Now if these things were well considered, what quantities of goods are privately imported, and so as that they are seldome discovered, with what also comes into the River of _Medway_ (alias _Chatham_) which lies about twenty seven miles from _London_, by Land; and the most convenient River in _England_, (I beleive) to Land goods privately: it would easily appear, what loss it is to his Majesty in perticular, in his Customes, which by these and such like Practices are stollen, and in general to the Trade of the whole Kingdome. [Sidenote: _Smugglers make many friends._] It is also well known, that those which steal the Duties of the King’s Customes, and do Import and Export Prohibited Goods and Commodities, are none of the meanest persons in the places where they dwell, but such who oftentimes have great interest with the Magistrates about those places, and seeing they get their money so easily, by not paying the Kings due Custome for their goods, as honest Merchants do, and being Purse-proud, do not value what they spend, to ingratiate themselves into the favour of such Gentlemen, as have authority as aforesaid; and then make it their business by the assistance of such Magistrates, and their countenance, to destroy all such as shall discover their fraudulent dealings, or elce by some small Bribes to stop their mouths, that so these Cheats may avoid the penalty of the Law, and prevent others from the future from discovering their doings. The King’s Customehouses, ought to be so many locks and Keys to the Kingdome, to let what is warrantable and lawful to come in, and to keep out what is forbidden its entrance, and to prevent the great abuses that are so frequently complained of, both in the Exportation of our Prohibited goods, and the Importation of Forreign goods forbidden by Law; and if the Officers were but as vigilant and faithful as they ought to be, they might easily and readily prevent these enormities with their care and diligence, which are so dayly practised. [Sidenote: _Blank Certificates a Cheat._] [Sidenote: _Exchanging the Master of the Vessel._]