Parliamentary report on the scarcity of money and the decay of trade in England (Hardwick...

This copy of the report contains analysis of the state of trade and scarcity of coin in England from the perspective of various merchant groups and trading companies for the Parliament of 1621. It was a result of the king seeking advice on this economic crisis from a parliamentary committee appointed by him on 26 February 1620. The merchants petitioning include clothiers, drapers, haberdashers and adventurers. The trade companies include the Moscovia Company and the East India Trading Company. There is some debate amongst the interested parties about the cause of the decay in trade and how much the East India Trading Company might be responsible. Much of the report seems to analyse the input of the Dutch shipping companies and how this has intercepted or hindered English trade. The report includes data concerning the amount of coin, gold and silver in circulation. The masters of the wards listed at the front of the book include: Sir Ewan Sands, Sir Thomas Roe, Sir William Strowde, Sir Samuel Sands, Mr Snelling, Sir Thomas Lowe, Sir Robert Askew, Mr Towerson, Sir Dudley Diggs, Mr Delbridge, Mr Abbot and Mr Keightly.