Poems on Affairs of State

Shews why this Tale in Verse is wrote,
How 'twas begun o'er the Ale Pot;
Shews Rise and Progress of the Trade
To India drove, and who 'twas made
The first steps to our Wool Trade's Ruin,
And how it prov'd to Folks undoing;
What done to stop its further Growth,
And how those Measures came to nought;
How Golden Fleece lay very dead,
How Act for burying it was made;
And how, if we were truly wise,
We should their Trangums all despise,
Our Mony save, imploy our Poor,
From starving keep, and from our Door;
Who then could drink, some Ale, some Sherry,
And laugh, and quaff, and all be merry.

423

PROLOGUE.

In place one day as I was standing,
Where Folks were printed Papers handing
To those that wou'd, or read, or buy 'em,
These Remarks made, as I stood nigh 'em:
I saw a mighty, zealous Crew,
Some for Old Stock, and some for New,
Were pro and conning their hard Cases,
By the chief Dons of several Classes:
'Mongst which Grandees I sometimes fell in,
And heard most dismal Stories telling;
The one the other much arraign'd,
And Credit of their Causes stain'd.
Thus having heard each side complain,
Methoughts it was apparent plain,
That some 'mongst both were Knaves in grain.
I saw a Case concerning Wool,
With Reasons stuft, both clear and full;
Which plainly shew'd our certain ruin,
These mighty Talkers were pursuing:
Yet saw, that many, at first sight on't,
There were that made but very light on't,
And found there were but few attend it,
But very few that would defend it.
Amaz'd I stood, and much dejected,
And in my Mind was much affected,
So great a Cause should be neglected.
Soon after that, I saw, with Vigour,
Verses catch'd up, 'bout fight of Tyger,
By Old and Young, by Fools and Witty,
And by the great Dons of the City.
Thought I, this Case, if I should write
In such a manner, Folks would buy't,

424

And read, for sake of Doggrel Rhime.
Which Thought improv'd, I lost no Time,
But presently o'er Pot of Ale,
Writ a great part of this sad Tale,
Which, if you like, you may have more on't,
For I now have, or shall have store on't.

The TALE.

When first the Indian Trade began,
And Ships beyond the Tropicks ran
In quest of various Drugs and Spices,
And sundry other strange Devices,
Salt-petre, Drugs, Spice, and like Trading,
Compos'd the bulk of all their Lading:
Bengals, and Silks, of Indians making,
Our Merchants then refus'd to take in,
Knowing it would their Country ruin,
And might prove to their own undoing.
Nor did they carry Gold or Bullion,
To fetch home what supplants our Woollen;
Nor were this Nation fond to wear
Such Indian Toys, which cost so dear:
Then were we clad in Woollen Stuffs,
With Cambrick Bands, and Lawn Ruffs,
Or else in Silk, which was imported
For Woollen Goods, which we exported;
Which Silk our English Weavers bought,
And into various Figures wrought.
Then scarce a Child was to be seen,
Without Say Frock, that was of green:
Our Hangings, Beds, our Coats, and Gowns,
Made of our Wool in Clothing Towns.
This Nation then was rich and wealthy,
And in a State which we call'd healthy.

425

But since the Men of Gath arose,
And for their Chief Goliah chose,
Who with Re'boham's Couns'llers clos'd;
And since that mighty Giant's Reign,
Whose chiefest Aim was private Gain,
This Trade was drove on by such Measures,
As soon exhausted much our Treasures.
For then our chiefest Artists went
With Patterns, and with Mony sent,
To make and purchase Indian Ware,
For which this Nation pays full dear.
Then by great Gifts of finest Touches,
To Lords and Ladies, Dukes and Dutchess,
So far prevail'd, as set the Fashion,
Which Plague-like soon spread o'er the Nation.
Our Ladies all were set a gadding,
After these Toys they ran a madding;
And nothing then would please their Fancies,
Nor Dolls, nor Joans, nor wanton Nancies,
Unless it was of Indians making;
And if 'twas so, 'twas wondrous taking.
This antick Humor so prevail'd,
Tho many 'gainst it greatly rail'd;
That all Degrees of Female kind,
To Indian Ware were so inclin'd,
That nothing else could please their Mind.
Tell 'em the following of such Fashion
Wou'd beggar and undo the Nation,
And ruin all our labouring Poor,
That must, or starve, or beg at Door;
They'd not at all regard your Story,
But in their painted Garments glory;
And such as were not Indian proof,
They scorn'd, despis'd, as paltry Stuff:
And like gay Peacocks proudly strut it,
When in our Streets along they foot it.

426

This Humour strangely thus prevailing,
Set all the poorer sort a railing,
Or else with Grief their Case bewailing.
The richer seeing what was doing,
And how the Nation ran to Ruin,
To King in Council did complain,
In time of Charles the Second's Reign:
On which were several Lords appointed,
By him who was the Lord's Anointed,
To hear the Case, and sad Complainings
Of those that then were for Restrainings;
Who plainly did their Lordships tell,
What Mischiefs to our Trade befel;
How both our Men and Bullion went
To work in India, and be spent
In needless Toys, and gaudy Dresses,
For Ladies, Madams, Trulls, and Misses.

The Case thus heard, they were inclin'd
Some proper Remedy to find;
And something was in order doing,
To put a stop to further Ruin:
But by the Craft of great Goliah,
Who all the Host stood in defy-a,
There is this Story passing current,
That say 'twas he that stop'd this torrent,
By pouring Gold in plenteous Showers,
In Ladies Laps, who bore great Powers;
Which strongly alter'd all their Measures,
Such Charms there are in hidden Treasures.
Thus barrocading all Complaints,
Drove Jehu-like without Restraints,
Fill'd Town and Country soon so full,
As ruin'd much our Trade in Wool:
And such great Stocks of Wool and Clothes,
Were hoarded up, and eat by Moths,
Made Clothiers all, and Growers grumbl'd,
When Clothes and Fleeces o'er they tumbl'd.

427

And further Mischiefs to prevent,
Complaint was made in Parliament:
And 'cause the Wool so near affected,
This Salvo for't was then projected,
That since the Living would not bear it,
They should, when dead, be forc'd to wear it.
This help'd in part, but the Grand Ill
Remains upon the Kingdom still.
Yet this our Ladies so offended,
As all our Female Sex contended,
And fain would had this Act rejected:
But then their Counsels were neglected,
And Time has reconcil'd it so,
To this Wool Act they're now no Foe;
So that from Ladies great, to Skullion,
All buried lay in our own Woollen.

And happy thrice would England be,
If, while they're living, we could see,
Our noble Ladies but beginning
To wear our Wool of finest spinning,
Or in such Silks our Workmen make,
For which our Merchants Cloth do take;
Which soon wou'd bring them in such Fashion,
As they'd be worn throughout this Nation,
By all Degrees, and Sex, and Ages,
From highest Peers to lowest Pages;
Nor would the meanest Trulls or Besses,
Delight to wear these Indian Dresses,
Which certainly would Profit bring,
To them, their Tenants, and our King,
And Heaven's Blessing in the Bargain,
Because they'll keep our Poor from starving.
For they wou'd soon be then employ'd,
Our Mony too at Home wou'd 'bide.
And happy then both Great and Small,
With Mirth in Parlour, and in Hall,
When thus, with Plenty, Beards wag all.

428

EPILOGUE.

And now this Tale, thus far being ended,
Methinks I see some Folks offended,
And 'gainst this Doggrel Poet rail,
Because he've told so plain a Tale;
And New and Old Stock, Jobbing Throng,
Crying it down, be't right or wrong:
But if they do, and away fling 'em,
'Tis a great Sign they're Truths that sting 'em.
But let them spend their Lungs, and hollow,
Such blustring Sparks he need not value,
Since all his Aim, and his Designs,
Are to beat down their Indian Blinds,
That all true English-men may see
What cause their real Misery,
That so they may prevent their Ruin,
And save this Nation from undoing.
But if they still will shut their Eyes,
And Demonstrations plain despise;
And if his Tale shall be rejected,
Or if this Cause be still neglected,
He only this has more to say,
That he can shift as well as they,
And that he writ this not for Pay.

University of Virginia Library

Prince Butler's Tale: Representing the State of the Wool-Case, or the East-India Case truly stated, 1691.

The ARGUMENT.

PROLOGUE.

The TALE.

EPILOGUE.