Occupations > Weavers and clothiers complaint against the East India Trade

And ſuch as were not Indian proof,
They ſcorn'd, deſpis'd, as palery Stuff:
And like gay Peacocks, proudly ſtrut it,
When in our Streets along they foot it.
This humour Hrangely thus prevailing,
Set all the poorer ſort a railing,
Or elſe with grief their Caſe bewailing.
The richer feeing what was doing,
And how the Nation ran to ruin ,
To King in Council did complain,
In time of Charles the Second's Reign,
On which were ſeveral Lords appointed,
By him who was the Lords Anointed,
To hear the Caſe, and ſad Complainings,
Of thoſe that Then were for Reſtrainings;
Who plainly did their Lordſhips tell,
What miſchiefs to our Trade befel;
How both our Men and Bullion went
To work in India, and be ſpent
In needieſs Toys, and gawdy Dreſ ſes,
For Ladies, Madams, Trulls, and Miſ ſes.

The Cafe thus heard, they were inclin'd
Some proper Remedy to find;
And ſomething was in order doing,
To put a ſtop to further ruin,
But by the Craft of great soliah,
Who all the Hoſt ſtood in deſy-a.
There is this ſtory paſſling Current,
That ſay 'twas he that ſtopt thh torrent,
By pouring Gold in plenteous ſhowers,
In Ladies Laps, who bore great Powers,
Which ſtrangely alter'd all their Meaſures,
Such charms there are in hidden Trea ſures.
Thus Barr oca ding all Complaints,
Drove Jehu-like, without Reſtraints
Fill'd Town and Country ſoon ſo full,
As ruin'd much, our Trade in Wooll :
And ſuch great Stocks of Wooll and Cloths_t
Were hoarded up, and eat by Moths,
Made Clothiers and Wool Growers grumble,
When Cloathes and Fleeces o'r they tumbl'd.
And further miſchiefs to prevent,
Complaint was made in Parliament:
And 'cauſe the Wooll ſo near affected,
This Salvo for't was then projected,
That ſince the Living would not bear it,
They ſhould, when dead, be forc'd to wear it;
This help'd in part, but the stand Ill
Remains upon the Kingdom ſtill.
Yet this our Ladies ſo offended,
As all our Female Sex contended,
And fain would had this Act rejected,
But then their Councels were neglected,
And Time has reconciſe it ſo
To this Wooll Act they're now no Foe:
So that from Ladies great, to Skullion,
All buried lay in our own Woollen.

And happy thrice would England be,
If, while their Living, we could ſee;
Our noble Ladies but beginning,
To wear our Wooll of fmeſt Spinning,
Or in ſuch Silks our Workmen make,
For which our Merchants Cloth do take,
Which ſoon wou'd bring them in ſuch faſhion,
As they'd be worn throughout this Nation,
By all Degrees, and Sex, and Ages,
From higheſt Peers to loweſt Pages;
Nor would the meaneſt Trull or ſſes,
Delight to wear theſe Indian Dreſſe ,
Which certainly wou'd Profit bring,
To them their Tenants,and our King,
And Heavn's Bleſſings in the bargain,
Becauſe they'll keep our Poor from ſtarving,
For they wou'd ſoon be then employ'd,
Our Money too at home wou'd' bide,
And happy then both great and ſmall,
With Mirth in Parlour, and in Hall,
When thus, with Plenty, Beards wagg all.

         EPILOGUE,

AND now this thus far being ended,
Metbinks I          Fol ks offended,
And gain ſt this           Poet rail,
Becau ſe be've told plain a Tale,
4nd New and Old Stock, Fobbing Throng,
Crying it down, be't right or wrong ;
But if they do, and away fling 'em,
'Tis a great Sign, they're Truths that ſting 'em.
But let them ſpend their Lungs, and hollow,
Such bluſtring Sparks he needs not value;
Since all his aim, and his deſigns,
Are to beat down their Indian Blinds,
That all true English Men may ſee,
What cauſe, their real Miſery,
That ſo they may prevent their ruin,
And ſave this Nation from undoing :
But tf they ſtill will ſhut their eyes,
And demonſtrations plain deſpiſe;
And if his Cafe ſhall be rejected,
Or if this Cauſe be ſlill neglected,
He only this bas more to ſay,             
That he can ſhift as well as they,         
And that be writ this, not for Pay.

LONDON: Printed, and are to be ſold by A Baldwin
                  in Warwick-Lane. 1699