Note 116 — PART I The Graces
Reading edition
“There was little or no manufacture amongst them, but some small beginnings towards a clothing trade, which I had and so should still discourage all I could, unless otherwise directed by his Majesty and their lordships, in regard, it 139would trench not only upon the clothings of England, being our staple commodity, so as if they should manufacture their own wools, which grew to very great quantities, we should not only lose the profit we made now by indraping their wools, but his Majesty lose extremely by his Customs, and, in conclusion, it might be feared they would beat us out of the trade itself, by under-selling us, which they were well able to do.”—Wentworth to Wandesford, July 25, 1636. (Strafford Letters, II., 13-23.) For his encouragement of the linen trade see the same letter.