An ANSWER to the Objections against the transporting of Raw Hides out of Ireland.

By the first it is confessed necessary that all merchandise shall be sold only in set markets.

1. The means to bring their markets in Ireland to English fashion is the orderly bringing in of things vendible unto the market where property may be altered by sale to the benefit of the subject, as the same is here in England, and by proclamation if this shall be, the people will be settled and markets kept accordingly. There is then no reason to respite a proclamation that will instruct the people how and where to market for their own good.

2. The merchant enriched by hurt of the common weal seeks still to enrich himself by all underhand dealing and private bargaining, and is ever discontented with public proceeding for benefit of the common weal. Inhibitions and licenses bring benefit to the common weal as appears by many statutes, as well for the good of England as of Ireland, which ordain, restrain, and yet again give liberty as time and cause requires for the good of the common weal.

3. The benefit of this appears by many statutes made for the good of both realms, by which merchant strangers are restrained and sellers also. Markets increase commerce and procures one produce to be brought to sale for buying of another, which teaches that [he] that has access to the market shall be more readily furnished with commodity wherein to employ his money, and so the seller furnished with money to buy.

4. Many, but especially the factious, will speak against Government how good soever, and the imposition is not so great, but a great has been, as namely, 2s. for every barrel of wheat that is transported, and a raw hide is always as good and of as great price as a barrel of wheat, and experience teaches that the merchant charged with a burthen will make his return by buying and selling accordingly.

5. To restrain the several, and license some particular, is in places of government found very necessary, and there is no question but licenses and inhibitions are prejudicial and beneficial to some, but the best for the King and the Commonwealth is to be preferred, though some grief thereby rise to some particular.

6. Love of subjects is to be preferred before commodity, but in granting this that is desired, if he lose the love of one greedy merchant he shall gain the love of many hundred good subjects. The rent reserved will be no hindrance to the King's custom.

7. If hides were the only commodity of Ireland, and the merchant stranger had nothing to buy in the land but hides, the opposition were something, but the merchant stranger buys many other commodities of the country, and this puts him to no charges, nor restrains him merely from buying, for he may lawfully buy from merchants of the country (with whom he deals) and takes commodities from them, in respect the Irish home merchant will not suffer the stranger to buy or deal. It cannot be any prejudice to his Majesty's custom, for such hides as the country affords will first come to the home merchant, and from him to the stranger that transports and pays customs.

8. Hides are seldom laden without some great quantity which cannot be of raw hides, and if the proclamation do not restrain raw hides and the transportation of them, which seldom happens, it will enhance the price of leather in the country. Transportation of salt hides may enhance, therefore restraint or license should be as occasion requires.

9. Touching the undertakers of Mounster, there are few of them who dwell by the sea side, and such as do, never have any bark or vessel of their own, nor yet transport anything of themselves, and they and their tenants send all their corn and commodities to the sea towns, and if like should be in Ulster they would follow the like, and yet they were to be restrained or licensed at the King's pleasure; and even in Mounster there are many more tanners than can get hides to use their trade, by reason the merchant engrosses all.

10. The country offers plentiful bark, and tanners would be in and adjoining to market towns, if hides were brought for them to buy, but being forestalled by the merchants, the tanner wants employment, and therefore arise defects of one of the wealthiest trades; and to say that one only tans well is no conclusion. In the towns of Leinster, Galloway, and Alloune there are very many tanners.

11. The merchant does not lend but for his own private profit, which if it rises to him by the hide, must again be received by the butcher, from the commonalty, by sale of the carcase, and so the price of victual is enhanced to the prejudice of the common weal and enrichment of the merchants.

12. If so small number be transported the burthen is the less, and no person could be discontented with the imposition, but the number of hides that are transported are far beyond that, that is supposed, although haply it may not appear to the general officer, for they are secretly and at unseen creeks transported to the great loss of the King's customs.

Endorsed.