefe 
 Ingland^ 
 -'hereas, 
 iem, by 
 *ian Jaid 
 And it 
 of this 
 Reign, 
 iidered 
 igdom, 
 )ple in 
 
 Viod, 
 le Re- 
 J that 
 which 
 hatlj. 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 f 
 
 late Naturalization Bill. 39 
 
 hath been made in the Arts of Commerce, 
 more to the Perfccution by the Duke D'Aha, 
 who a<5ted upon Principles, in all refpedls op- 
 pofite to the former Counts of Flanders^ than 
 to any found Policy of the Englifh Nation. 
 For though Queen Elizabethy and before her. 
 King EdwardW. did really receive the Refu- 
 gees in an hospitable Manner, yet it doth not 
 appear, tliat the Majority of the Kingdom 
 were in a right Difpofition to have invited 
 them over, ^% foreign Workmen and Artificers. 
 Indeed, an Increafe of Trade was the Confe- 
 qtience of their coming, but that did not feem 
 to be the National End aimed at in receiving 
 them. The Reformation was then in its In- 
 fancy, and its Friends were defirous of having 
 their Hands ftrengthened by the Acceflion of 
 foreign Proteftants; many of whom were Men 
 of Letters, and greatly ferviceable in carrying 
 on the Work of the Reformation. The Go- 
 vernment likewife had every Thing to fear, 
 both from the Murmurs and Counfels of the 
 Papifts at home, and the Power of the Pope 
 abroad j and was glad of this Opportunity of 
 encreafing the Number of Subjects, wliofe 
 Principles and Intereft were thoroughly con- 
 nedled with it. The long Wars, and bloody 
 Perfecutions in the Netherlands, drove the Peo- 
 ple to feek for Shelter in England, a Country 
 they would hardly have thought of retiring to 
 (as knowing the inherent Antipathy of the Na- 
 tives againll Strangers, efpcciully Artifans, Mer- 
 
 chant>% 
 
 I 
 
 
 '& 
 
 .t' 
 
4© Historical Remarks m the 
 
 chants, and Manufadurers) if they could have 
 made another Choice. But Germany and 
 France were, at that Jundure, much in the 
 fame Circumftances with themfelvcs ; fo that 
 this Ifland was the only fure Place of Refuge, 
 and near at hand. Therefore many thoufands 
 of Families came over during this long Reign, 
 many of whofe Defcendants are, at this Day, 
 as ftrongly leavened with an Averfion to Fo- 
 reigners, as the Englijh were againft their Fore- 
 fathers. But it is very obfervable, that not 
 one general Naturalization Bill paft during 
 this whole Reign, and not many private onesj 
 which mufl feem very extraordinary, confider- 
 ing the fevere Laws then in being, againft Alien 
 Merchants and Mechanicks: And I cannot 
 otherwife account for fuch a Conduct, than 
 by fuppofing, that this politick Princefs found 
 an happy Expedient to admit Foreigners, with- 
 out difgufting the People by a general Natu- 
 ralization. Whether this was done bv mak- 
 ing the famous Law againft Informers^ — or by 
 giving Orders to the Judges not to receive In- 
 formations (a Thing praiflifed in fome Cafes in 
 thofe Times) _— or by permitting the Free- 
 men and Burgefles of their refpedive Cities and 
 Towns, to make Laws for the cramping and 
 confining of Trade, in order to keep them in 
 good Humour (of which Laws many very 
 abfurd ones were made in her Reign) ■— or 
 by Letters of Denization, ■ or by what 
 
 'other IVXethod it was brouglit about, I know 
 
 not. 
 
 -1 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 
'!^ 
 
 t/je 
 
 jlii have 
 
 j/iy and 
 
 in the 
 
 ib that 
 Refuge, 
 oufands 
 
 Reign, 
 is Day, 
 
 to Fo- 
 ir Fore- 
 lat not 
 
 during 
 2 ones J 
 nfider- 
 t Alien 
 cannot 
 than 
 
 found 
 
 with- 
 Natu- 
 
 niak- 
 -or by 
 veln- 
 ifcs in 
 Free- 
 's and 
 >• and 
 ;ni ill 
 
 vcrv 
 — or 
 whiiu 
 :no\v 
 
 not. 
 
 ■V--- 
 
 ^1- 
 
 lati' Naturalization Bill. 41 
 
 hot. However, one Thing is clear, that the 
 Citizens of Lo72(fon either found no Encourage- 
 ment to renew their Complaints, or, if they 
 ventured to renew them, they were not re- 
 garded. For there is no publick Inftance upon 
 Record, of any Steps taken to moleft foreign 
 Artificers during this long Reign, 
 
 But after James I. came to the Throne, 
 the Citizens of Londoriy who never loft Sight 
 of this Point, renewed their Petitions with 
 much Earneftnefs. The King fays,* in the fe- 
 veral Commiffions granted for enquiring into 
 th^ Affair, " That he had been often folicited 
 " with MUCH Importunity by his good and 
 ** loving Subjeds, the Citizens of London^ to 
 take the Laws and Statutes, cnaded againft 
 Foreigners, into his Princely Confideration." 
 Which, by the Way, is a ftrong Intimation, 
 that the Execution of them had been fufpended 
 before. The Rules and Orders, made in Con- 
 fequence of thefe Solicitations, were, as might 
 be expefted, quite oppoflte to the Nature of 
 a free, open, and extenlive Trade. But I be- 
 lieve they did not fully anfwer the Hopes of 
 the Petitioners; and there were fome unlucky 
 Obfervations made upon the Matter, which 
 might have proved fatal to their Schemes, had 
 the Bufinefs of Commerce been rightly under- 
 stood, or duly attended to. In the CommilTion, 
 dated the 5th of J/^?/?, 1622. His Majefly faith, 
 
 G " He 
 
 <( 
 
 tc 
 
 1 
 
 • Rymeri Fu;d, VtJ. XV! J. Page 3 i ? 
 
 ) 3"-» 4 37 
 
 m 
 
i 
 
 [X / 
 
 it 
 
 tc 
 
 t< 
 
 iC 
 
 <c 
 
 c< 
 
 42 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 He would endeavour to keep fuch a due 
 Temperament between the Intcrefts of the 
 Complainants, and that of Foreigners, that 
 the latter fliould have no Caufe to fear be- 
 ing difturbed in their induftrious and feJulous^ 
 Courfes, whereof he wiflied bis own People 
 would take Example,'' But this feeming 
 Indulgence ends in real OpprclTion, as may be 
 icen by the two fucceedingClaufes, Page 574, 
 and 375. " And farther, Our Will and Plea- 
 fure is, that every fuch Stranger born, De- 
 nizen or not Denizen ; or others l)orn of Pa- 
 rents Strangers, not having ferved their Ap- 
 prenticehoods, as aforefaid, who either ufe 
 any manual or handicraft Trade, or the buy- 
 ing or felling of the home Commodities of 
 our Kingdom, fliall pay to our Vk^ as a 
 thankful Ackmwledgnumt of our Royal Fa- 
 vour, fuch Rates and Payments, out of their 
 ** Earnings or Gaiins, to be diftributed and 
 difpofed of for the Eafe and Comfort of our 
 own People, as We (hall ihmk fit, as lliaH 
 be directed by a Schedule, to be fubfcribed 
 by our own Hand; or, in Default thereof, 
 •* fuch Rates or Payments^ as our faid Com- 
 miffioners, under their Hands, or under the 
 Hands of Three of them, fliall fet down : 
 Whereby, our natural born Subjects may 
 difcern, that We put a proportionable Dif- 
 ference between them and the Stranger?, 
 if their own JFant of huhftryy or honeji 
 JForkmnnJhip^ be not the huprdiment, 
 
 " Never.- 
 
 t( 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 C( 
 
 <c 
 
 <c 
 
 u. 
 
 cc 
 
 <c 
 
 cc 
 
 «c 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 <c 
 
 «'C 
 
 C( 
 
 <i 
 
 <f 
 
 .;.f 
 
 . ,,1" ■. 
 
 a. 
 
 i 
 
 
■f 
 
 s on the 
 
 ' ^^ch a due 
 •refts of the 
 cjgners, that 
 ' to fear be- 
 
 own People 
 ^is fcemiiig 
 as may be 
 
 1 and Plea- 
 born, De- 
 
 l>ornofPa- 
 
 d their Ap- 
 
 > either ufe 
 
 3r the buy- 
 
 iiodities of 
 We, as a 
 
 Royal Fa. 
 
 »"t of their 
 
 ^uted and 
 
 [brt of oiir 
 
 ^» asflwH 
 
 rubfcribed 
 
 t thereof, 
 
 id Com- 
 
 Jnder the 
 
 it down : 
 
 <Ss may 
 
 ible Dif- 
 
 tranger.% 
 
 ic 
 
 C( 
 
 «i 
 
 (C 
 (C 
 
 <f 
 
 C<( 
 
 (( 
 It 
 f< 
 <( 
 <( 
 
 C.C 
 
 iC 
 
 « 
 
 late Naturalization Bill. 43 
 
 ** Neverthflfss, our Pleafiirc and Com- 
 mand is, that this Favour, which We (hall 
 thus vouchllifc to extend to fuch Strangers, 
 who have fettled thcmfelves and their Fa- 
 milies in this our Realm already ; or to fuch, 
 who by their Service, according to our Laws, 
 ih;di hereafter dcferve the like Favour, fhall 
 not draw hither, or continue here, any en- 
 creafing Number of Miiilerlefs Men of han- 
 dicraft Trades, to the extreme Hurt both 
 of the Englijh and Stmngcrs; but that fuch 
 either fpeedily return into their own Coun- 
 tries, or put themfelves to work as hired Ser- 
 ViWts, according to the true Meaning of 
 our Laws, or elfe (hall undergo the Seventy 
 oi our Laws, provi 'jd, and in y^/Tf againfl 
 ihem." 
 
 Then comes a tliird, in relation to the per- 
 fecuted French Proteftants, which is too cu- 
 rious to be omitted j and the Reader will not 
 pafs it over, without raakijig his own Remarks! 
 upon it. .,-.• . ;. : n ; . _• 
 
 ■jIM- 
 
 cc 
 
 C.C 
 
 .<« 
 
 \t 
 
 C( 
 
 £i 
 
 " Notwithstanding, our Will and Plea- 
 fure is, that unto fuch of the French Na- 
 tion, who by reafonof the late Troubles in 
 that Kingdom [When there was a League on 
 Foot to extirpate all the Proteftantij] have 
 had their Refijge hither, there (liall be fliew- 
 ed fiich Favour, beyond the Proportion of 
 
 G 2 . • '' o.her 
 
 ,ii>-.'.5? i ■; \ 
 
44 Historical Remarks o« /i&tf 
 
 " other Strangers, as our Commifnoners fliall 
 " think Jit ^ if, within a convenient Time, af- 
 " ter thefe Troubles fhall be over-blown, they 
 " Jhall return into their own Country again,** 
 
 Thus flood the Matter in the Reign of 
 King James I. — The deep-rooted national 
 Prejudice, joined to a grafptng Defire of Mo- 
 nopoly, fpurred on the Englijh, efpecially the 
 Citizens of Londoni to feek the Expulfion of 
 all Foreigners concerned in Commerce, and to 
 bar up the Way againft their entering in for 
 the future. The Power likewife of granting 
 Monopolies, as well as the Payments made 
 for fuch exclufive Privileges, fuited the Tafte, 
 and the Circumftances of that Court, fond of 
 Prerogative, and in Want of Money. 
 
 Bu T it defer ves the higheft Attention, that 
 hitherto not one IFordwsLS fuggefted, that the 
 Church of England, by Law eflabliihed, 
 would be endangered by the Admiffion of fo- 
 reign Proteftants. This was a new Topick, 
 never heard of till * Archbifliop Laud began to 
 gain Afcendency in the Englifi Councils. 
 
 I T is fomewhat ftrange, that from the Be- 
 ginning of the Reign of King Edward VI. to 
 this Period, not one Friend could be found, 
 not one faithful Bifhop, Paftor, or true Son of 
 the Church, to apprize her of the Danger thus 
 > hanging 
 
 * See He^Hn's, Life of Archbifhop LauJi^ 
 
 1 
 
 .m 
 
on the 
 
 oners fliall 
 Time, af- 
 lown, they 
 y again:* 
 
 e Reiga of 
 national 
 ire of Mo* 
 ccially the 
 pulfion of 
 ce, and to 
 ingin for 
 F granting 
 :nts made 
 the Tafte, 
 t, fond of 
 
 tion, that 
 , that the 
 ftabUflied, 
 ion of fo* 
 
 TOPICK, 
 
 ^ began to 
 icils. 
 
 n the 'Be- 
 rd VI. to 
 >e found, 
 ue Son of 
 ngerthus 
 hanging 
 
 f 
 
 
 
 >' 
 
 "4 
 
 A?/^ Naturalization BiLt. 45 
 
 hanging over her for the Space of near one 
 hundred Years. But the Truth is, the foreign 
 Proteftants were never confidercd in the Light 
 cf Enemies to our Church, till his Time. Tho 
 Church of England herfelf had been formed 
 upon the Plan of theConfeflionof y^w^w/rg-j 
 Ibme of the Articles and Homilies being, in 3 
 Manner, literal Tranjlations from this Con- 
 jfeflion, and the other Writings of that gmat 
 Divine Melan^bon, The Bifhops and MaN 
 tyrs, Hooper ^nd Latimer, took whole Pallag- 
 cs out of his Works. Archbifhop Cranmer 
 often importuned him to come into En^and^ 
 to help forward the good Work of the Refor- 
 mation. And indeed, moft of the Books pul> 
 litlied at that Time, were ^ranflatiom from 
 the German Divines. Martin Bncer and Pe^^ 
 ter Martyr vpre the two Perfons pitched uporr 
 by the ArchbiQiop himfelf, the Father of the 
 Englip Reformation, to be the King's Pra- 
 feffors of Divinity in the two Univerlities, 
 And when it was propofed to make fome Al- 
 terations in the Common Prayer Book of King 
 Edward VI. Bucer was principally confoltcd j 
 in relation to which Affair, Bifliop Burnett ob- 
 ferves, * " That the moft material Things, 
 ** which Bucer excepted to, were corredled:" 
 So great a Deference was paid to his Judg- 
 ment ; and we may plainly perceive, by com- 
 paring the prefent, with the former Book of 
 Common Prayer, that our excellent Liturgy 
 
 Dwe« 
 * Vol, II. 4tb Edit Page 147, 
 
 'i^ 
 
' \ 
 
 } \ 
 
 46 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 owes much of its prcfent Perfedion to his 
 Counfels. Much about the fame Time, he 
 wrote a Book for the young King's own Ufe, 
 entitled, * Concerning the Kingdom of Chriji ; 
 which principally treated of Ecclefiaftical Dif- 
 cipline, the good Government and external 
 Polity of the Church. About a Year after- 
 wards, Bucer died 5 -f* ** In whom Cranmer 
 loft a Friend, on whofe Affiftance he had 
 depended much, in what remained yet to 
 be done. He was, by Order of Cranmer 
 and Sir John Cheek, buried with the higheft 
 " ' Solemnities that could be devifed, to cxprefs 
 the Value the Univeriity had for him. The 
 Vice-Chancellor, and all the Graduates; 
 and the Mayor, and all the Town, accom- 
 panied his Funeral to St iWi^r/s, where, af- 
 ter Prayers, Haddon, the Univeriity Orator, 
 " made fuch a Speech concerning him, and 
 pronounced it with that Affedtion, that al* 
 moft the whole Aflembly fhed Tears. — ^ 
 Next, X Dr Parker, that had been his 
 moft intimate Friend, made an Englifi Ser-* 
 mon in his Praife, and concerning the Sor-» 
 rovving for our departed Friends. And the 
 Day following, Dr Redmayn^ then Mafter 
 of I'rinity College, made another Sermon" 
 concerning Death j and in it, gave a full 
 ** Account of J5«r^r's Life and Death. He 
 
 particularly 
 
 « 
 
 it 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 it 
 
 u 
 
 c< 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 « 
 
 .^' cc 
 
 * Burnett'^ Hift. of the Reformation, Vol. IT. Page 
 148. t Page 155. X The fame, I fuppofe, who was 
 afterwards Archbilhop of Cgnteriury. 
 
 i'alB'! 
 
 
 '*r 
 
 '•iu^" 
 
on the 
 
 on to his 
 Time, he 
 own \Jk, 
 
 ?/ Chriji; 
 
 (tical Dif- 
 external 
 
 !ar after- 
 Cranmer 
 
 i yet to 
 
 Cranmer 
 e higheft 
 exprefs 
 im. The 
 
 aduates; 
 
 accom- 
 ^ere, af^ 
 ' Orator, 
 ^ni, and 
 
 that al* 
 ^ears. — * 
 •een his 
 liJJi Ser^ 
 he Sor-T 
 nd the 
 Mafter 
 jcrmon' 
 
 a full 
 I. He 
 cularly 
 
 V Page 
 irho was 
 
 //7^^ Nat uRALizATioN Bill. 47 
 
 particularly commended the great Sweetnefs 
 of his Temper to all, but remarkably to 
 
 " thofe who differed from him All the 
 
 " Univerfity that were eminent either in Gr^^/^ 
 or hatin Poetry, did adorn his Coffin with 
 Epitaphs, in which they exprelTed a very 
 extraordinary Senfe of their Lofs." 
 
 cc 
 
 << 
 
 f( 
 
 C( 
 
 cc 
 
 M. 
 
 ■m 
 
 Moreover, in the Reign of Queen Eli- 
 zabethy Biihop Jewel, * the Champion of the 
 Church of England^ and the Bilhops Horn^ 
 Grindally and Farkhurfl^ together with many 
 of our principal Clergy, confulted frequently 
 with Bullenger and Gualter, eminent Divines 
 of the Church of Switzerland^ concerning the 
 Affairs of the Englifi Church, and requefted 
 their Advice and Diredtion in the moft prcff- 
 ing Difficulties. 
 
 An D to mention only one Inftance more§. 
 King James I. preferred the elder CafauboUy a 
 Name which doth Honour to the Church of 
 England^ to Eccleliaftical Dignities in the Me- 
 tropolitan Church of Canterbury. This elder 
 Caf'aubon had alfo a Penfion of 300/. a Year 
 afiigned him, by a fpecial Warrant from the 
 King : The Tenor of which is fo much to 
 our prefent Purpofe, that I fhall beg Leave to 
 infert the following Paflage. 
 
 James^ 
 
 * Burnett's IM. of the Reformation, Vol. III. Col- 
 hiftion of Records. <i Ryfier's Fwd. Tom. XVI. Puae 
 -10. 
 
 
 -m 
 
■ ? 
 
 r 
 
 I i 
 
 Historical Remarks o?i the 
 
 cc 
 
 yamesy by the Grace of God, Qfc» 
 
 S / 
 
 ■ 4 
 
 « 
 « 
 <c 
 «< 
 cc 
 cc 
 
 (C 
 
 it 
 «c 
 cc 
 cc 
 <c 
 
 "As ouf Progenitors have heretofore been 
 careful to call into their Realm Perfons of 
 eminent Learning, agreeing in ProfeJJton of 
 Religion with the Church of England, and 
 here to make Ufe of them for the Further- 
 ance of Religion and Learning among their 
 People 5 as namely» Paulus Fagius, Martin 
 Bucer^ Peter Martyr, and others ; fo have We, 
 in" regard of the fingular Learning of Tfaac 
 Cafaubon, and of his Concurrence with Us, 
 and the Church of England, in ProfeJJion of 
 Religion, invited him out of France into 
 this our Realm, here to make his Abode, 
 and to be ufed by Us, as We (hall fee Caufc 
 for the Service of the Church** 
 
 Upon the v^hole, therefore, let the Impar* 
 tial Reader judge concerning the Merits of this 
 Caufe. Tlie three Princes E^'Z£;«r J VL Queen 
 Elizabeth, and King y^w^i L the Archbilhops 
 andBifhops Cranmer, Holgat^ Ridley^ Latimer^ 
 Hooper, Poinet, Scory, Cover dale, Taylor, Har* 
 ley. Bird, Bujf^, Ferrar, Barlow, Parker, Jew* 
 el, Honty Grindal, Parkhurji, &c. —like wife 
 the Heads of the two Univerfities, with a 
 Multitude of the Dignitaries and principal 
 Clergy of the Church oi England, unanimouHy 
 fhewed in all their Proceedings, That they 
 looked upon the foreign Protcriant Churches 
 
 a's 
 
 
 •,A7v 
 
 
 1 ..^(HKIWin- • I liil T- J «#<J»»w'«ltta*-NS*»««' ■'■ 
 
tht 
 
 n the 
 
 Off. 
 
 ore been 
 rfons of 
 fejtonof 
 ind, and 
 Further- 
 ing their 
 
 Martin 
 laveWe, 
 of Tfaac 
 vith Us, 
 fej/wnof 
 nee into 
 
 Abode, 
 26 Caufe 
 
 J iiiipar'- 
 
 s of this 
 
 Queen 
 
 ibifhops 
 
 atimer^ 
 
 Har* 
 r, yeiv^ 
 kewife 
 with a 
 rincipal 
 mouHy 
 
 they 
 lurches 
 as 
 
 It 
 
 late iNAT'uRAL iz Ation Bill. 49 
 
 as cojicurring in ProfeJpGn of Religion with the 
 Church o/" England. -—Can we imagine, that 
 thofe eminent Guardians and Fathers of our 
 Church, many of them Canfeffors and M-artyrs 
 for its fake, were defedive in Zeal, — or did 
 not know, what were the Dodrines and 
 Conftitution of a Church, which, under Chrift^ 
 they themfelves had founded? Much more 
 might be faid: — But I am forry there is a 
 Neceffity of faying fo much. 
 
 After the Revolution^ the Principles of 
 Commerce and Government were better under- 
 ftood, than in former Times. The Writings 
 of Sir Francis Bacon, Sir William Petty^ Sir 
 William' ^emple^ Sir Jojiah Child, Alger nooH 
 Sidney Efqj and other great Men, had con- 
 tributed much to cure the Nation of their old 
 Averfion to Foreigners, efpecially to the moft 
 ufeful Part of them, Merchants and Mecha- 
 nicks. And the Dangers of Popery, with 
 which Men were threatned in the preceding 
 Reign, had dilpofed them to think more fa- 
 vourably of their Proteftant Brethren abroad. 
 But another Evil fprung up to counterbalance 
 this Good. For the difaffeBed Party, who 
 wanted to fubvert the Revolution, could vent 
 their Poifon with Impunity, by declaiming 
 againft Foreigners :— In which they were fure 
 ot being acceptable to the Englijh Populace ; 
 of whofe Prejudices upon this Point they failed 
 not to make tlie utmoft Advantage, and upon 
 
 H all 
 
{' 
 
 l'\ 
 
 50 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 all Occaiions took great Pains to render this 
 popular Clamour fubfervient to the pernicious 
 Defign of deftroying the Proteftant EftabliQi- 
 ment. The Prince on the Throne, though 
 dcfcended from the Blood Royal of England^ 
 was a Foreigner by Birth. And the Acclama- 
 tions he at firft received from Men of all Ranks 
 and Conditions, for faving the Nation from 
 Popery and arbitrary Power, wereibon turned 
 by many into Libels and InveClives. Even in 
 the Senate Houie, a * Perfon was found, who 
 had the Decency to propofe to kick all the Fo^ 
 reigners out of the Nation, This polite Ex- 
 preflion hath been, of late ^ quoted with fuch 
 Applaufe by Perfons of the fame Stamp, and 
 echoed throughout the Kingdom in fuch a Man- 
 ner, asif he defer ved to have a Statue ereded 
 to his Memory, for the Service he had done 
 his Country.— He was the Reprefentative of 
 the City of Brijlol: I fliall therefore take the 
 Liberty to give an Inftance of his great Capa- 
 city as a Legiflator, and Knowledge in Com- 
 merce as a Merchant ;— and will leave his/>r/- 
 vate Charadler to his Friends to record, if they 
 think it will be of Advantage to his Memory, 
 or their own Caufe, to do it. 
 
 M s T of the Lands in So?nc?fetJJ3irey and 
 
 the lower Parts of GlouceJ}erfii?'e, are fitted by 
 
 Nature for feeding great Numbers of Cattle^ 
 
 during 
 
 * Sir^y.'.j Knhhty Member fgr BriJJol in feveral 
 Parliamen 
 
 4. 
 
 -^.t 
 t 
 
 m 
 
s on the 
 
 render this 
 
 ; pernicious 
 It Eftablifli- 
 )ne, though 
 3f Engla?id^ 
 le Acclama- 
 )f all Ranks 
 
 ation from 
 foon turned 
 Even in 
 x)und, who 
 \ all the Fo- 
 polite Ex- 
 with fuch 
 'tamp^ and 
 achaMan- 
 :ue eredled 
 
 had done 
 fentative of 
 J take the 
 ;reat Capa- 
 ; in Com- 
 ve hisprU 
 d, if they 
 Memory, 
 
 ^jire, and 
 
 : fitted by 
 
 of Cattle^ 
 
 during 
 
 in feveral 
 
 /^/^ Naturalization Bill. 51 
 
 during the Summer Seafon. And long Expe- 
 rience had proved the Utility of importing lean 
 Cattle from Ireland^ early in the Spring, for 
 the Benefit of the Summer Feeding. But this 
 warm Patriot, whofe Zeal againft Foreigners 
 was truly Englijlj^ took it into his wife Head 
 . to think, that this beneficial Branch of Com- 
 merce ought ^- '^ " entirely put an End toj his 
 Reafon was, uecc '2 the Lush received Ad- 
 vantage by it ;— .though the Adv . ; ) .ge to Eng- 
 land was much more cxlenfive and conlider- 
 able. For, by the Wc?y, it mufl be obferved, 
 that tho' three Parts in four of the Gentlemen 
 of Landed Eflates in Ireland, are really the 
 Defcetida7Jt5 of the Englijh, fettled in that 
 Kingdom ; yet we aflume to ourfelves the Pre- 
 rogative of fliling them /rZ/Z?, treating them 
 as Foreigners, and a People whofe Interefls are 
 not conneBed with ours; nay, as if our Wel- 
 fare depended on their DepreJJton and Lnpover- 
 ijhment. Therefore in the Warmth of his 
 noify Zeal, this able Patriot got one Bill to 
 pafs into a Law, and then another, to prohibit 
 the Importation of Irijh lean Cattle; and at 
 lafl fucceeded in his hopeful Projed:. The 
 IriJh could no longer bring them into England; 
 but what were they to do with them ? Why, 
 truly, either to knock them on the Head, 
 lean as they were, or to fatten them ibr the 
 Slaughter Houfe. They chofe the latter; and 
 then the whole Stream of the Vidtualling Trade 
 was turned into another Channel: The Con- 
 
 H 2 fequencc 
 
 twit fniiii 
 

 ^! 
 
 52 Historical Remarks (?« /^^ 
 
 fequence of which was, that the City of 5r//^ 
 tol (in which before center'd all the Profits 
 arifing from the Hides, Leather, Tallow, the 
 Curing, Confumption, and Exportation of Pro- 
 vifions. Freight, Rent of Lands, ^c, G?f.) 
 could no longer even vi(5tual the Ships failing 
 from its own Port, fo cheap as could be done 
 at Cork. Ttius did this doughty Champion 
 for England, this Hero againft Foreigners, to, 
 ufe his own decent Phrafe, intend a Blow at 
 the Irijh, but fo miferably took his Aim, that 
 he k— k'd his own Conflituents. Men of 
 wiier and cooler Heads oppofed this rafli Atf 
 tempt,* and foretold the Confequence, both to 
 the City of Brijlol, and the neighbouring 
 Counties. But it is the Chu. . -teriflick of Per- 
 fons of his Turn, to rufh Headlong into 
 Things they leaft underftand, and to think„ 
 that if they can but obtain a Law upon their 
 own narrow Views, it muft be obeyed by all 
 the World. For how dare Foreigners to think 
 of making Reprifals againft an Englijh Law? 
 The intelligent Reader will readily forgive my 
 not entering into more Particulars of this fa- 
 mous Oration; — lately reprinted, only to prove, 
 that the Prejudices and Folly of fome People 
 are not to be removed by Experience itfelf. 
 
 As 
 
 * If the prefent Contagion among the Cattle ihould 
 fpread into the Weft of England^ the Inhabitants would 
 be in the moft deplorable Condition, as they cannot re- 
 pair their Lofs by the Importation of Cattle from Ire^ 
 land : This would have been the moft commodious Rc- 
 fowrc^i but this is prohibited. 
 
^s on the 
 
 1 the Profits 
 Tallow, the 
 tation of Pro- 
 
 Ships failing 
 )uld be done 
 J Champion 
 ^reigners, to 
 i a Blow at 
 i^Aim, that 
 '. Men of 
 his rafh Atf 
 nee, both to 
 eighbourins: 
 ftick of Per- 
 idlong into 
 i to think^ 
 ' upon their 
 -yed by all 
 
 ?^ri to think 
 ^gltp Law? 
 forgive my 
 of this fa- 
 ly to prove, 
 >me People 
 ce itfelf. 
 As 
 
 Rattle fhould 
 )itants would 
 y cannot re- 
 le from Ire^ 
 noclious Re- 
 
 /^/£? Naturalization Bill. 53 
 
 A s to the Topick of Party and Disaf- 
 fection, the-f* little Tradt, hereunto annex- 
 ed, will beft (hew the Sentiments and Reafon- 
 ings of the Author upon that; Matter. This 
 Piece was firfl publifhed during the Height of 
 the late Rebellion 5 and I am willing to leave 
 it to the impartial and thinking Part of Man- 
 kind, for whofe Ufe it was then written, to 
 determine concerning it. 
 
 I N the Reign of Queen Ann, there feemed 
 to have been a Mixture of four diftindl Prin- 
 ciples in the Oppofition made to the Natural- 
 izing of foreign Proteftants, viz. The inbred 
 National Averfion— ^The narrow Monopoliz- 
 ing Views of /hort Sighted Tradefmen— ^Sz/- 
 perfiitiousFesii's about theDanger of the Church 
 — And the latent Schemes of the difaffeBed 
 Party; each of which had their refpedtive In- 
 fluences, and difpofed different Perfons to unite 
 in one common Point. 
 
 But even this Coalition of Blafles and Pre- 
 poiTeflions would hardly have fucceeded, had 
 there not been fome further Art made ufe of. 
 -.-« The Gentlemen of Landed Eftates were 
 taught to believe, that their Intereft was dif- 
 tind: from, and even oppofite to the Commer- 
 cial Intercfts of the Kingdom. And the little, 
 low, unmeaning Jealoufy, fometimes fubfift- 
 ing between the Country Gentleman and the 
 
 Merchant, 
 \ Annexed to Part H. 
 
 
 ,.vl 
 
h^ 
 
 54 Historical Remarks on f/je 
 
 Merchant, to the Prejudice and Dlflionour of 
 both, was now blown up into open Hoftilities. 
 Schemes were fet on foot to k/fcft the National 
 Commerce, which the Country Gentlemen 
 unhappily confidered as a worthy Projed:, cal- 
 culated to fupport their Grandeur and Diftinc- 
 tion, and to humble the faucy Merchant. The 
 Trade to Portttgal was treated with Difdain ; 
 tho' it is the Means of giving Bread to fo many 
 H'lndred thoufands of our People,— .of vend- 
 ing fuch vaft QiKintities of all Sorts of Manu- 
 fatflures,— of confuming the Produce of our 
 Lands, and confequently, of paying to the 
 Landed Gentleman his Rents ;— tho' it is alfb 
 the chief Support of our FiQieries,— the Nur- 
 fery of our Sailors, — and the principal Source 
 of the Riches of this Kingdom. Nay, the 
 Memory of that able and honed Minifter, wha 
 had the Addrefs to perfuade the Court of Por- 
 tugal to ratify thefe Advantages by Treaty, 
 was vilified and infulted for the Service he had 
 done his Country. Mr Methtien, it feems,* 
 " committed a Robbery, equal to the worfl: 
 " of Treafons, for which he deferved to have 
 
 ** loft his Head, in making that Treaty It 
 
 was an Infringement upon the undoubted 
 Privilege of the BritlJJ: Parliament, and de- 
 ftru<5live of the very Being of the Britijh 
 Liberty. It would therefore be worfe than 
 
 " Felony 
 
 » The Mercntor, N^ XXXIX. and N ' CXIII. as 
 quoted by the BritiJJ) Mer chant ^ Vol. III. Pages 3, 4, 
 and 31. Edit. 17J1, 
 
 << 
 
 << 
 
 <♦ 
 
 C( 
 
on the 
 
 flionour of 
 ^oftilities. 
 National 
 entlemen 
 oied, cal- 
 d Diftinc- 
 ant. The 
 Difdatn ; 
 > To many 
 -of vend- 
 of Manu- 
 ;e of our 
 ig to the 
 it is alfb 
 the Nur- 
 il Source 
 ^ay, the 
 "ter, who 
 tof /'/jr- 
 Treaty, 
 e he had 
 feems,* 
 le worfl: 
 to have 
 
 tv It 
 
 doubted 
 
 and de- 
 
 Britifi 
 
 rfe than 
 
 Felony 
 
 Xlir. as 
 
 V^ 3, 4. 
 
 ..t 
 
 il^/^e' Nat uRALizATioN Bill. 55 
 
 " Felony to enforce the keeping of it." 
 Pofterity will be amazed at reading thele 
 Words, if they fiiould reach to their Time,— 
 as poillbly tney may, becaufe the llritijh 
 Merchant hath recorded them; a * Book 
 wrote on purpofe to expel the Poifun of this 
 venal Writer; and which will be rememVered, 
 as long as any rcj^ard for Commerce, and Love 
 for our Country fliall remain. 
 
 O N the contrary, the Trade to France^ 
 which hath ever been found to be deftrudtive 
 to thefc Kingdoms, was adually attempted 
 to be thrown open ; and the Country Gentle- 
 men were perfuaded to believe, that great Ad* 
 vantages would redound to themfelves by the 
 
 opening 
 
 * Mr King fays, in the Preface to the Id Vol. Page 
 17. " My Lord Halifax was the Support, and \exy 
 " Spirit of the Paper called The Britijh Mcrc^^ant. He 
 " encouraged the Gentlemen concerned to meet, heard 
 ** and affilled their Debates, and, being zealous above 
 •^ all Things that the Trade of Great Britain fhouIJ 
 ** flouiifli, he not only continued his Influence and Ad- 
 " vice to the laftj but, out of his ufual and unbounded 
 ** Liberahty, contributed very largely to this Work ; & 
 ** confidcrablc Sum being raifed to carry it on." — I wil! 
 add, that the prefent noble and worthy Reprefentative 
 of that Great Man, inherits all his Virtues, as well as 
 his Titles and Honours: — The fame Love of his Coun- 
 try, — Zeal for its VVelfare, — and Knowledge of the moft 
 efficacious Methods to promote it. Therefore the Super- 
 intendency of our Commercial Affairs is moft dtfervedly 
 committed to his Care and Vigilance; who has joined to 
 the Senfe of Honour, belonging to his Birth, the Senti- 
 ments and Affedion of a true Patriot^ {o hereditary in 
 his Family. And we may affure ourfelves from Kxperi- 
 cnce, that !u§ Endeavours will nevvr bv wanting, to ren- 
 der 
 
j6 HisToftiCAL Remarks on the 
 
 opening of it. Claret, Burgundy, and Cham- 
 paign, and all the Wines of the Growth of 
 France, might be bought much the cheaper i 
 and as to any Difadvantagcs and Diftrcflcs in 
 Trade, they had no Concerns in //6^/;/}-*-Thefe 
 Things would be to the Merchant's Lofs, not 
 theirs. 
 
 Under fuch unhappy Prejudices, and fatal 
 Miftakes, it is no Wonder that the Landed 
 Gentlemen fhould unite in oppoflng a Bill for 
 naturalizing foreign Proteftants; which the 
 very Patrons of it recommended, as advantage- 
 ous to Manufadures, Trade, and Commerce. 
 This alone was a Circumftance to fet them a- 
 gainft it. And one of the greateft Wits of the 
 Age, who was the applauded weekly Ledtuyer 
 to his Party, had taught them what to think 
 and fay, both of the Bill, and the Advifers of 
 it. " ThefeMen, faith he,* take it into their 
 Imaginations, that Trade can never flourifh, 
 unlefs the Country becomes a common Re* 
 ceptack for all Nations, Religions, and Lan- 
 guages: A Syftem only proper for fmall po-- 
 pular States, but altogether unworthy, and 
 below the Dignity of an Imperial Croivji^ 
 —ThefeMen come with the Spirit ofShop^ 
 keepers, to frame Rules for the Adminidra- 
 
 *• tion 
 
 del- Great Britain the General Center of Trade, 
 and a Magazine for other Nations. 
 
 * The Examiner, Numb. XXI. written December 
 28. 1 7 10. to prepare the Way for the Repeal of the 
 Naturalization Bill. See an excellent and judicious An- 
 fwcr given to it iii the Spel^ator, Numb. 200, 
 
 C( 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 <c 
 
 C( 
 
 (( 
 
 <c 
 
^ 
 
 on the 
 
 id Cham-^ 
 'fowth of 
 cheaper; 
 ftrelles in 
 ;-*-Thefe 
 Lofs, not 
 
 and fatal 
 Landed 
 I Bill for 
 lich the 
 ivantage- 
 mnierce, 
 them a- 
 itsofthe 
 Ledturer 
 to think 
 vifers o^ 
 nto their 
 flourifli, 
 
 nd Lan«- 
 mall pO'' 
 ly, and 
 
 Growth 
 :ifShop'^ 
 iiniftra- 
 
 « tion 
 
 Trade, 
 
 December 
 of the 
 ious An- 
 
 
 late Naturalization Bill, ^y 
 
 ** tion of Kingdoms; or as Jf they thought 
 ** the whole Art of Government conrillcd in 
 " the Importation of A^«/w^^.f, and the Curing 
 " of Herrings.— This Pedantry oi Rrpublican 
 " Politicks hath done infinite Mifchief among 
 " Us." 
 
 A GREAT Wit hath the Privilege of faying 
 any Thing: Cut fuch kind of Reafoning from 
 a plain Man, of uncouth Language, would be 
 judged unfufterable. What Harm doth it do 
 the City of London, that thtie are diferent 
 Languages fpoken on the Change every Day, 
 und even different Walks afligned for the Mer- 
 
 cliants of divers Countries? If it were n(;t 
 
 for fear of the Imputation of having the Sprit 
 of a Shop-keeper, and of being a Peda:.* m Re- 
 publican Politicks, I could wifli, tha. different 
 Languages v/ere fpoken daily on the Changes 
 of Bri/iol and Liverpool, and in all the trading 
 Places of the Kingdom. 
 
 A s to Religion, I hope I may be allowed in 
 my Turn to fay, that when any Thing is pro- 
 pofed for the Importation of Nut/negs, or the 
 Curing of Herrings, it is vrry ftrange, that 
 fome People (hould immcJ'ately take it into 
 their Heads to raife an Outcry, that the 
 Church IS IN Dangi-r. I really think, the 
 Church of England comes the neareft to Per- 
 fedion, of any fince the Apoftlcs Days ; and 
 under that Perfuafion, I confefs it appears to 
 
 I mc 
 
 '4. je: 
 
t 
 
 if 
 
 j8 Historical Remarks on the 
 
 me a moji injurious Treatment^ to be always 
 reprefenting Her to be in a crazy, tottering 
 Condition, ready to fall, and never out of 
 Danger. The Church of Chrift is defcribed 
 by our Lord Himfelf, as founded upon a Rock ; 
 and nothing, I am perfuaded, will be able to 
 fhake the Foundation of the Church of Eng-^ 
 landy but the unworthy and unchrijlian Be- 
 haviour of its own Members. Thefe alone 
 are able to prevail againft Her. Half a Dozen 
 Incendiaries, and half a Dozen Schemes, fiich 
 as were fet on foot by the Friends of this Au- 
 thor (to deprive DifTenting Parents of the Right 
 of educating their own Children) would at any 
 Time fill the Kingdom with Diflenters. 
 
 But with regard to the reformed Churches a- 
 broad, the true Matter of Fad i? this : When L«- 
 theransoxCahinifts2Ln\vQ in this Kingdom, they 
 generally prefer the Church of E?igland to any 
 other J and there are few Inftances to be given, 
 in all the Foreigners that have come over, of 
 their making a Separation,>>notwithftandingthe 
 Provocation given them by the iU-Treatment 
 and Reproaches of fome of thofe, who are 
 pleafed to call themfelves High-Church Men. 
 Differences of Opinion they have among them- 
 felves, but not greater than thofe that fubfift 
 between the Members of the eftablifhed 
 Church among Us. Dr South y and Bilhop At- 
 terbiiry, tho' both High-Church Clergymen, 
 were as oppofite in their Sentiments concerning 
 
 cqrtain 
 
 ai - ny i -rrrr c ^^ f g jjug t t ^ m ^ 
 
on the 
 
 36 always 
 , tottering 
 er out of 
 
 defcribed 
 in a Rock ; 
 be able to 
 h of Eng-- 
 riftian Be- 
 lefe alone 
 f a Dozen 
 mes, fiich 
 )f this Au- 
 
 the Right 
 luld at any 
 ;rs. 
 
 Ihurches a- 
 
 WhenLw- 
 
 dom, they 
 
 2nd to any 
 
 be given, 
 
 ; over, of 
 
 andingthe 
 
 Treatment 
 
 who are 
 
 rch Men. 
 
 ng them- 
 
 at fubfift 
 
 ftablilhed 
 
 ifhop At" 
 
 ergymen, 
 
 ncerning 
 
 certain 
 
 late Naturalization Bill,' 59 
 
 certain Points, as any Lutherans and Calvin- 
 ijis. And it is further obfervable, that one of 
 our publick Religious Societies, confiding of 
 a great Number of the Right Reverend theBifli- 
 ops, the principal Clergy, and other diftingu idl- 
 ed Members of the Church of England^ l^e 
 Society for promoting Chrijiian Knowledge^ 
 openly patronized and fupported the Lutheran 
 Miflionaries in the Eafl Indies, in the very Year 
 in which this Author wrote, viz. 17 1 o. This 
 Circumftance alone is an inconteftible Proof, 
 that the Lutheran Church, in the Opinion of 
 the befl and ableft Defenders of the Church 
 of Englandy is neither Heretical nor Schifma- 
 tical. But the Society went farther, and in a 
 few Years afterwards, opened two new Mifli- 
 ©ns of their own, at the Englijh Settlements of 
 ^Madrafs and Cudulore, and appointed no other 
 than Danifh [Luther an"] Miflionaries, to carry 
 on that good Work. * See the Society's Print- 
 ed Account, at the End of this Year's Sermon, 
 Page 7, 
 
 As 
 
 * '" The Society undertook, in the Year 17 10. 
 
 ** the Management of fuch Charities as were, 
 
 ^^ 
 
 as were, or 
 ** fliould be put into their Hands for the Support and 
 Enlargement oi the Protestant [Lw/^^ra«] Mis- 
 sion, then maintained by the King of Denmark^ at 
 Tranquebar, m the Eaji Indiet, for the G^nverfion 
 of the Heathen in thofe Parts. Accordingly they, 
 ** from Time to Time, affiftcd the Miflionaries there 
 with Money, a Printing-Prefs, Paper, and other Ne- 
 ceiTaries (as they were enabled) till the Year 1728. 
 *' When, upon a Propofal made by the Rev. Mr Schulize, 
 
 I z '* one 
 
 <( 
 
 « 
 
 cc 
 cc 
 
 ^- 
 
6o Historical Remarks o« f^^ 
 
 •(i 
 
 As to the Flings of tjiis Author, about 
 fmall popular States^ and the Spirit of Shop-* 
 keeping, I h.ive only this to fay, that other 
 Powers, befides the States General, to whom 
 he defigned this Complement, have encreafed 
 the Number of their S\ibje(5ts by the Admiffion 
 of Foreigners. Antient Rome naturalized whole 
 Kingdoms at a Time, for the Sake of increaf- 
 ing its Military Strength. And fince the Pow- 
 er of France hath the Force and Riches of al- 
 mofl twenty Millions of People united againfl 
 us, T leave the World to judge, whether we 
 are able to withftand them with only ten MiU 
 //i?;^j,— and thofe never well united, France 
 alfo itfelf hath, for fome Time paft, naturalized 
 
 foreign 
 
 ** one of the "Dantjh Miffionaries, to remove to Fort 
 *' ^t George^ and there hegin a new Miffion, for the 
 •' Ccnverfion of the Heathen at Madrafsy the Society 
 *' engaged for the Support of the fame-, tho' at an Expence 
 " that did then far exceed their Abih'ty ; trufting to the 
 *' Goodnefs and Bleffing of Almighty God : Which 
 <* Expence has been fmce greatly encreafed by an Ad- 
 " dition of Miffionaries, as well as the Enlargement of 
 <* the Miffion to C«i«/«r^, near Fort St David, another 
 ** jE'w;^///^' Settlement. However, the Society chearfully 
 *' rely upon the fame wife and gracious Providence, 
 «' which has hitherto wonderfully profpered this, and 
 «' all other their Undertakings, to raife up fuch a truq 
 ** Chriftian Spirit, as will abundantly fupply all their 
 «* Wants; fuch a Spirit, as (hews itfelf ia Mr Profeflbr 
 '* Franke of Hall, m Saxony, whofe P.emittances to- 
 ** wards carrying on this pious and glorious Defign, 
 " have been large and conftant." See alfo N^ IV, 
 Page 5 8, for a further Account, 
 
 ■/^l^jMttyaB"^^ ;■ 
 
'":S 
 
 on the 
 
 hor, abou( 
 \i£ of Shop-^ 
 
 that other 
 to whom 
 e encreafed 
 
 Admiffion 
 lized whole 
 
 of increaf^ 
 ;e the Pow- 
 iches of al- 
 TED againfl 
 vhether we 
 ily ten Mil- 
 'd, France 
 naturalized 
 foreigu 
 
 move to Fort 
 iffion, for the 
 fit the Society 
 at an Expence 
 trufting to the 
 jod : WhicH 
 fed by an Ad- 
 nlargement of 
 avid, another 
 ety chearfully 
 s Providence, 
 red this, and 
 [) fuch a truq 
 )ply all theif 
 Mr Profefibr 
 mittances to- 
 rious Deiign, 
 alfo NO IV, 
 
 ■4 
 
 Idte Naturalization Bill. 6t 
 
 foreign Catholicks, efpecially the £;zg-/iyZ>, Scotch^ 
 and Iriff:)', thereby draining us of People, to 
 encrea'c : .s own Subje(fls. * Even the bigot- 
 ed Spaniards have now a Proje<5t on Foot for 
 naturalizing Two Hundrep Thousand fo- 
 reign Catholicks. Alfo the King o? Prujfia is. 
 covering his Wafles, Forefts, and Marfhes, 
 with Farms and Villages, enlarging his Towns 
 and Cities, and repleniftiing his Manufai^lurea 
 with additional Hands, drawn from all Coun^. 
 tries: By thefe Means he is,, to a great Degree," 
 enabled to maintain, in coiiftant Pay, one of 
 the greateft Armies, and the bed appointed, 
 tjiat was ever feen in Europe, Thefe are nei-. 
 ther fmall, nor popular States; nor are their 
 ruling Powers afhamed of infpiring a Spirit of 
 Trade and Shop-keeping into their People. 
 But if the hopeful Schemes of this Author and 
 his Party had taken Place, the Englifh, by 
 this Time, would have had very few Shops 
 to keep. ' Nay, the very Houfe of Auftria 
 begins now, not to think it below the Dignity 
 of an Imperial Crown, to encourage Trade and 
 Commerce in its Dominions. And foreign 
 Merchants and Mechanicks are invited to fettle 
 in all the Hereditary Countries, with a Pro- 
 mife made them of many ample Privileges and 
 Exemptions. 
 
 It 
 
 * ^^c The Theory and Pra^ice of Commerce, Chap. 14. 
 Written by Don Geronimo Ujiarits, one of tjsie Lords of 
 Trade to His Catholick Majefty. 
 
 «lkv. 
 
 ,.>^-.^ ■■ 
 
42 Historical Remarks «n the 
 
 'i' > 
 
 I T is not therefore fo bad, or fo dijhonour'm 
 able a Thing to make our Country a Recep^ 
 tacle and an Afylum for the Virtuous and In- 
 duftrious of other Nations: And one would 
 think the Englijh would be the laft to objed 
 to fuch a Proceedure, who arrived to their 
 prcfent Greatnefs by thefe very Means, and 
 are themfelves a CoUedion of all the Nations, 
 and their very Language a Mixture of every 
 Tongue in Europe. But whatever they were 
 at their firft coming, their Defcendants foon 
 become fo thorough Englifimen, as to con* 
 trad the Epidemical Diforder erf" the Country, 
 an Averfion to Foreigners. , ■ i And, at the 
 Jun6lure now under Conlideration, the poor 
 Palatines were the Objects againft whom this 
 Averfion was ftrongly vented, 
 
 I T would have been very eafy for the then 
 Miniftry, to have found Employment for thefe 
 unhappy Sufferers, who had their Country 
 burnt up, Towns pillaged, and Lands laid 
 wafte, for no other Reafon, but becaufe they 
 were engaged in a War, on our Side, againft 
 the Common Enemy. And many Schemes 
 were fet on foot for the Employment of them; 
 particularly the dividing of the New Foreji in-« 
 to Lots and Shares: This would have fuited 
 beft the Genius of the People, as they moflly 
 confifted of Hu(bandmen and Labourers, and 
 were defirous of not being difperfed far from 
 
 each 
 
 -'r~- 
 
 j;miWl«|bV'"" 
 
■■i'' 
 
 
 hte Naturalization BiLt. 63 
 
 each other. But the Miniftry had other Views 
 than thele: — For if the Palatines had been 
 fixed in regular Settlements, they would foon 
 have become an ufeful People, and have ftop- 
 ped the Clamours raifed againft them. Where- 
 as the Vievjrs of the Miniftry were not to Jlence^ 
 but to encreafe thefe Clamours, by continuing 
 the Palatines both ufekfs to themfelves, and a 
 Burden to the Publick, that the popular Odi- 
 um againft Foreigners might rebound, and fall 
 the heavier upon the Authors of the late Na- 
 turalization Bill, the Marlborough and Godol" 
 phin Miniftry; — who had likev^ife the Guilt 
 of beating the French, and keeping out the 
 Pretender: And the unfortunate Circumftance 
 of the Dearnefs of Corn, then almoft Ten Shil- 
 iings a Buftiel, together with the Ferment raif^ 
 ed by Dr Sacheverel, gave too much Succels 
 to their Machiavelian Schemes. 
 
 h.:.- 
 
 AfTer *the Nation had been thus taught 
 to hate and defpife a People, whom, of then>. 
 
 felves. 
 
 • A Writer in the Paper called Old England, March 
 23. 175 1, hath thefe Words, ** As to Vine-drefTers 
 ** [fpeaking of the Palatines] I do not fee of what Ufe 
 " they can be in £»^/<2«^.*'— — True; but is not every 
 Vine-Dreffer an Husbandman likewife, at thofe Timea 
 
 when he is not employed in the Vineyard ? Qjiere, 
 
 Was there ever known an Inftance of a Set of Peafanta 
 living wholly by Vine-Dreffing, and not following other 
 Country Bufinefs the remaining, that is, the much 
 
 greater Part of the Year ? The former Objections 
 
 againft Foreigners ufed to be, That they did not betake 
 
 them- 
 
 fi?»- 
 
W ^ 
 
 1 i / 
 
 64 Historical Remarks c« /.6^ 
 
 felves, they would not have been too fond of*^ 
 thefe Foreigners were fent abroad, ifome to 
 Ireland, and others to New York, The Parlia- 
 ment of Ireland had voted 24000/. for the 
 Reception of them : And I find by an A<5t> 
 pafled in the Parliament of Great Britain^ the 
 firft of George I. f. 29. that they were not 
 thought an idle, or an ufelefs People in the 
 Kingdom of /r^Azw^. Thofe who were fent 
 to New Torky having not received the kindeft 
 Ufage, moved from thence, and fettled in Pen- 
 fyhania, where they met with an humane 
 and hofpitable Reception. There they invited 
 Numbers of their Countrymen to join them 5 
 and not a Year pafTes, but many Thoufands of 
 Germans go over to them. By thefe Means, 
 the Province of Penfyhania is enriched to fuch 
 a Degree, that an Eiiate in Land, which might 
 be purchafed for 100/. Sterling, before their 
 Arrival, cannot now be had for Three Times 
 that Sum; fo greatly have they encreafed the 
 Wealth and Property of the Landed Interejh 
 And the other Provinces are now ufing all their 
 Intereft, to have as many German Proteflants 
 to come and fettle among them, as they can ; 
 a People, no longer defcribed as ufelefs, laz)-, 
 
 indolent, 
 
 themfelves to the Cart, ?:hc Plow, or the Flail, but to 
 Handicrafts, and cafy Occupations; But now, when 
 thefe Palatines were moftly employed in Agriculture, a 
 grievous Complaint is inad. againft them by the Exami- 
 No 44. That they underjlood 710 1'rads or Handi- 
 
 tier 
 
 craft. So that either Way, Tradefnicn or Hiilbandmcn, 
 the Foreigners muft be condemned. 
 
 'T--" — -■ 
 
en the 
 
 fond o^j 
 , fome to 
 he Parlia- 
 /. for the 
 
 itain, the 
 were not 
 •le in the 
 were fent 
 le kindeft 
 lA in Pen- 
 
 humane 
 ey invited 
 )in them j 
 Dufands of 
 fe Means, 
 ed to fuch 
 ich might 
 ore their 
 ree T'imes 
 *eafed the 
 / InterejL 
 g all their 
 
 oteftants 
 
 ley can; 
 efs, lazy, 
 
 indolent, 
 
 ail, but to 
 »ow, -when 
 
 icultiiie, a 
 the Exami • 
 
 or Handi-* 
 
 (bandnitn. 
 
 iate Naturalization Bill. 6^ 
 
 indolent, and a Burden to the Publick, but la- 
 borious, frugal, and induflrious} enriching the 
 Country they live in, by enriching themfelves.* 
 
 I 
 
 <c 
 <c 
 <c 
 
 C( 
 (C 
 
 «c 
 
 C( 
 C( 
 
 Indeed, I am well aware, that the Author 
 have fo often quoted, is bold enough -f* to 
 pronounce it to be a mofl falfe and infa- 
 mous Scandal upon the Nation in general, 
 to reproach them for treating Foreigners 
 with Haughtinefs and Contempt. The French 
 Hugonots are many thoufand Witneffes to 
 the contrary: And I wifh they deferved the 
 thoufandth Part of the good Treatment they 
 have received." 
 
 This Author had a great Talent at pro- 
 flouncing whatever he pleafed for the Advan- 
 tage of his Party. In the Tra<a entitled, The 
 publick Spirit of the Tfhiggs^ in Anfwer to Sir 
 Richard Steele s Crifs, he aflerted, " That there 
 
 K " were 
 
 * Mr Saimbn, in Ms Chvonokgkat fJi/fonan, Page 
 197. fays, " With what View they [the Palatine f]\ffcrs 
 " introduced into England!, unlefs tojiarve or bully the 
 *' Natives, I could never learn." How a poor, naked, 
 ik'fcncelofb Handful of People, could bully fuch a 
 Kingdom as this, is to me a Myftery.— What they faid 
 of themfelvcs in the printed State of their Cafe is, '' That 
 •• they httmbiy entreated all Tradefmen, not to repine at 
 <* the good Difpofition of Her Sacred Majcfty, and the 
 ** Nobility and Gentry:" — " We alfo entreat you, fay 
 " they, tolay afideall Refled^ions, :ind Imprecations, and 
 ** ill Langitage <igainjl us j for that is contradictory to a 
 " Chriitian Spirit." — Thefe are not the JP^ords of BuHits / 
 
 t Preface to the B — of S — Intrpdud^ion, 
 
 £lf ff\ 
 
Ff 
 
 
 ' I 
 
 * . 
 
 ) '• 
 
 '*) • 
 
 f/: I 
 
 66 Historical Remarks on th 
 
 *' were not ten Jacobite Clergymen in Eng" 
 " land, except Non-jurors'' — He might 
 have faid, with equal Truth, that all the People 
 in England were Mind and deaj^ and that he 
 only could fee and hear. 
 
 A s to the French Hugonots, they certainly 
 did receive great Favours and Civilities; but 
 this is no Proof of a national Difpolition.— 
 Many of our Nobility and Gentry, and other 
 Men of Senfe, if they are not biaffed by Mo- 
 nopoly—or fuperftitious Fears — or DifafFec- 
 tion,— fee thele Foibles in our Countrymen, 
 and are ajhamed of them, and endeavour to re- 
 trieve the national Character, by a greater and 
 more generous Benevolence. Befides, the great- 
 eft Number of the Refugees came over juft at 
 a Time of a violent and dreadful Perfecution, 
 from which they fled ; and this Circumftance 
 greatly foftened the ufual Refentment of the 
 Englijh againft Foreigners, though it was very 
 far from extinguiftiing it entirely. Many Com- 
 plaints were uttered, even at that Time, That 
 thefe Foreigners worked at an Under-price, and 
 took the Bread out of the Mouths of the Na- 
 tives. 
 
 B u T I would willingly know, what this 
 Author meant by faying, " He wifhed the 
 " French Hugonots had deferved tlie thoufandtb 
 " P^r/ of the good Treatment they had receiv- 
 " ed." I humbly apprehend, this muft im- 
 ply, either that the Refugees received greater 
 
 Encouragement 
 
 t.s.. 
 
 r 
 
 ■M 
 
 4 
 
I the 
 
 in £//§•- 
 [e might 
 le People 
 li that he 
 
 certainly 
 ties; but 
 ►fition.— 
 nd other 
 by Mo- 
 Difaffec- 
 ntrymcn, 
 our to re- 
 eater and 
 he great- 
 er juft at 
 •fecution, 
 umflance 
 )t of the 
 was very 
 ny Com- 
 le, That 
 >rice, and 
 the Na- 
 
 i^hat this 
 (hed the 
 >oufandtb 
 d receiv- 
 luft im- 
 d greater 
 agcment 
 
 'm 
 
 J: 
 
 ^ 
 
 /j/^ NaTUR ALIZ ATION BiLL. 67 
 
 Encouragement in Eriglandy than in other 
 Countries, — or, that they had behaved unwor- 
 thy of the Favours conferred upon them,— or 
 were the Friends, and a Support to a Govern- 
 ment he withed to fee deftroyed. , 
 
 I F he meant the Firjl^ I muft beg Leave to 
 declare, in my Turn (and I have fufficient 
 Evidences to juftify what I fay) that this is a 
 great Mijlake. The States General, the firft 
 and fecond Kings of Pruffia, the King ofDefi- 
 marky and the rroteftant Princes of the Em- 
 pire, not only received them with open Ai ms, 
 naturalized them, fettled Stipends upon their 
 Minifters, and caufcd Collections to be made 
 throughout their Dominions for their prefent 
 Support (which were likewife done in *E?ig- 
 land) but alfo exempted them from certain 
 Taxes and Duties, and from ferving burthen- 
 fome and expenfive Offices, for a Term of 
 Years. In fome Places, they had the publick 
 Money lent them, at a low Intereft, to mer- 
 chandize, and fet up their Trades with : In 
 others, Lands were given them to cultivate, 
 and Materials provided for the Building of their 
 Houfes: And the Artificers were every where 
 incorporated into the Companies of their re- 
 
 K 2 fpedtive 
 
 * Tho' after Mr Harley came to he Lord Ticaiurer, 
 the 15,00c/. voted by Parlian)ent, and allowed in the 
 Civil Lift, for the Sv;pport of the Miniiieis and Poor 
 among the Refugee's, w.is not paid them. See Mr 
 //. JValpole's Speech in the Parliament. DebaUs^ 
 Vol. V. Pjge 70. 
 
 ^'1 
 
 
68 Hi sTORicAL Remarks M Mi? 
 
 fpc(5tive Trades. Moreover it muft not be 
 omitted, that the firft and fecond Kings of 
 Prttjfia, ftationed exprcfs Agents on the Con- 
 fines of France, to receive the Refugees, and 
 to condud them into Brandenburg -y paying 
 their travelliiig Charges through the Empire : 
 Which humane and engaging Method is, as it 
 is faid, Litely revived by thd prefent politick 
 king of Priiffia, It is therefore not at all fur- 
 prilino', that the French Refugees, when they 
 fled out of France^ chofe rather to fettle in 
 other Proteftant Countries, than in England, 
 For out of 800,000 Perfons, the Numbec 
 computed by Voltaire and others, to have fled 
 from the Perfccutions and Opprcflions of Lewis 
 XIV. not a twentieth Pait came here. .^— And 
 at prefent, though we daily hear of Perfccu- 
 tions in the Southern Provinces of France^ 
 which chiefly abound with Protcflnnt Mann- 
 faElurerSy we fcarce find that a Angle Sufferer 
 hath taken Refuge in Fngland\ —at the fame 
 Time that great Numbers are daily retiring in- 
 to other Countries. 
 
 I r the Second was this Author's Meaning, 
 I muft here allow him to be in the Right ; and 
 confefs the Crimes thofe Hugonots are charged 
 with. — It is not, that they robbed, or flole, 
 or cheated, or raifcd Infurredlions, or were 
 taken in a Plot either againft Church or State ; 
 — But they oppofed the Minijlerial Bill of 
 Commerce with France^ and gave the firft 
 
 Alarn^ 
 

 late Naturalization Bill. 69 
 
 Alarm to the Nation of the mifchievous Ten- 
 dency of it. They beft underftood the Ma- 
 nufadlures of their own Country, and the Dif- 
 ference between the Price of Labour in France 
 and England \ and therefore proved to a Dc- 
 monftration,That we fliould be a ruined People, 
 if the French were permitted to import their 
 Manufadlures, Wines, and Brandies into Eng" 
 lanJy according to the Tenor of that Treaty, 
 This was the great, the unpardonable Offence. 
 —They ought to have held their Tongues, 
 and not have blabbed out a Truth fo Mal-c^ 
 propos. I muft like wife add, that Mr Samuel 
 'Toriano^ another foreign Protellant, though not 
 a Frenchman^ was in Danger of being fent to 
 Prifon, for his free and unwelcome Explana- 
 tion of thefe Things at the Bar of the Houfc 
 of Commons. 
 
 !! 
 
 ii. 
 
 i 
 
 L A s T L y. If it was the Author's Intention 
 to infinuate, that \k\t French Hugonots are to 
 be looked upon as Enemies to the Defigns of 
 that Party among us, who are not Friends 
 to our prefcnt happy Eftabliihment j ^- 1 
 muft plead guilty to this Crime alfo. And 
 indeed I will freely acknowledge, that the Nar 
 turalization of foreign Proteftants, can never 
 have a favourable Afpecl towards a certain 
 Caufe : -»-Nor is it to be wondered at, that Per»- 
 fons of that CompkBion fhould oppofe it with 
 fo much Virulence, and fpread fo many Stories 
 among the Populace, to heighten their inbre-d 
 Prejudices jigainft it. For they know very 
 
 well, 
 
 Id 
 
 ^isy-j*-.— .-*t">: . 
 
 
fr 
 
 i/« 
 
 % 
 
 70 Hi sToRicAL Rem ARKS ^;r /'r 
 
 well, that every foreign Protcftant, wh lei 
 from the Tyranny and Perfecution of his own 
 Prince, would be the more aftive, in a free 
 Country, to oppofe the Prctenlions of any Fa- 
 fnilyy who claim fuch an unSounM Heved'itary 
 Right over his Liberty and Life, as never can 
 te forfeited i-^v/ho are alfo obliged, by the 
 Principles of their Church, and their Ties of 
 Intereft 5 to fupprefs the P rot eft ant Religion, 
 as foon as they have the Power of doing it. 
 And when the Reader confiders the Schemes 
 in Agitation at the Juncture in which this Au- 
 thor wrote, he will cafily account for the Cla- 
 mours that were raifed by a certain Set of Men, 
 againfl the Naturalization of foreign Proteilants. 
 
 After having brought Matters to this 
 Period of Queen Ann^s Reign, I think it need- 
 lefs to defcend lower down. Be it fufficient to 
 obfene, that from a very late Indance it plain- 
 ly appt tars, that all the former BiafTes flill fub- 
 rnl againil Foreigners : — Though perhaps we 
 now have yet ftronger Reafons for the Ad- 
 miillon of them, which I (hall endeavour 
 more particularly to fet forth in the Second 
 Pjr/ of this Treatife, 
 '■■■■,■-. . - . -.' '■ .. . 
 
 I N the mean Time, one general Obferva- 
 tion certainly deferves the Attention of the 
 Reader, viz, " That every Legiflature ought 
 ** more particularly to guard againft thofe evil 
 " Qualities in a People, to which - they are 
 
 " moil 
 
 « f,^,,j s^ pLi,: : ?'...; 
 
 - J >iM><r ^H >ri 
 

 /tf/^ Naturalisation Bill. 71 
 
 " moft inclined." This was the Point on 
 which I firft fct out, and with which I 
 now conclude. — — The Englijh Nation do 
 certainly excel in many good Qualities : But 
 are there none of a different Nature to which 
 they are atididtcd ? And indeed, hath not 
 every Nation fome had^ as well as good Difpo- 
 fitions, by which it is charadtcriled and dif- 
 tinguiilicd P ^- .The Averfion of the Inhabi- 
 tants of this Ifland towards Foreigners is no 
 7tew Thing : For it hath been taken Notice of 
 near eighteen Hundred Years ago. Neither is 
 it any Secret-, if it were, I fhould have thought 
 it improper to be divulged. But alas! all the 
 World are agreed in the Fad ; and if we deny 
 the Charge, who will believe us?— There is, 
 therefore, no other Way left of clearing our- 
 felves of the Imputation, than by altering our 
 Condu<5t towards them: This may produce 
 fome good EfFed ; but it will be by very flow 
 Degrees. For the Foreigners are too well ac- 
 quainted with our natural Averfion againfl. 
 them, to be fond of coming over in fuch Num- 
 bers, 
 
 • The common People in IFoIes look w^ion the Eng- 
 VtJ}) to t^'s Day, as JJpJiarts and Foreigners: And when 
 an Env jh Artificer conies among them, they generally 
 expu (;. their Contempt of, and Averfion to him, by fay- 
 ing, Rhyu) Saii bach^ yn dyfod n't xvn i o lie: That is, 
 yl little pitiful Saxon [Englilhman] wIjo comes one knows 
 not from where. I have had frequent Opportunities of 
 obferving this Foible in the ancient Britons^ as I am a 
 Native of the Country; And it is worth regarding, that 
 |he Englifli thenifclves ufe almoft the fame Terms of 
 Reproach againft the French^ am* ' '^ 
 
 H' 
 
 t''.': 
 
 ' 
 
 • H '1 
 
 \i. 
 
 
 other Foreigners. 
 
 /:■ 
 
 NOT— «l> 
 
yi Historical Rem ARKS, fi^'r. 
 
 bers, as many ignorant or prejudiced Perfona 
 among us are pleafed to fuppofe. And the An- 
 tipathies we have fo long {hewed, mufl iirft 
 hQ forgot^ before they can be perfuadcdtopre* 
 fer England to many other Countries, where 
 the Perfecuied and DiJireJJed have been invited 
 to come, and have met with the greatefl En- 
 couragement, and kindefl Reception. 
 
 Indeed, we give a moft aftonifhing and 
 fcandalous Encouragement to Cooks, Fidlers, 
 Dancers, Singers, 5fr. G?f. of all Nations. 
 But this is no Proof of our Regard to Foreign- 
 ers, but of our exceflive Love of Pleafiire, 
 which bears down every Thing before it. For 
 at the fame Time that fo many Thoufand 
 Pounds a Year are fquandered away upon Per- 
 fons of any or no Religion, who conio exprefly 
 to debauch our Morals, encreafe our Expences, 
 lefien our Induftry, impoverifh cur Country, 
 introduce new Luxuries, and do every Thing 
 that is prejudicial to our Well-being, as Mem- 
 bers both of Church and State, — - we still 
 refufe to naturalize thofe honeft, induftrious, 
 and confcientious Proteflant Families, who arc 
 perfecuted for Rigbteoufnefs Sake, 
 
 In (hort, wedifcourage iht Mechanick^^X^^ 
 Merchanf^^2inA the Protestant, from com- 
 ing to US;— but invite and encourage all 
 
 OTHERS. 
 
 FINIS, 
 
 
 ^A 
 
 I