English Patents of Monopoly

Notes:

Deals with the monopolies established in 17th century by royal letters patent for external - ie trading companies - but here mostly 'internal' entities - ie industrial concerns - the formation, performance and demise of which are described. Also has very extensive appendices in which documentation is reproduced. Structured in two parts, viz: 1] 'Political history' tracing the development of the concept - 'To the case of monopolies' / 'From the case of monopolies to the statute of monopolies' / 'From the statute of monopolies to the Long Parliament'; 2] 'Industrial history', viz: 'The mineral companies' - Society of Mines Royal and Company of Mineral & Battery Works / 'The mechanical inventions' / 'The glass patents' / 'The royal alum works' of the Alum Co, Yorkshire / 'The cloth finishing project' - Sir William Cockayne, Merchant Adventurers Co of England and Company of Clothworkers, London / 'The iron industry' / 'The salt monopolies' - Company of Saltmakers of South & North Shields / 'The soap corporations' - Company of Soapmakers of Westminster