To his Honoured Friend, Cap. Joseph Trevers, on his Book Entituled An Essay to the Restoring of our decayed Trade.

If I a Poet were, I’de undertake, To write some Verses for the Authors sake. And give him commendation for his pains For I beleive, no more will be his gains. For such men as do mind the publique good Their merits are but slightly understood Yet unto lasting age their fame shall bud. The Author of this Book who took the care Exactly to observe the great affair Of this our Kingdome, which consists in Trade, Of Clothes and Stuffes which of our Wooll are made, Hath here the profit clearly shown to us, And what advantage yearly cometh thus If we were wise to be industrious. Together with the mischiefs that do come On the whole Kingdome by neglect of some, And treachery of others which is worse, (A heavier and more Prodigious curse Cannot well lighten on the English Nation) To send away our Wooll by Transportation, This if not cur’d will bring to desolation. As much as in them lies for selfish ends Such bring destruction to their best friends, First to the Soveraign Majesty of the King, Then to the Common-wealth, for this doth bring The Nation to be exceeding poor And many Clothiers forced to give ore Their Trading, and follow it no more. But now I hope for better things to come By the removal and displaceing some Of those that were in trust, and put in such As are upright, and won’t comply with Dutch, Nor any Forreign Nation to invade The Ancient Priviledges of our Trade The want hereof makes England greatly fade. R. B.

Goe little Book into the world and see Who thou can’st find therein to welcome thee, I’m sure thou mean’st as well to every man Of all degrees and sorts as any can: From King to meanest, thou dost with them well And therefore this thy Book doth truly tell Of wrongs and of Abuses done to all. Then let them in whose compass it may fall Soon rectify the same, and bring on Trade Afresh, this is the end this Book was made. Incerti Authoris.