The present state of England. Part III. and Part IV. containing I. an account of the riches, strength, magnificence, natural production, manufactures of this island, with an exact catalogue of the nobility, and their seats, &c., II. the trade and commerce within it self, and with all countries traded to by the English, as at this day established, and all other matters relating to inland and marine affairs : supplying what is omitted in the two former parts ...

The next thing to be shewn is that Holland and Zealand at this day is not only 80th. as rich and strong as France, but that it hath advan∣ced to the 3d. or thereabouts, which I think will appear upon the ballance of the following Particulars, viz.

As for the Wealth of France, a certain Map of that Kingdom set forth An. 1647. represents it to be 15 Millions, whereof six did belong to the Church, the Author thereof (as I sup∣pose) meaning the Rents of the Land only

And the Author of a most judicious Discourse of Husbandry (supposed to be Sir Richard Weston) doth from reason and experience shew that Lands in the Netherlands, by bear∣ing Flax, Turnips, Clover-grass, Madder, &c. will easily yield 10 pound per Acre, so as the Territories of Holland and Zealand should by this account, yield at least 10 Millions per Annum; yet I do not believe the same to be so much, nor France so little as aforesaid, but rather that one bears to the other as about 7 or 8 to one.

The People of Amsterdam are one 3d part of those in Paris or London, which two Cities differ not in People a 20th part from each other as hath appeared by the Bills of Buri∣als and Christenings from each, but the va∣lue of the Buildings in Amsterdam may well be half that of Paris by reason of the Foun∣dations, Grafts and Bridges, which in Am∣sterdam are more numerous and chargeable than Paris: Moreover the Habitations of the poorest People in Holland and Zealand are twice or thrice as good as those of France but the People of the one to the People of the other being but as 13 to 1. the value of the Housing must be as about 5 to 1. The Ship∣ping of Europe being about 2 Millions of tuns I suppose the English have about 5000000, the Dutch 900 thousand, the French 100

thousand, the Hamburgers and the Subjects of Denmark, Sweden, and the Town of Dantzick 250 thousand, and Spain, Portugal, Italy, &c. 250 thousand; so as the Shipping in our case of France to that of Holland and Zealand is about 1 to 9: which reckoned great and small one with another at 8 pound per Tun makes the worth to be 800 thousand pounds to 7 Mil∣lions, & 2000000 pounds the Hollanders Capital in the East-India Company is worth about 3 Millions where the French has little or nothing.

The value of the Goods exported out of France into all parts are supposed quadruple to what is sent to England alone, & consequent∣ly in all about 5 Millions; but what is ex∣ported out of Holland into England is worth 3 Millions; and what is exported thence into all the World besides is sextuple to that Summ.

The Moneys yearly raised by the French King, as the same appears by the Book inti∣tuled the State of France, dedicated to the King printed An. Dom. 1669. and set forth se∣veral times by Authority, is 82 Millions of French Livers, which is about ½ Millions of pounds Sterling, of which Summ the Author sayes that one 5th part was abated for Nonva∣luers or Insolvencies.

So as (I suppose) not above 5 Millions were effectually raised, but whereas some

say the King of France raised 11 Millions as the ⅕ of the Effects of France, I humb∣ly affirm, that the Land and Sea forces, all the Buildings and Interleguments which we have heard by common Fame to have been set forth and made in any of these last 7 years needed not to have cost 6 Millions Sterling; wherefore I suppose he hath not raised more, especially since there were ⅕ insolven∣cies when the Tax was at that pitch.

But Holland and Zealand paying 67 of 100 pay'd by all the United Provinces, and the City of Amsterdam paying 27 of the said 67, it follows that if Amsterdam hath pay'd 4000 pound Flemmish per diem, or about 146000 per Annum, or about 80 thousand pound Ster∣ling, that all Holland and Zealand have paid above 2 Millions per Annum; now the Reasons why they pay so much, I think are these (viz) 1. the Author of the State of the Netherlands saith so.

2dly. Excise of Victuals at Amsterdam seems above half the Original value of the same (viz) ground Corn pays 20 Stivers the Bushel, or 63 Gilders the Last, Beer 113 Stivers the Barrel, housing ⅙ of Rent, fruit ⅛ of what it cost; other Commodities 1/7 ⅛ 1/9 1/12 Salt ad libitum, all weighed Goods pay besides the premises a vast sum: now if the expence of the People of Amsterdam at a Medium, and

without Excise, were 8 pound per Annum, whereas in England 'tis 7 pound, then if all the several Imposts above named raise it 5 pound more, there being 160 thousand Souls in Amsterdam, the Sum of 800 thou∣sand pound Sterling per Annum will thereby be raised.

3dly. Though the Expence of each Head should be 13 pound per Annum, 'tis well known that there be few in Amsterdam who do not earn much more than the said Ex∣pence.

4thly. If Holland and Zealand pay per Annum 2,000,000 pounds, then all the Pro∣vinces together must pay about 3 Millions, less then which Sum per Annum perhaps is not sufficient to have maintained the Naval War with England, 72 thousand land Forces besides all other the ordinary charges of their Government, whereof the Church is there a part. To conclude, it seems from the Premi∣ses, that all France doth not raise above thrice as much from the publick Charge, as Holland and Zealand alone do.

5thly. Interest of Money in France 7 pounds per Centum, but in Holland scarce half so much.

6thly. The Country of Holland and Zea∣land, consisting as it were of Islands guarded with the Sea, Shipping and Marshes, is de∣fensible

at ¼ the charge of a plain open Country is, and where the Seat of War may be both Winter and Summer, whereas in others nothing can be done but in the Summer only.

7thly. But above all the particulars hi∣therto considered that of Superlucration ought chiefly to be taken in, for if a Prince have never so many Subjects and his Country never so good, yet if either through sloath or extravagant Expences or oppression and injustice, what ever is gained, shall be spent as fast as gotten, the State must be account∣ed poor. Wherefore let it be considered how much, or how many times rather Hol∣land and Zealand are now above what they were 100 years ago; which we must also do of France; now if France hath scarce doubled it's Wealth and Power, and that the other have decupled theirs; I shall give the preference to the latter, even altho the 9 increased by the one should not exceed the one half gained by the other; because one hath a Store for 9 years, and the other but for 1. To conclude upon the whole, that though France being Peopled to Holland and Zealand as 13 to 1, and in quantity of good Land as 80 to 1, yet is not 13 times Richer and Stronger, much less 80 times, nor much above thrice, which was to be proved.

Having thus dispatched the two first Branches of the first principal Conclusion, it follows to shew that this difference of im∣provement in Wealth and Strength, arises in particular from conveniencies for Shipping and Water-carriage.

Many writing on this Subject do so magni∣fie the Hollanders as if they were more, and all other Nations less then men, (as to the matter of Trade and Policy) making them Angels, and others Fools, Brutes and Sots as to those particulars, whereas I take the foun∣dation of their Atchievements to lie ori∣ginally in the Situation of the Country, whereby they do things inimitable to o∣thers, and have advantages whereof others are incapable.

First, The Soyl of Holland and Zealand is low Land, rich and fertile, whereby it is able to feed many men, and so as that men may live near each other for their mutual Assistance in Trade, I say that 1000 Acres that can feed 1000 Souls is better than 10000 of no more effect, for the following reasons to it (viz.) first suppose some great Fabrick were in building by 1000 men, shall not much more time be spared if that they lived all upon 1000 Acres, then if they were forced to live upon 10 times as large a Scope of Land?

2dly. The charge of their care of their Souls, and the Ministry would be far greater in the one case then the other, as also of Mutual defence in case of invasion, and even of Thieves and Robbers; moreover the charge of the Ad∣ministration of Justice would be much easier where Witnesses and Parties may be easily Summoned, Attendance less expensive when mens Actions would be better known, when wrong and Justice would not be covered as in thin-peopled places they are.

Lastly those who live in solitary places must be their own Soldiers, Divines, Phy∣sicians and Lawyers, and must have their Hou∣ses stored with necessary provisions (like a Ship going upon a long Voyage) to the great wast and needless expence of such pro∣visions: the value of this first conveniency to the Dutch I reckon to be about 100 thousand pounds per Annum.

2dly. Holland is a level Country, so as, if in any part thereof a Wind-Mill may be set up, and by it's being moist and vaporous, there is always Wind stirring over it, by which advantage the labour of many thou∣sand hands is saved, forasmuch as a Mill made by one man in half a year will do as much labour as 4 men for 5 years together; this advantage is greater or less where im∣ployment and ease of Labour is so, but in

Holland it is eminently great, and the worth of this Conveniency between near 100 and 150 thousand pound.

3dly. there is much more to be gained by Manufacture than Husbandry, and by Mer∣chandise than Manufacture, but Holland and Zealand, being seated at the Mouths of 3 long great Rivers, and passing through rich Countries do keep all the Inhabitants upon the sides of those Rivers but as Husbandmen, whilst themselves are the Manufactors of their Commodities, and do dispence them into all Parts of the World, making re∣turns for the same at what price almost they please themselves; and in short, they keep the Trade of those Countries through which the same Rivers pass, the va∣lue of this 3d convenience is 200 thousand pound.

4thly. In Holland and Zealand there is scarce any place of work or business one Mile distance from a Navigable Water, and the charge of Water-carriage is generally but the 15th or 20th part of Land-carriages, wherefore if there be as much Trade there as in France, then the Hollanders can out-sell the French 14/15 of all the Expence of all travel∣ling postage and carriage whatsoever, which even in England I take to be 300 thousand pound per Annum, where the very postage

of Letters costs the People perhaps 50 thou∣sand pound per Annum, though farmed at much less, and all other Labours of Hor∣ses and Porters at least six times as much; the value of this conveniency I estimate to be above 300 thousand pounds per An∣num.

5thly. The defensibleness of the Country by reason of it's Situation in the Sea upon Islands, and in the Marshes, impassible ground, dicked and trenched, especially considering how the place is aimed at for it's Wealth, I say the charge for defending this Country is easier than if it were a plain Champion at least 200 thousand pound per Annum.

6thly. Holland is so considerable for keep∣ing Ships in Harbour with small Expence of men and ground-tackle that it saves them per Annum 200 thousand pounds of what must be spent in France.

Now if all these natural Advantages do amount to above one Million per Annum of profit, and that the Trade of all Europe, nay of the whole World, with which our Eu∣ropeans do trade, is not above 45 Millions per Annum; and if 1/50 of the value be 1/7 of the profit, it is plain that the Hollanders may command and govern the whole Trade.

7thly. Those who have their Situation

thus towards the Sea, abound with Fish at home, and having also the command of Ship∣ping, have by consequence the Fishing Trade, whereof that of Herring alone brings more yearly profit to the Hollanders than the Trade of the West-Indies to Spain, or of the East to themselves, being as some say viis and modis of above 3 Millions per Annum pro∣fit.

8thly. It is not to be doubted but those who have the Trade of Fishing and Ship∣ping will secure themselves of the Trade of Timber, for Ships, Boats, Masts, and Casks, of Hemp for Cordage, Sails and Nets, of Salt, of Iron, as also of Pitch, Tar, Rosin, Brimstone, Oyl and Tal∣low, as necessary Appurtenances to Shipping and Fishing.

9thly. Those who predominate in Fishing and Shipping have more occasion then o∣thers to frequent all parts of the World, and to observe what is wanting or redun∣dant every where, and what each People can do, and what they desire, and conse∣quently to be the Factors and Carriers for the whole World of Trade, upon which ground they bring all Native Commodities to be Manufactured at home, and carried back to the Country where they grow, all which we see, for do they not work the

Sugars of the West-Indies, the Timber and Iron of Baltick, the Hemp of Russia, the Lead, Tin, and Wool of England, the Quick-Silver and Silk of Italy, the Yarn and dying Stuffs of Turkey? &c. to be short in all the ancient States and Empires those who had the Shipping had the Wealth; and if 2 per Centum in the price of Commodities, be perhaps 20 per Centum in the Gain, it is manifest that they who can in 45 Millions under-sell others by one Million (upon Account of Mutual Interest and instrin∣sick Advantages only) may easily have the Trade of the World, without such Ange∣lical Wits and Judgments as some attribute to the Hollander.