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THE NATURE AND CAUSES Of

But in the particular counties of Kent and Sussex the re-strictions are still more troublesome. Every owner of woolwithin ten miles of the sea-coast must give an account inwriting-, three days after shearing, to the next officer of thecustoms, of the number of his fleeces, and of the places wherethey are lodged. And before he removes any part of themhe must give the like notice of the number and weight of thefleeces, and of the name and abode of the person to whom theyare sold, and of the place to which it is intended they shouldbe carried. No person within fifteen miles of the sea in thesaid counties, can buy any wool, before he enters into bondto the king, that no part of the wool which he shall so buyshall be sold by him to any other person within fifteen milesof the sea. If any wool is found carrying towards the sea-side in the said counties, unless it has been entered, and se-curity given as aforesaid, it is forfeited, and the offender alsoforfeits three shillings for every pound weight. If any personlay any wool, not entered as aforesaid, within fifteen miles ofthe sea, it must be seized and forfeited, and if after such sei-zure, any person shall claim the same, he must give securityto the exchequer, that if he is cast upon trial he shall paytreble costs, besides all other penalties.

When such restrictions are imposed upon the inland trade,the coasting trade, we may believe, cannot be left very free.Every owner of wool who earrieth, or eauseth to be carried,any wool to any port or place on the sea-coast, ill order to befrom thence transported by sea to any other place or port onthe coast, must first cause an entry thereof to be made at theport from whence it is intended to be conveyed, containingthe weight, marks, and number of the packages, before hebrings the same within five miles of that port; on pain of for-feiting the same, and also the horses, carts, and other car-riages; and also of suffering and forfeiting, as by the otherlaws in force against the exportation of wool. This law, how-ever, (1 Will. 111. ch. 32.) is so very indulgent as to declare,that “this shall not hinder any person from carrying his woolhome from the place of shearing, though it be within fivemiles of the sea, provided that in ten days after shearing, andbefore lie remove the wool, he do under his hand certify tothe next officer of the customs, the true number of fleeces, andwhere it is housed; and do not remove the same, without cer-tifying to such officer, under his hand, his intention so to do,three days before.” Bond must be given that the wool to be