Crown of Spain in the West-Indies acquires new Subjects whereas we in our Plantations wholly people them from our selves And the King of Spain being head of the House of Austria besides the supplies which he draws out of Milan Naples Sicily and Switzerland hath upon all occasions large supplies of men out of Germany Before we had our Plantations England when it was not troubled with Civil Wars did usually in their offensive Wars prevail against France and Scotland I cannot tell whether the Coasts of England be better planted than the Coasts of the King of Spain's West-Indies I am sure the French King and Dutch are more able to attempt the invading of them than the Jamaicans those of the West-Indies By this Law against Naturalization we bid defiance to all the World to continue our Adversaries and deny the Assistance of all Proselytes who otherwise might be of us and assist us Whereas the Prudence and Practice of the Romans and greatest and wisest Princes and Potentates of the World for which they have been and now are celebrated famous have proceeded otherwise and this may be more fully understood in Sir Walter Rawleigh's Safety and Defence of People c. And God himself would not permit the Jews to continue in the Land he had given them unless they did not oppress the Stranger Jer. 7. 6 7. 1. As the Law of Naturalization debarrs us of any future Supply for all the Strength and Trade which this Nation loses in peopling our Plantations and repeopling Ireland so it was the Reason that before we had our Plantations this Nation lost to the Dutch above 48000 pounds per An. in dyng and dressing our Manufactures and above 1646000 pounds per An. in the Fishing Trade for this Nation could have better and by half cheaper have maintained the Managers if this Law had permitted 2. This Law is the Reason that those Multitudes of hands which are imployed abroad in our Woollen Manufactures are not imployed here So that by the severity of many Laws against the Exportation of Wool we restrain our Wool from forein Trade and by this Law we exclude the World from working it here whereby our Wool becomes a drug and of no esteem being neither well wrought at home and not permitted in forein Trade 3. This Law is the Reason that in our Tin and Lead we are the only Drudges to work it out of the Mines whilst all parts of the World but our selves improve Trade and grow rich by Manufactures thereon Corollary 3. By the same Reason the Trade of England and the Fishing Trade are so much more diminished by how much they might be supplied by those hands and so much Money as is diverted from them in relief of idle persons by the Statute of the 43 of Eliz. intit Who shall be Overseers for the Poor their Office Duty and Accounts Annotations Reader That the Mischiefs and Inconveniences which have ensued this Law may better appear take with thee these Considerations First That God hath made Man to eat his bread in the cares of Mind and sweat of his brows that man therefore who neither cares nor labours hath no reason to expect that he shall have any thing to care for Secondly Consider that the Nation was much more inhabited when this Law was made than now From hence then Reader take a Prospect of the Inconveniences which have ensued this Law 1. That where pure Necessity does not require it inverts the end which God hath by Nature made viz. That where Man does not care for and govern he should eat his bread by Labour and Industry 2. That notwithstanding our great loss and want of men for the reasons beforesaid these idle persons provided for by this Act are so more a loss to the Nation than if they had never been by how much the Nation loses in maintaining and providing for them and this is increased to such a height that notwithstanding the want of men more now than when this Law was made yet the charge of maintaining poor people in very many Places is 6 7 8 9 fold more than before and what the further consequences hereof will be if not prevented is most worthy the consideration of the Parliament 3. It is a discouragement to all industrious and labouring people when lazy and idle people shall be maintained in their idleness from the fruits of their Labour and Industry 4. It encourages wilful and evil disposed persons to impose what wages they please upon their labours and herein they are so refractory to Reason and the benefit of the Nation that when Corn and Provisions are cheap they will not work for less wages than when they were dearer so as it often happens that one days indifferent labour shall maintain these persons three or four days after in Idleness which if this Law had not been might have been for a reserve to support themselves and families in adversity and sickness 5. As sundry Laws provided against wandring Beggers and Vagabonds so this Law provides for and relieves stationary Beggers 6 This Law is the principal if not the only reason of the excessive wages of servants as well as labourers in making Provision for such who will neither serve nor labour 7. From this Law therefore it is principally and for the want of good education of the governing part of the Trade of the Nation of which we shall treat hereafter that as Mr. Mun observes in his excellent treatise of England's Treasure by Forein Trade cap. 19. that the English Nation is reproached commonly among strangers for the multitudes of People which in England Cheat Roar Rob Hang Beg Cant Pine and Perish which otherwise might help to encrease and maintain the Wealth and strength of these Kingdomes especially by Sea for our own safety and terrour of our enemies 8. The charity which might be imployed in the releife of truely impotent and aged people is heerby abated and diminished Corollary 4. By the same reason the Trade of England and the Fishing Trade are so much more diminished by how much they might be supplyed by those lazy and idle persons who are diverted from them by living upon Wasts Commons Chases and Forests Annotations So as this difference is between these persons and those maintained by the 43. El. 2. that as those are maintained by the loss of the Nation so these are maintained to no benefit of it but are dangerous as well to the Nation as Government of it This appeas by the Riots and Tumults which they make upon all Endeavours of Improvments notwithstanding compensations are made double and treble to the value of what they reaped thereby The number therefore of these kind of persons encreasing which daily does as well by a succession of those who are born upon such places as otherwise and being at liberty to work or not the Government will be so much more endangered by how much they are encreased and so much more by how much less these
are excluded Pet. 13. But men are necessary to improve Trade and Pet. 5. mony is a convenient mean to improve Trade and Pet. 12. stock is a convenient mean to improve Trade Therefore the Trade of England and the Fishing Trade are so much hindered by how many men and so much mony and stock as are excluded by Corporations Which was to be demonstrated Annotations So as the Trade of England and the Fishing Trade are diminished by our American Plantations by the re-peopling Ireland and the late great Plague and our late Forein and intestine Wars It is hindered by the Act of Navigation in Forein Trade abroad and the greater Trading part of the world are excluded from Trading with us at home and the greater part of the Nation excluded from Trading at all unless it be upon such terms as they cannot be any ways encouraged in it whereas in the mean time Supernumeraries of Solicitors Bankers Scriveners and Userers who instead of Trading divert all the means of improving Trade and engross I am confident above six times as much mony as is imployed in Trades beneficial to the Nation and I believe are more than the free Trading part of the Nation For my part as I desire the good of the Nation in what I have said free from any passion or affection to any party or person so do not I intend the prejudice but good of every Corporation for if men mony and stock be the only means to enrich and strengthen any place then every Corporation is so much more capable of Riches and Strength by how many more men and so much more mony and stock is imployed in Trade The Dutch who of all the world are the most considerable and richest and most mighty by Trade understand this and therefore Amsterdam of all other places the most famous for Trade is now designed to be enlarged â…– with free liberty for all the world to Plant and Trade with them In or about the years 1636. and 37. about 140 Families out of the Counties of Norfolk and Suffolk forsook us and went into Holland where the Dutch did not only entertain them but in Leyden Alkmert and other places planted them Rent-free and Excise-free for seven years Corollary By the same reason Forein Trade will be so much hindered by how much the means of Transporting mony in it are excluded Pet. 13. For mony is a convenient mean to improve Trade Annotations The Dutch Venetians and Florentines who understand this and have no mony of their own freely permit the Exportation of mony in Trade and grow rich thereby and the King of Spain who hath all the Treasure of the West-Indies upon the penalty of Death c. forbids the Exportation of it grows poorer and can keep none Mr. Mun a man of excellent knowledge and experience in Trade in the 4th Chapter of Englands Treasure by Forein Trade affirms he knew a Prince in Italy of famous memory Ferdinando the First great Duke of Tuscany who being very rich endeavoured thereby to enlarge his Trade by issuing out to his Merchants great summes of mony for very small profit He himself had of the Duke 40000 Crowns gratis for a whole year although the Duke knew it would be sent away in specie for the parts of Turkey to be imployed in Wares for his Country Afterwards Mr. Mun affirms he knew Legorn so much increased that of a poor little Town it was become a fair and strong City being one of the most famous places for Trade in all Christendom And yet it is worthy observation that the multitude of Ships and Wares which come from England the Low-Countries and other places have little or no means to make returns from thence but only ready mony See more herein in the said Chapter Though Trade may be maintained by barter of Commodities yet he who Trades in mony and barter shall have a vast advantage Proposition 9. Theorem 9. In the Trade of England with France the English Nation loses so much as the value of the French Commodities imported exceed the English exported which Mr. Fortry affirms to be above 1600000 l. yearly Subject is The English Nation Question Whether it loses so much by the Trade with France as the value of the French Commodities Imported exceed the English Exported I say it does Ax. 7. For where the consumption of things Imported does exceed in value the things Exported the loss will be as the excess is Pet. 2. But the English Nation consumes all the Commodities of France imported Pet. 3. And they exceed the Commodities of England Exported 1600000 l. a year if Mr. Fortry hath truly computed it Therefore the English Nation loses so much as the excess is Which was to be demonstrated Annotations upon this Proposition Nor is this all the loss the English Nation sustains by the Trade with France for Trading for French Wines in the perillous Months for Navigation of September October November and December we lose more Shipping and Sea-men in acquiring of them than in all our other Trades besides and in our immoderate drinking of them we more than ordinarily dispose our bodies to the Strangury Fevers Gout and Stone when they are pure and to so many more Diseases as when they are so many ways sophisticated and adulterated by Vintners so that instead of drinking Health to the King of England we drink Sickness to our selves and Wealth to the French King So that Reader thou mayest understand what vast Revenues the English and the Dutch much more than the English yearly bring into France by their Trade with it For though the Dutch Trade for Reasons hereafter specified be not managed to the loss of the Dutch as the English is yet I am confident and have it by good Authority that if a true estimate were made of it it would appear to be above sixfold more beneficial to France than the English Trade is Sir Walter Rawleigh takes notice that the Dutch Trade into all Ports and Creeks of France we chiefly into 5 or 6 and in those the Dutch have 4 times the Trade we have So that if the French King can establish a Spice Trade wherein he is wonderously industruous being King of a Flourishing Country he will have but little occasion to Export any Treasure nor need he fear but the English and Dutch will still continue carriers of all the Wealth they get by Spain and other places into France Consequences From hence it is that the French King becomes so rich above any other Prince or State in Christendom and being Prince of a noble and brave Kingdom which abounds with most things conducing to the benefit of Humane Life and very fruitful of men as well as other things and having few considerable Plantations to exhaust his men he becomes not less Potent and formidable to all Christendom than Rich and Glorious Nor can I ever hope the Pride and Luxury of the English and the necessities of the Dutch are
Standard by which all things in Trade are valued What is Navigation 3. Navigation is an Art of Conveying things upon the Body of the Waters from one place to another Who are the Dutch intended in this Discourse 4. Those who are subject to the States of the Vnited Netherlands Who are the English 5. Those who are born in Subjection to the Crown of England Who is a Dutch Merchant 6. One who Trades under the Protection of the States of the Vnited Netherlands Who is an English Merchant 7. One who Trades under the Protection of the English and born in Subjection to its Crown Who are the Dutch States 8. They who govern Trade in the Vnited Netherlands and all places subject to them Who are the Council of State in England 9. They are those Persons with whom the King pleases to Advise and Consult in State Affairs where no Provision is made by Municipal Laws What are Corporations in Trade 10. They are men who in Trades where they are incorporated by Civil Power exercise those Trades excluding all others Memorand It is lawful to assume all things and places in Trade under those names by which they are usually called Petitions Pet. 1. The Dutch freely entertain men of all Nations in Trade and grant them equal Priviledges with the Natural Dutch Pet. 2. The English Nation consumes all the Commodities of France imported into it Pet. 3. The French Commodities Imported into England do Exceed in Value the English Commodities Exported into France Annot. Mr. Fortrey a Gentleman of the Kings Privy Chamber in his Treatise of England's Interest and Improvement pag. 22 says That the excess is above 1600000 l. a year which did appear to the now King of France upon a design he had to forbid Trade between England and France and gives the Particulars pag. 22 23 24. whereupon the King of France finding how much it would prove to his loss to forbid the Trade laid it by but raised the Custom of some of our English Commodities whereby the vent of them is much hindred Pet. 4. England before it had the accession of our American Plantations wanted men to Improve the Growths and Manufactures of it and also the Fishing Trade Annot. Sir Walter Rawleigh takes notice in his observations upon Trade which he dedicated to King James that this Kingdom in 55 years lost above 25 Millions of Pounds besides other incredible advantages which would have accrued to this Kingdom in Strength and Trade by the Dutch Dressing and Dying our White Clothes I will not dispute whether it had been good policy to have restrained the Exportation of our White and Undrest Clothes I only affirm that England could have better and cheaper Maintained and Imployed those men in Dressing and Dying them than Holland and Amsterdam having no excise upon our Commodities and Fullers Earth better and cheaper than in the United Netherlands Besides England could then better and cheaper have maintained all those men who in the United Netherlands so much desired our Wooll Lead and Tin in their Manufactures Sir Walter Rawleigh further takes notice that in four Towns in the East Countries whithin the Sound Queensborough Elbing Statten and Dantzick were yearly vented between 30 and 40000 last of Herring by the Dutch at 15 or 16 l. the last which amounts to 620000 l. and by us none To Denmark Sweden Lifeland Rivel Narne and other Ports within the Sound there are Carried and vented by the Dutch above 10000 Last of Herrings at above 15 or 16 l. the Last which amounts to about 170000 l. Into Russia the Dutch sent about 1500 Last of Herrings sold at 30 s. the Barrel which amounted to 27000 l. and we about 20 or 30 I am sure we send none now To Stoad Hamborough Bream Embden upon the River Elb Weaser and Embs were carryed and vented of Fish and Herring 6000 Last which at 15 or 16 l. by the Last amounted to 100000 l. by us none To Clevleand Gulickland and to Germany up the Rhine and Maine were vented by the Dutch 2200 Last of Fish and Herring sold at 20 l. the Last which comes to 44000 l. by us none Up the River Maze Leigh Mostrick Vendlow Zutphen Daventer Campen Swell and all over Lukeland is carried and vented 7000 Last of Herring by the Dutch at 140000 l. by us none To Roan were carried 5000 Last of Herring by the Dutch and sold at 20 l. the Last which came to 100000 l. by us not 100 Last To Gelderland Artois Henalt Brabant Flanders were carried between 8 and 9000 sold at 18 l. the Last which came to 171000 l. by us none Sir Walter Rawleigh left out Spain and France except Roan and the Dutch Trade of Fish into the Streights and what they consumed among themselves which Questionless was and is now very considerable yet were all these Fish caught upon our Coast and no question if we had had the Hands we might much better and cheaper have maintained them and caught and cured them having many more and much better and more convenient Ports than they Pet. 5. Mony is a convenient mean to improve Trade Pet. 6. Forein Trade is the only mean to Inrich this Kingdom Pet. 7. Multitude and Concourse of People Advance Trade Pet. 8. Scarcity of People Diminish Trade Pet. 9. The Law against Naturalization permits no man of any other Nation to have equal Freedom and Priviledge in Trade with the natural English Pet. 10. The Law of Navigation Intituled Shipping and Navigation Encouraged made 12. Car. 2. 18. and continued 13. Car. 2. 12. restreins the English in Navigation to Ships English built and to be sailed by 3 4 English and Forein Commodities to be Imported by English in Shipping so built and sailed and to the Natives of the Place Pet. 11. The rents of Lands are valuable as the Trade of the Place is Pet. 12. Stock is a convenient mean to advance Trade Pet. 13. Men are necessary to improve Trade Pet. 14. Timber is a necessary mean to build Ships Pet. 15. Ships are necessary means in Navigation Pet. 16. The Timber of England was wanting even before the Act of Navigation made 12. Car. 2. 18. and confirmed 13 Car. 2. 14. this appears by the Acts of 35. H. 8. 17. and 35. El. 11. Pet. 17. The means ordained by the 1. Eliz. 13. and 35. El. 11. to supply the Timber of England before wanting and decaied is interrupted by the Act of Navigation Pet. 18. Before the Act of Navigation we wanted Shipping this appears by the title of the Act which is an Act for the encouraging and encrease of Shipping and Navigation for if we had not wanted Shipping the encouraging and encreasing thereof had been vain and superfluous Pet. 19. The loss and decay of the Ships of England must not in Navigation be supplied by acquiring any Forein built Ships for by the Act of Navigation if any English man Trades in any Forein built Ship to any of our
sure not by me These principles thus established this method or rule must be observed in the generation of knowledge One or more of the definitions or things or actions before known which are termed the subjects of the proposition must be assumed in every scientifical proposition either simply or conditionally wherein either some thing or act is propounded to be done which is termed a Problem which was not before known in any of the petitions or demonstrated propositions or some new knowledge in the Subjects propounded which is termed a Theorem which was not before known in the demonstration of this thing to be done or knowledge to be understood which are termed the Questions of the Proposition The major proposition must be an Axiom the minor proposition so made up of the Petitions and before demonstrated propositions and the Hypothesis if the Subjects be conditionally assumed conformable in all parts to the major proposition that the affirmation or question of the proposition or the contradiction if the demonstration be negative may flow into the conclusion Here Sir be pleased to stay a little and behold rational knowledge thus begotten how fair and lovely she is in her pure and simple nakedness how pleasant and easie are her ways and how excellent and noble is her extraction descended from eternal causes begotten by a mind so pure as partakes not any affection of any sensual appetite or passion Her ways all plain and before known and may be apprehended as well by youth of both Sexes as men of riper years Nor does knowledge thus begotten by the mind die with the body but though she be the daughter of time remains an eternal monument of the minds excellency being subject to no alteration wrimple or decay by any power of time or fate Oh Divine knowledge how is thy excellency imposed upon by Price Affectation Vain glory and hard Words How are thy ways obstructed by Faction Prejudice and Self-interest Whilst thy glorious beauty is never conspicuous but by denying these and frequenting the humblest paths If Sir I have more than becomes me insisted upon your patience I am so far from excusing my self herein that I acknowledge I have ofter before done it with this advantage to my self that as well in this as many other things I have had the honour to be confirmed by your more discerning Judgment This Treatise therefore presumes to inscribe your Name whereby it well hopes to be enlivened when it s own little worth shall find no other Monument so Sir I desire you to entertain a belief of me that no man more truly honours you or wishes you more happiness than SIR Your most devoted and obedient Servant Roger Coke PREFACE TO THE READER GOD hath endued other Creatures besides Man The Nature of Man with Sense Appetite and Fear so as excited by their Appetite and directed by their Senses without any subordination of one to another they pursue and attain those things which Nature had before provided for their subsistence and prompted by their innate impulse of fear they avoid and flee from those Creatures and things which are Enemies and hurtful to them But the case is otherwise with Man for God hath endued him with a Higher and Nobler Faculty of Soul in giving him understanding which by Reason not Love Hatred Fear or Desire Governs all his Actions for where these or any of them prevail those men never understand judg or act aright And Men not as other creatures live in Society and Subordination So that under the Laws of God and their Superiors men eat their bread in the sweat of their brows Nature of her own accord hath ordained subsistence necessary for other creatures Where as though God hath made all things for the use of Man yet nothing is useful to Man pure Water Milk and some of the fruits of the earth in their seasons excepted but as it is prepared by Humane Art and Industry While other Creatures live free and Independent from one another only Man stands in need and help of another And therefore where things are best prepared for Humane necessities and convenience there Necessity of Trade men most resort from whence Humane Society Industry and Civility is improved above those places where these are not and men but few And this is so well understood that Trade is now become the Lady which in this present Age is more coúrted and Celebrated The excellency of Trade than in any former by all the Princes and Potentates of the World and that deservedly too For she acquires not her Dominion by the Horrid and Rueful face of Warr whose footsteps leave ever behind them deep impressions of misery divastation and poverty but with the pleasant aspect of wealth and plenty of all things conducing to the benefit of Humane life and Society accompanied with strength to defend her in case any shall attempt to Ravish or Invade her Take an Instance or two herein When the United Netherlands made their defection from the Crown of Spain Spain was in its greatest height and riches after some Commotions ten of the Provinces did either return or were subdued to the Crown of Spain yet the other seven for neer 40 years together by Warr and Policy maintained themselves against all the Power of Spain untill the charge became so insupportable to the Crown of Spain that Philip the Second about the year 1607. was forced to seek a Truce from the States and afterward in the year 1648. Philip the Fourth a Peace Yet all this Warr was maintained by these States purely upon the account of Trade and that Forein for other means all the World knows they had none And though they were constantly assisted by Queen Elizabeth and the French Kings successively yet were all the Forces of England and France as constantly paid by the States In our late Warrs with them notwithstanding the extraordinary supplyes imployed upon that occasion and the losses sustained by the Dutch incomparably more than were the English yet this Nation by experience found that the Dutch upon the Account of their Trade supported the Charge of the Warr against all difficulties The Bounds set by Warr are Towns Forts and Castles whereas neither Land nor Ocean put any Period to the Jurisdiction of Trade The English and Dutch have of late by a furious Warr contended who should enjoy her but whilest these Covetous Combatants contend so fiercely for her the French King by all the Modes of France Courts her for himself yet this though Covertly carryed was perceived by some of the jealous Combatants who had rather enjoy her neither can tell how than wholly lose her to their Powerful and Courtly Neighbour But Warr is not the Mean by which this Lady may be won for though she be pleased to be Guarded by Arms yet will she never admit to be governed by them therefore if either English or Dutch had subdued other yet should not Trade have longer continued with either than
men observe the Rules and Method by which it may be advanced more than in any other Place which hath equal conveniences If this Lady were to choose an habitation in all the known World she could not find any so capable of her reception as England I had almost said and Ireland whether it be in regard of the Multitude Excellency and Conveniency of our Ports Abundance of Wool better than in any other place of the World but Segovia and from us they had it Cattle of all sorts equal if not superior to any other place More Horses and more serviceable in Trade than any where else Timber for shipping the best in the World Lead Tin Seacoal and Fullers Earth not to be found out of England so much or so Good and capable of all other things but Wines and we were better without them which may any ways conduce to the supplying the necessities or adorning the convenience of Humane life equal with any other place The Coast enriched with a shore more worth than the King of Spains West-Indies The Inhabitants stout and valiant accompanied with a lively wit and healthful constitution and generaly disposed to her service One would think it strange I might say monstrous that the Dutch Nation who are denied these advantages and are of a more dull and heavy constitution than the English should out-wit us in that wherein God and Nature have given us all the Prerogatives we our selves can desire But we undo our selves by banishing this Lady we so desire and contend for she is already so farr withdrawn that we neither know where to find her nor much better how to recover her Though this beloved Lady is become very Coy to us by Land yet in reason we hope to prevail upon her by Sea In our application we tell her the Swelling Ocean every day beats round about our Shores to invite us to the enjoyment of her and that by a long and uninterrupted series of Ages we have been possessed of her before ever the Dutch Government was formed into States We have moreover in the year 1662. contributed several considerable sums of Mony toward the Advancement of the Fishing Trade but how the Monies have been disposed of and whether the Monies Collected be not yet in the Collectors hands unaccounted for may be worthy Consideration especially considering how great a discouragement it will be to all Publique undertakings when such benevolences are diverted from their designed end Many men not understanding the Reason of this Ladies strangeness to us of late have ascribed it to two causes viz. that we Import more than we Export and that men generally live above their Estate but neither of these though true are Reasons of the decay of Trade for the Dutch we see Import all yet thrive upon Trade and the Irish Export eight times more than they Import yet grow poorer And Trade if it be well managed no where thrives better than where men spend above the ordinary means of living We have lost the Trade upon the matter by Sea and Land at home but before we demonstrate from what causes or propound any Expedients by which we may be relieved let us see how it stands abroad We have lost the Trade to Muscovv and so have that to Greonland the Trade to Norway possessed by the Norwegians and the Reasons given in to the Parliament last Sessions The Trade to Guinney driven by a few and exclusive to other men The Spanish and Turkey Trades abated and in danger So that unless it be in the French and Canary Trades wherein we undo our selves we are making hast to betake our selves to our Plantations only yet shall not be long able to continue that Trade for want of shipping It is true indeed that England of late under King James By what accident England of late became so rich but more especially under King Charles did flourish by Trade and was more Rich than any other Kingdom in these Western Parts of the World but this was by an Accident of the Times not to be again hoped for For the Austrian Family under Maximilian the Second and Philip the Second attained to that Power and Riches when the Netherlands made their defection from the Crown of Spain that it was not only formidable to the Great Turk but to all the Christian Princes of Europe Queen Elizabeth therefore and the French Kings successively openly assisted them in their defection But Philip the Second dying and Queen Elizabeth soon after King James and Philip the Third in the beginning of their Reigns made Peace which continued neer 40 years with little Interruption During which the Warrs continued between the United Netherlands and Spain with little Intermission whereby the English became Proprietors of the Trade with Spain and by consequence great sharers in the Wealth of the West-Indies And this Benefit moreover the English reaped by these Warrs that the Merchant supplied the Spanish Netherlands with Commodities and both Spanish and United Netherlands were supplied with Souldiers from England whereby many of them on both sides especially Officers acquired much Wealth But the Nation not content to enjoy Peace Riches and Plenty From what cause it lost its Riches above any other Nation brought upon itself all the miseries and Calamities incident to a Civil Warr so that Regal Power as to the exercise of it for neer 20 years together was suspended during which in the year 1648. the Dutch made Peace with Spain and Oliver in the year 1654. brake with it which was a folly never to be forgiven in his Politicks nor the losses this Nation susteined thereby ever again to be repaired whereby the Condition of the English and Dutch in reference to the Trade with Spain became quite inverted and this continuing neer seven years the Dutch are so good Masters of Trade that little hopes is left the English of Enjoying it as before From hence it is which being past cannot be helped and for the Reasons in this Discourse which may be helped and for other Causes which only God in his goodness can help From hence it is I say that this Kingdom becomes decayed in Trade and must every day degenerate into worss unless some such Reformation be made with Gods great blessing upon it as may uphold the Riches and Glory of it REASONS OF THE DECAY OF THE English-Trade PART I. Definitions What is Trade Def. 1. Trade is an Art of Getting Preparing and Exchanging things Commodious for Humane Necessities and Convenience Annot. So as Trade happens three ways 1. By acquiring or getting things commodious which are called Growths 2ly By Preparing them which are called Manufactures 3ly By Exchanging these Growths and Manufactures for Mony or other Growths and Manufactures And Trade is twofold viz. Native and Forein 1 Native when the Growths or Manufactures are got Prepared and Exchanged upon the place 2ly Forein when Growths and Manufactures are exchanged in Forein Places What is Mony 2. Mony is the
Plantations or to any Port of England or Ireland it is Forfeit Ship Goods Guns Tackle and Ammunition Pet. 20. Navigation is the only mean of vending our Growths and Manifactures in Forein Trade unless it be into Scotland Pet. 21. The Act against the Importation of Irish Cattel made 18. and 20. Car. 2. cap. 1. hath abated the Trade of England with Ireland for Beer Hops and Bills of Excharge for Money all sorts of Hats and Stockings Cloth and Stuffs of all sorts Victualing Ships of all as well Forein as English c. Pet. 22. All the Canary Wines Imported into England are consumed in it Pet. 23. The Canary Wines Imported do exceed in value the English Commodities Exported into the Canaries I cannot exactly compute the excess but have it from good hands that the Canary Wines yearly Imported are about 13000 Pipes which are valued at 20 l. the Pipe which amounts to 200000 l. yearly and that our Commodities Exported do not neer amount to ¼ so much in value before we did exceed so much in drinking them we Imported them at 10 l. the Pipe and Traded to the Canaries only upon the account of our Commodities in Barter for the Wines Actions or Common Notions 1. Where the means of Improving any business are wanting that business will be so much diminished as the means by which it might have been supplied are diverted 2. Where any thing is wanting and decaied that thing will be so much diminished as the means of supplying it are interrupted 3. If the means of doing any thing be wanting that thing will be so much hindred as the means are diminished 4. The doing of things will be so much hindred as the means of doing them are hindred 5. Every thing will be so much diminished as is abated of it 6. Any business will be so much hindred by how much the means of improving it are excluded 7. Where the consumption of things imported does exceed in value the things Exported the loss will be as the excess is Prop. 1. Theorem 1. The Trade of England and the Fishing Trade are so much diminished by how much they might have been supplied by those men who are diverted in our American Plantations Subjects The Trades of England and the Fishing Trade Question Whether they be so much diminished by how much they might have been supplyed c. I say they are Ax. 1. For where the means of improving any business are wanting that business will be so much diminished by how much the means by which it might have been suppliep are diverted Pet. 24. But men are necessary to improve Trade Pet. 25. And before we had our American Plantations we wanted men to improve the Trade of England and the Fishing Trade Therefore the Trade of England and the Fishing Trade are so much diminished by how much they might have been supplyed by those men who are diverted in our American Plantations Which was to be demonstrated Corollary 1. By the same reason the Trade of England and the Fishing Trade are so much more diminished by how many men are diverted from supplying them in Repeopling Ireland since the Late Massacre and War there Corollary 2. By the same reason the Trade of England and the Fishing Trade are yet so much more diminished by so many men as extraordinarily died in the late great Plague 1665. Annotations upon this Proposition and the two Correllaries Before we had our American Plantations the Coasts of England were in a convenient manner Planted and the Multitudes of Inhabitants in England such that in the 2. and 3. Ph. and Mary 3. the Parliament taking notice that a great number of persons within the Realm had laid their Lands Farmes and Pastures to Feeding of Sheep Oxen Runts Schrubbes Steers and Heifers and such like Cattel having no regard to breed and rear up young Beasts and Cattel whereby was grown great scarcity of Cattel and necessary victual for sustenance of divers sorts of People within this Realm and more like to be if speedy remedy were not provided therefore several provisions were made for breeding and rearing of Cattel Experience had made tryal and proof of the goodness of this Law to be very beneficial and profitable to this Realm and therefore in the 13. El. 25. it was made perpetual and as a very profitable Law the Act of 7. Jac. 8. makes it to extend to grounds which were since inclosed or hereafter should be inclosed Before the Dutch became States or when at least they were but The Poor Distressed States besides our staple at Antwerp we had the sole Trade into Muscovy Turkey and up the Elb whereby Germany Denmarks Jutland Holstein c. were supplyed with our Cloth and Wollen Manufactures We did moreover supply Muscovy with Fish and in a considerable measure France Spain Italy and several parts of the World within the Streights And for the further encouragement of the Fishing Trade and for the preservation of the breeding of Cattel In the 5. Eliz. 5. It was ordained that Wednesday as well as Friday and Saturday should be observed as a Fish day within this Realm upon pain that every person offending should for every time he or they should offend forfeit 3 l. or suffer three Months Imprisonment without Bail or Mainprize and every person who was knowing thereof and concealed it for every such offence should forfeit forty shillings which Act yet continues in force but only the Penalty of eating Flesh upon Fridaies Saturdaies and Wednesdaies is reduced by the 35 Eliz. 7 to twenty shillings and the concealing of it by any Person knowing it to ten shillings Consequences of this Proposition and the two Corollaries After our American Plantations became peopled by us the Dutch began to partake with us in the Turks and Muscovy Trades our Staple at Antwerp diminished in a very great measure to intend the Trades to our Plantations we neglected the Fishing Trade whereby except the Trade of red Herrings which cannot be cured by the Dutch the Dutch in a manner became solely in a short time possessed of it and thereby have accquired this incomparable advantage above us in the Trade of our Plantations that as we imploy only our ablest men in trading to them who in the diversity of Clime and Diet are very subject to Diseases and Mortality and leave the impotent Women and Children at home without imploiment they imploy three times more men in the Fishing trade and four times more to the benefit of their State and also all manner of impotent People Women and Children and have this advantage above us in time of War as well as Peace that all hands imployed in the Fishing Trade are at home and serviceable when they are at War whereas the Inhabitants in our Plantations are of no use or benefit to us in War which was very apparent in our late War with them The Coast of England which should be the Glory Strength and Ornament of an Island in peopling of
and Dane will have in their own Dominions and the Dutch may have down the Rhine Maze and Scheld out of Germany Liege and Lorrain such Quantities of Timber as between any of them and us will be no proportion and what the fatal consequence hereof will be to this Nation if no care or provision be had I almost tremble to consider Proposition 3. Theorem 3. The Building Ships in England is hindred by the Act of Navigation Subject is the Building Ships in England Quest Whether it be diminished by the Act of Navigation I say it is Ax. 3. For if the means of doing any thing be wanting that thing will be so much hindred as the means of supplying it are diminished Pet. 16. But the Timber of England before the Act of Navigation was wanting for Building Ships in England Pet. 14. And Timber is a necessary mean to build Ships Prop. 2. The Timber of England is diminished by the Act of Navigation Therefore the Building Ships in England is hindred by the Act of Navigation Which was to be demonstrated Annotations upon this Proposition It is agreed upon by all men that the Timber of England is of all other the best for Building Ships but then it must be understood that like choice may be had in England as in other places and so long as we had as good choice in our English Timber as the Dutch Dane and French we built better Men of War and stronger and more durable Merchants Ships than any of them But now all the choice Timber of England is wasted and consumed the Dutch Dane and French bave equal choice as before it is much to be feared that for the future we shall not long enjoy this Advantage but not be able without excessive charge to build so good Ships as any of them Proposition 4. Theorem 4. The Ships of England are diminished by the Act Navivigation Subject is the Ships of England Question Whether they he diminished by the Act of Navigation I say they are Ax. 3. For where the doing things are hindred and the less and decay of those things not otherwise supplied these things will be diminished Prop. 3. But the building Ships in England is hindred by the Act of Navigation Pet. 19. And the loss and decay of Ships of England must not be supplied in acquiring any Forein Ships by the Act of Navigation Therefore the Ships of England are diminished by the Act of Navigation Which was to be demonstrated Annotation I do not understand how this Law makes good the title of it For I am confident at this day is not one half of the Shipping in England take prize ships into the reckoning which I guess to be above 4 times more than the Englesh lost in both the late Dutch wars In Ispwich are somewhat above one third of what were when the Rump instituted this Law At Woodbridg not one third and at Alborough Dunwitch Walderswick and sould not one fourth as were before this Law And I wish some man would take pains to make further inspection herein to prove me mistaken Proposition 5. Theorem 5. The Navigation of England is hindred by the Act of Navigation Subject The Navigation of England Question Whether it be hindred by the Act of Navigation I say it is Ax. 2. For the doing things will be so much hindred as the necessary means of Doing them is Diminished Prop. 4. But the Ships of England are diminished by the Act of Navigation Pet. 3. And ships are necessary in Navigation Therefore the Navigation of England is hindred by the Act of Navigation Which was to be demonstrated So as we can neither build ships nor can we buy Annotations Nor must any English man navigate any English built ship to trade to any part of England Ireland or any of our Plantations unless she be sailed by ¾ English at least under no less penalty than loss of Ship Goods Guns Ammunition and Tackle though it be evident the Coast of England be desolate and almost uninhabited and the Country as well as Coast is so thin of People that it is not half peopled By the Act of 1 Eliz. 13. It was free for all men as well strangers as Natives to import Pitch and Tar which Law stands yet in force yet if by the Act of Navigation any English man unless in English built ships and sailed by ¾ English import any or any stranger not Natives whether the Natives have Ships or not import any the Ship Goods Guns Tackle and Ammunition are all forfeit So by the 1 Eliz. 13. All men might import hemp and cordage paying strangers duties Now if any English ship import any hemp or cordage and be not sailed by ¾ English at least she is forfeit c. nor must any stranger not Native upon any less penalty Yet it is evident that the Inhabitants of Leifland from whence the best hemp if not all is to be had trade not with us at all Consequencies From whence it came to pass that in two years after the Rump making this Law the building of ships became one third penny dearer and Sea-mens wages so excessive that we have wholly lost the Trades to Muscovy and Greenland thereby and from hence it is that all Forein Commodities imported into England except in the Turkey Trade and some Trifles from Guiney and the East-Indies are consumed in England whilst thereby we give the Dutch and other Nations a power of driving the Trade of the World where the Commodities are not English or subject to the Crown of England Proposition 6. Theorem 6. The Trade of England and of Fishing into Forein Parts is hindred by the Act of Navigation Subject The Trade of England and of Fishing into Forein parts Question Whether it be hindred by the Act of Navigation I say it is Ax. 4. For the doing things will be hindred so much as the necessary means of doing them are hindred Pet. 20. But Navigation is the only means of vending the Growths and Manufactures of England and Fishing in Forein Trade unless it be in Scotland Prop. 5. And the Navigation of England is hindred by the Act of Navigation Therefore the Trade of England and of Fishing into forein parts is hindred by it Which was to be demonstrated Annotations Nor must any Forein ship or vessel trade to England with any forein Commodities unless in ships or vessels of that place or Country and Navigated by the Mr. and ¾ Mariners of the place at least whether they have ship or not So as now we have neither ships nor Mariners sufficient for our Trade we upon the Matter exclude the Trading Part of the World from Trading with us from whence these Consequences follow Consequences 1. That the Growths and Manufactures of England to be exported in Forein Trade are reduced to a few English Merchants who may take what they please and at what terms they please and leave the rest upon the poor Natives hands without any other
little purpose By the first Proposition The multitudes of the English diverted into our Plantations hath diminished as well the Fishing Trade as the Trade of our Native Growths and Manufactures which is more diminished by our re-peopling Ireland since the late War and Massacre there and so much more diminished by how many extraordinarily died of the late great Plague and by the 6 Proposition the Growths and Manufactures of England in Forein Trade are diminished by the Act of Navigation and multitudes and entercourse of Foreiners are excluded by it whereby the Trade of England is every way interrupted and diminished And since the Rents of Land are valuable as the Trade of the place is It is from hence that the Rent of Land is so abated and fallen all over England but much more since the Act against Importation of Irish Cattel so as the end designed by the Law which was the raising the Rents of Land is so far from being attained that from these Reasons the Trade of England being more diminished by this Law the quite contrary hath ensued One of the Reasons alledged by the Act intituled An Act for the Encouraging of Trade made the 14 Car. 2. for the excluding Foreiners to Trade to our Plantations is to hold a greater kindness and nearer Correspondency between the English Nation and them which reason of mutual kindness I am sure will hold stronger between the English Nation and Ireland for if we lose them or any of them we lose no more than the Subjects in them who unless it be in reference to Trade are of no use to England whereas if by reason of this Act we lose Ireland or any part of it the safety of this Nation will be endangered thereby If the Importation of Irish Cattel had abated the Rents of England one half and thereby the Commodities of England had been reduced to half the price the Nation had not been poorer thereby however the Nobility and Country Gentlemen who were in Debt and the Poor Tenants who had Leases of their Farms would have been damnified and undone thereby but in General Navigation and the Trade of the Nation would have been advantaged by it The Reasons in the Act of Navigation are good for England against Foreiners Trading into our Plantations and so is the restraining them from the Trade of Ireland for otherwise other Nations especially the Dutch would have reaped more benefit by them than we should have done but without question our Plantations and Ireland too would have been much increased and inriched by a Free Trade more than by this restraint and by like Reason the Trade of England too would have been much more and the Nation much more enriched than now if no restraint had been put upon the Trade by the Act of Navigation For by the Act of Navigation the greater Trading part of the World are excluded the Trade of Ireland and by the Act against Importation of Irish Cattel upon the matter the Trade between England and Ireland is interrupted and destroyed and here let us see the Consequences hereof Consequences The Imaginary Reason that the Importation of Irish Cattel caused the abatement of the Rents of England is truly caused by the Act in the Southern and Eastern parts of England for the Northern People Welch and Scots taking advantage of this Law have raised the price of lean Cattel so excessively that very small or no profit arises to the Graziers when they are Fatted So as before the Act we bought cheap and sold cheap which was but reasonable whereas now we buy dearer and sell cheaper which is intolerable 2. Before the Act we could Victual Ships with good and substantial Food cheaper than the Dutch and upon all occasions the Dutch and French and other Nations when they were in our Harbours did take a very considerable quantity of our Provision whereas since the Act the Dutch and French Victual much cheaper in Ireland than we can do in England and in Holland and Zealand Irish Beef I am told by Traders thither is sold for a peny a pound so as having as the case stood but one advantage above the Dutch besides the excellency and conveniencies of our Harbours in Navigation by this Law we have given the Dutch a greater advantage over us than we had over them 3. Before this Act the Eastern and Southern parts of England did in a very considerable manner supply Flanders France Portugal and Spain with Butter which now we have interrupted the intercourse of Trade between England and Ireland we have thereby put the Irish upon necessities of making Butter which they do so much cheaper than is possible to be done in England notwithstanding the abatement of our Rents that they supply Flanders and France much cheaper than the English can whereby our Trade for Butter and Cheese is become much worse than that of Grazing of Cattel and now the Irish have established these Trades much more advantageous to them than their Trade was to us with their lean Cattel I understand no remedy hereof but they will increase their advantages and we must yet more continue losers 4. Besides the abatement of our Native Growths and Manufactures caused by the Act against the Importation of Irish Cattel as England was the Storehouse for all sorts of Commodities coming from our Plantations and other Forein Goods as all sorts of Dying stuffs Hides Fruit Sugars Tobacco's and of all sorts of Silks as well wrought as unwrought Ribbands Gold Silver and Silk-Lace so the Trade with Ireland was driven by Commutation of the Product of the mony for their Lean Cattel which being now interrupted this Trade of England with Ireland for these becomes proportionably lestened and diminished Whereas now they transport their Beef into France Holland Zealand and Flanders they make returns in the Growths and Manufactures of those Countries whereby the Irish Trade is become as beneficial to them as it was formerly to us 5. His Majesties Custom for the Lean Cattel is quite extinguished 6. The Shipping and Mariners imployed and built for this Trade are by this Act neglected and made useless about 100 Ships being before imployed in this Trade only 7. That as before English Shipping was generally imployed in the Trade with Ireland so the returns out of Ireland in Hides Tallow Wools and Yarn into Forein parts was in English Shipping whereas now we have not only lost the Profitable Returns of these Commodities but Forein Ships are only imployed in these Trades Proposition 8. Theorem 8. The Trade of England and the Fishing Trade are so much hindred by how many men and so much mony and stock as are excluded by Corporations Subject The Trade of England and the Fishing Trade Question Whether they be so much hindered by how many men and so much mony and stock as is excluded by Corporations I say they are Ax. 6. For any business will be so much hindered by how much the means of improving it
first Principle of the Greatness of the Dutch Domestick Trade and the restreining our Domestick Trade to the English only is the first Principle of the Decay of ours Prop. 2. Theorem 1. The Dutch manage Trade cheaper in the United Netherlands than the English do in Engl. Subjects are the Dutch and English Nation Question Whether the Dutch manage Trade cheaper I say the Dutch manage Trade cheaper Ax. 8. For where men labour more industriously and upon easier terms upon any thing this thing is cheap managed Pet. 1. Lib. 2. But Men in the United Netherlands labour in Trade more industriously and upon easier Terms than in Engl. Pet. 1. lib. 2. Therefore the Dutch manage Trade cheaper in the United Netherlands than the English doe in England Which was to be done Annot. As the Law against Naturalization is the reason why the Dutch in the United Netherlands manage a greater trade than the English do in England so is it the reason that Trade is cheaper managed there than in England For if the Trade of England being managed by reason of this Law by English men only who by reason of our Plantations the Repeopling Ireland the late great Plague and our late Wars are thin and very few if you will have any work in Trade done you must do it as the imployed English please or you must have no work done whereas if the Trade of England were as freely managed as in the United Netherlands the English man then must work and be as industrious as other men or he must not work at all This freedome of managing Trade in the United Netherlands as it increases the hands there so it makes men more industrious in Trade for the multitudes of people concurring in Trade an emulation of excelling one another is excited whereby every man endeavours to excel the other in some way or other whereas in England Trade being circumscribed by the few English in it they not only work dearer but are careless in working Nor will I ever believe that Industry is restreined to English exclusive to other Nations I cannot pass over how much the Trade of England is at this day bettered by Queen Eliz. prudent Entertaining the Dutch and Fleming against the Law of Naturalization who not being able to indure the insupportable Tyranny of the Dake of Alva sought refuge in this Nation where in Colchester Norwich and Canterbury they were planted and there they brought in those Trades where at this day are the best we have left in England Prop. 3. Problem 12. How the Dutch may and do build more Ships for Navigation and cheaper than the English Subjects are the Dutch and the English Question How the Dutch may and doe build more Ships for Navigation and cheaper than the English Construction The Dutch have down the Rhine Maez and Sceld out of Germany France Lorain Flanders and other Spanish Provinces greater quantities of Timber more choise and upon less terms than can be had in Engl but much more since it is so much diminished by the Act of Navigation Prop. 3. lib. 1. and must be yet much more in rebuilding the City of London I say the Dutch may build more Ships c. Ax. 10. For more business is done by more means and cheaper if the means may be had upon easier terms But Timber is a necessary mean in building Ships and 14. Pet. lib. 1. Construction the Dutch have more Timber more choise and upon easier terms than the English Therefore the Dutch may and doe build more ships for Navigation and cheaper then the English Which was to be done Annotations It was proved before a Committee of the House of Commons last Session of Parliament that the Dutch build ships of equal dimensions for one half the English can It is true that the goodness of our Timber heretofore when we had sufficient and choise did in a great measure compensate the charge in building Ships in regard that Ships built of English timber were much more Durable and strong but now all our best Timber is wasted and destroyed and must be more in rebuilding the City of London our Timber not coming to perfection in less then 150 years growth if care were taken for the Preservation and increase thereof which I never hope to see I doe not understand for the future how we shall possibly build so good Ships as either Dutch Dane or French for three times the price And so Reader I leave to thee to consider the fatall consequences like to ensue upon this poor Nation in this thing only Prop. 4. Probl. 3. How the Dutch may and do fit up more Ships for Navigation and cheaper than the English Subjects are the Dutch and English Question How the Dutch fit up more Ships for Navigation and cheaper The Dutch have Pitch Tar Hemp for Cordage and Tackle Construction 3 Pet. lib. 2. and Iron in greater quantities and for less terms than the English can out of Norway Denmark and other Kingdoms within the Sound I say the Dutch may fit up more Ships for Navigation cheaper than the English Ax. 10. For more business may be done by more means and cheaper if the means may be had upon easier terms But Pitch Tar Cordage Tackle and Iron are necessary means in fitting up Ships for Navigation And the Dutch have more or greater Quantities of Pitch Tar Cordage Tackle and Iron than the English and upon easier Terms Therefore the Dutch fit and doe up more Ships for Navigation and cheaper than the English Which was to be done Annotations Here must I take notice that since the Rumps institution of the Act of Navigation the condition of fitting up ships for Navigation in England is as bad as the building of Ships and that against the Act of the 1 Eliz. 13. which stands yet in force For by the 1 Eliz. 13. It is free for all men to import Pitch and Tar in any Vessels whereas by the Act of Navigation if any English man imports any Pitch or Tar unless in an English built Ship and sailed by ¾ English at least now we have neither men nor Ships to do it the Ship is forfeit Goods Guns Ammunition and Tackle and so it is in a strangers Ship who is not a Native of the place whereby he may impose what terms he please or otherwise we must not have either Pitch or Tar at all And our Condition for Cordage and Tackle is much worse for though we may have Pitch and Tar upon such Terms as the Dane and Swede please yet it will be impossible in a short time to have any Cordage or Tackle at all For it must be imported by either English men in English Ships when we have neither men nor Ships to do it or by the Natives of the place when the Inhabitants of Riga Revell Narve and other places of Leifland from whence all the best hemp if not all for Cordage and Tackle comes trade not with us at all
this Monarchy by reason hereof hath lost the Trade to a Common-wealth so by reason hereof a Commonwealth in Italy hath lost their Trade to a Monarchy For the State of Genoa imposing Customs upon 16 per cent upon all Commodities imported the Duke of Florence takes the advantage thereof by making Legorn a Free Port whereby it is become one of the most famous and flourishing Towns in Europe And the Genoans are forced to turn Usurers upon what they had got before And this year the King of France in probability hath laid a foundation to undo Legorn by making Marselles a free Port. The King of Sweden within the memory of man made Gottenburg a Free Port for 7 years which at this day hath established such a Trade there that of a poor and unregarded Village it is become the most flourishing Town of Trade in the North or North-East Here Reader let me desire thee to partake some part of my Grief in beholding such unsafe and barred Ports as Gottenburg and all those of the Vnited Netherlands to be by means of their freedom so Rich and Flourishing whereas our most excellent noble and safe Harbours but especially Falmouth which Cambden prefers before Brundusinus or any other and for its excellency and convenience deserves to be the Store house of Christendom yet hath scarce a Cock-boat belonging to it are all neglecte and passed by by reason of the height of our Customs the Laws of Naturalization and Navigation Pay less Interest for mony By reason whereof the Dutch may preserve stores of all sorts of Commodities and at any time sell them cheaper than the English who pay more Interest for mony Sir Walter Rawleigh affirms that Amsterdam is never without 700000 Quarters of Corn besides the Plenty they daily vent and that a Dearth of Corn in England France Spain Italy Portugal or other places enriches Holland 7 years after whereas we are only permitted to sell it when cheap to the no benefit of England and to buy it when dear to the impoverishing of us Besides it is impossible when two or more Ships are imployed in any voyage the one paying after the rate of 4 per cent the other 6 if otherwise their charge be equal that upon equal terms they can sell their Commodities upon equal profit So that though the height of Customs and Interest of mony do both prejudice Trade where it relates to any other place where either are less or lower yet the height of Interest is more insupportable in that it every day increases whether it be in preserving Stores or in reference to the length of Voyages in Forein Trade And whereas the publick Revenue is augmented by the height of Customs yet to the prejudice of Trade so Trade is more prejudiced by the height of Interest without any advantage to the publick Revenue Nor does the mischief of height of Interest mony end here but it hath a like bad influence upon building and fitting out Ships where no Custom is paid So as a Dutch Ship of equal Dimensions may be built and fitted out to Sea for half the terms an English Ship can and this Ship thus built and fitted up for half the terms is sailed with half the hands so as this charge being both ways double to the English and the English paying â…“ Interest more the English Merchant labours from hence in a three-fold charge more than the Dutch Merchant does and this not to be at one time discharged as Customs are but ever to be imposed upon the Ship so long as she lasts from whence a will necessarily follow that if our Customs were lower than the Dutch yet if the Interest of mony be in proportion higher the Dutch may and will hereby only maintain the Trade of the world exclusive to the English Corollary By the same reason the Dutch may sell more Domestick Manufactures at home and in Forein Trade cheaper and more conveniently than the English and with much more gain For by the 2 Prop. lib. 2. Trade is cheaper managed in the United Netherlands than in England and Prop. 1. lib. 2. It is more managed there than in England And 18 Pet. 2. The Dutch pay less Customs for their Domestick Commodities in Forein Trade Prop. 8. Theorem 3. The Dutch may sell more Commodities in Trade than the English cheaper more conveniently and with much more gain Subjects Are the Dutch and English Question Whether the Dutch may and do sell ut supra I say they may Ax. 13. For all things are either Forein or Domestick Proposition 7. 2. But the Dutch may sell more Forein Commodities at home and abroad cheaper more conveniently and with much more gain than the English Corollary And may sell more Domestick Manufactures at home and in Forein Trade cheaper more conveniently and with much more gain Therefore the Dutch may and do sell more Commodities in Trade cheaper more conveniently and with much more gain than the English Which was to be demonstrated Annotations They do it and have done it and are thereby become the greatest Prodigy that ever the world brought forth For let any consider them in their first principles being inconsiderable either for Number or Quality from their first rise to be opposed by the most powerful Monarch in Christendom for near 80 years together and from no principles of Trade from within themselves nor having scarce a piece of Ground to build one house upon nor one stick of Timber or scarce one handful of Hemp Pitch Tar or Iron to build or fit out a Ship and notwithstanding their constant Wars with Spain to ingage and undertake so many Wars against the Swede Dane Portugal and in the East and West-Indies To build so many fair and stately Cities beyond any other part of the World and all this in less than 100 years and at this day to manage a greater and more gainful Trade than all the world whereby their Wealth is inestimable and all this in contradiction to seeming impossibilities Nor is their strength and power at Sea less terrible than their wealth inestimable and at this day all the Affairs almost of Christendom are transacted at the Hague Queen Eliz. a Princess of most excellent Prudence and foresight though she were careless in hindering them in the progress of their Trade yet was very vigilant in restraining their strength by Sea nor would she permit them to build many Men of War and those not considerable whereby without any controul she kept them in perfect subjection at Sea After King James loved peace and his Book so well that he did not restrain their rising power by Sea K. Charles of Sacred memory foresaw the danger of it and would have restrained it but it pleased God he reigned in such perverse times that he either was not or which was worse could not be understood by his Subjects so as now their power at Sea is swelled to such a prodigious greatness as it is a question whether it
our Plantations have exhausted our men whereby our Trade and strength is abated and diminished so the Law against Naturalization debars any future supply of other men from Planting with us and the Law of Navigation excludes much the greater Trading part of the world from Trading with us from abroad and our Corporations restrain our Trade to as few at home so as Trade which ever flourishes in multitude and freedom is by us by all imaginable ways circumscribed taxed and reduced to a few While we are contriving newer and more severe Laws against the Exportation of Wool and neglect the careful inspection and management of our Woollen Manufactures whereby they have lost their Reputation abroad we put the world upon necessities of supplying themselves elsewhere and especially from Ireland whereby the Dutch not only partake with us in our Turkey Trade and up the Elb but the Dutch and French in our own Markets in England have a free and open Trade in Woollen Cloths and Stuffs and in the mean while our Wool becomes a Drug and of no price or esteem at home whereby notwithstanding the severity of all our Laws against the Exportation thereof great quantities are exported and so will be until we establish such a Trade in our Woollen Manufactures that men shall be better encouraged to work them here than elsewhere for all men will rather venture their lives than lose their means of living We neglect to give any encouragement in assisting Ingenuous and Industrious men in any undertaking for the Publick good I give one instance in the County of Suffolk and here in Clerkenwel The English during the late Dutch and French War did betake themselves to Weaving Poldavies or Buck which they did make into double Buck being two threds spun together and made of our English Hemp which Ipswich and Woodbridge men affirm to be better than any East Country Hemp for this use which made better Sails than any other and did manage a considerable Trade thereby to the great benefit of Suffolk but now the Dutch and French Buck is sold somewhat cheaper the English not being as yet so much Masters of the Trade as the Dutch and French This Trade begins to decline again and to be neglected for want of some small Encouragement which might be done by some small Imposition for some time upon the French and Dutch Buck until we should be enabled to work it as cheap as it is in France and Holland As we give no encouragement to our industrious Natives so we utterly discourage all industrious Foreiners from improving and increasing Trade I need not here repeat the discouragement put upon the Silk-throwers by the Corporation and Company of London wherein near 20000 people are imployed though the first introduction of Silk-throwing was by a Foreiner the worthy Father of Sir Thomas Chamberlain now a worthy Citizen of London because the Wisdom of Parliament hath provided security for the Silk-throwers But though the Weaving Silk be as much or more advantageous to the Nation yet certain ingenuous and industrious French Artificers who endeavoured to exercise their Trades last Summer in the Suburbs of London were Indicted at Hicks Hall by certain of the Yeomanry of the Company of Weavers Commissionated by the Bailiff Warden and Assistants of the said Company and committed to the New-Prison in Clerkenwel though the difference between the said Company and the Protestant Strangers using manual Occupation was upon the Address of the French and Dutch Churches depending before his Majesty and Council Nor could any relief herein be had though his Majesty in Council the 29. of October last referred the business to the Lords of the Committee of Trade until his Majesty in Council the 10th of November last was pleased to discharge them I need not here recite the benefits the Nation at this day reaps by the permitting the Walloons to establish their Trades at Canterbury Norwich Colchester and other places the Nation at least the Southern and Eastern parts know they are the best Trades we have now left Yet I cannot but take notice that within the memory of man the returns of Maidstone Market did not amount to weekly above 30 l. whereas since admitting about 60 Families of Foreiners in the thred Trade the returns are weekly now above 1000 l. to the incredible benefit of the Lands as well as all sorts of people adjoyning How pernicious this practice of excluding Foreiners must needs be to the Nation as it now stands if it be continued is understood by his Majesty And the French King so well understands how much it will conduce to the advantage of France to encourage the freedom of Trade by entertaining all sorts of Forein Artificers that in contradiction to all the Ecclesiastical Powers opposing it he hath granted free liberty to all sorts of Forein Artificers and Merchants to exercise their Consciences in all Ports and places in his Dominion and to have Churches allowed them with equal or more Priviledges than his natural Subjects Sure now it will be no ways prudent in us so to discourage any herein as to be entertained by the French King as well as Dutch So that all the good and beneficial ends designed by Trade viz. of imploying all sorts of Impotent People Women and Children of Strengthning and enriching our selves by Trade are quite inverted by us For the Fishing Trade and the Trades of Making Dying and Dressing our Cloaths and Stuffs wherein all sorts of poor people might have been employed is lost and neglected by us whilst we intend the Newcastle Trade the French Canary Turkey East-India Trade and to our Plantations wherein only lusty men are imployed and the Impotent People Women and Children are exposed to beggery and the publick charge Secondly Ireland and our Plantations Rob us of all the growing Youth and Industry of the Nation whereby it becomes week and seeble and the Strength as well as Trade becomes decayed and diminished I and the Law against Naturalization Bars us of any future supply And thirdly Our Affluence Luxury and irregular management of Trade renders us poorer and in a worse condition than if we had no Trade at all So as here Reader thou mayest understand the reason of the decay and falls of the Rents of Lands in England for by the 11 Petition the Rents of Lands are valuable as the Trade of the place is the Trade of England therefore being diminished the Rents of the Lands in England are consequently fallen and diminished in proportion to it REASONS OF THE INCREASE OF THE Dutch-Trade PART II. Wherein is Demonstrated from what causes the Dutch govern and manage Trade better than the English whereby they have so far improved their Trade above the English Petitions 1. MEN labour more industriously in Trade and upon easier terms in the Vnited Netherlands than in England 2. The Dutch have down the Rhine Maez and Scheld out of Germany France Lorrain Flanders and other Spanish Provinces greater
quantities of Timber more choice and upon less terms than can be had in England but more since the Timber of England is so much diminished by the Act of Navigation and much more when the City of London is rebuilt 3. The Dutch have Pitch Tar Hemp for Cordage Tackle and Iron in greater quantities and for less terms than the English can out of Norway Denmark and other Kingdoms within the Sound 4. Pitch Tar Cordage Tackle and Iron are necessary means in fitting up Ships for Navigation 5. The Dutch build Ships for Navigation more conveniently than the English 6. The Dutch acquire more Forein Commodities in Trade out of Germany cheaper and with more convenience than the English do out of Scotland 7. The whole world is Water and Land 8. The Dutch pay less Customs for Forein Commodities at home than the English 9. The Dutch pay less Customs for Forein Commodities in Forein Trade than the English do 10. The Dutch pay less interest for mony than the English 11. The Dutch States are more conversant in Trade than the Council of State in England or any other 12. The Dutch generally breed their youth of both Sexes in the Studies of Geometry and Numbers especially more than the English do 13. The Study of Geometry and Numbers is the best Education for understanding Trade 14. The Dutch States have equal or more means in Trade than the Council of State in England or any other 15. A Dutch Statesman is more interessed in Trade than a Counsellor of State in England or any else 16. Dutch Merchants and their Wives are generally more conversant in Trade than the English 17. Dutch Merchants have fewer impediments in Trade than English and have their Controversies in Trade sooner determined and with less charge and trouble 18. The Dutch pay less Customs for their Domestick Manufactures in Forein Trade than the English do Axioms or Common Notions 8. Where men labour more industriously upon less terms upon any thing this thing is cheaper managed 9. Any business which is more freely managed may be greatlier managed than if it were more restrained 10. More business is done by more means and cheap if the means be had upon easier terms 11. More business may be done by more means and cheap and more conveniently if the means be more convenient and cheaper 12. Who buyes cheaper than another and more conveniently may sell cheaper and with much more gain if the charge be otherways less 13. All things are either Forein or Domestick 14. They who are more conversant in any business and better Educated in it may understand it better than another 15. They who may understand any business better than another may govern it better than that other 16. Where men are more interessed in any business they are less subject to be corrupted to the prejudice of it 17. They who have fewer impediments in any business and less charge and trouble in it may improve it better than another who hath more 18. The whole is equal to all parts TREATISE II. Proposition 1. Problem 1. HOW the Dutch manage a greater Trade at home than the English Subjects Are the Dutch and English Question How the Dutch manage a greater Trade at home Construction By the 1 Pet. 1. the Dutch freely entertain men of all Nations in Trade and give them equal priviledges with the natural born Dutch By the 9 Pet. 1. The English by the Bar of Naturalization and freedom of Strangers restrain the Trade of England to the English only I say the Dutch may manage a greater Trade at home Ax. 9. For any business which is more freely managed may be and is greatlier managed than if it were more restrained Const But Trade is more freely managed by the Dutch at home than by the English Therefore the Dutch manage a greater Trade at home which was to be done Annotations From hence it is that the Dutch States without the danger of War or putting themselves into the power of fickle and unconstant Fortune and by destruction and devastation of other Countries killing and making men miserable by poverty and slavery from no principles from within themselves but by acquiring men and means from other places have attained the means though all the United Neatherlands do not in bigness exceed the County of York nor have half the conveniencies of that Country except in numbers of people to manage a greater Trade at home than any other Country of the world It is true the times since they became States have concurred much to their advantage herein for entertaining all sorts of persons who upon the account of either Religion or Faction forsook their Countries they have been much more enabled to do this But the Province of Holland above all other for no sort of people was denyed admission there whereby Holland as it is of more strength than all the other Provinces so it contributes 11 16 to all Publick Taxes Whereas this Nation does not only lye under the restraint of the Bar of Naturalization and Ireland and our Plantations are always open to exhaust us of our men but besides the multitudes of English which are dispersed in other places of the Netherlands Rotterdam Middleborough and Flushing are about ¼ English and of English Extraction About the Years 1636. and 37. about 140 Families out of Norfolk and Suffolk forsook us and Planted themselves in Leyden Alkmen and other places of the United Netherlands and there established the Woollen Manufactures of those places which at this day is as much advantageous to the Dutch and prejudicial to us as Queen Eliz. after the example of K. Edward 3. entertaining the Walloons persecuted by the Duke of Alva and planting them in Colchester Norwich Canterbury c. was advantageous to us and prejudicial to the King of Spain And sure it is worthy the consideration of the Parliament how this may be prevented for the future One Thomas Tilham born at Martley in the County of Worcester and formerly a Chirurgeon in Warwick treated with the Elector Palatine of Rhine about 6 years since to bring in a Colony to Inhabit and establish Woollen Manufactures in the Palatinate which the Prince allowing the said Tilham hath brought in a Colony of it s believ'd between 2000 and 3000 men who now manage a Trade upon Woollen Manufactures and for Tilhams Reward herein the Prince hath made him Commander of them Many of these people came to Tilham out of Essex and Suffolk One Skip of Herefordshire is gone to him with some people so are several others out of those parts So that though all Princes as well as States almost understood the wealth and strength which attends a Domestick Trade as well as the Dutch Yet we only of almost all the world are so careless herein that we neither care for encreasing our Domestick Trade nor to restrain our Artificers from betraying the mystery of ours though the free admission of People of all Nations was the