Raisins Figs Almonds Aniseeds Salt Soap Soude or Kalt and abundance of excellent Wool The Foreign Commodities which are most proper for this Country are French Linnens made in Bittany good Quantities of Woollen and Silk Stuffs Lace Hats Small Wares of every sort and Jewellers Work most of which are sent from Cadiz the rest the Dutch bring directly to the places they design them for CHAP. XI Of the Trade with Portugal BEFORE Portugal and the Countries that Crown possessed in Asia Africa and America came to be reunited in the Year 1580 to the Crown of Castille under the Reign of Philip II the Dutch traded very much with Portugal and with a great deal of ease notwithstanding the Difference of Religion and the great Severity of the Inquisition their greatest Trade was that of Lisbon whence they Exported besides the Merchandize of the Country that of the East Indies Africa and Brazil all which at that time went only thro' the Hands of the Portugueze But after that Union the Trade that the Dutch drove in Portugal underwent the same Fate as in the other Provinces of the Spanish Monarchy that is those Gentlemen were depriv'd of all manner of Commerce whatsoever The Portugueze having shook off the Government of the Castilians in the Year 1640 one of the first things they did was to stop the Conquests of the Dutch which they were continually making of the Portugueze Territories in the East Indies Africa and Brazil being Subject to the King of Spain The new King sent forthwith an Ambassador to the Hague to represent to the States General that the Portugueze as such never having any Difference with the United Provinces he earnestly wish'd there might be establish'd a good Understanding between the two Nations which would put them in a better Condition to resist the Spaniand their common Enemy The States General finding their Account in the Offers of the Portugueze a Truce for ten Years was signed between them in the Year 1641 and included all the Countries belonging to the two Nations as well on this as the other Side of the Line By this Truce it was agreed that there should be a free Navigation and that each Party should be Master of those Places they were in Possession of at the time of publishing such Truce which Truce was so ill observ'd by the Dutch in the Indies that the Portugueze were in some Measure oblig'd to break it in the Year 1645 by an Insurrection they made in Brazil against the Dutch whom they entirely drove out of that Country This occasioned a new War in Brazil between the two Nations but it did not break out in Europe till the Month of October 1646 when the States General declar'd War in all its Forms against the King of Portugal because he would not restore to their West India Company that which his Subjects had taken from them in 1647 but this Affair was endeavour'd to be accomodated by the Mediation of France and Cromwel The War between the Northern Crowns was the Cause that this Negotiation lingred out till the Restoration of the King of England who resolving to marry the Infanta of Portugal procur'd a Peace between the two Nations by his Mediation and a perpetual Peace was signed by them accordingly the 16th of August 1661. The Privileges the Portugueze granted to the Dutch by this Treaty in relation to their Commerce gave them an Opportunity of Trading very considerably in Portugal particularly after the French prohibited all Foreign Sugar and Tobacco and the Portugueze on their side prohibted all French Manufactures 'Twas with these two Articles chiefly that the Portugueze paid for all French Goods but after the French left off taking these from Portugal the Portugueze would deal no more in French Merchandize this gave the Dutch an Opportunity to furnish them with theirs taking in payment Sugar and Tobacco which they knew very well how to dispose of The Trade of Holland is chiefly at Lisbon and Oporto but the first is the most considerable As for St. Ubes where they go for Salt there is very little or no Consumption The Goods they Transport to Portugal consist chiefly in great Quantities of Manufactures of Silk Wool and Linnen Small Wares and Iron-work Paper Cards Leather Corn in time of scarcity which is there very frequent Of all sorts of Merchandize except Corn there is a vast Consumption in Portugal and its Colonies The Goods they bring from Portugal are those of the Country or its Colonies the latter consist in Sugars Tobacco Wood of Brazil and Fernambouc Ox Hides Ginger Pearls Indigo rough Diamonds and Ambergrease c. Tobacco and Sugar are the chief Commodities of Portugal Sugar is one of their richest Returns from Brazil where it wonderfully abounds The Islands of S. Thomas Madera Capo Verde and the Terceras also furnish considerable Quantities but I am of the Opinion not near so good unless it be that of Madera they have also great Quantities of Brazil Wood and other Woods for Dying Ambergrease which comes from Melinda Pearls and Diamonds from the East Indies this Merchandize is one of the greatest Articles in the Portugal Trade The Merchadize of Portugal itself consists in Wines amongst which I shall reckon those of Madera Oils Olives Aniseeds excellent Fruits Rasins and Figs. It is believ'd that the Dutch bring every Year from Portugal ten or twelve Ships laden with those Commodities including Limons and Oranges without reckoning their dry'd Sweet-meats made of several sorts of admirable Fruits in Portugal and Brazil It is said that they send every Year directly into Portugal above twenty Sail of Ships besides other Ships that Trade in the Mediterranean and come thence to S. Ubes for their lading of Salt of which they make a great Consumption in the North where it has been very much in Use for a long time The Commerce of Holland with Portugal is carried on by a Fleet of fifty Ships that are every Year constantly employ'd for that End from fifteen to thirty Guns with which they do good Service against the Corsairs and Pirates CHAP. XII Of the Mediterranean or Streights Trade THE Trade of the Mediterranean Sea was heretofore the most considerable in the World when that of the Indies only past thro' Alexandria and some other Ports of Syria This Commerce was chiefly carry'd on by the French Italians and Catalans but the Venetians were the most considerable of all The Portugueze making themselves Masters of the Trade of Asia turn'd the Current and the Italians and the French enjoy'd only the Commerce with the Provinces and Countries on the Coast of the Mediterranean which however was very considerable And this they kept to themselves till the English and Dutch began to Traffick with the Subjects of the Grand Signior the former in the Year 1599 and the latter in 1612. since that time those two Nations have made themselves so much Masters of that Trade that the Italians and French have very little to do
Towns in the Low Countries But his Hopes were frustrated for being engaged in almost continual Wars with his Neighbours and not taking due Care to free the Seas from Rovers and Enemies it so fell out that the Towns of Flanders which used to follow the Fishery and Sea Trade lost both so far were they from getting amongst them any Share of the Trade of Antwerp This made the whole Fishery remove to Holland and the Manufactures of Flanders into other Countries One third Part of the Workmen and Merchants who wrought or dealt in Silks Damasks Taffeties and Stockings c. went to settle in England because none in that Country knew at that time to work in those Manufactures A great many went to Leyden and most of them that dealt in Linnen went to settle in Harlem not to mention those who went to Amsterdam It is astonishing to think that the Merchants of Antwerp in leaving a Place the most convenient in the World for Trade should make choice of one seeming the most improper in all Europe One would have rather thought that the Neighbourhood of England whose Situation and Harbours are so admirably fitted for Trade might have invited them thither Those Merchants who were of the reformed Religion would have had a greater Inclination to settle there than in any other Place whatsoever in hopes not only to live more at quiet but also on Account of the Situation which is very advantageous for trading with all Europe But they wanted to be in a Country where Foreigners were not obliged to pay such Customs and other Taxes which the native English are free from for in England it seems at the time Foreigners and all their Posterity payed double what the Natives did besides Foreigners were excluded all Companies or Societies of Trade so that none were allowed to work either as Partners or Masters unless at such Trades as the Natives were unacquainted with so that none went thither but such as wrought in Serges Damasks Stockings c. Most of these and the like Inconveniencies they were also sure to meet with in the Hanse Towns which partly was the Cause that almost the whole Trade of Antwerp came to be established in the Towns of Holland which were free from all those Obstacles The Situation of these neighbouring Towns and several other Considerations contributed very much to draw thither especially to Amsterdam all this vast and profitable Trade After the Union of the seven Provinces and the World saw this new Republick defend it self with Success against Spain under the Conduct of the Prince of Orange all those who hated the Spanish Government retired thither as to an Asylum from its Rigour and Severity The Persecutions which Spain renewed with too great Severity in several Places against those who had embraced the new Opinions peopled the United Provinces with a World of excellent Artisans who set up there several new Manufactures and brought those they had already to great Perfection The Civil Wars that lasted so long in France then in Germany and last of all in England augmented considerably the Inhabitants of the United Provinces and the Wars which broke out in the Year 1634 in the Low Countries between France and Spain made likewise great Numbers of Merchants and Workmen come into Holland for the richest Villages of Flanders Brabant and the Country beyond the Maese being ruined by Winter Quarters the Inhabitants themselves left them because the most trading Towns had lost all their Commerce and the Carriage of Goods was liable to such imminent Dangers All this caused not only the Towns of Holland to grow extraordinarily populous but doubly encreased their Trade as having a prodigious Vent for almost all Sorts of their Manufactures and other Commodities during the Continuance of that War But after all nothing has encreased the Inhabitants of Holland and their Manufactures so much as the French Protestants who were almost all of them Merchants or Artisans and came thither about twenty or thirty Years since To conclude it must be acknowledge for incontestable Truth that whenever Trade is clogg'd or constrain'd in any Government it will retire to others where it may have greater Safety and be more favourably used which Happiness at that time it could no where find so well as in Holland Having here clearly explained and observed the principal Motives which induced so many Merchants and Artisans to go in Millions to the United Provinces let us now consider what their Commerce is how they carry it on and a Country producing nothing necessary to Trade and Navigation is become the Centre of both For Holland produces nothing at all necessary except Butter Cheese and Clay to make Delft Ware or other Eastern Ware and this is well worth the Observation of the Reader that is any ways versed in Politicks CHAP. II. Of the Origin and Causes of the vast Trade of Holland IT is certain that some Manufactures were set up in several Places of Holland even while the Hanse Towns commanded all the Trade and Navigation of Europe The Art of Pickling Herrings having been found out as I before observed about 250 Years ago and the Ruine of the Trade of Bruges encreasing that of Holland tho' it was but then inconsiderable in Comparison to what it was afterwards by the Destruction of that of Antwerp the prodigious Numbers of People that left the Low Countries together with the vast Riches they brought thither not to mention those who came thither from other Countries where Liberty of Conscience was not permitted were of Necessity obliged to trade by Sea to procure for themselves Necessaries for Life the new Country they were come to inhabit being but of small Extent and not producing near what they had an absolute Occasion for This Barrenness of Holland was one of the principal Causes of the great Trade we see carried on there at this time for the great and incredible Numbers of People who fled thither for Security had no other Way to subsist and to pay those heavy Taxes so often laid upon them in Defence of their Liberty against the Spaniards These two powerful Motives the Preservation of Life and Liberty caused the Inhabitants of the United Provinces to carry their Goods to all Parts of the World where they had any Prospect of Gain About the Year 1625 they traded to the Kingdoms of the North to Germany Poland Muscovy England to the Spanish Low Countries and to Portugal under Spanish Colours or of any other Nation in Alliance with Philip II. But the Spaniards afterwards having by their Severities and Vexations deterred the Dutch from so much as attempting to trade with either of these two Nations found to their no small Loss the fatal Consequences of their mistaken Politicks for the Seamen and Traders who had by the Interruption of Trade with Spain and Portugal lost all Manner of Employment were resolved not to sit still but hazard all rather than live without Trading With this Resolution
MEMOIRS OF THE DUTCH Trade In all the STATES KINGDOMS and EMPIRES in the World SHEWING Its First Rise and prodigious Progress After what Manner the Dutch manage and carry on their Trade their Dominions and Government in the Indies By what Means they have made themselves Masters of all the Trade of Europe What Goods and Merchandise are proper for Maritime Traffick whence they are to be had and what Gain and Profit they produce A WORK very necessary for all Merchants and others concerned in Trade Done from the French now Printed at Amsterdam LONDON Printed for J. Sackfield in Lincolns-Inn-Square G. Davis under Sergeants-Inn in Chancery-Lane and Sold by T. Warner in Pater-Noster-Rore THE AUTHOR's PREFACE SOME Persons of Honour and Distinction whom I ought by no means to disoblige having engaged me to write something upon Trade which might give them a general Idea of it as it regards Politicks I believed nothing would better answer that End than to give them a true Notion of the Trade of the Dutch which has diffused it self over all Parts of the habitable World and to shew that it is on Account of Trade that their Republick has such a considerable Rank amongst the States of Europe This was what moved me to undertake this small Treatise and indeed I write the more willingly on this Subject of Commerce because there is nothing in my Judgment seems to be so little understood in France especially by Persons in publick Employments and high Posts either in the Courts of Judicature the Cabinet or the Treasury However it is certain Commerce is of so great Importance that I make no Difficulty to aver that according to the present Conduct of the several States of Europe there are very few things in Government which deserve more our Attention than this Article of Commerce To be convinced of this Truth we have nothing else to do but consider the Difference there is between those Countries where Trade flourishes and those Countries who have none If we will only remember that England and Holland which by Reason of their Situation make so great a Figure in the Affairs of Europe regulate their principal Interest always with an Eye to their Commerce and this was the principal Motive which caused the last Wars that is the Security of their Trade we shall be entirely satisfied that Commerce ought to have no mean Place in modern Politicks Besides these Considerations which are particular ones in relation to the present State of Europe there are yet others more general which ought no less to excite all Princes and their Ministers and all those who have any Share in Government to know thoroughly the Nature of Commerce and the Maxims which are necessary to its being well carried on and managed since as Bocalin very well observes Agriculture and Commerce are the Breasts which suckle and nourish the State Truths which ought to be engraven in Letters of Gold in all the Apartments of Kings Princes and Statesmen to induce them to consider Tradesmen and Merchants according to their Merits To these I shall add that a great State cannot flourish or indeed be at Peace if it has not a great Trade for 'tis only by means of Trade it can draw to its self Riches and Plenty without which it can undertake nothing advantageous either to aid and assist its Allies or extend its Limits The great Gustavus Adolphus was so well convinc'd of this Truth that tho' War was his predominant Passion yet he very seriously apply'd himself to make Trade flourish in his Dominions and was used to say That to put his Soldiers Valour to the Proof he was often obliged to have recourse to his Merchants My Lord Bacon who was one of the greatest Politicians of his time look'd upon Merchants to be so necessary that he compared them in the State to the Blood in a Man's Body Which if it did not flourish says he a Man may possibly have some of his Limbs very strong but he would be sure to have empty Veins and a lean Habit of Body Qui nisi flouruerit potest quidem aliquos-Artus habere Robustos sed Venas vacuas Habitum Corporis macrum It may be proved from Examples almost as old as the World that States flourish in Proportion to Commerce as we may gather from what the Holy Scriptures teach us in relation to the Tyrians and Sidonians But we need not run so far back into Antiquity for Examples we need only consider the surprizing Changes which Trade has caused in our Days if I may so say amongst our Neighbours The Power of England was once so inconsiderable before the Reign of Queen Elizabeth according to Cambden's Observation that her Predecessors nay even her own Father when they had a mind to put a Fleet to Sea were obliged to hire Ships from Hamburgh Lubeck Dantzick Genoa and Venice But after the English by the Care of that able Princess apply'd themselves to Traffick and by reason of the great Protection she gave to Merchants it flourished in Muscovy in all the Dominions of the Grand Seignior upon the Coasts of Africa the East or rather the West Indies and in almost all other Parts of the World that Queen soon became capable of maintaining her self a great Naval Force which at last became the Terror of the Ocean and the Narrow Seas which made that Nation go and attack more than once the Power of Philip the Second not only in the New World but even on the very Coasts of Spain In short that powerful Queen followed so well those Maxims of securing and encreasing the Commerce of all her Subjects and their Traffick on the footing of her Naval Force that she laid those solid Foundations for the encrease of Commerce and Maritime Power of England two things to which that Nation owes to this Day all its Strength and Grandeur But nothing can come up to what the Dutch have done by Commerce and it will ever be a Subject of Astonishment and Wonder that a handful of Merchants that fled into a little Country which produced scarce enough to subsist its new Inhabitants should beat down the exorbitant Power of the Spanish Monarchy and make that King sue for Peace that they should lay the Foundation of so mighty a Republick which we see at present in some manner to hold the Balance between all the other Powers of Europe but what is most wonderful and what ought most to surprize us is that the Wars never interrupted their Trade and that it was in the very heat of War that they laid the Foundations of that of the East-Indies and the Coasts of Africa and that they should trade with their Enemies the Spaniards in spite of all the Precautions they took to the contrary which very much contributed to the Support of the War The States General of the United Provinces seeing the Industry of these Merchants was of so great Service to the Republick protected and favoured them in every
thing and it may be truly said that without their Assistance they would never have been able to put so glorious an End to the War as they did We see by this what Advantage Commerce is to a State when it is regulated with Prudence and by able Merchants who have all Protection and no Constraint But what need we go out of France for Examples to show how important Commerce is to a Nation We need only consider the great Things that have been done under the glorious Reign of our Great Monarch and the almost infinite Sums which have been disbursed as well to support the War against all the Powers of Europe for above 30 Years as during the Peace Could one ever have imagined this could have been done without that prodigious Quantity of Money which Trade especially that with Spain brought into France For we have no Mines to supply us What then would have been the Consequence had Commerce been protected and encouraged in France as it ought to have been I doubt not but in such Case we might have said of France what the Holy Scripture said of Jerusalem that in the Days of Solomon Gold and Silver were as common as Stones If England by means of the Woollen Manufactures and by the vent of her Tin Lead and Sea-Coal has amassed such Riches what might one not have believed France would have gained which besides her Manufactures of Wool Silk Linnen Hats Paper and many other Things which are eagerly sought after by all the World supplies other Countries with Wines Brandies Wheat Salt Oil and Fruits of all sorts for immense Sums This Abundance and great Plenty of our Merchandize so necessary and useful to our Neighbours made my Lord Bellasis say That if God should one Day make the Turks know what they could do at Sea and the French how far they might extend their Commerce all Europe would soon fall a Conquest to those Powers I shall only give one Instance more to shew how nothing but Commerce can enrich a Kingdom let us therefore turn our Eyes to Spain and it is certain that there is no Nation in the World has so little Gold and Silver as the Spaniards tho' those two Metals grow in such prodigious Quantities in their Dominions other Nations notwithstanding are better provided therewith on account of the great Vent their Commodities have in Spain and the dependent Kingdoms which have Occasion for them and in short that great Monarchy has fallen to Decay purely for having neglected Commerce and establishing several Manufactures in Dominions of so vast and large extent It was this Negligence which was one of the principal Springs of the Riches of France and while France traded with Spain she never wanted Gold or Silver not even during those long and difficult Wars Let us only look back and consider what Condition France was in by the Pyrenean Treaty notwithstanding a long War of above twenty five Years and all those she has since sustained even to our Days It is much to be wished we would open our Eyes soon enough and take Notice of a Matter of so much Importance and so necessary as Commerce and endeavour to know how to take such Measures as may bring to a good Issue that on which in some manner depends the Happiness of all his Majesty's Subjects and the Grandeur of the Nation We Frenchmen have been reproached and perhaps not without some reason that the Genius of our Nation was not proper for a foreign Commerce being quickly weary of all Undertakings that require a solid and continued Application But without deciding this Matter I shall content my self to say that there have been and yet are in France Persons of very good Abilities and Experience necessary for carrying on a vast Trade Out of several I shall only mention Jaques Couer Superintendent of the Finances or in the Language of those Times Moneyer to King Charles the Seventh This Man who was born at Bourges being entirely addicted to Foreign Trade in a time when scarce any one meddled with it in France got prodigious Wealth which he employ'd to the best Advantage in the Service of the King his Master and the Support of the State Matthew Coucy an Historian his Contemporary speaks of him after this manner The King says he had in his Kingdom a Man of mean Extraction whose Name was Jaques Couer who by his Sense Vigilance and good Conduct so ordered it as to undertake trading in Commodities of the hightest Value which he still continued to do notwithstanding his being made Moneyer to King Charles in which Office he continued a long while in great Power and Prosperity He had under him many Clerks and Factors who had the Care of these Commodities to distribute them thro' all Christian States and Kingdoms He had at Sea a great many large Vessels maintained at his own Expence and Charge which traded to the Levant Egypt and Barbary to freight themselves with all sorts of rich and fine Commodities and Merchandize by Leave of the Sultan and Turks paying them some little Duty as an Acknowledgment He caused to be brought from those Countries Gold and Silver Stuffs Silks of all Sorts and Colours Furs for Men and Women of several Kinds as Martins and Sables c. and other excellent Curiosities which Goods he sold by his Commissaries and Factors at the Hotel Royalle in all the principal Cities of the Kingdom and in foreign Courts where the People surprized with Admiration soon bought them up at a good Price He had at least three or four Hundred Commissaries or Factors at his Command and gained himself more in one Year than all the Merchants of the Kingdom He was in Possession of the Office of Superintendant of the Finances when King Charles undertook the Conquest of Normandy in the Year 1449 of which Conquest this famous Merchant was the chief Cause for he was the first that encouraged the King to that great Undertaking and furnished him with an Army by offering him several Milions which was executed after the Manners as the King best liked and for which he was highly applauded and complimented by all the Princes and Lords of the Court and yet for all that Expence his Wealth was almost invaluable Heaven could once have given us and yet might have given us another Jaquez Couer and then we should have entertained greater Hopes than ever to bring the Trade of France to its highest Pitch and make our Nation the most flourishng in the World The Merchants of France to accomplish this want only an experienced Leader a Person of much Knowledge one that has a great Foresight an enterprizing Genius and continual Application and Perseverance a Person of great Credit and Power that he may protect those who traffick under him and are his Commissioners in whatever Place of the World It was by such Means as these that the Dutch have carried Commerce to the highest Degree as may be seen in the following
Manufactures made Navigation flourish in that large Province and of Consequence very much encreased their Trade and Commerce The Towns of Sluice and Bruges were the two chief Places where the Flemings at that Time drove on the Herring-Trade with Foreigners The former of which having a fine Harbour both for Largeness of Extent and safe Riding capable of containing 500 Ships was continually full of Ships from different Nations that traded there as well as at Bruges for in Reality Sluice is no more than the Port of Bruges which Towns have a Communication with each other by means of a large Canal Bruges is at present one of the largest Towns in Flanders but has lost much of its Splendour since the Year 1487 for at that Time there was scarce a Nation in Europe how inconsiderable soever that had not their proper Magazine or Store-House and a Company established there for Trade as the English French Scotch Castilian and Portugueze the Companies of Arragon Catalonia Biscay Venice Florence Genoa Lucca Milan Germany Denmark Sweden and all the Hanse Towns These last about the Year 1262 set up in that Town their greatest Store-House which gave a considerable Encrease to Trade It was to this Place that the several Nations just now mentioned imported the Commodities of their respective Countries which they exchanged with each other or for Flanders Linnen This mighty Trade of Bruges drew thither Workmen of all Sorts which made it extremely rich and famous Nothing can give us a better Idea of the Riches of this Town than what History tells us of a Queen of France who was Consort to Philip the Fair who coming to Bruges in the Year 1301 seeing the Women so richly drest could not in a Sort of Indignation forbear speaking these Words I thought I had been the only Queen in this Place but I see there are above Six Hundred The immense Riches of the People of Bruges on Account of their vast Trade made them not only grow insolent and unjust to foreign Merchants so that they left the Place but also to their Sovereign which was the very Ruin of their Trade that had flourished in an extraordinary Manner to the Year 1487 when a War broke out between the Flemings and the Arch-Duke Maximilian their Prince which lasted about ten Years and expired with the Death of the Trade of Bruges The People of Antwerp and Amsterdam growing uneasy to see all the Trade of the Low Countries center in Bruges assisted the Arch-Duke Maximilian in chastising that Town for their Rebellion and in Recompence for such Assistance obtained from that Prince all the Privileges of Commerce formerly enjoyed by Bruges Thus was that Trade transferred to Antwerp and Amsterdam but the greatest Share fell to Antwerp and every thing after seemed to contribute to the Encrease of its Commerce The Italians much about that time having caused the Use of Silk to be more common in Europe imported great Quantities to Antwerp The Portugueze and Spaniards having discovered both Indies imported Spices and all other the rich Commodities produced by those vast and wealthy Climates the English set up a Store-House for their Merchandise and the Hanse Towns who after the thirteenth Century had settled one of their four Magazines of Goods at Bruges removed it to Antwerp where they caused to be built that stately Town-House which remains to this Day The Persecutions raised in Germany on the Account of Religion under the Reign of the Emperour Charles the Fifth in France under Henry the Second and in England under Queen Mary forced a World of People thither as well as Trade and particularly encreased that of Antwerp The vast Concourse of all the principal trading Nations made this Town the most celebrated Store-House or Magazine in all Europe if not of the whole World In a Word Antwerp was then almost what Amsterdam is now for about the Year 1550 it was a common thing to see 2500 Ships in the Scheld laden with all Sorts of Merchandise By this it evidently appears that Commerce may flourish in a Monarchy as well as in a Free State especially if good Management be not wanting for never any thing flourished more than the Manufactures and Commerce of the Low Countries under the Government of four Princes of the House of Burgundy and two of the House of Austria I lay a long while under that old vulgar Error that Common Wealths were most proper for carrying on a considerable Trade but I altered my Opinion after I had more narrowly examined things and heard this Matter discussed by some of the ablest Merchants and Politicians of England and Holland and after I had seriously reflected on the happy Situation and Fruitfulness of France the Industry of its Inhabitants and the Nature of its Government I was fully convinced and I think it would not be a hard Matter to convince others that Commerce may be made to flourish there as well as in any Republick whatever and by that Means render that Monarchy more powerful than ever it was yet It is certainly the Interest of Princes that Commerce should flourish in their Dominions for never were greater things performed by Sovereigns than when the Trade of their Subjects has afforded them the Means to put them in Execution which may easily be proved by infinite Examples both ancient and modern Trade has the only attractive Quality to draw into any State Gold and Silver which are the Primum Mobile of all Actions This is so true that Spain in whose Dominions these two Metals are produced in greatest Abundance is very often straitned for other Necessities of Life and that purely for having neglected Trade and Manufactures and all the Mines of America would scarce be sufficient to pay for all the Merchandise and Provisions that the other Nations of Europe bring thither Trade which has not any Enemy so mortal as Constraint changed its Residence as soon as the Spaniards began to deprive the seventeen Provinces of the Low Countries of their Privileges The Inquisition which was designed to be set up by the Duke of Alva and the Cruelty he exercised in governing those rich Provinces forced such infinite Numbers to leave them that in a few Months above a Hundred Thousand Families retired into other Parts After this the Prince of Parma having in the Year 1584 besieged Antwerp gave a terrible Blow to its Trade for the Scheld during that long Siege being continually blocked up the Merchants who used to come and trade in that Town went elsewhere In short the bad Politicks of the King of Spain compleated the Ruin of the Trade of Antwerp as well as of the other Towns in the Low Countries that were under his Jurisdiction For the Views he had in humbling that Town whose great Riches gave him Umbrage made him after its Reduction neglect to keep the Scheld open intending by so doing to lessen its Trade in hopes that most of it would then diffuse it self over the other
they went to visit the Coasts of America and Africa and their adjacent Islands at last thro' almost infinite Dangers they penetrated into the East Indies By means of these several Voyages they got at first Hand the greatest Part of those rich Commodities which they before used to furnish themselves with at second Hand at Lisbon and Seville and their famous East India Company which began in the Year 1602 behaved themselves so dexterously that they possest themselves of the greatest Part of the best Places the Portugueze were Masters of in the Indies and of almost all their Commerce too in those Parts The Truce of twelve Years being concluded in the Beginning of the Year 1609 between the Spaniards and the United Provinces the States General omitted nothing all that time to increase their Trade where it was already established or to establish it where they never had established it before In the Year 1612 the Grand Seignior allowed the Dutch a free Trade throughout all his Dominions This Treaty of Alliance with the Turks gave a free and favourable Access to their Ships all over the Mediterranean About that time the King of Morocco and the Emperour of Japan permitted them also to trade in all their Dominions since which this Republick might boast of having extended her Commerce over all Parts of the old World except China The War breaking out again in the Year 1621 between Spain and the United Provinces their East India Company pushed on their Conquests and Commerce in the East with surprizing Success at the Expence of Spain and Portugal Their West India Company which began in the Year 1623 notwithstanding the War besides those immense Sums they gained by taking of the Spanish Plate Fleets and those considerable Advantages they made by ruining their Men of War possessed themselves of Part of Brazil and the most important Places the Portugueze held in Guinea and the other Countries of the Western Coast of Africa and could they but have kept the Conquests they made in Brazil 'tis highly probable they would have been entire Masters of it and in a few Years would have got into their own Hands all the Trade of the Spaniards and Portugueze in that Place The United Provinces having obtained of the Spaniards very great Advantages for their Commerce at the Peace of Munster which was concluded in the Year 1648 they pushed it on with the utmost Vigour during that Calm their Republick then enjoyed and got together by that means immense Riches which put them into a Condition to support the War which they had with England and France in the Year 1672. In a Word this famous Republick has notwithstanding the Wars extended her Trade over all Parts of the World where she has and still does maintain it with such prudent Conduct and considerable Authority that she may serve as a Model for all other trading Nations Before we enter into a particular Description of the Trade of the United Provinces in all Parts of the World It will be very necessary to speak somewhat of their Fishery Manufactures and Navigation CHAP. III. Of the Fishery Manufactures and Navigation of the United Provinces IT is certain as I have already observed that there were some Manufactures established in Holland long before their Fishery Traffick and Navigation but then this was so inconsiderable a Matter that it may be truly said that the Fishery gave Birth to their Traffick and Navigation This was the Opinion of Monsieu De Wit and the most understanding Persons in Holland The Subjects of the United Provinces fish on their own Sea Coasts Lakes and Rivers and take vast Quantities of Cod Haddock Salmon Soles and other Sorts of Fish and how considerable that Fishery may be and how great the Quantities are which they carry to foreign Countries yet it may truly be affirmed that it is scarce any thing in Comparison of their Herring Fishery which in the Provinces of Holland and Zealand employs above twenty Thousand Men. This Fishing which continues from Mid-summer Day to the 14th of September and from thence it holds to the 25th of November is chiefly on the Northern Coasts of England off of Yarmouth Wintertownness and the River Humber From the very Beginning of this Republick the States General have always used their utmost Endeavours to secure their Countrymen the Herring Fishery Their Regulations for that Purpose are wonderful and the Orders almost innumerable They take great Care to throw all away that are not extreamly good and to salt the others in time that the Salt be good and the Quantity sufficient that the Parcels be sweet and clean and have no manner of Defect that may spoil the Fish In short it must be owned that the Dutch omit nothing that may keep up the Value and Reputation this Commodity has acquired by passing through their Hands It ought not to be thought strange that the States General are so very careful of their Herring Fishing and of their good Way of curing them since it is a Matter of so great Importance as to be taken Notice of in all their Proclamations for the Continuance of Commerce and the Fishery The Herring Fishery is the greatest Trade and the best Gold Mine belonging to the United Provinces This enriches so many Families and employs so many People this makes them build so many Ships in Holland which they send to all Parts laden with this Commodity They sell vast Quantities to the neighbouring Countries and are very often paid in ready Money 'tis this which encreases their Commerce their Privileges and even their Revenues Monsieur Matteren assures us that in the Year 1601 in three Days time there sailed out from Holland 1500 Busses to fish for Herrings A Buss is a Vessel built on Purpose for this Sort of Fishing and some of them are from 50 to 60 Tuns Sir Walter Rawleigh says that in the Year 1609 the Dutch employed on the Coast of England in this Fishery 3000 Ships and 15000 Men and a Dutch Author who was employed by Messieurs De Wit tells us that a little while before the Province of Holland alone sent out every Year in time of Peace above 1000 Busses and 150 lesser Vessels It is said that the Dutch fish and sell every Year above 300000 Tuns of Fish which at 200 Florins per Tun brings in every Year 75 Millions of Livers of which 52 Millions turn as they say to the Country's Profit and the 23 other Millions that remain go towards defraying the Charges of such Fishery so that if one considers that all the Ships employed in Fishing are built in Holland that all the Cordage Sails Nets and Barrels are made there and that they find their own Salt and Provisions for the Subsistance of this great Number of Fishermen one may easily comprehend that this Employment only maintains an incredible Number of Men and Families not including all those who are employed to transport these Fish to almost all the Kingdoms and Countries
for as long a time as is required build and compleatly finish a Ship of 4 or 500 Tuns Tho' all the Linnen that goes under the Name of Holland is not made in the United Provinces yet I cannot but reckon it among their Manufactures by reason of its being bleached there They make vast Quantities in the Provinces of Groningen Friseland and Overissell where there grows Abundance of Flax and I believe they make great Quantities in the Dutchy of Juliers which they send thence in the Beginning of the Spring to Harlem where they bleach wonderfully well by reason of the Sea Water which by its being purified in the Downs gives the Linnen that beautiful White which is so much admired The Manufactures of Sail Cloth which was fomerly made in Britanny Cordage and Fishing Nets employ almost an infinite Number of People The Dutch generally bring from Muscovy Poland Dantzic Riga and other Towns of the North those vast Quantities of Hemp and Flax they make use of in their Manufactures Printing employs also a World of People in these Provinces were every one strives to excel in that Art It is the same in Hat-making which is as considerable a Manufacture as that of Paper which they have within these few Years taken from the French This last Manufacture of Paper they have set up in several Places but what they make in Guelderland is much the best Navigation and Commerce have so near a Relation one to another that it is very difficult for one to flourish in a State without the other in Reality it is impossible one should subsist without the other For if Navigation be supported by Trade Trade cannot flourish without Navigation which may in some Measure be said to be the very Life and Soul of Trade since by Navigation all Sorts of Merchandise are so easily transported to all Ports of the World and with so little Expence And whatever Nation can make it self Master of Navigation will be so of Trade and consequently immense Riches and if I may use the Expression even of Empires and Kingdoms The Dutch who know very well this important Truth have for that End omitted no Pains nor Expence and it has ever been the principal Object of their Care and Application It must be owned that their Fishery Manufactures and vast Trade have furnished them with all possible Advantages of raising their Maritime Affairs above those of other Nations And the Secret they have found out of sailing and carrying Goods much cheaper than other People has contributed as much This makes other Nations willing to employ the Dutch Ships because 'tis not only less expensive but they can have in Holland Ships always ready to sail for all Countries but also because of the Convoys they send with their Merchant Ships Besides they are very just and faithful in giving a good Account of all they are entrusted with This Trust considerably encreases their Navigation and causes them to build a vast Number of Ships which gives constant Employment to a prodigious Number of Seamen who repair thither from all Parts and on their Arrival are always sure of finding Business The Masters of Ships of Freight in Holland make up a considerable Part of that State We come now to Discourse of the Trade of the United Provinces to several Parts of the World but it will not be improper first to observe that such Foreign Trade is principally carried on by the Merchants of the Provinces of Holland and Zeland c. and that some certain Species of Commerce is peculiar to some certain Towns Amsterdam makes much the greatest Figure in foreign Traffick for besides the Trade of both the Indies she has likewise that of the Levant Cadiz Lisbon Muscovy and the North which last is peculiar to her self some small Trade she has with France for Wines and Brandy but nothing in Comparison to Roterdam The Situation of this last Town on the Meuse or Maese has made her Trade with France England and Scotland very considerable she drives besides a great Trade to the Levant Spain and the East-Indies in short this Town has Commerce with all Parts the North excepted yet much inferior to that of Amsterdam tho' her Port so advantageously situated on the Maese as I hinted before is infinitly better and much more commodious The Trade of Dort consists in little else than that of Rhenish-Wine which is there put on Shoar and white Salt refin'd in that Town The Dutch have most of their pickled and dry'd Salmon from Dort Delft Horn and Enchuisen have each their peculiar Chamber in the East-India Company Delft is particularly famous for its fine Earthen-ware resembling that of China Horn for Cheese which its Inhabitants transport to all Parts in great Quantities and some Years ago this Commodity of Cheese and some other Articles made Trade considerably flourish in Horn. The Commerce of Enchuisen consists chiefly in Herrings which makes that Town very considerable and very rich CHAP. IV. Of the Dutch Trade in the North Muscovy and Norway I Begin with the Northern Trade not only because 'tis one of the first the Dutch apply'd themselves to but also because 'tis of the greatest Importance and Necessity of any to that Republick since from hence she has the greatest Part of her Provisions as Wheat and other Grain so necessary for the Subsistance of her People as also all Things necessary for their Navigation without which and other Commodities of absolute Necessity they would find it very difficult to support themselves Under this Article of the Northern Trade I comprehend that of Muscovy Norway and all the Ports of the Baltick-Sea that is that of Sweden Denmark Poland and all the Lower-Germany The Hanse Towns for many Years together engrossed this Trade but Erick the 8th of that Name King of Denmark against whom they waged a cruel and bloody War having about the Year 1403 call'd in the Zelanders and some other Nations to his Assistance open'd to them the South-Passage for their more commodious carrying on their Trade to the Baltick thinking he could have no better way to be revenged on these Towns since that time 'tis true they have often boasted of their keeping that Sea clear of Foreigners but to little purpose and their Trade the greatest that ever was then known declining in the Year 1500 diminished to that Degree that their Power came to little or nothing about the Year 1506. The Dutch and English applying themselves very earnestly to Navigation and the former having with much Honour put an end to a War they had so long maintain'd against the Spaniards for their Liberties by the Treaty of 1609 all Nations especially such as were trading People courted their Alliance the Hanse Towns were the first that discover'd their Inclinations believing that nothing would contribute more to the Preservation of the little Trade and Credit they had left The Dutch on their side desir'd nothing more than such an Alliance which promis'd them
subject to Philip. The Merchants and Seamen that were employ'd in that Trade after it thus expired took a Resolution to look out for those Goods in Asia Africa and America which they used to have from Seville and Lisbon and this was one of the principal Causes of the Rise of that Republick and the Decay of the Spanish Monarchy Philip the Third having succeeded his Father Philip the Second in the Month of September 1598. seeing plainly that all Endeavours that were used to bring the Dutch to a Peace proved ineffectual resolved to forbid them all manner of Trade whatsoever with his Subjects hoping that by taking away that which supported them to that time in their War they would have no mind to continue it when they should see themselves depriv'd of such Support It was visible that all the Riches of Holland were the Effects of their Navigation and Trade and that their greatest Traffick was with Spain whither they not only carried the Merchandize of their own State but Corn from Poland and other Northern Countries that they might in Exchange carry home vast Quantities of Gold and Silver Philip the Third executed his Edict with a great deal of Severity a very exact Search was made all over Spain for Dutch Merchants and Sailors som of which were condemn'd to perpetual Imprisonment and the Gallies others were cruelly put to Death by several kinds of Tortures This Interdiction of Commerce was likewise pulished in the Low Countries in the Name of the Princess Isabella who was at that time their Sovereign The States General on the other hand were not contented with barely prohibiting all Commerce with Spain they likewise forbid all other Nations bringing into their Country any Provisions or other Commodities whatsoever from Spain declaring that all that did so should be esteemed Spanish Partisans and be treated as Enemies A Copy of this Declaration of the States-General was sent to all Princes that they might not pretend Ignorance France came into the Dutch Scheme and declared that if after 6 Months any of her Subjects should trade with Spain they would in so doing expose themselves to such Inconveniencies as the Crown would not concern it self to remedy and the other Powers likewise acquiesced to this bold Declaration Notwithstanding these severe Prohibitions of the Spaniards the Dutch as before traded to all the Spanish Countries by means of Passports the Spaniards themselves gave them for Money which they often wanted to carry on their Affairs In short the Truce of twelve Years was concluded between Spain and the United Provinces in the Year 1609 and by it the Freedom of Trade was re-establish'd between the two Nation and amongst other things it was agreed That the Traders of each Nation should pay no greater Duties than the Inhabitants or Allies of such Nations who paid the lowest Customs and that the Dutch might be secured from apprehending any thing from the Inquisition it was agreed that they should enjoy the same Liberty as was stipulated to the English some time before in the Articles of the Treaty of Velasco which the Constable of Castile had made with the Crowns of Spain and England The War that was revived in the Year 1621 after the Expiration of that Truce interrupted the Trade of both Nations till the Year 1648 when they concluded a perpetual Peace at Munster and from that time the Trade the Dutch drove with Spain became much more considerable than ever by reason of those Privileges that Crown yielded to them in that Treaty Those great Advantages they offered the United Provinces was one of the principal Means they made use of to draw the States from the French Interest and to make a Separate Peace with them and which in Effect was the saving of that Monarchy The Dutch Trade with Spain continued from that time till now that is till the breaking out of this present War which began in the Year 1702 on Account of the Partition Treaty which was designed to exclude Philip V. the present King from succeeding Charles II. whose lawful Heir and Successor he was It is worth while to observe how Reasons of State have united these two Nations the most averse to each other in the World and whose hatred especially that of the Spaniards seemed irreconciliable The Spaniards favour'd the Dutch in their Trade as much as they possibly could particularly since the Year 1667 in hopes to have ruined that of the French and they were not unsuccessful in that respect but the Dutch Trade never flourish'd so much in Spain as since the War between France and Holland begun in the Year 1672 to the beginning of this present War for they not only furnish the Spaniards with such Goods as they used to have from France but furnish themselves likewise from Spain with what France used to supply them with before the several Wars of 1672 and 1690. The Dutch traded very much to all those Places that were subject to Spain as Flanders and Brabant c. before this present War and which she has now lost as well as those which the French lost some time after that is to say during the three last Campaigns But their chief Trade of all was that of Cadiz and in the Mediterranean 'Tis in that famous Port of Spain where the Galleons are equipt out for Peru and the Flotilla for Mexico and New Spain and which return thither with their rich lading from those Empires and bring almost all the Gold and Silver we see in Europe however tho' the Spaniards are the Masters of those Countries where Gold and Silver grow in such abundance yet it is very true that they have less of either than those Nations that Trade with them which shews that Mines of Gold and Silver contribute much less to the enriching of a Country than Trade and Commerce What follows is a true Account of the Goods and Merchandize the Dutch used to carry into Spain and bring thence before the last Rupture That which they imported consisted chiefly of Linnen of all sorts Woollen Stuffs a great Number of Silks Gold and Silver Stuffs Drugs Spices small Iron Wares Masts and Timber The Linnen brought into Spain by Foreigners ever was look'd on as the most considerable Article of that Trade by reason of its vast Consumption both in Spain and America the French furnish'd the Spaniards a long time with this Commodity I believe I should not exceed the Truth by affirming that this only Article of the French Commerce amounted every Year to about eight Millions of Livres The Linnens that the Dutch bring into Spain are generally of the finest sort that are made in Overissel and about Douay and Valenciennes they sell them in Spain by the Name of Lawns and Cambricks they vend likewise a certain kind of Linnen call'd Perseilles and Brabant it is very broad and coarse and serves the poorer sort of People to wrap up Goods in Besides this they sell a World of fine and coarse
of the Company that from the Year 1623 to the Year 1636 they had put to Sea 800 Vessels on Account of War and Trade the Charge and Expence of which amounted to 45000000 of Gulders only for the Shipping the Rigging and other necessary Furniture and Provisions and that they had taken from their Enemies 545 Vessels which they valued at 60 Millions and the other Plunder amounted to above 30 Millions That Peter Hem had taken near the Havana the Peru Fleet aboard which he found Seven Millions of Silver besides other Goods Cannon and Stores which amounted to above Ten Millions and that the Losses the Enemy sustained and of which the Company could make no Advantage came to above 35 Millions one of their most considerable Losses was that occasioned by Monsieur C. Hermite on the Coasts of Peru where he destroyed in the Port of Lima a Fleet of 30 Men of War In the Year 1636 the Directors of the Company judging it proper to send to Brazil a Person of Reputation to reside there chose the Count of Nassau to whom they gave the same Power and Authority as to the Governour General of the East-Indies During the 8 Years of his Government he added to the Conquests of the Company those of Siara Sirigi and Maragan 14 Provinces in Brazil the Company possessed themselves of Seven The Company likewise made themselves Masters of the Fort St. George de la Minas the Town of St. Paul de la Conde and the Island of St. Thomas on the Coast of Africa In the Year 1640 they destroyed in Four Battles successively the Enemies Fleet consisting of Fourscore and Thirteen Men of War which had on Board 1200 Mariners You see what the Purse of these Merchants has effected in Africa and America The Truce which the States General in the Year 1641 concluded with the Portugueze who had withdrawn themselves from under the Spanish Government towards the End of the Year 1640 stopt the Porgress of the Company which in some Measure was the cause of their Ruine for seeing all Things in Peace they recalled their Governour General into Europe in the Year 1644 and remitted all Power and Authority into the Hands of Three People viz. the Sieur de Hamet at Amsterdam De Basis a Goldsmith at Harlem and Bullestrat a Carpenter of Middlebourg Men whose Heads were wonderfully well turned for trading but very ill for Politicks as the Event clearly made it appear These good Men who thought of nothing else but how to encrease their Riches and make Commerce flourish sold Arms and Gunpowder to the Portugueze on Account of those extravagant Prices they gave and let the Fortifications of their strongest Places fall to ruine neglected furnishing them with Ammunition and Arms and permitted the Soldiers when ever they pleased to come into Europe on Purpose to lessen the Expence of their Garrisons This ill Conduct and Negligence gave Occasion to the Portugueze to retake from the Dutch all they had in Brazil by renewing the War At last this War came to an End the Sixteenth Day of August 1661 by the Mediation of the King of England who was to marry the Infanta of Portugal By this Treaty the Dutch Company entirely quitted all their Pretensions to Brazil for a good round Sum the Portugueze gave them with Liberty that they might trade as Friends on the Coasts of Brazil in the Ports of Portugal and their Dependencies and on Condition that the Portugueze would regulate the Price of Salt There remained at that time to the Company only the Forts they had on the Golden Coast and Cape Verde for the Portugueze had retaken the Island of St. Thomas the Towns of St. Salvador and St. Paul the Islands of Curazao and Tabaco and the new Country between Virginia and new-New-England which was found out after the Loss of Brazil The extraordinary Expence the Company were at in the last Brazil War drained them to that Degree that they who before equalled the East-India Company were reduced to such a Condition that they could not pay Six Millions of Guilders or somewhat more they had Occasion to borrow upon Interest The States General to preserve the Trade of the African Coasts and the Places they there were in Possession of in the Year 1674 formed a new Company composed of the Old Partners or Sharers and their Creditors the Methods they took and concerted pleas'd both Parties and this second Company having got a Fund of about Six Millions of Guilders kept up very well their Trade and Commerce and got very considerable Sums I shall give you here some little Idea of their Trade and wherein it chiefly consists Of all the Nations in Europe the Dutch are those who constantly have had the greatest Trade on the Coasts of Africa they have there two principal Establishments one at Cape Verde and the other on the Golden Coast in Guiney In the little Island of Goree near Cape Verde they have the Forts of Gor and Nassau where there is a very good Road and excellent Bay this Port is of great Use and Advantage to them in the Trade to Cape Verde which is very considerable but the Establishment on the Golden Coast is of much more Consequence their Trade there being now more considerable and rich The two strongest Forts are Fort St George de las Minas and Fort Nassau which are but 4 Leagues distant from each other The rest are the Forts of Achem Danubo Acaro Sama and Bouten They Trade likewise to other Countries lying along and beyond the Golden Coast viz. The Kingdoms of Arden Benin Congo and Angola The chief Commodities are Gold Ivory Slaves Leather Gums c. Gold is found almost every where on the Coast between Fort d' Arquin near the White Cape belonging still to the Dutch and the Golden Coast The Inhabitants get some in their own Country and some from the Neighbouring Provinces of Africa but there is no Place in all the West where there are so many and such rich Mines as on the Golden Coast so called by reason of the vast Quantities of the finest Gold that is there produced this Country being an inexhaustable Treasury These are the Golden Mines which made the Nations of Europe establish themselves in those Climates by Means or Favour of the several Forts they have caused there to be built as the Portugueze who were the first discoverers the English Germans French Swedes Danes and Dutch The Gold furnished by the Negores with is in Ingots Bracelets Beads and other Toys or else in Dust their Ability to counterfeit and falsifie Gold is so great that they know how to gild tho' in Dust and frequently gild over small Pieces of Copper and that so curiously that it is inpossible not to be cheated unless you stand very much upon your Guard The Trade for Slaves is undoubtedly one of the most considerable that the Merchants of Europe can make on these Coasts their different Degrees in goodness make the