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Of the trade in generall of Germany.
THe particular Trading of severall Cities being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ob∣served, it will not bee amisse a little to looke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Trade in generall of Germany, and therewith 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Na∣vigation * 1.1 of this nation, by which wee finde, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in all Cou•…•… almost the same is principally maintained. The Ci∣ties
then found on the Sea-cost on the North-side of Germany, have very great ships; yet more fit for great stowedge and bur∣then, than either for saile or defence; and therefore oftentimes to this end fraighted by the Netherlanders. Neither can I attribute much commendations to the Germaine Mariner, for those Seas in good part, and the Balticke sea altogether, are found free of pirates and piracies, which is the chiefe reason why their ships are found in the generall to be so ill armed, either defensive or offensive, and in one thing they concurre with the Dutch, to the shame of the Christians profession, that there is never found any prayers used a∣board their ships, neither morning or evening, contrary to the laudable custome and godly exercise of our English mariners, who constantly use prayer and Psalmes, at least foure times in foure and twenty houres, which is at the setting of the foure quarterly wat∣ches of the day and night. These Maritime Cities are for the most part either Hans-townes or free Cities, because they enioyed of old in all neighbour Kingdomes, great priviledges of buying any Commo∣dities, as well of strangers as Citizens, and of selling their owne to either at pleasure, and to bring in or carry out all commodities by their owne ships, with like immunities equall to Citizens in all the said do•…•…nions, and no lesse preiudiciall to others, than advanta∣geous to themselves and in London they were wont to dwell to∣gether in the house •…•…lled the S•…•…il-yard, and there enioyed these and many other priviledges, which now for many yeares have ly•…•… dead; partly by reason the English found not these, or the like pri∣viledges in these free Hans-townes; and partly, by reason they have found •…•…re commodious to make use of their owne shipping, as in these •…•…es it is found they do.
Notwithstanding all this, yet it is observed that the Germanes in general apply themselves very industriously to all Trafficke by land, but the free Cities on the sea coasts doe but coldly exercise it by sea; Be•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 found to be spent and exported amongst themselves in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…dible measure and quantity, with an extraordinary gaine, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 therefore noted for one of the prime commodities of this empire, bringing profit not onely to private men, but also to Prin•…•… •…•…nd to free States, there being no Merchandize in the world that •…•…ore easily findes a buyer in Germany, than this: for other commodities, it is observable that Germany sends into Italy Linens, corne and waxe; it sends into England Bords, Iron, Diaper, Rhenish wines, and Norimberg wares, which can hardly be called commodities; into Spaine they send Linens, waxe, brasse, copper, cordage, mastes, gun∣powd•…•… and this is their principall Exportation. Now for their Impo•…•…tions, Italy returnes them Silkes of all kindes; England Lead, Tin, a•…•… wollen cloths; and Spaine returnes them Spanish wines, fruits, eiles, salt some wools, and other commodities.
I formerly noted, that the English had their Staple at Embden, the
Count whereof used them well and courteously•…•…, but warres grow∣ing betweene England, and Spaine, the place grew dangerous for them: for their goods were oftentimes taken, and themselves made prisoners, even in the mouth of the harbour; wherupon they removed to Hamburg, where being oppressed with new impositions, and being denied the exercise of their religion, they removed also thence, and setled their Staple at Stoade.
Then also our English had their Staple at Dansick in Prusen, for the kingdome of Poland; but when the Dansickers under pretence of the Suevian warre, exacted of them a Doller for each wollen Cloth, and as much proportionally upon all other commodities; and after∣wards, though the warre being ended, yet would remit nothing of the same; and withall, forbad the English, by a law decreed, to live in Poland, the commodities whereof were onely sold there, lest they should learne the language, and finde out the mysterie of that trade and Countrey: And lastly, when as they exacted as much weekly of an Englishman dwelling in their Citie, as they did of a Iew dwelling there amongst them, the English thereupon made agreement with the Senate of Melvin for 11 yeares, to pay them six grosse for each Cloth brought in, and accordingly for all other goods, and to pay as much more in the Citie of Kettle to the Duke of Pri•…•… for his giving them free passage to Melvin; •…•…d so •…•…is meane•…•… they set∣led their Staple in Melvin: whereupon the D•…•…kers being offended with the Citizens of Melvin, and the Hamburgers no lesse with those of Stoade, procured all the free Cities by a publique writing to out∣law not onely Melvin and Stoade for receiving the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the common prejudice of the rest, but also Coningsberg, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Duke of Prussen, and the free Citie of Lubeck for favou•…•…g the En∣glish in this their course, and for permitting them being strangers, to sell their goods to any other than the Citizens of each severall Citie. But how these differences came afterward to be reconciled, and their Staples removed thence, I have shewed in o•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
And being now entred to speake of the trade of Pr•…•… Ger∣mane * 1.2 Province, but of late yeares annexed to the Crowne of Poland, which of it selfe is of great importance, it will not bee amisse to in∣large my selfe upon some particulars thereof. The English 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are found to bring thither great quantitie of Tin, Lead, and •…•…ollen-Cloathes, and other commodities, and to bring thence hard and li∣quid Pitch, Hempe, Flax, Cables, Masts for ships, Boords, & Timber for building, Linnen Cloth, Wax, Minerall salt, which in Poland they digge out of pits like great stones, and the same being put to the fire, is made pure, and being blacke his colour is more durable, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lesse subject to giving againe than our boyled Salt. Also th•…•… bring thence Pine Ashes for making of Sope, commonly known to us by the name of Sope-Ashes, and Corne in great quantitie; yet the English are found seldome to have need of their Corne for the use of England,
which many times of their owne they transport to other nations; but they buy it as the free Cities doe, to transport it to other Coun∣tries, which the Low-countrey men do also buy as well for themselves, as to serve Spaine, and other Countries therewith, so great a quan∣tity thereof is hence dispersed into all parts of Europe.
Amber is also brought from thence, but not gathered neither at * 1.3 Melvin nor Dansicke, as some imagine, but on the sea side of Ko∣ningsperg, where, as I said, the Duke of Prusen holds his Court, and so all along the coast of Curland; where, howsoever it lies in great quantitie on the sands of the sea, it is as safe as if it were lockt up in ware-houses, since it is death for any to take up the least piece thereof, and being onely by the law accounted to bee the proper commodity of the Duke, to whom the same appertaineth. And this being as much as I have thought requisite to handle concerning the trade of Germanie in the generall, or of the Imperiall Cities and Hans∣townes in particular, I wil proceed to the next kingdome, which in order is Denmarke, and to the principall Cities, and particular trade thereof.
The generall trade of Ger∣many.
Trade of Pru∣•…•…ca.
Amber.