<P_I,54>

<heading:edcomment:XXXIX_OF_CUSTOMS_TO_LORD_CLIFFORD>_COD E

Feb. , 1672-3 . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,54.3)

May it please your Lop. In pursuance of your Lop. reference signifyed
to us by S=r= Rob=t= Howard , wee have considered of y=e= Letter of his
Excellency y=e= Lord L=t= of Ireland & y=e= Paper annent to it ;
(COMMISS-E3-H,I,54.4)

and having fully weigh'd y=e= matters therein contained , wee doe
humbly present your Lop. w=th= y=e= following state thereof .
(COMMISS-E3-H,I,54.5)

The severall Plantac~ons in America having been first Planted from this
Kingdome of England w=th= the losse of y=e= Lives of many men , & a
vast Expence of Treasure , the trade therefore of those plantac~ons
hath been by severall Lawes & Acts of Parliam=t= appropriated to
England alone . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,54.6)

And this is also y=e= practice of other Nations to keep their
plantac~ons enter'd to themselves . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,54.7)

That w=ch= is now proposed on behalfe of y=e= Irish nation , That they
may have Liberty for a certain number of ships during the present warre
or his Ma=ts= Pleasure to trade to y=e= Plantac~ons and unlade in
Ireland , paying his Ma=tie= there the halfe penny p~ pound ,
notw=th=standing y=e= Lawes in force to y=e= contrary , because of y=e=
want of trade in that kingdome by reason of y=e= warrs , $will $be
{TEXT:wilbe} very prejudiciall to y=e= trade & interest of this nation
. (COMMISS-E3-H,I,54.8)

<P_I,55>

For by such an allowance y=e= Kingdome of Ireland will have y=e=
oportunity of vending not only their owne manufactures , but those also
of other parts of Europe in y=e= Plantac~ons , where only those of
England were before sold . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.10)

And their navigating cheaper then y=e= English because of their plenty
of Provisions will at least put them in a condition to undersell y=e=
English , (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.11)

and so y=e= manufacture of England must necessarily ly upon their hands
, and y=e= navigation thereof be much obstructed .
(COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.12)

This will unavoydably create y=e= setting up of Ireland in Trade and
Wealth on y=e= basis of y=e= Ruine of this nation w=th=out any increas
of Revenue or advantage to his Ma=tie= , but very much y=e= contrary .
(COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.13)

For all traders to y=e= Plantac~ons will more readily goe for Ireland
where they may expect better advantages by Bills of Store & otherwise
from y=e= farmers of y=e= Revenue there , then y=e= Constituc~on of
y=e= present management of y=e= Customes in England will allow of ,
(COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.14)

& consequently will much lessen his Ma=ts= Customes heer in Linnen ,
Brandyes & other Comodityes w=ch= pay great duty in importac~on , & are
hence exported to y=e= Plantac~ons , & make Ireland y=e= staple of all
Plantac~on Comodityes . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.15)

As to what is alledged on behalfe of y=e= sd~ Kingdome of Ireland in
relac~on to y=e= present warre , as an argum=t= for granting them y=e=
Liberty desired during y=e= Warre , will easily be answered when it is
considered that the whole burden of y=e= warre lyes on y=e= Kingdome of
England , & that it partakes more of y=e= effects of y=e= warre by
hindrance of trade than Ireland can doe . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.16)

The danger w=ch= is intimated in y=e= paper , of ships coming from y=e=
plantac~ons to Ireland , and from thence hither according as they are
obliged by their bonds , being chiefly attested on account of
Privateers infesting y=e= Irish Coast , wee doe for that $matter
{TEXT:matter_matter} humbly present to your Lop. That no Ship goeing
from England to y=e= Plantac~on , or coming from thence , can be any
wayes directly bound for Ireland w=th=out absolute forfeiture of their
bonds , (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.17)

& therefore it may be supposed that no ship puts into Ireland but upon
some extrordinary necessity , or in expectac~on of more then ordinary
advantages . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.18)

<P_I,56>

Besides all this , If y=e= Liberty of twenty ships should be granted
w=ch= is insinuated as ships of small Burden , they would easily be
furnish=t= w=th= ships of Greater Burden from y=e= New England men , &
others who have found y=e= encouragem=t= from y=e= farm=rs= of Ireland
to y=e= ruin of y=e= fair Trader here . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.20)

Nor can it be duly kept to a Limited number of Ships considering y=e=
convenience & number of their Ports , (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.21)

but it would in time amount to a gen=ll= Liberty .
(COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.22)

At least y=e= charge of collecting y=e= halfe-penny per pound in
Ireland will neer ballance y=e= Revenue that will arise to his Ma=tie=
thereby , (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.23)

and will certainly be a great losse in y=e= Customes heer . All w=ch=
w=e= humbly submit to your Lo=p= . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.24)

Rich. Temple . Will. Thomson . W=m=. Garway . F. Millington . John
Ipton . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.25)

Custome House , (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.26)

London , (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.27)

February , 1672 . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.28)

