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state_n	majesty_n	province_n	unite_a	1,555	5	10.5711	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57390	The merchants map of commerce wherein the universal manner and matter relating to trade and merchandize are fully treated of, the standard and current coins of most princes and republicks observ'd, the real and imaginary coins of accounts and exchanges express'd, the natural products and artificial commodities and manufactures for transportation declar'd, the weights and measures of all eminent cities and towns of traffick in the universe, collected one into another, and all reduc'd to the meridian of commerce practis'd in the famous city of London / by Lewis Roberts, merchant.	Roberts, Lewes, 1596-1640.; Mun, Thomas, 1571-1641. England's benefit and advantage by foreign-trade.; Marius, John. Advice concerning bills of exchange.	1700 (1700)	Wing R1601_PARTIAL; Wing M608_PARTIAL; ESTC R1436	687,097	516

Estate they seem not the same People Those Princes which willingly support the Dutch would as resolutely resist the Spaniard for who knows not that the Condition of those Provinces was mean and Turbulent under the Spaniards Government which brought rather a greater Charge then a further Strength to to their Ambition neither would it prove over difficult for the Neighbour Princes in short time to reduce those Countries to their former Estate again if their own safety did require the same as certainly it would if the Spaniard were sole Lord of those Netherlands but our Discourse tends not to shew the Means of those Mutations otherwise than to find out the chief Foundation of the Hollander's Wealth and Greatness For it seems a wonder to the World that such a small Country not fully so big as two of our biggest Shires having little natural Wealth Victuals Timber or other necessary Ammunitions either for War or Peace should notwithstanding possess them all in such extraordinary Plenty that besides their own wants which are very great they can and do likewise serve and sell to other Princes Ships Ordnance Cordage Corn Powder Shot and what not which by their industrious Trading they gather from all the Quarters of the World Much Policy but little Honesty In which courses they are not less injurious to supplant others especially the English than they are careful to strengthen themselves And to effect this and more than hath been said which is their War with Spain they have little Foundation besides the Fishing which is permitted them in His Majesty's Seas being indeed the Means of an incredible Wealth and Strength both by Sea and Land as Robert Hichcock Tobias Gentleman and others have published at large in print to them that list to read And the States-General themselves in their Proclamation have ingeniously set out the Worth thereof in these words following Part of the States Proclamation dated in the Hague 19. July 1624. The great Fishing and catching of Herrings is the chiefest Trade and principal Gold Mine of the United Provinces whereby many Thousands of Households Families Handicrafts Trades and Occupations are set on work well maintained and prosper especially the Sailing and Navigation as well within as without these Countries is kept in great estimation Moreover many returns of Money with the Increase of the Means Convoys Customs and Revenues of these Countries are augmented thereby and prosper with other words following as is at large expressed in the said Proclamation set forth by the States-General for the Preservation of the said Trade of Fishing without which it is apparent that they cannot long subsist in Sovereignty for if this Foundation perish the whole Building of their Wealth and Strength both by Sea and Land must fall for the multitude of their Shipping would suddenly decay their Revenues and Customs would become small their Countries would be Depopulated for want of Maintenance whereby the Excise must fail and all their other Trades to the East-Indies or elsewhere must faint So that the Glory and Power of these Netherlands consisteth in this Fishing of Herrings Ling and Cod in his Majesty's Seas It resteth therefore to know what Right or Title they have thereunto and how they are able to Possess and Keep the same against all other Nations The Answer to these two Questions is not difficult For first It is not the Netherlandish Author of Mare Liberum that can intitle them to Fish in His Majesty's Seas For besides the Justice of the Cause and Examples of other Countries which might be alledged I will only say that such Titles would be sooner decided by Swords than with Words I do believe indeed that it is free for the Fish to come thither at their Pleasure but for the Dutch to carry and carry them away from thence without His Majesty's Licence I harbour no such Thought There may be good Policy to connive still and so long to permit them this Fishing as they are in perfect league with England and in War with Spain But if the Spaniards were Masters of the United Provinces as heretofore it would nearly concern these Kingdoms to claim their own Right and carefully to make as good use thereof for Increase of their Wealth and Strength to oppose that Potent Enemy as now the Netherlanders do and are well enabled for the same Purpose By which particular alone they are ever bound to acknowledge their strong Alliance with England above all other Nations for there is none that hath the like good Means to lend them such a Powerful maintenance Fishing and Money compared Nor were it possible for the Spaniard if he had those Countries again to make a new Foundation with the Power of his Money to increase his Strength either by Sea or Land to offend these Kingdoms more than he is now able to perform with the Conveniency of those Provinces which he hath already in his Possession for it is not the Place but the Employment not the Barren Netherlands but the Rich Fishing which gives Foundation Trade and Subsistence to those multitudes of Ships Arts and People whereby also the Excises and other publick Revenues are continued and without which Employment all the said great Dependences must necessarily disbandon and fail in very short time For although I confess that store of Mony may bring them Materials which they altogether want and Arts-men to build them Shipping yet where are the Wares to Freight and Maintain them If Mony then shall be the only means to send them out in Trade what a poor number of Ships will this employ Or if the uncertain Occasions of War must support them will not this require another Indies and all too little to maintain the Tenth Part of so many Ships and Men as the Hollanders do now set on work by the Fishing and other Trades thereon depending But if it be yet said that the Spaniard being Lord of all those Netherlands his Expence of the present War there will cease and so this Power may be turned upon us The Answer is that when Princes send great Forces abroad to invade others they must likewise increase their Charge and Strength at Home to defend themselves and also we must consider that if the Spaniard will attempt any thing upon these Kingdoms he must consume a great Part of his Treasure in Shipping whereby the Means of his invading Power of Money and Men to land will be much less than now it is in the Low-Countries Nor should we regard them but be ever ready to beard them when our Wealth and Strength by Sea and Land might be so much increased by the Possession and Practice of our Fishing of which particular I will yet say something more where occasion shall be offered in that which followeth And here in this Place I will only add that if the Spaniard were sole Lord of all the Netherlands he must then necessarily drive a great Trade by Sea to supply the

and fall together In the next Place We hear our Lawyers much condemned the Vexation and Charges by multiplicity of Suits do exceed all the other Kingdoms of Christendom but whether this proceed from the Lawyer 's Covetousness or the Peoples Perverseness is a great Question And let this be as it may I will enquire not farther therein than our present Discourse doth require concerning the Decay of our Trade and Impoverishing of the Kingdom Sure I am that Suits in Law make many a Man Poor and Peniless but how it should make us Trade for less by one single Peny I cannot well conceive For although amongst the great number of them who are Vexed and Undone by Controversies there be ever some Merchants yet we know that one Man's Necessity becomes another Man's Opportunity I never knew as yet a Decay in our Trade and Treasure for want of Merchants or Means to employ us but rather by excessive Consumption of Forein Wares at home or by a Declination in the Vent of our Commodities abroad caused either by the ruinous Effects of Wars or some alterations in the times of Peace whereof I have spoken more fully in the Third Chapter But to conclude with the Lawyers I say that their Noble Profession is necessary to all and their Cases Quillets Delays and Charges are mischievous to many these things indeed are Cankers in the Estates of Particular Men but not of the Common-wealth as some suppose for one Man's Loss becomes another Man's Gain it is still in the Kingdom I wish it might as surely remain in the right Places Lastly All kind of Bounty and Pomp is not to be avoided for if we should become so Frugal that we would use few or no Forein Wares how shall we then vent our own Commodities What will become of our Ships Mariners Munitions our poor Artificers and many others Do we hope that other Countries will afford us Mony for All our Wares without Buying or Battering for Some of theirs This would prove a vain Expectation it is more Safe and Sure to run a middle Course by spending moderately which will purchase Treasure plentifully Again the Pomp of Buildings Apparel and the like in the Nobility Gentry and other able Persons cannot impoverish the Kingdom if it be done with curious and costly Works upon our Materials and by our own People it will maintain the Poor with the Purse of the Rich which is the best Distribution of the Common-wealth But if any Man say that when the People want Work the then Fishing Trade would be a better Employment and far more Profitable I subscribe willingly For in that great business there is means enough to employ both Rich and Poor whereof there hath been much said and written It resteth only that something might be as well effected for the Honour and Wealth both of the King and his Kingdoms CHAP. XVI How the Revenues and Incoms of Princes may justly be raised NOw that we have set down the true Course by which a Kingdom may be enriched with Treasure In the next Place we will endeavour to shew the Ways and Means by which a King may justly share therein without the Hurt or Oppression of his Subjects The Revenues of Princes as they differ much in quantity according to the Greatness Riches and Trade of their respective Dominons so likewise is there great diversity used in procuring the same according to the Constitution of the Countries the Government Laws and Customs of the People which no Prince can alter but with much difficulty and Danger Some Kings have their Crown-Lands the first Fruits upon Ecclesiastical Livings Customs Tolls and Imposts upon all Trade to and from Forein Countries Loans Donations and Subsidies upon all necessary occasions Other Princes and States leaving the three last do add unto the rest a Custom upon all new Wares transported from one City to be used in any other City or Place of their own Dominions Customs upon every alienation or sale of live Cattel Lands Houses and the Portions or Marriage Mony of Women Licence-mony upon all Victualing-Houses and Innkeepers Head-mony Custom upon all the Corn Wine Oyl Salt and the like which Grown and are Consumed in their own Dominions c. All which seem to be a Rabble of Oppressions serving to enrich those Princes which exact them and to make the People Poor and Miserable which endure them especially in those Countries where these Burdens are laid at heavy rates as 4 5 6 and 7 per Cent. But when all the Circumstance and Distinction of Places are duly considered they will be found not only necessary and therefore lawful to be used in some States but also in divers respects very profitable to the Common-wealth First there are some States as namely Venice Florence Genoua the Vnited Provinces of the Low-Countries and others which are singular for Beauty and excellent both for Natural and Artificial Strength having likewise rich Subjects yet being of no very great Extent nor enjoying such Wealth by ordinary Revenues as might support them against the sudden and powerful invasions of those mighty Princes which do inviron them they are therefore enforced to strengthen themselves not only with Confederates and Leagues which may often fail them in their greatest need but also by massing up store of Treasure and Munition by those extraordinary courses before-written which cannot deceive them but will ever be ready to make a good Defence and to offend or divert their Enemies Neither are these heavy Contributions so hurtful to the Happiness of the People as they are commonly esteemed For as the Food and Rayment of the Poor is made dear by Excise so doth the Price of their labour rise in proportion whereby the Burden if any be is still upon the Rick who are either idle or at least work not in this kind yet have they the Use and are the great Consumers of the Poors Labour Neither do the Rich neglect in their several Places and Callings to advance their Endeavours according to those times which do exhaust their Means and Revenues wherein if they should peradventure fail and therefore be forced to abate their sinful Excess and idle retainers what is all this but happiness in a Common wealth when Virtue Plenty and Arts shall thus be advanced all together Nor can it be truly said that a Kingdom is impoverished where Loss of the People is the Gain of the King from whom also such yearly Incoms have their annual issue to the Benefit of his Subjects except only that part of the Treasure which is laid up for the Publick Good wherein likewise they who suffer have their safety and therefore such contributions are both Just and Profitable Yet here we must confess that as the best things may be corrupted so these taxes may be abused and the Common wealth notoriously wronged when they are vainly Wasted and Consumed by a Prince either upon unworthy worthy Persons such as deserve neither Rewards nor Countenance

late levied a● Imposition of ten Ducates upon every thousand of Currans bought and shipped from the said Islands and of later times have also inforced the payment of the said Impost at Venice which formerly and at first was free and have discharged their own Subjects thereof to the special damage and prejudice of the English 2. Secondly they have to burthen the Trade of the English thither or rather seeing a● the Trade of that Fruit wholly sought out and coveted by the English to which end they use to vent in those Islands some few English Commodities they have I say of late burthened the Native Commodities of England brought into these Islands with new Impost a levying upon an English Cloth 7 Ducates upon 100 weight of Tin 2 Ducates and upon a Kersey 2 Ducates and so upon all other English Commodities thereby to inforce all Commdities of England to be brought into the City of Venice and though sometimes English Merchants find it necessary in those Seas to transfer some English Goods out of one English Vessel into another and yet not land the same when as Ships do happen to meet together and to be bound for several Ports yet the same is not permitted them unless they pay the said Impost abovementioned as if the said Goods were there really landed and sold contrary to the common Custom of the Mediterranean Seas 3. Thirdly they have prohibited that any Turkey Commodities should be landed their out of English Shipping or any other Commodities that are afterward to be shipped for the Kingdom of England which for the conveniency of English Shipping the English Mercha●… Trading in those Seas have often occasion of but they do compel the English first to send such Goods and Wares to the City of Venice purposely there to pay the duty of Custom and the duty of Cottimo before they will suffer them to ship the same for England 4. They have made an Act for the imployment of their own Shipping and Mariners and for the restraint of all Foreiners that no Commodities of the parts of Turkey may be brought into any the Seigniory of the State of Venice but only in Venetian Shipping wherein they have been found to have been so strict and severe that if any English Ships happen to be Fraighted either by their own Subjects or by the Merchants of any other Nation when any of their own Shipping are in Port or happen to come into the Port or within the space of twenty days after upon the firming of a bare Protest against the said Ship so Fraighted they have no law nor remedy left them in Law to recover any Fraight-Money due for the said Goods so laden by them 5. Fifthly they will not permit nor suffer any English Ship to relade at Venice except they come first fully laden thither neither will they suffer freedom of Trade from Venice to any parts of the Levant for the English Nation neither in their own nor yet in the Shipping belonging to the Venetians but do straightly prohibit and forbid it as also they do prohibit the bringing of some particular Commodities by any whatsoever themselves and their Subjects only excepted 6. To these I might add some others but I will conclude it with this last point of slight and fallacious subtilty some years past when as the Seigniory of Venice had here a permission from His Majesty of England to contract with divers Merchants for their Ships to serve against the Spaniards in the Gulf of Venice when the said service was performed and that they came to receive their contracted payment they raised their Moneys 12 per centum above the rate of the same at the time of their agreement by which rate His Majesty's Subjects came to lose a great Sum of Money by the said service to their great prejudice and to the great dishonour of that so Honourable Seigniory Having by these few particulars given the ingenious Reader a taste of these present policies Enacted by this State of late for the support of their decaying Trade and also given a touch of the Subtilties used by them to preserve that little that is yet remaining and their Endeavours to augment the same I will now in a word view the State of the present Traffick of this City The present Trade of Venice surveyed It is not to be questioned but that this City hath in all Ages afforded many eminent Merchants and hath not been ashamed to make Merchandizing a prop and supportation to their Nobility who amongst them are intitled Clarissimi so that this their School of Commerce hath afforded such apt Scholars and which have so notably profited therein that they have with as much honour worn the Gown as valiantly handled the Sword and he that shall heedfully peruse their Histories shall find that not a few of them have with general approbation both of their Subjects and Neighbours struct the principal stroke in the Government of that Dukedom The fit situation of their City the large extent of their maritim Coasts the common aptness and addiction of the Citizens have much furthered the great Traffick of the same what it hath been in times past when their Potency and Opulency was at the highest and when they set out and gave imployment both in War and Peace to 300 Sail of Gallies besides all other sort of Vessels I refer to their own Histories Their then rich Trade to Egypt for the Commodities of India Arabia and to Constantinople and Aleppo for the Commodities of Grecia Armenia and Persia to Germany France Flanders and England for the Commodities of those Countries must needs make this City famous for the Traffick thereof but their covetous Appetite that could not be satisfied with this Fame and the great Wealth each in particular drew thereby envied to themselves that Honour which all other Cities of the World was constrained to give them for their great Customs imposed joyned with the accidents of that age and time brought them to the present State of Traffick wherein now they are found to be which is at present comprehended within a narrow scantling for their Trade to Egypt is vanished and seen only in the relicks thereof for tho' in Alexandria and Cairo they maintain Consuls serving in outward appearance for the protection of their Merchants yet indeed they serve to little purpose as having lost the former famous Trade of Alexandria and Cairo in Sidon Acria Smyrna and other places of Turkey they have their Consuls as also their Agent in Constantinople and Consul in Aleppo which now are the principal who give Life to their Designs as indeed the places where their Trade is of greatest Eminency yet it is not so great but may be fathomed within a small Line and as many things have notably concurred in the loss of their former Traffick abroad and in other Kingdoms as the discovery of India by the Portugal the subversion of the Greek Empire by the Turks and the favourable Countenance

in this Tract should be suttle English 1070 l. which is gross of London 9 C. 26 l. b●t either by the deceit of Weights the falshood of staying or the fraud of Factors it commonly produceth not so much by 2 or 3 per Cent. and this mischief is increased to that height of late years that it is found oftentimes to produce but 9 C. gross or about 1020 l. sutcle English but let them that are herein guilty endeavour to amend it in the future for their Credit sake for the 100 l. gross Venice is never found to yield less than 107 or 106 in England and what is found wanting thereof to their principals cometh by all probability by their default Measures in Zant c. Their Measure is the Brace and found to be twofold in use the long Brace being for Cloths Linens c. agreeing with the Cloth Brace in Venice and found to be 27 〈◊〉 English and the short Brace for Silks to be 6 in 7 per Cent. Of Oyls the lesser Oyl is sold by a Measure called the Liver and should weigh 13 l. English 10 whereof makes a Candis Barrel Of Wines Wine is sold by a measure called a Jar 3½ is a Candia Barrel Of Corn. Corn is sold by the measure called a Bechelo 3 whereof is a Staro and weighth 44 l. and 5 Killows make 6 Bachellos which Bachello hath been observed to be in England Gallons and a Moya of Corn here makes 2 Staro in Venetia and 7 Jars of Wine here makes 3 Quarts in Venetia Customs of Zant c. The Customs of these Islands some few years past upon Currans were small till the Venetians perceiving the Trade of that City to decay thought to augment the Revenues by the Customs of the Fruit of these Islands which accordingly they have effected for seeing the English to cover the same unmeasurably which at first the vulgar judged they used in the dye of their Clatbs or which was worst in the feeding of their Swine and finding on a time sundry Ships of burthen laden therewith and ready to depart their departure was stayed till the Merchants were compelled to pay 5 Ducats which is 25 s. sterl the 1000 l. upon which the English Merchants made complaint in England thereof to his Majesty deceased and for the taking away that Custom it was thought fit to put as much more here in England thereupon by way of an imposition which hath been found to be so far from gaining a remedy that the same continues in England contrary to the first intent and the State of Venice hath added 10 Ducats more to the former as imagining England cannot subsist without this Commodity at what charge or discommodity whatsoever yet it is now levied with this proviso that the Currans be laden in a Vessel that doth come hither purposely to lade them but if she landeth her outward fraight in Venice or the ⅔ thereof and then cometh hither she is freed thereof as I have shewed in the Trade of that City CHAP. CCLIV Of the Islands of the Adriatick Seas and the Trade thereof Adriatick Islands THE Islands found in these Seas are many as Absirtides secondly Cherso Vegea Grissa Iaesica Cursola Brassia Lissa and Zara all the rest are small and appertaining to the Seigniony of Venice Commodities The Commodities that hence are exported for Merchandise is Wood for Fuel Wines Grain Cattel and some Oyls CHAP. CCLV. Zara and the Trade thereof Zara and the Trade thereof ZARA being for the goodness of its Harbour conceived one of the best of the abovesaid though small in circumference yet most commodious for Trading therefore I will note what is observable therein and make it the principal of the rest to which the Trade of all the others may be reduced Moneys of Zara. Their Moneys I account the same as used in Venice and the Dalmatian and Sclavonian Coins are here passable by reason of their situation which is bordering all along that Continent Weights of Zara. Their Weights are two a gross and suttle as is used in Venetia but found thus to agree together 100 l. suttle of Zara is Venetia suttle 120 l. English 80 l. 100 l. gross of Zara is Venetia gross 120 l. English 128 l. 100 l. suttle Venetia is gross 83 l. Zara. 100 l. gross Venetia is gross 83 l. Zara. Measures of Zara. Their common Measures of length is a Brace 29 inches London the 100 Braces Cloth in Venice makes here 112 Braces and the 100 Braces Silk in Venice is here 106 or 107 Braces most of the other Islands concur with this in Weight and Measure Now sailing hence and getting out of these Islands into the Mediterranean Seas in which surveying the most erninent of the European Isles therein contained I find in the first rank the Islands of Sicilia Malta Cursice Sardinia Majorca Minorca and some others now coming to be handled and first of Sicilia CHAP. CCLVI. Of Sicilia and the Cities of Trade thereof Sicilia and the Cities thereof SICILIA anciently for its fertility in Corn accounted the Granary of Rome is held to be 700 Miles in compass and is beautified with sundry Rivers and Cities which I shall handle in order as my method requireth Commodities The Commodities exported hence for Merchandise and here abounding are Wines Oyls Honey Wax Saffron Sugars Salt Alloms Coeals Agats and some other Gems and wonderful fruitful in all sorts of Grain also it hath some Mines of Gold and Silver also good quantity of Silk is here made which is exported both raw and wrought into divers Fabricks Mount Hibla here is also famous the Hill Hibla for Bees and Honey Mount Aetna and Mount Aetna for its continual burning and evaporating of Flames Division into 3 Provinces The Country is divided into three Provinces the first is Vall is de Notto wherein the City of Syracusa stands once containing 22 Miles in circuit and the Metropolis of the Island and some others The second Province is Masara wherein is the Cities of Montreal second Gergenti and Palern● now the chief Cities of Sicily whereto I will reduce the Trade of this part of the Island CHAP. CCLVII Of Palermo and the Trade thereof Palermo and the Trade thereof PALERMO anciently Panormus and a Colony of the Phoenicians is now the chief City of Sicilia and the Seat of the Spanish Viceroy Don Ferdinando de Castro being Viceroy at my being here in 1619 from whom I and my Company received so much honour that I cannot without ingratitude forget in this place to commemorate his Nobleness the City is situate on the West Cape of the Island and is beautified with large Streets and delicate Buildings strong Walls and magnificent Palaces and Temples here I found a Dutch Gentleman attendant upon the said Viceroy who was intitled the English Consul from whom I gathered these my Observations in the Trade of this Place

from the Majesty of a Prince but these dangerous Disorders are seldom seen especially in such States as are afore-named because the disposing of the Publick Treasure is in the Power and under the Discretion of many Neither is it unknown to all other Principalities and Governments that the end of such Excesses is ever ruinous for they cause great Want and Poverty which often drives them from all order to exorbitance and therefore it is common Policy amongst Princes to prevent such Mischiefs with great Care and Providence by doing nothing that may cause the Nobility to despair of their safety nor leaving any thing undone which may gain the good Will of the Commonalty to keep all in due Obedience But now before we end this Point in hand we must remember likewise that all Bodies are not of one and the same Constitution for that which is Physick to one Man is little better than Poyson to another Some States can not subsist but by the means of Heavy Taxes The States afore-written and divers others like to them cannot subsist by the help of those extraordinary Contributions whereof we have spoken because they are not able otherwise in short time to raise sufficient Treasure to defend themselves against a Potent Enemy who hath Power to invade them on the sudden as is already declared But a Mighty Prince whose Dominions are great and United his Subjects many and Loyal his Countries rich both by Nature and Traffick his Victuals and Warlike Provisions plentiful and ready his Situation easie to offend others and difficult to be Invaded his Harbors good his Navy strong his Alliance powerful and his ordinary Revenues sufficient Princes who have no just cause to say extraordinary and heavy Taxes upon their Subjects Royally to support the Majesty of his State besides a reasonable Sum which may be advanc'd to lay up yearly in Treasure for future Occasions shall not all these Blessings being well ordered enable a Prince against the sudden Invasion of any Mighty Enemy without imposing those Extraordinary and Heavy Taxes Shall not the Wealthy and Loyal Subjects of such a Great and Just Prince maintain his Honour and their own Liberties with Life and Goods always supplying the Treasure of their Sovereign until by a well-ordered War he may enforce a happy Peace Yes verily it cannot otherwise be expected And thus shall a mighty Prince be more powerful in preserving the Wealth and Love of his Subjects than by Treasuring up their Riches with unnecessary Taxes which cannot but alter and provoke them Yea but say some Men we may easily contradict all this by Example taken from some of the greatest Monarchs in Christendom who besides those Incomes which here are termed ordinary they add likewise all or the most of the other heavy Contributions All which we grant and more for they use also to sell their Offices and Places of Justice which is an act both base and wicked because it robbeth worthy Men of their Merits and betrayeth the Cause of the Innocent whereby God is displeased the People oppressed and Virtue banished from such unhappy Kingdoms Shall we then say that these things are lawful and necessary because they are used God forbid we know better and we are well assured that these Exactions are not taken for a necessary Defence of their own Right but through Pride and Covetousness to add Kingdom to Kingdom and so to usurp the right of others The finister ends which some great Princes have in laying heavy Taxes upon their Subjects Which Actions of Impiety are ever shadowed with some fair pretence of Sanctity as being done for the Catholick Cause the Propagation of the Church the Suppression of Hereticks and such like Delusions serving only to further their own Ambition whereof in this Place it shall be needless to make any larger Discourse CHAP. XVII Whether it be necessary for Great Princes to lay up Store of Treasure BEfore we set down the Quantity of Treasure which Princes may conveniently lay up yearly without hurting the Common-Wealth it will be fit to examin whether the Act itself of Treasuring be necessary For in common conference we ever find some Men who do so much dote or hope upon the Liberality of Princes that they term it Baseness and conceive it needless for them to lay up store of Treasure accounting the Honour and Safety of great Princes to consist more in their Bounty than in their Mony which they labour to confirm by the Examples of Caesar Alexander and others who hating Covetousness atchieved many Acts and Victories by lavish Gifts and liberal Expences Unto which they add also the little Fruit which came by that great Sum of Mony which King David laid up and left to his Son Solomon who notwithstanding this and all his other rich Presents and wealthy Traffick in a quiet Reign consumed all with Pomp and vain Delights excepting only that which was spent in Building of the Temple Whereupon say they if so much Treasure gathered by so just a King effect so little what shall we hope for by the Endeavours of this kind in other Princes Sardanapalus left Ten Millions of Pounds to them that flew him Darius left Twenty Millions of Pounds to Alexander that took him Nero being left rich and extorting much from his best Subjects gave away above Twelve Millions of Pounds to his base Flatterers and such unworthy Persons which caused Galba after him to revoke those Gifts A Prince who hath store of Mony hates Peace despiseth the Friendship of his Neighbours and Allies enters not only into unnecessary but also into dangerous Wars to ruin and overthrow sometimes of his own Estate All which with divers other weak Arguments of this kind which for brevity I omit make nothing against the Lawful Gathering and Massing up of Treasure by wise and provident Princes if they be rightly understood For first concerning those worthies who have obtained to the highest top of Honour and Dignity by their great Gifts and Expences who knows not that this hath been done rather upon the Spoils of their Enemies than out of their own Coffers which is indeed a Bounty that causeth neither Loss nor Peril Whereas on the contrary those Princes which do not providently lay up Treasure or do immoderately consume the same when they have it will suddenly come to Want and Misery Excess and Bounty brings Beggary which makes most Men devise in their heads how to extort and get Mony into their hands for there is nothing doth so soon decayas Excessive Bounty in using whereof they want the means to use it And this was King Solomon's Case notwithstanding his infinite Treasure which made him over-burthen his Subjects in such a manner that for this Cause many of them rebelled against his Son Rehoboam who thereby lost a great Part of his Dominions being so grosly misled by his young Counsellors Therefore a Prince that will not oppress his People and yet be able to