THe true ground, course, and forme herein mentio­ned shall app [...]are how other Countries make themselves power­sull and rich in all kindes, by Mer­chandize, Manufactory, and sul­nesse of Trade, having no Commo­dities in their own Countrey grow­ing to do it withall.

And herein likewise shall appear how easie it is to draw the wealth and strength of other Countries to your Kingdome, and what royall, rich, and plentifull means God hath given this Land to do it (which cannot be denied) for support of trafficque and continuall imploy­ment [Page 5] of your People for replenishing of your Majesties Coffers.

And if I were not fully assured to improve your native Commodi­ties, with other traffick, three milli­ons of pounds more yearly then now they are, and to bring not only to your Majesties Coffers within the space of two or three years near two millions of pounds; but to increase your Revenues many thousands yearly, and to please and greatly pro­fit your people, I would not have un­dertaken so great a work: All which wil grow by advancement of all kind of Merchandizing to the uttermost, thereby to bring Manufactory into the Kingdome, and to set on worke all sorts of people in the Realm, as other Nations do, which raise their greatnesse by the abundance of your [Page 6] native commodities: whilst we are parling and disputing whether it be good for us or not.

May it please your most excellent Majesty.

I Have diligently in my Travels observed how the Countreys herein mentioned doe grow potent with abundāce of all things to serve themselves and other Nations, where nothing groweth, and that their ne­ver dried fountains of wealth, by which they raise their estate to such an admirable height, as that they are at this day even a wonder to the world, proceedth from your [...] Seas and Lands.

I thus moved, began to dive into [Page 7] the depth of their policies and circum­venting [...], wh [...]reby they drain and still covet to exhaust the wealth and coin of this Kingdome, and so with our owne commodities to wea­ken us, and finally beat us quite out of trading in other Countreys; I found that they more fully obtained these their purposes by their convenient priviledges, and settled constitutions, then England with all the Lawes, and superabundance of hombred commo­dities which God hath vouchsafed your Sea and Land: And these, and other mentioned in this booke, are the urgent causes that provoked me in my love and bounden duty to [...] and my Countrey, to addr [...]sse my former Books to your princely hands and consiideration.

By which Priviledges they draw multitudes of Merchants to Trade with them, and many other Nations to inhabite amongst them, which [Page 8] makes them p [...]pulous, and there they make Store-houses of all forraign Commodities, where with upon eve­ry occasion of scarcity and dearth, they are able to furnish forrain Coun­tries with plentie of those [...], which before in time of plenty they ingrossed, & brought home from the same places, w ^ch doth greatly aug­ment power & treasure to their State, besides the common good in setting their poore and people on worke.

To which priviledges they adde smailnesse of custome, and lib [...]rty of Trade, which maketh them florish, and their Countrey so plentifull of all kinde of Coyne and Commodities, where little or nothing groweth, and their Merchants so florish, that when a losse cometh they scarce feel it.

To bring this to pass, they have many advantages of us, the one is, by their fashioned Ships called Boye [...]s, Hoybarks, Hoyes, and others, that [Page 9] are made to hold great bulke of Mer­chandize, and to saile with a few men for profit: For example, though a English Ship of two hundred Tuns, and a Holland Ship, or any other of the petty States of the same burthen be at Danske, or any other place be­yond the Seas, or in England, they do serve the Merchant better cheap by one hundred pounds in his fraight, than we can, by reason hee hath but nine or ten Marriners, and we neare thirty; thus he saveth twenty mens meat and wages in a voyage, and so in all other their ships, according to their burden, by which means they are fraighted wheresoever they come, to great profit, whilst our Ships ly still & decay, or go to Newcastle for Coales.

Of this their smallnesse of custome inwards and outwards, we have daily experience; for if two [...] ships, or two of any other Nation bee at Burdeaux, both laden with wine of [Page 10] three hundred Tuns a p [...]ce, the one bound for Holland, or any other pet­ty States, the other for [...], the Merchant shall p [...]y about nine hun­dred pound custome here, and other duties, when the other in Holland, or any other petty States, shall be cleared for lesse then fifty pound, and so in all other wares and [...] accor­dingly, which draw [...]s all Nations to traffick with them; and although it seems but small duties which they receiv [...], yet the multitudes of all kind of Commodities and Coyne that is brought in by [...] and others, and carried out by themselves and o­thers, is so great, that they receive more custome and du [...]ies to the State, by the greatnesse of their commerce in one yeare, then England doth in two years; for the one hundredth part of Commoditi [...]s are not spent in Hol­land, but vented into other Countries, which maketh all the Countrey Mer­chants, [Page 11] to buy and s [...]ll, and increase Ships and [...] to transport them.

My travells and meaning is not to diminish (neither hath been) your Majesties Revenues, but exceedingly to increase them, as shall appeare, and yet please the people, as in other parts they do.

Notwithstanding, their Excises brings them in great Revenues, yet whosoever will adventure to [...] but for six Tuns of Wine, shall be free of Excise in his owne house all the yeere long; and this is done of pu [...]pose to annimate and increase M [...]rchants in their Countrey.

And if it happen that a Trade bestop­ped by any forraign Nation, which they heretofore [...] had, or [...] of any good Trading which they never had, they will hinder others, and s [...]ek either by favour, money, or force, to [...] the gap of Traffick for advance­ment [Page 12] of Trade amongst themselves, and imployment of their people.

And when there is a new course or Trade erected, they give free custome inwards and outwards, for the better maintenance of Navigation, and in­couragement of the people to that businesse.

Thus they and others gleane the wealth and strength from us to them­selves, and these reasons following procures them this advantage of us.

• 1. The Merchant Staplers which make all things in abundance. by rea­son of their Store-houses continually replenished with all kinde of Com­modities.
• 2. The liberty of free Traffick for strangers to buy and sell in Holland, and other Countreys and States, as if they were free-borne, maketh great int [...]rcourse.
• 3. The small duties levied upon Merchants, drawes all Nations to trade with them.
• [Page 13]4. Their fashioned Ships conti­nually fraighted before ours by rea­son of their few Marriners, and great bulke, serving the Merchant cheap.
• 5. Their forwardnesse to further all manner of trading.
• 6. Their wonderfull imployment of their Busses for fishing, and the great returns they make.
• 7. Their giving free Custome in­wards and outwards, for any new e­rect [...]d Trade, by means whereof they have gotten already almost the sole Trade into their hands.

All Nations may buy and sell free­ly in France, and there is free custome outwards twice or thrice in a yeare, at which time our Merchants them­selves doe make their great sales of English Commodities, and doe buy and lade their great bulke of French Commodities to serve for the whole yeare; and in Rochell, in France, and in Britain, free custome all the yeare [Page 14] long, except some small Toll, which makes great Traffick, and maketh them flor [...]sh,

In Denmarke to inc [...]urage and in­rich the Merchants, and to increase Ships and Marriners, free custome all the yeare long for their owne Mer­chants, except one M [...]neth between Bartholomew tide and Micha [...]lmass.

The Haunce Townes have advan­tage of us, as Holland, and other pet­ty States have, and in most things imitate them, which makes them ex­ceeding rich and plentifull of all kind of Commodities and Coyne, and so strong in ships and Marriners, that some of their Towns have neare one thousand sail of Ships

The Marchandiz [...]s of France, Por­tugall, Spaine, Italy, Turkey, East and West Indies, are transported most by the Hollanders and other pet­ty States into the East and North-East K [...]ngdomes of Pomerland, Spruce­land, [Page 15] Poland, Denmark, Sweathland, Leisland, and Germany, and the Mer­chandizes brought from the last men­tioned Kingdomes, being wonderfull m [...]ny, are likewise by the Holland [...]rs and other petty States most transpor­ted into the Southern and Westerne Dominions, and yet the situation of E [...]gland lyeth far better for a Store­house to serve the Southern East and North-East Regions, than theirs doth, and hath far better meanes to doe it, if we will bend our course for it.

No sooner a dearth of F [...]sh, Wine, or Corn here, and other Merchandize, [...] forth with the Embdoners, Ham­burgers, a [...]d Hollanders, out of their Store-houses lade fifty, or one hundred ships, or more, dispersing themselves round about this Kingdome, and car­ry away great store of coyne and wealth for little commodity in those times of dearth, by which meanes they suck our Common-wealth of [Page 16] their riches, cut down our Merchants, and decay our Navigation, not with their naturall commodities which groweth in their own Countries, but the Merchandizes of other Countreys and Kingdomes.

Therefore it is farre more easier to serve themselves, hold up our Mer­chants, and increase our Ships and [...], and strengthen the King­dome, and not onely keep our money in our owne R [...]alme, which other Nations still rob us of, but bring in theirs who carrie ours away, and make the banke of Coyne and Store­house to serve other Nations as well and far better cheap than they.

Amsterdam is never without seven hundred thousand Quarters of Corn, besid [...]s the plenty they daily vent, and none of this groweth in their owne Countrey: a dearth in England, France, Spaine, Italy, Portugall, and other places, is truly observed to in­rich [Page 17] Holland seven yeeres after, and likewise the petty States.

For example, the last Dearth six years p [...]st, the Hamburgers, Embde­ners, and Hollanders out of their Store-houses furnished this Kingdom, and from Southampton, Exeter, and Bristow, in a yeare and a halfe they carri [...]d away near two hundred thou­sand p [...]unds from these parts onely; then what great quantitie of coyns was transported round about your Kingdome from every Port Towne, and from your City of London, and other Cities cannot be esteemed so lit­tle as two millions, to the great decay of your Kingdom, and impoverishing your people, discredit to the Compa­ny of Merchants, and dishonour to the Land, that any Nation that have no Corne in their owne Countrey growing, should serve this famous Kingdome, which God hath so ina­bled within it selfe.

They have a continuall Trade into this Kingdome with five or six hun­dred Ships yeerly, with Merchandizes of other Countreys and Kingdomes, and store them up in store-hous [...]s here untill the prices rise to their mindes, and we trade not with fif [...] ships into their Countrey in a yeare, and [...] said number are about thi [...] R [...] every [...] winde for the most [...]rt to lade Coales and other [...].

Unlesse there be a scarcity [...] dearth, or high prices, all Merchants doe for­beare that place wh [...]re great imposi­tions are laid upon the Merchandize, and those places slenderly shipp [...]d, ill serv [...]d and at deer ra es, and often­times in scarci [...]y, and want imploy­ment for the people; and those petty States finding truly by experience that small duti [...] imposed upon M [...]r­chandize draw [...]th all Trafficke unto them, and free liberty for strangers to buy and sell doth make continua'l [Page 19] Mart; therefore what Excizes or Im­positions are laid upon the Common­people, yet they still ease, uphold and maintaine the Merchants by all possi­ble meanes, of purpose to draw the wealth and strength of Christendom to themselves; whereby it appeareth though the duties be but small, yet the customes for going out and com­ming in doth so abound, that they in­crease their Revenues greatly, and make profit, plenty, and imployment of all sorts by Sea and Land to serve [...] and other Nations, as is admirable to behold: And likewise the great commerce which groweth by the s [...]me meanes, inableth the common people to bear their burthen laid upon them, and yet they grow rich by reason of the great commerce and Trade, occasioned by their conve­nient priviledges, and commodious consti [...]utions.

There was an intercourse of Traf­fick, [Page 20] in Genoa, and there was the flow­er of commerce, as appeareth by their antient Records, and their sumptuous buildings, for all Nations traded with Merchandize to them, and there was the store-house of all Italy and other places; but after they had set a great custome of xvi. per cent. all Nations left trading with them, which made them give themselves wholly to usury, and at this day wee have not three ships go [...] there in a yeare: but to the contrary, the Duke of Florence builded Ligorn, and set small custome upon Merchandize, and gave them great and pleasing priviledges, which hath made a rich and strong City with a florishing State.

Furthermore touching some parti­culars needfull to be considered, of the mighty huge fishing that ever cou'd be heard of in the world, is upon the coasts of England, Scotland, and Ire­land; but the great Fishery is in the [Page 21] Low-Countries, and other petty States, wherewith they serve them­selves and all Christendome, as shall appear.

In four Towns in the East Kingdoms within the Sound, Quinsbrough, Elbing, Statten, and Dausick, there is carried and vented in a yeere, be­tween thirty or forty thousand Last of Herrings sold but at fifteen or sixteen pounds the Last, is about 620000. l. and we none.

Besides, Denmark, Norway, Swea­then, Leifland, Rie, Nevill, the Narve, and other Port Townes within the Sound, there is carried and vented a­bove 10000. Lasts of Herrings sold at fifteen or sixteen pounds the Last, is 170000. pounds; more yeerly in such request are our Herrings there, that they are oftentimes sold for 20. 24. 30. and 36. pound the Last, and we send not one barrell into all those East Countreys.

The Hollanders sent into Russia neare fifteen hundred Lasts of Her­rings, sold about thirty shillings the barrell, amounteth to 27000. pound, and we but about twenty or thirty Lasts.

To Stoade, Hambrough, Breame, and Embden upon the River of Elve, Weaser, and Embs, is carried and ven­ted of Fish and Herrings about 6000. Lasts, sold about fifteen or sixteen pound the Last, is 100000 l. and wee none.

Cleaveland, Gulickland, up the River of Rhine to Cullen, Frankford, or the Maine, and so over all Germa­ny is carried and vented of Fish and Herrings neare 22000. Lasts, sold at twenty pound the Last, is 440000. l. and we none.

Up the River of M z [...], Leigh, Ma­strith, Vendlow, Sutphin, Deventer, Campen, Swoole, and all over Luke­land is carried and-vented 7000. Lasts [Page 23] of Herrings, sold at twenty pound the Last is 140000 pound, and wee none.

To Gelderland, Artois, Henault, Brabant, Flanders, up the River of Antwe [...]p, all over the Arch Dukes Countreys, is carried and vented be­tween eight or nine thousand Lasts sold at eighteen pound the Last is 171000 l. and we none.

The Hollanders and others carried of all sorts of Herrings to Roane on­ly in one yeere, [...] all other parts of France, 50000. Lasts of Herrings sold at twenty pound the Last, is 100000 l. and wee not one hundred Last thither: they are sold often times there for twenty, and four and twen­ty, and thirty pou [...]d the Last.

Between Christmass and Lent, the duties for Fish and Herrings came to 15000 Crownes at Roane only that y [...]re, the la [...] Q [...]n [...]; Sir Thomas Parrie was Agent there then, [Page 24] and S. Savors his man knowes it to be true, who handled the businesse for pulling down the Impositions then, what great summes of money came to all in the Port Townes to inrich the French Kings Coffers, and to all the Kings and States throughout Chri­stendome to inrich their Coffers; be­sides the great quantity vented to the Straights, and the multitude spent in the Low-Countries, where there is likewise sold for many a hundred thousand pou [...]d more yeerly, is neces­sary to be remembred; and the stream to be turned to the good of this King­dom, to whose Sea coasts God onely hath sent and given these great bles­sings and multitude of riches for us to t [...]ke, howsoev [...]r it bath been neglect­ed to the hurt of this Kingdome, that any Nation should carry away out of this Kingdome yearely great [...] of money for Fis [...] taken in our Seas, and sold againe by them to us, which [Page 25] must needs be a great dishonor to our Nation, and hindrance to this Realm.

From any Port Towne of any Kingdome within Christendome, the Bridgemaster or the Wharemaster for twenty sh [...]llings a yeare will deliver a tr [...]e Note of the number of L [...]sts of Herrings brought to their Wharfes, and their pric [...]s commonly they are sold at, but the number brought to D [...]nske, Cullen, Rotterdam, and [...]sen is so great, as it will cost three, four, or five pound for a true Note.

The abundance of Corne groweth in the East Kingdomes, but the great Store-houses for graine to serve Christendome and the Heathen Coun­tries in time of dearth, is in the Low­Countreyes, wherewith upon every occasion of scarcity and dearth th [...]y doe inrich themselves seven yeares af­ter, imploy their people and get great fraights for their Ships in other Coun­tries, and we not one in that course.

The mighty Vineyards and store of Salt is in France and Spaine; but the great Vintage and Staple of Salt is in the Low-Countreyes, and they send neare one thousand saile of ships with Salt and Wine onely into the East Kingdomes yearly, besides other pla­ces, and we not one in that course.

The exceeding Groves of Wood are in the East Kingdomes, but the huge piles of Wainscot, Clapboard, Firdeale, Masts, and Timber is in the Low-Countreyes, where none grow­eth, wherewith they serve themselves, and other parts, and this Kingdome with those Commodities; they have five or six hundred great long ships continually using that Trade, and we none in that course.

The Wool, Cloath, Lead, Tin, and divers other Commodities are in Eng­land, but by meanes of our Wool and Cloath going out ruff, undrest, and undied, there is an exceeding manu­factory [Page 27] and [...] in the Low­Countreys, wherewith they serve themselves, and other N [...]tions, and advanceth greatly the imployment of their people at home, and [...] a­broad, and puts downe ours in forrain parts, where our M [...]rchants trade un­to, with our own Commodities.

We send into the E [...]st Kingdomes yeerly but one hundred sh [...]ps, and our Trade chie [...]ly dependeth upon three Towns, E [...]binge, Kingsborough, and Danske, for making our Sails, and buying their Commodities sent into this Realme at dear rates, which this Kingdome bears the burthen of.

The Low-Countreyes send into the East Kingdomes yeerly about three thousand ships, trading into every City and Port Town, taking the ad­vantage, and venting their Commo­dities to exceeding profit, and buying and lading their ships with plenty of those Commodities, which they have [Page 28] from every of those Townes 20. per cent. better cheap then we by reason of the [...] of the Coyne, and their fish yeelds ready money, which greatly advanceth their Traffick, and dec [...]yeth ours.

They send into France, Spaine, Portugall, Italy, from the East King­domes that passeth through the Sound, and through your narrow Seas, yearly of the East Countrey commodities a­bout two thousand ships, and wee none in that course.

They trade into all Cities, and Port Towns in France, and we chiefly to five or six.

They traffick into every City and Port Town round about this Land, with five or six hundred ships yearly, and we chiefly but to three Townes in their Countrey, and but with forty ships.

Notwithstanding the Low-Coun­tryes have as many ships and vessells [Page 29] as [...] of Christen [...]om h [...]ve, let E [...]gland be o [...], and build [...] yeere neer one thousand ship [...], and not a timber tree growing in their owne Countrey, and that also all their home-bred commodities that grow in their Land in a yeere, ( [...] then one hundred good ships are able to carry them away at one time,) yet they handle the matter so for setting them all on worke, that th [...]ir Traf­fick with the Haunce Towns exc [...]ds in shipping all Christendom.

We have all things of our owne in superabundance to increase Traffick, and Timber to build ships, and com­modities of our owne to lade about one thousand ships and [...] at one time, (besides the great fishing) and as fast as they have made their voyages might re-lade againe, and so yeare af­ter yeare all the year long to continu [...], yet our Ships and Marriners d [...]cline, and Traffick and Merchants daily de­cay.

The main [...] bulke and Mass of [...] from whence they raise so many mi [...]lions yearly that inrich other Kingdomes, Kings and States Coffers, and lik [...]ise th [...]ir owne people, pro­ceedeth from your S [...]s and Lands, and the return of the Commodities and Coyne they bring home in exchange of fish and other Commodities are so huge, as would require a large [...] apart; all the amends they make us is, they beat us out of Trade in all parts with our own Commodi­ties.

For instance, we had a great T [...]e in Russia [...]. and about [...] p [...]st we s [...]nt st [...] of [...] sh [...]ps to trade in those p [...]s, and [...] p [...]st we s [...]t o [...] [...]t f [...] and this last yeare two or three; [...] to the contrary the [...] a­bout twenty years [...] traded [...] with two ships on [...]ly, yet now they are increas [...]d to about thirty or [Page 31] forty, and one of their ships is as great as two of ours, and at the same time (in their troubles there) that we de­creased, they increased, and the chief­est Commodities they carry with them thither, is, English Cloath, Her­rings taken in our Seas, English Lead and Pewter made of our Tin, besides other Commodities; all which wee may doe better then they. And al­though it be a cheap Countrey, and the Trade very gainfull, yet we have almost brought it to nought, by [...] trading, joynt-stock, and the Merchants banding themselves one a­g [...]nst [...]r.

A [...] [...]o [...] s [...] w [...] us [...]d to have 8. or 9. [...] s [...]s [...] a f [...]sh n [...] to Wa [...] us [...], and this yeare but one, and so per rato [...]y [...] in all kinde of [...]shing and marchan­dizing in all [...] by r [...]ason they spare no cost, [...] ny no priviledges that may [...] of trad [...] & [...].

Now if it please, and with your Majesties good liking stand,

TO take notice of these things, which I have conceived to bee fit for your Majesties consideration, which in all humblenesse (as duty bindeth me) I doe tender unto your Majestie, for the unfained zeale I bear to the advancement of your honour and profit, and the generall good of your Subjects, it being apparent that no three Kingdomes in Christendome can compare with your Majesty for support of Traffick, and continually imployment of your people within themselves, having so many great meanes both by Sea and Land to in­rich your Coffers, multiply your Na­vie, inlarge your Traffick, make your Kingdomes powerfull, and your peo­ple [Page 33] rich; yet through idlenesse they are poore, wanting imployment, ma­ny of your Land and Coast Townes much ruinated, and your Kingdome in need of Coyn, your Shipping, Traf­fick, and Marriners decayed, whilest your Majesties Neighbour Princes, without these meanes, abound in wealth, inlarge their Townes, in­crease their Shipping, Traffick, and Marriners, and finde out such imploy­ment for their people, that they are all advantagious to their Common­wealth, onely by ordaining com­modious constitutions in Merchan­dizing, and fulnesse of Trade in Ma­nufactory.

God [...] blest your M [...]jesty with incomparable benefits:

AS with Copper, Lead, Iron, Tin, Al um Copperas, [...], F [...]lls, and divers other native Commodities, to the numb [...]r of about one hundred, [...]d other [...] vendible to the [...] of about one thousand, (as shall [...]) besides Corne, whereof gr [...]at quantity of B [...] is made, and most [...] by stran­gers, as also Wool, whereof [...] is [...] forth [...] into [...] loath or [...], and Cloath [...] un­dr [...]st and undied, which doth imploy a [...]d [...] n [...]r fif [...]y [...] in [...] parts your [...] wanting th [...] [...] in England, many of them [...] in­forced to live in great want, and s [...]k it beyond the Seas.

Col [...]s which doth imploy hundreds of [...] ships yearly to [...] them out of this King [...]me, whilest we doe not imploy [...] ships in that [...].

I on [...], which is a jewell of great [...], far mo [...]e than it is ac­counted, by reason that no other Countrey could ever attaine unto it, although they have [...] it with great charge.

Your M j sty [...]ath timber of your owne for [...] of Sh [...]ps, and [...] plenty to lad [...] th [...]m, which [...] other [...] want, yet your [...] in Shipping, [...], and Mar­riners.

These Inconveniences happen by three causes especially.

• 1. The unprofitable course of mer­chandizing.
• 2. The want of course of full Ma­nufactory of our home-bred com­modities.
• 3. The undervaluing of our Coynes, contrary to the rules of other Nations.

For instance.

THe Merchant Adventurers by o­vertading upon credit, or with money taken up upon exchange, [Page 37] whereby they lose usually ten or twelve, and sometimes fifteen or six­teen per cent. are inforced to make sale of their cloaths at under-rates, to keep their credit, whereby cloaths being the jewell of the Land, is under­valued, and the Marchant in short time eaten out.

The Merchants of Ipswich whose Trade for E [...]ing is c [...]fly [...] fine cloaths, and som [...] few [...] c [...]ths all died and drest within [...], do for the most part, buy their fine cloaths upon Time, and by r [...]on they go so much upon cred [...], th [...]y are inforced (not being able to stand up­on their Markets) to sell, givi [...]g fif­teene or eighteene Moneths day of payment for their cloaths. [...]d ha­ving sold them, they then pr [...]sently sell their bills so taken for c [...], al­lowing after the rate of [...] or fifteen, and somtimes twenty per cent. [Page 38] which money they imploy forth with in wares at [...] prices, and lose as much more that way by that time their wares be sold at hom [...]: Thus by over-running themselves up [...] credit, they disable [...] and others, inhancing the prices of forraign [...], and pu [...]ling down the rates of our owne.

The W st C [...]untry M [...] that trade wi h cloaths into [...] [...]r Sp [...]n, do usual y imploy th [...], (you [...]g men of sm [...]ll [...] who [...] cu [...]ing combining of the [...] and Sp [...]nish M [...], are [...], that when all customs and charges be accompted, their Ma­sters shall hardly [...] t [...] [...] moneys. As for [...] out of France, th [...]r silver and gold is so [...] rate [...], that ou [...] M [...] c [...]t [...] it home. [...] to great loss [...]; therefore the [...]nch Merchants set [Page 39] higher rates upon their commodities, which we must either buy deare, or let our mo [...]s lie dead there a long tim [...], u [...]ill we may [...] im­ploy the same.

The [...] Merchants of York, Hull and Newcastle, trade onely in white K [...]s and [...], dozz [...]ns, and [...] M [...] be his Adventure [...] so sm [...]l, doth for the most part, send over an [...] y [...]h un­fit for [...] z [...]g, which br [...]ng­eth to th [...] [...] great [...]; but to his [...] and common [...] great [...]; for they [...] their goods be [...], go to [...] str [...]r, and [...]uy such [...] of Iron [...]ax, Co [...], [...] other [...], as they [...] bound to [...] th [...]i ships [...], which ships [...] to relade within th [...] w [...]s, or a moneth, and do give [...] the Merchant [...] asketh, because he [Page 40] gives them credit, and lets them ship away their Iron, Flax, and other com­modities, before they have sold their Kersies, and other commodities, by which meanes extraordinary deere commodities are returned into this Realme, and the servant also inforced to s [...]ll his cloaths underfoot, and of­ten times to losse, to keep his c [...]dit, and to make payment for the goods before shipped home, having so [...] twenty day [...]s, or a moneths respite to sell the cloaths, and to give the Mer­chant satisfaction for his I [...]on, Flax, and other wares; by which extremi­ties our homebred commodities are a­based.

Touching Manufactory.

THere hath been about fourscore thousand undrest and undied cloaths yearly transported.

It is therefore evident, that the Kingdome hath been yeerly deprived of about 400000 l. within this five and fifty years, which is near twenty millions that would have been gain­ed by the labour of poor workmen in that time, with the Merchants gains for bringing in dying stuffs, and re­turn of cloaths drest and died, with other benefits to the Realme, besides exceeding inlarging of Trafficke, and increase of Ships and Marri­ners.

There would have been gained in [Page 42] that time about three millions by in­crease of custome upon commodities returned for cloaths drest and died, and for dying stuffs, which would have more plentifully been brought in and used for the same.

There hath been also transported in that time yearly by Bayse, Northerne and Devonshire Kersies white, about 50000 cloaths, counting three [...] to a cloath, whereby h [...]h b [...]n lost about five millio [...]s by those s [...]s of [...] in [...] time, which w [...]uld have com [...] to [...] workmen for [...] [...]ur, with the customes for dying stuff and the peoples profit f [...]r bring­ing them in, with [...] of other [...] and fraights for ship­ing.

B [...]yse are transported white into Amsterdam, and being there drest and died, are shipped into Spain, Portugal, [Page 43] and other Kingdomes, where they are sold in the name of Flemish Baize, setting their owne Town Seale upon them, so that we lose the very name of our home-bred commodities, and other Countreys get the r [...]putation and profit there of: Lamentable it is, that [...] [...]ld be deprived of so [...] Millions, and [...] of c [...]th [...] of God [...] na­turall [...], [...] so [...] and [...], should be driven [...]o [...] s [...]ll advantage of [...] and profit to your [...] and people and so much impr [...]v d and [...] by strangers, considering that God hath in [...]d, and [...] your M [...]sty pow­er to advance [...] and dying, and transporting of [...] your cloaths, with­in a yeare or two; I speake it know­ingly, to shew how it may be done [...], lawfully and approved to be honourable, s [...]asable, and profitable.

All the Companies of your Land transport their cloaths drest and died, to the good of your Kingdome, ex­cept the Merchant Adventurers, whereby the Eastland and Turkey Merchants, with other Companies, do increase your Majesties customes by bringing in, and spending dying stuffs, and setting your people on worke, by dressing before they transport them; and they might increase far more cu­stome to your Majesty, and make much more profit to themselves, and this Realme, and set many thousands of poore people more on worke for dres­sing and dying, and likewise imploy more ships and Marriners, for bring­ing in dying stuffs, were it not for the Merchant Adventurers, who transport their cloaths white, rough, undrest, and undied, into the Low-Countreys, where they sell them to the strangers, who afterwards dresse, die, and stretch them to such unreasonable lengths, [Page 45] contrary to our Law, that they pre­vent and fore stall our Markets, and crosse the just prohibitions of our State and Realme, by their Agents and Factors lying in divers places with [...] cloaths, to the great decay of this Kingdome in generall, and dis­credit of our cloaths in particular.

If the accompt were truly known, it would be found that they make not cleare profit, onely by cloath transpor­ted rough, undrest, and undied, sixty thousand pounds a yeare: But it is most apparant your Majesty in your customes, your Merchants in their sales and prices, your Subjects in their labours, for lack of not dressing and dying, your Ships and Marriners in not bringing in of dying stusfs, and spending of Allum, is hindred yearly neer a million of pounds, so that trade is driven to the great hindrance of your Majesty and people, by permit­ing [Page 46] your native commodities to passe rough, undrest, and undied, by the Merchant Adventurer.

Touching Fishing.

THe great Sea businesse of Fishing doth imploy neare twenty thou­sand ships, and vessells, and four hun­dred thousand people are imployed yearly upon your Coast of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with sixty ships of War, which may prove dan­gerous.

The Hollanders onely have about three thousand ships to fish withall, and fifty thousand people are imploy­ed yearly by them upon your Maje­sties coasts of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

These three thousand fishing ships and vessels of the Hollanders, doth imploy near nine thousand other ships and vessels, and one hundred and fifty thousand persons more by Sea and Land to make provision to dress and transport the Fish they take, and re­turne commodities, whereby they are inabled, and do build yeerly one thou­sand ships and vessells, having not one timber tree growing in their owne Countrey, nor home-bred commodi­ties to lade one hundred ships, and yet they have twenty thousand ships and vessells, and all imployed.

King Henry the seventh, desirous to make his Kingdomes powerfull and rich by increase of Ships and Mar [...] ­ners, and imployment of his people, sent unto his Sea-coast Townes, mo­ving them to set up the great and rich fishing, with promise to give them needfull priviledges, and to furnish [Page 48] them with loanes of money, if need were, to incourage them, yet his peo­ple were slack. Now since I have tra­ced this businesse, and made mine in­deavours knowne unto your Majesty, your Noblemen, able Merchants, and others, (who having set down under their hands for more assurance) pro­mised to disburse large sums of mo­ney for the building up of this great and rich large Sea-City, which will increase more strength to your Land, give more comfort, and doe more good to all your Cities and Townes, than all the Companies of your King­dome, having fit and needfull privi­ledges for the upholding and strength­ning of so weighty and needfull a bu­sinesse.

For example, twenty Busses built and put into a Sea-coast Towne where there is not one ship before there must be to carry, re-carry, transport, and [Page 49] make provision for one Busse three ships; likewise every ship setting on worke thirty severall trades and oc­cupations, and foure hundred thou­sand persons by Sea and Land, inso­much as three hundred persons are not able to make one Fleet of Nets in foure moneths for one Busse, which is no small imployment.

Thus by twenty Busses are set on work near eight thousand persons by Sea and Land, and an increase of a­bove one thousand Marriners, and a Fleet of eighty saile of Ships to b [...] ­long to one Towne, where none were before to take the wealth out of the Sea to inrich and strengthen the Land, only by raising of twenty Busses.

[...]en what good one thousand, or two thousand will doe, I leave to your Majesties consideration.

It is worthy to be noted, how ne­cessary Fishermen are to the Com­mon-wealth, and how needfull to be advanced and cherished, viz.

• 1. For taking Gods blessing out of the Sea to inrich the Realm, which o­therwise we lose.
• 2. For setting the people on worke.
• 3. For making plenty and cheap­nesse in the Realm.
• 4. For increasing of shipping, to make the Land powerfull.
• 5. For a continuall Nurcery for breeding and increasing our M [...]ri­ners.
• 6. For making imployment of all sorts of people, as blinde, lame, [Page 51] and others by Sea and Land from ten or twelve years upwards.
• 7. For inriching your Majesties Coff [...]rs, for Merchandizes returned from other Countreyes for Fish and [...].
• 8. For the increase and inabling of Merchants, which now dr [...]p and daily decay.

Touching the Coyne.

FOr the most part, all Monarchies and free States, both Heathen and Christian, as Turkey Barbery, France, Poland, and others, do hold for a rule of never-failing profit, to keep their Coyne at higher rates within their own Territories, than it is in other Kingdomes.

The Causes.

• 1. To preserve the Coyne within their owne Territories.
• 2. To bring unto themselves the Coyne of Forraigne Princes.
• 3. To inforce Merchant strangers to take their commodities at high rates, which this Kingdom beares the burthen of.

For instance.

THe King of Barbafy perceiving the Trade of Christian Merchants to increase in his Kingdome, and that the returnes out of his Kingdomes was most in Gold, whereby it was much inhanced, raised his Ducket (be­ing then currant for three ounces) to fo [...]e, five, and six ounces; neverthe­lesse [Page 53] it was no more worth in Eng­land, being so raised, then when it went for three ounces.

This Ducket currant for three oun­ces in Barbery, was then worth in England seven shillings and six pence, and no more worth, being raised to six ounces, since which (time adding to it a small piece of gold) hee hath raised it to eight, and lastly to ten ounces, yet at this day it is worth but ten shillings, and one penny, not­withstanding your Majesties late rai­sing of your gold.

Having thus raised his gold, he then devised to have plenty of silver brought into his Kingdome, raised the royall of eight, being but two ounces to three, and three pence h [...]lf penny, which caused great plenty of silver to be brought in, and to conti­nue in his Kingdom.

France.

THe English Jacobus goeth for three and twenty shillings in Merchandizing.

The French Crowne for seven shil­lings and six pence.

Also the King hath raised his silver foure Sowce in the Crowne.

North-Holland.

THe double Jacobus goeth for three and twenty shillings Ster­ling.

The English shilling is there ele­ven [Page 55] stivers, which is two shillings o­ver in the pound.

Poland.

THe King of Poland raised his Hun­gary Ducket from 56 to 77½ Po­linsh groshes, and the Rich Dollor from 36 to 47 and ½ groshes, the Reich Dollor worth in Poland 47 and ½ groshes, is by account valued at 6 s. 4 d. Sterling, and here in England is worth but 4 s. 7 d. The Hungary Ducket 77 is worth by account in Po­land 10 s. 4 d. and in England is worth but 7 s. 10 d The Jacobus of Eng­land here currant for 22 s. in Poland 24 s. at the rate of 7 s. 10 d. for the Hungary Ducket.

Now to turne the stream and riches raised by your Majesties native commodi­ties into the naturall chan­nell, from whence it hath been a long time diverted;

May it please your Majesty to con­sider these points following.

1. VVHether it bee not fit that a State-Merchant be setled within your Domini­ons, which may both dispose more profitably of the riches thereof, and incounter polli­cies of Merchant strangers, who now go beyond us in all kinde [Page 57] of profitable Merchandizing.

2. Whether it be not neces­sary that your native commo­dities should receive their full Manufactory by your Subjects within your Dominions.

3. Whether it be not fit the coales should yeeld your Maje­sty and Subjects a better value, by permitting them to pasle out of the Land, and that they be in your Subjects shipping on­ly transported.

4. Whether it be not fit your Majesty presently raise your Coyne to as high rates, as it is in the parts beyond the Seas.

5. Whether it be not neces­sary that the great Sea-business of Fishing be forthwith set for­ward.

If it please your M [...]jesty to approve of these considerations, and accordingly to put them in a right course of execution, I assure my selfe (by Gods help) in short time your Majesties Cu­stomes, and the continuall com­mings into your Coffers, will be exceedingly increased, your Ships and Marriners trebled, your Land and waste Townes (which are now run out of Gates) bet­ter replenished, and your people imployed, to the great inriching and honour of your Kingdome, with the applause, and to the com­fort [Page 59] of all your loyall Subjects.

May it please your Majesty.

I Have the rather undergone the paines to looke into their pollicies, because I have heard them professe they hoped to get the whole trade and Shipping of Christendome into their owne hands, as well for trans­portation, as otherwise for the com­mand and master of the Seas, to which end I finde that they do daily increase their traffick, augmenting their Ship­ping, multiplying their Marriners, strength, and wealth in all kindes, whereat I have grieved the more, when I considered how God hath in­ [...]ed this Kingdome above any three Kingdomes in Christendom with di­vers varieties of home-bred commodi­ties, which others have not, and can­not [Page 60] want, and indued us with su [...]dry other meanes to continue and main­taine trade of Me [...]andizing and Fishing beyond them all, whereby we might prevent the deceivers, in­grosse the commodities of the ingros­sers, inrich our felves, and increase our Navigation, Shipping, and Marri­ners, so as it would make all Nations to vaile the Bonnet to England, if we would not be still wanting to our selves in imployment of our people.

Which people being divided into three parts, two parts of them are meere spenders and consumers of a Common-wealth, therefore I aime at these points following.

To allure and incourage the people for their private gaine, to be all wor­kers and erecters of a Common­wealth,

To inrich and fill your Majesties Coffers by a continuall comming in, and make your people wealthy, by meanes of their great and profitable trading and imployment.

To vent our home-bred commo­dities to farre more reputation, and much more profit to the King, the Merchant, and the Kingdome.

To returne the Merchandizes of o­ther Countries at farre cheaper rates than now they are, to the great good of the Realme in generall.

To make the Land powerfull by in­creasing of Ships and Marriners.

To make your peoples takings in generall to be much mo [...] every day, than now they are, which by Gods help, will grow continually more and more by the great concourse and com­merce [Page 62] that will come by setled [...] and convenient priviledges, as in other p [...]ts they doe by this their great freedome of Trade.

All this, and much more is done in other [...], where no hing grow [...]th, so that of nothing they make great things,

Then how much more mighty things might we make, where so great abundance, and variety of home bred commodities, and rich ma­terialls growes, for your people to worke upon, and other plentifull means to doe that withall, which o­ther Nations neither have, nor cannot want, but of necessity must be furni­shed from hence? And now whereas our meichandizing is wild, utterly confused, and out of frame, as at large appeareth, a State-Merchant will roundly and [...] bring all the [Page 63] premises to [...], fill your H [...]vens with ships, those ships with Marri­ners, your Kingdom fu'l of Mer­chants, their [...] f [...]ll of out lan­dish commodities, and your Coff rs full of coyne, as in other parts th [...]y doe, and your [...] shall have just cause to hold [...] happy memory, that your Majesty was the [...] of so profitable, praise-worthy, and renow­ned a worke, being the true Philoso­phers stone to make your Majesty a rich and potent King, and your Sub­jects happy people, onely by setling of a State-Merchant, whereby your people may have fulnesse of Trade and Manufactory, and yet hold both honourable and profitable Govern­ment without breakings of Compa­nies.

And for that in the setling of so weighty a businesse many things of great consequence m [...]st necessarily [Page 64] fall into consideration; I humbly pray that your M [...]jesty may be pleased (for the bringing of this great service to light) to give me leave to nominate the Commissioners, and your Maje­sty to give them power to call before them such men as they shall thinke fit to conferre with upon oath, or other­wise, as occasion shall offer; that the said Commissioners with all speed, for the better advancement of this honourable and profitable work, may prepare, and report the same unto your Majesty.