ten Millions but perfidious as he was when he had Possession of the Treasure notwithstanding his Oath he slew him The chief City is St. Michael's inhabited by the Spaniards the Soyl brings forth all manner of Fruits as likewise store of Tobacco but one thing is more admirable on the Banks of the River Riolaplata grow Figtrees one side of which bear Figs in Winter and the other in Summer and this River is 130. miles over and 2000. in length and in it are many Islands Brasile is abounding with Cattel Corn and has in it some rich Mines of Gold and Silver but especially Red-Wood by us called Brasile Wood the Trees of which are so large that a dozen Families will make themselves Huts and dwell in the Branches of one Tree It was first discovered and peopled by the Spaniard but now the Dutch have got strong footing in it and derive a great Trade form thence especially in dying-Woods The manner of getting the Gold in these remote Parts of the World are by Mining or Washing and Fishing As thus they first search the ground and finding it stockt with Ore they dig into the Mountains and still as they go under-prop or Arch so that a Mine sometimes is a Furlong under ground their Earth they wash through Sieves and the Mold separated the Gold appears Silver run in Veins or Sprigs and therefore is got more easily As for the Fishing for Gold it is thus They turn the Course of small Rivers or Brooks at the bottom of the Golden Mountains or with such things as take up Ballast in the Thames drag up the Sand and then sift it The Gold which is found in the Rivers is washed from the Mountains by the fierce Rains which in those parts are frequent As for the Islands in these and the Virginian Seas they are many as the Isles of Solomon by some taken for the Land of Ophir the Isle of Margarita in which is found many precious Stones though void of any other Commodity the Island of Trenidado abounding in choice Tobacco the Island of Baccaloes discovered by Sebastian Cabot whose Rivers abound in Fish and the Land with Trees bearing Fruit the Isle of Beriguen of which the chief City is St. John's inhabited by the Spaniards the Island abounds with Gold viz. the North part of it and the South part is as much famed for fertility the Island of Jamiaca now an English Colony taken from the Spaniards Anno. _____ abounds with all manner of Plenty as Sheep Oxen Corn Hens Geese Ducks Fruit-Trees Sugar Tobacco and the like and is governed by a Governour under his Majesty of Great Brittain the Weights Measures Monies Laws and Religion are the same with ours and has of late been much increased by the Trading of English Merchants thither for Pepper and other valuable Commodities Cuba Luca and Hispaniola abound in Ginger Cassia Mastick Almonds Cinnamon Sugar Brass Gold and Corn which are brought thence and dispersed all over Europe and in the latter the Land is so fertile that it will produce Herbs and Roots in sixteen days after setting or sowing fit for use Barmudos is a fruitful Island abounding with Orange-Trees and other Fruits Barbados is an Island possessed by the English containing in length 28. miles and in breadth 18. and according to Computation consists of 126000. Acres of good Land being naturally fortified with Rocks and Shelves accommodated with several Bays and Harbours for the safety of shipping the Principal of which is called Carlile Bay and is Guarded by Forts and Platforms containing a large Town called St. Michael's being a place of great Trade before which 500. Ships may safely Ride The next Town of Note is Charles Town situate on Oysten-bay about two Leagues from the former the Houses are built after the English fashion of Timber Lime and Brick and round this Island lye other small Islands Maevis Monsirat Antego and St. Christophers many of them inhabited by the English others by the Dutch French and Native Indians the Island of Barbados is divided into 11. Parishes or petty Shires out of which are chosen two Freemen Planters to joyn with the Governour and his Council which are 7 to discuss all important Matters and to make such Orders as are necessary for the well regulating the Plantâ—tion and the better to quell any Insurrecâ—n that may be made by the Slaves which are â—ccounted at least 60000. a standing Militia of two Reigments of Horse and five of Foot are in readiness upon all Occasions and all their Laws and Customs are Regulated by those of England Their Religion according as they profess themselves is Protestant Their Coyns there Current are of divers Nations as English Spanish French and Dutch upon which they set a passable Value not Coyning any themselves Their Accompts are most commonly in Muscavado Sugar according to which all other Commodities are Regulated their Interest by reason no Law restrains it is unreasonable as sometimes thirty Per Cent. Their Measures for the most part Concord with those of England only they allow but five score to the Hundred not 112. The growth of the Island is Tobacco Sugar Indico Cotton-Wool Log-Wood Lignum Vitae c. The chief Season of exporting Sugars and other Commodities of the Native growth is from January to September or October Wines are imported in abundance and are sold in publick as in England So that there is not less then 2400. Tuns of all sorts spent Yearly besides Spirits and other Liquors From this Island they transport to Virginia and Barmudos a Liquor made of the Sugar Canes c. called Rum and for it receive Pork Fish Flower Bisket Pipe Staves and the like The Apparel of the Planters is the same with what is worn in England as for Customs they have none save only for Wines and other Liquors which are Rated at a certain quantity of Muscavado Sugar and further are obliged to pay half a pound of Powder for every Tun upon Entery Factorage or Factory-Provision is 10. per cent 5. per cent for Sail and 5. for return as also 3. per cent for Store-House Room if any one will export Corn or any manner of Provision being the growth of the Island they must ask the Governours Consent 200. English Vessels and upward Trade hither Yearly and the usual fraight to London is 4. and 5. per Tun when Ships are Plenty 3. pound when scarce 6. or 7. pound per Tun There is no publick Assurance-Office nor Exchange unless sometimes in Sugar for which Mony is received in London And thus much for Barbados The main Land about 100. Leagues from this Island is called Guinia lying Southwardly and containeth a Colony of English planted within the River of Serenam Cracus lyeth 4. Leagues from the Sea-side and is very fruitful having a Port whose entrance is Guarded with two Forts each containing 14. pieces of Cannon and in it are several Plantations of Coquo some belonging to the Spaniards and some to
as one Acre of Land may bear as much Corn and feed as many Cattle as twenty by the difference of the Soyl some Parcels of Ground are naturally so defensible as that 100 men being possest thereof can resist the Invasion of 500. Bad Land may be improved and made good Bog may by dreining be made Meadow Heath Land may as in Flanders be made to bear Flax and Clover-grass so as to advance in value from 1. to 100. the same Land being built upon may centriple the Rent which it yieldeth as pasture one man is nimbler and stronger and more patient of Labour than another one man by Art may do as much work as many viz. one man with a Mill can grind as much Corn as 20. can pound in a Mortar one Printer can make as many Copies as an hundred can write by hand one horse can carry as much upon Wheels as five men upon their backs and in a Boat or upon Ice as 20 so that I say again the first point of this general position needs little or no proof But the second and more material part of this Conclusion is that this difference in Land and People arises principally from their Situation Trade and Policy To clear this I shall compare Holland and Zealand with the Kingdom of France Holland and Zealand do not contain above 1. Million of English Acres whereas the Kingdom of France contains above 80. Now the original and primitive difference holds proportion as Lands to Land for it is hard to say that when these places were 1st planted whether an Acre of Land in Holland was better then the like quantity in France and Zealand Now is there any reason to suppose but that therefore upon the first Plantation the number of Planters was in proportion to the quantity of Land wherefore if the People are not in proportion as the Land the same must be attributed to the Situation of the Land and to the Trade and Policy of the People The next thing to be shewn is that Holland and Zealand at this day is not only 80th as rich and strong as France but that it hath advanced to the 3d. or thereabouts which I think will appear upon the ballance of the following Particulars viz. As for the Wealth of France a certain Map of that Kingdom set forth An. 1647. represents it to be 15 Millions whereof six did belong to the Church the Author thereof as I suppose meaning the Rents of the Land only And the Author of a most judicious Discourse of Husbandry supposed to be Sir Richard Weston doth from reason and experience shew that Lands in the Netherlands by bearing Flax Turnips Clover-grass Madder c. will easily yield 10 pound per Acre so as the Territories of Holland and Zealand should by this account yield at least 10 Millions per Annum yet I do not believe the same to be so much nor France so little as aforesaid but rather that one bears to the other as about 7 or 8 to one The People of Amsterdam are one 3d part of those in Paris or London which two Cities differ not in People a 20th part from each other as hath appeared by the Bills of Burials and Christenings from each but the value of the Buildings in Amsterdam may well be half that of Paris by reason of the Foundations Grafts and Bridges which in Amsterdam are more numerous and chargeable than Paris Moreover the Habitations of the poorest People in Holland and Zealand are twice or thrice as good as those of France but the People of the one to the People of the other being but as 13 to 1. the value of the Housing must be as about 5 to 1. The Shipping of Europe being about 2 Millions of tuns I suppose the English have about 5000000 the Dutch 900 thousand the French 100 thousand the Hamburgers and the Subjects of Denmark Sweden and the Town of Dantzick 250 thousand and Spain Portugal Italy c. 250 thousand so as the Shipping in our case of France to that of Holland and Zealand is about 1 to 9 which reckoned great and small one with another at 8 pound per Tun makes the worth to be 800 thousand pounds to 7 Millions 2000000 pounds the Hollanders Capital in the East-India Company is worth about 3 Millions where the French has little or nothing The value of the Goods exported out of France into all parts are supposed quadruple to what is sent to England alone consequently in all about 5 Millions but what is exported out of Holland into England is worth 3 Millions and what is exported thence into all the World besides is sextuple to that Summ. The Moneys yearly raised by the French King as the same appears by the Book intituled the State of France dedicated to the King printed An. Dom. 1669. and set forth several times by Authority is 82 Millions of French Livers which is about ½ Millions of pounds Sterling of which Summ the Author sayes that one 5th part was abated for Nonvaluers or Insolvencies So as I suppose not above 5 Millions were effectually raised but whereas some say the King of France raised 11 Millions as the ⅕ of the Effects of France I humbly affirm that the Land and Sea forces all the Buildings and Interleguments which we have heard by common Fame to have been set forth and made in any of these last 7 years needed not to have cost 6 Millions Sterling wherefore I suppose he hath not raised more especially since there were ⅕ insolvencies when the Tax was at that pitch But Holland and Zealand paying 67 of 100 pay'd by all the United Provinces and the City of Amsterdam paying 27 of the said 67 it follows that if Amsterdam hath pay'd 4000 pound Flemmish per diem or about 146000 per Annum or about 80 thousand pound Sterling that all Holland and Zealand have paid above 2 Millions per Annum now the Reasons why they pay so much I think are these viz 1. the Author of the State of the Netherlands saith so 2dly Excise of Victuals at Amsterdam seems above half the Original value of the same viz ground Corn pays 20 Stivers the Bushel or 63 Gilders the Last Beer 113 Stivers the Barrel housing ⅙ of Rent fruit ⅛ of what it cost other Commodities 1 7 ⅛ 1 9 1 12 Salt ad libitum all weighed Goods pay besides the premises a vast sum now if the expence of the People of Amsterdam at a Medium and without Excise were 8 pound per Annum whereas in England 't is 7 pound then if all the several Imposts above named raise it 5 pound more there being 160 thousand Souls in Amsterdam the Sum of 800 thousand pound Sterling per Annum will thereby be raised 3dly Though the Expence of each Head should be 13 pound per Annum 't is well known that there be few in Amsterdam who do not earn much more than the said Expence 4thly If Holland and Zealand pay
Subjects of England are as effective as to the gaining of Wealth and Riches as those of France and if Ten men can defend themselves as well in Islands as twelve men upon the Continent then the said Ten being not concerned to increase their Territory by the invasion of others are as effectual as the twelve in point of Strength also wherefore that there are more Superlucrators in the English then in the French Dominions we say as followeth There be in England Scotland and Ireland about sixty Millions Seamen in France about a quarter so many but one Seaman earns as much as three common Husbandmen wherefore this difference of Seamen added to the account of the King of Englands Subjects the equivalent of 90,500,000 Husbandmen There are in England Scotland and Ireland six thousand Tuns of Shipping worth about 4500,000 4 ½ and the actual charge of maintaining the Shipping aforesaid by new building and reparation is about ⅓ of the said Summ which is the wages of 150. Husbandmen but it is not the wages of above ⅓ so many Artisans as are imployed upon Shipping of all sorts viz. Shipwrights Calkers Joyners Carvers Painters Blockmakers Rope-makers Mastmakers Smiths of several sorts Flagmakers Compassmakers Brewers Bakers and all sorts of Victuallers all sorts of Trades-men relating to Guns and Gunners-Stores wherefore there being four times more of these Artisans in England then in France they further add to the account of the King of Englands Subjects the equivalent 80 m. Husbandmen more The Sea line of England Scotland and Ireland and the adjacent Islands is about 3,800 Miles according to which length and the whole content of Acres the said Land would be an oblong or Parallelogram Figure of 3,800 long and twenty five Miles broad and consequently every part of England Scotland and Ireland is one with another but about twelve Miles from the Sea whereas France containing but about one thousand Miles of Sea line is like the computation above sixty five Miles from the Sea-side and considering the paucity of Ports in comparison to what are in the King of Englands Dominions as good as seventy Miles distance from a Port upon which grounds it is clear that England can be supplyed with all Gross and Bulky Commodities of Forreign growth and manufacture at far cheaper rates then France can be viz. above four Shillings per Annum Rent cheaper the Land carriage for the difference betwen England and France of the distance from a Port being so much or near thereabouts now to what advantage this convenience amounts upon the importation and exportation of Bulky Commodities can't be less the Labour of one thousand of People meaning by Bulky Commodities all sort of Timber Blank and Staves for Cask and all Iron Lead Stones Brick and Tiles for building all Corn Sart and Drink all Flesh and Fish and indeed all other Commodities wherein the gain and loss of four Shillings per cent is considerable Where note the like Wines are sold in the inward parts of France for four or five pounds a Tun which near the Ports yield seven pound Moreover upon this principal the decay of Timber in England is no very formidable thing as the rebuilding of London and of the Ships wasted by the Dutch-War do clearly manifest nor can there be any want of Corn or other necessary provision in England unless the Weather has been universally unseasonable for growth of the same which seldom or never happens for the same cause which makes dearth in one place does after cause plenty in another wet-weather being propitious to Highlands which drowneth the low It is observed that the poor of France have generally less wages then in England and yet their Victuals are generally dearer there which being so there may be more Superlucration in England then in France Lastly I offer it to the consideration of all those who have travelled through England and France whether the Plebeian of England for they constitute the Bulks of any Nation do not spend one sixth more then the Plebeian of France and if so it is necessary they must first get it and consequently that Ten Millions of the King of Englands Subjects are equivalent to twelve of the French Kings and upon the whole matter to the thirteen ½ Millions at which the French Nation was estimated It will be here objected that the Splendor and Magnificences of the French King appearing greater then those of the Kings of England that the Wealth of France must be proportionably greater then that of England but that does not follow forasmuch as the apparent greatness of the King does depend upon the quarter parts of the peoples Wealth which he levieth from them for supposing the People are equally Rich if one of the Sovereigns levy fifth part and the other fifteenth the one seems actually thrice as Rich as the other whereas potentially they are both equal Having now dicoursed of the Territory People Superlucration and defensibleness of both Dominions and in some measure of the Trade so far as we had occasion to mention Ships Shipping and nearness to Ports we come next to enlarge a little further upon the Trade of each some have estimated that there are not above three hundred Millions of people in the whole World whether that be so or no is not very material to be known but I have fairer Ground to conjecture and would be glad to have it more certainly that there are not above eighty thousand with whom the English and Dutch have commerce no Europeans I know of Trading directly or indirectly where they do not so as the whole commercial World or World of Trade consists of eighty thousand of Souls as aforesaid And I further estimate that the value of all the Commodities yearly exchanged among them does not exceed fourty five thousand now the Wealth of every Nation consisting chiefly in the share which they have in forreign Trade with the whole commercial World rather then in the Domestick Trade of ordinary Meat Drink Cloth c. And which brings in little Gold Silver Pearls and other universal Wealth we are to consider the Subjects of the King of England Head for Head have not a greater share hereof then those of France To which purpose it has been considered that the manufactures of Wool yearly exported out of England into sevesal parts of the World viz. all sorts of Cloth Serg Stuff Cotton Bayes Frize or also Stockens Caps Rugs c. exported out of England Scotland and Ireland do amount unto five hundred thousand pound per Annum The value of Lead Tin and Coals to five hundred thousand pound The value of all Cloths Houshold-Stuf◠c. carried into America two hundred thousand pound per Annum Silver and Gold taken from the Spaniards sixty thousand pound The value of Sugar Indico Tobacco Cottham and Catao from the Southward part of America six hundred thousand pound The value of Wool Butter Hides Beef Herrings Pilchers Salmon exported out of Ireland
for it's chief City Champechio this Province yields Wood for dying Rich Colours and likewise store of Deer and Cattle almost like Elks. Florida was discovered by Sebastian Cabot Anno 1467. which at that time it was possessed by the Spaniards with whom the French made War till they consumed each others people to that degree that it was abandoned by either Nation but since repeopled by the Spaniards who have built there several strong Forts The Commodities are Gold Ore some Veins of Silver some Spices and Woods of value And thus much of those Provinces the Spaniards possess Now I shall come to Treat of Virginia and New-England possessed by the English CHAP. XIII A View of Virginia and of the Trade Manners Customs and Government thereof and of the Commodities of that Colony VIrginia being discovered by Sir Walter Raleigh Anno 1584. had it's name from our Virgin Queen it lying in height thirty five degrees North Latitude and extends to thirty eight and a half being planted by the English only from 37 to 34 degrees under the Protection and Supream Authority of his Majesty of great Britain having the Bay of Roanoake and Cape Florida to the Southward and Mary-land to the Northward The main entrance out of Virginia into the Sea is about 10 Leagues the Country is full of Navigable Rivers stored with Fish and some of them abounding with Oysters Crabs and Sturgeon many of the Rivers being 7 8 9 or 10 Miles over running 140 and 150 Miles up in the Country so that Ships Anchor with great Security no Trade being permitted but with England So that as soon as any Vessel arrives the Master or Captain resorts to the Governour to give him an account from whence he came his Residence being for the most part at Jame's City lying 40 Miles up Jame's River and round about the English Colony the Indians Inhabit whose Treacheries prove too often fatal to our Country-men as the several Massacrees they have made can testifie Their Courts of Judicature chiefly consist of 4 quarterly Courts the Governour and his Council being Judges to try and determine as well in matters Criminal as Suits between man and man and every year once an Assembly meet in imitation of our Parliament to settle weighty Affairs Their Laws are the same with ours as likewise what Monies they have are of English Coyn. The Soil is every-where Fertile and the Woods abound with Oaks of divers sorts Black Wall-nuts Chess-nuts Ash Pine Day-Wood Cedar Saxafras Mulbury Small-nuts Wild Grapes and the like The Weather is much like ours only in the Summer continues a Month longer hotter and are troubled with Flashes of Light'ning dismal Claps of Thunder and now and then a Hurricane The days are about an Hour and an half shorter in Summer and so much longer in Winter All sorts of English Fruits and Cattle thrive there and their chief Commodities amongst themselves are Horses Oxen Sheep Hogs Turkies Geese Ducks Corn of which they have store and their Woods abound with Hairs Roacoons Possums Squirrils Wild-Cats Foxes Bears Wolves Elks and in remote Parts some Lyons are found Their Corn called Indian Corn or Maiz they buy and sell by the Barrel which Barrel contains 5 Bushels Winchester Measure and the Indians sell their Corn Pease and other Commodities of the like nature amongst themselves by the Baskets each Basket containing half a Bushel The chief Commodities they Trade with our Merchants for except Tobacco of which I shall speak anon are Hides Otter Beaver Muskats Bear Dear-Skins Saxafras Black-Walnut-Tree-Planks c. with them and Tobacco 40 or 50 Ships are yearly Loaden no Customs being lay'd upon any thing imported or exported but in England they pay five per cent for all they carry over and 2 pence per pound for every pound of Tobacco brought from thence and so proportionably for other Goods The Commodities carryed from England thither are Linnen and Woollen-Cloath Nailes Iron wrought into Tools Sope Starch Gunpowder Shot Wine Strong-Water Brandy Sugar Spice and the like and when any one comes over with Servants to Inhabit as a Planter he has 50 Acres of Land allotted him to manure even where he will choose unless in such Places as are before in Possession and for that Parcel of Land he pays 12 pence per Annum quit Rent The manner of planting and bringing to perfection their Tobacco accounted by them the Staple Commodity of the Colony is thus in January they sow the Seed which is smaller than Mustard-Seed and when it comes up they take up the Plants and place them upon little Hills which is usually done in May 4 or 5000. Hills being contained in one Acre every Hill containing a Plant the which when it is about 2 Foot high they Crop to give more Nourishment to the Leaves which Leaves are a Foot or two Foot long and some a Foot broad and when they are at the bigest they cut them up Stalk and all and hang them up in Sheads to dry which done they strip them from the Stalks and so bind them up in Handfuls for packing in Casks or make them up in Rolls An Acre of good Ground is reckoned to bear 1500 Weight of Tobacco not less then 17000. Hogs-heads being reckoned to be Shipped yearly for England Scotland and Ireland Their Servants for the most part consist of Negroes which they buy of the Merchants that bring them thither CHAP. XIV A View of New-England and the Trade thereof NEw-England has for it's chief Town or City Boston where all their Trade Centres especially that which accrues by Navigation a place which contains about 1500 houses Built of Brick and Timber in it is a State House and Congregational Meeting-Houses the Inhabitants for the most part being Presbyterians and Independants and are supplyed with great Quantities of Fish from Marblehead and other places As for Fowl they Trade with the Indians as likewise for Muscat Beaver Otter c. for which they deliver them Strong-Waters Shagged-Cloath Beads Looking-Glasses and the like and thither likewise are brought Provisions from St. Martins Long Island Road Island Shelter Island and other places they all being little spots standing in the Sea and have their Trade chiefly consisting in Provision The chief Roads for the safe Riding of Shipping are Boston Charlestown Salem and Pascataqua A Mint they have in which they Coyn English money as 12 pence 6 pence 3 pence and smaller piece both Silver and Tinn The Reason of setting it up was upon the spreading of many adulterated Pieces of Eight amongst them brought from Peru but notwithstanding the English Coyn Mexico and Sevil Royals go currant at a Crown apiece Their Accounts are kept after the Italian Fashion by such as understand the way and those that do not keep them as in old England Their Weights are Averdupois and Troy the former consisting of 16 Ounces the pound and the latter of twelve their hundred Averdupois is 112 pounds and by that they
the Indians the latter being obliged to work for the former 3. days in the Week And thus much for America in particular and indeed in general for this new World as it is Termed yields little more then here I have set down and indeed in Riches may Compare with any of the other three Parts did the Inhabitants know how to improve the growth of the Islands and Continent accordingly but indeed the Spaniards possessing the greatest part use their utmost diligence to keep out other Nations and will instruct the Natives in nothing that is Curious lest they should leave off to Labour in the Mines but thus much concerning America The Customs Situation and Manners thereof in the exactest Method CHAP. XVII A view of Africa and of the Manners Customs Trade Weights Measures Coyns and Commodity thereof AFrica one of the quarters of the World is bounded on the North with the Mediterranean Sea on the West with the Atlantick Ocean on the South with the South Ocean and on the East with the Red-Sea and is in a manner an Island being tyed only to Asia with a Neck of Land of 20 Leagues over and contains these Provinces viz. Barbery Numidia Lybia Negrita Ethiopia Interior and Ethiopia Exterior Egypt and the Islands of the Sea The Account of the Trade and Commerce of the Principal Cities and Towns but especially from whence any Commodities are brought and Traded for by the English Merchants I shall lay down as foloweth CHAP. XVIII A view of Tunis the Trade Manners and Customs thereof BArbary being divided into four Kingdoms viz. Tunis Argier Fess and Morocco I shall take them in order and first of Tunis Tunis is Situate near unto the great Lake which Extends almost to the Port of Goletta and is founded on the ruins of Carthage being in compass within the Walls 4 Miles and accounting the Suburbs 7 Miles in circuit and is very Populous owning for Supream Lord the Grand-Signeour who governs it by a Bassaw the Inhabitants being Mahumetans the Houses are Builded of Square Stone and for the most part flat A Port it has large and Commodious for Shipping Their Money in Gold is mostly the Spanish Doller or Royal the Venice Chiqeen the Spanish Pistolet which they pass from one to another at full value unless diminished or light Weight in Silver they have the Spanish Royal and the Asper Their Accounts are for the most part kept in Dollers and Aspers Their Weights are the Cantar of 100. pounds yet in Weight are found to exceed our 112 two pounds each of their pounds being divided into 16 Ounces and so into less by division viz. Each Ounce into 8 Tamins and by this Weight are all their Merchandise Weighed except Silver Gold Pearl c. which are Weighed by a Cariot Weight which is half an Ounce Troy or Mittagals much of the same Proportion In Weight of Cloves and Nutmegs they allow 5 pounds per cent Tret or over-plus besides the Weight of the Bags Their Measures for Silk Cloath and the like are the Pike there being 3 sorts of them the first called the Cloath Pike is 26 Inches and a half English the second the Gray which is a 16th part less by which they Measure Silks Sattins Velvets c. The third is the Linnen Pike and is ¼ part less then the Silk Pike Their dry Measures are the Coffice containing about 10 of our Bushels The Weab 18 of which make a Coffice and the Saw of which 12 make a Weab Their Liquid Measures are the Wine Meeter and Oyl Meeter the former being near 2 English Gallons and a half and the latter near 5. The chief Commodities are Hides Wax Oyl Honey Wool Corn Raisons Dates Anniseeds Estrich Feathers Sponges Lemons Oranges Almonds and Olives For which they receive of such Merchants as Trade thither English and Venice Cloath Lead Deal-Boards Shot Perpetuanos Spanish Wool Tartar Allum Iron Madder Safaparilla Pepper Ginger Safforn Cinamon Nutmegs Cocheneel Gold Thread Sea-Horse-teeth Cotton Yarn Venice-Pepper French-Canvas Gulmak Damask Sattain and the like Their Customs upon Goods imported unless Lead Shot and Iron are 9 per cent on the Real Value and before any Goods can be delivered an exact Account must be taken thereof by Officers appointed for that purpose other charges of Goods imported besides fraight of which no certainty is 8 per cent more viz. 2 per cent consolage 5 per cent provision and Broakage and one per cent for petty Charges the Customs on Goods that are exported Honey Wax and Wool liable to no Customs excepted is 5 per cent The Counterban or Goods prohibited to be exported are Pease Corn Oyl Beans Butter Hony Dates c. tho often a Licence for Exporting the same is secretly procured And thus much for Tunis in the Description of which I have described the Trade of all the Cities of that Kingdom as centering in this CHAP. XIX A view of Argier and of the Trade Manners Customs Weights Measures thereof and their way of dividing Prizes and selling Slaves in the Publick Market ARgier that Piratical Kingdom so dangerous to Merchants Trading in the Mediterranean contains as her Principal Cities Argier and Tremesin the former giving name to the Kingdom which is but small in compass The City of Argier the common Receptacle of Turkish and Moorish Pirates is imagined to contain 90000 Souls in which there are several that protest against the Thieving Trade and hold some Commerce with Merchants of divers Nations Their chief Commodities are Oyls Almonds Rasins Figs Dates Castile-Sope Brass Copper Barbary Horses Estrich Feathers Hony Wax and Drugs Their Coyn is the Double accounted of equal Value with our 12 pence or 2 single Spanish Ryals 4 Doubles are accounted a Ryal and 8 8 called by them the Olian 5 Doubles and 35 Aspers is a Pistol Spanish 7 Doubles are accounted a Sultany or Cheeque of Barbary Gold and 50 Aspers make a Double And these are the currant Monies of the Kingdom of Argier The Weights are the Rotolos or 100 pound which makes 120 pound English the 10 pound of the small making 6 in gross some Commodities they likewise weigh by the Cantar as Iron Lead Yarn Wool which Cantar is 150 Rotolos Figs Dates Sope Butter c. are weighed by a Cantar of 166 Rotolos Almonds Cheese Cottons c. they weigh by a Cantar of 110 Rotolos Brass Copper Wax and Drugs by a Cantar of 100 Rotolos Flax by a Cantar of 200 Rotolos Gold Silver Pearl and precious Stones are weighed by the Mittigal which is 72 Grains English and is worth 9 Doubles The Sultanie Cheeque or Hunger Weighs 52 Grains English being equally Valued with Angel Gold and by the Ounce Troy in England is worth 3 pound 11 Shillings Their Measures of Length are two Picos viz. the Turkish and the Morisco Picos The former is divided into 16 parts and every â…› part is called a Robe and is 131 1â—2 part of the English Yard and the Custom
is an Inch allowance to every Yard and by these they Measure Silks Woollen Cloath and Stuffs The dry Measure is a Tarry which being well heaped makes 5 Gallons English and by this they Measure Salt Corn and other Commodities They make their Accounts in Doubles Aspers Osians and Sultanies Their Customs are 10 per cent and so in all other cases as at Tunis when any Ship enters and cast Anchors her Sails or Rudder is demanded to prevent the passing off without paying such Customs and then not to Sail without leave from the Duan which is the Bashaw and his Assembly who Regulate all affairs which were usually these To the Kiffa 28 Doubles to his Chiouse 4 Doubles to his Almia 8 Doubles to the Bashaw Sorman 2 Doubles to the Draggerman 8 Doubles to the Sackagy 8 Doubles and for the Consuls Duty 24 Doubles The Piratical Trade is thus 2 or more set out a Vessel of Prizage or Free booty to Prey upon Merchants Ships the which when they have taken and brought into the Port the Owners divide the Spoil by Lot making the Partitions or Dividends as even as possible as for the Captives they do the like and if there happen to be an odd man they either cast Lots for him or sell him in the Market and divide the Money the manner of selling of them is to carry them into the Market and place them in Stalls like Beasts where the buyer Views and handles them but especially their Hands by which he is satisfyed whether they have been Inured to Labour or not as likewise in their Mouths to see if they have good Teeth to bite Biskets as hard as deal Boards and according to their Youth Healthy Complexion and Ability of Body they go off to the Buyer he being ever after acknowledged for their Patron And thus much for this Piratical Government too well known to Merchants and Saylors who Trade in the Mediterranean CHAP. XX. A view of the Kingdom of Fess and of the Trade Customs Weights Measures and currant Coyns thereof THis Kingdom takes it's name from the Metropolitan City viz. the City Fess being the Goodliest City in Barbary adorned with 700. Moschs or Temples of which 50 are Beautifyed with Pillars Jasper and Alabaster the chief of which called Carucen and Seated in the Heart of the City contains a Mile in compass consisting of 190 Arches and is born up by 2500 Marble Pillars hung all about with Silver Lamps and hath 31 Gates and all things else porportionable and the City computed to contain 8600 Families The Commodities in General are Dates Almonds Figs Rasins Hony Olives Wax Gold Hides Furs and a sort of Cordivant Skins Cotton and Wool very fine which is dispersed into Spain Italy France and England and of late the Inhabitants have found out the Art of making Cloath The Principal Money of this Kingdom is the Xerif or Gold Ducate and accounted worth 10 Shillings Sterling and is divided into 8 equal parts The Weights are two one used for weighing Gross Commodities called the Rotolos 64 of which are computed to Ballance our 100 Averdupois and 100 Rottolos go to the Cantar The other is the Mittigal used in weighing Gold Pearl Silver Musk and the like and agrees with those of Tunis and Argier The long Measure is the Cavado of which 12 are Accounted to a Cane and 181 or 182 Cavados to make 100 Yards English The Customs are 10 per cent to all Strangers but to the Natives 2 per cent and for what soever they hand they must pay whether sold or not which makes Merchants sell their Wares on Shipboard for the most part where Customs are Payed only for what is sold And thus much for Fess and the Trade thereof CHAP. XXI A view of the Kingdom of Morocco the Trade Currant Coyns Weights Measures and Customs thereof THis Kingdom as the former takes it's Name from the chief City and Center of it's Trade and is very Beautiful tho Inferious to Fess in it is found a Burse and Exchange formerly much frequented by Merchants but now for the most part taken up by Artizans The Commodities vended there are the same with those of Fess except Sugar in which it more abounds The Coyns are the Xerif and Ducate of Gold valued as those of Fess The Weights are 2 several Quintals the one agreeing with the Canter of Fese and the other with the Quintal of Sevil and indeed in all things according with Fess as being now reduced under one Government Their Religion if so it may be Termed is Mahumetisme and of late they have not any considerable Trade with the English Merchants tho 't is not doubted but the effects of the League between his Majesty of great Britain and that Emperour may be a means to revive it as likewise to inrich our Garrison of Tangier by rendering it a Publick Mart it being the Key of Barbary CHAP. XXII A view of Numidia and Lybia and their Provinces with the Trade Currant Coyns Manners and Customs NVmidia is bounded on the West with the Atlantick Ocean on the East with Egypt on the North with the Mountain Atlas and on the South with Lybia The Country on the North part abounds with plenty but the South by Reason of the Excessive heat is most desert the Inhabitants build but few Houses but in great Companies pass from one place to another living sometimes in Woods sometimes in Caves according as Heat and Cold affects them The chief Trade is among themselves for Dates Hides Furs and Fruits of all sorts Cattle they have but have not the Art of improving them their Coyns are few but those they have are of Brass and Silver their Weights and Measures for the most part Equallizing those of Fess and Morocco tho they are little in use few Merchants Trading with them Lybia is bounded on the East with Nilus on the West with the Atlantick Ocean on the South with Negrita and on the North with Numidia and is Barren for the most part by Reason the heat is Excessive their Trade Coyn Weights and Measures are not worth mentioning by Reason their Commerce is little no Merchants caring to deal with the Natives they being in a manner Savages CHAP. IX A View of Negrita or the Land of Negroes with the Trade Currant Coyn Weights Measures and Customs THis Province is Inhabited with Negroes or Blackamoors Bounded on the West with the Atlantick Ocean on the East with Ethiopia Superior on the South with Manicongo and on the North with Lybia containing a large Tract of Land and is fertilized by the overflowing of the River Niger or Sanaga and is under the Regency of 3 Kings who have of late made 3 Kingdoms of 5 as Tombutue Berneo and Gouga Each having many famous Havens Commodious for Shipping The City Tombutue from whence that Kingdom has it's Name is Situate beyond the River Niger and is Traded to by the English French and Dutch and within four Miles of it is
per Annum 2,000,000 pounds then all the Provinces together must pay about 3 Millions less then which Sum per Annum perhaps is not sufficient to have maintained the Naval War with England 72 thousand land Forces besides all other the ordinary charges of their Government whereof the Church is there a part To conclude it seems from the Premises that all France doth not raise above thrice as much from the publick Charge as Holland and Zealand alone do 5thly Interest of Money in France 7 pounds per Centum but in Holland scarce half so much 6thly The Country of Holland and Zealand consisting as it were of Islands guarded with the Sea Shipping and Marshes is defensible at ¼ the charge of a plain open Country is and where the Seat of War may be both Winter and Summer whereas in others nothing can be done but in the Summer only 7thly But above all the particulars hitherto considered that of Superlucration ought chiefly to be taken in for if a Prince have never so many Subjects and his Country never so good yet if either through sloath or extravagant Expences or oppression and injustice what ever is gained shall be spent as fast as gotten the State must be accounted poor Wherefore let it be considered how much or how many times rather Holland and Zealand are now above what they were 100 years ago which we must also do of France now if France hath scarce doubled it's Wealth and Power and that the other have decupled theirs I shall give the preference to the latter even altho the 9 increased by the one should not exceed the one half gained by the other because one hath a Store for 9 years and the other but for 1. To conclude upon the whole that though France being Peopled to Holland and Zealand as 13 to 1 and in quantity of good Land as 80 to 1 yet is not 13 times Richer and Stronger much less 80 times nor much above thrice which was to be proved Having thus dispatched the two first Branches of the first principal Conclusion it follows to shew that this difference of improvement in Wealth and Strength arises in particular from conveniencies for Shipping and Water-carriage Many writing on this Subject do so magnifie the Hollanders as if they were more and all other Nations less then men as to the matter of Trade and Policy making them Angels and others Fools Brutes and Sots as to those particulars whereas I take the foundation of their Atchievements to lie originally in the Situation of the Country whereby they do things inimitable to others and have advantages whereof others are incapable First The Soyl of Holland and Zealand is low Land rich and fertile whereby it is able to feed many men and so as that men may live near each other for their mutual Assistance in Trade I say that 1000 Acres that can feed 1000 Souls is better than 10000 of no more effect for the following reasons to it viz. first suppose some great Fabrick were in building by 1000 men shall not much more time be spared if that they lived all upon 1000 Acres then if they were forced to live upon 10 times as large a Scope of Land 2dly The charge of their care of their Souls and the Ministry would be far greater in the one case then the other as also of Mutual defence in case of invasion and even of Thieves and Robbers moreover the charge of the Administration of Justice would be much easier where Witnesses and Parties may be easily Summoned Attendance less expensive when mens Actions would be better known when wrong and Justice would not be covered as in thin-peopled places they are Lastly those who live in solitary places must be their own Soldiers Divines Physicians and Lawyers and must have their Houses stored with necessary provisions like a Ship going upon a long Voyage to the great wast and needless expence of such provisions the value of this first conveniency to the Dutch I reckon to be about 100 thousand pounds per Annum 2dly Holland is a level Country so as if in any part thereof a Wind-Mill may be set up and by it's being moist and vaporous there is always Wind stirring over it by which advantage the labour of many thousand hands is saved forasmuch as a Mill made by one man in half a year will do as much labour as 4 men for 5 years together this advantage is greater or less where imployment and ease of Labour is so but in Holland it is eminently great and the worth of this Conveniency between near 100 and 150 thousand pound 3dly there is much more to be gained by Manufacture than Husbandry and by Merchandise than Manufacture but Holland and Zealand being seated at the Mouths of 3 long great Rivers and passing through rich Countries do keep all the Inhabitants upon the sides of those Rivers but as Husbandmen whilst themselves are the Manufactors of their Commodities and do dispence them into all Parts of the World making returns for the same at what price almost they please themselves and in short they keep the Trade of those Countries through which the same Rivers pass the value of this 3d convenience is 200 thousand pound 4thly In Holland and Zealand there is scarce any place of work or business one Mile distance from a Navigable Water and the charge of Water-carriage is generally but the 15th or 20th part of Land-carriages wherefore if there be as much Trade there as in France then the Hollanders can out-sell the French 14 15 of all the Expence of all travelling postage and carriage whatsoever which even in England I take to be 300 thousand pound per Annum where the very postage of Letters costs the People perhaps 50 thousand pound per Annum though farmed at much less and all other Labours of Horses and Porters at least six times as much the value of this conveniency I estimate to be above 300 thousand pounds per Annum 5thly The defensibleness of the Country by reason of it's Situation in the Sea upon Islands and in the Marshes impassible ground dicked and trenched especially considering how the place is aimed at for it's Wealth I say the charge for defending this Country is easier than if it were a plain Champion at least 200 thousand pound per Annum 6thly Holland is so considerable for keeping Ships in Harbour with small Expence of men and ground-tackle that it saves them per Annum 200 thousand pounds of what must be spent in France Now if all these natural Advantages do amount to above one Million per Annum of profit and that the Trade of all Europe nay of the whole World with which our Europeans do trade is not above 45 Millions per Annum and if 1 50 of the value be 1 7 of the profit it is plain that the Hollanders may command and govern the whole Trade 7thly Those who have their Situation thus towards the Sea abound with Fish at
Reader not thinking his Arguments of any Weight at all in the present case nor indeed does he make his comparison with English or Hollanders but with the Spaniards who nor the Grand Senior the latter of whom has greater advantages to be Powerful at Sea then the French King could never attain to any illustrious greatness in Naval Power having after attempted but never succeeded in the same nor is it easie to believe that the King of England should for so many Years have continued in his Title to the Soveraignty of the narrow Seas against his Neighbours ambitious enough to have gotten it from him had not their impediments been natural and perpetual and such as we say do obstruct the most Christian King CHAP. IV. That the People and Territories of the King of England are naturaly as considerable for Wealth and Strength as those of France THe Author of the State of England among the many useful truths and observations he has sets down the proportion between the Territories of England and France to be as thirty to eighty two the which if it be true then England Scotland and Ireland with the Islands unto them belonging will altogether be near as big as France tho I ought to take all advantages for proving the Paradox in hand I had rather grant that England Scotland and Ireland with the Islands before mentioned together with planted parts of new found-Found-Land new England new Netherland Virginy mary-Mary-Land Caulin Jamaica Barmuda's Barbado's and all the rest of the Carib Islands do not contain more Territory then France and what planted Land the French King has also in America a. And if any man will be Heterodox in behalf of the French Interest I could be contented against my Judgment to allow the French King's Territories to be a seventh sixth or fifth part greater then those of the King of England believing that both Princes have more Land then they do imploy to its utmost use And here I beg leave among the several matters I intend for serious to interpose a jocular and perhaps a Ridiculous digression and which I indeed desire men to look upon rather as a Dream then a rational Proposition Which is if that all the moveables and People of Ireland and the High-lands of Scotland were transported into the Kingdom of Great Brittain that then the King and his Subjects would thereby become more Rich and Strong both offensively and defensively then now they are It s true I have heard many wise men say when they were bewailing the vast Losses of the English in preventing and suppressing Rebellions in Ireland and considering how little profit has returned either to the King or Subjects of England for these five hundred Years doing and suffering in that Countrey I say I have heard Wise men in such their Melancholies wish that the People of Ireland being saved that that Island were sunk under Water Now it troubles me that the Distempers of my Mind in this point carry me to Dream that the Benefits of these Wishes may Practically be obtained without sinking that vast Mountainous Island under Water which I take to be somewhat difficult for altho Dutch Engineers may drein its Bogs yet I know no Artists that could sink its Mountains If ingenious and Learned men amongst whom I reckon Sr. Thomas Moore and Des Cartes have disputed that we who think our selves awake are or may be really in a Dream And if the greatest absurdity of Dreams is but a Preposterous and Tumultuary Contexture of Reallities I will crave the umbrage of these great Men to say something too of this wild Conception with Submission to the better Judgments of all those that can prove themselves awake If there were but one man Living in England then the benefit of the whole Territories could be but the third Lively-hood of that one Man But if another man were added the Rent or Benefit of the same would be double if three triple and so forewards until so many were Planted in it as the whole Territory could afford Food unto for if a man would know what any piece of Land is worth the true natural question must be how many Men will it feed and how many Men are there to be fed But to speak more Practically Land of the same quantity and quality in England is generally worth three or four times as much as in Ireland And but one quarter and a third of what it is in Holland because England is four times so well Peopled as Ireland and be a quarter so well as Holland And moreover where the Rent of Land is advanced by reason of the multitude of People there the number of years purchase for which the Inheritance may be sold is also advanced tho perhaps not in the very same Proportion for twenty Shillings per Annum in Ireland may be worth but eight pound and in England where Tithes are very sure about twenty pound in Holland about thirty pound I suppose that in Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland there may be above 1800,000 People or about ⅕ part of what is in all the three Kingdoms Wherefore the first question will be whether England Wales or the Lowland of Scotland can't afford Food that is to say Corn Flesh Fish and Fowl to a ⅕ more People then are at present planted upon it with the same Labour that the said ⅕ part does now take where they are for if so then what is propounded is naturally possible Secondly it is to be inquired into what the moveables which upon such removable must be left behind are worth for if they are worth less than the advancement of the price of Land in England will amount unto then the Proposal is to be considered 3. If the relict Land and the immovables left behind upon them may be sold for money or if no other Nation shall dare to meddle with them without paying well for them and if the Nation who shall be admitted shall be less able to prejudice and annoy the Transplanters into England then before then I conceive the whole proposal will be a pleasant Dream indeed As to the first part whether England and the Lowlands of Scotland will mantain one fifth more then they now do that is to say nine Millions of Souls in all I say first that the said Territories of England c. contain about thirty six Millions of Acres that is four Acres for every Head Man Woman and Child but the united Provinces do not allow ½ Acre and England it self rescinding Wales has but three Acres to ever Head according to the present State of Tillage and Husbandry Now if so considered that England having but three Acres to a Head do so abound in Victuals as that it makes Laws against the importation of Cattle Flesh and Fish from abroad and that the Dreining of the Fens improving of Forrests inclosing of Commons Sowing of cinque-Foyl and Clover-Grass be grumbled against by Landlords are the way to depress the
so to increase the Magnitude of Trade and consequently to increase Stock which may effectually be done by in-banking twenty Mil. worth of Land not being above a sixth or seventh part of the whole Territories of England that is to say by making a Bond of such value to the security for all Commodities bought and sold upon the account of that Universal Trade above mentioned And thus it having appeared that England having in it as much Land like Holland and Zealand as the said two Provinces do themselves contain with abundance of other Land not inconvenient for Trade and that there are spare Hands enough to earn many Millions of money more then they now do and that there are also Imployments to earn several Millions even from the Consumption of England it self it follows from thence and what has been said in the last Paragraph about inlarging of the Stock both of Monies and Lands that it is not impossible may â—very visible matter for the keeping of Englands Subjects to gain the Universal Trade of the whole Commercial World Nor is it unseasonable to imitate this matter forasmuch as the younger Brothers of good Families of England can't otherwise be provided for so as to live according to their Birth and Breeding for if the Lands of England are worth eight Millions per Annum then there be at a Medium about ten Millions Families of about eight hundred pounds per Annum in each of which one with another we may suppose there is a younger Brother who in less then two or three hundred pounds per Annum will not maintain suitable to his Relations Now I say that if neither the Offices at Court nor Commands in our ordinary Army and Navy nor Church-preferments nor the usual gain by the profession of Law and Physick nor the imployments under Noble-men and Prelates will all of them put together furnish Livelyhood of above three hundred pounds per Annum to three thousand of the said one thousand younger Brothers wherefore it remains that Trade alone must supply the rest but if the said seven thousand Gentlemen be applyed to Trade without increasing of Trade or if the hopes to increase Trade without increasing of Stock which for ought appears is only to be done by in-Banking a due proportion of Lands and Money we must necessarily be disappointed where note that selling of Lands to Forraigners for Gold and Silver would inlarge the Stock of the Kingdom Whereas doing the same between one and other does effect nothing for he that turns all his Land into Money disposes himself for Trade and he that parts with his money for Land does the contrary but to sell Land to Forreigners increaseth both money and people and consequently Trade wherefore it is to be thought that when the Laws denying Strangers to purchase and not permiting them to Trade without paying Extraordinary Duties were made that then the Publick State of things and Interest of the Nation were far different from what they now are Having handled these ten Principal Conclusions I might go on with others ad infinitum but what has been said already I look upon as sufficient to shew what I mean by Political Arithmetick and to evince the uses of knowledge of the true State of the Peoples Lands Stock Trade c. Secondly that the Kings Subjects are not in so bad a Condition as discontented men would make them Thirdly to Demonstrate the greatest effects of Unity Industry and Obedience in order to the common Safety and each mans particular Happiness other then which I have now FINIS