A.D. 1667-8. all human government; both of them may be excluded from this proposed liberty. And with these limitations and exceptions: "That all and every other sort of nonconformists may have liberty to assemble, for the exercise of their own manner of worship, in such public places as the nonconformists can procure; and that the doors of the meeting places do stand open to all while they are at their exercise of prayer or teaching. "These expedients may, as it is humbly conceived, reasonably secure the public peace. But as, without this proposed liberty, our desired number of people will not be obtained, so this alone will not be effectual; because men do and may enjoy it in other places, and therefore they must be invited by other temporal advantages. In order whereunto, it is humbly proposed, "First. That a general act of naturalization may be passed, with this addition, that all and every artificer or tradesman may freely exercise his art or trade in any part of the kingdom; provided that if they settle themselves in any city or town corporate, where their trades are put under a regulation, they become members of that company which is or shall be erected for the government of them; and either by the usual oath or by bond give security for their due observance of the ordi nances and by-laws of the society; and that the society be required to admit them for such reasonable fines as the magistrates of the place shall think fit. “And as these expedients may probably attract a multitude of merchants, and other people of inferior condition and trades; so there is yet one other, absolutely necessary to the obtaining the accession of men of estates and money, and that is: "The making all real estates an infallible security to the purchaser or lender, which is provided for by a public register in most parts of Europe; and if your majesty shall think fit to establish the like here by your authority in parliament, it is humbly conceived that such a method may be proposed as in a few years may put men's estates beyond all scruple of their title, without prejudice to any honest man, and to the general good of all your majesty's subjects: and, no doubt, when such security may be had for the purchaser or lender, we shall need no other attractives to bring from our neighbours in foreign parts a great addition of wealthy families to plant themselves and their posterity among us, when A. D. 1667-8. A.D. 1667-8. they may have a retreat into a well-tempered government, enjoy all the immunities, rights, and privileges of it as natives, together with the liberty of their consciences, and fix themselves in purchases of estates in whose title they cannot be defrauded; and likewise make a greater interest of their money than they can where they now are, on the like security." " 80 Lord Ashley, by his engaging address and vivacity in conversation, was highly agreeable to the king, who became hereby more readily disposed to confide in the solidity of his judgment. Of this Charles gave a remarkable proof at the meeting of parliament in February 1667-8. He then spoke in a different tone from what he had done before; by which it appeared that Lord Ashley's remonstrances had made some impression The king's on him; for, after acquainting the two houses with the triple alliance, he added, "One thing declaration to parlia ment. * Lords' Journals. 80 Thus long ago was the necessity of a general registry pointed out but Lord Ashley had not taken into consideration that natural and very pardonable pride which induces our aristocracy to suffer any inconvenience rather than expose the incumbrances which extravagance or family settlements have imposed upon their estates. more I hold myself obliged to recommend to you at this present; which is, that you would seriously think of some course to beget a better union and composure in the minds of my protestant subjects in matters of religion, whereby they may be induced, not only to submit quietly to the government, but also cheerfully give their assistance to the support of it." A. D. 1667-8. the com against the The commons, however, persevered in their Bigotry of animosity against the dissenters; and, as the act mons against conventicles had been only temporary, dissenters. and was lately expired, they passed a bill, and sent it up to the lords, April the 28th, 1668, intitled, "An act for the continuance of a former A.D. 1668. act to prevent and suppress seditious conventicles;" and, on the 4th of May following, they sent a message to the lords to put them in mind of it: but, as the penal laws concerning religion had lost their great advocate in the Earl of Clarendon, this bill was dropped in the house of lords. ley's representations to the king concerning Lord Ashley thought that a knowledge of Lord Ashtrade was an essential qualification in a statesman, and the protection and advancement of it one trade. of his principal duties. He omitted, therefore, no opportunities of representing to the king its A.D. 1668. great importance. Charles had an inquisitive mind after knowledge where his pleasures did not interfere. Lord Ashley showed him that the interest of commerce, though formerly neglected, was become an express affair of state with France, as well as with Holland and Sweden: that France began to find trade of more consequence towards advancing her power than any army or territory though ever so great, as it drew such wealth along with it, and gained such force at sea by shipping; and, therefore, since the advantages of commerce were so well understood by our neighbours, it required more attention in our government: that commerce, as an affair of state, was widely different from the mercantile part; this consisting principally in the knowledge of what goods are fittest to be exported from one place to another, and what commodities are most convenient to make returns in, and the nature and course of exchange; but that trade, as a point of policy and government, consisted of many ar ticles: In countenancing our merchants abroad, as the proper stewards or purveyors of the public stock, wealth, and interest of the nation: |
