places where they are 6. Do justly in advancing such to Offices in the Armie and Garrisons as are deserving men and have longest and faithfully served the State and not to put in friends that never were souldiers or other men for money or other self-ends whereby manie are discontented and the Armie made less serviceable and the State thereby weakned when the souldiers see them in power so unjust 7. Let all roiotous and deboist souldiers bee turned out of service for such are plagues to provoke God to wrath they will brag much and when it come's to fighting do little when an Armie is in plentie they will devour abundance and the sooner bring the whole to want and when want com's they are the less able to bear it but will sooner grow sick infect others die themselvs and weaken the whole Neither can rioters fast when need is so long as temperate men 8. Lastly that all Commissions and Orders pass in the militarie channel and all Souldiers to give an account to the General and the General to the State no interfearing with them and the civil Government the English Souldierie being the most unparalel'd men in the world ANd becaus the Militia cannot bee maintained without money Therefore hath God commanded that Tribute shall bee paid to them that bear the sword of Justice and things must bee so ordered that the Common-wealth may have a verie rich stock or revenue at least to defray all charges plentifully without which they cannot be just 2. The charges of the whole common-wealth must bee duly known and all unnecessarie charges cut off and then a proportionable tax laid accordingly plentifully to defray all those charges so as no man must paie more currantly nor buy all things cheaper then the Common-wealth for they must bee an example of truth in what they promise and Justice in performance to the whole Common-wealth how will the Lord then bless them 3. Special care must bee had that men fearing God and hating covetousness may bee chosen and trusted with the stock of the Common-wealth and yet so regulated that if any prove fals they may do little hurt 4. The Charge of the Common-wealth may bee made much less by lessening the state of Officers both civil and militarie by land and sea which is nourished in a Kinglie Government to maintain their Port and Grandure But in a Common wealth who desire wealth indeed this statelie Port is wholly needless as hath most eminently been seen in the Low Countries where 't is strange to see though now 't is ten times greater then in the heat of their wars against the King of Spain how small state the States themselvs hold Lords of the Admiraltie Burgomasters of the greatest Cities not one of an hundred have so much as a man or serjeant to wait on them in the streets yet do the highest acts of Power with asmuch vigor as the King of Spain himself 5. Let as many offices of the Common-wealth as can bee bee served by men of qualitie who will do it freely without any charge or salaries of which you need not doubt of chois for how manie thousands are in England men that have enough to live on and nothing to imploie their able parts in who gladly som out of love of humanitie and the common good others but that they might bee well imploied som out of love of Autoritie and honor c. would gladly serv the Common-wealth yea and would petition ten for one office if it were but brought into custom as it was under the Romane Common-wealth-government* and what a mass of monie might bee saved by this means and the Common-wealth more honored by beeing sued to to bee served and yet all offices better served then now by needie men that desire still more to inrich themselvs and whose hearts saie not yet I have enough as manie men do that live on what they have * And should not Christians serv the Common-wealth freely as well as the Romanes 6. As manie officers about custom excise Clerks Treasurers Committees Towns freeedoms Officers of Companies and manie the like might bee discharged as would alone maintein a great Armie if all customs Excise and a hundred other waies of gathering monie were put down and instead thereof all men throughout the whole Common-wealth that are able to paie anie thing * taxed once in a year what each shall give each according to his rents estate trade and handicraft and a place appointed in each town and Citie where everie one shall themselvs bring the money they are taxed at with how few Officers and little charge might this bee don and how easie would it bee for men to paie when they should have all things so cheap without custom Excise or charge of thousands of Officers how would men bee inabled hereby to paie their taxes by the multitude of Trade that would flow in if all Customs c. were free 7. This tax to paie the whole charge of the Common-wealth both the charge of the State and all the charges of each town and Citie may bee ordered to bee paid at once or at three or four several times everie year or rebate set for them that bring it in before the time limited proportionable to the time and manie other means may bee used to caus people to paie willingly or the tax may bee laid much less and the rest taxed upon Burials weddings and feastings or the like and people forbidden by a Law not to make such great weddings burials Christnings c. and instead thereof to give but the half so much to the State 'T is strange what abundance of monie might bee gathered by this means and yet people have never the less seeing now they spend twice so much in such things as bee wholly useless and do but hurt and trouble themselvs so to spend their monie 8. Great would the advantages bee both to the State and particular towns to have a rich publick stock as a well monied man that is prudent by God's blessing get's up above all his Neighbors so would it bee with a rich State through God's blessing beeing well managed I could bee large herein first the State might bee just and paie all justly and presently upon which a blessing is promised Secondly all things might bee bought for readie monie the advantage whereof is verie great Thirdly you are readie to lend to anie Neighbor Nation and take strong holds for securitie which is oft of great concernment Fourthly you are readie not onely to defend but to offend anie Nation that wrong's you or assist anie Nation oppressed by which oft whole Provinces are gained and in general all happiness attend's this State for as Christ saith to him that hath using it well shall bee given and this riches is your strong tower 9. T is as easie for anie State to get a rich stock and Revenue as for anie private man that hath a good
or so manie years whosoever shall finde anie new invention for improvement of nature in anie kinde bee it in manuring of ground making it better and finding anie instruments to till the ground mith more eas or less charge or the like 4. Much may bee don about improvement of Commons making of som waters land and gaining of ground out of the Sea as is to bee seen in the Low-Countries to their great inrichment and admiration of other Nations 5. A rich publick stock in everie Town and Citie may hereby bee laid out in improvement of Nature to the great profit of the Revenue of the Town and yet greatly to the common good of which manie examples might bee produced 6. Daies of publick praier to God to bless the fruits of the earth and of publick thanks-giving for his blessing thereupon is a special means for improvement of Nature ordained by himself and will bee blessed by him if rightly kept and then are special fruits of faith III. FOr Incouragement of Arts and Manufactures great care must bee taken becaus it imploie's hundred thousands who live upon it and also is a chief ground for Merchandise and manie chief setters of people on work do also much inrich themselvs to the great good of the Common-wealth 1. For finding of new Arts or for bettering of the old by instruments easiness or the like great riches honors or Privileges would bee propounded and assured or the State to choos two men and the inventer two and if they agree not themselvs to choos an Umpire to determine the reward of the inventer and the same liberally to bee rewarded accordingly the same whereof would set all the wits of the world on work to advance your Common-wealth to the greatest happiness that ever the world yet saw 2. All means to buy Materials at the cheapest prises must in a special manner bee indeavored and amongst other means a chief will bee to suffer all Commodities from all parts of the world to bee brought in free without Custom and if they cannot make price to their mindes that they may transport them freely out again at all times 3. That all possible care must bee taken for cheapest transportation of goods within the Land from place to place both by water and by Land ' Also such order about laborers boats Carts and all things thereupon depending ' Also such order about workmen and victual c. as may best conduce thereunto about which much may bee said too large for this place 4. That no Artist or handie-laborer that gain 's not thereby ten or twentie pound a year or so much as shall bee thought fit according to the cheapness of the place hee live s in if a batchelor or thirtie or fortie pounds a year if hee bee married and five or ten pounds a year for each childe hee hath besides shall give anie kinde of taxation to the Common-wealth c. 5. That all Companies of Artists or trades men give Freedom for all that will and are capable thereof to set up or bee free of that Trade without paying anie thing for freedom either of the Citie or Companie for why should anie thing for common good bee so lock't up inclosed or paid for this freedom would bee found true Freedom if it were but in use however it may seem at present 6. What if once in a year all of each trade at several times meet together and hee that could do best or most of anie Trade to have som kinde of prise or honor that year c. 7. Publick daies of praier that God would pour out his Spirit as of grace especially so of sciences and Arts upon his people c. IV. FOr Increas of Merchandise and Merchants and helps for dispatch of their affairs manie things may bee don by the Magistrate and ought in a special manner to bee looked upon as a special means to inrich anie Nation 1. To preserv the Common-wealth at peace at home especially and abroad also as much as possible can bee with all Nations is a chief means to increas Merchants and Merchandise And therefore to meddle verie little with other States but trust in God who seldom order's his people to that work nor to keep anie Leger-Ambassadors from other Nations 2. To have special care to keep the Soveraintie of the Sea by numerous and able men of war well furnished with all things and Mariners Volontiers and well paid and good order for constant convoies for all places that Merchants may bee kept from losses to accomplish which manie things are to bee don This short regulating of the present Navie may incourage others to add their thoughts The brief Regulating of the present Navie which now cost's five or 600000 l. yearly The work consist's either in the Governing or the Executive part I. For the Governing thereof 1. A Committee of Admiraltie consisting of five or seven verie able men should alwaies sit neer the Council of State with sufficient Secretaries and these men if need may have competent salaries 2. These to bee able to give satisfaction for all marine affairs whatsoëver at all times these to have in them the Court of Admiraltie also which may easily bee don if the Law of Merchants were in force who by six men yearly chosen may end the usual controversies among Seamen and Merchants The Admiraltie Court as now it stand's beeing verie offensive 3. In this Committee the Admirals of the Sea to sit when they return home as Assistants II The Executive part consist's either in building the Ship or employing it when built to which end 1. Laie by all the Docks at Chattam Detford c. whence neer one thousand mouths are daily fed upon the State besides Officers c. 2. That the Ship bee built in a Merchant waie at anie Dock the Carpenter will and so built per tun as can bee agreed by the said Committee and paiement upon deliverie for wee finde the verie carriage of the State 's own timber is dearer then timber can bee bought elswhere 3. That for the performance of Covenants the Committee have a Check or Overseer upon the ship whilst building 4. That som Act bee made for the preservation of timber through the Common-wealth there beeing much spoil made continually 5. That the offer of New-England may bee entertained who tender the building of what Ships or Frigats are desired and to bring them into the Thames and there their value impartially judg'd who likewise may furnish iron guns masts c. For the Sailing of the SHIP 1. That an able fit Captain bee chosen and the Ship commended to his care whilst hee is worthie 2. That the said Captain bee in constant paie 3. That hee rig man victual and take the whole care of the ship himself with a Muster-Master upon everie ship or Squadron 4. That the Captain 's accounts bee given up to the Committee aforesaid as
that no stranger that is not a Town-dweller after arrest may bee carried to prison nor anie sute begun till parties appear before the Peace-makers appointed in everie Town for that purpose to see if they can end the controversie and perswade them to peace and love if not let the debtor put in securitie to answer the debt if possible hee can if not let him bee forced to put into the hands of the Peace-makers or others twentie shillings fiftie shillings five pounds ten pound or one hundred pounds as the man is of abilitie and the debt in greatness on condition to have his libertie presently in that Town but not to go out of Town till sentence bee given one waie or other upon forfeiture to the poor of that summ deposited in the Peace-makers hands if hee go out of Town before the debts bee paid and the Creditor to take som other opportunitie to sue the debtor in the Town where the debtor dwel's or to arrest him another time in the same Town and then not so to bee trusted again 12. Great cruelties are committed in Prisons by great charges for fees chambers and dear victuals and by stinking and unwholsom rooms all which in Mercie and love to humanitie ought to bee prevented 13. Som cours also must bee taken that widows and under aged and persons of small parts and education may not bee over-reached as oft they are by agreements and under-writing of bills for which are divers Remedies 14. That none bee prest to serv the State as Souldiers by sea or Land against their wills the evils of which are great and manie unless in som verie great exigent and no State shall need to do it if they manage State-affairs well keep a rich publick stock and pay well you shall never want men and should not they bee just and pay well that are to administer Justice to all others 15. Needs must there bee set up in everie Town a hous to receiv and bring up to all manner of Trades the Orphans of such as die without anie estate or if they have so little that none of their Kinred or acquaintance will take upon them to bring up the Children who beeing left to beg or perish c. the civil Fathers of the * fatherless are to take charge of them young babes to bee nurst up and after learned to read write c. and when big enough to bee set to work to learn somthing to live by and if the stock will bear it to have ten or twentie pounds to set up a trade for themselvs beeing big enough or when they marrie out of the Weeshous as manie do in Holland The orders for to regulate this hous are manie And for means to maintein it everie able Citizen at first will give ten twentie one hundred pounds or more beeing put on it by the Magistrates and Ministers and more will daily bee given by divers waies and especially by Testament when men die if all bee right carried III. Justice VVHere there is true Religion and Mercie no doubt but there will bee good Justice yea Justice is more necessarie to the immediate subsistence of a Common-wealth then the two former for manie Common-wealths subsist without true Religion and much Mercie but without Justice no Common-wealth can long subsist and it is of the three the most immediate and proper work of the Magistrate's office to see true Justice executed Here wee take leav to propose a short Model for the Law upon which Justice hang's and which hath cost so much trouble and expens 1. REgisters to bee setled in everie Parish kept everie year by two men chosen to that work and all Lands and houses entred into that book distinctly and the Copie thereof transferred to the Countie-Town in case of fire c. and in these books all alienations c. entred and none authentick but such that so none might bee mistaken in premorgages or anie other waie whereby everie one may cleerly bee satisfied in what hee hath or can claim as his own 2. That all papers for all contracts for monie or Lands buying or selling by anie writing have a small Seal of the States on the top of it for which three pence or six pence paid to the State for which a Model is readie such papers will bee of great use for men's securitie that deal and an insensible incom to the State 3. That in everie Countie everie hundred yearly choos three men to bee Peace-makers or friend-makers for that year to hear and determine all common-controversies between man and man from whom they may not appeal and the danger cannot bee much by these often elections for certainly the happiness in Government will never lie upon Laws but men all good men carrying good Laws in their bosom and therefore Venice and other States have founded their welfare in Elections To which Characters and qualifications must necessarilie bee given out by the supreme power and the ballating box never used but upon exigents it being a Lot and was wont to bee a part of Worship it beeing used in Scripture onely in two cases Civilly in the dividing Lands and inheritances Divinely in the chois of Matthias for an Apostle And the Rule is Where Providence doth no waie appear in the use of other means then the Lot take's place But never do wee read of a Lusorie Lot made common by Cards and Dice and urged by a grave Preacher in a dispute betwixt him and learned Ames To add a word more In the chois of a Parlament man if a thousand meet to choos let these choos an hundred out of that number to choos for them and the rest depart the one hundred then out of themselves choos twentie to choos one for that service and these upon oath to bee faithful if among these two bee in competition then to ballating No man to have a voice that hath been an enemie ten years 4. all entails may bee cut off for ever and men have libertie to bestow what they have to whom they pleas the eldest having a double portion What mischiefs have com'n upon families by greatning the eldest and abasing the rest let Englishmen judg yea the high waies and gallows can witness and forrein plantations can testifie And if Daughters were ingenuous and would work they ought to have equal portions with sons It is an unpleasing spectacle to see in the Cities so manie men fit for nobler things to sell those wares which were properly the imploiment of women and their daughters I wish a serious remedie hereunto and that men should not blush to bee sitting in shops yea the choice Gentrie of the Nation I much wonder 5. For a Bodie of Laws I know none but such as should bee the result of sound reason nor do I know anie such reason but what the God of wisdom hath appointed Therefore the Moral Law that short Law called ten words is doubtles best to which Moses's
often as they pleas 5. That upon anie miscarriage of his hee bee made verie exemplarie 6. Seamen to bee paid everie six moneths in the several places where they com in to winter 7. That Ships bee as well kept at other places as at Chattam By which you save the charge of Commissioners Victuallers Pursers Stewards Docks c. By which means you need not press men everie Captain knowing how to get his own gang and certainly hee that is trusted with a ship worth 10000 l. may well bee trusted with all the rest hee know's his Officers and men whereby hee may give a better account then now when the ship is man'd by strangers and then a Captain chosen for six moneths not knowing the men hee is to join with in his work nor to see them more when hee leav's them 3 Special care must bee had to secure Merchants and their goods on Land as well as by Sea from danger by fire by water by Souldiers Injustice of Courts or anie other waie the means for these ends are plain 4 To take of all incumbrance from Merchandise as Custom Excise Pasports c. by all which Merchants are extremely troubled vexed and hindered and if men might ship and unship their goods at all times and in all places and that without anie toll or Custom how would it increas trade how would all the world make England their packhous as now they do the Low-Countries where small Customs are paid much more would it bee here if no Custom were paid besides the great riches to your Inhabitants by factorage packhouses Porters and all trades would feel the benefit thereof to the marvellous increas of the Common wealth c. 5 To increas shipping and Marriners for the cheap transporting of Merchandise for which divers things would bee don 't is strange that in the Low Countries though they have neither wood Iron hemp c. of their own but must fetch all things to make ships by ships from other Countries yet that they will transport Merchandise at a cheaper rate then anie other Nation and have got to this height in the midst of a most costlie dangerous war 6 To take such a cours which may bee easily don if there bee a will thereto as all differences debts and quarrels amongst Merchants and Marriners about shipping fraits c. may bee both speedily and justly ended and without anie charge to him that hath the just caus and a mulct upon him that doth or seek's to do wrong to his Neighbour Let forreiners and all strangers Jew and heathen have full as just speedie and cheap Justice as anie so shall all Nations tell what the Lord hath don for you how will Riches flow in 7 But one of the greatest things in the world to increas Merchandise is to have monie cheap at interest as in the Low-Countries where at three 3 and four per cent a year anie Merchant or anie other that hath credit may take up as much monie as is incredible upon his bare private obligation without anie Notarie or witness which is of such concernment for the State it self and all sorts of people therein as is incredible and can bee effected as well in England as anie where for 't is the meer fruits of Justice and Righteousness and a secure State by reason wherof all Nations in wars or troubles or in securitie make over their treasures to that Countrie where there is lest fear to lose it which bring 's treasures from all parts and they at length beeing wearie to have it still give it out at interest at the best price they can get which at last so manie will do that monie com's to bee so cheap as you have heard and make 's Merchants of other parts also send their goods to that Countrie to lie still for a better market when their loss is so little as three or four per cent for a whole year which also bring in great riches 8 Upon which secure and good state of things a bank may bee set up as at Amsterdam where lie's a great deal of the Merchants and other treasure for 't is in vain to set up a bank if Merchants think not their monie would bee as secure there as in their own hands or surer 1. The advantage of this bank is verie great to the Citie who stand's for securitie and whose Deputies three of them yearly two chosen are trusted with the whole stock of the bank which they keep in sellers made with plaster of Paris and iron doors with three locks the advantage to the town Laws and orders thereof would bee too large here to rehears 2. The advantage to the State is also great at som strait where they may orderly borrow a great summe at low interest giving good securitie for it but if the State use anie force though but once and necessitate or force the bank to lend then is the bank spoiled for twentie years or an age as the case may stand 3. The advantage to merchants is great especially to great ones to have all their monie receiv'd and paid for nothing and most paid by bills without stirring anie monie onely set from one man's account to another's 9 For saving of time and that Merchants may keep a man the less and that the Bank may also receiv and paie their monie the easier there must also bee minted or coined so manie hundred thousand pounds in five shilling peeces as that all great summes may bee received and paid in great monie the commoditie whereof is great to Merchants though there were no bank 10 T is also a thing of great concernment to make currant at a true value the monie of other Countries by a wise Government whereof suitable to the exchange and other considerations the riches of other Countries may by an unsensible subtletie bee drawn into yours as in the Low-Countries 11 And great care is to bee taken about the Mint and fals Coiners and not to mint too much or too little monie of one kinde for Merchants and all Inhabitants are accommodated or disaccommodated greatly hereby 12 A common weigh-hous two or three in great Cities with four or eight several great and small ballances in everie weigh-hous regulated with brave and just orders is of very great use to Merchants the seller to deliver his goods into the ballance and the buyer to receiv it as soon as 't is weighed the laborers about it to bee sworn and well ordered and other things here about would bee too large 13 Let there bee as manie sworn Brokers who may not buy or sell anie thing for themselvs as will desire the office for accommodations of Merchants regulated with good Laws and to bee put out of office upon anie fals dealing between man and man and a rate set what they may take for brokerage of each commoditie c. let them have the office gratis and let them have
Officers to decide all Controversies between two Brokers that concern's their office and to maintein their own poor if you will amongst themselvs 〈◊〉 14 If a Court were 〈…〉 ed to assure all Merchants goods from Pirates and Enemies and fully to paie for what ever is lost that waie yet everie man to bee left free whether hee will insure or no yea if the same Court did also insure against dangers by storms or what is otherwise lost at Sea also I conceiv the State or Citie that stood the venture for so much in the hundred might make great profit thereby and also further and incourage Merchants to venture of which much might bee said 15 A verie great plague and hinderance of Merchants are Bankrupts and certainly Merchandise would bee much increased if the fear of Bankrupts were but in part remedied which might bee by good Laws well executed as that whosoever trust anie one man with all or more then hee is worth or venture so much in one or divers ships upon the Sea or laie so much in one hous and loos it by fire and by anie of these means turn Bankrupt shall bee so and so punished 16 That they that know or may know if they pleas they are behinde hand and yet buy wares or borrow monies of other men under pretence of hope to get before hand again and yet plaie Bankrupts bee also more punished then the former especially if upon examination it doth appear they knew they must plaie Bankrupts when they bought those wares or borrowed that monie for then they differ not from thievs onely in circumstance and to bee the more punished if when they had nothing yet they werâ— costly in apparel and other expenses and knew they spent of other men's c. 17 That they who under pretence of able men under color of Merchandise get other men's goods into their hands and yet when they need not bankrupt themselvs on purpose to deceiv others and inrich themselvs bee sorely punished as verie great thievs 18 That no Bankrupt may ever after com into anie office or bear anie Rule in Church or State c. 19 That if the Bankrupt bee taken and no friends will paie his debts let him and his bee set to work as a thief and what they can earn over besides their own poor living to bee given to the Creditors These or the like penalties well limited and ordered and executed would prevent thousands of Bankrupts which are like Cankers to the Common-wealth And what with great and little Bankrupts it is abundance that plaie Bankrupt everie year No week passeth without som Bankrupt in great Cities and som week divers and one Bankrupt doth more hurt then twentie thievs that are put to death or sorely punished for it BUt for London in particular these things following would bee reformed for the increas eas pleasure and benefit of Merchants and all other Inhabitants besides and above manie of the former things that London want's 1. For landing of goods c. that a brave large Key bee made into the Thames from London Bridg to Wappin or lower and above the Bridg also that ships may lie there safe all the waie to lade and unlade their goods with roomth and pleasure and with much less charge then now and there may bee Pack-houses and Sellers made all along by the Keie to the great eas and accommodation of Merchants and of great pleasure to Merchants Marriners and all sorts of people to have such a large brave Keye of fortie or fiftie foot broad to walk upon and dispatch their affairs at pleasure and all this may bee don without charge to anie 2. That Thames-street for a mile or two long bee made as broad or broader then anie street in London large fair and the houses light and pleasant the street to bee paved with â—â—ch flat four-square stones as in Holland and high in the middest with the gutters on both sides and bricks on both sides next the houses as in Holland the profit pleasure and eas to the whole Inhabitants would bee verie great The difficultie seem's to bee in pulling down and new building of houses or removing them on screws as at Amsterdam But things may bee so ordered as the profit to bee made by convenient building and the value houses and ground will bee at by bettering the street and the Key will fully countervail the charge of all this whole work though it should bee six eight or ten years in doing it might bee made one of the bravest places in the world where one thousand or two thousand ships may lie with safetie all weathers c. 3. The next thing som remedie must bee found for is the Passage up hill from Thames-street to London for which Thames-street it may bee will permit to bee heightned a foot or two all along which will much eas the passage upward and besides right against anie street that goe's into the Citie Thames-street may bee heightned six or eight foot like a bridg and Thames-street on each side for a hundred foot or more to go sloping downward by an easie descent and beeing against that place of ascent into the Citie rais'd eight foot the ascent into the Citie will also fall easie by a small ascent and if anie inconvenience should bee found in this there are other inventions to remedie this great inconvenience for transportation of goods c. which is of good concernment besides the delight and cleanliness of this manner of accommodation 4. But I would have no Carts used in the wole Citie for they are verie uneasie to lade and unlade goods and besides do so pester the streets as Merchants and others cannot pass the streets for quick dispatch of their affairs to their great hurt and loss of half a quarter of an hour and thereby an opportunitie is oft great loss to manie Now for remedie let sleads bee onely used as at Amsterdam that can draw an half and a whole tun weight as the hors is in strength and besides the slead men alone ordinarily can lade and unlade his slead without other help unless for verie heavie things hee desire 's to lend a hand of one or other that stand's by t is a neat waie and of quick dispatch c. Som cours must also bee taken to lessen the number of Coaches which too much pester the streets and hinder men in passing too and fro which may easily bee don 5. Next wee com up into the Citie where wee see most beastly durtie streets the hurt of which is so great as is strange and what a world of work is daily made by the durt and wet in rotting of shoes and stockins womens coats fouling of houses making clean of shoes clothes c. as is strange and not possible for Merchants to live cleanly and neatly as in Holland without cleaner streets which may in a verie great measure bee helped by paving the
streets with brave slate four-square stones the streets highest in the middest gutters on each side next the houses as in Holland and bricks on each side next the houses easie and clean for people to walk on which besides the great pleasure to all would ten times paie the charge in saving shoes stockins c. from wet and rotting besides all houses might bee kept more cleanly and Merchants live more neatly c. 6. All wooden houses in London must down and not anie part bee of wood onely windows and doors as fast as they rot away no reparations or verie little to bee permitted and no new houses to bee built but with brick or stone to prevent fire for securitie of Merchants and others and it would make Merchants of other Countries the more willing to trust their goods in your Citie when there is less danger of fire 7. Also divers means must bee used for prevention of fire more water must bee provided at hand by Pumps bored into the ground fiftie or one hundred foot if water may bee so had by orders of Clappermen going about all night as in Holland then a Captain and officers of fire in everie Ward to set good orders about quenching fire also leather Buckets in everie hous and in all publick places and leathers at hand in everie ward alwaies readie and divers the like things are needful 8. As fast as the Citie is paved with new brave stones to take the old stones and pave the high waies everie waie out of the Citie and to make the high waies so round and high in the midst that they may bee clean Winter and Sommer and to use all means that all high waies may bee well mended and kept which will bee great delight to Merchants and other Inbabitants c. 9. Also a large Keie may bee made on Southwark side all along the lanes and Rivers cut out of the Thames with Keies on both sides and Pack-houses built where all cours commodities as Pitch Tar Iron Milstones wood of all sorts as Masts Timber Planks Deals spars Clapboards and manie others Commodities may bee brought and there bee kept at small charge and landed out of the Ships at the doors of the the Pack houses as at Rotterdam and other places to the great accommodation of Merchants and furtherance of merchandise and if these plain and just Rules of God's word were observed there would bee no need of anie deceitful base and Machevilian courses to keep a Common-wealth in peace and obedience as may bee seen in the Low-Countries where no people have more libertie then they nor paie such great taxations nor so little state anie where used to preserv Autoritie and yet the people of so manie Nations and Religions live in the greatest peace and plentie of the world meerly by good Justice Mercie and Religion and yet manie things com short of what they ought and might bee Postscript Refer these to their proper places Concerning PRINTING which well used is a great honor and benefit to the Common-wealth These things would bee considered 1. THat PRINTING bee look't upon as a Mysterie not as a common Trade for everie ignorant man to take up but to bee ordered by the State as the Mint is for Coin 2. That Printing-houses bee reduced to a certain number as heretofore they have been for the multiplying of them is a wrong to the Publick and oftentimes the ruine of private men 3. That all Popish and offensive Books Libels and loos Pamphlets may bee suppressed 4. That no Books printed originally in England may bee imported from beyond Seas into this Common-wealth other States will not suffer it and wee finde by experience that neither Autor nor Printer nor bookseller can bee incouraged when the Book assoon as it is out here shall bee printed beyond Sea where they have paper and printing at a cheaper rate and hither imported oftentimes to the ruine of the undertakers of a good work here 5. That the right of everie man's Copie may bee preserved Much wrong hath been don this waie by invading one another's right in these licentious times 6. That all Books fit for publick view may bee licensed and nothing printed which shall not first bee allowed by som judicious men in everie facultie appointed by the State for that purpose This would bee a means to suppress manie idle and noxious dâ—scourses and a good warrant to the undertakers of solid and profitable Books THat all Females from ten to sixtie might bee enjoined to spin and have made into linnen cloath one pound of flax everie moneth and registred in the Parish where made and returned again to the owners with incouragement to poor maids that do best This would by computation emploie two or three hundred thousand poor for which a Model is readie The business of the Fens need 's great incouragement to this end for Flax. That since the foundation of Families Villages Towns Cities and Common-wealths spring from Marriage and the business meerly civil that the respective Magistrates in everie place might not onely do that work which Preachers quâ Preachers have not to do with but also look to the qualifications of those that join in that estate and that two or three such Magistrates together may hear and determine matters tending to Divorce for all which much is wanting in this Nation and whole Families perishing upon that account and several sins increased A Post set up in everie Parish or at the Church door a Paper stuck up of the Paâ—â—ie's names to bee married and there to stick three weeks or a moneth That where fees of Physitians are stated a cours may bee taken for reducing that work to sont certain Rule That Bedlam may bee minded the Armie diseased and Hospitals That superfluities may be supprest as Coaches and guilding Coaches to which purpose those that will ride in them may paie five or ten pounds per annum to the State the like for Gold and Silver-lace and Bone-lace from beyond Seas Isa 54. 17. Deut. 4. 5 6. 6-17 18 19. 7-12 13 14. 8. 18 Josh 1. 8. Psal 119. 1 2. Deut. 15. 7. Mat. 5. 7. Prov. 14. 31. Prov. 20. 28. Deut. 16. 18 19 20. v. Prov. 16. 12. Acts 8. 4. Acts 17. 2. and ch 19. v. 6. to 10. Acts 13. 3. and 14 15 16. v. 1 Cor. 14. 1. Acts 28. 16. to 31. v. Isa 49. 23. Psal 119. 5. to 16. v. c. and 27. 32. 46. 52. Isa 49. 23. Prov. 4. 8. 21. and v. 21. 1 Sam. 2. 30. Numb 27. 20. Isa 1. 17. Job 29. 12 13. Psal 109. 10. Ezek. 16. 49. 2 Thes 3. 10. 1 Thess 4. 11. 2 3 10. 1 Tim. 5. 8. 1 Tim. 5. 8. Judg. 16. 21. Exod. 22. 22 23. v. Prov. 14. 21. and 31. v. Prov. 19. 17. and 29. 7. ch 28. 27. and 22. 9. Luk. 19. 23. Levit. 19. 33 34. Deut. 10. 19. Exod. 23. 9. and 22-21 Mat. 10. 29. Mar. 12. 42. Ezek. 22. 7. Deut. 10.