England's improvements in two parts : in the former is discoursed how the kingdom of England may be improved ... : in the latter is discoursed how the navigation of England may be increased and the soveraignty of the British seas more secured to the crown of England ... / by Roger Coke.

Annot.

Though I desire the Trade and Navigation of the Na∣tion should be increased by permission of the English to buy Ships in all other Trades but the Newcastle, East-Indie, and Turkie Trades, yet I had rather all their Trades were car∣ried on by Ships built in the Ports of England: for if it be better for a Nation, that in any profitable employment the Inhabitants earn 10000 l. or a greater or lesser sum, than to have 10000 l. or a greater or lesser sum given them, and the people not employed; then so much better it is for this Nation to have ships built in the Ports of it, than to buy them, by how much the Labours of the people in buil∣ding and fitting up of ships are valuable.

But to attain to this in England, it will not be only ne∣cessary freely to import Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp and Flax, and Timber; but also to permit all forrein Ship-wrights to inhabit, and have equal freedom to exercise their Professions in all convenient places in England for building Ships; for no man is born an Artificer, but it comes to pass by Educa∣tion, Labour, and Experience: and the English are un∣acquainted in building Busses for the Fishing Trade, and in building ships for the Norway or Groenland Trades, and many other. The Dutch build ships for all Trades accor∣ding to the best convenience: we only know how to build Men of War; and our ships for other Trades are of like figure, whether it be convenient or not.