The psons that accompanied the wardens in this busynes everie man subscribed thereunto before the giving of the reasons in writing, viz:

Upon these reasons conceved, and the naylers also looking more deeper into the project, the matter was found covenous and not fitt to be grantid unto the generall hurte of a common wealth.

The naylers, after better consideration of the busynes, became likewise petitioners against the pject, and gave in their reasons filed to their petition with their hands subscribed: viz.

To the Right honble Sir Julius Cæsar, and Sir Thomas Parry, and the Right honble Sir Henry Hubbert, and Sir Frauncis Bacon, knights, commissrs for the examination of the patent about the cutting of iron into rodds, and the inhibition of forraine iron.

The humble petition of the nayle makers about the cyttee of London. Humbly shewen yor poore petitioners and his Mãties lege subjects that, where they have lived these many years in their trade and arte of nayling, and find the hurte of the common wealth by a pcured patent for the cutting of iron only, wch is a means to perish thousands being formerly experyent therein, and their only educačon, besides the falsehoods and deceits that the patentees doe dayley practice for their owne enriching, wch wee most humbly in these or reasons to this peticon filed.

Wee therefore most humbly beseach yo" hon's and woPPS, as the fathers of or common wealth, that you will be pleasid to respect the generall good both of the state and countrye wherein we live, and that not any privat patent may bee to cutt iron into rodds, but that the poore may have the fruite of their trade and labors, wch for the further approbacon wee most humbly submitt wth or reasons to yo" honn's and worpps most grave and respective consideracons, wth or prayers for the good success herein unto the Allmightie.

Reasons of the naylers in and about the cittie of London against the petition seeking to cutt iron into nayle rodds only, and the inhibition of foraine iron :

:

1. This patent hath bine a meanes to draw a trade into one or two men's hands, and they at their pleasure to raise the prices and inrich themselves, where afore the trade was among many.

2. The ptie that had the mill before the now parties did only cutt for other men and not sell, whereas now they cutt and sell for themselves, and before the comming in of the Flemmish iron ingrossed all the rodd iron into their own hands.

3. What they cutt not for themselves, the same they cutt of an unfitting scantling and into ends, whereby we are inforced to buy of them only and not of others, and at their own prices.

4. We allwaies have in evrie C. weight 11 or 12 of ends or refuse iron, and pay for that after 24 the lb. whereof we make againe even hardly a halfpenny for everie pound.

The Flemmish iron wee desyre may continue the comming from forraine parts as formerly it hath done; and where it is excepted against, because it is badd, wee answer:—

1. That iron in the myne riseth not allwaies alike but is mixt, and yett what is badd the same serveth for the slighter uses, and in everie barr there is a naturall mixture of good and badd, weh can not bee avoided.

2. Besides, in a generall respect, it is both a saving and relieff to or countrie, and the means that only keepeth down the prices of or owne yron.

3. We affirme also, as workmen, that especially it is that the Flemmish iron is as good and serviceable and worketh as well as o" owne English iron.

4. And for that or reasons concerne a geñall good, wee cann assure that a great number of poore men have formerly lived by the cutting of iron wch now want; and or desire is, that rather the mills be wholly supprest than one or two only to be enriched by the losses of a great many.-Court Book, 1612 to 1629, fol. 2.

1613.

Another instance of state interference on behalf

of a private suitor occurs under this date:

Recd att this court a tre from the Right hoble the Earle of Pembrook, on the behalff of Mr. Shute, in theise words; viz.

After my very harty commendacons. I am enformed that, about thyrtie yeares since, the wydow of Alderman Dane, of London, aunte to this gent. Mr. Shute, the bearer hereof, gave by hir last will and testamt to the Comepanye of Iremongers (of wch hir husband was a brother) the summe of 2,0001i, wch hath bine heretofore quietly enioyed without any molestacon or burden of hir kindred. This gent. (of whome I have taken notice for some good pts that are in him) is fallen into such wantes, that, unlesse hee bee speedylie in some measure releived, his debts will endaunger his pnt libertye and future hopes. Wherefore my earnest request unto yee is, that, out of a charytable gratytude to the memorye of his aunte, in regard hir legacye remaynes a ppetuall benefett to yor ffraternytye, yee wilbee contented to helpe him wth xxtie or xxxtie pounds towards the payment of his debts, whoe will neu hereafter trouble yee wth any suite of this nature; and whatsoeu yee shall doe herein for my sake beeyond the conscience of the cause, I shalbee ready to requite yt unto yee in any of yor occasyons. Soe I bid you hartely farwell. Greenewich, this xxixth of June (1613). PEMBROKE.

Yor very loving ffreind,

1614. The expedient of raising money by public lotteries, which commenced in the reign of Elizabeth, was adopted by James the First for the purpose of furthering or completing the plantation of Virginia. Questionable as we may suppose such a method must at all times have appeared to be, it stood in no want on the present occasion of distinguished sponsors, as the following letter will attest:

Receved att this court a tre from the Ryght honorable the Lords of his Maties Privie Counsell, to intreat or adventuringe in the lotterie, wch followeth in theise words:

To or verie loving freinds, the Mr, Wardens, and Assistants of the Company of Ironmongers.

After or very hartie commendacons. Wee send you herewith a true declaration of the present estate of the English colonie planted in

Virginia, together with a project by help of lotterie to bringe att length that work to the success desired. Wee shall not need to commend unto you that worthy and Christian enterprise, full of honour and pfitt to his Matie and the whole realme, yff the ends in the said declaration expressed may, in process of tyme, be attained to, whereof the hopes as you perceive are now great, for the advancing and bringing whereof to some good perfection we heartily pray you to imploy yor good indeavours amongst the bretheren of yo" company to adventure in the said lotterie, distined to [forward so] good a purpose, such reasonable sommes of money as each of them may conveniently and cann willingly spare; nothing doubting but that, excited by yo" good example and persuasion, they will shew themselves forward to adventure in so faier a lotterie, wherein haply they may be gayners, and whatsoever any shall loose shalbe bestowed on soe good a worke, and soe be useful to the whole realm. You shall also receive herewth from the treasurer and counsell of Virginia such bookes as are requisite for the regestering of the said sommes adventured, wch we pray you, with as much expedition as may be, in regard of their pnt wants, to sett forth a shipp thither this spring, to retourn wh the money gathered to the said treasurer, from whom we will take note of your proceeding herein, that we may accordingly give you deserved thanks for the same. And soe wee bidd you heartely farewell. From the Court at Whitehall, this first of Aprill, 1614. Yo" verie loveing ffreinds,

The foregoing letter was accompanied by another from the Lord Mayor, but it does not appear what measures the Ironmongers' Company adopted on this occasion.

After my verie hartie commendations, theis are to lett you understand that I am required by the Lords of his Maties most honourable Privie Council to recommend unto yo" care the effecting of their Lordshipps desires for the furtherance of the Virginia plantation, as by their Lordpps tres herewithall sent may appear. Wherefore I pray and require you forthwith to call a Court and to use yo" best endeavours to

accomplish their LordPPs pleasures, in regard it is for soe honourable and Christian a work, and by wch means wee may bee disburdenid of many idle and vagrant persons, wch otherwise are and wilbe more and more chargeable, dangerous, and troublesome to the state. And soe I bidd you hartily farewell. 20th April, 1614.

Yor loving ffriend,

THOMAS MIDDLETON, Maior.

The scheme of this lottery has been preserved and is given by Captain John Smithe in his General History of Virginia, London, 1632, in which is the following passage:

The contents of the declaration of the Lotterey, published by the Counsell.

1615. It is apparent to the world by how many former proclamations we manifested our intents to have drawne out the great standing lottery long before this, which not falling out as we desired and others expected, whose monies are adventured therein, we thought good, therefore, for the avoiding all unjust and sinister constructions, to resolve the doubts of all indifferent minded in three speciall points for their better satisfaction. But, ere I goe any farther, let us remember there was a running lottery used a long time in Saint Paul's churchyard, where this stood, that brought into the treasury good summes of money dayly, though the lot was but small. Now for the points; the first is, for as much as the adventurers came in so slackly for the yeere past without prejudice to the generality in losing the blankes and prises, we were forced to petition to the honourable Lords, who out of their noble care to further this plantation have recommended their leisenters to the countries, cities, and good townes in England, which, we hope, byding in, their voluntary adventures will sufficiently supply us.

The second, for satisfaction to all honest well-affected minds is, that, though this expectation answer not our hopes, yet we have not failed in our Christian care the good of that colony, to whom we have lately sent two sundry supplies, and were they but now supplied with more hands wee should soone resolve the division of the countrey by lot, and so lessen the general charge.

The third is, our constant resolution that, seeing our credits are so farre ingaged to the honourable Lords and the whole State for the drawing