Subjects of England are as effective as to the gaining of Wealth and Riches as those of France and if Ten men can defend themselves as well in Islands as twelve men upon the Continent then the said Ten being not concerned to increase their Territory by the invasion of others are as effectual as the twelve in point of Strength also wherefore that there are more Superlucrators in the English then in the French Dominions we say as followeth There be in England Scotland and Ireland about sixty Millions Seamen in France about a quarter so many but one Seaman earns as much as three common Husbandmen wherefore this difference of Seamen added to the account of the King of Englands Subjects the equivalent of 90,500,000 Husbandmen There are in England Scotland and Ireland six thousand Tuns of Shipping worth about 4500,000 4 ½ and the actual charge of maintaining the Shipping aforesaid by new building and reparation is about ⅓ of the said Summ which is the wages of 150. Husbandmen but it is not the wages of above ⅓ so many Artisans as are imployed upon Shipping of all sorts viz. Shipwrights Calkers Joyners Carvers Painters Blockmakers Rope-makers Mastmakers Smiths of several sorts Flagmakers Compassmakers Brewers Bakers and all sorts of Victuallers all sorts of Trades-men relating to Guns and Gunners-Stores wherefore there being four times more of these Artisans in England then in France they further add to the account of the King of Englands Subjects the equivalent 80 m. Husbandmen more The Sea line of England Scotland and Ireland and the adjacent Islands is about 3,800 Miles according to which length and the whole content of Acres the said Land would be an oblong or Parallelogram Figure of 3,800 long and twenty five Miles broad and consequently every part of England Scotland and Ireland is one with another but about twelve Miles from the Sea whereas France containing but about one thousand Miles of Sea line is like the computation above sixty five Miles from the Sea-side and considering the paucity of Ports in comparison to what are in the King of Englands Dominions as good as seventy Miles distance from a Port upon which grounds it is clear that England can be supplyed with all Gross and Bulky Commodities of Forreign growth and manufacture at far cheaper rates then France can be viz. above four Shillings per Annum Rent cheaper the Land carriage for the difference betwen England and France of the distance from a Port being so much or near thereabouts now to what advantage this convenience amounts upon the importation and exportation of Bulky Commodities can't be less the Labour of one thousand of People meaning by Bulky Commodities all sort of Timber Blank and Staves for Cask and all Iron Lead Stones Brick and Tiles for building all Corn Sart and Drink all Flesh and Fish and indeed all other Commodities wherein the gain and loss of four Shillings per cent is considerable Where note the like Wines are sold in the inward parts of France for four or five pounds a Tun which near the Ports yield seven pound Moreover upon this principal the decay of Timber in England is no very formidable thing as the rebuilding of London and of the Ships wasted by the Dutch-War do clearly manifest nor can there be any want of Corn or other necessary provision in England unless the Weather has been universally unseasonable for growth of the same which seldom or never happens for the same cause which makes dearth in one place does after cause plenty in another wet-weather being propitious to Highlands which drowneth the low It is observed that the poor of France have generally less wages then in England and yet their Victuals are generally dearer there which being so there may be more Superlucration in England then in France Lastly I offer it to the consideration of all those who have travelled through England and France whether the Plebeian of England for they constitute the Bulks of any Nation do not spend one sixth more then the Plebeian of France and if so it is necessary they must first get it and consequently that Ten Millions of the King of Englands Subjects are equivalent to twelve of the French Kings and upon the whole matter to the thirteen ½ Millions at which the French Nation was estimated It will be here objected that the Splendor and Magnificences of the French King appearing greater then those of the Kings of England that the Wealth of France must be proportionably greater then that of England but that does not follow forasmuch as the apparent greatness of the King does depend upon the quarter parts of the peoples Wealth which he levieth from them for supposing the People are equally Rich if one of the Sovereigns levy fifth part and the other fifteenth the one seems actually thrice as Rich as the other whereas potentially they are both equal Having now dicoursed of the Territory People Superlucration and defensibleness of both Dominions and in some measure of the Trade so far as we had occasion to mention Ships Shipping and nearness to Ports we come next to enlarge a little further upon the Trade of each some have estimated that there are not above three hundred Millions of people in the whole World whether that be so or no is not very material to be known but I have fairer Ground to conjecture and would be glad to have it more certainly that there are not above eighty thousand with whom the English and Dutch have commerce no Europeans I know of Trading directly or indirectly where they do not so as the whole commercial World or World of Trade consists of eighty thousand of Souls as aforesaid And I further estimate that the value of all the Commodities yearly exchanged among them does not exceed fourty five thousand now the Wealth of every Nation consisting chiefly in the share which they have in forreign Trade with the whole commercial World rather then in the Domestick Trade of ordinary Meat Drink Cloth c. And which brings in little Gold Silver Pearls and other universal Wealth we are to consider the Subjects of the King of England Head for Head have not a greater share hereof then those of France To which purpose it has been considered that the manufactures of Wool yearly exported out of England into sevesal parts of the World viz. all sorts of Cloth Serg Stuff Cotton Bayes Frize or also Stockens Caps Rugs c. exported out of England Scotland and Ireland do amount unto five hundred thousand pound per Annum The value of Lead Tin and Coals to five hundred thousand pound The value of all Cloths Houshold-Stuf◠c. carried into America two hundred thousand pound per Annum Silver and Gold taken from the Spaniards sixty thousand pound The value of Sugar Indico Tobacco Cottham and Catao from the Southward part of America six hundred thousand pound The value of Wool Butter Hides Beef Herrings Pilchers Salmon exported out of Ireland
of sixteen Ounces to the pound and is called Garbel by Reason a Draught or Wast is allowed to every weighing Seven pound of this Weight is accounted to weigh a Gallon of Wheat and so Multiplyed to fifty six pound the Bushel seven pound Averdupois is one hundred and two Ounces of Troy from whence it is accounted that a Bushel of Wheat must weigh one hundred and twelve pound and a quarter four hundred forty eight pounds Averdupois and so consequently fourteen pound Averdupois is sixteen pound eleven Ounces Troy and as one penny Sterling is the twentieth part of an Ounce Troy so seven pound twelve Shillings Sterling is eighty four Ounces a half and two penny Weight of Troy and six pound eight Shillings Sterling is eighty two pound ¾ Ounce and one penny Weight and from these two are the Weights of Houshold Wheaten and White Bread Calculated The Weigh of Cheese is by Averdupois and runs thus The Weigh of Cheese one hundred and twelve pound Averdupois and the two hundred containing two hundred twenty four pounds consists of thirty four Cloves every Clove being seven pound The Weigh of Suffolk Cheese is two hundred fifty six and the Weigh of Essex Cheese three hundred thirty six pound Averdupois A Sack of Wool was accounted three hundred fifty four pound Averdupois two Weighs of Wool make a Sack and two Sacks a Last The last of Herrings is ten thousand every one thousand to contain ten hundred and every hundred sixscore that is before they are Barrell'd Lead is sold by the Fodder containing nineteen hundred and ½ at one hundred and twelve per cent Averdupois This Weight likewise of sixteen Ounces to the pound is made three several Quintars for Weighing several sorts of Merchandise the first is of fivescore pound just to the hundred and called one hundred Sutle whereby fine Commodities as Spices Drugs and the like are sold which are accounted by the pound and to which over and above is allowed by the Seller four pound upon one hundred and four pound taken from the overplus derived from the Weights of Antwerp for Spices and called by the name of Tret The second of the Quintars is one hundred and twelve viz fivescore and twelve to the hundred by which all Gross Commodities are weighed The third is sixscore to the hundred by which Tinn is weighed to his Majesties Farmers and some other few Commodities and is called by the name of the Stannery hundred From this Averdupois Weight by division the Weight called the Stone which is twofold the long and the short the long is accounted four pounds Averdupois and the short eight but in this there is no certainty for it differs according to the Customs of Counties and Markets There is an other thing in use called a Tod some places seven pound others eight and some again ten being altogether variable They have likewise a Clove of twenty pound twenty eight pound thirty two pound and the like There are likewise in most Markets for weighing of Flesh Stillyards used but without the Approbation of the Buyers they being unintelligible to many and oftentimes false first invented for the Weighing Hay and Straw for which uses indeed they are only proper Averdupois consists of sixteen Ounces every Ounce consisting of eight Drams and every Dram of sixty Grains so that by it the Raw-Silk of Persia and Turky are sold but then twenty four Ounces are allowed to the pound or a pound and an half c. Thus having distinguished these Weights which are of such use in this Nation it is not amiss that I shew you what accord the one hundred and twelve pound Suttle has with other Nations and Places of Traffick as for the Equality of Weight tho they differ in number In Europe it agrees with the Weights of Mersella the Venetia Sotile the Venetia Gross Sicilia Lisbon Florence Anvers Lions Sevil Dantzick Bruges In Africa and Asia with the Weights of Aleppo Aleppo Tripoly Syria Tripoly Barbaria Alexandrio-Zera Alexandria Forfar Forfar Scio Constantinople Rhodes Acria Babylon Balsola and Ormus And thus you see Reader the Industry and Improvement of the English Nation which now I must leave and take a View of Scotland CHAP. VIII A view of Scotland and the Trade thereof in General together with the Coyns Customs and Increase of that Ancient Kingdom SCotland by Reason of it's continuing a distinct Kingdom for so many hundred Years even till the happy Union by King James and indeed does yet in most things unless the Prerogative Royal is thought worthy to be Treated of seperately tho indeed the North part of Brittain and only seperated from England by the Rivers Tweed Salway and the Cheviot-Hills It 's chief City is Edenburg which contains the Kings Pallace the Courts of Justice consists of one great Street of a Mile in Length into which all the Petty Streets and Lanes open The next chief Cities and Towns are Glasgow the See of an Arch-Bishop and an University St. Andrews Sterling Perth Aberdeen Dondes St. John's Town c. The currant Money consists of Gold and Silver and are as followeth Pieces of twenty two Shillings Sterling Pieces of eleven Shillings Sterling Pieces of five Shilings six pence Sterling Pieces of two Shillings nine pence Sterling Pieces of four Shillings four pence â…œ Sterling Pieces of one Shilling one half penny Sterling Pieces of nine Shillings six pence being â…” of the thirteen pence half penny One Mark Pieces of four pence half penny Sterling But note that thirteen pence half penny Sterling is accounted a Scotch Mark or thirteen Shillings four pence Scotch six-pence three-farthings a Scotch Noble accounted six Shillings and eight pence twenty pence Sterling is accounted a Mark and a half Scotch or one pound Scotch of twenty Shillings Sterling is eighteen Scotch Marks so that Strangers unacquainted with their Money hearing them discourse about it think them far Richer then they are They have other Pieces of Copper Money of small Value as Babaes Bodles hard Heads and the like but indeed they have Principally the money of England which is currant in that Kingdom and of late have abounded in Silver The chief Commodities of the Country are Cloath Freezes Fish Hides Salt Lead Ore Tallow Grain of all sorts Feathers Iron Allum Seacoal commonly called Scotch-Coal and are divided into two parts viz. The Highland and Lowland which are divided into Sherifdoms and Fifes They have an Exchange in imitation of â—urs at London but especially used for the Exchange of monies with England The keeping of their accounts divers ways some keep them according to the Method of England others according to the Ancient use and Custom of their own Nation which is in Marks valuable as aforesaid Their Weight for weighing Merchandise is but one and with that they buy and sell throughout the Kingdom it contains sixteen Ounces to the pound and one hundred of those pounds make their Quintal which in England is one
ten Millions but perfidious as he was when he had Possession of the Treasure notwithstanding his Oath he slew him The chief City is St. Michael's inhabited by the Spaniards the Soyl brings forth all manner of Fruits as likewise store of Tobacco but one thing is more admirable on the Banks of the River Riolaplata grow Figtrees one side of which bear Figs in Winter and the other in Summer and this River is 130. miles over and 2000. in length and in it are many Islands Brasile is abounding with Cattel Corn and has in it some rich Mines of Gold and Silver but especially Red-Wood by us called Brasile Wood the Trees of which are so large that a dozen Families will make themselves Huts and dwell in the Branches of one Tree It was first discovered and peopled by the Spaniard but now the Dutch have got strong footing in it and derive a great Trade form thence especially in dying-Woods The manner of getting the Gold in these remote Parts of the World are by Mining or Washing and Fishing As thus they first search the ground and finding it stockt with Ore they dig into the Mountains and still as they go under-prop or Arch so that a Mine sometimes is a Furlong under ground their Earth they wash through Sieves and the Mold separated the Gold appears Silver run in Veins or Sprigs and therefore is got more easily As for the Fishing for Gold it is thus They turn the Course of small Rivers or Brooks at the bottom of the Golden Mountains or with such things as take up Ballast in the Thames drag up the Sand and then sift it The Gold which is found in the Rivers is washed from the Mountains by the fierce Rains which in those parts are frequent As for the Islands in these and the Virginian Seas they are many as the Isles of Solomon by some taken for the Land of Ophir the Isle of Margarita in which is found many precious Stones though void of any other Commodity the Island of Trenidado abounding in choice Tobacco the Island of Baccaloes discovered by Sebastian Cabot whose Rivers abound in Fish and the Land with Trees bearing Fruit the Isle of Beriguen of which the chief City is St. John's inhabited by the Spaniards the Island abounds with Gold viz. the North part of it and the South part is as much famed for fertility the Island of Jamiaca now an English Colony taken from the Spaniards Anno. _____ abounds with all manner of Plenty as Sheep Oxen Corn Hens Geese Ducks Fruit-Trees Sugar Tobacco and the like and is governed by a Governour under his Majesty of Great Brittain the Weights Measures Monies Laws and Religion are the same with ours and has of late been much increased by the Trading of English Merchants thither for Pepper and other valuable Commodities Cuba Luca and Hispaniola abound in Ginger Cassia Mastick Almonds Cinnamon Sugar Brass Gold and Corn which are brought thence and dispersed all over Europe and in the latter the Land is so fertile that it will produce Herbs and Roots in sixteen days after setting or sowing fit for use Barmudos is a fruitful Island abounding with Orange-Trees and other Fruits Barbados is an Island possessed by the English containing in length 28. miles and in breadth 18. and according to Computation consists of 126000. Acres of good Land being naturally fortified with Rocks and Shelves accommodated with several Bays and Harbours for the safety of shipping the Principal of which is called Carlile Bay and is Guarded by Forts and Platforms containing a large Town called St. Michael's being a place of great Trade before which 500. Ships may safely Ride The next Town of Note is Charles Town situate on Oysten-bay about two Leagues from the former the Houses are built after the English fashion of Timber Lime and Brick and round this Island lye other small Islands Maevis Monsirat Antego and St. Christophers many of them inhabited by the English others by the Dutch French and Native Indians the Island of Barbados is divided into 11. Parishes or petty Shires out of which are chosen two Freemen Planters to joyn with the Governour and his Council which are 7 to discuss all important Matters and to make such Orders as are necessary for the well regulating the Plantâ—tion and the better to quell any Insurrecâ—n that may be made by the Slaves which are â—ccounted at least 60000. a standing Militia of two Reigments of Horse and five of Foot are in readiness upon all Occasions and all their Laws and Customs are Regulated by those of England Their Religion according as they profess themselves is Protestant Their Coyns there Current are of divers Nations as English Spanish French and Dutch upon which they set a passable Value not Coyning any themselves Their Accompts are most commonly in Muscavado Sugar according to which all other Commodities are Regulated their Interest by reason no Law restrains it is unreasonable as sometimes thirty Per Cent. Their Measures for the most part Concord with those of England only they allow but five score to the Hundred not 112. The growth of the Island is Tobacco Sugar Indico Cotton-Wool Log-Wood Lignum Vitae c. The chief Season of exporting Sugars and other Commodities of the Native growth is from January to September or October Wines are imported in abundance and are sold in publick as in England So that there is not less then 2400. Tuns of all sorts spent Yearly besides Spirits and other Liquors From this Island they transport to Virginia and Barmudos a Liquor made of the Sugar Canes c. called Rum and for it receive Pork Fish Flower Bisket Pipe Staves and the like The Apparel of the Planters is the same with what is worn in England as for Customs they have none save only for Wines and other Liquors which are Rated at a certain quantity of Muscavado Sugar and further are obliged to pay half a pound of Powder for every Tun upon Entery Factorage or Factory-Provision is 10. per cent 5. per cent for Sail and 5. for return as also 3. per cent for Store-House Room if any one will export Corn or any manner of Provision being the growth of the Island they must ask the Governours Consent 200. English Vessels and upward Trade hither Yearly and the usual fraight to London is 4. and 5. per Tun when Ships are Plenty 3. pound when scarce 6. or 7. pound per Tun There is no publick Assurance-Office nor Exchange unless sometimes in Sugar for which Mony is received in London And thus much for Barbados The main Land about 100. Leagues from this Island is called Guinia lying Southwardly and containeth a Colony of English planted within the River of Serenam Cracus lyeth 4. Leagues from the Sea-side and is very fruitful having a Port whose entrance is Guarded with two Forts each containing 14. pieces of Cannon and in it are several Plantations of Coquo some belonging to the Spaniards and some to
Reader not thinking his Arguments of any Weight at all in the present case nor indeed does he make his comparison with English or Hollanders but with the Spaniards who nor the Grand Senior the latter of whom has greater advantages to be Powerful at Sea then the French King could never attain to any illustrious greatness in Naval Power having after attempted but never succeeded in the same nor is it easie to believe that the King of England should for so many Years have continued in his Title to the Soveraignty of the narrow Seas against his Neighbours ambitious enough to have gotten it from him had not their impediments been natural and perpetual and such as we say do obstruct the most Christian King CHAP. IV. That the People and Territories of the King of England are naturaly as considerable for Wealth and Strength as those of France THe Author of the State of England among the many useful truths and observations he has sets down the proportion between the Territories of England and France to be as thirty to eighty two the which if it be true then England Scotland and Ireland with the Islands unto them belonging will altogether be near as big as France tho I ought to take all advantages for proving the Paradox in hand I had rather grant that England Scotland and Ireland with the Islands before mentioned together with planted parts of new Found-Land new England new Netherland Virginy Mary-Land Caulin Jamaica Barmuda's Barbado's and all the rest of the Carib Islands do not contain more Territory then France and what planted Land the French King has also in America a. And if any man will be Heterodox in behalf of the French Interest I could be contented against my Judgment to allow the French King's Territories to be a seventh sixth or fifth part greater then those of the King of England believing that both Princes have more Land then they do imploy to its utmost use And here I beg leave among the several matters I intend for serious to interpose a jocular and perhaps a Ridiculous digression and which I indeed desire men to look upon rather as a Dream then a rational Proposition Which is if that all the moveables and People of Ireland and the High-lands of Scotland were transported into the Kingdom of Great Brittain that then the King and his Subjects would thereby become more Rich and Strong both offensively and defensively then now they are It s true I have heard many wise men say when they were bewailing the vast Losses of the English in preventing and suppressing Rebellions in Ireland and considering how little profit has returned either to the King or Subjects of England for these five hundred Years doing and suffering in that Countrey I say I have heard Wise men in such their Melancholies wish that the People of Ireland being saved that that Island were sunk under Water Now it troubles me that the Distempers of my Mind in this point carry me to Dream that the Benefits of these Wishes may Practically be obtained without sinking that vast Mountainous Island under Water which I take to be somewhat difficult for altho Dutch Engineers may drein its Bogs yet I know no Artists that could sink its Mountains If ingenious and Learned men amongst whom I reckon Sr. Thomas Moore and Des Cartes have disputed that we who think our selves awake are or may be really in a Dream And if the greatest absurdity of Dreams is but a Preposterous and Tumultuary Contexture of Reallities I will crave the umbrage of these great Men to say something too of this wild Conception with Submission to the better Judgments of all those that can prove themselves awake If there were but one man Living in England then the benefit of the whole Territories could be but the third Lively-hood of that one Man But if another man were added the Rent or Benefit of the same would be double if three triple and so forewards until so many were Planted in it as the whole Territory could afford Food unto for if a man would know what any piece of Land is worth the true natural question must be how many Men will it feed and how many Men are there to be fed But to speak more Practically Land of the same quantity and quality in England is generally worth three or four times as much as in Ireland And but one quarter and a third of what it is in Holland because England is four times so well Peopled as Ireland and be a quarter so well as Holland And moreover where the Rent of Land is advanced by reason of the multitude of People there the number of years purchase for which the Inheritance may be sold is also advanced tho perhaps not in the very same Proportion for twenty Shillings per Annum in Ireland may be worth but eight pound and in England where Tithes are very sure about twenty pound in Holland about thirty pound I suppose that in Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland there may be above 1800,000 People or about ⅕ part of what is in all the three Kingdoms Wherefore the first question will be whether England Wales or the Lowland of Scotland can't afford Food that is to say Corn Flesh Fish and Fowl to a ⅕ more People then are at present planted upon it with the same Labour that the said ⅕ part does now take where they are for if so then what is propounded is naturally possible Secondly it is to be inquired into what the moveables which upon such removable must be left behind are worth for if they are worth less than the advancement of the price of Land in England will amount unto then the Proposal is to be considered 3. If the relict Land and the immovables left behind upon them may be sold for money or if no other Nation shall dare to meddle with them without paying well for them and if the Nation who shall be admitted shall be less able to prejudice and annoy the Transplanters into England then before then I conceive the whole proposal will be a pleasant Dream indeed As to the first part whether England and the Lowlands of Scotland will mantain one fifth more then they now do that is to say nine Millions of Souls in all I say first that the said Territories of England c. contain about thirty six Millions of Acres that is four Acres for every Head Man Woman and Child but the united Provinces do not allow ½ Acre and England it self rescinding Wales has but three Acres to ever Head according to the present State of Tillage and Husbandry Now if so considered that England having but three Acres to a Head do so abound in Victuals as that it makes Laws against the importation of Cattle Flesh and Fish from abroad and that the Dreining of the Fens improving of Forrests inclosing of Commons Sowing of cinque-Foyl and Clover-Grass be grumbled against by Landlords are the way to depress the
Original of the Companies of London and how and when Incorporated Chap. 2. Of the English Merchants trading into most parts the time of their Incorporating and the Improvement of Navigation Chap. 3. Of Englands Trade in general a Survey of the Weights Measures Coyns Comerse of most of the Counties Chap. 4. Of the Traffick of London Chap. 5. Of the Coyns of England settled by the Tower Standard Chap. 6. Of the Weights and Measures used in England established by a Standard Chap. 7. Of the Trade of Scotland as to its dependencies with England Chap. 8. A View of Ireland and its present State and Trade Chap. 9. A View of the Ocean and the Islands belonging to the Isle of great Britain Chap. 10. Of the Measures Breadth and Length of English Cloath Chap. 11. A View of America and its Trade with England Chap. 12. A View of Virginia of the Trade Names Customs and Government of it Chap. 13. A View of New-England and the Trade thereof Chap. 14. A View of Maryland the Customs and Trade thereof Chap. 15. A View of the Peruanan Provinces their Trade and Customs Chap. 16. A View of Affrica and of the Manners Customs Trade Coyns and Commodities Chap. 17. Of Tunis the Trade Manners and Customs thereof Chap. 18. A View of Argiers of their Trade Manners and Customs and Methods for selling of Slaves Chap. 19. Of the Kingdom of Fez and its Trade with England Chap. 20. Of the Kingdom of Morocco the Customs and Trade thereof with England Chap. 21. Of Nurâ—idia and Lydia and their Trade Chap. 22. A View of Ethiopia and the Trade thereof Chap. 24. A View of Mosambique and its Trade Chap. 25. Of Egypt and the Trade thereof Chap. 26. Of Grand Cairo and its Trade Chap. 27. Of the Isles appertaining to Affrica the Commodities Trade Weights and Measures Chap. 28. Of Asia the Trade Manners and Customs thereof of the Money currant and Commodities Weights and Measures Chap. 29. A View of Syria and its Trade Chap. 30. Of Aleppo and the Trade thereof and the Customs of that famous City Chap. 31. Of Damascus and its Trade Chap. 32. Of Tripoly and the Trade thereof Chap. 33. Of Palestine Chap. 34. Of America and its Trade Chap. 35. Of Assyria Mesopotamia and Caldea Chap. 36. Of Media and its Trade Chap. 37. Of Persia its Trade and Commodities Chap. 38. Of Hispaan and its Trade Chap. 39. Of Tartaria its Trade Coyn and Customs Chap. 40. Of India Intra and Extra Gangem Chap. 41. A View of Cambaia and its Trade Chap. 42. A View of Goa its Trade Commodities and Customs c. Chap. 43. Of Musulipatan Chap. 44. Of the City of Satagan the Metropolis of Bengala Chap. 45. Of Peru the Trade Coyns and Customs Chap. 46. Of Syan and Malacca Chap. 47. Of China and their Trade with England Chap. 48. Of the Islands in the Asian Seas Chap. 49. Of the Isles of Molucco's c. Chap. 50. Of Javas and the Trade thereof Chap. 51. Of other Islands in the Indian Seas Chap. 52. Of Cyprus its Trade Growth and Coyns Chap. 53. A Discourse of Gold and Silver its true intrinsick value their Fineness and Allayes c. Chap. 54. Of Diamonds and precious Stones and their value and goodness Chap. 55. Of the Trade of Europe and their dependencies on England Chap. 56. Of Sevil in Spain and its Trade Chap. 57. Of Malaga the Customs Weights and Measures Chap. 58. Of Alicant and its Trade Chap. 59. Of Madrid its Trade and Customs Chap. 60. Of Lisbon its Trade Weights Measures and Coyns Chap. 61. A View of France its Trade Custom Weights and Measures c. Chap. 62. Of Rouen and the Trade thereof Chap. 63. A View of Paris its Trade Custom and Commodities c. Chap. 64. Of Lyons and its Trade Chap. 65. Of Marselia and its Trade Chap. 66. Of Naples and its Trade Chap. 67. Of Italy and its Trade Chap. 68. Of Florence and its Trade Chap. 69. Of Millain and its Trade Chap. 70. Of the Dukedoms of Mantua and Urbin and their Trade Chap. 71. Of Venice and its Trade Chap. 72. Of Parma Chap. 73. Of Leghorn its Trade Customs Weights and Measures Chap. 74. Of Genoa its Trade and Commerce Chap. 75. Of Luca and its Trade Chap. 76. Of Rome and its Trade and Customs Chap. 77. Of Flanders and Holland their Weights Measures Coyns Customs Traffick Chap. 78. Of Amsterdam and its Trade Chap. 79. Of Germany its Provinces and Trade Chap. 80. Of Stratsburg and its Trade Chap. 81. Of Vicura its Trade Weights and Customs and Coyn. Chap. 82. Of Hamburg its Trade Commodities Coyns c. Chap. 83. Of Denmark its Trade c. Chap. 84. Of Elsinore and the Trade thereof Chap. 85. Of Norway its Customs and Tade Chap. 86. Of Sweedland its provinces and Trade Chap. 87. Of Moscovia and its chief City Mosco its Trade and Customs c. Chap. 88. A View of the Kingdom of Poland its Trade c. Chap. 89. Of Hungary and the adjacent Provinces their Trade and Manufacture c. Chap. 90. A View of Greece and its Trade the Manufacture and Trade of Constantinople with England Chap. 91. A View of the Islands in the Egean and Mediterranean Sea c. Chap. 92. Of Candia and other Islands Chap. 93. Of Zant Zeffalonia and their Trade Commodities Coyn c. Chap. 94. Of Sicilia Malta and Sardinia their Trade Chap. 95. Of Greenland other Northern Islands Ch. 96. Of the Practice and Custom of Exchanges and the Benefit thereof Chap. 97. Of four Bills of Exchange of presenting paying and protesting the Laws and Customs of Merchants therein asserted Chap. 98. Of the Pair in Exchange and form of English Dutch and French Bills Chap. 99. Vseful observat on Bills of Exchange page 300. Of Letters of Credit and why drawn p. 312. A Survey of Customs of Tonnage and Poundage of Wines of the Growth of France Germany Spain Portugal p. 314 Of Policies of Assurance their Original Legality Nature and Quality p. 325. Of Bottomery the Signification of it the Commodity or Discommodity of it p. 332. Of the Rights and Priviledges of Owners of Ships and Rules to be observed by them according to Laws Marine p. 335. Instructions to be observ'd by Masters of Ships p. 337. Of Fraight and Charter part according to Laws Marine p. 340. Of Wrecks and Instructions for Masters and Owners in case of Wrecks p. 344. Of Averidge and Contribution and what Goods maybe cast over-board in case of a Storm p. 347. A View of London with the Customs Priviledges and Exemptions thereof according to the Charters of several Kings of England p. 351. A Survey of the remaining Ports of England with their Members Creeks c. together with the Goods Imported and Exported p. 358. A Table of the Contents of the second Treatise Intituled A Discourse of Trade CHAP I. THat a small Country and few people by Situation Trade and Policy may be
hundred and eight pounds Averdupois and one hundred pound London Suttle Weight makes ninety two of theirs or one hundred and twelve English one hundred and three and a half of Scotch their Measures for Linnen Stuffs Cloath or Silk is the Ell which is wanting of ours insomuch that it differs from our Yard four per cent that is four Yards in a hundred Ells so that seventy five Yards or sixty Ells English make seventy two Scotch but in Tale to every hundred they Reckon six-score In Measure for Corn Coals Salt Wine Beer Ale Oyl and the like they come near at one with ours Their Navigation is but small for the most part Trading with England and Ireland yet are they a People frugal and much bent to improve the growth of their Country And thus having taken a view of Scotland and the Trade thereof I must pass over into Ireland the third Diamond in the British Diadem CHAP. IX A view of Ireland and of the Trade Manners and Present State of that Kingdom IReland is divided into four Provinces viz. Lempster Munster Connought Vlster and Meath and is four hundred Miles in Length and two hundred in Breadth the chief Cities and Towns are Dublin Kinnsail London Derry Limrick Cork Waterford Armah Dungannon Marleburg Phillips-Town Kildare and Tradah This Kingdom abounds in Navigable Rivers store of Fish Cattle and Hides which are Transported into Spain France and Italy Salmon are caught in such abundance in July and August that many Servants in the places of that Fishery Covenant with their Master upon their being hired that they will not feed upon Salmon but only so many days in a Week These they Salt and Barrel up sending them into all the Neighbouring Countries where they are received as good Merchandise the Herring Fishery is likewise used and improved by them as likewise Pilchards which are taken in August September and October and Transported into Spain France and the Streights of Gibraltar they have store likewise of Butter Cheese Calves-Skins and other necessary Commodities Their Corn for the most part is the same with ours yet in value not the same for a pound Sterling Irish is worth according to the Intrinsick value no more then fifteen Shillings English and the Shilling consequently but nine pence Sterling six pence Irish but four pence half penny Sterling The Exchange is practised in the City of Dublin but of little use as to any Transmarine Places unless England and there Principally London and Bristol commonly running at eight pence upon the pound or at most but one Shilling which is but five pound per cent The Weights and Measures are or for the most part consistent to those of England and in fine it is a Country exceeding fertil abounding in all things necessary for the use of man which would turn to great advantage were the Inhabitants but Industrious especially in fitting out Ships for Navigation but they for the most part roave abroad improving other Countries and neglecting their own Their chief Merchandise are in Fish which they send into France Spain England Scotland and other parts of Europe And thus I shall leave this Kingdom and return or rather Sail round Brittain to take a View of the Islands of the Sea or Ocean Islands CHAP. X. A view of the Ocean Islands and of their Trade viz. such as are Subject to his Majesty of great Britain THe Ocean Islands are scattered in the British Sea like so many Pearls to adorn the Imperial Diadem and are first the Orcades or Isles of Orkney thirty two in number The chief of which is Pomonia which abounds in Mines of Tinn and Lead The next Hethy and the other there being only three of them of note Shethland bearing Fruit-Trees of strange kinds Especially those whose Blossoms dropping into the Warter become Flying Birds The next are the Islands of the Hebrides in number forty four the chief whereof is Illa abounding with store of Venison And Jona famous for the Sepulchers of the Scottish Kings as likewise Mulla where the Redshanks inhabit once so fearful to England the rest are of little note The Islands called the Sorlings are one hundred forty five The Principal are Armath Agnes Samson and Scilly after which name all the rest are called The Inhabitants thereof Trade in Fishery sow Corn and addict themselves to Manufacture The Isle of Man is a square Island being ten Miles in Length and as many in Breadth the growth of it is Flax Hemp Oats Barly and Wheat having store of Cattle and other Merchandise brought in thither by Shipping the chief Towns are Ballacury Russin or Chasteltown The Isle of Anglesey is accounted a Shire of Wales and by some called the Mother of Wales being twenty four Miles in Length and seventeen Miles over Fruitful it is even beyond report in Corn Fruits Cattle Fowl and Fish improved by several Profitable Manufactures The Inhabitants making great store of Butter and Cheese and send out of it yearly three thousand Head of Cattle It 's chief Town is Beaumaris very Commodious for Shipping Jersey is a fair Island in Compass twenty Miles peopled with Industrious Inhabitants yearly improving their Commodidities and vending them to good advantage Trading with England and France especially famous for the many fine Orchards and Gardens the chief Towns and places of Traffick being St. Mallo and St. Hillary the former being nightly Guarded without the Walls From this Island twenty Miles distant is Guernsey Surrounded with spacious Harbours and in every part Fertile stored with Cattle and lying Commodious for Shipping Facing the Coast of France and hath for it's chief Town St. Peters The last of the Isles Surrounding Britain is the famous Isle of Wight which is twenty Miles long and twelve over and abounds with all things wherewith England is stored divided from Portsmouth but by an Arm of the Sea lying most Commodious for the Reception of Shipping and for it 's chief Towns has Yarmouth New-Port and Bradring And thus much for the Islands of the Sea surrounding Britain And now I shall only take a short Survey of some things further appertaining to the Trade of Britain and so Lanch into the Ocean and take a view of the remotest Parts of the World especially such as are Traded to by the English What more remains is an account of such Commodities of English-growth and Manufacture as are Exported being Staple Commodities and the common Cargo of outward bound Vessels CHAP. XI A further Account of the Measures of England with a true Proportion of the Weight of English Cloths FIrst for the Breadth Measure and Weight of English-Cloath that chief of Staple-Commodities Kent York and Redding Cloaths are six quarters and a half broad and ought to weigh eighty six pounds the Cloath in the Peice are in length thirty and thirty four Yards Suffolk Norfolk and Essex Cloaths of seven quarters wide are eighty pounds Weight twenty nine and thirty two Yards in Length Worcester Coventry
for it's chief City Champechio this Province yields Wood for dying Rich Colours and likewise store of Deer and Cattle almost like Elks. Florida was discovered by Sebastian Cabot Anno 1467. which at that time it was possessed by the Spaniards with whom the French made War till they consumed each others people to that degree that it was abandoned by either Nation but since repeopled by the Spaniards who have built there several strong Forts The Commodities are Gold Ore some Veins of Silver some Spices and Woods of value And thus much of those Provinces the Spaniards possess Now I shall come to Treat of Virginia and New-England possessed by the English CHAP. XIII A View of Virginia and of the Trade Manners Customs and Government thereof and of the Commodities of that Colony VIrginia being discovered by Sir Walter Raleigh Anno 1584. had it's name from our Virgin Queen it lying in height thirty five degrees North Latitude and extends to thirty eight and a half being planted by the English only from 37 to 34 degrees under the Protection and Supream Authority of his Majesty of great Britain having the Bay of Roanoake and Cape Florida to the Southward and Mary-land to the Northward The main entrance out of Virginia into the Sea is about 10 Leagues the Country is full of Navigable Rivers stored with Fish and some of them abounding with Oysters Crabs and Sturgeon many of the Rivers being 7 8 9 or 10 Miles over running 140 and 150 Miles up in the Country so that Ships Anchor with great Security no Trade being permitted but with England So that as soon as any Vessel arrives the Master or Captain resorts to the Governour to give him an account from whence he came his Residence being for the most part at Jame's City lying 40 Miles up Jame's River and round about the English Colony the Indians Inhabit whose Treacheries prove too often fatal to our Country-men as the several Massacrees they have made can testifie Their Courts of Judicature chiefly consist of 4 quarterly Courts the Governour and his Council being Judges to try and determine as well in matters Criminal as Suits between man and man and every year once an Assembly meet in imitation of our Parliament to settle weighty Affairs Their Laws are the same with ours as likewise what Monies they have are of English Coyn. The Soil is every-where Fertile and the Woods abound with Oaks of divers sorts Black Wall-nuts Chess-nuts Ash Pine Day-Wood Cedar Saxafras Mulbury Small-nuts Wild Grapes and the like The Weather is much like ours only in the Summer continues a Month longer hotter and are troubled with Flashes of Light'ning dismal Claps of Thunder and now and then a Hurricane The days are about an Hour and an half shorter in Summer and so much longer in Winter All sorts of English Fruits and Cattle thrive there and their chief Commodities amongst themselves are Horses Oxen Sheep Hogs Turkies Geese Ducks Corn of which they have store and their Woods abound with Hairs Roacoons Possums Squirrils Wild-Cats Foxes Bears Wolves Elks and in remote Parts some Lyons are found Their Corn called Indian Corn or Maiz they buy and sell by the Barrel which Barrel contains 5 Bushels Winchester Measure and the Indians sell their Corn Pease and other Commodities of the like nature amongst themselves by the Baskets each Basket containing half a Bushel The chief Commodities they Trade with our Merchants for except Tobacco of which I shall speak anon are Hides Otter Beaver Muskats Bear Dear-Skins Saxafras Black-Walnut-Tree-Planks c. with them and Tobacco 40 or 50 Ships are yearly Loaden no Customs being lay'd upon any thing imported or exported but in England they pay five per cent for all they carry over and 2 pence per pound for every pound of Tobacco brought from thence and so proportionably for other Goods The Commodities carryed from England thither are Linnen and Woollen-Cloath Nailes Iron wrought into Tools Sope Starch Gunpowder Shot Wine Strong-Water Brandy Sugar Spice and the like and when any one comes over with Servants to Inhabit as a Planter he has 50 Acres of Land allotted him to manure even where he will choose unless in such Places as are before in Possession and for that Parcel of Land he pays 12 pence per Annum quit Rent The manner of planting and bringing to perfection their Tobacco accounted by them the Staple Commodity of the Colony is thus in January they sow the Seed which is smaller than Mustard-Seed and when it comes up they take up the Plants and place them upon little Hills which is usually done in May 4 or 5000. Hills being contained in one Acre every Hill containing a Plant the which when it is about 2 Foot high they Crop to give more Nourishment to the Leaves which Leaves are a Foot or two Foot long and some a Foot broad and when they are at the bigest they cut them up Stalk and all and hang them up in Sheads to dry which done they strip them from the Stalks and so bind them up in Handfuls for packing in Casks or make them up in Rolls An Acre of good Ground is reckoned to bear 1500 Weight of Tobacco not less then 17000. Hogs-heads being reckoned to be Shipped yearly for England Scotland and Ireland Their Servants for the most part consist of Negroes which they buy of the Merchants that bring them thither CHAP. XIV A View of New-England and the Trade thereof NEw-England has for it's chief Town or City Boston where all their Trade Centres especially that which accrues by Navigation a place which contains about 1500 houses Built of Brick and Timber in it is a State House and Congregational Meeting-Houses the Inhabitants for the most part being Presbyterians and Independants and are supplyed with great Quantities of Fish from Marblehead and other places As for Fowl they Trade with the Indians as likewise for Muscat Beaver Otter c. for which they deliver them Strong-Waters Shagged-Cloath Beads Looking-Glasses and the like and thither likewise are brought Provisions from St. Martins Long Island Road Island Shelter Island and other places they all being little spots standing in the Sea and have their Trade chiefly consisting in Provision The chief Roads for the safe Riding of Shipping are Boston Charlestown Salem and Pascataqua A Mint they have in which they Coyn English money as 12 pence 6 pence 3 pence and smaller piece both Silver and Tinn The Reason of setting it up was upon the spreading of many adulterated Pieces of Eight amongst them brought from Peru but notwithstanding the English Coyn Mexico and Sevil Royals go currant at a Crown apiece Their Accounts are kept after the Italian Fashion by such as understand the way and those that do not keep them as in old England Their Weights are Averdupois and Troy the former consisting of 16 Ounces the pound and the latter of twelve their hundred Averdupois is 112 pounds and by that they
any Goods be secretly brought into the Ship contrary to the knowledg of the Master and Purser be ejected no contribution shall be made And by the Law Marine the Master may refuse in case of ejection to deliver the remainder of the Goods before the Contribution is setled or if in a storm part of the Goods are dammaged without any neglect of the Master or Sailers such Goods for so much as they are dammaged ought to come into the contribution If two Ships meet and strike each other and if it can be proved that either of them did it willfully or by carelesness then that Ship shall satisfy the damage received by the other but if either Ships crew Swear their innocency then the dammage is to be Levyed proportionable between them if any Ejection of Goods happen by the indiscretion of the stowers in lading the Ship above the Birth mark or the like then the Master or Owners ought to make satisfaction If when a Vessel is entering a Port or otherwise part of the Goods be put into a Lighter or Ship-Boat and the Boat be cast away there Contribution must be made but if the Ship be cast away and the Lighter or Boat saved then no Contribution for note where the Ship at any time Perishes tho a great part of the Goods be saved yet they allow no Contribution If a Ship be taken by Pirates or Enemies and the Master contracts with them for the dismission of the Ship at such a Summ of money and till the same be pay'd yields himself Prisoner in that case Contribution must be levyed upon the Ship and lading for the Ransom of the said Master and so where a Pirate by consent takes part of the Goods to spare the rest Contribution must be made but if he takes them by force or at his own pleasure then no contribution is to be made unless the Merchants yield so to do after the Ship is Robbed but if taken by an Enemy Letter of Marque or Reprisal the contrary If Jewels be on Board in a Box and not discovered and they be cast overboard Contribution shall be for no more then they appeared viz. a Parcel If any thing in a storm be cast into the Sea and afterward recovered then Contribution shall be made for no more then the damage sustained The Master and Purser in case of a storm shall contribute towards Goods Ejected for the preservation of the Ship and Passenger for such Wares as they have and if they have no Wares then for their Cloaths Rings c. according to estimation Contribution is to be pay'd for a Pilots Fee for bringing a Ship safe into any Harbour where she is not bound If the Master of a Ship after he has received his Complements takes in Goods contrary to the knowledge of the Merchant and part of the Merchants Goods in case of a storm are thrown overboard then the Master is lyable to make Satisfaction If Contribution be setled and the Merchant will not consent to pay it the Master may refuse delivering the Goods and if an Action be brought he may Barr the Plaintif by pleading the special matter yet in a storm there are some Ladings which ought not to be ejected As Pieces of Ordnance Ammunition or Provisions for the relief of a City Besieged or in danger so to be for there the Law implyes that the Subject ought to prefer the good of his Prince before his own life CHAP. CXXI A View of the Port of London and of the Customs Priviledges Exemptions and Revenues of that great City according to the Charters Grants c. of several Kings of England SEeing the Port of London is the Principal Port of this Kingdom it will not be amiss to set down the Priviledges and Customs thereof and what Revenues by way of Exportation and Importation accrues to the Honourable City in order to support its Grandure First then the Port of London as by Exchequer setled and declared extends from the Promontory or Point called the North Foreland in the Isle of Thannet Thence Northward to the Nase Point beyond the Sunfleet upon the Coast of Essex and so continues Westward up the River of Thames and the several Channels Streams and Rivers falling into it to London-Bridge The usual known Rights Liberties and Priviledges to the Ports of Sandwich and Ipswich and their Members excepted and in regard that Ships did formerly come up to the Port of London and unlade in several obsure Creeks at Staires to defraud his Majesty of his Customs it was therefore ordained that a Commission should be forthwith Issued out of the Exchequer to affix and nominate all such Wharfes Keys and other places as his Majesty by virtue of such Commission should appoint in pursuance of which his Majesty has been pleased to Nominate and Constitute as Lawful Keys Wharfs c. these following for the Landing of Goods Merchandise c. viz. Brewers-Key Chestors-Key Wool-Dock Porters-Key Bear-Key Wiggons-Key Youngs-Key Ralphs-Key Smarts-Key Lyons-Key Buttolf-Wharf Hammons-Key Cocks-Key Fresh-Wharf Billingings-Gate and the Bridge-House The former of the two latter being appointed a common open place for the Landing or bringing in of Fish Salt Victuals or Fuel of all sorts Fruit of all sorts Grocery excepted all Native Materials for Building and for exporting the like but no other Merchandise and the latter viz. the Bridge-House is appointed for the Landing of Corn for the City store tho under pretence of the same several Persons at this Day Landed their proper Corn moreover there are these Keys viz. the Custom-House Key some Stairs on the West side whereof are declared not to be places for Lading or Shipping of Goods Sabs-Dock has a pair of Stares not held Lawful for the Landing or lading of Merchandise The like has Dice-Key Summers-Key and Gaunts-Key tho otherwise allowable Therefore it is to be supposed those Stairs that are accepted against were built for Conveniency since the declaring them free places of lading and Landing Merchandise These Keys Wharfs and Docks yearly produce a great Income to the City of London by Scavage Portage Packing and Water-Bailage As first Scavage being an Ancient Toll or Custom taken by the Majors Sherifs c. for Wares shewed or offered to Sail within their Precincts consists of two parts viz. that which is payable by the Denizen that which is payable by the Alien or Stranger and that all Persons Subject to such Duties may not be imposed on by such as take them there are Tables mentioning each particular set up and approved of by the Lord Chancellor Treasurer President Steward and two Justices of the Common-Pleas and by them Subscribed or some four of them at least and are to be levyed on Goods inwards and outwards As all Goods mentioned in the Table of Scavage and not included in the Table of Rates shall pay after the rate of one penny in the pound according as they are expressed or valued in his Majesties Book of rates and
eight hundred thousand pound The value of Coals Salt Linnen Yarn Herrings Pilchers Salmon brought out of Scotland and Ireland five hundred thousand pound The value of Salt-Peter Pepper Callicots Diamonds Drugs and Silks brought out of the East-Indies above what was spent in England eight hundred thousand pound The value of Slaves brought out of Africa to serve in the American Plantation twenty thousand which with the freight of the English Shipping Trading into forreign parts being above fifteen hundred thousand makes in all Ten Millions and a hundred and eighty thousand Which computation is sufficiently justified by the Customs of three Kingdoms whose intrinsick value are thought to be near about one Million per Annum viz. Six hundred thousand Payable to the King one hundred thousand for the charge of collecting c. two hundred thousand Smackled by the Merchants and one hundred thousand gained by the Farmers according to the common opinion and men saying and this agrees also with that proportion or part of the Trade of the whole World which I have estimated the Subjects of the King of England to be possessed of viz. for about Ten of forty five Millions but the value of the French commodities brought into England notwithstanding Mr. Fortree's estimates are not above twelve hundred thousand per Annum and the value of all the export into all the World besides not above three or four times as much which computation also agrees well enough with the accompt we have of the Customs of France so as France not exporting above half the value of what England does and for the commodities of France except Wines Brandy Paper and the first Patterns and Fashions for Cloths and furniture of which France is the mint are imitable by the English and having withal more people then England it follows that the people of England c. have Head for Head near thrice as much forreign Trade as the people of France and above two parts of nine of the Trade of the whole commercial World and 2 7 of all the Shipping notwithstanding all which is not to be denied that the King and some great men of France appear more Rich and splendid then those or the like quality in England all which arises rather from the nature of their Government then from the intrinsick and natural cause of Wealth and Power CHAP. V. That the Impediments of England's Greatness are contingent and removable THe first impediment of Englands Greatness is the Territories thereunto belonging are too far asunder and divided by the Sea into so many several Islands and Countries and I may say into so many Kingdoms and different Governments viz. There be three distinct Legislative Powers in England Scotland and Ireland the which of instead of uniting together do often cross one and others Interest putting Bars and Impediments upon one and others Trades not only as they were forraigners to each other but sometimes as Enemies The Islands of Jersey and Guernsey and the Isle of Man are under jurisdictions different from those either of England Scotland and Ireland The Government of New-England both civil and Ecclesiastical do so differ from that of his Majesties other Dominions that it is hard to say what may be the Consequence of it And the Government of the other Plantations do also differ very much from any of the West altho there be naturally substantial Reasons for the Situation Trade and Condition of the People why there should be such differences from all which it comes to pass the small divided remote Governments being seldom able to defend themselves the Burthen of the Protecting them all must lye upon the chiefest Kingdom of England and all the small Kingdoms and Dominions instead of being additions are really diminutions The Wealth of a King is three-Fold one is the Wealth of Subjects the second is the quota parts of his Subjects Wealth given him for the Publick Defence Honour and Ornaments of the people and to manage such undertakings for the common good as no one or a few private men are sufficient for The third sort are the quota of the last mentioned quota parts which the King may dispose of as his own Personal inclination and discretion shall direct now it is most manifest that the aforementioned distance and differences of Kingdoms and jurisdictions are great impediments to all the said several sorts of Wealth as may be seen in the following particulars 1. In case of War with forraign Nations England commonly beareth the whole Burthen and charge whereby many in England are utterly undone 2. England sometimes prohibiting the Commodities of Ireland and Scotland as of late it did the Cattle Flesh and Fish of Ireland did not only make Food and consequently Labour dearer in England but also has forced the People of Ireland to fetch these commodities from France Holland and other places which before was sold them from England to the great Prejudice of both Nations 3. It occasions an unnecessary trouble and charge in collecting of Customs upon Commodities passing between the several Nations 4. It is a dammage to our Barbadoes and other American Trades that the Goods which might pass thence immediately to several parts of the World and be sold at moderate Rates must first come into England and there pay Duties and afterwards if at all passing to those Countries whither they might have gone immediately 5. The Islands of Jersey and Guernsey are protected at the charge of England nevertheless the Labour and Industry of that People which is very great redound most to the profit of the French 6. In New-England there are vast numbers of able Bodied English-men imployed chiefly in Husbandry and in the meanest part of it which is breeding of Cattle whereas Ireland would have contained all those Persons at the worst would have afforded them Lands in better Terms then they have them in America if not some other better Trade withal then now they can have 7. The Inhabitants of the other Plantations altho they do indeed Plant commodities which will not grow so well in England it grasping at more Land then it will suffice to produce the said exotics in a sufficient quantity to serve the whole World they do therein but distract and confound the effects of their own Indeavours 8. There is no doubt that the same people far and wide dispersed must spend more upon their Government and Protection then the same living compactly and when they have no occasion to depend upon the Wind Weather and all the Accidents of the Sea A second impediment to the greatness of England is the different understanding of several material points viz. The Kings Prerogative Priviledges of Parliament the obscure differences between Law and Equity as also between Civil and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction doubts whether the Kingdom of England has Power over the Kingdom of Ireland besides the wonderful Paradox that the English-men lawfully sent to suppress Rebells in Ireland should after having effected the same be
so to increase the Magnitude of Trade and consequently to increase Stock which may effectually be done by in-banking twenty Mil. worth of Land not being above a sixth or seventh part of the whole Territories of England that is to say by making a Bond of such value to the security for all Commodities bought and sold upon the account of that Universal Trade above mentioned And thus it having appeared that England having in it as much Land like Holland and Zealand as the said two Provinces do themselves contain with abundance of other Land not inconvenient for Trade and that there are spare Hands enough to earn many Millions of money more then they now do and that there are also Imployments to earn several Millions even from the Consumption of England it self it follows from thence and what has been said in the last Paragraph about inlarging of the Stock both of Monies and Lands that it is not impossible may â—very visible matter for the keeping of Englands Subjects to gain the Universal Trade of the whole Commercial World Nor is it unseasonable to imitate this matter forasmuch as the younger Brothers of good Families of England can't otherwise be provided for so as to live according to their Birth and Breeding for if the Lands of England are worth eight Millions per Annum then there be at a Medium about ten Millions Families of about eight hundred pounds per Annum in each of which one with another we may suppose there is a younger Brother who in less then two or three hundred pounds per Annum will not maintain suitable to his Relations Now I say that if neither the Offices at Court nor Commands in our ordinary Army and Navy nor Church-preferments nor the usual gain by the profession of Law and Physick nor the imployments under Noble-men and Prelates will all of them put together furnish Livelyhood of above three hundred pounds per Annum to three thousand of the said one thousand younger Brothers wherefore it remains that Trade alone must supply the rest but if the said seven thousand Gentlemen be applyed to Trade without increasing of Trade or if the hopes to increase Trade without increasing of Stock which for ought appears is only to be done by in-Banking a due proportion of Lands and Money we must necessarily be disappointed where note that selling of Lands to Forraigners for Gold and Silver would inlarge the Stock of the Kingdom Whereas doing the same between one and other does effect nothing for he that turns all his Land into Money disposes himself for Trade and he that parts with his money for Land does the contrary but to sell Land to Forreigners increaseth both money and people and consequently Trade wherefore it is to be thought that when the Laws denying Strangers to purchase and not permiting them to Trade without paying Extraordinary Duties were made that then the Publick State of things and Interest of the Nation were far different from what they now are Having handled these ten Principal Conclusions I might go on with others ad infinitum but what has been said already I look upon as sufficient to shew what I mean by Political Arithmetick and to evince the uses of knowledge of the true State of the Peoples Lands Stock Trade c. Secondly that the Kings Subjects are not in so bad a Condition as discontented men would make them Thirdly to Demonstrate the greatest effects of Unity Industry and Obedience in order to the common Safety and each mans particular Happiness other then which I have now FINIS