A DISCOVRSE of Trade From England vnto the East-Indies Answering to diuerse Obiections which are vsually made against the same By T. M. LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Iohn Pyper 1621. Briefe Notes directing to the seuerall parts which are handled in the Answeres made to the foure Obiections against the East-India Trade in the Discourse following The parts of the first Obiection Page 4. 1. IN the first part is shewed the necessary vse of Drugges Spices Indico Raw-silke and Callicoes 2 In the second part is declared the great summes of ready monies which are yeerely saued to Christendome in generall by fetching the wares of the East-Indies directly in shipping from thence page 8. 3. In the third part is proued that the Trade from England to the East-Indies doth not consume but rather greatly increase the generall stocke and Treasure of this Realme page 19. The parts of the second Obiection Page 29. 1. In the first part is set forth the noble vse of Ships and that the timber planke and other Materials of this Kingdome for the building of Shipping are neither become scant nor dearer since the East-India Trade beganne Ibidem 2. In the second part is shewed the great strength of shipping and warlike prouisions which the East-India Company haue alwayes in readinesse for the seruice of the Kingdome pag. 31. The parts of the third Obiection page 33. 1. The East-India Trade doth not make victuals deare but is a meanes to increase our plenty Ibidem 2. In breadeth more Marriners then it doth ordinarily consume and disburtheneth the Kingdome of very many leude people page 35. 3. It hath not destroyed any other Trade or shipping of this Realme but hath encreased both the one and the other besides the great addition of it selfe vnto the strength and traffique of this Kingdome page 37. 4. It doth not increase the number of the poore of this Realme as is erroniously supposed but it doth maintayne and releeue many hundreds of people by their imployments and Charitie page 42. 5. It doth saue the Kingdome yeerely 75000.l. sterling or thereabouts of that which it was accustomed to spend in Spices and Indico onely when they were brought vs from Turkey and Lixborne page 43. The parts of the fourth Obiection Page 46. 1. The East-India Trade doth not hinder the imployment of his Maiesties Mint Ibidem 2. The proposition to put downe the East-India Trade is grounded vpon idle and false reports tending to the great hurt of the King and his people pag. 48. 3. A briefe Narration of a Kingdomes riches with the foure principall causes which may decay the generall stocke and treasure of this Realme in particular page 49. A DISCOVRSE OF Trade from England vnto the East Indies Answering to diuerse Obiections which are vsually made against the same THe trade of Merchandize is not onely that laudable practize wherby the entercourse of Nations is so worthily performed but also as I may terme it the verie Touchstone of a kingdomes prosperitie when therein some certen rules shall be diligently obserued For as in the estates of priuate persons wee may accompt that man to prosper and growe rich who being possessed of reuenues more or lesse doth accordingly proportion his expences whereby he may yearelie aduance some maintenance for his posteritie So doth it come to passe in those Kingdomes which with great care and warinesse doe euer vent out more of their home commodities then they import and vse of forren wares for so vndoubtedly the remainder must returne to them in treasure But where a contrarie course is taken through wantonnesse and riot to ouer waste both forren and domestike wares there must the money of necessitie be exported as the meanes to helpe to furnish such excesse and so by the corruption of mens conditions and manners manie rich countries are made exceeding poore whilest the people thereof too much affecting their owne enormities doe lay the fault in something else Wherefore industry to increase and frugalitie to maintaine are the true watchmen of a kingdomes treasury euen when the force and feare of Princes prohibitions cannot possibly retaine the same And therefore as it is most plaine that proportion or quantitie must euer be regarded in the importing of forren wares so must there also be a great respect of qualitie and vse that so the things most necessarie be first preferred such as are foode rayment and munition for warre and trade which great blessinges when any countrie doth sufficiently enioy the next to be procured are wares fitting for health and arts the last are those which serue for our pleasures and ornament Now forasmuch as by the prouidence of almightie God the kingdome of England is indowed with such aboundance of rich commodities that it hath long enioyed not onely great plentie of the things before named but also through a superfluitie hath beene much inriched with treasure brought in from forren parts which hath giuen life vnto so many worthy trades amongst which that vnto the East India by name the report whereof although it is already spread so famous through the world yet notwithstanding heere at home the clamorous complaints against the same are growne so loude and generall that my selfe being one of the Society it hath much troubled my priuate meditations to conceaue the means or true groundes of this confusion But at the last I resolued my selfe that the greatest number of these exclaimers are led away in ignorance not hauing as yet discerned the mysteries of such waightie affaires Some haue beene transported with enuie as not participating in the said Societie or beeing thereby hindred as they conceiue in some other trade and others wholy corrupted in their affections who whilest they willingly runne into these errors doe also labour diligently to seduce others that so this good and glorie of the kingdome might be subuerted by our selues which by the pollicie and strength of Strangers cannot so easilie be abated wherefore it is now a fit time to meete with such iniurious courses by a true Narration of the passages in the said East-India Trade answering to those seuerall obiections which are so commonlie made against the same That so these misunderstandings and errours may be made knowne vnto the whole body of this Kingdome which at this present time is most worthily represented in those noble assemblies of the high Courts of Parliament where I hope the worth of this rich Trade shall be effectually inquired and so in the end obtaine the credit of an honorable approbation The first Obiection It were a happie thing for Christendome say many men that the Nauigation to the East-Indies by way of the Cape of Good hope had neuer bene found out For in the fleetes of shippes which are sent thither yearely out of England Portingall and the Low countries The gold siluer and Coyne of Christendome and particularly of this Kingdome is exhausted to buy vnnecessarie wares The Answere THe matter of this Obiection is very waighty and
Preachers of the Gospell yearely with good summes of money and diuers other acts of charitie which are by them religiously performed euen in the times now of their worst fortunes for all which I hope there shal be a reward vnto them and theirs And so I come to the fift part of this third Obiection And here I must intimate how much they are deceiued who thinke that Spices and Indico are no better cheape in England now then in times past before the East India trade began For it is an vndoubted truth that in those dayes we often payd 6. shillings or more for a pound of Pepper and seldome or neuer lesse then three shillings and sixe pence the pound whereas since the Trade hath come directly from the Indies it hath beene bought commonly at seuerall prices betweene 16. pence and two shillings the pound but I will make the difference of price appeare more plainely by setting downe the quantities of Spices and Indico which are yearely spent in the Realme of England together with the lowest prices which they were wont to sell at when wee brought them from Turkey and Lixborne and the like concerning their vsuall prices now that wee bring them from the East Indies directly And first as from Turkey 400000. ll of Pepper at 3.s. 6.d. the ll 70000.l. 00.s. 00d 40000. of Cloues at 8.s. the ll 16000 00 00. 20000. of Maces at 9.s. the ll 9000 00 00. 160000. of Nutmegs at 4. s. 6d the ll 36000 00 00 150000. of Indico at 7.s. the pound 52500 00 00. Â 183500 00 00 And the selfe same quantity and sorts of wares are commonly sold at the prices here vnder written now in these later times 400000. ll of Pepper at 20d. the ll 33333.l. 06. s. 08. d 40000. of Cloues at 6d. the ll 12000 00 00. 20000. of Maces at 6.s. the ll 6000 00 00. 160000. of nutmegs at 2.s. 6d the ll 20000 00 00 150000. of Indico at 5.s. pound 37000 00 00. Â 108333. 06 08 So that this Trade in Spice and Indico onely doth saue the Kingdome yearly 74966.l. 13.s. 04.d. which is a matter worthy to be obserued and so much the rather because it is a certaine truth that lesse then a quarter part of this sum of mony which is thus saued yearely shall buy in the Indies the full quantitie of all the seuerall sorts of wares before written which doe serue for a yeares prouision for this Realme of England but still it must be remembred that the custome impost wages victuals shipping and other charges which are to be added will be a greater summe then the mony which is paid for these wares in the Indies but as I haue noted before the said charges doe not consume the Kingdomes stocke although it doth greatly abate the Merchants gaine And to conclude this point I will adde vnto that which hath beene said that the commodities onely which we now send yearely into the East Indies and Persia are of sufficient value there to returne vs Indico Spices Drugs and all other sorts of Indian wares Raw-Silkes of Persia only excepted for one yeares consume or more in this Kingdome So that now all the money which is sent forth in our Ships doth procure an ouer-plus of the said wares to the furtherance of Trade from India hither and after from hence to forreine parts againe to the great imployment of the Subiects and inriching of this Realme both in Stocke and Treasure all which is matter very worthy to be diligently obserued And so I come to giue answere vnto the fourth and last Obiection The fourth Obiection It is generally obserued that his Maiesties Mint hath had but little imployment euer sithence the East India Trade began Wherefore it is manifest that the onely remedie for this and so many euils besides is to put downe this Trade For what other remedie can there be for the good of the Common-wealth The Answer This fourth obiection may be deuided into three parts 1. An euill declared 2. A remedie propounded 3. And counsell demaunded And first concerning the Euill or want of Siluer I thinke it hath beene and is a generall disease of all Nations and so will continue vntill the end of the world for poore and rich complaine they neuer haue enough but it seemeth the maladie is growen mortall here with vs and therefore it cries out for remedie Well I hope it is but imagination maketh vs sicke when all our parts be sound and strong For who knoweth not the inestimable treasure of this Kingdome in Plate possessed by the people thereof almost of all degrees in such measure as neuer hath beene seene in former ages And for his Maiesties Mint it is well knowne that there hath beene coyned in fiue yeares together since the East India Company began 6214. pounds waight of Gold and 311384. pound waight of sterling Money all which Gold and Siluer doe amount vnto the summe of 1213850. pounds of sterling Money How then doth this Trade turne the currant and imployment of the Mint But vpon the sight of this truth perhaps it will be said That wee must resort vnto the present times the Mint being idle now To which I answer That likewise the Mint had little or no imployment for coynage of Siluer in former times when the said Company did not export aboue fifteene or twenty thousand pounds sterling at the most per annum no nor yet in the yeares 1608. and 1612 when in the former they shipped out but 6000.l. 00. s. 00d. and in the latter but 1250.l. 00. s. 00.d. sterling So that both waies we see that the Mint hath had very great imployment fiue yeares together sithence the East India Trade began and also it hath beene without imployment diuers yeares when the East India Company haue sent away but very small summes of money wherefore of necessitie there must be some other causes and meanes whereby our Siluer is not exported onely but also it is not imported into the Realme as in former times For we haue not had the meanes by our owne plentie not by the scarsitie of our neighbours for the space of the last foureteene yeares together to send out hundreds of Ships laden with Corne as in times past which was returned home in Siluer but rather of late yeares as is much to be feared a great quantitie of our money hath beene carried out of the Kingdome for that Corne which hath beene brought vs from the East Countries and other places to supply our wants Thus times doe change and our fortunes change with them neither list I to make this matter plainer by setting downe those meanes which heretofore brought vs store of money euen out of France and other places which now are ceased But without any further medling in the Mint I will come to the remedie which some propound by putting downe the East India Company But heere our comfort is that
the Obiectors are not our Iudges whose wisedome and integritie labouring for the honour of his Maiestie and the good of his Kingdome will soone perceiue the mischiefes of this supposed remedie And that the pretended euill which many with malice chase is that great good which other Nations seeke by pollicie and strength to keepe and likewise to obtaine In which proceedings it concerneth vs especially to obserue the diligences and practises of the Dutch who with more gladnesse would vndertake the whole Trade to the East Indies then with any reason we can abandon that part thereof which we now enioy neither can our restraint from the Indies keepe our Siluer from thence as long as the Dutch goe thither for we know that deuices want not to furnish such dessignes and when their Ships returne from India shall not our Siluer our againe to helpe to pay a double price or what they please for all those wares which we shall want for our necessities Thus should the Dutch increase their honour wealth and strength whilest we abate grow poore and weake at Sea for want of Trade and call you this a Remedie no rather tearme it Ruine Destruction or what you list And so I come vnto the conclusion or last part And here I must confesse my selfe aground for this matter is much too high for my handling besides my excuse is faire hauing alreadie done my taske to cleare the East India Trade from imputation the which for want of learning although I haue performed without varietie of words or eloquence yet it is done with all integritie of truth in euery particular as I shall be readie to make proofe vpon all occasions which may bee offered And yet before I make an end although I cannot satisfie euery mans desire in such measure as is necessarie yet I thinke it not amisse to performe the same so farre as I am able by common practise and my obseruations in the Trade of Merchandize which is my profession And first therefore all men doe know that the riches or sufficiencie of euery Kingdome State or Common-wealth consisteth in the possession of those things which are needfull for a ciuill life This sufficiency is of two sorts the one is naturall and proceedeth of the Territorie it selfe the other is artificiall and dependeth on the industry of the Inhabitants The Realme of England praised be God is happily possessed of them both as first hauing great plentie of naturall riches both in the Sea for Fish on the Land for Wooll Cattle Corne Lead Tin Iron and many other things for food Rayment Munition insomuch that vpon strickt tearmes of need this land may liue without the help of any other Nation But to liue well to flourish and grow rich we must finde meanes by Trade to vent our superfluities therewith to furnish and adorne vs with the Treasure and those necessarie wares which forreine Nations doe afford and here industrie must begin to play his part not onely to increase and guide the Trades abroad but also to maintaine and multiply the Arts at home for when either of these faile or are not effected with such skill as their mysterie shall require then doth the Common-wealth abate growes poore neither is this easily perceiued at first vntill some euill accidents doe stirre vp our diligence to search out the true causes that so they being remoued the effects may cease And this is the subiect of our discourse which we now pursue That which I haue hitherto deliuered hath beene altogether Negatiue still defending and prouing by arguments that the East India Trade hath not hurt this Common-wealth And now changing my stile I must affirme as fast the true causes of those euils which we seeke to chase away These causes then as I conceiue are principally foure 1. The first is the breach of Entercourse by forraine Nations 2. The second is the abuse of the exchanges betwixt vs and other Countries 3. The third is neglect of dutie in some Subiects 4 The fourth is our dammage in Commerce with Strangers Now concerning all these I might make a very large discourse but my purpose is only to explane the meaning of euery point in order as briefely as I can And first for the breach of Entercourse by this I vnderstand those Nations who haue eyther debased their Standard or else ouer-valued the price of their Coynes from that equiualence which formerly they had with the Standard and Moneys of this Realme And also doe tollerate not onely their owne Moneys but also the Coyne of other Countries and especially of this Kingdome to bee currant with them at higher rates then the prizes of the Exchange by which courses being directly against the Entercourse there is a greater cause giuen of exportation of the Moneys of this Realme then otherwise there would be For although this is done with great danger to the exporters of the same it being an acte against the Law of the Land yet notwithstanding Couetousnesse being euer conuersant in wicked actions thinketh nothing vnlawfull which promiseth a certaine gaine and how to remedie this euill practise I finde it not easie For the debasing of the Coyne or raising the price thereof in this Realme would much impouerish the estates of particular men and yet in the conclusion would proue a businesse without end for who doth not conceiue that which would follow beyond the Seas vpon any such alteration here with vs so that still the euill will remaine vntill we find some other remedie And for the exchanges of money vsed betwixt Nations although the true vse thereof is a very lawdable and necessarie practise for the accommodating of Merchants affaires and furnishing of Trauellers in their occasions without the transporting of Coyne from one State to another with danger and losse both to the publique and priuate wealth yet is the abuse thereof verie preiudiciall vnto this Kingdome in particuler whilest in the interim the benefit doth arise vnto other Countries who diligently obseruing the prizes whereby the monies bee exchanged may take aduantage to carrie away the Gold and Siluer of this Realme at those times when the rate of our sterling money in Exchange is vnder the value of that Standard vnto which place they are conueyed For in respect the prizes of the Exchanges doe rise and fall according to the plentie or scarsitie of money which is to be taken vp or deliuered out the exchange is hereby become rather a Trade for some great monyed men then a furtherance and accomodation of reall Trade to Merchants as it ought to be in the true vse thereof And thus many times money may be made ouer hither by strangers to a good gaine and presently carried beyond the Seas to a second profite and yet the mischefe ends not here for by this means the takers vp of money in forraine Countreys must necessarily driue a Trade to those places from whence they
draw their moneys and so doe fill vs vp with forraine Commodities without the vent of our owne wares but for this great euill there is an easie remedie and so I come to handle the next cause which is neglect of Dutie Neither is it my intent to write of Duties in their seuerall kindes but onely of that kinde of duty which is here thought to bee neglected by some men in their seuerall vocations As it might peraduenture come to passe in those who haue the working of his Maiesties coyne either gold or siluer if diligent care be not had in the size of euery seuerall peece to answer iustly to his weight for howsoeuer vpon triall of many peeces altogether the weight may bee found according to the couenants and within the remedies ordained in the Indentures Yet notwithstanding many of those peeces may be sized too light others as much too heauy which giueth the greater aduantage to some people to carry away that which is ouer-weight and so to leaue vs them which are too light if they leaue vs any And this mischiefe is not single for thereby also some Goldsmiths regarding profit more then dutie may bee the more readily drawne to melt downe the heauy Coyne into Plate and other ornaments both of gold and siluer But what might wee thinke of those men who are placed in authoritie and office for his Maiestie if they should not with all dutifull care discharge their trust concerning that excellent Statute where in it is ordered that all the moneys receiued by strangers for their Merchandise shall be employed vpon the commodities of this Realme the due performance whereof would not onely preuent the carrying away of much gold and siluer but also be a meanes of greater vent of our owne wares whereof I purpose to write something more in the next part which concerneth our commerce with strangers And now I come to the last point which I feare is not the least amongst the causes of our want of money so farre as any such may bee and let it not seeme strange to any man that Trades should hurt and impouerish a Commonwealth since it hath beene alwayes accompted an excellent means to helpe and enrich the same for as this truth cannot be denyed with reason so it is likewise most certain that the vnskilfull managing thereof hath euer prooued a great decay vnto those nations who haue been entangled with such errors And are not the examples too frequent in many of our owne Merchants who not onely by the perils of the Seas and such like misfortunes lose their goods but also euen through want of knowledge wisely to direct their affaires doe ouerthrow their whole estates neither may we properly call this their losse but rather the kingdomes losse in them Wherefore it were to be wished that this mysterie of Merchandising might be left only to them who haue had an education thereunto and not to be vndertaken by such who leauing their proper vocations doe for want of skill in this both ouerthrow themselues others who are better practised But there is yet a farre greater mischiefe by our Trades beyond the Seas when peraduenture there might be imported yearely a greater value in forraine wares then by any way or meanes we doe export of our owne commodities which cannot otherwise come to passe then with a manifest impouerishing of the Commonwealth for as it is a certain cause to make vs rich both in stock treasure when we shall carry out a greater value of our owne goods then we bring in of forrain wares so by consequence a course contrary to this must of necessitie worke a contrary effect Neither is this importation meant otherwise thē concerning those wares which are consumed in this Realm for the cōmodities which are brought in after carried out vnto forren parts again cānot hurt but doe greatly help the cōmonwealth by encrease of his Maiesties Customes and Trades with other employments of the subiects by which particulars I might yet set foorth the glory of the East India Trade which hath brought into this Realme in fifteene moneths space not onely so much Spice as hath serued the same for the sayd time but also by the superfluitie thereof there hath beene exported into forraine parts for about 215000. pounds sterling So then let all men iudge for what a great value wee may hope hereafter to export yearely when vnto these spices we may by Gods assistance add the infinite worth of Raw-silkes Indicos Callicoes and some other things All which are to bee issued in the nature of Cloth Lead Tinne or any of our owne Merchandize to the enriching of this Kingdome by encrease of the Common-stocke So then to conclude this poynt we ought not to auoid the importation of forraine wares but rather willingly to bridle our owne affections to the moderate consuming of the same for otherwise howsoeuer the East India Trade in particular is an excellent meanes greatly to encrease the stocke of mony which we send thither yearely by returning home fiue times the value thereof in rich commodities all which in short time may bee conuerted into Treasure as is plainly shewd already in Page 25. Yet notwithstanding if these Indian wares thus brought home cannot be spared to serue for that purpose of Treasure but must be sent forth together with our owne natiue commodities and yet all little enough to prouide our excesse and extraordinary consume of forraine wares then is it likewise as certaine that the generall Trade of this Kingdome doth hinder and diuert the comming in of the said Treasure by ouer-ballancing the value of our wares exported with the importation and immoderate consume of forraine Commodities Therefore forasmuch as the number of the people in this Realme are thought to be greatly increased of late time both in themselues and strangers whereby necessarily the Commodities of this Kingdome and also forraine wares are the more consumed and wasted a double meanes to abate the Common-wealth it therefore concerneth vs all in generall and euery man in his particular to stirre vp our minds and diligence to helpe the naturall Commodities of this Realme by industrie and increase of Arts seeing that the materials cannot bee wanting to make such Stuffes and other things as are daily brought vnto vs from forraine parts to the great aduantage of Strangers and to our no lesse dammage Neither should we neglect the riches which our Seas affoord whilest other Nations by their labour doe procure themselues great Treasure from the same And as the diligent performance of these things would plentifully maintaine the poore and much increase the common stocke of this Kingdome so likewise for the better furtherance thereof wee ought religiously to auoid our common excesses of food and rayment which is growne to such a height in most degrees of people aboue their abilitie that it is now beyond all example of former ages
Neither is it needfull for me to set downe the particulars of these abuses for they are too well knowne and I am confident that the wisedome of our Gouernment doth endeuour to see them as well amended to the glorie of God the honour of the King and the good of the Common-wealth Amen FINIS The First part concerneth the vse of Indian wares Sir Thomas Elyot his Castle of health Rembert Dodoneus his history of Plants The French Academy second part and others France and the Low Countries of late yeares do make great quantities of wrought silke of which wares they were heretofore serued from Italy France Italy South Barbary and other Countries The Second part Sheweth the manner the meanes by which Indian wares haue beene and now are brought into Europe b Rates vpon all sorts of Spices 22. per cent Rawe-Silkes esteemed about 2. per cent Indico about 8. per cent Such people as affect not the good of this Kingdome The quantitie of Spice Indico and Persian Raw-Silke yeerely consumed in Europe The exportation of the value of 953543. l. starling out of Christendome into Turkey yeerely saued Instance only that ten shillings imployed in Pepper in the East-Indies will require thirty and fiue shillings for all charges whatsoeuer to deliuer it in London The great Summes of money which the Persians and the Indians carrie yeerely out of Turkey The East-India Companie doe endeauor to bring the Raw-Silkes from Persia directly by Sea Marcellis sendeth yeerely to Aleppo Alexandria at least 500000. l. sterling and little or no wares Venice sendes about the value of 100000. l. and a great value in wares The Lowcountries sends about the value of 50000. l. sterling monies and litle wares Messina 25000. l. in ready money Abissians a people in Ethiopia whose influence hath made them dull lazy and without artes enioying diuers Mines of Gold and one of Siluer which doe procure their wants of forren wares Turkey hath litle meanes for Linnen but onely from India The proceedings of some States in Italy for the maintenance of Artes. The ready moneys which are yearly carried from some States of Italy into Sicilia How Marcellis and Venice are furnished with ready moneys The Italyan Merchants doe furnish the king of Spaine with money in Italy and Flanders The third part doth shew how the East-India Trade doth enrich this Kingdome How much money and wares the East-India Company haue sent forth euer sithence the beginning of this Trade The vent of English wares increased in the Indies Our stock may be much increased by Trade from Port to Porte in the Indies The moneys sent to the Indies is all forren Coyne The East-India Companie are obliged to bring in as much money as they carry out of the Realme Tobacco Raysons Oyles and Wines whereof there is no want but rather too much Smoake A propotion of such Trade as is hoped yeerely to be brought into this Realme from East-India How much the kingdomes stocke may increase yeerely by trading to the East-Indies 2500. Tonnes of shipping wil lade home all the wares afore written from the East-Indies And the materialls of the said shipping vnwrought is worth about 15000 l. sterling India wares wil bring readie moneys into the Realme We haue no other meanes to procure Treasure but by Trade and Merchandize The French and the Venetians send the vallue of 600000. l. sterling yeerely in ready money into Turkey Trade maketh some States very rich which haue little other meanes If the generall Trade of this kingdome doth export a greater value in wares then it doth import yearely then doth our treasure increase The trade to the East-Indies may be said to export 480000 poundes and to importe 120000. l. yearely So the ouerballance is 360000. poundes sterling Euery action ought especially to be considered in his ende The East-Indian wares which were sent beyond the seas are sould and haue then finall end in money which might be brought into this Realme in that kind if our other Trades did not diuert the same The first part concerneth the folly of the Obiection The prouidence of the East-India company for timber and Planke The East-India Trade hath not indeared the materialls which serue to make Shippes The second Part sheweth the mistaking in the Obiection The warlike prouision which the East-India Companie keepe in store His Maiesties strength in the East-India Company alone The shippes which returne from the East-Indies home may be repayred in a very short time The first Part concerneth Dearth The manner how the East India Company do victuall their ships The Second Part concerneth Mortality Good Marriners are accounted worthy men in a Common-wealth The breeding of 400. Marriners yearely Besides that the feare of a few mens death ought not to ouerthrow or hinder the performance of honourable actions for the seruice of the King and cōmonwealth Our Marriners owne disordered life is that which killeth many of them The third Part concernes the decay of shipping which haue beene sent to the Indies Our troubles with the Dutch The summe of the affaires to the East Indies euer since the Trade began Account of all the money and goods which hath been sent to the East Indies euer since the beginning of the Trade 356288. l. sterling hath been returned from the East Indies which did produce here towards charges 1914600. sterling There remains yet in the East Indies to be returned home from thence about 400000 l. starling Concerning the decay of shipping and Trade into Turkey The Turkey Merchants can and will iustify this truth The strength of the East India ships The fourth Part concernes the pouerty of widdowes c· The East India Trade doth employ many poore men deboist people which other trades refuse Wages before hand is not giuen in other Merchants voyages neither yet so great wages as the East India company pay When did any of these widdowes beg for reliefe in our Churches as others often doe The East India company their charity The fift Part concerneth the cheapnesse of Spice and Indico at this present in respect of former times Prices of spice and Indico in former times Prices of spice and Indico in these later times Lesse then 18. thousand pounds sterling in the Indies will buy Spice and Indico to serue this Realme for a yeare which is not halte so much money as it spendeth beyond the seas to buy Currans onely or to buy Tobacco The wares only which are sent out of this kingdome into the East Indies are of sufficient value to 〈…〉 this Realme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Indian wares Persian Raw Silkes only accepted The first Part concerneth his Maiesties Mint 25000. pounds waight at least of Siluer yearely melted down into Plate besides old Plate new fashioned as by credible report There hath bin coyned great store of Gold Siluer in his Maiesties Mint since the East India Trade began There hath bin little or no Siluer coyned in some yeares when the East India Company sent out very small sums of money Some causes and meanes which were wont to bring Siluer into the Realme are ceased at this present time The Second Part concerneth the putting downe of the East India Trade The East-India Trade is greatly desired by other Christian Nations The Dutch might grow strong and rich by our destruction The Third Part concerneth the councel which the Obiecters demaund The riches of a Kingdome is of two sorts This kind of industry maketh some Countries which are poor in themselues to grow rich and strong by other Nations who haue greater meanes and are lesse industrious Foure Principall Causes which carry away our Gold and Siluer The First Cause concerneth the Standard Proceeding against entercourse The Second Cause concerneth the Exchanges of moneys with forreine Countries The practise of those strangers here in this Realme who make a Trade by Exchange of moneys Forraine wares brought in with our ready moneys carryed out of this Realme· The third cause concerneth neglect of duties Our heauy money is conueyed beyond the seas and melted downe here in the realme Anno 17. Edw. 4. The fourth cause concerneth our cōmerce with strangers Vnskilfull Merchants ouerthrow our Trades Merchants by education are onely fit to trade in forren parts How rich cōmonwealths may become poore Forrain wares brought in for Transito cannot hurt but greatly helpe the common-wealth Hopes to increase Trade by exportation of Indian wares to forrain parts The particular Trade to the East Indies wil bring great store of treasure into this Realme if the generall Trade of this kingdome doe not hinder and consume it The Dutch in particular are said to reape such infinite wealth yearely by this fishing Trade that without more certain knowledge thereof I dare not set downe the sum it seemeth so vncredible