Chester and ports up the rapidly silting Dee were still important until Liverpool began to dominate by beginning of 18th Century (eg Elizabeth's forces at end of 16th C transferred to Ireland via Chester - they avoided Liverpool, I think, in case of opposition by the Liverpudlian Irish!

I'm not 100% sure of Bp Wilson's attitude to the smuggling trade - he preached against it and his son Dr Wilson was an informer to the British Goverment - however he appeared quite happy to get some things at Manx prices which of course relied on the running trade to make them available

IIRC the comments re Dublin are to our 'cozn's but doesn't I think name them - I havn't however done any work on this topic so any comments are from memory whilst looking up other matters.

If you want to contact me privately (via manxnotebook) I'd be happy to receive any info - I'm back in Peel tomorrow