notwithstanding all it is but the chief Town of Cambridgeshire and not a City though there be an Episcopal See in the same County Southampton a Town saith Speed beautiful rich and populous and walled about with a strong Wall of square Stone enter'd by 7 Gates and adorn'd and fortified with 29 Towers within the Walls there are 5 fair Parish-Churches besides an Hospital called Gods-House and without the Walls are to be seen the Ruines of another goodly Church called St Maries On the West-end of the Town a well built Castle of a circular form mounted upon a high Hill so steep as not to be ascended but by Stairs gives a fair Prospect both by Land and Sea and lastly Two commodious Keys for Ships give a great ornament to the Place This Town though Winchester predominates as a City was doubtless as by the Name appears the ancient Metropolis of Hantshire and is still accounted the Shire-Town Marlborough one of the most considerable Towns of Wiltshire which as it is in general a good tolerable well built Town so it hath one Street above the rest remarkable for its fairness and largeness being also very much graced with a large neat Forum or Market-place at the upper end thereof About a dozen years ago there hapned a shrewd Fire which burnt down a great part of this Street which being rebuilt to advantage the Street appears much more stately than before and that which gives the greater grace to it is the Prospect of a fine House of my Lord Seymour's at the Towns end which is the more remarkable by reason of a Mount which is ascended by a Path which winds round about upward toward the top like a Screw Warwick is most pleasantly situated upon the ascent of a Hill taking its rise from the side of a River whose stream runs pointing toward a stately Castle the Seat of the famous Guy of Warwick which having run much to ruine was repair'd with sumptuous Buildings by Sir Fulk Grevil There have been 6 fair Churches in this Town viz. St Lawrence St Michaels John Baptist and John of Jerusalem St. Maries and St. Nicholas all gone to ruine but the two last This City yet as the denominating and principal Town of Warwickshire seems of equal repute with Coventry it self Shirburn a Town pleasantly seated on the side of a Hill and very well adorn'd with Structures especially publick as Church Castle and School-house Northampton must needs be at this day a very stately Place for having had the commendation from the chief of our English Geographers of being worthy to be rank'd for Circuit Beauty and Building with the most of the Cities of our Land It was by some unfortunate Accident burnt almost totally down to the ground and Phaenix-like is risen out of its ashes much more glorious than before and notwithstanding the City of of Peterborough stands within the County claims to be the County Town of Northamptonshire Nottingham saith our most diligent and industrious Speed is a Town seated most pleasant and delicate upon a high Hill for Building stately and for number of fair Streets surpassing many other Cities and for a spacious and sumptuous Market-place and 3 fair Churches comparing with the best Many of the Buildings of this Town are hewed out of the Rocks besides many strange Vaults and Caves among which those under the Castle are of especial Note One for the Story of Christ's Passion engraven in the Walls by the Hand of David the 2d of that Name King of Scots whilst he was there kept Prisoner Another wherein Mortimer was apprehended in the minority of K. Edw. the 3d whence it hath ever since born the Name of Mortimer's Hole These have their several winding Stairs Windows Chimnies and Room above Room wrought all out of the solid Rock as other Houses of the Town also have This Town being the Principal of Nottinghamshire hath no City to stand in competition with it Newark the next Town of Nottinghamshire both for Reputation and Neatness It is indeed a Town of a very pleasant Situation upon the River Trent Manchester the fairest and pleasantest though not the principal Town of Lancashire and above all things else peculiarly remark'd for its grand Church the Colledge and Market-place Wakefield one of the chief Towns of Yorkshire as well for its pleasantness and goodly Buildings as its great Market and Cloathing-Trade and other Remarks Of which elsewhere Stamford the pleasantest Place of Lincolnshire next to the City of Lincoln it self being adorn'd with 7 Churches and an old Hospital Boston the best Town of Lincolnshire next to Stamford Which is all need be said of it at present in regard there will be occasion to speak more of it in the next Chapter of Towns and Places eminent c. Barstable and Tavestoke in Devonshire are commended above most in the West of England for neatness well compactedness and elegance of Structure Tavestoke is probably enough so call'd from the River Taw upon which it stands and which at Barstable is said to be Navigable for great Vessels both Places being well inhabited with Merchants and rich trading People Next to Bridgewater of all the Places of Somersetshire not dignified with the title of City Taunton is accounted of principal Note and for pleasantness superior according to the Testimony of a learned Writer in these words Taunton qu. Thonton from the River Thone is a very fine and proper Town one of the Eyes of the Shire the Country here most delectable on every side with green Meadows flourishing with pleasant Gardens and Orchards and replenisht with fair Mannor-Houses wonderfully contenteth the Eyes of the Beholders Shrewsbury as it is the principal Town of Shropshire there being neither City nor any other Town of Note in that Shire that can stand in competition with it so it may be reckon'd among the pleasantest of all England being almost surrounded with the Severn between which and a stately Wall are most delightful Meadows the chief Streets graceful of themselves are set out with several graceful Buildings besides the publick among which the most remarkable are the two Gate-houses on the Bridges the Market-place of Free-stone a strong Castle mounted on a Hill a neat School-house with a Library 4 Parish-Churches and 3 of them very large and goodly besides the Abbey forehead without which bears the semblance of an old Cathedral Besides Shrewsbury there are many other pleasant Towns in Shropshire among which the chiefest in repute are Ludlow and Ludlow's chief State consists in its strong Castle and its lofty situation upon a high Hill and proper enough is the Encomium it hath gain'd of Cambden that it is a Town more fair than ancient Bridgnorth also is proudly advanc'd a great part of it upon a Rock out of which the chief Avenues to that upper part are cut moreover the Castle the Wall and the Severn's Inclosure give addition of State as well as Strength Tewksbury in Glocestershire is a Town that might
Wheathamstead chiefly noted for the birth of John of Wethamstead a profound Philosopher Other places Hertfordshire noted for famous men Ware for Richard de Ware Treasurer of England under Edward the first and William de Ware who was Scotus his Teacher and flourisht under King Henry the third Baldock for Ralph Baldock created Bishop of London by King Edward the first Rudburn for Thomas Rudburn Bishop of St Davids who flourisht An. 1419. Helmstedbury for Sir Edward Waterhouse Chancellour of the Exchequer in Ireland under Queen Elizabeth Gatesden for John de Gatesden who flourisht An. 1420. Hamstead for Daniel Dike Cottered for Edward Symonds Gorham-berry for Sir Nicholas Bacon Nor may we here omit other eminent men of this Shire viz. Sir Henry Cary a great Souldier in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth by whom he was created Baron of Hunsden and Lord Chamberlain John Boucher Baron Berners And of learned men Alexander Nequam who died An. 1227. Nicholas Gorham who flourisht An. 1400. Roger Hutchinson Thomas Cartwright and Hugh Legat. In Norfolk the chief City and Episcopal See Norwich seems to have sprung out of the ancient Venta of the Romans and is chiefly Famous for its sufferings having been sackt and burnt by the Danes in the year 1004. And in the Conquerours time reduc't to utmost exigence for siding with Earl Radulph against the said King William The Cathedral was Founded by Herbert who translating the Bishoprick ftom Thetford to Norwich was the first Bishop of Norwich Thetford the ancient Sitomagus of the Romans is a place of much remark for antiquity It was the Royal Seat of the Kings of the East-Angles and the unfortunate place where King Edmund the Martyr was overthrown by the Danes The Bishoprick which is now of Norwich was translated from Elmham to Thetford in the Reign of King William the Conquerour Lyn a Sea Port Town was made Liber Burgus and honoured with the gift of a rich Cup by King John and had their Charter inlarg'd by King Henry the third for their good Service against the Outlawed Barons and in King Henry the eighth's time other priviledges were added and the name changed from Lyn Episcopi to Lyn Regis Yarmouth boasts the antiquity of its foundation from the time of the Danes Elmham is considerable for having been a Bishops See for several Ages first divided with Dunwich in Suffolk next sole till it was translated to Thetford thence to Norwich In Sussex the City Chichester boasts the Foundation of Cissa the second King of the South-Saxons and had the Bishoprick translated thither in King William the Conquerours time from Selsey which till then had been the Episcopal See Lewis a Town little if ought inferiour to Chichester is sufficiently of name in History as having been one of the places appointed by King Athelstan for the Coinage of his Mony and for the strong Castle built by Earl William de Warren Here also was a bloody battel fought between King Henry the third and his Barons in which the King receiv'd a cruel Overthrow Pensey a little Sea Town but great in Story as the Landing place of King William the Conquerour when by one Victorious battle he gain'd the Crown of England with the slaughter of King Harold and his two Brothers Leofwin and Goroh and about 67000 men Hastings being the Town near which this successful held was fought hath gotten so much the greater name and the very place of fight retains to this day the name of Battle-field Buckstead a place in some respect of as great note as any hath been nam'd For here in the thirty fifth year of King Henry the eight the first Great Iron Guns that ever were cast in England were cast by Peter Baude and Ralph Hage In Cambridge-Shire the Town of Cambride is of too high a renown for its many Halls and Colledges the habitations of the Muses richly indow'd for the advancement and incouragement of Learning to be here pass't by and too well taken notice of and describ'd by others to be longer insisted on Eli the Bishops Seat and denominating City of the Diocess is said to have been built by one Audry who was first wife of one Tombret Prince of these parts and afterwards of Egbert King of Northumberland from whom departing She here betook her self to a devout life and built a most stately Monastery of which She her self became the first Abbess This place is also recordable for the Birth of several Learned men viz. Andrew Willet who died An. 1621. Sir Thomas Ridly Dr. of the Laws who died An. 1629. Richard Parker who died here An. 1624. Everton in this Shire gave Birth to John Tiptoft Son of John Lord Tiptoft Earl of Worcester and Lord High Constable of England Triplow is memorable by the Birth of Elias Rubens a Writer of grand repute who flourisht An. 1266. Everden gave both Birth and Sirname to John Eversden another learned Writer Of this County were also Matthew Paris and Sir John Cheek Tutor to King Edward the sixth and Richard Wethershet who flourisht in the year 1350. At Caxton was born William thence Sirnamed Caxton the first Printer in England Wisbich brought forth Richard Hocloet a man eminent for Learning An. 1552. Linton is only note-worthy for the Birth of Richard Richardson one of the Translatours of the Bible who deceas't An. 1621. Milton as 't is generally believ'd gave birth to Thomas Goad a Writer of good note Mildred brought forth Andrew Mervail Minister of Hull a Learned Father of a Learned and Witty Son for so was that Andrew who died but a few years since he was a Member in the late long Parliament for the Town of Hull a man of very acute parts had he not fail'd in his affection to the Government as several of his Writings testifie Of this County were Michael Dalton a Learned Writer and also Edward Norgate In Huntington-Shire St Neots so call'd from Neotus a Holy and Learned man is memorable for the defeat given to the Earl of Holland by the Parliament Forces in the late Civil Wars An. 1648. as also for being the Birth-place of two eminent men viz. Francis White Bishop of Ely and Hugh thence Sirnamed of St Neots who deceas't Anno 1340. Godmanchester qu. Gormoncester from Gormon the Dane is concluded to have been the Old Durisiponte of the Romans and some think from the nearness of the name the same with Gunicester where Macutus had his Bishoprick At this Godmanchester was born a man who made too much noise in the world to be forgotten Stephen Marshal one of the chief of those Zealous Trumpetters of the late times who from the Pulpit stirr'd up to War and Bloodshed in the Name of the Lord. At St Ives was born Roger thence Sirnam'd of St Ives who flourisht An. 1420. At Cunnington the Learned Antiquary Sir Robert Cotton Moreover from Huntington the Capital place of this Shire sprung two very famous men Gregory of Huntington who died An. 1610. and Henry
the Emperour Constantius but this is more certain that it was made an Archbishoprick in the year of our Lord 625. At Leeds in the West-Riding Oswye King of Northumberland encountred the united Forces of Ethelbald Son of Oswald King of Northumberland Ethelbert King of the East-Angles and Penda King of the Mercians to all whom he gave a mighty defeat slew Penda and Ethelbert and put Ethelbald to flight Selby a Town of good trade and resort but most memorable for the birth of King Henry the first this is by some accounted in Lincolnshire Wakefield is a Town not more considerable for its Cloathing than for the memory of a great battle fought between the Houses of York and Lancaster besides a defeat given in the late Civil Wars to the Earl of Newcastles Forces by Sir Thomas Fairfax Pomfret Castle was built by Hildebert de Lacy a Norman Hallyfax qu. Holy Hair anciently Horton the birth-place of Joannes de Sacrobosco Rotheram chiefly boasts in the birth of Thomas of Rotheram Archbishop of York In the East-Riding Stanford Bridge from the battle there fought commonly called Battle-Bridge Drifield is remembred by the Tomb of Alfred King of Northumberland here buried Beverly though a Town of flourishing trade is yet more fame-worthy as the last retirement and place of decease of the Learned John Archbishop of York in the Reign of Oswick An. 721. who was thence sirnamed John de Beverly Newborough Abby gives fame to it self by giving name to that Old English Historian William of Newborough Kingston upon Hull besides the repute of its Trade and Merchandise is honour'd with the fame of being built by King Edward the first nor are there wanting who will add the reputation of Andrew Mervail a Burgess of this place of whom elsewhere Exeter in Devonshire is both of sufficient antiquity for the Castle call'd Rugemont was once the Palace of the West Saxon Kings and afterwards of the Earls of Cornwal and the Walls and Cathedral were built by King Athelstan and also memorable for several transactions here was born that most renowned Latin Poet of England Josephus hence sirnamed Iscanus or Joseph of Exeter At Plimouth that great Honour of England for Sea affairs Sir Francis Drake took Shipping for the Circum-navigation of the World An. 1577. Teignmouth is noted for the place of the Danes first arrival in England Hubbleston the Burial place of Hubba the Dane Crediton the ancient Episcopal See of this County till it was removed to Exeter Camelford in Cornwal is guess'd by those pieces of Armour that have been digged up thereabout to have been the place of Battel where Mordred was slain and where King Arthur received his mortal wound Tintagel Castle gave birth to this great Miracle of British Valour King Arthur At Castle Denis the Ruins of those Trenches are yet to be seen where the Danes encamped at their first Invasion of this Land At Caradoc was born John Trevisa a learned Writer who died Anno 1400. St. Germains a place chiefly fame-worthy for having been an ancient Episcopal See At Truroe was born John Arundel a renowned Sea-man in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth Bodmin the next place to which the Bishop's Chair was removed from whence it was translated by King Edward the Confessor to Exeter where it hath remained ever since This County hath brought forth several learned men viz. Hucarius sirnamed the Levite who flourished Anno 1040. Simon Thurway who flourished Anno 1201. John Sir-named of Cornwal who flourished Anno 1170. Michael Blawnpain who flourished Anno 1350. Godfrey Sir-named of Cornwall In NORTHVMBERLAND at a place called Otterburn a great Field was fought between the English and Scots Alnwick is of note for the mighty Victory which the English here gained over the Scots and for that the Earls of Northumberland in ancient times here kept their Court. Emildon brought forth that great Contradiction of his own name for Niceties of Wit and Subtilties in School-Philosophy Duns Sir-named Scotus In the Western parts of Northumberland are yet to be seen some parts of the Picts Wall In WESTMORLAND The Aballaba of Antoninus is thought to have been a place of very great note in the time of the Romans by the antique Roman Coins that have been there found in digging and the station of the Aurelian Maures and it is still so considerable that the Castle thereof is the place where the Assizes for the County are kept Burgh or Burgh under Stainmore is undoubtedly the Ruins of an eminent Town which was called Verterae and where a Roman Commander in the declining time of the Empire is said to have kept his station with a Band of Directores Ambleside Amboglana not far from Winander Meer is judged the Ruins of some famous City of Roman foundation or improvement both by the paved ways that lead to it and the Coins of Roman Stamp oft digged up there In CVMBERLAND Carlisle Luguvallum or Leucophibia of Ptolomie if not illustrious in its Original for it is delivered to have been built by that Leil who is great in the Catalogue of British Kings was at least a flourishing City under the Romans and being demolished by the Picts and utterly ruined by the Danes was restored by King William Rufus who also built there a Castle and by King Henry the First made a Bishop's See The Bishoprick of DVRHAM gained that Title and Privilege by the great fame and renown of St. Cuthbert for the interment of whom the Cathedral of Durham was first built by Bishop Aldwin and afterwards pulled down and rebuilt by Bishop Careleph The Tomb of this adored Saint was visited with great devotion by King Egfred Alfred Danish Guthrun Edward and Athelstan This City was by King William the Conqueror raised to a County Palatine There is a place called Gallile in the West end of the Church where is to be seen the Tomb of Venerable Beda Binchester Benovium by the Coins there digged up seems to have been a place of great account among the Romans So likewise Chester in the Street Condercum At Nevil's Cross near Durham the Scots were defeated by Queen Philippa Wife to King Edward the First by the Conduct of the Lords Piercy Moubray and Nevil In LANCASHIRE Lancaster the County-Town gives Title of Family from John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster to four Henries Kings of England viz. Henry the Fourth Fifth Sixth and Seventh Manchester Mancunium an ancient Fort and Station of the Romans Rible-Chester from Rhibel a little Brook near Clithero a Town of Antiquity and Station of the Romans as appears by the pieces of Coin and Statues there found But that which renders it most of memory is that it hath been reported the richest Town of Christendom Near Duglas a small Brook not far from the Town of Wiggin King Arthur is said by Ninius to have put the Saxons to flight At Billangho Anno 789. Duke Wade was put to flight by Ardulph King of Northumberland In CHESHIRE Chester is famous
Traded to Spain were Incorporated by Queen Elizabeth 6. The East-India Merchants were Incorporated by Queen Elizabeth Anno 1600. from which time they have continually inproved their Trade in those remote parts of the World being now one of the Wealthiest Corporations in Europe their first rise was by imploying a Joynt-stock to build Ships of which now they have Store and so themselves in imitation of the Porteguese and other industrious People Traded to the Indies and soon found the advantage by bringing home the same Commodities which we before were beholden to Strangers for at second Hand and dear Rates 7. In the latter end of Queen Elizabeths Reign and in the beginning of King James's the Eastland Greenland and French Merchants were setled in companies and Traded with great Success Building many Ships and continually imploying some thousands of Persons in the Management of their Affairs Exporting Commodities of our growth and bring in those of the growth of other Countries 8. There are likewise a Company of Virginia or West-India Merchants whose Industry has much improved our Colonies in America and advance the King's Revenues in his Customs twenty thousand pound per Annum which Trade into those parts has and dayly will increase and turn to the Advantage of our Nation and be a means of making further Discoveries in those vast Seas in which lie hid past doubt many fair Islands if not Continents as Rich as those which yield the Spaniard yearly so many Millions of Ducates in Gold Ore and Bars of Silver These and other Traders in remote parts make England Flourish and stand the envy of her Neighbour Nations There is likewise the Guinnie and Barbary Companies both Rich in Shipping and Merchandise having since their Incorporation gotten great Esteem and much improved Navigation And now having given an account of the Constitution and settlement of those in general that drive on the Trade and Commerce both by Land and Sea before I Lanch into the Ocean to take a view of other Countries or to describe their Trade and Traffick I shall expose to Publick view the Commodities of my Native Country with all the Islands and Dominions that surround it viz. such â—s are subject to the Brittish Scepter as â—lso in due place and order As also of â—he Currant Coyns the Weights Meaâ—ures and such other Matters relating to Commerce as are available to the Compiling of this Treatise and first of Engâ—and and Wales CHAP. IV. Of England and the Trade thereof in General and Particular with a Survey of all the Measures Weights Currant Coynes Inland Commerce and what tends to Navigation A Description of the most material Counties and of the Trade of Wales in general ENgland the Head of the Brittish Empire is in every Place so admirable abounding with plenty that to describe her in every part of her Trade and Beautiful Situation would exact a large Volum Therefore I shall only in brief expose to view what is most material as to my purpose And first I shall begin with Cornwell as being the remotest of the English Counties or Provinces tho it be in it self in many places to appearance a Barren and Mountainous Country yet does it produce Rich Mines of Tinn which brought to perfection is of great esteem in all Countries With it there is also digged Gold and Silver tho hardly worth refining the Earth not having heat enough to bring it to perfection there is found likewise a Stone Transparent naturally formed in Angles and Points like a Diamond which was it not so common might merit high esteem On that Coast Herrings and Pilchards are taken in great number which not only sustain the Inhabitants but being dryed prove good Merchandise in Spain France Flanders and Italy The Sea Coast is adorned with many Towns of which Falmouth is chief being capable of receiving many Vessels nor is St. Ives of less note yielding great store of Fish not reckoned less yearly then four or five thousand Hogsheads of Pilchards and five hundred Barrels of Herrings besides some Tuns of Congerdoust great store of Ray-Fish which imploys some hundreds of the Inhabitants and inables them to provide plentifully for their Families and reserve as the old saying is a Penny against a rainy day These Commodities viz. Pilchards are vended by the Hogshead four of them making a Tun as likewise by the thousand they allowing twelve hundred small Tale to the thousand and a Barrel of Herrings commonly thirty Gallons is sold to the Merchants for eighteen Shillings twenty Shillings or according as the fishing Season is propitious Congerdoust is sold by the Kintale viz. one hundred and twelve pound to the Kintale Ray-fish are for the most part sold fresh and that by the Dozen at two Shillings four Pence two Shillings six Pence and sometimes three Shillings per Dozen but their Dozens are extraordinary large they allowing sometimes sixty to the Dozen but sometimes less according to the Custom of the Place their Weight is one hundred and twelve pound according to the Stander their Yard and Ell equal to those of London Their Bushel for Grain and Salt imported contains twenty eight Gallons Water Measure and so proportionable the greater or the lesser Measures but their Bushel used in Publick Markets for Corns is but twenty Gallons their Gallon agreeing with the Winchester Gallon The Bakers in those parts are but few and the most thing they stand in need of is Salt Ten thousand Bushel being yearly spent in Curing their Fish The manner of taking Pilchards and Herrings is with Nets but the Ray-Fish with Hooks the first being Fished for from the first of July till the first of January the second from Michalemass till Christmass and the third and last only in the Prime of Summer sixty Boats and about four hundred men being imployed therein Devonshire is no less Rich in Veins of Tin adorned it is with many Towns and good Havens as Exon Dartmouth and Plimouth the latter famous for producing the worthy Sr. Francis Drake The Sea-Ports as the former most Subsist by Fishery Dorsetshire abounds in Cattle Fertile Pastures and Linnen Manufacture it 's chief Towns being Dorchester and Waymouth Somersetshire is famous for the many Trading Places contained in it's Circuit but especially in Bristol the second City of England for Naval Commerce as being stored with Merchants Trading into most parts of the known World it abounds in Riches and the County no less in Corn Cattle Wool Woollen Cloth Serges and other valuable Commodities which they Trade withal to other adjacent Counties Darbyshire the Head of which is the Town of Derby abounds in plenty of Corn Leaden Mines and other Minerals Wiltshire is an Inland County but the people Frugal and industrious their chief Commodity is Woollen-Cloth which is dispersed all over England and brings them a good return maintaining at least three thousand Persons in Carding Spining Weaving Shearing Dressing and the like the Head of this County is Salisbury
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-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
Length 3000 Miles and when it over-flows not it portenteth some fatal disaster to the King or Kingdom and by this means the Land is Fertilized for as for Rain there is none The chief Places of Traffick are Alexandria a famous Sea-Port founded by Alexander the great and Cairo commonly called Grand Cairo and in these Center the Trade of the whole Country Therefore omitting Places of lesser note I shall only take a View of these two Cities and their Commerce with such as Trade in those parts and first of Alexandria Alexandria first founded by Alexander the Great in Expedition to Conquer the World is the chief Maritim City of Egypt and from all parts of the Kingdom are thither brought Flax Hemp Hony Wax Rice Balsoms Dates Drugs and Spices and the Country in general produceth abundance of Palm Trees besides hither are brought the Plenty of Arabia India and Persia as Spices Drugs Silks c. so that the Custom-House is accountable yearly for great Summs of Gold The nature of the Palm Trees that grow in that Country is this they always grow in Cupples twisted or twined viz. Male and Female the Female Palm only bears Fruit and that not without the Male for if the Male Palm be cut away the Female will not bear the Fruit is Cods with Seed and pleasant Juice the Pith of these Trees is excellent in tast and very nourishing of the Leaves they make Fans Mats and Baskets of the outward Husks of the Cod Cordage and of the inward Brushes the Fruit they bear is like a Fig which serves the Inhabitants for Meat green and dryed for Bread The Weights used here are four sorts first the Quintar of Zera second the Quintar of Forfor third the Quintar of Zaidin the fourth the Quintar of Mina the first is found to be English 112 pounds the second 93 pounds English the third 134 pounds English the fourth the 167 pounds English Averdupois Weight The Measures are two-fold viz. the Pico Barbaresco which is used for the Measuring of Cloath both Linnen and Woollen and is in Length 25 â…ž English Inches and the Pico Turchesco with which is Measured Silks fine Stuffs Cloath of Gold c. and is found to be 22 ¼ English Inches as for wet and dry Measures they are of little use the Customs being to sell by Weight for the most part CHAP. XXVII A View of Cairo and the Trade Weights Measures and Customs thereof CAiro is a famous City Situate in the vast Plain beneath the Mountains of Mucatun and not above 2 Miles from the Bank of Nilus adorned with many stately Buildings as Pallaces Colledges Temples and the like and has in it a large Burse or Exchange of 3 Story high the first of which consists of Ware-Houses for Gross Goods in the second is laid up Musk Amber Silks Spices and the like and in the third the Merchants who have Ware-Houses there lodg with their Retinues which Merchants are of 6 sorts first the Native Egyptians secondly the Arabians or Moors thirdly the Merchants of Europe Christians fourthly the Turks fifthly the Jews and sixthly the Christians of Affrica as Greeks Armenians c. The Lord of this City and Country is the grand Signeour who governs by his Bashaw or Vice-King The Commodities Traded for by the Europian Merchants are Flax Rice Balsoms Puls Fruits Cottons Sugars Hemp and the like which according to the overflowing of Nilus the Soil yields in plenty or Scarcity so that when they have a plentiful Year they make a Feast to Nilus or the River God as they Term him and exceedingly Rejoyce thereto The yearly Revenue of this Kingdom accrueing by Customs and other ways amount to 3 Millions of Sheraffes each valued at 8 Shillings Sterling one Million of which is sent to the grand Signeur one for maintaining the forces of the Kingdom and the other to enable the Bashaw to keep his Court. The Customs are either payed in Species or compounded for at 10 per cent only Money entred pays but one and a half per cent but outward all Commodities pay 11 per cent which is accounted the Soldan's Custom The Customs of Alexandria are farmed by the Jews at 20000 Medins per diem which according to computation amounts to 55000 pounds per Annum Sterling Their Weights and Measures are the same with those of Alexandria The Currant Coyns in Egypt are Spanish Royals of 8 which they call Piastre and Dollers the Meden the Asper the Soltana Xeriffe and Cheqeen the value of each as before recited Their Accounts are variously kept some in one sort of Coyn and some in another The chief Trade driven here by the European Christians is by the French and Venetians the English having of late declined it as having the growth of the Country or the same Commodities at cheaper Rates in India and Aleppo And thus much for the Continent of Egypt CHAP. XXVIII A View of the Isles of the Sea appertaining to Africa with their Commodities Trade Weight Measures c. THe Isles are these viz. Madagascar Zocotara St. Thomas the Canary Islands the Islands of Assores or Tarceras The first abounds in Ginger Cloves and Silver Mines and was discovered by the Portugals Anno 1506. The money in use amongst the Natives are Glass Beads of Cambaia which passes currant amongst them their Weights and Measures are few and those uncertain The second lyeth in the Mouth of the Red Sea 10 Degrees Northward from the Equator and yieldeth Cattle and Corn but the chief thing Traded for is Aloes which are sold by the Quintar which Averdupois English is 93 pound The third lies under the Equinoctial in which is a Colony of Portugals the chief Commodity it yieldeth is Sugar of which so much is made as ladeth yearly 50 Vessels of good Burthen their Weights and Measures being the same with those used at Lisbone as indeed wherever the Portugals Plant themselves they impose their own Weights and Measures on the Inhabitants Fourthly the Canary Islands which are 7 in number under the Protection of the King of Spain are very Fruitful abounding in Sugar-Canes and those Birds we call Caâ—â—ry Birds and in Canary Wine which takes it's name from the Islands of which 4 or 500 Tuns are yearly exported and dispersed over Europe There is likewise Wood of Excellent use for Dyers Hither the English trade and for the growth of the Island Exchange Says Serge Bays Linnen c. Their Weights Measures and Coyns are the same with those of Sevil of which in order I shall speak Fifthly the Islands of Assores or Tarceras directly under the Meridian were first discovered by the Flemings and abound in Cattle Corn Wood and the like but are of little use some for Harbouring and re-victualling of Ships in their Voyage to the East-Indies as are many other small Islands lying in that vast Ocean And thus much shall suffice for Africa and the Trade thereof CHAP. XXIX A View of Asia and of the Trade
Manners and Customs thereof together with the Description of their Currant Coyns Weights Measures c. ASia Earths third Portion is divided from Africa by the Red Sea and Egyptian Isthmus and from Europe by the Egean Propontis and Euxian Sea by Palus Meotis Tunais Duina c. and is divided into these Regions or Provinces viz. Anatolia Syria Palestina Armenia Arabia Media Assyria Mesopotamia Chaldea Persia Parthia Tartaria China India And the Islands of the Sea Anatolia or Natolias is bounded on the East with Euphrates on the West with Thracius Bosphorus Propontis the Hellespont and Egean on the North Propontis Euxinus and on the South bounded with the Rhodian and Lycian Seas In this Province Smyrna is the chief City of Trade therefore passing over those of less note I shall Center the Trade of the whole Province in that one City Smyrna the City to which the Church of which St. John directed his Revelation is Seated at the Bottom of a Gulgh called the Gulph of Smyrna where resides an English Consul and the like for the French and Venetians The Principal Trade having been lately removed from Scio thither by Reason of the advantagious Harbour for Shipping This City is under the Government of the Grand Signeur and is Inhabited by all Nations but especially Traded to by the English French and Venetians The Commodities found there which are brought by the Arabians Persians and other Merchants of Asia and sold to the Christian Traders in that Port are Cotton Wools Galls Anniseeds Wax Cordovant Cottons wrought Grogram Yarn Cute Carpets Grograms Chamblets Mohairs Fruits Drugs and store of Persian Silk which is brought on Camels and Dromidaries by Land for which they receive of our Merchants in Exchange Suffolk Essex and Glocester Cloaths Yorkshire and Hampshire Kersies Lead Tinn Pepper Calicoes Indico Cloves Cinnamon and the like which Spices were formerly the growth of those Countries but in the intestine Wars the Trees for the most part destroyed and now supplyed by our Merchants being brought from India The Venetians Trade with them for Pepper Cloath wrought Silk Velvets and the French bring thither Cloath Paper and Bullion the latter of which they convert to Coyn Stamped with the Effigies and Motto of the Grand Signeour for the most part and the same with what is currant all over his Empire which when I come to take a View of Constantinople and the Trade thereof I shall describe The Weights in use is the Quintar which contains 100 Rotolos or 24 Oaks which are found to be 400 Drams They have likewise the Lodoro being 176 Drams and the Pound Averdupois has appeared to be 148 Drams and the Quintar of 42 Oaks to be 119 pound English tho sometimes but 117. Their Measures are two viz. one for Linnen and the other for Woollen to which as before in the Weights I shall refer the Reader to those of Constantinople they being in effect the same The Custom-House of Smyrna is for the most part farmed of the Grand Signeour and three per cent only taken of the English Merchants unless upon Extraordinary occasions and altho there has been an Edict Published by the Grand Signeour that no Goods paying in one Port of his Dominious and brought into an other Port shall pay any more duty yet it is not observed but the Merchants are obliged to compound with the Customers upon that occasion But this Custom of 3 per cent is only to the English by virtue of their Treaty for the French Dutch and Venetians pay 5 per cent The charges of the Port for Ships before they can be cleared are sometimes pay'd in Commodities and sometimes in Money as they can agree and the most part are thus To the Cadie 5 Pico of Venetian Cloath and Cony Skins to leave it To the Cadies Servant 3 ½ Picos English Cloath to the Cadies Caya 3 Picos of what Cloath he shall chuse to the Cadies Scrivan a Chicquen in Gold To the Cadies Page 2 ½ Dollars to the Mosier Bashaw 1 ½ Picos of Cloath to the Cadies Janizaries a Chicquen in Gold all of which is commonly accounted to be worth 68 or 69 Dollars But to conclude the Trade of this Port is most in request for the abundance of Cotton which grows in the adjacent parts after this manner about the Spring of the Year it is sowed and comes up with a Slender Stalk like Wheat but strong as a Cane and bears a Bearded Head exceeding hard but when Ripe it opens of it self and yields both Seed and Cotton the first of which they Preserve to Sow again and the latter they sell to the English and French to the quantity yearly of 20000 Quintals CHAP. XXX A View of Syria and the Trade thereof SYria is bounded with the Mediterranean Sea on the West on the East with Euphrates on the South with Palestine and on the North with Cilicia and contains 3 Provinces viz. Phaenicia Caelosyria and Syrophaenicia In Phaenicia are Principally found the Cities of Acria and Sidon where the chief Trade and Commerce is with the Venetians and French who Traffick with the Inhabitants for Corn Galls Wool and Wax and in the lieu thereof give them Spices and Europian Cloath Their Weights are the Cantar of Acria which makes 603 pound English and the Rottolo which is 4 pound 5 ½ Ounces English and 650 Drams Their Measures are the Brace with which they Measure their Cloath and other Commodities Their Coyns especially theirs of Sidon and the Ryals of 8 ◠Spanish and Chickqeens of Gold the Ryal going currant for 70 Aspers and the Chickqeens at 108 but seldom continue long at a setled value and thus much for the Province of Phaenicia Syrophaenicia contains the City of Baruti formerly called Julia Felix once a City of great Trade but of late reduced to straiter Limits and little Trade all they have with Europe is from the Venetians Their Commodities are Wax Drugs some Silks and such like Commodities common to Asia Their Weights is the Cantar containing 100 Rotolo's each Rotolo being accounted 502 pound English Their Measure is the Pico 100 containing 86 Venetian Braces Their Trade for the most parts is with the Merchants of Arabia Persia and Turky who bring thither their Merchandise at certain Seasons when the Carravan sets out not otherwise daring to venture for fear of the Rovers that Rob in great Troops The chief Metropolis of Caelosyria is Damascus which is the Principal Scale of Trade in that Province Therefore so that in describing the Trade of that the rest will be included CHAP. XXXI A View of Damascus of the Trade Weights Measures and Currant Coyn thereof DAmascus is Accounted the Head of Syria and is pleasantly Seated abounding in all manner of plenty as Grapes Corn Cattle Cottons Saffron Steel Raw Silk Oyl Honey Wax Balsom Almonds Dates and Rice which are all the growth of the Country and brought thither by the Merchants as the chief Mart for which they
Pepper is charged but with half Custom and consequently rated at half less then it cost and thus much for the Trade of Aleppo CHAP. XXXIII A View of Tripoly and the Trade thereof THis City to distinguish it from that Piratical City in Barbary bearing the same name is called Tripoly of Syria and was formerly the Scale of Trade but it has been of late removed to Aleppo as is before mentioned so that now it has little Trade with Europe except what the Venetians find there The Commodities vended are Cotton in Yarn and Wool Drugs of several sorts Corn and some Spices The Weight used there is the Rottolo of 100 pound which has been found to be 416 pound Averdupois allowing 52 Drams to the Ounce The Monies currant are Aspers Dollars Lyons and Soltinies the Common Money of Syria and thus much for the Trade of that Region CHAP. XXXIV A View of Palestine and the Provinces Trade Weights Measures Customs and Currant Coyn thereof THe Provinces of Palestine are 4 viz. Galilea Judaea Idumea and Samaria In these Provinces the chief Cities are Gaza and Tyrus which at present afford but little Trade and what is afforded is carryed on by the Venetians the Commodities of the former are Cottons in Wool and Yarn several sorts of Drugs and Spices The Coyns currant there are those of Turky the Weights used are the Rottolo and Cantar 100 Rotolo's going to the Cantar The latter viz. Tyrus formerly very famous for Navigation as appears by the Description of that City in Holy Writ but now wants that Trade being Subjected by the Turks so that what Trade remains is amongst themselves or such Neighbours as do not make any great advantage thereof their Weights Measures and Coyns are those used throughout the Turkish Dominions CHAP. XXXV A View of Armenia and the Provinces thereof together with the Trade as likewise of Arabia the Provinces and Trade thereof ARmenia is bounded on the East with Media and the Caspian Sea on the West with the River Euphrates and the Euxian Sea on the North with Tartary and on the South with Mesopotamia and divided into 3 Provinces viz. Georgia Colchis and Turcomania and is in Subjection to the Grand Signeour and abounds in Cattle Fruits Corn and such like but has little Commerce with Merchants especially by Navigation Arabia is divided into 3 parts viz. Arabia Desarta Arabia Petrosa and Arabia Faelix The first of which is bounded on the East with the Persian Gulph on the West with the Red Sea on the North with Mesopotamia and on the South with the Arabian Ocean and is memorable for nothing more then the Children of Israels wandering in it 40 Years in their Journey out of Egypt to the Land of Promise being altogether Barren nor is the second less sterile so that the Inhabitants live upon Robberies and Spoil of such Merchants Goods as pass through upon Camels to Aleppo and other Places Arabia Faelix differs from the former as being Fertile even beyond Expression exceeding the Richest Country in Asia in it's abounding with Balsoms Mirrh Frankincense Gold Pearls Spices Manna and Drugs of most sorts which are carryed by the Merchants to Aleppo and other Mart Cities and Towns and from thence dispersed over the known World The chief Towns are Medina and Mecha famous for being the one the Birth place and the other the Burial place of the Impostor Mahomet as also Aden The Weights and Measures are the same with those of Morocco and Tunis and their Coyns are the Asper the Soltany and Chequin c. CHAP. XXXVI A View of Assyria Mesopotamia Chaldea c. ASsyria is bounded on the North with Armenia on the East with Media on the West with Mesopotamia and on the South with Persia and is famous for its Metropolis the great City Ninive which is now ruined by War but is a Province where at present little or no Trade is driven and therefore I shall the more lightly pass it over Mesopotamia is in subjection to the Ottoman Empire and has for its chief City Carumite the Seat of the Turkish Bashaw but is of little note as to Trade Chaldea is famous for comprehending the great City of Babylon now called Bagdet Builded first by Nimrod and afterwards inlarged to the circuit of 60 Miles by Semiramis whose Walls were 200 Foot high and 75 Foot broad and is saluted by the River Euphrates and at this day keeps Correspondence with Aleppo by Carravans and Camels so that it retains a considerable Trade and what is worthy of note their advice to and from distant places is received by the means of Pigeons which is in this manner effected When the Hen sits they carry the Cock a days Journey and then fast'ning a Letter about his Neck let him go who immediately Flyeth Home and there the Letter is received by such as watch his return and so by degrees bring them to such perfection that in 24 Hours a Letter will be carryed 100 or 150 Miles The Commodities of this Place are the same with those of Aleppo and their Weights the Dram Mittagal Rottolo and Cantar the Rottolo being 1 pound 10 Ounces English Their Measure is the Pico which is found to be 27 Inches English and their Coyns those usual throughout the Turkish Empire and therefore 't is needless to repeat them CHAP. XXXVII A View of Media and the Provinces thereof as also of their Trade Weights Measures and the like MEdia is bounded on the West with Armenia on the South with Persia on the North with the Caspian Sea and on the East with Parthia the chief Cities are Tauris Sultania and Derbent of which the former is the Metropolis and commonly made the Summer Seat of the Persian Sophy and is conjectured to contain 100000. Inhabitants the Trade thereof consists chiefly in Raw-Silk of which there is store which is Traded for by our English Merchants and others and what remains is sent to Aleppo viz 2000. Summs yearly the City affords likewise rich Carpets and some Drugs Spices Cottons Galls Allum and the like it being now in the Subjection of the Persian Monarch The Weights and Measures are for the most part the same with those of Babylon viz. the Rottolo Cantar and Pico the Country round about is very Fertile in Corn and plants as also in the producing all manner of necessaries for the production of Cattle CHAP. XXXVIII A View of Persia The Provinceâ— Cities Trade Weights Measures and Commodities thereof PErsia is bounded on the East with the River Indus on the South with the main Ocean on the North with the Caspian Sea and on the West with Tygris and the Persian Gulf and is divided into 11 Provinces viz. Persis Susiana Caramania Gedrosia Drangiania Arica Arachosia Parapomisus Saccha Hircania and Ormus all large Provinces Persis has of late changed it's name to that of Far and is bounded with the Persian Gulph Caramania Susiana and Media and abounds in rich Merchandise especially Silk Drugs and
River Tay which on the North side of it Flows like a large Sea when on the South the River Amster running through 3 Lakes enters its Streets and falleth into the River Tay aforesaid And by the addition or a new City to the old it is become Commodious and strong and by the advantage of the River passing through all Land-carriage is saved the Boats in the 5 Principal Streets coming up to the Doors especially where the Merchants Ware-Houses are The Inhabitants are generally Prompt to Navigation and have so improved themselves thereby that most of the Citizens are Merchants and have Vessels of their own or venture in other Vessels wholly relying â—pon the advantage that Accrues by Trading in forrain Countries as wanting Land to improve their Stock at home so that of late it has been observed they put out their Money to Interest in England and France to more considerable interest then it will allow in their own Country 4 or 5 per cent being great interest there which is so ordered that by such means People may be the willinger to venture in way of Trade by Merchandise which returns them for the most part 50. per cent and all charges pay'd The Commodities found in Amsterdam as Silks Cloath Woollen and Linnen Stuffs Drugs of all sorts Spices Dies Oyls Allum Brimstone Gold and Silver-Thread Wines and indeed all sorts of Commodities that are found of any use in the known World but the chief Commodities that the Country affords which may properly be called the Growth or Manufacture are Cattle Butter Cheese Flax Corn Linnen Cloath Coarse Woollen Cloaths Tapestry Pictures and all sorts of Fish but especially Herrings of which they make an Extraordinary advantage imploying in the Season for that Fishery 6000 Persons The Weight commonly used in Amsterdam is the pound of 16 Ounces 100 of which make 107 of Antwerp and of London 110. The Measure of length is the Ell 134 of which make 100 Yards of London or 100 London Ells make 167 1 â— Ells of Amsterdam Their Concave Measures are for Corn the Last the Barrel the Muyden the Sack the Archeteling and the Sheple as thus 24 Barrels make the Last each Barrel containing 1 1 â—2 Muydens a Muyden containing 1 2 24 Sacks each Sack being 3 Archetelings or 3 21 29 Shepels 108 Shepels making the Last The Measures for Wine Oyl Beer and other Liquids are for the most part the same with those of England and therefore I shall pass them over The Coyns in which the Accounts are kept are the same with Antwerp viz. Livers Solds and Deniers the Liver or Pound Flemish being 12 Shillings Sterling 6 Florins make the Flemish pound at 20 Stivers per Florin so that 120 Stivers are the Flemish pound or 12 Shillings English 5 Stivers being 6 pence Sterling or 5 Solds Turnois a Gross is 6 Deniers a Carolus Gulden is 20 Stivers or 2 Shillings Sterling or 2 Sols Turnois And besides these all the currant Coyns of Europe pass here according to their true value as they again may be payed for Merchandise to the Merchants of the Countries to which they are proper And thus much for Antwerp and Amsterdam as also for all the Provinces and Cities of the Netherlands the Trade of which being included in what I have lay'd down so that from hence I shall pass into Germany to take a View of that large Empire the Trade of which I reduce into a few heads or deliver it in the Description of the Trade of the Principal Cities CHAP. LXXX A View of Germany its Provinces and the Trade thereof HAving thus far proceeded as I hope to the content of the Reader I shall Survey the Empire of Germany which is bounded on the North with Denmark and the Danish Seas on the East with Prusia Poland and Hungary on the South with the Alps and on the West with France and Belgium and abounds in Silver Mines Copper Lead Tinn Iron Corn Wine Allum Quick-Silver Linnen Woollen Silks Stuffs Cattle Corn and other Commodities all of its own Growth and Manufacture The Cities and Towns of the Empire may by good Right be divided into 3 parts as first the Hans-Towns which enjoy large Privileges and Immunities and are computed to be about 70 which for the most par are accommodated with Navigable Rivers and abound in rich Manufactures Secondly those called the Imperial Cities which are imputed free Cities by Reason of their great Priviledges above the rest in Coyning money barring any acknowledgement of Subjection unless to the Emperor whom they only do acknowledge for their Protector and in lieu of it pay an annual Tribute being 60 odd in number And thirdly those that are under the Subjection of the Electoral Princes which are commonly called Principalities The Rivers by which these Towns for the most part are inriched are 4 viz. the Danube which running 1500 Miles receives about 58 Navigable Rivers and at last disimbogues it self into the Euzine or Black-Sea The River Rhine which after passing through Germany and Belgia for 800 Miles falls into the German Ocean the River Albis which is large and Navigable for near 400 Miles and the River Odera which passing 300 Miles through the Country falleth into the Baltick Sea There are likewise several other Rivers of note that greatly contribute to the Fertilizing the Country but these being the chief I shall pass over the rest unless the Description of some Cities require the mentioning of them CHAP. LXXXI A View of Strasburg and the Trade thereof STrasburg is an Imperial free City Seated upon a fair Plain about a furlong from the River Rhine over which they have lay'd a Bridge and a Channel cut which conveys Ships and Boats to the City which is 8 Miles in compass adorned with many stately Buildings and amongst the rest a Cathedral whose Steeple is for curious Architect accounted one of the 7 Wonders of the World and by Reason of the Generosity of the Inhabitants towards Strangers there is great resort thither especially of Lutherans Calvinists c. but above all it abounds in Handicrafts or Artizans who find great incouragement and by their Labour is the common Stock improved tho since its falling into the Hands of the French King they have not proceeded with such Alacrity as formerly by Reason of the little assurance they have of keeping what they acquire by their Labour The Commodities Traded for hither are Linnen Cloath Iron Diaper Rhenish Wine Copper Wax and Hemp for which they receive out of England Tinn Lead and Woollen Cloath out of Spain Fruits Wines Oyls Salt and Wool and out of Italy Silks both Raw and wrought The Weights are two viz. the Gross and Suttle where upon Tryal it has been found that the 100 pound Suttle of London has made Incirca 70 in 71 of the Gross of Strasburg which Gross Weight is 16 Ounces to the pound and the Suttle but 12 Ounces by the latter of which all Indian Commodities are
which are yearly laded for England and other Countries but especially Oyl Their Monies are for the most part those currant in Spain Their Weights 2 viz. the Rotolo and Cantar 100 of the first making the last called Barbaresco which there is 117 pound making in London 110 pound they have likewise another Cantar of 104 pound called the Cantar of Majorica they likewise sell some Commodities by the Cargo as Pepper Ginger Cinnamond Nutmegs Rice and the which Cargo is 3 Cargo's of 104 pound The Measure of Length is the Cane found to make 67 in 68 London Inches The The Oyl Measure is the Quartano 12 of which make the Odor and 212 that of 126 Gallons which is a Tun of Oyl according to London Gauge and the Customs and other charges are reckoned to 2 pound 7 Shillings 6 Pence per Tun. In this Sea are the Islands of Javisa affording store of Salt as also the Isles Lipara Promentary Pantcleria Caprea Ischia Progitue Elba Gages or Cales with some others of smaller note affording Cattle Corn Olive Oyl Wine Gapars Cavere Oranges Limons Citrons Fish and the like most of them in the possession of the Spaniard And thus leaving the Medeterranian I shall enter the North Ocean to take a View of the Islands not as yet mentioned in this Treatise CHAP. XCVI A View of Greenland and the Whale Fishery with an account of several Islands in the Northern Seas GReenland or Gronland is Seated under the Frozen Zone doubtful whither an Island or a Continent by reason part of those Seas are not Navigable upon the account of the Mountains of Ice that Float therein and for that none ever yet passed over Land to the extent of that dismal Country where from the 14 of October to the 12 of February no Sun appears but the Moon shines as in England and for 3 Months and a half in Summer time they have no Night as for humane Inhabitants there are none yet the Woods and Caves abound with Bears Foxes and Dear and the Voyages the English make thither are upon the account of the Whale Fishery Whales in abundance being found in those deep Seas the Ships seting out in May and Arriving in June at Green-Harbour and Bell-Sound They set up their Caldrons Presses and other necessaries then put again to Sea and when they perceive the Whales coming by the rising of the Water they send out Skiffs with Hasping-Irons and Cables when the men therein taking their advantage strike the Whales who no sooner find themselves wounded but Plunge to the Bottom those in the Boat giving them Rope and by their Sinking know where they will rise and give notice to the Ships who stand off for fear of being overset when they rise with horrible Bellowing they make towards the Shore spouting Blood and Water the Reason of their so doing is to indeavour the rubing out of the Irons upon the Sands but in vain for then by force of Cables they draw them on shoar and their cut out their Pulps of which they make the Oyl and their Fins of which our Whalebone is made by drying and preparing so that sometimes one Whale is found to yield 3 Tuns of Oyl and half a Tun Weight of Whalebone Here it was that several Persons were left a whole Winter the Ship going away during their Hunting up in the Country and lived in a Hutt upon Bears-Flesh Venison Wild-Foxes Birds and the Greens or pressings of the Whales till next year the Ships came again and fetched them off For 7 Months all the Seas are Frozen over and the Country is covered with Mountains of Snow In this Tract is Nova Zembla where the Pole is elevated 76 degrees and whither the Dutch yearly resort to Fish for Whales and such other Fish as yield matter for Oyl It abounds in Dear Wild-Foxes and the like as Greenland and in it likewise not long since several Dutchmen were forced to Winter suffered great Extremity by Reason of the excessive cold There are found likewise Sr. Willoughby's Island called Queen Elizabeths Foreland likewise Freezland Iceland and others of lesser note but by Reason of the excessive cold few of them are Inhabited and the chief Commodities they yield are Ling Cod and Fish Oyls And thus according to my promise having taken Survey of the Trade of all the known part of the Vniverse as near as can be gathered from long experience and credible Authority I shall return with Joy to Tread my Native Soil and there take a View of what yet remains in relation to Trade and Commerce And first I shall begin with Exchanges that one necessary part of all Navigational and Inland Commerce CHAP. XCVII A View of the Practice of Exchanges in General and the advantage accruing thereby THat Exchanges are a Principal part of Merchandise it is most certain and has been so found for 200 Years pâ—st tho not brought to perfection till of late Days The places most apt for Exchanges are those where many Merchants of divers Nations reside and have frequent meetings in relation to Trade and Prizes of Commodities whose returns are Subject to great Exchanges which are ever advantageous to the place where they are Practised Now some places there are that have Exchanges in themselves yet are compelled to depend upon other places having only certain times or Fairs appointed by the Custom of Exchangers in which or to which Bills of Exchange are either expired renewed or dated one of which is Placentia and indeed all Towns in Countries where there is more then one Exchange established the Metropolis or Principal Exchange gives Rules and Rates to the rest provided the Coyns be of equal value and goodness nor indeed tho many places have attributed the name of Exchanges yet that Exchange remains not so much in Esse as in the will of the Merchants Bankers and Exchangers in whose Power it is to assign the place as they think convenient and for the most part pitch upon Principal places where their Bills are sure to have a quick dispatch Now there are several Cities that exchange in one and the same Monies Coyns and Denomination as Naples Lechie Barry the two latter included in the former Palermo and Messina comprehended in Sicilia Valentia Saragosa and Barselona in Cattalonia Sevil Alcala and Medina-del-Campo in Castilia Frankford Colona Noremburg and Augusta in Germany with many other of less note But exchange now from a Plain and easie Method is reduced to so many mysterious Points that it is extraordinary difficult to understand it aright in all places therefore I shall only lay down such Particulars as chiefly concern English Merchants and are conducing to the Trade of the Brittish Empire The first thing then that is to be observed is the true value of the Coyn of the City or Port where you make your exchange which is not to be taken according to the value of the Coyn as it is currant but according to its Weight and fineness
home and having also the command of Shipping have by consequence the Fishing Trade whereof that of Herring alone brings more yearly profit to the Hollanders than the Trade of the West-Indies to Spain or of the East to themselves being as some say viis and modis of above 3 Millions per Annum profit 8thly It is not to be doubted but those who have the Trade of Fishing and Shipping will secure themselves of the Trade of Timber for Ships Boats Masts and Casks of Hemp for Cordage Sails and Nets of Salt of Iron as also of Pitch Tar Rosin Brimstone Oyl and Tallow as necessary Appurtenances to Shipping and Fishing 9thly Those who predominate in Fishing and Shipping have more occasion then others to frequent all parts of the World and to observe what is wanting or redundant every where and what each People can do and what they desire and consequently to be the Factors and Carriers for the whole World of Trade upon which ground they bring all Native Commodities to be Manufactured at home and carried back to the Country where they grow all which we see for do they not work the Sugars of the West-Indies the Timber and Iron of Baltick the Hemp of Russia the Lead Tin and Wool of England the Quick-Silver and Silk of Italy the Yarn and dying Stuffs of Turkey c. to be short in all the ancient States and Empires those who had the Shipping had the Wealth and if 2 per Centum in the price of Commodities be perhaps 20 per Centum in the Gain it is manifest that they who can in 45 Millions under-sell others by one Million upon Account of Mutual Interest and instrinsick Advantages only may easily have the Trade of the World without such Angelical Wits and Judgments as some attribute to the Hollander Having thus done with their Situation I come now to their Trade It is commonly seen that each Country flourisheth in the Manufacture of it's own Native Commodity viz. England for Woollen-Manufactures France for Paper Swihltand for Iron-ware Portugal for Confectures Italy for Silks Upon which principle it follows that Holland and Zealand must flourish most in the Trade of Shipping and so become Carriers and Factors to the whole World of Trade now the Advantages of Shipping Trade are as followeth viz. 1st Husbandmen Sea-men Souldiers and Merchants are the very Pillars of the Commonwealth all the other great professions do arise out of the infirmities and miscarriages of those Now the Sea-man is 3 of these 4 for every Sea-man of industry and ingenuity is not only a Navigator but a Merchant also a Souldier not because he has often occasion to fight and handle Arms but because he is Mamilarized with hardship and hazards extending to Life and Limb for Training and Duelling is a small part of a Soldier in respect of his last mentioned Qualifications the one being quickly and presently learned the other not without many years most painful Experience wherefore to have the occasion of abounding in Sea-men is a vast conveniency 2dly the Husbandmen of England earn but about 4 s. per Week but the Sea-man has as good as 12 s. in Wages Victuals Drink and as it were Housing with other Accomodations so a Seaman is ineffect 3 Husbandmen wherefore there is little Ploughing or Sowing of Corn in Holland or Zealand or breeding of young Cattle but their Land is improved by building Houses Ships Engines Dickes Wharfs Gardens of pleasure extraordinary Flowers and Fruits Dairy and feeding of Cattel for Rape Flax Madder c. the Foundations of several Advantagious Manufactures 3dly Whereas the imployments of other men is confined to their own Country that of a Sea-man is free to the whole World so as where Trade may as they call it be dead here or there now and then it is certain that somewhere or other in the World as Trade is always quick enough c. and Provision is always plentiful the Benefit whereof they who command the Shipping enjoy and they only 4thly The great and ultimate effects of Trade is not wealth at large but particularly abundance of Silver Gold and Jewels which are not perishable but are wealth at all times and all places whereas abundance of Wine Corn Fowl Flesh c. are riches but hic et nunc So as the raising of such Commodities and the following of such Trade is not profitable before others which do store the Countrys with Silver Jewels c. but the labour of Seamen and Freight of Ships of the Nature of an exported Commodity the over-plus whereof above what is imported brings home Money c. 5thly Those who have the command of the Sea-Trade may work at easier Freight with more profit then others at greater for as Cloth must be cheaper made when one Cards another Spins another Weaves another Draws another Dresses another Presses and Packs then when all the Operations above mentioned were clunsily performed by the same hand so those who command the Trade of Shipping can build long slight Ships for carrying Masts Firr Timber Boards Bolkes c. and that one is for Lead Iron Stones c. one sort of Vessels to Trade at Ports where they need never ly aground others where they must jump upon the Sand twice every 12 hours one sort of Vessel and way of Manning in time of Peace and for cheap gross Goods another for War and precious Commodities one sort of Vessel for the Turbulent Sea another for Inland Waters and Rivers one sort of Vessels and Rigging where hast is requisite for the Maidenhead of a Market another where â…• or 4 1 part of the time makes no matter one sort of Masting and Rigging for long Voyages another for Coasting one sort of Vessels for Fishing another for Trade one sort for War for this or the contrary another for Burthen only some for Oars some for Poles some for Sails and some for draught by men or Horses some for the Northern Navigations amongst Ice and some for the South against Storms c. And this I take to be the chief of several Reasons why the Hollanders can go at less Freight than their Neighbours viz. because they can afford a particular sort of Vessels for each particular Trade I have shewn how the Situation has given them Shipping and how shipping in effects has given them all other Trade and how Foreign Traffick must give them as much Manufactures as they can mannage themselves and as for the over-plus make the rest of the World but as Workmen to their Ships it now remains to shew the effects of their policy superstructed upon these natural advantages not as some think the excess of their understandings I have omitted to mention that the Hollanders were 100 years since a poor and oppressed People living in a Country naturally cold moist and unpleasant and were withal persecuted for their Etrodoxy in Religion From whence it necessarily follows that this People must labour hard and set all hands to
from Forraign parts where the State of Husbandry was not changed And thus I have done with the first Principal Conclusion That a small Territory and even a few people may by Situation Trade and Policy be made Equivalent to a far greater and that conveniences for Shipping and Water-Carriage do most Eminently and Fundamentally conduce thereunto CHAP. II. That some kind of Taxes and Publick Levies may rather increase then diminish the Wealth of the Kingdom IF the money or other Effects levied from the people by way of Tax were destroyed and annihilated then it is clear that such levies would diminish the Common-Wealth or if the same were exported out of the Kingdom without any return at all then the case would be also the same but if what is levied as aforesaid be only Transferred from one Hand to another then we are only to consider whether the said money or Commodities are taken from an improving Hand and given to an ill Husband or vice versa as for Example suppose money by way of Tax be taken from one who spendeth in Superfluous Eating and Drinking and delivered to another who imploys the same in improving of Lands in Fishing in working of Mines and Manufacture c. it is manifest that such Tax is an advantage to the State whereof the said different Persons are members nay if money be taken from him who spendeth the same as aforesaid upon Eating and Drinking or any other Perishing Commodities and Transferred to one who bestowed it on Cloaths I say that even in this case the Common-Wealth has some little advantage because Cloaths do not perish altogether so soon as Drinks but if spent in Furniture of Houses the advantage is yet little more if in Building of Houses yet more if in improving of Lands working of Mines and Fishing yet more but most of all in bringing Gold and Silver into the Country because those things are not only perishable but are esteemable for Wealth at all times and every where whereas other Commodities which are Perishable or whose value depends upon the Fashion or which are Contingently scarce and plentiful are Wealth pro hic nunc as has been elsewhere said in the next Place if the People of any Country who have not already a full imployment should be injoyned or Taxed to work upon such Commodities as are imported from abroad I say such a Tax does also improve the Common-Wealth moreover if Persons who live by Begging Cheating Stealing Gaming Borrowing without intention of Restoring who by these ways do get from the Credulous and careless more then is Sufficient for the Subsistance of such Persons I say that tho the State should have no present imployment for such Persons and consequently should be forced to clear the whole charge of their lively-hood yet it were more for the Publick Profit to give all such Persons a regular and Competent allowance by a Publick Tax then to suffer them to spend extravagantly at the only charge of careless and credulous and good natured People and to expose the Common-Wealth to the loss of so many other men whose lives are taken away for the crimes which ill Discipline does occasion on the contrary if the Stocks of Laborious and ingenious men who are not only Beautifying the Country where they live by Elegant Diet Apparel Furniture Housing Pleasant Gardens and Orchards and Publick Edifices c. but also are increasing the Gold and Silver and Jewels thereof by Trade and Armes I say if the Stock of these men should be Diminished by a Tax and Transferred to such as do nothing at all but to Eat Drink Sing Play Dance nay to such as Study the Metaphysicks or other needless Speculations or else imploy themselves in any other way which produceth no material thing or things of real use and value in the common Wealth in this case the Wealth of the Publick will be diminished otherwise then as such exercises are Recreations and Refreshments of the minds and which being moderately used do qualify and dispose men to what in it self is more considerable Wherefore upon the whole matter to know whether a Tax will do good or harm the State of the People and of their Imployments must be well known that is to say what part of the People are unfit for Labour by their impotency and infancy and also what part are exempt from the same by reason of their Wealths Function or Dignities by reason of their charge and imployments otherwise Governing Directing and Preferring those who are appointed to Labour and Arts. In the next place Computations must be made what part of those who are fit for Labour and Arts as aforesaid are able to perform the Work of the Nation in it's present State and Measure 3. It is to be considered whether the remainder can make all or any part of these Commodities which are imported from abroad which of them and how much in particular the remainder of such Sort of People if any be may safely and without possible prejudice to the Common-Wealth be imployed in Arts and Exercises of Pleasure and Ornament the greatest whereof is the improvement of Natural Knowledge Having in general illustrated this Point which I think needs no other Proof but illustration I come next to intimate that no part of Europe has paid so much by way of Tax as Holland and Zealand for these last Forty years and yet no Country has in the same time increased comparably to them and it is manifest they have followed the general rates above-mentioned for they Tax Meats and Drinks most heavily of all to restrain the excessive expence of those things which twenty four hours do's as to the use of man wholly annihilate and they are more Favourable to Commodities to the greater duration nor do they tax according to what men gain but in extraordinary cases but alwaies according to what men spend and most of all to what they spend needlesly and without Prospect of return upon which Grounds their Customs upon Goods imported and exported are generally low as if they intended by them only to keep an Account of what Forreign Trade and to retaliate upon their Neighbours States the prejudices done them by their Prohibition and Imposition It is farther to be observed that since thâ— year 1636 the Taxes and Publick Levies made in England Scotland and Ireland have been Prodigiously greater then at any time heretofore and yet the said Kingdoms have increased in their Wealth and Strength for these last Forty years as shall hereafter be shewn it is said that the French King doth at present levy the Fifth part of his peoples Wealth and yet great Obstructions is made of the present Riches and Strength of that Kingdom altho great care must be had in distinguishing between the Wealth of the people and that of an absolute Monarch who taketh from the people where when and in what Proportion he pleaseth the Subjects of two Monarchs may be equally Rich and yet one
price of Victuals then it plainly follows that till then three Acres improved as it may be will serve the turn and consequently that four will Suffice abundantly I could here set down the very number of Acres that would bear Bread and Drink Corn together with Flesh Butter and Cheese sufficient to Victual nine Millions of Persons as they are Victualled in Ships and regular Families but I shall only say in general that 12,000,00 will do it with supposing that Roots Fruits Fish and Fowl and the ordinary profit of Lead Tin Iron-Mines and Woods would piece up any defect that may be found As to the second I say that the Land and Housing of Ireland and Highlands of Scotland at the present Merchant-Rates are not worth ten Millions of money nor would the actual charge of making the Transplantation amount to two Millions more so then the question will be whether the benefit expected from this Transplantation will exceed two Millions To which I say that the advantage will probably be six times the last mentioned Summ or about seventy two Millions For if the rent of England and Wales and the low Land of Scotland be above nine Millions per Annum and if this fifth part of the people be Superadded unto the present inhabitants of these Countries then the rent will amount to 10,800,000 and the number of Years purchase will rise from seventeen ½ to ⅕ more which is twenty one so that the Land which is worth but nine Millions at seventeen ½ Years purchase making an hundred fifty seven Millions and a half will then be worth 10,800,000 at one and twenty Years purchase viz. 226,800,000 that is 69,300,000 more then was before and if any Prince willing to enlarge his Territories will give three Millions for the said relinquished Land and Housing which were estimated to be worth ten Millions then the whole profit will be above 72,000,000 or six times the value as the same was above computed but if any man should object that will be dangerous unto England to be put into the Lands of any other Nations I answer in short that that Nation who ever shall purchase it being divided by means of the said purchase shall not be more able to enjoy England then now in it's united condition Now if any man shall desire a more clear explanation how and by what means the Rents of Lands shall rise by this closer cohabitation of people above described I answer that the advantage will arise in Transplanting about eighteen thousand people from the Poor and Miserable Trade of Husbandry to more Beneficial Handicraft for which the Superaddition is to be made a very little addition of Husbandry to the same Lands will produce a fifth part more Food consequently the additional Hands earning but forty Shillings per Annum more as they may very well to eight pound per Annum at some other Trade the superlucration will be above 3,600,000 pound which at twenty Years purchase is seventy two Millions Moreover as the Inhabitants of Cities and Towns spend more Commodities and make greater consumption then those who live in wild thin Peopled Countries so when England shall be thicker Peopled in manner before described the very same people shall then spend more then when they lived more sordidly inurbantly and further asunder and more out of the sight observation and Emulation of each other every man desiring to put on better Apparel when he appears in company then when he has no occasion to be seen I further add to the charge of the government Civil Military and Ecclesiastical would be more cheap safe and effectual in this condition of close habitation then otherwise as not only Reason but the example of the united Provinces do demonstrate But let this whole digression pass from a meer Dream I suppose will serve to prove that in case the King of Englands Territories should be a little less then those of the French King that forasmuch as neither of them are over Peopled that the difference is not material to the question in Hand wherefore supposing the French Kings advantages to be little or nothing in point of Territory we come next to examine and compare the number of Subjects which each of those Monarchs do govern The Book called the State of France makes the Kingdom consist of twenty seven Parishes and another Book written by a Substantial Author who profoundly enquires into the State of the Church and Church-men of France sets down as an extraordinary case that a Parish in France should have six hundred Souls where I suppose the said Author who has so well examined the matter is not of opinion that every Parish one with another has above five hundred by which reckoning the whole people of France are about thirteen Millions 500,000 Now the people of England Scotland and Ireland with the Islands adjoyning by computation from the number of Parishes which commonly have more people in Protestant Churches then in Popish Countries as also from the Hearth-money Post-money and Excise do amount to above nine Millions there are in new England about fifty thousand men mustered in Arms about eighty thousand able to bear Arms and consequently about five hundred thousand in all but this last I leave to every man's conjecture and I see no Reason why in all the rest of the Plantations there should not be five hundred thousand more and consequently I suppose the King of England hath above ten Millions of Subjests ubivis terrarum orbis Altho it be very material to know the number of Subjects belonging to each Prince yet when the question is concerning their Wealth and Strength it is also material to examine how many of 'em do get more then they spend and how many less in order whereunto it is to be considered that in the King of Englands dominions there are twenty thousand Church-men but in France as the aforementioned Author of theirs does aver who sets down the particular number of each Religious order there are about 270000. viz. 250000. more then we think are necessary that is to say two hundred and fifty thousand with-drawn out of the World now the said number of adult and able-Bodyed Persons are equivalent to about double the same number of the Promiscuous Mass of Mankind and the same Author affirms that the said Religious Persons do spend one with another above eighteen pence per diem which is Triple to what a Labouring man requires Wherefore the said two hundred fifty thousand Church-men living as they do make the French King 13,500 thousand to be really no better then twelve Millions or thereabouts In the next place it is to be considered that the inhabitants of the inner parts of France remote from the Sea can't be probably Superlucrators Now if there be two Millions in the King of England's Dominions more then in the French Kings who earn more then they spend or if ten men in England earn more then twelve in France then the
commodities did not then yield a third part of the present Value which shews that not only Shipping but Trade it self has increased somewhat near that Proportion As to money the interest thereof was within these fifty Years at Ten pound per cent forty Years ago at eight pound and now at six pound no thanks to any Laws which have been made to that purpose for as much as those who can give good security may now have it less but the natural fall of interest is the effect of the increase of money Moreover if Rented Lands and Houses have increased and if Trade has increased also it is certain that money which payeth those Rents and driveth on Trade must have increased also Lastly I leave it to the consideration of all observers whether the number and Splendor of Coaches Equipage and Houshold Furniture have not increased since that time To say nothing of the postage of Letters which have increased from one to twenty which argues the increase of Business and Negotiation I must add that his Majesties Revenues is near triple and therefore the means to pay and Bear the same has increased also CHAP. VII That one tenth Part of the whole expence of the King of England's Subjects is sufficient to maintain one hundred thousand Foot forty thousand Horse and forty thousand men at Sea and defray all other Charges of the Government both ordinary and extraordinary if the same were regularly Taxed and raised TO clear this point we are to find out what is the middle Expence of each Head in the Kings Dominions between the highest and the lowest to which I say it is not probably less then the Expence of a Labourer who earns about eight pence a day for the wages of such men is four Shillings a Week without Victuals or two Shillings with it wherefore the value of his Victuals is two Shillings per Week or five pound four Shillings per Annum Now the value of Cloaths can't be less then wages given to the Poorest Maid-Servant in the Country which is thirty Shillings per Annum nor can the charge of all other necessaries be less then six Shillings per Annum more wherefore the whole charge is seven pound It is not likely that this Discourse will fall into the Hands of any that lives at seven pound per Annum and therefore such will wonder at this Supposition but if they consider how much the number of the Poor and their Children is greater then that of the Rich altho the personal Expence of some Rich men should be above twenty times more then that of a Labourer yet the expence of a Labourer above mentioned may well enough stand for the Standard of the expence of the whole Mass of Mankind Now if the expence of each man one with another be seven pound per Annum and if the number of the Kings Subjects be Ten thousand then the tenth part of the whole Expence will be seven thousand but about five thousand or a very little more will amount to a years pay for one hundred thousand Foot forty thousand Horse and forty thousand men at Sea Winter and Summer which can rarely be necessary and other ordinary charge of the Government in the time of deep and secute peace was not 600000 per Annum Where a People thrive there the Income is greater then the Expence and consequently the tenth part of the Expence is not the tenth part of the Income Now for men to pay a tenth part of their expence in a time of greatest exigency for such it must be when so great forces is requisite can be no hardship much less a deplorable conditon for to bear the tenth part a man must needs spend a twentyeth part less and Labour a twentieth part more for half an hour per diem extraordinary both which in common Experience are very Tolerable here being very few in England who do not eat by a twentieth part more then does them good and what Misery were it instead of wearing Cloaths of twenty Shillings per Yard to be contented with that of nineteen Shillings few men having skill enough to discern the difference Memorandum that all this while I suppose all of these Ten thousand of people are obedient to their Soveraign and within the reach of his Power for as things are otherwise so the Calculation must be varied CHAP. VIII That there are spare Hands enough amongst the King of England's Subjects to earn two Millions per Annum more then they now do and that there are also Imployments ready proper and sufficient for the purpose TO prove this point we must inquire how much all the People could earn if they were disposed or necessitated to Labour and had work whereupon to imploy themselves and compare the Summ with that of the Total Expence abovementioned deducting the Rents and profit of their Land and Stock which properly speaking saveth so much Labour Now the proceed of the said Land and Stock in these Countries is about three parts of seven of the whole Expence so as where the expence is seventy thousand the Rent of the Land and profit of all Personal Estate interest of money c. must be about thirty thousand and consequently the value of the Labour forty thousand that is four pound per Head but it is to be noted that about a quarter of the Mass of Mankind are Children Males and Females under seven Years old from whom little Labour is to be expected it is also to be noted that about another tenth part of the whole people are such as by Reason of their great Estates Tythes Dignities Offices and professions are exempt from that kind of Labour we now speak of their business being or ought to be to Govern Regulate and direct the Labours and Actions of others so that of Ten Millions there be about six thousand a half or two thirds which if need requires might actually Labour and of these some might earn three Shillings a Week some five Shillings and some seven Shillings that is all of them might earn five Shillings a Weak at a medium one with another or at least Ten pound per Annum allowing for Sickness and other Accidents whereby the whole might earn fifty six thousand pound per Annum that is twenty five more then the Expence The Author of the State of England saies that the Children of Norwich between six and sixteen Years old do earn twelve thousand pound per Annum more then they spend Now for as much as the people of Norwich are a three hundredth part of all the people in England as appears by the Accompt of Hearth-money and about the five hundredth part of all the Kings Subjects throughout the World it follows that all his Majesties Subjects between six and sixteen Years old might earn five thousand per Annum more then they spend Again forasmuch as the number of People above sixteen Years old are double the number of those between six and