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.

This permission may increase Navigation, as the for∣rein Trade of our Growths and Manufactures, and the fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland is increased; and it will much more increase Navigation to and from the Ports of England, upon the account of the Goods themselves which are imported and exported. The free Importation and Exportation of French Wines, Brandies, Salt, Spice, Fish caught upon the Coasts of England & Scotland, and the Woollen Ma∣nufactures of the Ʋnited Netherlands, is the general Composi¦tion of those stupendious Fleets which the Dutch yearly send in times of Peace into the Sound; whereas we, for want of these, send not above nine, and seven of these out∣ward laden only with Ballast. To Muscovy, by the benefit of

these outward fraught, they usually employ above forty, we not above three in two years.

But in case Forreigners were permitted to inhabit and trade for Fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scot∣land, and to import and export from the Ports of England Salt, French Wines and Brandies, as free as from Hamburg or the Ʋnited Netherlands; let us see if these Trades into the Sound and Muscovy might not be better, and more beneficial∣ly carried on from the Ports of England, than either from Hamburg or Holland. Herein I know but of one advantage the Dutch have over us, that is in the Spice-trade, which in this respect is very considerable, that having the sole Trade of it, they can raise or fall the Prices of it, so as to vend the rest of their Commodities cheaper than another Nation which cannot Counterpoise this some other way. But in case the outward vent of Fish, Salt, Wine, and Brandies were as free from the Ports of England as those of the Ʋnited Ne∣therlands, we should First have the benefit of our Ports, more, much better, more convenient and safe than theirs. Secondly, We should have the benefit of vending our Manufactures at the best terms, whereby we should have so much more bene∣fit than the Dutch, as our Wools and other Principles are better and cheaper than can be had in the Ʋnited Nether∣lands, and as men can fare and be maintained cheaper here than there. Thirdly, We may Ballast all the Ships outward fraught with Coals, as occasion serves, cheaper than the Dutch. Fourthly, We can supply the people within the Sound better with Pepper, than the Dutch. Fifthly, We may be may have as much benefit in vending our Sugars and Tobaccoes in this Trade above the Dutch, as the Dutch have in the Spice-trade above us. Sixthly, We have the be∣nefit of Trading for Cony-skins, Lead and Tin, which the Dutch have not. So that in case the other Trades into the Sound were as free from the Ports of England as Holland, I see no reason, not withstanding the Dutch Monopoly of the Spice-trade, but we might drive a much greater, and more considerable Trade and Navigation from England: and the reasons are the same in the Trade and Navigation to Mus∣covy.

And if the free permission may establish a better Trade and Navigation from England to the North, and North-East, than can be from the Ʋnited Netherlands, so I see no rea∣son but if we could vend the Fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, so well as the Dutch, in France, Spain and Italy, and were permitted to vend our Growths and Manufactures from the next Ports, but we should have a much greater advantage above the Dutch in the South and South-East Trades and Navigation, than in the North and North-East: For without doubt we might under-sell the Dutch in all those Woollen Manufactures they vend in Spain, Italy and Turkie: we have the benefit of compoun∣ding Freights with Pepper and Callico's better than they; and if we please, may have as much benefit above them in Ballasting Ships with Coals, and with compounding Freights of Lead, Tin, Leather, Calve-skins, of Sugars, and Cho∣coletta, Tobacco's and other products of our Plantations, as the Dutch have over us in their Spice-trade, which takes up but little lading in these Trades and Navigation.