ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses a variety of ways in which Bristol's merchant elite were able to manipulate the Crown and its agents when it came to the internal administration of their port. Firstly, examines the attempts of Bristol's corporation to influence Crown policy on the administration of customs collection within the Bristol Channel. Lastly, deals first with Bristol's attempts to have the Port of Cardiff made into member port of Bristol, following the establishment of Crown officers in South Wales during the 1560s. Even more damningly, if the Exchequer had examined the port books for Gloucester and Bristol, which it had in its possession, it would quickly have become clear that Gloucester imported very few continental goods, such as wine, iron, woad, salt and oil. To conclude, while Bristol may have had legitimate reasons for objecting to the establishment of the Port of Gloucester, those engaged in Bristol's illicit export trade are likely to have been particularly hostile to the move.
