Woolfels c. Notwithstanding which we see that English and Irish Wool goes over so plentifully that it is within a very small matter as cheap in Holland as in England The means to prevent this Evil by additional Penal Laws and alterations of some of those now in being were long under debate by his Majesties command in the Couâ—cil of Trade who according to their duty took great pains therein and since I have been informed the same things were under consideration in Parliament so that I doubt not but in due time we shall see some more effectual Laws enacted to this purpose as well in relation to Ireland from whence the greatest of this mischief proceeds as in England then ever yet have been yet I do utterly despair of ever seeing this Disease perfectly cured till the Causes thereof be removed which I take to be 1st Heâ—ghth of Interest in England which an Abatement by Law to 4 per Cent would cure 2dly Want of Hands which an Act of Naturalization would cure 3dly Compulsion in matters of Religion which some relaxation of the Ecclesiastical Laws I hope would effectually cure For while our Neighbours through the cheap valuation of their Stocks can afford to trade and disburse their Monies for less profit then we as hath been I think sufficiently demonstrated by the fore-going Discourse and have more Hands to employ then we by reason of the large Immunities and Priviledges they give both to Natives and Foreigners there is no question but they will be able to give a better Price for our Wool than we can afford our selves and they that can give the best price for a Commodity shall never fail to have it by one means or other notwithstanding the opposition of any Laws or interposition of any Power by Sea or Land of such force subtilty and violence is the general course of Trade Object But some may say and take it as well from what I have writ elsewhere as from their own Observations Will not the well-making of our Woollen-Manufactures contribute much to the keeping of our Wool naturally within our own Kingdom I answer Doubtless it will have a great tendency thereunto but can never effect it till the aforesaid Radical Causes of this Disease be removed which brings me to the next Question viz. What will improve our Woollen-Manufactures in quality and quantity This is a very great Question and requires very deliberate and serious Consideration but I shall write my present Thoughts concerning it desiring those Gentlemen's pardon from whom I may differ in Opinion having this to say for my self that I do it not rashly this being a business that I have many Years considered of and that not solitarily but upon converse with the most skilful men in our several English Woollen Manufactures 1. Then I say Those three fore-mentioned Particulars which will naturally keep our Wool at home will as naturally encrease our Woollen-Manufactures 2. Negatively I think that very few of our Laws now in force to this purpose though our Statute-Books are replenished with many have any tendency thereunto nor any thing I have yet seen in Print For 1 st All our Laws relating to the Aulnegeors duty every body knows signifie nothing to the encrease or well-making our Manufactures but are rather chargeable and prejudicial 2 dly All our Laws that oblige our People to the making of strong substantial and as we call it Loyal Cloth of a certain length breadth and weight if they were duly put in Execution would in my opinion do more hurt than good because the Humors and Fashions of the World change and at sometimes in some places as now in most slight cheap light Cloth will sell more plentifully and better than that which is heavier stronger and truer wrought and If we intend to have the Trade of the World we must imitate the Dutch who make the worst as well as the best of all Manufactures that we may be in a capacity of serving all Markets and all Humors 3 dly I conclude all our Laws limitting the number of Loomes numbered or kind of Servants and Times of working to be certainly prejudicial to the cloathing of the Kingdom in general though they be advantagious to some particular Men or Places who first procured those Laws of Restriction and Limitation 4 thly I think all those Laws are Prejudicial that prohibit a Weaver from being a Fuller Tucker or Dyar or a Fuller or Tucker from keeping a Loome 5 thly I conculde that stretching of Cloth by Tentors though it be sometimes prejudicial to the Cloth is yet absolutely necessary to the Trade of England and that the excess of straining cannot be certainly limitted by any Law but must be left to the Sellers or Exporters discretion who best knows what will please his Customers beyond the Seas besides if we should wholly prohibit straining of Cloth the Dutch as they have often done would buy our unstrained Cloth and carry it into Holland and there strain it to six or seven Yards per piece more in length and make it look a little better to the Eye and after that carry it abroad to Turkey and other Markets and there beat us out of Trade with our own Weapons But some may then ask me Whether I think it would be for the advantage of the Trade of England to leave all men at liberty to make what Cloth and Stuffs they please how they will where and when they will of any lengths or sizes I answer Yes certainly in my judgment it would be so except such Species only as his Majesty the Parliament shall think fit to make Staples as suppose Colchester Bayeâ— Perpetuanoes Cheanyes and some other sorts of Norwich Stuffs to be allowed the honour of a publick Seal by which to be bought and sold here and beyond Seas as if it were upon the publick Faith of England and where-ever such Seal is allowed or shall be thought fit to be affixed to any Commodity I would desire the Commodity should be exactly made according to the Institution and always kept to its certain length breadth and goodness But in case any shall make of the said Commodities worse then the Institution I think it would be most for the publick advantage to impose no Penalty upon them but only deny them the benefit and reputation of the publick Seal to such Bayes or Stuffs as shall be so insufficient which in my opinion would be punishment enough to those that should make worse than the Standard and advantage enough to those that should keep to it 2. For all Cloth and Stuffs not being made Staples I think it would be of very great use that the Makers did weave in their Marks and affix their own Seals containing the length and breadth of the Pieces as hath been provided in some Statutes and that no Maker under severe Penalties shall use another Mark or Seal with such Penalty to every marker or seller whose Cloth or Stuffs shall
not hurt us but we them is most apparent for in my time we have beat their Muscovado and Paneal Sugars quite out of use in England and their Whites we have brought down in all these Parts of Europe in price from seven and eight pounds per l. to fifty Shillings and three Pounds per. l. and in quantity whereas formerly their Brazeil-Fleets consisted of One hundred to One hundred and twenty thousand Chests of Sugar they are now reduced to about Thirty thousand Chests since the great encrease of Barbadoes The reason of this decay of the Portugeeze Productions in Brazeils is certainly the better Policy that our English Plantatitions are founded upon That which principally dwarfs the Portugeeze Plantations is the same before-mentioned which hinders the Spaniards viz. extraordinary high Customs at home high Freights high Interest of Money Ecclesiastical persons c. From all that hath been said concerning Plantations in general I draw these two principal Conclusions 1 st That our English Plantations may thrive beyond any other Plantations in the World though the Trades of all of them were more severely limitted by Laws and good Execution of those Laws to their Mother-Kingdom of England exclusive to Ireland and new-New-England 2dly That it is in his Majesties power and the Parliaments if they please by taking off all Charges from Sugar to make it more intirely an English Commodity then white-Herrings are a Dutch Commodity and to draw more profit to this Kingdom thereby then the Dutch do by that And that in consequence thereof all Plantations of other Nations must in a few Years sink to little or nothing X. That it is more for the Advantage of England that New found Lands should remain unplanted then that Colonies should be sent or permitted to go thither to Inhabit under a Governour Laws c. I have before discoursed of Plantations in general most of the English being in their nature much a like except this of New-found-Land and that of New-England which I intend next to speak of The advantage New-found-Land hath brought to this Kingdom is only by the Fishery there and of what vast concernment that is is well known to most Gentlemen and Merchants especially those of the West parts of England from whence especially this Trade is driven It is well known upon undeniable poof tbat in the Year 1605. the English employed 250. Sail of Ships small and great in Fishinâ— upon that Coast and it is now too apparent that we do not so employ from all Parts above Eighty Sail of Ships It is likewise generally known and confessed that when we employed so many Ships in that Trade the current price of our Fish in that Country was Communibus annis seventeen Rials which is eight Shillings six Pence per Quintal and that since as we have lessened in that Trade the French have encreased in it and that we have annually proceeded to raise our Fish from seventeen Rials to twenty four Rials or twelve Shillings Communibus annis as it now sells in the Country This being the Case of England in relation to this Trade it is certainly worth the enquiery 1st How we came to decay in that Trade 2dly What means may be used to recover our antient Greatness in that Trade or at least to prevent our further diminution therein The decay of that Trade I attribute First and principally to the growing Liberty which is every Year more and more used in Romish Countries as well as others of eating Flesh in Lent and on Fish-days 2. To a late abuse crept into that Trade which hath much abated the expence within these twenty Years of that Commodity of sending over private Boat-keepers which hath much diminished the number of the Fishing-Ships 3. To the great encrease of the French Fishery of Placentia and other Ports on the back-side of New-found-Land 4. To the several Wars we have had at Sea within these twenty Years which have much empoverished the Merchants of our Western Parts and reduced them to carry on a great part of that Trade at Bottumry viz. Money taken upon Adventure of the Ship at twenty per cent per Annum 2. What means may be used to recover our antient greatness in that Trade or at least to prevent our farther diminution therein For this two contrary ways have been propounded 1. To send a Governour to reside there and to encourage people to Inhabit there as well for Defence of the Country against Invasion as to manage the Fishery there by Inhabitants upon the Plâ—ce this hath often been propounded by the Planters and some Merchants of London 2. The second way propounded and which is directly contrary to the former is by the West-Country Merchants and Owners of the Fishing-Ships and that is to have no Governour nor Inhabitants permitted to reside at New-found-Land nor any Passengers or private Boat-keepers suffered to Fish at New-found-Land This latter way propounded is most agreeable to my Proposition and if it could be effected I am perswaded would revive the decaied English-Fishing-Trade at New-found-Land and be otherwise greatly for the advantage of this Kingdom and that for these following reasons 1. Because most of the Provision the Planters which are settled at New-found-Land do make use of viz. Bread Beef Pork Butter Cheese Clothes and Irish-Bengal Cloth Linnen and Woollen Ireish-Stockings as also Nets Hooks and Lines c. they are supplied with from New-England and Ireland and with Wine Oyl and Linnen by the Sâ—lt Ships from France and Spain in consequence whereof the Labour as well as the Feeding and Clothing of so many Men is lost to England 2. The Planters settled there being mostly loose vagrant People and without Order and Government do keep dissolute Houses which have Debaucht Sea-Men and diverted them from their laborious and industrious Calling whereas before there were settlements there the Sea-Men had no other resort during the Fishing Season being the time of their abode in that Country but to their Ships which afforded them convenient Food and Repose without the Inconveniencies of Excess 3 If it be the Interest of all Trading Nations principally to encourage Navigation and to promote especially those Trades which employ most Shiping then which nothing is more true nor more regarded by the wife Dutch then certainly it is the Interest of England to discountenance and abate the number of Planters at New-found-Land for if they should encrease it would in a few Years happen to us in relation to that Country as it hath to the Fishery at New-England which many Years since was managed by English Ships from the Western Ports but as Plantations there encreased fell to be the sole Employment of People settled there and nothing of that Trade left the poor old English-Men but the liberty of carrying now and then by courtesie or purchase a Ship loading of Fish to Bilvoa when their own Nâ—w-English Shiping are better Employed or not at leisure to do it 4. It is manifest that
because Customs run only upon our Goods imported or exported and that but once for all whereas Interest runs as well upon our Ships as Goods and must be yearly paid on both so long as they are in being and the Ships in many bulkey Trades and such as are Nationally most profitable are of four times the value of the Goods That old Objection about Widows and Orphans I have I think fully answered in my former Treatise but because I yet sometimes meet with it I shall say a Word more to it here viz. 1. Widows and Orphans are not one to twenty of the whole People and it s the Wisdom of Law-makers to provide for the good of the Majority of People though a Minor part should a little suffer 2. Of Widows and Orphans not one in forty will suffer by the abatement of Interest for these Reasons viz. 1 st Of Widows and Orphans nine of ten in this Kingdom have very little or nothing at all left them by their deceased Relations and all such will have an advantage by the abatement of Interest because such abatement will encrease Trade and in consequence occasion more employment for such necessitous Persons 2 dly Many Widows and Orphans have Ioyntures Annuities Coppy-Holds and other Lands left them as well as Money and all such will be gainers by the abatement of Interest 3 dly For all London Orphans the City gives not now above 5 and to some 4 per cent Interest so the loss to such is not worth speaking of 4 thly Many Executors are so unworthy as to allow Orphans no Interest and yet justifie themselves by Law to such Orphans it will be all one what the legal rate of Interest be 5 thly When the Law for abatement of Interest is past many more Parents will leave their Children Annuities and Estates running in Trade as they do in Holland and Italy whereby the abatement of Interest will become profitable not prejudicial to them And for the few that at first may happen to suffer whereof the number will be very small and therefore not to be named in competition with the common good of the Kingdom they have an easie means within their own Power to prevent their being one Farthing the worse for the abatement of Interest it is but wearing a Lawn-Whisk instead of a Point de Venice and for the meaner sort a Searge Petty-Coat instead of a Silk one and a plain pair of Shoes instead of laced ones And that the Ladies may not be offended with me I dare undertake that this will never spoil but mend their Marriages besides the greater good it will bring to their Country and to their Posterities after them whether they prove to be Noblemen Gentlemen or Merchants c. I have in several places of my ensuing Treatise referred to some Tracts I formerly published upon this subject which being now wholly out of Print I thought fit to Re-print and annex unto this which at first I intended not Some there are who would grant that abatement of Interest if it could be effected would procure to the Nation all the good that I alledge it will bring with it but say it is not practicable or at least not now 1. A needless scruple and contradictory to experience for first a Law hath abated Interest in England three times within these few Years already and what should hinder its effect now more then formerly 2. If a Law will not do it why do the Vsurers raise such a dust and engage so many Friends to oppose the passing of an Act to this purpose The true reason is because they are wise enough to know that a Law will certainly do it as it hath done already though they would perswade others the contrary And if it be doubted we have not Money enough in England Besides what I have said in my former Treatise as to the encrease of our Riches in general I shall here give some further Reasons of probability which are the best that can be expected in this case to prove that we have now much more Money in England then we had twenty Years past Notwithstanding the seeming scarcity at present if I should look further back then twenty years the argument would be stronger on my side and the proportion of the encrease of Money greater and more perspicuous but I shall confine my self to that time which is within most mens Memories 1. We give generally now one third more Money with Apprentices then we did twenty years past 2. Notwithstanding the decay and loss of sundry Trades and Manufactures yet in the gross we Ship off now one third part more of the Manufactures as also Lead and Tin then we did twenty years past which is a cause as well as a proof of our increase of Money If any doubt this if they please to consult Mr Dickins Surveyor of his Majesties Customs who is the best able I know living and hath taken the most pains in these Calculations he may be satisfactorily resolved 3. Houses new built in London yield twice the Rent they did before the Fire and Houses generally immediately before the Fire yielded about one fourth part more Rent then they did twenty years past 4. The speedy and costly buildings of London is a convincing and to Strangers an amazing Argument of the plenty and late encrease of Money in England 5. We have now more then double the quantity of Merchants Shiping we had twenty years past 6. The course of our Trade from the increase of our Money is strangely altered within these twenty years most Payments from Merchants and Shop-keepers being now made with ready Money whereas formerly the course of our general Trade run at three six nine twelve and eighteen Months time But if this case be so clear some may ask me How comes it to pass that all sorts of men complain so much of the scarcity of Money especially in the Country My answers to this Query are viz. 1. This proceeds from the Frailty and Corruption of humane Nature it being natural for men to complain of the present and commend the times past so said they of Old The former days were better then these and I can say in truth upon my own Memory that men did complain as much of the scarcity of Money ever since I knew the world as they do now nay the very same Persons that now complain of this and commend that time 2. And more particularly This complaint proceeds from many mens finding themselves uneasie in the matters of their Religion it being natural for men when they are discontented at one thing to complain of all and principally to utter their discontents and complaints in those things which are most popular Those that hate a man for some one cause will seldom allow of any thing that is good in him and some that are angry with one person or thing will find fault with others that gave them no offence like peevish Persons that meeting discontent
the Turkey Hambrough Muscovia and Eastland Companies ever purchased their Priviledges or built and maintained Forts Castles or Factories or made any Wars at their own charge but I know the Turkey Company do maintain an Embassador and two Consuls and are sometimes necessitated to make Presents to the Grand Senior or his great Officers and the Hambrough Company are at some charge to maintain their Deputy and Minister at Hambrough and I think it would be great Injustice that any should trade to the places within their Charters without paying the same Duties or Leviations towards the Companies charge as the present Adventurers do pay but I know not why any should be barred from trading to those places or forced to pay a great Fine for admition that are willing to pay the Companies Duties and submit to the Companies regulation and orders in other respects Obj. 6. If all may be admitted as aforesaid then such numbers of Shop-keepers and others would come into the Society of Merchants as would by the Majority of Votes so much alter the Governours Deputy and Assistants of the respective Companies that Ignorant Persons would come into those ruling places to the general prejudice of those Trades I answer Those that make this Objection if they be Merchants know there is very little in it for that it is not to be expected that twenty Shop-keepers will come into any one Company in a Year and therefore can have no considerable influence upon the Elections but if many more should come in it would be the better for the Nation and not the worse for the Company for that all men are lead by their Interest and it being the common Interest of all that engage in any Trade that the Trade should be regulated and governed by wise honest and able men there is no doubt but most mâ—n will Vote for such as they esteem so to be which is manifest in the East-India-Company where neither Gentlemen nor Shop-â—eepers were at first excluded neither are they yet kept out any English-man whatsoever being permitted to come into that Company that will buy an Action paying only five Pounds to the Company for his admission and yet undeniable experience hath convinced all Gain-sayers in this matter that Company since its having had so large and National a Foundation having likewise had a succession of much better Governours Deputies and Assistants then ever it had upon that narrow bottom it stood formerly when none could be admitted to the freedom of that Company for less than a Fine of Fifty Pounds and the success hath been answerable For the first Company settled upon that narrow limitted Interest although their Stock was larger then this decayed and finally came to ruin and destruction Whereas on the contrary this being settled on more rational and consequently more just as well as more profitable Principles hath through Gods Goodness thriven and encreased to the trebling of their first Stock CHAP. IV. Concerning the Act of Navigation THough this Act be by most concluded a very beneficial Act for this Kingdom especially by the Masters and Owners of Shiping and by all Sea-men yet some there are both wise and honest Gentlemen and Merchants that doubt whether the Inconveniencies it hath brouâ—ht with it be not greater then the Conveniencies For my own part I am of Opinion that in relation to Trade Shiping Profit and Power it is one of the choicest and most prudent Acts that ever was made in England and without which we had not now been Owners of one half of the Shiping nor Trade nor employed one half of the Sea-men which we do at present but seeing time hath discovered some Inconveniencies in it if not Defects which in my poor opinion do admit of an easie Amendment and seeing that the whole Act is not approved by unanimous consent I thought fit to discourse a little concerning it wherein after my plain method I shall lay down such Objections as I have met with and subjoyn my Answers with such Reasons as occur to my memory in confirmation of my own Opinion The Objections against the whole Act are such as these Object 1. Some have told me That I on all occasions magnifie the Dutch policy in relation to their Trade and the Dutch have no Act of Navigation and therefore they are certainly not always in the right as to the understanding of their true Interest in Trade or else we are in the wrong in this I answer I am yet to be informed where the Dutch have missed their proper Interest in Trade but that which is fit for one Nation to do in relation to their Trade is not fit for all no more then the same Policy is necessary to a prevailing Army that are Masters of the Field to an Army of less force then to be able to encounter their Enemy at all times and places The Dutch by reason of their great Stocks low Interest multitude of Merchants and Shiping are Masters of the Field in Trade and therefore have no need to build Castles Fortresses and places of Retreat such I account Laws of limitation and securing of particular Trades to the Natives of any Kingdom because they viz. the Dutch may be well assured That no Nation can enter in common with them in any Trade to gain Bread by it while their own use of Money is at 3 per Cent and others at 6 per Cent and upwards c. Whereas if we should suffer their Shiping in common with ours in those Trades which are secured to the English by Act of Navigation they must necessarily in a few Years for the Reasons above-said eat us quite out of them Object 2. The second Objection to the whole Aâ—t is Some will confess that as to Merchants and Owners of Ships the Aâ—t of Navigation is eminently beneficial but say that Merchants and Owners are but an inconsiderable number of men in respect of the whole Nation and that Interest of the greater number that our Native Commodities and Manufactures should be taken from us at the best rates and foreign Commodities sold us at the cheapest with admission of Dutch Merchants and Shiping in common with the English by my own implication would effect My answer is That I cannot deny but this may be true if the present profit of the generality be barely and singly considered but this Kingdom being an Island the defence whereof hath alwayes been our Shiping and Sea-men it seems to me absolutely necessary that Profit and Power ought joyntly to be considered and if so I think none can deny but the Act of Navigation hath and doth occasion building and employing of three times the number of Ships and Sea-men that otherwise we should or would do and that consequently If our Force at Sea were so greatly impared it would expose us to the receiving of all kind of Injuries and Affronts fâ—om our Neighbours and in conclusion render us a despicable and miserable People Objections to several Parts of the
Act of Navigation Object 1. The Inhabitants and Planters of our Plantations in America say This Act will in time ruin their Plantations if they may not be permitted at least to carry their Sugars to the best Markets and not be compell'd to send all to and receive all Commodities from England I answer If they were not kept to the Rules of the Act of Navigation the consequence would be that in a few Years the benefit of them would be wholly lost to the Nation it being agreeable to the Policy of the Dutch Danes French Spaniards Portugals and all Nations in the World to keep their external Provinces and Colonies in a subjection unto and dependency upon their Mother-Kingdom and if they should not do so the Dutch who as I have said are Masters of the Field in Trade would carry away the greatest of advantage by the Plantations of all the Princes in Christendom leaving us and others only the trouble of breeding men and sending them abroad to cultivate the Ground and have Bread for their Industry Here by the way with entire submission to the greater Wisdom of those whom it much more concerns give me leave to Query Whether instead of the late prohibition of Irish Cattle it would not have been more for the benefit of this Kingdom of England to suffer the Irish to bring into England not only their live Cattle but also all other Commodities of the Growth or Manufacture of that Kingdom Custom free or on easie Customs and to prohibit them from Trading homeward or outward with the Dutch or our own Plantations or any other places except the Kingdom of England Most certainly such a Law would in a few Years wonderfully encrease the Trade Shiping and Riches of this Nation Query 2. Would not this be a good addition to the Act of Navigation and much encrease the employment of English Shiping and Sea-men as well in bringing from thence all the Commodities of that Country as supplying that Country with Deals Salt and all other foreign Commodities which now they have from the Dutch Que. 3. Would not this be a means effectually to prevent the Exportation of Irish Wool which now goes frequently into France and Holland to the manifest and great damage both of England and Ireland Que. 4 Would not this be a Fortress or Law to secure to us the whole Trade of Ireland Que. 5. Would not this render that which now diminisheth and seems dangerous to the value of Lands in England viz. the growth of Ireland advantagious by encrease of Trade and Shiping and consequently the power of this Kingdom Object 2. The second Ojection to part of the Act of Navigation is usually made by the Eastland and Norway Merchants who affirm that in effect their Trade is much declined since the passing the Act of Navigation and the Danes Sweeds Holsteners and all Easterlings who by the said Act may â—mport Timber and other Eastern Commodities have encreased in the number of their Shiping imployed in this Trade since our Act of Navigation at least two third parts and the English have proportionably declined in the number of theirs imployed in that Trade I answer That I believe the matter of Fact asserted is true as well as the cause assigned viz. the Act of Navigation and yet this should not make us out of love with that excellent Law rather lâ—t it put us upon contriving the Amendment of this seeming Defect or Inconvenience the Cure whereof I hope upon mature consideration will not be found difficult for which I humbly propound to the Wisdom of Parliament viz. That a Law be made to impose a Custom of at least 50 l. per Cent on all Eastland Commodities Timber Boards Pipe-Staves and Salt imported into England and Ireland upon any Ships but English built Ships or at least such only as are sailed with an English Masteâ— and at least three fourths English Marriners And that for these Reasons Reas. First If this be not done the Danes Sweedes and Easterlings will certainly in a few Years carry the whole Trade by reason of the difference of the chaâ—ge of building a Ship fit for that Trade there or here viz. a Fly-boat of 300 Tuns new built and set to Sea for such a Voyage may cost there 13 or 1400 l. which here would cost from 22 to 2400 l. which is so vast a disproportion that it is impossible for an English man to coape with a Dane in that Navigation under such a discouragement to ballance which there is nothing but the Strangers duty which the Dane now pays which may come to 5 or 6 l per Ship per Voyâ—ge at most one with another which is incompitable with the difference of Price between the first cost of the Ships in either Nation And this is so evident to those who are conversant in those Trades that besides the decrease of our Sâ—iping and encrease of theirs that hath already happened ours in probability had beeâ— whoâ—y beaten out of the Trade and only Danes and Easterlings freighted had we been necessitated to build English Ships and had not been recruited on moderate Pâ—ices by Fly-boats being Ships proper for this Trade taken in the late Dutch War and by a further supply of Scotch Prizes likewise through his Majesties permission and indulgence Reas. 2. Because the number of Strangers Ships imployed in the aforesaid Trade yearly I estimtae to be about two hundred Sail which if such a Law were made must unavoidably be all excluded and the Employment fall wholly into English Hands which would be an excellent Nursery and give constant Maintenance to a brave number of English Sea-men more then we can or do employ at present Reas. 3. The Act of Navigation is now of seventeen or eighteen Years standing in England and yet in all these Years not one English Ship hath been built fit for this Trade the reason whereof is that before mentioned viz. that it is cheaper freighting of Danes and Easterlins and it being so and all men naturally led by their Profit it seems to me in vain to expect that ever this Law will procure the building of one English Ship fit for that employment till those Strangers are excluded this Trade for England and much more improbable it is that any should now be built than it was formerly when the Act was first made because Timber is now at almost double the price in England it was then The consequence whereof is That if timely Provision be not made by some additional Law when our old Stock of Flemish Prizes is worn out as many of them are already we shall have very few or no Ships in this Trade The Objections which I have heard made to this Proposition are viz. Object 1. If such an Imposition be laid on those gross Commodities imported by Strangers Ships that will amount to the excluding all Strangers from this Trade we shall want Ships in England to carry on the Trade and so the Commodity
poor condition The reason whereof to me seems clearly to be because a great part of the Stock imployed in the aforesaid great Trade is taken up at Interest and consequently owned by Londoners and other Absentees And though it may be hoped that this is not yet the case of England yet it is a demonstration that the notion of takeing the Ballance this way is not absolutely and in all places and under all circumstances without exception true good for in case the Trade of England should be carried on by Absentees then the supposiâ—ion upon which this Notion is grounâ—ed viz. that when the Exports over Baâ—lance the Imports the Surplusage is returned into England in Bulloin will prove a mistake and the contrary will be true viz. that the Surplusage will be conveighed into Foreign parts to the places of the residence of such Absentees 2. The second thing I am to Illustrate is that this rule barely considered is fallible and erroneous as to particular and distinct Trades This will appear if it be considered that a true measure of any particular Trade as to the profit or loss of the Nation thereby cannot be taken by the consideration of such Trade in it self singlely but as it stands in reference and is subservient to the general Trade of the Kingdom for it may so fall out that there may be some places to which little of our English Manufactures are Exported and yet the Commodities we have from thence may be so necessary to the carrying on our Trade in general or some other particular Trades that without them the Nation would greatly decline and decay in Trade Now in this case if we should measure such a particular Trade by the aforesaid Notion of the Ballance we should find the Imports abundantly exceed the Exports and so be ready to conclude against such a Trade as destructive whereas notwithstanding it may in truth be a very necessary beneficial Trade and to the very great advantage of the Nation as for instance The Trade of Denmark and Norway the Imports from whence are certainly many times the value of our Native Commodities exported thither and yet it cannot be denied but that Trade is advantagious to the Kingdom not only because it gives or would give employment to two Hundred or three Hundred Sail of English Shiping if we did a little mend our Act of Navigation but principally because the Commodities imported from thence as Timber Pitch Deals and Tar are of such necessary use in order to the building and supplying our Shiping that without them other Trades could not be carried on It will not be denied by the honourable East-India Company but they import much more Goods into England than they export that to purchase the same they carry out quantities of Gold Silver annually yet no man that understands any thing of the Trade of the World will affirm that England loseth by that Trade The Dutch with good reason esteem the trade of the East-Indies more profitable to them than are the Mines of Gold and Silver in America to the King of Spain and if the English Companies were vested by Act of Parliament with so much Authority as the Dutch have and thereby encouraged to drive as full a Trade thither as the Dutch do I doubt not but it would be so not so much to the private gain of the Members of that Company as the publick profit of this Kingdom in general however as it is it will not be difficult to prove that it is the most beneficial Trade this Nation drives at present For 1 st That trade constantly employes twenty five to thirty Sail of the most War-like Ships in England with Sixty to a Hundred Men in each Ship and may in two or three Years more employ a greater Number and in order to the carrying on that Trade that Company hath lately unconstrained given considerable Encouragements for the building of great Ships which hath had good effect 2 dly It supplies the Nation constantly and fully with that in this Age necessary material of Salt-Petre 3 dly It employs the Nation for its Consumption with Pepper Indico Calicoes and several useful Drugs near the value of 150000 l. to 180000 l. per Annum 4 thly It furnished us with Pepper Cowryes Long-Cloth and other Callicoes and painted Stuffs proper for the Trade of Turkey Italy Spain France and Guiny to the amount of 2 or 300000 l. per Annum most of which Trades we could not carry on with any considerable advantage but for those supplies and these Goods exported do produce in foreign parts to be returned to England six times the Treasure in Specie that the Company exports from hence Now if not only the aforesaid advantages be seriously considered but also what detriment the Nation would sustain if we were deprived of those supplies both in point of Strength and War-like Provisions in regard of Shiping and Salt-Petre but also in respect of the furtherance it gives to many other Trades before-mentioned it will easily appear that this Trade though its Imports exceeds its Exports is the most advantagious Trade to England and deserves all encouragement for were we to buy all our Pepper and Callicoes c. of the Dutch they would raise our Pepper which now stands the Nation but about 3 d. per pound in India to or near the proportion which they have advanced on Nutmegs Cloves and Mace which cost the Dutch not much more per pound in India than Pepper since they engrossed the Trade for those Commodities and the use of Callico in England would be supplied by foreign Linnen at greater Prices so that what may be secured from this Nation 's consumption would in probability cost them above 400000 l. per Annum more then now it doth and our foreign Trades for Italy Guiny c. would in part decay for want of the afore-said supplies There is another Notion concerning the Ballance of Trade which I think not impertinent here to take notice of viz. Some are of opinion that the way to know whether the Nation gets or loseth in the general by its fore-going Trade is to take an inspection into the course of the Exchange is generally above the intrinsick value or Par of the Coins of foreign Countries we not only lose by such Exchanges but the same is a demonstration that we lose by the general course of our foreign Trade and that we require more supply of Commodities from abroad than our exports in Goods do serve to purchase And certain it is that when once the Exchange comes to be 5 or 6 per Cent above the true value of foreign Monies our Treasure would be carried out whatever Laws should be made to prevent it and on the contrary when the Exchange is generally below the true value of the foreign Coins it is an evidence that our Exports do in value exceed what we require from abroad And so if the Exchange comes to be 5 or 6
before ther were Boat-keepers or Planters at New-found-land Fish was sold cheaper than now it is by about 40 per Cent and consequently more vented the reason whereof I take to be this The Boat-keepers and Planters being generally at first able Fisher-men and being upon the place can doubtless afford their Fish cheaper then the Fishing Ships from Old England so doubtless they did at first as well at New-England as at New-found-land until they had beat the English Ships out of the Trade after which being freed from that competition they became Lazy as to that laborious employment having means otherwise to live and employ themselves and thereupon enhaunced the price of their Fish to such an excess as in effect proves the giving away of that Trade to the French who by our aforesaid impolitick management of that Trade have of late Years been able to under-sell us at all Markets abroad and most certain it is that those that can sell cheapest will have the Trade 5. This Kingdom being an Island it is our Interest as well for our preservation as our profit not only to have many Sea-men but to have them as much as may be within call in a time of danger Now the Fishing Ships going out in March and returning home for England in the Month of September yearly and there being employed in that Trade two hundred and fifty Ships which might carry about ten thousand Sea-men Fisher-men and Shore men as they usually call the younger Persons which were never before at Sea I appeal to the Reader whether such a yearly return of Sea-men abiding at home with us all the Winter and spending their Money here which they got in their Summer-Fishery were not a great access of Wealth and Power to this Kingdom and a ready supply for his Majesty's Navy upon all Emergencies 6. The Fishing Ships yet are and always have been the breeders of Sea-men the Planters and Boat-keepers are generally such as were bred and became expert at the cost of the Owners of Fishing Ships which Planters and Boat-keepers enter very few new or green men 7. By the building fitting victualling and repairing of Fishing-Ships multitudes of English Trades-men and Artificers besides the Owners and Sea-men gain their subsistance whereas by the Boats which the Planters and Boat-keepers build or use at New-found-Land England gets nothing Object But against all that I have said those that contend for a Governour at New-found-Land object 1. That without a Governour and Government there that Country will be alwayes exposed to the surprizal of the French or any Foreigners that shall please to attacque it 2. That the disorders of the Planters which I complain of and some others which for brevities sake I have not mentioned cannot be remedied without a Governour To which I answer first That when we cannot preserve our Colonies by our Shiping or so awe our Neighbours by our Fleets and Ships of War that they dare not attempt them our case will be sad and our Propriety will be lost or in eminent danger not only abroad but at home likewise 2 dly All the Fish that is killed at New-found-Land in a Summer is not sufficient to maintain strength enough on Shore to defend two Fishing Harbours against ten men of War whereas that Country hath more Harbours to defend than are to be found in Old England 3 dly If a Governour be established the next consequence will be a Tax upon the Fishing and the least Tax will encrease the price of Fish and that unavoidably will give the Trade away wholly into the French Hands 4 thly A Government there is already of antient Custom among the Masters of the Fishing-Ships to which the Fishermen are inured and that free from Oppression and adapted to the Trade insomuch that although a better might be wished I never hope to see it XI That New-England is the most prejudical Plantation to this Kingdom I am now to write of a People whose Frugality Industry and Temperance and the happiness of whose Laws and Institution do promise to themselves long Life with a wonderful encrease of People Riches and Power And although no men ought to envy that Vertue and Wisdom in others which themselves either can or will not practice but rather to commend and admire it yet I think it is the duty of every good man primarily to respect the well-fare of his Native Country and therefore though I may offend some whom I would not willingly displease I cannot omit in the progress of this discourse to take notice of some particulars wherein Old England suffers dimunition by the growth of those Colonies settled in New-England and how that Plantation differs from those more Southerly with respect to the gain or loss of this Kingdom viz. 1. All our American Plantations except that of New-England produce Commodities of different Natures from those of this Kingdom as Sugar Tobacco Cocoa Wool Ginger sundry sorts of dying Woods c. Whereas New-England produces generally the same we have here viz. Corn and Cattle some quantity of Fish they do likewise kill but that is taken saved altogether by their own Inhabitants which prejudiceth our New-found-land Trade where as hath been said very few are or ought according to Prudence to be employed in those Fisheries but the Inhabitants of Old England The other Commodities we have from them are some few great Masts Furs and Train-Oyl whereof the Yearly value amounts to very little the much greater value of returns from thence being made in Sugar Cotten Wool Tobacco and such like Commodities which they first receive from some other of his Majesty's Plantations in Barter for dry Cod-Fish salt Mackerel Beef Pork Bread Beer Flower Pease c. which they supply Barbadoes Iamaica c. with to the diminution of the vent of those Commodities from this Kingdom the great Experience whereof in our own West-India Plantations would soon be found in the advantage of the value of our Lands in England were it not for the vast and almost incredible supplies those Colonies have from New-England 2. The People of New-England by vertue of their Primitive Charters being not so strictly tied to the observation of the Laws of this Kingdom do sometimes assume a liberty of Trading contrary to the Act of Navigation by reason whereof many of our American Commodities especially Tobacco and Sugar are transported in New-English Shiping directly into Spain and other foreign Countries without being Landed in England or paying any Duty to his Majesty which is not only loss to the King and a prejudice to the Navigation of Old England but also a total exclusion of the old English Merchant from the vent of those Commodities in those Ports where the New-English Vessels trade because there being no Custom paid on those Commodities in New-England and a great Custom paid upon them in Old England it must necessarily follow that the New-English Merchant will be able to afford his Commodity much cheaper at the
made against this Constitution is that It thwarts that most excellent order of our English Iuries Answ. 1. I answer That I hope there is no English man more in love with Iuries then my self but it is evident that the common way of Tryals doth not well reach the variety and strangeness of Merchants cases especially in relation to foreign Affairs Answ. 2. What better Jury can a Merchant hope for than twelve able and honest Merchants chose by the collective Body of the whole City and such as shall all of them stand upon their Good Behaviour to be turned out with Ignominy the next Year if they do not equal right to all men Object 2. The admitting of no Appeals from a Couâ—t-Merchant seems too arbitrary I answer While we choose our Iudges our selves for Merchants cases and may remove them our selves in my opinion they can be no more too arbitrary than too much power can be given to Referees when both parties desire an end of their Differences besides if their Power be not great the many designs of cheap speedy and short issues will be lost But if it shall please the Parliament there may be in the Act an appeal reserved to the House of Lords the Money condemned to be first paid or deposited before the Appeal be allowed CHAP. VII Concerning Naturalization THat an Act of Naturalization of Strangers would tend to the advancement of Trade and encrease of the value of the Lands of this Kingdom is now so generally owned and assented to by all degrees of men amongst us that I doubt not but a short time will produce some Act or Acts of Parliament to that purpose I have therefore thought it not impertinent to note some few Particulars which if not warily prevented may deprive us of the greatest part of the Fruit hoped for by so good a design viz. 1st The Priviledges of encorporated Cities and Towns 2dly More especially the Societies of Artificers and Trades-men belonging to some Cities and Towns Corporate such as Weavers Coopers and many others who by vertue of their Charters pretend to Priviledge and Iurisdiction not only to the utmost extent of the Liberties of their respective Cities and Towns but to the distance of ten Miles about them 3. That branch of the Statute of 5 th of Elizabeth which enacts That none shall use any manual Occupation that hath not served an Apprenticeship thereunto upon which Statute it hath been usual to indict Strangers work-men that have exercised their Callings in the out-parts of London Upon this point of Naturalization many men make a great doubt whether it be for publick good to permit the Iews to be Naturalized in common with other Strangers Those that are against their admission who for the most part are Merchants urge these Reasons 1. They say the Iews are a subtil People prying into all kind of Trades and thereby depriving the English Merchant of that Profit he would otherwise gain 2 They are a penurious People living miserably and therefore can and do afford to trade for less profit then the English to the prejudice of the English Merchant 3. They bring no Estates with them but set up with their Pens and Ink only and if after some few Years they thrive and grow rich they carry away their Riches with them to some other Country being a People that cannot mix with us which Riches being carried away is a publick loss to this Kingdom Those that are for the admission of the Iews say in answer to the aforesaid Reasons viz. 1 st The subtiller the Iews are and the more Trades they pry into while they live here the more they are like to encrease Trade and the more they do that the better it is for the Kingdom in general though the worse for the English Merchant who comparitively to the rest of the People of England is not one of a thousand 2 dly The thriftier they live the better Example to our people there being nothing in the World more conducing to enrich a Kingdom then thriftiness 3 dly It is denyed that they bring over nothing with them for many have brought hither very good Estates and hundreds more would do the like and settle here for their Lives and their Posterities after them if they had the same Freedom and Security here as they have in Holland and Italy where the grand Duke of Tuscaney and other Princes allow them not only perfect Liberty and Security but give them the priviledge of making Laws among themselves and that they would reside with us is proved from the known Principles of Nature viz. Principle 1. All men by Nature are alike as I have before demonstrated and Mr Hobbs hath truly asserted how Erroneous soever he may be in other things Princip 2. Fear is the cause of Hatred and hatred of separation from as well as evil Deeds to the Parties or Government hated when opportunity is offered This by the way shews the difference between a bare connivence at Dissenters in matters of Religion and a toleration by Law the former keeps them continually in Fear and consequently apt to Sedition and Rebellion when any probable occasion of success presents The latter disarms cunning ambitious minded men who wanting a popular discontented Party to work upon can effect little or nothing to the prejudice of the Government And this methinks discovers clearly the Cause why the Lutherans in Germany Protestants in France Greeks in Turkey and Sectaries in Holland are such quiet peaceable-minded-men while our Non-Conformists in England are said to be enclinable to Strife War and Bloodshed Take away the Cause and the Effect will cease While the Laws are in Force against men they think the Sword hangs over their Heads and are always in fear though the Execution be suspended not knowing how soon Councils or Counsellors Times or Persons may change it is only Perfect Love that casts out Fear and all men are in love with Liberty and Security It cannot be denyed that the industrious Bees have Stings though Drones have not yet Bees sting not except those that hurt them or disturb their Hives It is said the Iews cannot Intermarry with us and therefore it cannot be supposed they will reside long amongst us although they were treated never so kindly why not reside here as well as in Italy Poland or Holland they have now no Country of their own to go to and therefore that is their Country and must needs be so esteemed by them where they are best used and have the greatest Security CHAP. VIII Concerning Wool and Woollen Manufactures THat Wool is eminently the Foundation of the English Riches I have not heard denyed by any and that therefore all possible means ought to be used to keep it within our own Kingdom is generally confessed and to this purpose most of our modern Parliaments have strenuously endeavoured the contriving of severe Laws to prevent its Exportation and the last Act made it Felony to Ship out Wool