ABSTRACT
S Eriously to Consider the Good and Welfare of this Nation, and how Prejudicial it will be, for your Honours to thrown down the East India Company; for there will be many Hundreds weakned, and many undone: This and other Reason, hath moved me to make Application to your Honours; hoping that when you please to Consider the Hardness of the Case, you will decline your Proceedings, though you want Money never so much: and I doubt not but Wisdom will teach you a more easie and legal way, than to destroy the Rights and Properties of your Brethren. Besides it is not Honourable for your Honours to settle them upon a New Foundation, which has put them to a great deal of Charge and Created New hopes of your Honours Favour; thinking all their Sorrows were at an End, and that they might Trade with Freedom, and get up their Losses; having obtained the Kings Favour and Seal: which caused many to put in Money, which otherwide would not; so that your Honours Favour, if you should not support them, will prove a Snare to them and a Dishonour to the King: For who will be safe, if the Kings Favour and the Broad Seal cannot secure them? And I don’t hear that they have offended your Honours in any thing, but have been always ready and willing to assist the King in all they were able. Doth your Honours think that if you make a New Company, they will be without Faults? No, it may be they will in time have greater than the Old. Or is it because they can not give you Money? They have not had time to get it, and your Honours would not have it, where it is not to be had. When the Children of Israel were in Bondage, it was their greatest Punishment to be commanded to make Brick without Straw: Would any of Your Honours be willing to have any one say to you, Give us so much Money, and you are not able, by reason of Losses and Crosses; and yet notwithstanding your want of Ability, they should turn you out of your House and Trade and give it to another? Will not Your Honours think this proceeding hard and unjust? Therefore I beseech Your Honours as you are Christians, to do as you would be done unto, and use not your Power to destroy your Brethren. I am told you intend to bring in your Bill when you can have an advantage; but I beseech you don’t you use your Power to destroy, but fear God.
