and Wat Tiler in East-Smithfield where in an overture of treaty Wat Tiler behaving himself with extraordinary insolence was in presence of the King stabb'd by Sir William Wallworth Lord Mayor of London with a Dagger in memory whereof the City of London hath to this day a Dagger for its Coat of Arms. This City hath had the honour to entertain several great Kings Princes and Nobles but the grandest transaction that London can boast of was that most stately Cavalcade which his present Majesty made through it the 29th of May An. 1660. when he returned from a long Exile to the Government of these Kingdoms But the year 1666. was fatal to it by reason of that most dreadful fire that consum'd all before it from Grace-Church Street to the Inner Temple destroying to the number as is generally computed of 13000 dwelling-houses and this preceded but the year before by the fiercest Pestilence that ever raged within the cognisance of the Weekly Bills In this City King Stephen kept his Court at Crosby-house in Bishopsgate-street King Edward the third in Cornhil where now the Pope-head Tavern stands King Henry the eighth at Black-friers and sometimes at Bridewell once a Regal Palace where also the Emperour Charles the fifth was lodg'd when he came over into England The Palace of St. James's which is in the Pomaeria of London and which was first built for a Spittle for Maiden Lepers hath been the Birth-place of his present Majesty K. Charles the 2d his Highness James Duke of York Henry late Duke of Glocester the Lady Elizabeth the Lady Mary late Princess of Orange and all the Children of his present Highness by his late Dutchess Edgar Duke of Kendal James Duke of Cambridg deceast the Lady Henrietta and the Lady Lady Katherine deceast Mary now Princess of Orange the Lady Anne yet unmarried as also of two Daughters both soon hasten'd to a better World by his present Dutchess Other persons of eminent note and immortal memory were born at London viz. Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury in the Reign of K. Henry the 2d by four of whese Courtiers he was murther'd in Canterbury Church Anno 1170. after a long contest with the King Sir Jeoffry Chaucer the most famous of ancient English Poets who flourisht in the Reigns of K. Henry the 4th Henry the 5th and part of K. Henry the 6th Edmund Spencer styl'd also the Prince of English Poets who flourisht in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth John Leland Sir Thomas More Bishop Andrews The Tower of London is very eminent for the Confinement Murther and Execution of Illustrious persons to mention all especially those who have been meerly Prisoners would be almost endless but the most memorable Imprisonment was that of two Kings at one time in the Reign of King Edward the third viz. of David King of Scots and of John King of France the first a Prisoner 11 years the other four Here the unfortunate King Henry the sixth after Edward the fourth had got the Crown from him by Conquest was basely murther'd by King Edward's Brother Richard Duke of Glocester afterward King of England Here George Duke of Clarence another Brother was by the practice of the said Duke of Glocester drown'd in a Butt of Malmsey but the most fatal Tragedy of all was the murther of King Edward the fourth's two Sons poor harmless children viz. Edward commonly entitled King Edward the fifth and his Brother Richard Duke of York and all by the order and contrivement of their Dear Uncle of Glocester who as most great persons have their peculiar Sports and Recreations was principally taken with that of killing men especially those of nearest kin for such he chiefly markt out for death out of meer kindness to himself that he might the sooner obtain the possession of that Crown he had long since aspir'd to and indeed he got it sooner and kept it longer so easie it is for one witty man to delude a Multitude than a curious descanter upon the worlds affairs would have allow'd a person so getting it however what he got by the death of others he lost by his own only more handsomely not by treachery but fairly in the field In Christ-church in London three great Queens had their Sepulture viz. Margaret the Daughter of King Philip of France sirnamed the Hardy and second Wife of King Edward the second of England Isabel the Daughter of the French King Philip the Fair and Wife to King Edward the second of England Joan the Daughter of the said Edward and Isabel and married to David King of Scots Westminster hath been the most constant residence of the Kings of England since the Conquest till Whitehall was built by Cardinal Wolsey It will be needless to mention all the Kings that have been crown'd and buried here in regard since the Conquest there are not very many who have not been buried and fewer that have not been crown'd in Westminster Abby At Isleworth now Thistleworth a Village pleasantly situate upon the River Thames Richard King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwall had a stately Palace which was burnt to the ground in a tumultuous sally that was made upon it by certain Malecontents of the London Mobile In Surry are places of as eminent note as in most Counties of England In the first place Lambeth is chiefly renowned for being the principal Palace and most usual residence of the Archbishops of Canterbury from the time of Archbishop Baldwin who first founded it and made it his Seat in the year 596 and from whom it hath continued so to this day the most reverend and learned Prelate Dr. Sancroft late Dean of Pauls being worthily advanc'd to this high Dignity and having here his present residence Here Canutus sirnamed the Hardy the third and last of our short-liv'd Dynasty of Danish Kings ended his days of a surfeit as most Writers affirm by eating and drinking over freely at a Wedding Feast Croydon is another Seat belonging to the Archbishops of Canterbury and where the Reverend Dr. Gilbert Sheldon late Archbishop lies buried having a most statety Monument newly elected to his memory the Artful Contrivance and skilful Workmanship of Mr Jasper Latham the present City Mason At Ockly in this County Ethelwolph Son of Egbert won a great Battel over the Danes Oatlands is not more famous for being a Royal Palace than for the Neighbourhood of Coweystakes where Julius Caesar pass'd the Thames into the Borders of Cassibesaunus Putney is chiefly considerable in story as being the Birth-place of one of the most advanced Statesmen and Favourites for he was but the Son of a Black-smith that our Nation hath produced viz. Thomas Cromwell chief Minister of State for the time to King Henry the eighth and by him created Earl of Essex who nevertheless had the ill fate falling under his Princes displeasure to be beheaded on Tower-Hill Wimbleton where the Earl of Bristol hath a pleasant seat still retains the memory of a
Equivalent in Wealth and Strength to a far greater people and that Conveniencies for Shipping and Water-Carriage do most eminently and fundamentally conduce thereunto CHAP. II. That some kind of Taxes and Publick Levies may rather increase then diminish the Wealth of the Kingdom CHAP. III. That France cannot by Reason of natural and perpetual impediments be more powerful at Sea then England and the low Countries CHAP. IV. That the people and Territories of the King of England are naturally as considerable for Wealth and Strength as those of France CHAP. V. That the impediments of Englands greatness are Contingent and removable CHAP. VI. That the Power and Wealth of England has increased these last 40 years CHAP. VII That one 10 part of the whole Expences of the King of England Subjects is sufficient to maintain 100000 Foot 40000 Horse and 40000 men at Sea and defray all other charges of the Government both ordinary and Extraordinary c. CHAP. VIII That there are spare Hands enough amongst the King of Englands Subjects to earn two Millions per Annum more then they now do and that there are also Imployments ready proper and sufficient for the purpose CHAP. IX That there is Money sufficient to drive the Trade of the Nation CHAP. X. That the King of Englands Subjects have Stock Competent and Convenient to drive the Trade of the Whole Commercial World THE INTRODUCTION OR THE ORIGINAL OF TRADE PLAINLY Demonstrating it's Increase The Means and Methods used to bring it to the Perfection it is arrived to at present And of the great Benefit reaped thereby both in General and Particular CHAP. I. THat Inland Maritim Trade Traffick are with Gods Blessings on mens Indeavours the chief Pillars and â—upport of all Nations and from whence they had their first rise and greatness is so evident that Arguments to prove it would be ineffectual yet from the World 's Original it had not it's perfection nor indeed could it till Mankind increased and by spreading wide in the Earth Peopled it's vast Immensity nor then for some thousands of Years was it National but rather in secret between man and man few People knowing the Benefit of any other commodities then what were of the native growth of those Countries they inhabited nor so could Riches abound for Coyn was for the most part useless or indeed not mentioned till the days of Abraham the Patriarck Exchange of Goods being the only Traffick and consequently on that score few Traded for more then they had present occasion to use by Reason many things were not of lasting quality and for that they for the most part Travelled from place to place Their chiefest Riches consisted in Cattle but at last when they Builded Cities and Towns and found the conveniency of a Settlement they extended their Traffick farther and one City Traded with another which still spread wider yet long was it ' er they found means to plough the Bosom of the Sea and to hold Commerce and Traffick with remote Nations which no sooner was brought to my Perfection but Riches abounding and Plenty Flowing in on every side men then and not till then began to give their thoughts large scope and not contented with the Portion of Earth alotted them began to grow emulous aspire to universal Soveraignty as likewise to plant Colonies in till then unhabitable Islands which had not Shipping been invented must have continued without inhabitants as at this time past doubt for want of discovery many do in the remote Seas especially under the Artick Pole whose extremity renders them unaccessible or at least unhabitable and of all Nations the Greeks were the first that brought Navigation to any Perfection by which they grew opulent and extended their Colonies to thâ— utmost Orient acquiring the Empire of the then known World their Fame growing every where great nor could the Romans bring their Warlike Expeditions to any perfection till they were Lords of the Sea and inriched themselves by Traffick bringing into that one City the Stores of all Nations so that from Cottages of Shepherds who lay'd her first Foundation she soon became Magnificent thrusting up her Lofty Spires bedecked with Gold so high that they in a manner kissed the Clouds and rendered her the awfull Mistriss of the Universe and by Trade and Industry more then by Arms kept up her Reputation for six hundred Years when ranging the World to find out Countries unconquered at last from Gallia or France under the leading of Caesar they entered Brittain a Place then wild and rude not knowing how to use the abundant plenty that Nature bestowed upon them but refusing all manner of Dainties fed upon Roots of Herbs and Barks of Trees not Tilling any Ground nor sowing Corn otherwise then scattering it on the untilled Surface of the Earth and harrowing it over with Bushes suffering their Cattle Fowl and Fish of which they had store to continue useless scarcely knowing any shoar but their own Their Traffick or Merchandise for the most part amongst themselves and that but mean their chief Riches consisting as Strabo saith in Ivory-Boxes Sheers Onches Bitts Bridles Chains of Iron Wreaths Glass coloured and the like which they usually delivered to each other as currant Coyn for what their necessity required but no sooner had the Romans Civilized them and instructed them in such Arts as were most sutable to their Capacities and might stand them in greatest stead but they began to Build Houses living before for the most in Huts and going naked and turned their Leather Boats into Tall Ships Furrowing the Seas broad back and discovering many Nations to them till then unknown So that by Traffick abroad and Improvement at home this Island grew famous and spread it's Name to the utmost Limit of the known Earth so that being rightly termed the Store-House of the Western World all the Neighbour-Nations Traded hither so that those Ports and Havens that were for a long time useless were now filled with Ships of all Nations So that Silver and Gold was had in Abundance and Coyns in imitation of those the Romans Stamped with the Effigies of their Kings and Princes which then were many each County containing two or three and they for the most part at variance amongst themselves which gave the Romans an opportunity to become Conquerors at an easier rate then otherwise they could During the four hundred Years and odd that the Romans Governed here by their Lievetenants and sometimes by their Emperors in Person Rome and after her Constantinople the new Seat of Empire abounded with our Stores so that more Tribute was pay'd by this Island then by France and Germany tho Ten times as large but the fame of Brittains Wealth proved her unhappyness for the Goth breaking in upon the Roman Empire whose spreading Top was too large to be supported by the slender Bole her Branches was torn off on every side so that to support their own the Romans were forced to recall
Barrel to weigh 120 pound Oyl is sold by the Orcio which is a Barrel and accounted 85 pound Weight Grain is sold by the Moggio which is 24 Staios each Staio accounted 5 pound Salt is sold by a Staio of 72 pound And thus much shall Suffice for Florence CHAP. LXX A View of Millain of the Trade Weights Measures Coyns Customs and Commodities thereof THe City of Millan being the Center of the whole Dukedom in all respects I shall only insist upon it Then this City is the fairest of Lomberdy being seven Miles in compass and Furnished with all Commodities of the growth of the Dukedom nay of all Italy being now in Subjection to the Spanish King the chief Commodities are Oyl Wine Rice Corn Raw Silk which is wrought by the Inhabitants into curious Fabricks Chambets Fustians Gold Thread and Iron which are dispersed over all Italy Savoy France Flanders Holland England c. Their Accounts are kept in Deniers Solds and Livers which are in effect Pence Shillings Pounds c. and their other currant Coyns are the Ducat of Gold which is worth about 100 Solds of that money the Crown of Gold of the Sun which is worth 97 Solds The Italian Gold Crown which is worth 5 Livers The Ducat of Gold of 5 Livers and 18 Solds is worth 6 Livers Imperial the Ducat Imperial is esteemed worth 4 Livers The Ducat of Millain or Imperial of 4 Livers is accounted in exchange 101 Solds the Ducat and sometimes in Merchandise 110 and in way of Trade the Coyns of Spain and France are here Currant The Weight used here is the pound 100 of which make a Quintal which is accounted 70 pound English The Measures of Length are the Braces one for Cloath and the other for Silk the 100 Braces of the last containing 43 Ells of London The Customs for the most part the same with the other Cities of Italy CHAP. LXXI A View of the Dukedoms of Mantua and Urbin and of their Trade Weights Measures c. OF the Dukedom of Mantua the City of that Name is the chief and is a fair and strong Place on 3 sides invironed with a wide Lake through which runneth a Stream or River into the famous River Poe and is surrounded with pleasant Pastures and Fruitful Gardens Orchards and Vineyards but the Trade as to Merchandise is inconsiderable for want of a Harbour or Haven for the reception of Shipping only here are found several Fabricks of Silk as Taffatas Sattins c. also Watered Chamblets the Accounts are kept as in Millain and their money much the same unless the Ducatoon which is 115 Solds of Millain The Weights of Mantua are the Peso which is 25 pound and the Quintal which is 100 pound making English 71 pound Averdupois The City of Vrbin from which the Dukedom takes its Name is Seated under the Appennine Hills and has 2 famous Sea-Ports viz. Pisauro and Fano where formerly our Merchants held considerable Commerce but of late it is decayed yet some Trade is still held there especially by such as go Trading Voyages who there find the growth of most Parts of Italy for which they exchange Cloath Tinn Spices and some Drugs Their Accounts are kept in Deniers Solds and Livers and the rest of the Coyns those for the most part currant throughout Italy The Weights are the pound and the Quintal 100 of the former making the latter and is found to be 77 pound of London Averdupois The Measures of length are the Braces one for Cloath and the other for Silk 94 of the former making 100 of Venice but the Venice Brace for Silk renders the Vrbin Brace for Silk 102 or 103 c. CHAP. LXXII A View of the Common-Wealth of Venice and of the Trade Weights Measures Customs Coyns c. THe City of Venice gives Name to the Territories and has been and yet is famous for Trade by Navigation being so Commodiously Seated for the reception of Shipping that nothing can be more as thus it is Seated at the bottom of the Adriatick Sea or Venetian Gulph upon 72 Islands 5 Miles distant from the main Land and is defended against the rage of the Sea by a Bank of 20 Leagues through which are cut several passages for Boats but no Ships are capable of passing but at Malamecco the mouth of which is guarded with strong Castles and at the Castles of Lio the Sea runs through most of the Streets so that the commerce is held by Boats and Bridges 12000 of the first and 4000 of the last and as for the Inhabitants they are naturally addicted to Merchandise and once made their City the Store-House of the Commodities of India Persia Arabia Egypt and Greece being both Politick and Powerful at Sea so that for those Commodities most European Merchants Traded thither as the Principal Mart of the World but of late the English Dutch and Portugals have found the way to purchase them at the first hand and by that means much impaired the Traffick of that Common-Wealth yet still they have Factories at Aleppo Constantinople and Alexandria and Trade in Silk Spices Drugs c. but the chief Commodities found here are Cloaths of Gold and Silver Wine Oyl Woollen Cloath Paper Anniseeds Agal Looking-Glasses Drinking-Glasses and Quick-Silver for which the English Merchants Trading thither exchange Bays Furs Perpetuanos Lead Tinn Cloves Nutmegs Pepper Ginger Serges Says Woollen Cloath Herring Pilchards Salmond and Newland Fish Indico c. and serves for a Mart to Austria and upper Germany The Weights of Venetia are 4 the first and greatest is called the pound Gross and 100 pound with which they weigh Wool Brass Iron Copper Flesh Fish and other Gross Commodities The second is the Golden Weight in use for weighing Gold Silver Precious Stones and Pearls only and is called the Mark consisting of 8 Ounces and each Ounce of 144 Cariots the third is applyed to the Weight only of Gold and Silver Thread the fourth is the pound Suttle with which are weighed Silks Drugs Spices Cottons Cotton-Yarn viz. by the 100 Weight composed of the Suttle pound 100 pound Gross being of this Suttle pound 158 pound and so on Proportionablely but in Gold and Silver Thread 100 pound Gross is Suttle but 116 pound 8 Ounces the Mark of Gold 8 Ounces and from these our English Traders have derived their Weight commonly called Venice Weight 100 pounds of Venice Suttle make of London Weight 64 pound and Gross 106 pound The Liquid Measures for Wine are the Amphora the Bigonsa the Quart the Sachio and Lyre viz. the Bigonsa 4 of them make the Amphora and each Bigonsa is 4 Quarts and 1 Quart is 4 Sachi each Sachi being 4 Lyras and each Lyra a pound Weight tho in Gross the lesser Measures hold not out as for Oyl it is sold both by Weight and Measure the Weight is called the Staliero and the Measure the Miaro and is 40 Mire which is Gross Weight 120 pound one Mire by
Royal Navy can be made which till it be is of no Effectual use but lies at charge And we see likewise upon their occasions that Merchants are put to great straights and inconveniencies and do pay excise-rates for the carrying on their Trade Now if 24,000 able Bodyed Tradesmen whereby 6000 per Annum brought up and fitted for Sea-service and for their incouragement allowed twenty Shillings per Annum for every Year they had been at Sea even when they stay at home not exceeding six pound for those who have served six years or upwards it follows that about 72000. pound at the medium of three pound per man would so satiate the whole number and so forasmuch as half the Sea-men which manage the Merchants Trade are supposed to be always in Harbour and are about 40000 together with the said half the Auxiliaries last mentioned would upon Emergencies man out the whole Royal Navy leaving to the Merchant 12000 of the able Auxiliaries to perform their business in Harbour till others come home from the Sea I say that more then this Summ 72000 pounds per Annum is Fruitlesly spent over-paid by the Merchants whensoever a great Fleet is to be fitted out Now these whom I call Auxiliary Seamen are such as have another Trade besides wherewith to maintain themselves when they are not imployed at Sea and the charge of maintaining themselves the 72000 pounds per Annum I take to be little or nothing for the Reasons above-mentioned and consequently an easie Tax to the people because levied by and paid to themselves As we propounded that Ireland should be Taxed with Flax and England by Linnen and other Manufactures of the same so I conceive that Scotland might be Taxed as much to be paid in Herrings as Ireland in Flax. Now these three Taxes of Flax Linnen and Herrings and the maintenance of the Triple Militia and of the Auxiliary Seamen above-mentioned do all five of them together amount to 1,000,000 pounds of money the raising whereof is not a Million spent but gain'd to the Common-Wealth unless it can be made appear that by Reason of all or any of them the Exportations of Wollen Manufactures Lead and Tin are lessened or of such Commodities as our own East and West India Trade do produce for as much as I conceive that the Exportation of these last mentioned Commodities is the Touch-stone whereby the Wealth of England is Tried and the Pulse whereby the Health of the Kingdom may be discerned CAP. III. That France cannot by Reason of natural and perpetual Impediments be more Powerful at Sea then England or the low Countries POwer at Sea consists chiefly in men able to fight at Sea and that in such Shipping as is most proper for the Seas Wherein they serve and those are in these Northern Sea-Ships from between 300 to 1300 Tuns and of these such as Draw much Water and have a deep latih in the Sea in order to keep a good Wind and not to fall too Leward a matter of vast advantage in Sea-Service wherefore it is to be Examined first Whether the French King has Ports in the Northern Seas where he has most occasion for his Fleets of War in any Consists above to receive the Vessels above-mentioned in all Weather both in Winter and Summer Seats for if the French King could bring to Sea an equal number of Fighting men with the English or Hollanders in small Float Leward Vessels he would certainly be of the weaker side for a Vessel of 1000 Tuns man'd with 500 Fighting men with five Vessels of 200 Tuns each man'd with 100 men apiece shall in common Reason have the better offensively and defensively for asmuch as the great Ship can carry such Ordnance as can reach the small ones at a far greater distance then these can reach or at lest hurt the other and can batrer and sink at a distance when a small one can scarce pierce Moreover it is more difficult for men out of a small vessel to enter a tall Ship then for men from an higher place to leap down into a lower nor is small Shot so effectual upon a tall Ship as vice versa And as for Vessels drawing much Water and consequently keeping a good Wind they can toke or tear Leward Vessels at pleasure and secure themselves from being boarded by them Moreover the Windward Ship has a fairer mark at a Leward Ship then vice versa and can place her shot upon such parts of the Leward Vessel as upon the next tack will be under Water Now the French King having no Ports able to receive large Windward Vessels between Dunkirk and Vshant what other Ships he can bring into those Seas will not be considerable as for the wide Ocean which his Harbours of Breas◠and Brovage do look into it affordeth him no advantage upon an Enemy there being so great a Latitude of engaging or not even when the Parties are in sight of each other◠wherefore altho the French King were immensly rich and could build what Ships he pleased both for number and quality yet if he have not Ports to receive and shelter that sort and size of Shipping which is fit for his purpose his Riches will in this case be Fruitless and a meer expence without any return or profit Some will say that other Nations can't build so good Ships as the English I do indeed hope they can't but because it seems too possible that they may sooner or later by Practice and Experience I shall not make use of that Argument having only bound my self to shew that the Impediments of France as to this purpose are natural and perpetual Ships and Guns do not fight of themselves but men who act and manage them wherefore it is more material to shew that the French King neither has nor can have men sufficient to man a Fleet of equal Strength to that of the King of England The King of England's Navy consists of about 70,000 Tuns of Shipping which requires 36,000 men to man these men being supposed to be divided into eight parts 1 ◠part must be Persons of great Experience and Reputation in Sea-Service another ⅛ part must be such as have used the Sea seven Years and upwards half of them or ¼ part must be such as have used the Sea above a twelve Month viz. 2 3 4 5 or six Years allowing but one quarter of the whole compliment to be such as never were at Sea at all or at most but one Voyage or upon one Expedition so that at a medium I reckon the whole Fleet must be men of three or four Years growth one with another Fournier a late judicious Writer making it his business to persuade the World how considerable the Kings of France was or might be at Sea in ninety two or ninety three Pages of his Hierography saith that there was one place in Britany which had Furnished the King with 1400 Seamen and that perhaps the whole Sea coast of France
might have furnished him with fifteen times as many Now supposing the whole Allegation were true yet the same number amounts but to 21,000 all which if the whole Trade of Shipping in France were quite and clean abandoned would not by above a third man in a Fleet be equivalent to that of the King of England and if the Trade were but barely kept alive there would not be one third part men enough to man the said Fleet. But if the Shipping Trade of France be not above a quarter as great as that of England and that one third part of the same namely the Fishing Trade to the Banks of new-found Land is not peculiar nor Fixed to the French then I say that if the King of England who has Power to press men cannot under two or three Months time man his Fleet then the French King with less then a quarter of the same help can never do it at all for in France as shall be elsewhere shewn there are not a 15000 Tun of Trading Vessels and consequently not above 15,000 Seamen reckoning a man to every tenth Tun and it has been shewed that the French King can't at present man such a Fleet as is above described We come next to shew that he never can bring under natural and perpetual impediments viz. First if there be but 15,000 Seaman in all France to manage it's Trade it is not to be supposed that the said trade should be distinguished nor that it should spare above five of the said 15,000 towards managing of the Fleet which requires 35,000 men now the deficient 30000 must be supplyed out of these four ways ether by taking in Land-men of which sort there must not be above 10,000 since the Seamen will never be contented without being the Major part nor do they Heartily wish well to Land-men at all or rejoyce even at those Successes of which the said Land-men can claim any share thinking it hard that themselves who are bred to Miserable and Painful and dangerous imployments and yet profitable to the Common-Wealth should at a time when Booty and purchase may be gotten be Dog'd or hindred with any Conjunction which Land-men are forced to admit these to any equal share with themselves Secondly the Seamen which are supposed 20,000 must be had that is shired from other Nations which can't be without Tempting 'em with so much wages as exceeds that given by Merchants and withal Counterpoyse the dammage of being hanged by their own Prince and allowed no quarter if taken the trouble of carrying themselves away when restraints are upon 'em and also the infamy of having been Apostates to their Country and Cause I say their wages must be more than double to what their own Prince gives them and their Aurum must be very great that they shall not at long run be abused by those who imploy them as hating the Traytor tho loving the Treason I say moreover that those who will be thus tempted away must be of the basest lewdest sort of Seamen such as have not enough of Honor and Conscience to qualifie them for any Gallant performance 3. Another way to exonerate Seamen is to put great numbers of Land-men upon Ships of War in order to bring always Seamen but this course can't be effectual not only for the abovementioned Antipathy between Land-men and Seamen but also because 't is seen that men at Sea do not apply themselves to Labour and Practice without more necessity then happens in over man'd Shipping For where there are fifty men in a Vessel that Ten can sufficiently Navigate the Supernumerary forty will improve little but where there shall be often but one or two Supernumeraries then necessity will often call upon every one to set his hand to the work which must be well done at the Peril of their lives moreover Seamen shifting Vessels every six or twelve months do sometimes Sail in small Barges sometimes in midlingships and sometimes in greater Vessels of defence sometimes in Lighters sometimes in Hoyes sometimes in Ketches sometimes in three wasted Ships sometimes they go to the northward sometimes to the Southward sometimes they Coast sometimes they Cross the Ocean by all which Varieties of Service they do in time compleat themselves is every part and Circumstance of this faculty Whereas those who go out for a Summer in a man of War have not the Variety of Practice nor a direct necessity of doing any thing at all besides it is three or four Years at a medium that a Seaman must be made neither can there be less then three Seamen to make the fourth of a Landman consequently the fifteen thousand Seamen can increase but five thousand Seamen in three or four Years and unless their Trade should increase with their Seamen in Proportion the King must be forced to be at the charge of this improvement out of the quick Stock which is intolerable so as the question which now remains is whether the Shipping Trade of France is like to increase upon which account it is to be considered that France is stored with all kind of necessaries within it self as Corn Cattle Wine Salt Linnen-Cloth Rape Silk Fruit c. As they need little Shipping to import more Commodities of Weight and Bulk neither is there any thing of Bulk exported out of France but Wines and Salt the Weight whereof is under 1000,000 Tun per Annum yielding not imployment to above twenty five thousand Tun of Shipping and these are for the most part Dutch and English who are not only already in possession of the said Trade but also are better fitted to maintain it then the French are or perhaps ever can be and that for the following Reasons viz. Because the French can't Victual so cheap as the English or Dutch nor Sayl with so few Hands Secondly the French for want of good Coasts and Harbours can't keep their Ships in Port under the charge that the English or Hollanders can Thirdly by Reason of the paucity and distance of their Harbours one from another their Seamen and Tradesmen relating to Shipping can't correspond with or Assist one another so easily cheaply advantageously as in other places wherefore if their Shipping-Trade is not like to increase within themselves and much less to increase by their beating out the English and Hollanders from being the Carriers of the World it follows then their Seamen will not be increased by their increase of their Trade wherefore and for that they are not like to be increased by any of their several ways above specifyed and for that their parts are not fit to retain Ships of Burthen and quality fit for their purpose and that by Reason of less fitness of their Ports then those of their Neighbours I conceive that which was propounded has been competently proved The aforenamed Fournier has Laboured to prove the contrary to all this in the ninety Second and ninety eight Page of his Hydrography unto which I refer the
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
price of Victuals then it plainly follows that till then three Acres improved as it may be will serve the turn and consequently that four will Suffice abundantly I could here set down the very number of Acres that would bear Bread and Drink Corn together with Flesh Butter and Cheese sufficient to Victual nine Millions of Persons as they are Victualled in Ships and regular Families but I shall only say in general that 12,000,00 will do it with supposing that Roots Fruits Fish and Fowl and the ordinary profit of Lead Tin Iron-Mines and Woods would piece up any defect that may be found As to the second I say that the Land and Housing of Ireland and Highlands of Scotland at the present Merchant-Rates are not worth ten Millions of money nor would the actual charge of making the Transplantation amount to two Millions more so then the question will be whether the benefit expected from this Transplantation will exceed two Millions To which I say that the advantage will probably be six times the last mentioned Summ or about seventy two Millions For if the rent of England and Wales and the low Land of Scotland be above nine Millions per Annum and if this fifth part of the people be Superadded unto the present inhabitants of these Countries then the rent will amount to 10,800,000 and the number of Years purchase will rise from seventeen ½ to ⅕ more which is twenty one so that the Land which is worth but nine Millions at seventeen ½ Years purchase making an hundred fifty seven Millions and a half will then be worth 10,800,000 at one and twenty Years purchase viz. 226,800,000 that is 69,300,000 more then was before and if any Prince willing to enlarge his Territories will give three Millions for the said relinquished Land and Housing which were estimated to be worth ten Millions then the whole profit will be above 72,000,000 or six times the value as the same was above computed but if any man should object that will be dangerous unto England to be put into the Lands of any other Nations I answer in short that that Nation who ever shall purchase it being divided by means of the said purchase shall not be more able to enjoy England then now in it's united condition Now if any man shall desire a more clear explanation how and by what means the Rents of Lands shall rise by this closer cohabitation of people above described I answer that the advantage will arise in Transplanting about eighteen thousand people from the Poor and Miserable Trade of Husbandry to more Beneficial Handicraft for which the Superaddition is to be made a very little addition of Husbandry to the same Lands will produce a fifth part more Food consequently the additional Hands earning but forty Shillings per Annum more as they may very well to eight pound per Annum at some other Trade the superlucration will be above 3,600,000 pound which at twenty Years purchase is seventy two Millions Moreover as the Inhabitants of Cities and Towns spend more Commodities and make greater consumption then those who live in wild thin Peopled Countries so when England shall be thicker Peopled in manner before described the very same people shall then spend more then when they lived more sordidly inurbantly and further asunder and more out of the sight observation and Emulation of each other every man desiring to put on better Apparel when he appears in company then when he has no occasion to be seen I further add to the charge of the government Civil Military and Ecclesiastical would be more cheap safe and effectual in this condition of close habitation then otherwise as not only Reason but the example of the united Provinces do demonstrate But let this whole digression pass from a meer Dream I suppose will serve to prove that in case the King of Englands Territories should be a little less then those of the French King that forasmuch as neither of them are over Peopled that the difference is not material to the question in Hand wherefore supposing the French Kings advantages to be little or nothing in point of Territory we come next to examine and compare the number of Subjects which each of those Monarchs do govern The Book called the State of France makes the Kingdom consist of twenty seven Parishes and another Book written by a Substantial Author who profoundly enquires into the State of the Church and Church-men of France sets down as an extraordinary case that a Parish in France should have six hundred Souls where I suppose the said Author who has so well examined the matter is not of opinion that every Parish one with another has above five hundred by which reckoning the whole people of France are about thirteen Millions 500,000 Now the people of England Scotland and Ireland with the Islands adjoyning by computation from the number of Parishes which commonly have more people in Protestant Churches then in Popish Countries as also from the Hearth-money Post-money and Excise do amount to above nine Millions there are in new England about fifty thousand men mustered in Arms about eighty thousand able to bear Arms and consequently about five hundred thousand in all but this last I leave to every man's conjecture and I see no Reason why in all the rest of the Plantations there should not be five hundred thousand more and consequently I suppose the King of England hath above ten Millions of Subjests ubivis terrarum orbis Altho it be very material to know the number of Subjects belonging to each Prince yet when the question is concerning their Wealth and Strength it is also material to examine how many of 'em do get more then they spend and how many less in order whereunto it is to be considered that in the King of Englands dominions there are twenty thousand Church-men but in France as the aforementioned Author of theirs does aver who sets down the particular number of each Religious order there are about 270000. viz. 250000. more then we think are necessary that is to say two hundred and fifty thousand with-drawn out of the World now the said number of adult and able-Bodyed Persons are equivalent to about double the same number of the Promiscuous Mass of Mankind and the same Author affirms that the said Religious Persons do spend one with another above eighteen pence per diem which is Triple to what a Labouring man requires Wherefore the said two hundred fifty thousand Church-men living as they do make the French King 13,500 thousand to be really no better then twelve Millions or thereabouts In the next place it is to be considered that the inhabitants of the inner parts of France remote from the Sea can't be probably Superlucrators Now if there be two Millions in the King of England's Dominions more then in the French Kings who earn more then they spend or if ten men in England earn more then twelve in France then the
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
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
Politick what Exercise is to the Body Natural viz. Prosperity to the one Health and Soundness to the other Ildleness being alike pernicious to both and causing to both alike Debauchery of Manners Distemper and Beggary There are few Nations in Europe as well a mother parts of the World wherein some particular Towns are not particularly Eminent for some or other Manufacture as in Andalusia a Province of Spain Corduba for the curious Dressing of Leather which is thence called Cordovan-Leather in Biscaia Bilboa for the making of excellent Temper'd Blades Faenza in Italy for fine Earthen Ware Venice for that rare sort of Drinking Glasses which are thence called Venice-Glasses which Art of Glass-making is by a late Discovery from thence Improv'd to a very great heigth in England though we cannot bring Glasses to that perfection for want of those Materials which are only to be had in those viz. two sorts of Plants called Gazul and Subit out of whose Liquified Ashes the right Venice-Glasses are blown The most general Manufacture of England is that which of all others is certainly the most useful and profitable and which from Ancient time hath in a measure conduc'd to the Wealth and flourishing Estate of the Nation that is to say the Woollen Manufacture or the making of Woollen Cloths or Stuffs which being encourag'd and rightly manag'd is the chief prop of our Trade and Commerce and till the Fishery be set up according to the Proposals of several Worthy Persons the chief Support and Honest Maintenance of the Poor whom could there be work enough found out universally to imploy it would be a happy means to take off that Lewd and Sordid course of Vagabond Begging which introduces all those Thievish and unlawful practices that bring so many daily to shameful and untimely ends The first Broadcloth so called because of the Broad-Looms wherein it was wrought made in England is said to have been wrought by Jack of Newbury in the Reign of King Edward the Third The first famous Clothiers were the Webscloths and Clutterbucks in Glocestershire For this Ingenious and profitable Art or Mystery of Lanifice or Woollen-work there is no place in England more fam'd than the City of Norwich which hath for a long time flourish'd by the making of Worsted-Stuffs which being wrought here more Curiously than elsewhere are thence called Nerwich-Stuffs which Work hath been brought to the greater perfection by the Industry of several Dutch and French Families who have been here planted for several years No Nation ever loseth but gets by the Transplantation of Industrious Foraigners who by Interest and Converse soon become one with the People among whom they Inhabit The Stuffs here vended the chief Trade whereof as also of Stockings is to London are esteemed at 100000 l. per annum which Stuffs are under the Government of two Companies the Worsted Company and the Russel Company The Stockings at 60000 l. per annum But there is another Town in this County which being called Worsted seems to have been the first noted place wherein these Stuffs were substantially made in regard they thence took their denomination Kidderminster in Worcestershire drives a very Trade in the making of certain Stuffs which are thence called Kidderminster-Stuffs and in the same Shire the City of Worcester it self And also Malmsbury for Woollen-Cloth In Warwick-shire Coventry In Lancashire Manchester is much Enrich'd by the Industry of the Inhabitants in making Cloth of Linnen and Woollen Taunton in Somersetshire drives so great a Trade in Mixt and White-Serges that there are said to be sent up Weekly to London and other places no less than 700 pieces a sort of them besides a sort of course Bays in the making whereof there are Weekly imployed no less than 8500 persons No less doth Wakefield in the West-riding of York-shire Leeds also in the same County is accounted a Wealthy Town by reason of its Cloathing Exeter by the quantity of Serges there made returns to London a 10000 l. a Week Stroud in Gloucestershire is a Town not only full of Rich Clothiers but is also particularly Eminent for the Dying of Cloths by reason of the peculiar quality of the Water for that purpose Teuxbury also in the same County is very Rich in Clothing Likewise Sudbury or Southbourg in Suffolk Hadly in the same County Reading in Bark-shire which through the greatness of its Trade is a very Wealthy Town and Newbury in the same County So likewise Shirburn in Dorcetshire upon the same account And also in Essex Colchester Dedham Coxal and other places abound in Bays Says and other new Drapery Appleby in Cumberland is no less Eminent for its strong Castle and for being the place where the Assizes for the County are held than for its great Cloth Manufacture the like is Kendal in the same County Among the woollen Manufacture of England may be reckon'd the weaving and knitting of Stockings the use of which woven and knit Stockings hath not been in this Nation longer than about the beginning of K. James's Reign It being very memorable what Dr Fuller relates of one William Rider an Apprentice at the foot of London-Bridge over against St Magnes-Church who seeing in the House of an Italian Merchant a pair of knit worsted Stockings which he brought from Mantua and taking special observation of them made a pair exactly like them which he presented to William Earl of Pembroke and they are said to be the first of that sort worn in England and thence-forward they became more and more in use so that for many years they have been very much and are now altogether worn and are a great part of the Trade in most Places where there is any thing of woollen Manufacture especially at Norwich yet Jersie Stockings have for a long time had a particular name The Next Place may properly be allow'd to our making of Bone-lace which is the chief of the Ornamentals worn in this Nation though not so totally as before the Needle-works came in fashion which though brought to great perfection yet have obtain'd so much the less esteem by how much those of Flanders and the Points de Venice in Italy and Larron in France came more in fashion as all foreign Artifices usually especially the French have ever the chiefest vogue among our Gallants So general is this Manufacture in many Parts of England that the Poor of whole Towns are almost totally imploy'd and in a great measure maintain'd thereby Particularly Honiton in Devonshire is a noted Town for his sort of Workmanship as likewise Salisbury and Marlborough in Wiltshire Ouldny in Buckinghamshire Amersham and Chesham in the same Shire Blandford in Dorcetshire which last Place hath been famous also for making of Band-strings and now Point-â—aces it is said are much made there It is observ'd that the only Thread made in England till within a few years was at Maidstone in Kent Besides the Cottons of Manchester the Tickin Pins Points and
Laces of that Place have been thought not unworthy to be mention'd by several of England's Topographers so likewise the Gloves Purses and leathern Points of Congleton a Market Town of Cheshire the Pins of Aberford in York-shire The making of Ropes and Cables for Ships was heretofore not onely especially eminent at Birtport in Dorsetshire above all other places but also so highly approv'd for the goodness and curiosity of the Workmanship that a Statute is said to have been made for a time ordaining that no Ropes or Cables for the King's Ships should be made any where else but that Act appears to have been long since out of date for there are great Rope-yards belonging to all the Ship-docks of England particularly at Deptford there are very famous and large ones Smiths-work whatever it is at present hath been heretofore peculiarly attributed to the Artists of Salisbury in Wiltshire Bremicham in Warwickshire Chedder in Somersetshire Sheffield in Yorkshire Malton in the same Shire and Walsal in Staffordshire particularly Salisbury is commended for Razors Bremicham and Sheffield for Blades of Knives Chedder for Teasels or Instruments used in the dressing of Cloth Malton for Instruments used in Husbandry and Walsal for Bits and Snaffles for Horses moreover this last Town is noted as well for Pewterers as Smiths But by the way the mention of Knives hath brought to mind a just occasion of admiration that is since the English have been observ'd and not without just cause to be a good stout eating People there being more substantial Joynts of Beef and Mutton c. consum'd among us than perhaps in any part of the World besides how it should come to pass that we should be so tardy in the Art of Knife-making or what Invention we had in former days to avoid those Indecencies at the Table which the want of Knives must in all likelihood be the cause of For it is credibly reported that one Thomas Matthews living on Fleet-bridge was the first that made Knives in England which was in the 5th year of the Reign of Q. Elizabeth The best Tobacco-pipes for neatness of shape and form and for a curious shining gloss are made at Ambresbury vulgarly call'd Emsbury in Wiltshire about a mile or two from Stonehenge they are commonly call'd Gantlet-Pipes having the mark of a Gantlet impress'd on the flat bottom of the Bowl from Mr. Hugh Gantlet who was the first that brought them to this perfection There are also several edible and potable Works of Art which may in my opinion properly enough come under the Head of English Manufactures The Coagulation of Milk into the Consistence of Cheese is said to have been the first Invention of the Osci an ancient People of Italy but whence or from whomsoever proceeding this sort of artificial Food is the most common and universal in all Parts of the World where the most rational and civil way of Eating is in use Of all the Shires of England Cheshire for this kind of Edible may I judge be allow'd the Bays above all other Parts at least of this Kingdom and for ought I know a true Cheshire Cheese if rightly valu'd may stand in competition with the Parmesan of Italy the Angelot of France and the Full-moon of Holland only with this pre-eminence reserved to the last that but for the bigness it might serve as well for the Bowling-green as the Table Suffolk in this particular challenges the next place but doubtless in respect rather of quantity than quality for this County furnishes with Cheeses not only several other Parts of England but also Spain France and Italy a lean Traveller may possibly be thought able to endure a long Journey better than one that 's plump and fat These are the two principal Cheese-Counties of England but in other Counties this Pretension is fixt to particular Places as in Somersetshire to Chedder before-mention'd the Cheeses whereof are of that repute as to be frequently preferr'd even before those of Cheshire Opinion and Imagination are two great things In Warwickshire Banbury hath a Name both for Cheeses and Cakes the justification of which Name is best left to the experienc'd taster of both For Sugar'd-Cakes Shrewsbury is without controversie allow'd to bear away the Bell from all other Places But to save the Reputation of the Cake-makers of other Parts this Super-excellence is attributed to the nature of the Severn-water in that Place Other Places there are that challenge their Peculiars of this nature but the most proverbially eminent are the Whitepot of Devonshire and Dumpling of Norfolk Nor must the Potables of England be altogether forgotten For Ale Derbyshire and particularly Derby-Town also Hull Northdown and Sandbitch and Weably afore-mention'd are most especially fam'd for Sider all Gloucestershire Worcestershire and Herefordshire for Metheglin Shropshire Herefordshire and some Parts of Wales To the Manufactury of England may not unfitly be added an account of those curious Arts and Inventions which are now flourishing in this Nation whether newly or for some Ages last past And among these the first and principal is the excellent and by some highly applauded and by others most condemned Art of Printting This noble Invention in many respects useful and no way so pernicious as some would have it thought was first exercis'd by William Caxton Mercer who in the Reign of K. Edw. the IV. kept his Printing-house in Westminster-Abbey by the permission of Simon Islip Abbot of Westminster and the first Book set forth some say was Tully's Offices others say a Book treating of the way of playing the Game at Chess The next Invention appearing here among us must be allow'd little less ingenious than the former but wonderfully more capable of doing mischief I mean the truly black Art of Gunpowder the swarthy Invention of a swarthy Monk and possibly by the Inspiration of the Prince of Darkness Yet one thing is worthy to be observ'd viz. that since the discovery of this gloomy Drug whatever destruction hath been committed by whole-sale something of amends hath been made by retail For whereas in former Times when the Bow Lance and Javelin were in use History makes nothing of 40 or 50000 slain in the Field now that the Musket Dragoon and Pistol came in fashion even with the Cannon to boot it is a great matter to hear of the fall of 10 or 20000. besides as a Member sometimes is not ill lost to save a Man so in greater Bodies a House may be better spar'd than a whole Street or Town which deliverance nothing but Gunpowder can effect But then against this benefit may be oppos'd the springing of Mines to blow up Castles Forts and Cittadels meerly for destructions sake It is not to be doubted and it appears from Histories that the Chariot hath been known in England as well as in other Parts of the World time out of mind but the use of those portable Houses call'd Coaches which at this day being increas'd to a vast multitude
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
is an Inch allowance to every Yard and by these they Measure Silks Woollen Cloath and Stuffs The dry Measure is a Tarry which being well heaped makes 5 Gallons English and by this they Measure Salt Corn and other Commodities They make their Accounts in Doubles Aspers Osians and Sultanies Their Customs are 10 per cent and so in all other cases as at Tunis when any Ship enters and cast Anchors her Sails or Rudder is demanded to prevent the passing off without paying such Customs and then not to Sail without leave from the Duan which is the Bashaw and his Assembly who Regulate all affairs which were usually these To the Kiffa 28 Doubles to his Chiouse 4 Doubles to his Almia 8 Doubles to the Bashaw Sorman 2 Doubles to the Draggerman 8 Doubles to the Sackagy 8 Doubles and for the Consuls Duty 24 Doubles The Piratical Trade is thus 2 or more set out a Vessel of Prizage or Free booty to Prey upon Merchants Ships the which when they have taken and brought into the Port the Owners divide the Spoil by Lot making the Partitions or Dividends as even as possible as for the Captives they do the like and if there happen to be an odd man they either cast Lots for him or sell him in the Market and divide the Money the manner of selling of them is to carry them into the Market and place them in Stalls like Beasts where the buyer Views and handles them but especially their Hands by which he is satisfyed whether they have been Inured to Labour or not as likewise in their Mouths to see if they have good Teeth to bite Biskets as hard as deal Boards and according to their Youth Healthy Complexion and Ability of Body they go off to the Buyer he being ever after acknowledged for their Patron And thus much for this Piratical Government too well known to Merchants and Saylors who Trade in the Mediterranean CHAP. XX. A view of the Kingdom of Fess and of the Trade Customs Weights Measures and currant Coyns thereof THis Kingdom takes it's name from the Metropolitan City viz. the City Fess being the Goodliest City in Barbary adorned with 700. Moschs or Temples of which 50 are Beautifyed with Pillars Jasper and Alabaster the chief of which called Carucen and Seated in the Heart of the City contains a Mile in compass consisting of 190 Arches and is born up by 2500 Marble Pillars hung all about with Silver Lamps and hath 31 Gates and all things else porportionable and the City computed to contain 8600 Families The Commodities in General are Dates Almonds Figs Rasins Hony Olives Wax Gold Hides Furs and a sort of Cordivant Skins Cotton and Wool very fine which is dispersed into Spain Italy France and England and of late the Inhabitants have found out the Art of making Cloath The Principal Money of this Kingdom is the Xerif or Gold Ducate and accounted worth 10 Shillings Sterling and is divided into 8 equal parts The Weights are two one used for weighing Gross Commodities called the Rotolos 64 of which are computed to Ballance our 100 Averdupois and 100 Rottolos go to the Cantar The other is the Mittigal used in weighing Gold Pearl Silver Musk and the like and agrees with those of Tunis and Argier The long Measure is the Cavado of which 12 are Accounted to a Cane and 181 or 182 Cavados to make 100 Yards English The Customs are 10 per cent to all Strangers but to the Natives 2 per cent and for what soever they hand they must pay whether sold or not which makes Merchants sell their Wares on Shipboard for the most part where Customs are Payed only for what is sold And thus much for Fess and the Trade thereof CHAP. XXI A view of the Kingdom of Morocco the Trade Currant Coyns Weights Measures and Customs thereof THis Kingdom as the former takes it's Name from the chief City and Center of it's Trade and is very Beautiful tho Inferious to Fess in it is found a Burse and Exchange formerly much frequented by Merchants but now for the most part taken up by Artizans The Commodities vended there are the same with those of Fess except Sugar in which it more abounds The Coyns are the Xerif and Ducate of Gold valued as those of Fess The Weights are 2 several Quintals the one agreeing with the Canter of Fese and the other with the Quintal of Sevil and indeed in all things according with Fess as being now reduced under one Government Their Religion if so it may be Termed is Mahumetisme and of late they have not any considerable Trade with the English Merchants tho 't is not doubted but the effects of the League between his Majesty of great Britain and that Emperour may be a means to revive it as likewise to inrich our Garrison of Tangier by rendering it a Publick Mart it being the Key of Barbary CHAP. XXII A view of Numidia and Lybia and their Provinces with the Trade Currant Coyns Manners and Customs NVmidia is bounded on the West with the Atlantick Ocean on the East with Egypt on the North with the Mountain Atlas and on the South with Lybia The Country on the North part abounds with plenty but the South by Reason of the Excessive heat is most desert the Inhabitants build but few Houses but in great Companies pass from one place to another living sometimes in Woods sometimes in Caves according as Heat and Cold affects them The chief Trade is among themselves for Dates Hides Furs and Fruits of all sorts Cattle they have but have not the Art of improving them their Coyns are few but those they have are of Brass and Silver their Weights and Measures for the most part Equallizing those of Fess and Morocco tho they are little in use few Merchants Trading with them Lybia is bounded on the East with Nilus on the West with the Atlantick Ocean on the South with Negrita and on the North with Numidia and is Barren for the most part by Reason the heat is Excessive their Trade Coyn Weights and Measures are not worth mentioning by Reason their Commerce is little no Merchants caring to deal with the Natives they being in a manner Savages CHAP. IX A View of Negrita or the Land of Negroes with the Trade Currant Coyn Weights Measures and Customs THis Province is Inhabited with Negroes or Blackamoors Bounded on the West with the Atlantick Ocean on the East with Ethiopia Superior on the South with Manicongo and on the North with Lybia containing a large Tract of Land and is fertilized by the overflowing of the River Niger or Sanaga and is under the Regency of 3 Kings who have of late made 3 Kingdoms of 5 as Tombutue Berneo and Gouga Each having many famous Havens Commodious for Shipping The City Tombutue from whence that Kingdom has it's Name is Situate beyond the River Niger and is Traded to by the English French and Dutch and within four Miles of it is
3 chief Scales of Europe CHAP. LXI A View of Lisbon the Metropolis of Portugal of the Trade Growth Weights Measues Coyns and Customs thereof LIsbon is the Metropolis of the Kingdom of Portugal commodiously Seated upon the Banks of the River Tagus the City and Suburbs being 10 Miles in compass and not imagined to contain less then 38000. Families Beautifyed with 67 Towers placed upon the Walls and 22 Gates all the Houses being Built Magnificent and indeed the People given to great Industry but especially to Navigation as appears by the many Discoveries they have made they being the first that Discovered the Eastern Tract even to the Indias and there by Trade and force got Footing and shewed the way to England and Holland who have now brought it to perfection even to the great Inriching either Nation and of all the Commodities brought from India and other parts of the World by the Portugals this City is the Scale for hither come yearly the Spices of Arabia the Silks of Persia the rich Commodities of China and the Gold Silver precious Stones and Spices of India and especially Pearls the Fishery thereof remaining for the most part in the right of the King of Portugal which being brought to Lisbon and afterwards dispersed throughout Europe To this City Flows the Trade of the whole Kingdom and also that of Spain from which Kingdom it is now separated as formerly The Weights of this City and consequently of the whole Kingdom are Principally the small and the great Cantars the Latter of which is divided into 4 Roves and each Rove contains 32 Reals which is 128 pounds at 14 Ounces per pound and of Florence Weight is computed 149 pound their small Quintar for Pepper and Ginger is between 110 and 112 pound English the Rove or Quartern being 27 ½ and sometimes 27 ◠4 pound but the great Quintal is 15 or 16 per cent more than our 112 pound The Quintar commonly called the King 's Quintar used in his Contractation House for weighing the Spices and Drugs of India is 114 pound English and the great Cantar of Lisbon is mostly computed 130 pound English c. The Measures of length used in this City are the Coueda which is the third part of an English Yard and the Ware which wants but a Nale of an English Ell by the former they Measure Woollen Cloaths c. and by the latter Linnen c. The Concave Measures of Lisbon is the Alquire 3 of which are found to make an English Bushel and 5 a Spanish Hannep They have an other Measure by which they meet their Salt called Muy which is 60 Alquires and 2 Muys and 15 Alquires are a Tunn Bristol Water Measure The Custom inward is 23 per cent that is to the Dechima 10 to the Sisa 10 and to the Consolado 3 and outward Merchants pay only 3. The Coyns are the Croisado of Gold computed to be worth 400 Reas. The Ducat of Portugal which is ten Reals and accounted 5 Shillings Sterling or the Croisado The Ryal which is 40 Reas and accounted 6 pence Sterling The Golden Mirle which is worth 1000. Reas and accounted 2 5 2 Ducats the Ducat is 2 ½ Ryals or 15 pence Sterling The Vintin which is 20 Reas or 3 pence Sterling the single Ryal of Spain which is 2 Vintines there are likewise the Coyns of Spain passable in this City but seeing they are not the proper Coyns of Portugal I shall pass them over as having already mentioned them in the Description of the Trade of that Kingdom And now leaving Portugal I shall pass into the Kingdom of France and in viewing the Trade of some Cities thereof give a Summary account of the whole Kingdoms Commerce both Inland and by Navigation CHAP. LXII A View of France the Provinces Trade Customs Weights Measures and Currant Coyns reduced into the view of the Principal Trading Cities of that Kingdom FRance is a large and Fertile part of Europe bounded on the North with the Brittish Ocean on the West with the Aquitanian Sea on the South with the Mediterranian and on the East with the Pirenaean Hills and River Rhine and is divided into several Provinces the Trade of which I shall instance in these following Cities viz. Burdeaux Rouen Paris Lyons and Marselia of these in order Burdeaux is Situate on the Banks of Geronde being the Principal City of the Province of Aquitain and is placed in a very Fruitful Soil especially for Wines The Principal Vineyards of France being accounted in its Neighbourhood of the Grapes therein growing are made Whitewines and Claret in abundance and of late all Palled Wines and such as otherwise are foul not Merchantable they Lmibeck off into Brandies which for the most part is vended in England and Holland They have likewise several Vineyards yielding Grapes that make Sweet-Wines commonly called high Country Wines the which lest it should hinder the Sail of the other they prohibit to be sold in their City till Christmass day when the high Country Merchants bring it in and sell it to Strangers there resident and such is the Custom of the place that that Vessel or Lighter that first sets her Head on Shoar is accounted free from Impost or Custom yet must in lieu thereof for that day give Wine on Free-cost to such as come on Board to Drink it To this City it is that our English Merchants Trade and from whence they yearly bring 20000 Tuns of Whitewine Claret Sweet and Brandy Wines in times when no prohibition is layed this City formerly for many Years having been English there are found great quantities of Prunes of the Neighbouring growth and some other Commodities tho these are the chief and to this place monies are remitted for which mostly the Inhabitants Trade not as in other places ef Traffick freely bartering Goods for Goods Their Accounts are kept for the most part in Livers Sold's and Denies as indeed throughout the Kingdom Their Weight is the pound 100 of which are reckoned a Quintar or 110 English 90 ¾ pound being 100 pound English Their Measure of length is an Auln accounted 42 English Inches their Wines are computed by Hogs-Heads and Tearces viz. Claret and White-wines and their Brandy by Punchings of no certain Gauge CHAP. LXIII A View of Rouen and the Trade thereof ROuen is the Principal City of Normandy being the Parliamentary Seat of that Province and is Seated on the Banks of the River Sein all its Territories being Fertile and it abounding with rich Merchandise as well of other Nations as the Growth of the Kingdom of France and is visited by most of the Merchants of all the Northern Kingdoms Trading in the Growth of France the place affording of natural Growth and Native Manufactury fine and coarse Linnens Buckrams Paper Cards Wine Stuffs Combs c. for which the Inhabitants or such French Merchants as send their Commodities thither to be vended receive of the English Kersies of Devonshire and
as one Acre of Land may bear as much Corn and feed as many Cattle as twenty by the difference of the Soyl some Parcels of Ground are naturally so defensible as that 100 men being possest thereof can resist the Invasion of 500. Bad Land may be improved and made good Bog may by dreining be made Meadow Heath Land may as in Flanders be made to bear Flax and Clover-grass so as to advance in value from 1. to 100. the same Land being built upon may centriple the Rent which it yieldeth as pasture one man is nimbler and stronger and more patient of Labour than another one man by Art may do as much work as many viz. one man with a Mill can grind as much Corn as 20. can pound in a Mortar one Printer can make as many Copies as an hundred can write by hand one horse can carry as much upon Wheels as five men upon their backs and in a Boat or upon Ice as 20 so that I say again the first point of this general position needs little or no proof But the second and more material part of this Conclusion is that this difference in Land and People arises principally from their Situation Trade and Policy To clear this I shall compare Holland and Zealand with the Kingdom of France Holland and Zealand do not contain above 1. Million of English Acres whereas the Kingdom of France contains above 80. Now the original and primitive difference holds proportion as Lands to Land for it is hard to say that when these places were 1st planted whether an Acre of Land in Holland was better then the like quantity in France and Zealand Now is there any reason to suppose but that therefore upon the first Plantation the number of Planters was in proportion to the quantity of Land wherefore if the People are not in proportion as the Land the same must be attributed to the Situation of the Land and to the Trade and Policy of the People The next thing to be shewn is that Holland and Zealand at this day is not only 80th as rich and strong as France but that it hath advanced to the 3d. or thereabouts which I think will appear upon the ballance of the following Particulars viz. As for the Wealth of France a certain Map of that Kingdom set forth An. 1647. represents it to be 15 Millions whereof six did belong to the Church the Author thereof as I suppose meaning the Rents of the Land only And the Author of a most judicious Discourse of Husbandry supposed to be Sir Richard Weston doth from reason and experience shew that Lands in the Netherlands by bearing Flax Turnips Clover-grass Madder c. will easily yield 10 pound per Acre so as the Territories of Holland and Zealand should by this account yield at least 10 Millions per Annum yet I do not believe the same to be so much nor France so little as aforesaid but rather that one bears to the other as about 7 or 8 to one The People of Amsterdam are one 3d part of those in Paris or London which two Cities differ not in People a 20th part from each other as hath appeared by the Bills of Burials and Christenings from each but the value of the Buildings in Amsterdam may well be half that of Paris by reason of the Foundations Grafts and Bridges which in Amsterdam are more numerous and chargeable than Paris Moreover the Habitations of the poorest People in Holland and Zealand are twice or thrice as good as those of France but the People of the one to the People of the other being but as 13 to 1. the value of the Housing must be as about 5 to 1. The Shipping of Europe being about 2 Millions of tuns I suppose the English have about 5000000 the Dutch 900 thousand the French 100 thousand the Hamburgers and the Subjects of Denmark Sweden and the Town of Dantzick 250 thousand and Spain Portugal Italy c. 250 thousand so as the Shipping in our case of France to that of Holland and Zealand is about 1 to 9 which reckoned great and small one with another at 8 pound per Tun makes the worth to be 800 thousand pounds to 7 Millions 2000000 pounds the Hollanders Capital in the East-India Company is worth about 3 Millions where the French has little or nothing The value of the Goods exported out of France into all parts are supposed quadruple to what is sent to England alone consequently in all about 5 Millions but what is exported out of Holland into England is worth 3 Millions and what is exported thence into all the World besides is sextuple to that Summ. The Moneys yearly raised by the French King as the same appears by the Book intituled the State of France dedicated to the King printed An. Dom. 1669. and set forth several times by Authority is 82 Millions of French Livers which is about ½ Millions of pounds Sterling of which Summ the Author sayes that one 5th part was abated for Nonvaluers or Insolvencies So as I suppose not above 5 Millions were effectually raised but whereas some say the King of France raised 11 Millions as the ⅕ of the Effects of France I humbly affirm that the Land and Sea forces all the Buildings and Interleguments which we have heard by common Fame to have been set forth and made in any of these last 7 years needed not to have cost 6 Millions Sterling wherefore I suppose he hath not raised more especially since there were ⅕ insolvencies when the Tax was at that pitch But Holland and Zealand paying 67 of 100 pay'd by all the United Provinces and the City of Amsterdam paying 27 of the said 67 it follows that if Amsterdam hath pay'd 4000 pound Flemmish per diem or about 146000 per Annum or about 80 thousand pound Sterling that all Holland and Zealand have paid above 2 Millions per Annum now the Reasons why they pay so much I think are these viz 1. the Author of the State of the Netherlands saith so 2dly Excise of Victuals at Amsterdam seems above half the Original value of the same viz ground Corn pays 20 Stivers the Bushel or 63 Gilders the Last Beer 113 Stivers the Barrel housing ⅙ of Rent fruit ⅛ of what it cost other Commodities 1 7 ⅛ 1 9 1 12 Salt ad libitum all weighed Goods pay besides the premises a vast sum now if the expence of the People of Amsterdam at a Medium and without Excise were 8 pound per Annum whereas in England 't is 7 pound then if all the several Imposts above named raise it 5 pound more there being 160 thousand Souls in Amsterdam the Sum of 800 thousand pound Sterling per Annum will thereby be raised 3dly Though the Expence of each Head should be 13 pound per Annum 't is well known that there be few in Amsterdam who do not earn much more than the said Expence 4thly If Holland and Zealand pay
per Annum 2,000,000 pounds then all the Provinces together must pay about 3 Millions less then which Sum per Annum perhaps is not sufficient to have maintained the Naval War with England 72 thousand land Forces besides all other the ordinary charges of their Government whereof the Church is there a part To conclude it seems from the Premises that all France doth not raise above thrice as much from the publick Charge as Holland and Zealand alone do 5thly Interest of Money in France 7 pounds per Centum but in Holland scarce half so much 6thly The Country of Holland and Zealand consisting as it were of Islands guarded with the Sea Shipping and Marshes is defensible at ¼ the charge of a plain open Country is and where the Seat of War may be both Winter and Summer whereas in others nothing can be done but in the Summer only 7thly But above all the particulars hitherto considered that of Superlucration ought chiefly to be taken in for if a Prince have never so many Subjects and his Country never so good yet if either through sloath or extravagant Expences or oppression and injustice what ever is gained shall be spent as fast as gotten the State must be accounted poor Wherefore let it be considered how much or how many times rather Holland and Zealand are now above what they were 100 years ago which we must also do of France now if France hath scarce doubled it's Wealth and Power and that the other have decupled theirs I shall give the preference to the latter even altho the 9 increased by the one should not exceed the one half gained by the other because one hath a Store for 9 years and the other but for 1. To conclude upon the whole that though France being Peopled to Holland and Zealand as 13 to 1 and in quantity of good Land as 80 to 1 yet is not 13 times Richer and Stronger much less 80 times nor much above thrice which was to be proved Having thus dispatched the two first Branches of the first principal Conclusion it follows to shew that this difference of improvement in Wealth and Strength arises in particular from conveniencies for Shipping and Water-carriage Many writing on this Subject do so magnifie the Hollanders as if they were more and all other Nations less then men as to the matter of Trade and Policy making them Angels and others Fools Brutes and Sots as to those particulars whereas I take the foundation of their Atchievements to lie originally in the Situation of the Country whereby they do things inimitable to others and have advantages whereof others are incapable First The Soyl of Holland and Zealand is low Land rich and fertile whereby it is able to feed many men and so as that men may live near each other for their mutual Assistance in Trade I say that 1000 Acres that can feed 1000 Souls is better than 10000 of no more effect for the following reasons to it viz. first suppose some great Fabrick were in building by 1000 men shall not much more time be spared if that they lived all upon 1000 Acres then if they were forced to live upon 10 times as large a Scope of Land 2dly The charge of their care of their Souls and the Ministry would be far greater in the one case then the other as also of Mutual defence in case of invasion and even of Thieves and Robbers moreover the charge of the Administration of Justice would be much easier where Witnesses and Parties may be easily Summoned Attendance less expensive when mens Actions would be better known when wrong and Justice would not be covered as in thin-peopled places they are Lastly those who live in solitary places must be their own Soldiers Divines Physicians and Lawyers and must have their Houses stored with necessary provisions like a Ship going upon a long Voyage to the great wast and needless expence of such provisions the value of this first conveniency to the Dutch I reckon to be about 100 thousand pounds per Annum 2dly Holland is a level Country so as if in any part thereof a Wind-Mill may be set up and by it's being moist and vaporous there is always Wind stirring over it by which advantage the labour of many thousand hands is saved forasmuch as a Mill made by one man in half a year will do as much labour as 4 men for 5 years together this advantage is greater or less where imployment and ease of Labour is so but in Holland it is eminently great and the worth of this Conveniency between near 100 and 150 thousand pound 3dly there is much more to be gained by Manufacture than Husbandry and by Merchandise than Manufacture but Holland and Zealand being seated at the Mouths of 3 long great Rivers and passing through rich Countries do keep all the Inhabitants upon the sides of those Rivers but as Husbandmen whilst themselves are the Manufactors of their Commodities and do dispence them into all Parts of the World making returns for the same at what price almost they please themselves and in short they keep the Trade of those Countries through which the same Rivers pass the value of this 3d convenience is 200 thousand pound 4thly In Holland and Zealand there is scarce any place of work or business one Mile distance from a Navigable Water and the charge of Water-carriage is generally but the 15th or 20th part of Land-carriages wherefore if there be as much Trade there as in France then the Hollanders can out-sell the French 14 15 of all the Expence of all travelling postage and carriage whatsoever which even in England I take to be 300 thousand pound per Annum where the very postage of Letters costs the People perhaps 50 thousand pound per Annum though farmed at much less and all other Labours of Horses and Porters at least six times as much the value of this conveniency I estimate to be above 300 thousand pounds per Annum 5thly The defensibleness of the Country by reason of it's Situation in the Sea upon Islands and in the Marshes impassible ground dicked and trenched especially considering how the place is aimed at for it's Wealth I say the charge for defending this Country is easier than if it were a plain Champion at least 200 thousand pound per Annum 6thly Holland is so considerable for keeping Ships in Harbour with small Expence of men and ground-tackle that it saves them per Annum 200 thousand pounds of what must be spent in France Now if all these natural Advantages do amount to above one Million per Annum of profit and that the Trade of all Europe nay of the whole World with which our Europeans do trade is not above 45 Millions per Annum and if 1 50 of the value be 1 7 of the profit it is plain that the Hollanders may command and govern the whole Trade 7thly Those who have their Situation thus towards the Sea abound with Fish at
sixteen and that of each men can earn double to each of the Children it is plain that if the men and Children every where did do as they do in Norwich they might earn twenty five thousand pound per Annum more then they spend which estimate grounded upon matter of Fact and Experience agrees with the former Altho as has been proved the people of England do thrive and that 't is possible they might Superlucrate twenty five thousand pound per Annum yet 't is manifest they do not nor twenty three which is less by two thousand herein meant for if they did Superlucrate twenty five thousand then in about five or six Years time the whole Stock and Personal Estate of the Nation would be double which I wish were true but find no manner of Reason to believe wherefore if they can Superlucrate twenty five but not actually Superlucrate twenty three nor twenty nor ten nor perhaps five I have then proved what was propounded viz. that there are spare hands among the Kings Subjects to earn two Millions more then they now do But to speak a little more particularly concerning this matter it is to be noted that since the fire of London there was earned in four Years by Tradesmen relating to building only the Summ of four Millions or one Million per Annum without lessening any other sort of Work Labour or Manufacture which was usually done in other four Years before the said occasion but if the Tradesmen relating to Building only and such of them as wrought in and about London could do one Million-worth of Work extraordinary I think that from thence and from what has been said before that all the rest of the spare Hands might very well double the same which is as much as was propounded Now if there were spare Hands to Superlucrate Millions of Millions they signifie nothing unless there were Imployment for them may as well follow their Pleasures and Speculation as Labour to no purpose therefore the more material point is to prove that there is two Millionsw-orth of Work to be done which at the present the Kings Subjects do neglect For the proof of this there needs little more to be done than to compute how much money is paid by the King of Englands Subjects to Forreingers for freight of Shipping 2. The Hollanders gain by their Fishing-Trade Practised upon our Seas 3. What the value of all the commodities imported into and sent into England which might by diligence be produed and Manufactured here to make short of this matter upon perusal of the most authentick accompts relating to these several particulars I affirm that the same amounteth to above five Millions whereof I propounded but two Millions For a further proof whereof Mr. Samuel Fortry in his ingenious discourse of Trade exhibited the particulars wherein it appears that the Goods imported out of France only amount yearly to 2600,000 pounds and I affirm that the Wines Paper Cork Rosin and Capers and a few other Commodities which England can't produce do not amount to one fifth part of the said Summ from whence it follows that if Mr. Fortry has not erred the two Millions here mentioned may arise from France alone and consequently five or six Millions from all the three Heads last above specifyed CHAP. IX That there is money sufficient to drive the Trade of the Nation SInce his Majesties happy Restauration it was thought fit to call iâ— and now Coyn the money which was made it the times of Usurpation Now it was observed by the general consent of Casheers that the said money being by frequent revolutions well mixed with the Gold was about a seventh part thereof and that the said money being called in was about 800,000 pound and consequently the whole 5600,000 pound or five Millions and a half whereby 't is probable that some allowance being given for hoarded money the whole Cash of England was then about six Millions which I conceive is sufficient to drive the Trade of England not but that the rest of his Majesties Dominions have the like means to do the same respective fully If there be six Millions of Souls in England and that each spendeth seven pound per Annum then the whole expence is forty two Millions or about 800,000 pounds per Week and consequently if every man did pay his expence Weekly and that the money could circulate within the compass of a Week then less then one Million could answer the ends proposed But forasmuch as the Rents of the Lands in England which are paid half yearly are eight Millions per Annum there must be four Millions to pay them and forasmuch as the Rent of Housing of England paid quarterly are worth about four Millions per Annum there needs but one Million to pay the said Rent wherefore six Millions being enough to make good the three sorts of Circulation above mentioned I conceive what was proposed is proved at least till something better be held forth to the contrary CHAP. X. That the King of England's Subjects have Stock competent and convenient to drive the Trade of the whole commercial World NOw for the further Incouragement of Trade as we have shewn that there is Money enough in England to manage the affairs thereof so we shall now offer to consideration whether there be not competent and convenient Stock to drive the Trade of the whole commercial World To which purpose it is to be remembred that all the Commodities yearly exported out of every part of the last mentioned World may be bought for forty five Millions and that the Shipping imployed in the same World are not worth above fifteen Millions and consequently that sixty Millions at most will drive the whole Trade abovementioned without any trust at all but forasmuch as the Grovers of Commodities do commonly trust them to such Merchants or Factors as are worth but such a part of the full value of their Commodities as may possibly be lost upon the sail of them which is rather to be expected it follows then less then a Stock of sixty Millions nay then half of the said Summ is sufficient to drive the Trade above mentioned it being well known that any Tradesemen of good Reputation worth five hundred pound will be trusted with above one thousand pounds-worth of Commodities where less then thirty Millions will suffice for the said purpose of which Summ the Coyn Shipping and Stock already in Trade do at least make one half And it has been shewn how by the Policy of a Bank any Summ of money may be made equivalent in Trade unto near the double of the same By all which it seems that even at present much is not wanting to perform what is propounded but suppose twenty thousand or more were wanting it is not improbable that since the generality of Gentlemen and some Noble-men do put their Younger Sons to Merchandise that they will see it reasonable as they increase in the number of Merchants