'The intended Report of ye Councell of Trade to his Ex[cellen]cie ye Lord Leiut. & Councell of Ireland'
The intended Report of the Councell of Trade
to his Excise the Lord Lieutenant + Councell of Ireland
In obedience to your Lordships Act of Councell dated January 20th: 1627 wee have spent severall dayes in Considering how as well the wealth of this kingdome in generall as the money thereof in particular may bee encreased, and in Order thereunto have first sett downe to the best of our knowledge the State of this kingdome in Reference to trade. Secondly wee have noted such Inferences from the Same, as doe shew the severall Causes of the Smalenesse of Trade want of money, and the generall Poverty of this Nation; And in the last place wee have offerred such generall Remedies, and expedients in the inspective Causes as may be obtained and practized without any new law to bee made in Ireland. And wee are ready soe to enlarge upon the Branches Wee have offerred as to make such of our Proposalls practicable as your Lordshipps shall please to select and to approve of, for that Purpose.
March 25th. 1673
Considerations relation to the Improvment of Ireland.
The state of Ireland in reference to Trade.
1 The whole territory of Ireland consists of about 12 millions of Acres English measure of arrable meadow, and good Pasture land, with about two millions of Rocky Boggy, and Scrubby pasture commonly called unprofitable, though not altogether such, the rest being absolute Baggs, Lough, Rocke Sands Strand Rivers and high wayes:– of all which Severall Lands the yearly Rent is supposed to be about 900: thousand pounds and worth to be purchased nine Millions
2 The value of all the houseing in Ireland which have one or more Chimneys in them (excluding all cabbins which have none) is supposd to be two Millions and an halfe
3 The Cattele and live Stocke 3 Millions
{4} {Corne} Furniture Merchandize, Shipping & about one million
{5} The Coyned and currant money now running in Trade is between 300 and 250: thousand pounds or of the value of the whole kingdome which wee suppose to about 16 Million
{6} The number of people in Ireland is about 11: hundred thousand vizt. 300 thousand Protestants and 800 thousand Papiests, whereof are Children unfitt for labour, and about 75 thousand of the remainder are by reason of their Quality, and estates, above the necessity of corporall Labor, Soe as their remaines 750 thousand laboring men and woemen 500 thousand whereof doe performe the present work of the nation.
7 The Said 1100 thousand people doe live in about 200 thousand Families or houses where of there are but about 16 thousand which have more then one Chimney in each and about 24 thousand which have but one all the other housing being 160 thousand are wrecht nasty Cabbins without Chimney window or dore shutt and worse then those of the Savage Americans and wholy unfitt for the making of merchantable Butter Cheese or the manufacturies of wollen or leather.
{8} The houses within the Cittyes and liberties of Doublin are under 4 thousand viz in the Citty 1150 and the ale houses within the same about 12: hundred and it seems that in other Corporations and Country tounes the proportion of ale houses is yet greater in Doublin viz of the whole.
{9} The Countys Barronys and parishes of Ireland are now become marvelous unequall soe as some are twenty times as bigg as others The County of Corke seeming in respect of parishes and people to be of the whole kingdome and in other Counties not being above th part of the County of Corke it hath been found very difficult to gett fitt persons for Sherriffs and Iurys and the often houlding of assises and quarter sessions in the said small Countyes hath been found an unneessary burden upon them
10 There are now in Ireland 32 Counties 252 Barronyes and 2278 Parishes soe as the number of Sheriffes and Sheriffe Bayleffes high and petty Constables are about 3: thousand persones whereof not above are english or protestants soe as the Remainder (about about 2700) are Irish papists, and are the Civill Militia of this kingdome and have executeing of all decrees of Courts and Iustices of peaces warrant.
11 This Civill Militia and the rest of the Irish Papists being above 800 thousand are Influenced and guided by about 3 thousand priests and fryers and they governd by theire Bishopps + Superiours who are for the most part of the old Irish gentry, men of forreign Education + who depend upon forraigne {Princes} + Prelates for {Beneficies} and Preferments.
12 The Irish Papiests (besides Sundays and the 29: Holy dayes appoynted by the law) doe one place with another observe about 24 days more in the yeare in which they doe noe Corporatt labour Soe as they have but about 266 working days whereas Protestants not Strictly observing all the legall Holy days by a totall forbearing of labour have in effect 300 working dayes in the yeare that is 34 days more then the papists or at least 5 weekes of 6: Dayes in each or part of the whole yeare.
13 The expence of the whole people of Ireland is about 4 millions per Annum the 50th part whereof being 80 thousand pounds and the quarter of annuall house Rent being about 60 thousand pounds together with 450: thousand pounds more being the value of halfe a years Rent {Tyth} and {quittrent} doe make 590 thousand pounds as that summe of money which will compleatly + plentifully desire the trade of this kingdome
{1}4 The value of the Commodities exported out of Ireland & the fraight of the Shipping Imployd in the trade of this nation together with the fishing of herrings is about 500 thousand pounds per annum.
{1}5 The value of the Estates in Ireland of such persons as doe usually live in England the Interest of debt of Ireland due and payable to England, the pay of the forces of Ireland now in england, the Expence and pensions of agents and Sollicitors Commonly residing in england about Irish Affaires, The expence of english and Irish youth now upon the Education beyond the seas and lastly the supposed Proffitt of the two great Farmes now on Foot doe altogether make up near 200 thousand pounds per Annum as a debt payable to England out of Ireland.
{1}6 The value of the Cattle (vizt: {hine} oxon and Sheep) carryed out of Ireland into England was never more then 140 thousand pounds per Annum the Fraight, hides Tallow and wooll of the Sayd {hine} cattle were worth about 60 thousand pounds of the Sayd 140 thousand pounds and the value of the good Imported out of england into Ireland (when the Cattle Trade was free) was between treble + quadruble to the neate value of the one and Sheeps Flesh or transported from hence into England
The Customs of exported + Imported Goods between England + Ireland abstracted from the excise thereof was in the first Trade about 32 thousand Pounds per Annum.
Inferences from the Premisses.
1 By Compareing the extent of the Territory, with the number of the people it appeares that Ireland is much under peopled for as much as there are above 10 Acres of good land to every head in Ireland, whereas in England, and France these are but 4, and in Holland Scarce one.
2 If there be 250 thousand space hands capable of Labour who can earle 4: or 5li: per Annum one with annother. It follows that the people of Ireland well Imployd may earn one million per Annum more then they doe now within more then the years Rent of the whole Country
3 If an house with stone walls and a Chimney well covered and halfe an acre of land well ditched about, may be made for 4 or 5li or there aboutes then of the Spare hands of Ireland can in one years time, build and fitt upp 160 thousand such houses and Gardens in Stead of the like number of the wretcht Cabbins above mentiond And that in a time when a forraigne Trade is most dead and obstructed + when money is most scarce in the land.
4 The other third part of the Said Spare hands within the same years (besides the makeing of Bridges Harbours Rivers High ways &c more fitt for Trade) are able to plant as many fruite + timber Trees + also quick sett hedges as being grown up would distinguish the bounds of lands beautify the Country shade and shelter Cattle furnish wood, Fuell Timber + Fruit in a better manner then ever was yet known in Ireland or England + all this in a time when trade is dead + money most scarce.
5 In the Gardens belonging to the cabbins before mentioned and planted with hempe, and flax according to the present statute would grow 120: thousand pounds-worth of the said Commodities, the manufacture where of as also of the well and Hydes non exported would by the labour of the spare hands above mentiond amount too about one million per Annum more then att present.
6 The multitude and proportion of ale houses above mentiond is a Signe of want of Imployment in those that buy no lesse then those that sell the drinke
7 There being above 2: thousand Papists in Ireland and little above 2: thousand parrishes it is manifest that 500: Priests may in a Competent measure officate for the said number of People & Parishes, And that two papish Bishopp if any at all be necessary may as well governe the Said 500 Priests, and 2 thousand parishes as the 26 Bishops of England doe govern near ten thousand Parishes.
8 If the Protestants according to the present practice & understanding of the law doe worke one tenth ppart of the year more then the papists and that there be 750000 working people in Ireland where of about 600 thousand papists: it follows that the papish religion takes off 60 thousand workers which att about 4li per Annum each is above 250 thousand pounds per Annum of it Selfe besides the maintenance of 25 hundred superfluous Churchmen which att 20li per Annum each, some to 50 thousand pounds per Annum more.
9 The sherriffs of Ireland att 100li per annum the Constables att 10li per Annum each being all English protestants (which some incident Charges for the administration of Iustice may be sallaviated + defrayd for thirty thousand pounds per annum consistent with his majesties present Revenue, Forces, &c: which Sayd Salarys may also bee lessend by uniting some of the Smaller Counties, Barronys and parishes according to the proportions of people Inhabiting within them
10 If there be not 350 thousand pounds Coyned money in Ireland, and if 590: thousand pounds (or neare double what there now is) be requisite to drive the trade thereof then it follows that there is not money enough in Ireland to drive the Trade of the nation.
11 If the lands of Ireland + housing in Corporations be worth above 10 Millions to be now Sold and if lesse then one million of Stocke will drive all the trade afore mentioned that Ireland is capable of (reckoning but two returnes per annum) it is certaine that the Clearest part of the said 10 millions worth of reall Estate being well contrived in a banke of Creditt will with the Cash yet remaining abundantly answer all the ends of of domesticke Improvements + forraigne trafique whatsoever.
12 If the whole substance of Ireland be worth 16 Millions as above Said, if the Customs between England + Ireland were never worth above 32: thousand pounds per annum if the titles of estates in Ireland be more hazardous {illeg} experience for that England + Ireland are not under one legislative Power; If Ireland till now hath been a Continuall Charge to england, If that Reduceing that late Rebellion did Cost england 3 times more in men + money then the Substance of the whole Country when reduced in worth if it be Iust that men of English Birth & Estate Living in Ireland should be represented in the Legislative Power, And that the Irish should not be Iudged by those who they pretend doe usurp their estates it then seems Iust + Convenient, that both Kingdomes should be united + Govern by one Legislative Power, nor is it hard to Shew how this may be made practicable, nor to Satisfie repaire, or silence those who are Interestd or affected to the Contrary
13 In the mean time it is wonder full that men born in England, who have lands granted to them by that king for service done in Ireland to that crowne of England, when they have occasion to reside, or negotiate in england should by theire Country men kindred + friends there bee debarred to bring with them out of Ireland food whereupon to live, nor sufferd to bring such commodities as they fetch from America, directly home but round about by England with extream hazard and losse + be forced to trade only with strangers + become unacquainted with theire own Country Especially when England gaineth more then it looseth by a free commerce as exporting hither three times as much as it receiveth from hence in soe much as 95li in England was worth about 100℔ of that like money in Ireland in that free {kind} of Trade.
14 It is conceived that about of that Imported manufactures might be made in Ireland and of that Remainder might be more conveniently had from forraigne parts then out of England, and Consequently that it is Scarce necessary att all for Ireland to receive any goods of England, And not Convenient to receive from thence of the whole, which it needeth to Import above the value where of is under 100 thousand pounds per annum.
The application of the premisses in order to remedy the defects + Impediments of the Trade of Ireland.
1 For as much as the Consideration of raysing money hath already + for lately been before your Lordships therefore without giveing this Board any further trouble concerning the Same wee humbly offer in order to the regulation of the severall species thereof that where as weighty plate pieces, together with Duccatoones (which wee estimate to be three quarters of the money now currant in Ireland) doe already passe at proportionable rates and for that all other species of Silver money are neither rated proportionable to the Said weighty Pieces nor to one another, That whole halfe and quarter Cobbs of sterling Silver if light may passe att five shillings & Silver as the p{errues} &c: may passe as acommodity or att five shillings per ounce until there shall be a conveniency for new Coyning thereof into smaller money.
2 That forth-with application may be made into England to restore trade for the plantations + between the two kingdoms (+ particularly that of Cattle) as here-to-fore, + in the mean time to discover + hinder by all meanes possible that carrying of Bullion out of Ireland into England, to the end that those in england who use to receive moneys from hence may be necessitated to be very earnest in the Sayd negotiation
3 That endevours be used in England for the union of the two kingdoms under one Legislative Power proportionably as was heretofore + Succesfully done in the case of wales.
<452r>4 For Reduceing Interest from ten to five or Six per cent, for disposing moneyed men to be rather merchants then usurers, rather to trade then purchas{e} and to prevent the bad, and uncertaine payments which Gentlemen are forced to make unto Tradesmen whose Stocke + Creditt is thereby soon buryed in debts not to be recovered without long & expensive suites that a banck of Land bee forth with contrived + countenanced
5 That the act of state which mitigates + compounds for the Customs of some forraigne Goods (purposely made high to hinder {their} Importations & to encourage the manufacture of them here) be taken again into consideration at least before it be renewed.
6 That the Lord Lieutenant and Counccell as also the nobility, Courts of Iustice and officers of the armey, and other Gentlemen in and about Doublin may by their engagement, + example discountenances the use of some certaine forrainge Commodities to be pitched upon by your Lordshipps: And that the Gentlemen + free holders in the Country at theire assizes and, other Country meetings and the Inhabitants of all Corporations, who live in houses of above two Chimneys in each may afterwards doe the same.
7 That there be a corporation for the navigation of this kingdome, + that other societys of men, may be Instituted, wh shall undertake, + give security to carry on the severall trades + manufactures of Ireland, and to see that all goods exported to forraigne Marketts be faithfully wrought + packt which Societys may direct themselves by that many Severall proposalls and reports formerly + of late made by that Councilll of Trade, and which the are now againe ready to enlarge + accommodate to that said severall purposes respectively + more particularly to that manufactures of Linen woollen + Leather.
8 That that Corporations of Ireland may be obliedged to engage now manufactures according to their primitve Instructions which was to carry on such grerat works by exceeding that strength of single persons + particularly that they may cause some such like proportions of Yarn Linen, and wollen as also of worsted to be spun as mr Hawkins hath propounded.
9 That the patents which hinder that working of mines may bee Considered.
10 That that Iustices of peace may be admonished to protect that Industrious and not suffer their labours to be Interrupted by vexations + frivelous Indictements.
{1}1 That the Inhabitants of that wretched Cabbins in Ireland may be encouraged to reform them and also Compelld therunto, as an easy + Indulgeent committing for that penalty of nine pence per Sunday payable by the Statute, and likewise, to make Gardens, at that Statute for hempe and flaxx reuqires, And that other the Laws against Idlers, Vagabonds &c: may be applyed to the prevention of Beggary and Thievery whereunto the orderly disposing of the said Cabbins into town ships would also Conduce.
{1}3 That the exorbitant number of Popish Priests and Fryars may be Reduced to a bare Competency, as also the number of Ale houses.
14 That the Constables and Sherriffes Bayliffs may also be English protestants though upon Sallary.
From all which and from the settlement of Estates it is to be hoped that men seeing more advantage to live in Ireland then else where may be Invited to remove themselves thither, and soe Supply the want of people the greatest + most fundamentall Defect of that kingdom.
<453r>Certaine generall Rules collected concerning money and Bullion out of the late consultation att Court in a speech made by Sir Thomas Roe att the Councell Table 1640
Go and Silver have a two fold Estimation, in the extrinsique value, as they {are} moneys and princes measure given to their People and this is a Prerogative of kings: or in the Intrinsique as they are Commodities valuing each other according to their Plenty or Scarcity, and soe all other Commodities by them and this is the sole power of Trade.
The measure in a kingdom ought to be Constant. It is the Iustice, and honor of the king, for if they be altered all men att that time are deceived in their precedent Contracts either for lands or moneys, and the king most of all. For noe man knoweth either what he hath or what he oweth.
This made the Lord Treasurer Burleigh in anno 1573 (when Some Projectors had sett on Foott a matter of that nature) to tell them the they were worthy to Suffer death, for attempting to put soe great a dishonor upon the Queen + Detriment + discontent on the people for to alter this publique measure is to leave all the marketts of the kingdome unfurnished + what will be the mischiefe the proclamations of the 5th. + 6th: of Queen Mary and 4th and of Eliz: will manifest, when but a rancor produced that effect soe farr, that besides the faith of those Princes to the Contrary dlivered in theire Edicts they were Inforced to cause the Magistrates in every Shire respectively to Constrayne the people to furnish the marketts to prevent a mutiny.
To thinke then this measure att this time {Short} is to Raise all Prizes or to tune the measure or money now currant into disuse + Bullion, for who will part with any, when it is by sven more in the hundred in the masse then the new moneys + yet of noe more value in the markett.
Hence the necessity of it will follow that there will not of a long time be minted of the new moneys Sufficient to drive the exchange of the kingdome, and soe all trade att one instant will be att a Stand, + in the mean time the markes unfurnished, and thus farr as money is a measure.
Now as Commodity it is respected + valued by the Intrinsique quality + first the one mettall to the other.
All commodities are prized by plenty or scarcity by dearnesse or cheapnesse the one to the other. If then wee desire our silver to buy gold as it hath lately been we must lett it be the cheaper + lesse valued in proportion; and so contrary For one equivalent Proportion in both will bring in neither. Wee see the proffitt thereof by the unusuall quantities of gold brought lately to the mint by reason of the price wee rate it abve all other Countrys gold maybe bought too deare. To furnish then this way the mint with both is Impossible.
And att this time it was apparently proved both by the best Artists, + Merchants most acquainted with the exchange in both the examples of the mint masters in the RixDollers + Royalls of eight, that silver here us if equall value + gold above which forraigne parts in the Instrinsique value, but Sallarys presented to the Lords by the Mint master is only the nomination ofit's extrinsique Quality.
But if wee desire both it is not the raising the value that doth it but the ballancing the Trade, for if we buy more then wee sell of all other Commodities be the money never So high prized wee must part with it to make the Disproportion eaven, if wee sell more, then the Contrary will follow. And this is plaine in the Spanish necessities, for should that King advance to a double Royall of eight, yett needing by reason of the barroness of this Country more of forreaign wares then he can countervaile by exchange with his own ares he must then part with his money & gain no more by exchanging his Coyne then before, but will pay a higher price for the Commodities he buyeth if this wrke of raiseing be his owne.
<454r>But if wee Shall make Improvement of Gould + Silver being the Staple Commoditys of this kingdome to the fashion of the Netherlands, were to {fram} a Royall monarchy by a Society of merchants, their Country is a continuall Faire, + Soe the price of moneys must ryse, + fall to fitt their ooccasions. We see this by raising the exchange at Frankford and other places att the usuall times the marts.
This frequent + dayly change in the low Countryes of these moneys is noe Such injustice to any three as it would be here, For there they being all merchants or mechanickes the can rate accordingly theire labour, and theire ware whether it be Coyne or other merchandise, the the Condition of their own money in exchange.
And our English merchants to whose profession it properly belongeth doe soe according to the Iust intinsique value of their forraigne Coynes in all barter of Commodities or exchange except usance which we that and rated + tyed by the extrinsique measure of moneys in all our constant Reckonings, and annuall Bargains att home cannot Doe.
And for us then to raise our coyn at this time to equall theire Proportions were but to render our selves to a perpetuall incertainty, For they will Raise there upon {the} dayly againe which we have of Course must follow, or else Receive noe Profitt by this presnet Change and soe destroy the pollicy, Iustice Honour and tranquility of our state for ever.
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