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.

HOW THE NAVIGATION Of England May be INCREASED, &c.

Prop. 1. Theorem 1.

THe free Importation of Forrein Goods into England, may encrease Navigation to and from the Ports of England.

1 Ax. 4. For every business may be so much encreased, as the Principles are encreased.

1 Pet. 4. But the forrein Trade of the Woollen and o∣ther Manufactures of England, is a Principle of the Navi∣gation of them to and from the Ports of England.

21 Prop. 3. And the free Importation of forrein Goods, may encrease a forrein Trade of our Woollen and other Manufactures.

Therefore it may encrease Navigation to and from the Ports of England.

Annot.

Britain being an Island, and so as another World divided from the Continent, the encrease of Navigation and Mari∣ners is more proper to it and desirable, than where the Sea lies but on part of the bounds of the Country: and this En∣crease is so much more desirable, by how much the Coast a∣bounds with many Excelling and Noble Ports, and the Coun∣try Naturally watred with Rivers more apt for Navigation than any other, and which through those lose themselves in the Ocean. But Navigation and Marriners cannot be o∣therwise encreased, than from such Principles as God and Na∣ture has ordained. Trade therefore being a Principle to Navigation, is superiour and more excellent than it, and may subsist without Navigation; but Navigation never without Trade. A Nation may be rich and flourishing by Trade, yet upon the Navigation of other Countries. The great Ri∣ches which France lately enjoyed, did arise chiefly from the English and Dutch Trading into their Ports. So Legorne and Florence grow rich by the Trade which the English French, and Dutch Navigation bring into Legorne. So it is in the Turkie, East Indie, and Muscovy Trades, by the English, French, Dutch, and Venetians, whereby those Countries grow vastly rich, yet employ no Shipping or Navigation to procure it.

Trade being a principle to Navigation, Navigation may be infinitely encreased, as Trade is encreased: I desire there∣fore Navigation to and from the Ports of England might be encreased by the forrein Trade of our Woollen and other Manufactures, rather than by the Newcastle-trade, or the Trade to our Plantations: For the home-vent of the New∣castle-trade employs few of the Natives but Miners and Ma∣nners, and those but half the year, and is driven to the loss of the Nation: for we consume the Coals; and besides the Consumption of our Timber in the Shipping in this Trade, we generally buy the Pitch, Tar, Cordage and Sails employ∣ed in it, of the French, Dutch, Swedes, and Norwegians.

Add hereto, that this Trade has caused, vast destruction of the Wood-land-Grounds of the Eastern, Southern and Mid∣land parts of England; which by reason of the plenty and cheapness of Newcastle-Coals, can finde no vent. Whereas Navigation, which would arise from the forrein Trade of our Woollen and other Manufacturers, would so much en∣rich the Nation, as the value of the Manufactures is more than the Principles of them are in value. And I prefer the Navigation which may arise from encreasing our Ma∣nufactures at home, before that Navigation which arises from our Trades to our Plantations; because the Nation hereby would be more and better peopled, and the Lands of the Crown, Church, Nobility, Gentry and others of Eng∣land, would become so much more valuable, as Trade and Navigation would be hereby encreased: whereas the Planta∣tions rob us of our people, to the weakning the Nation, and diminishing the value of the Lands of it; and that besides Mariners, few people in England except Retailers, Sugar-Ba∣kers, Porters, and Car-men, are employed in the Trades of them. And the Riches which arise by the Trade of them, accrews to few but the King, Merchant, Sugar-bakers, and Retailers. And I do not question, but the value of the Consumption of the Commodities of the Plantations here in England, is much more than the profit of them by forrein Trade: And yet we have little else but the forrein Trade of our Woollen Manufactures, so Taxed, so Restrained, and so Endangered, as hath been in all the Three precedent Treatises demonstrated, to sustain the Loss the Nation re∣ceives by the Newcastle-trade, the Trade to our Plantations, and the Trades to Norway France, the Canaries, and for Lin∣nen.

I desire as much as any man, that Navigation and Mari∣ners may be encreased by the Natives of England, and Eng∣lish Ships, so far as the Natives of England in such Shipping can maintain Navigation, yet both must be done in time, and by such means as God and Nature have ordained, viz. by encreasing Trade in England: and if both Trade and Navigation cannot be carried on by the Natives alone, I

see no reason why (at least at present) Trade (which is more excellent than Navigation) should not be encreased, though upon the account of forrein Navigation. And I say, it is impossible, as the case stands, that the forrein vent of our English Manufactures, and the Fish caught upon the Coasts of England, and Scotland, can be encreased by Eng∣lish Mariners in English-built Ships: For the Towns upon the Coast of England generally are become so decayed, that they are not neer half Inhabited; and so poor, that they have no Means to build Ships, or to buy our Woollen or other Manufactures, or the Fish caught upon our Coast; nor have Factories or Correspondence in forrein parts to establish Trade and Commerce: yet if they had, it is impos∣sible long to continue the Navigation we now possess in English-built Ships, therefore less possible to encrease it.

It's believed, the French Nation, before their War with the Dutch, gained above 6000000 l. yearly by the English and Dutch trading into their Ports, for Wine, Salt, Brandy, Linnen, Paper, and other Commodities of France: Suppose the French King upon the account of encreasing the Navi∣gation and Mariners of France, should have excluded the English, and Dutch trading into his Ports, and by Edict have Commanded, that all the Commodities of France ven∣ded in forrein Trade, should first be brought to Paris, there none to buy them but Free-men and Companies, (if they have any) and they only to vend them in French-built Ships, and Sailed by ¾ French, whether they have Ships or Mariners or not; and that the Returns of them should pay the King twenty times the Duties they should in case they were imported into Holland or Hamburg: whether the em∣ployment of the Shipping and Mariners of France would have countervailed the loss France would have sustained thereby? Or Reader consider (chainging the places) if this be not the Condition of England, in reference to the forrein Trade of the Manufactures, and the Fish caught up∣on the Coast of it.

Coroll. 1.

By the same reason, the free Permission of For∣reigners to make Returns of our Woollen and o∣ther Manufactures into the Ports of England, and to export them, may encrease Navigation to and from the Ports of England.

1 Pet. 4. For Trade to and from the Ports of England, is a principle of Navigation to and from the Ports of Eng∣land.

2. Pet. 4. And the free admission of Forreigners to make Returns of our Woollen and other Manufactures into the Ports of England, and export them, may encrease Trade to and from the Ports of England.

Annot.

As the free permission of Forreigners to work Manufa∣ctures in England and export them, would encrease Navi∣gation to and from the Ports of England; so would the free permission of Forreigners to make Returns of them into our Ports, and export them; and so would the Returns of these, and the exporting them again, and so infinitely; whereby Navigation to and from our Ports may be infinitely encrea∣sed. The Dutch and Hamburger, we see, have no principles of Trade or Navigation of their own; yet from the princi∣ples of the Fishery upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, and the Groenland Fishery, and the Trades and Navigation depending thereon, and the principles they acquire from o∣ther places, by reason of their free Importation and Expor∣tation, employ more Shipping and Mariners than all the Christian Princes and States in all the world besides. The seeming Objection against this Permission, we hope to avoid in the Annot. upon the Coroll. of the 16 Proposition of this Treatise.

Corollary 2.

By the same reason, the Repealing the Acts of the 18 and 20 Car. 2. cap. 1. against Importation of Irish Cattle, may encrease the Navigation of England.

3 Pet. 4. For Trade is a principle of the English Naviga∣tion between England and Ireland.

13 Prop. 3. And the Repealing the Acts of the 18 and 20 Car. 2. cap. 1. against Importation of Irish Cattle, may en∣crease the Trade between England and Ireland.

Annot.

After the Navigation which may arise by the forrein vent of our Woollen and other Manufactures, I desire the Na∣vigation of England may be encreased from the Trade be∣tween England and Ireland▪ not only as the Crown of Ire∣land is depending upon the Crown of England; but also, because the benefits and Security of the English Nation are more interwoven between them, than can be expected from any other Country.

The Navigation which the Trade between England and Ireland before these Acts did maintain, was, First, about one hundred Sail, and a proportionable number of Mariners were employed in bringing over Cattle. Secondly, A consi∣derable number of English Ships and Mariners (Mr. John De Boyse can better inform the Reader the number than I) were employed in the Trade of the Returns for their Lean Cattle, in Beer, Hops, Hats, Stockens, Cloath, and Stuffs of all sorts, all sorts of Dying-stuffs, Hides, Fruit, Sugars, To∣baccoes, and many other Commodities to Ireland. Thirdly, The Returns of these in Hides, Tallow, Wools, Yarn, &c. from Ireland in forrein Trade, was generally in English Ships, and sailed by English Mariners. But all this Naviga∣tion

depending upon the first Intercourse between England and Ireland for their Lean Cattle, the Cause of Importing Cattle ceasing, the Navigation which depended upon it ceas∣ed: and the Trade as well as the Navigation the Nation formerly enjoyed, is not only lost to it, but established in forrein Nations, to the Endangering as well as Impo∣verishing this: and of which you may more largely read in the Annot. upon the 18, 19, and 20, Propositions of the Trea∣tise of The Equal Danger of the Church, State, and Trade of England.

Prop. 2. Theorem 2.

The Repealing the Acts of the 18 and 20. Car. 2. cap. 1. against Importation of Irish Cattle, will so much more secure the Soveraignty of the Bri∣tish Seas to the Crown of England, as Navigation shall be thereby encreased.

2 Ax. 4. For things will be so much secured, as the means of preserving them are encreased.

4 Pet. 3. But the Navigation of England is a mean of preserving the Soveraignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England.

Coroll. 2. Prop. 1. And the Repealing the Acts against Importation of Irish Cattle, may encrease the Navigation of England.

Therefore it will so much secure the Soveraignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England.

Annot.

I say, the Repealing of these Laws may encrease, or ra∣ther restore the Navigation of England which it formerly enjoyed before them. And in truth I am content this Trade and Navigation should, so far as it can, be carried on only by

English; yet in such Vessels, as the English can manage it to their best benefit, whereby only this Nation might be the Store-house of supplying the Irish with all sorts of Com∣modities they want; and that the Nation might have the home-benefit of working their Wools, and the forrein be∣nefits of vending their Hides, Tallow, and Yarn, &c. for it is as much our Interest the English should enjoy these Trades and Navigation depending thereon, as that only the Eng∣lish should have the benefit of the Trade and Navigation to our Plantations; or the Dutch Interest alone to have the Spice-Trade and the Navigation which depends thereon.

But since Navigation is a mean of preserving the Sove∣reignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England, the loss of it is as much dangerous to it. It is not the number and greatness of the French Navy Royal which makes the French King neer so formidable at Sea as either the English or Dutch, but their want of such Trades as might encrease their Navigation and Mariners.

Prop. 3. Theorem 3.

The free admission of Forreigners to inhabit in England, and in any Vessels to Fish and Trade in∣to forrein parts with Fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, may encrease the Navi∣gation of England.

1 Ax. 4. For business may be so much encreased, as the Principles are encreased.

5 Pet. 4. But Trade to and from the Ports of England, is a principle of the Navigation of England.

6 Pet. 4. And the free admission of Forreigners to inha∣bit in England, and in any Vessels to fish and trade into for∣rein parts with Fish, &c. may encrease the Trade of Eng∣land.

Therefore it may so much encrease the Navigation of England.

Annot.

After the Navigation which may arise from the Trade of our Manufactures, and the free Intercourse between England and Ireland, I desire Navigation in England may be encreas∣ed by the Fishing Trade, especially of the Fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, not only as the Fish may be more conveniently caught by such as fish from the Ports of England, if the King pleases to deny others to dry their Nets, or take in Fresh Water in any of his Dominions; but also the Freighting of Vessels with Beer and Provisions may be cheaper in the Fishery and forrein vent of Fish from the Ports of England; besides, the employment of many thousands of our poor people, would be of infinite benefit to the Lands of England, as the Fishery and forrein Trade of them should be encreased; and the Towns upon the Eastern Coast of England, which are now even desolate, would be∣come rich and populous. Moreover, it is a Scandal and dis∣honour to the Crown of England, which contains the So∣vereignty of the British Seas, that the benefits which arise from these Seas should be lost to this Nation, and established in others, to their enriching, and encrease of Navigation.

I say, this free admission of Forreigners to inhabit in Eng∣land, and in any Vessels to fish and Trade into forrein parts with Fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, may encrease the Navigation of England; for thereby their Interest being planted in the Nation, it would enjoy the fruits of their Trade and Navigation. Nor do I under∣stand, how otherwise (at least at present) this Nation can hope to enjoy the Fishery upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, or the forrein Trade of it, or any part of it: For the Inhabitants upon the Eastern Coast of England are so thin, that the Towns upon it (except Great Yarmouth) are even desolate, and so poor, that they have no means to build or buy Vessels for this Trade; nor have Factors or Agents in forrein parts whereby to entertain Trade and Commerce: And also the Timber of England is so destroyed

by the niggardly Trades we now enjoy, (whereby we can do little more than consume in England the Returns of our Manufactures, and the Product of our Plantations) that it is not long possible by it to maintain these Trades; therefore less possible by it to establish the Fishing Trade, which, it may be, will require more Shipping than we now employ in all the Trades we drive in the World. Or in case we had quantities of Timber sufficient for carrying on the Fishing Trade, yet would it be of no benefit to us in this Trade: for the Fish cost nothing but the catching, and the Hull of a Vessel for the Fishing Trade or Fishery, may be built for ⅔ of what one of equal dimensions can be built in England; and those built of English Timber are so heavy, that they require ½ more Sails and Cordage to fit them up, and so more Hands to manage them; whereby it becomes impossible to the English to Fish and Trade so cheap as the Dutch and Hamburger. Nor is this Mischief (as the case stands) pos∣sible to be remedied by Vessels built of forrein Timber in Eng∣land; for by reason of the high Duties upon it, and the Ad∣vantages the Norwegians have by imposing their own Terms upon us, the English at this day pay 30 l. per Cent. more for Timber imported, than the Dutch or Hamburgers do.

Prop. 4. Theorem 4.

The free Admission of Forreigners to Inhabit in England, and in any Vessels to Fish upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, and to Trade into for∣rein parts, will so much encrease the Riches of Eng∣land, as the Vessels they Fish and Trade in are va∣luable.

1 Ax. 3. For things will be so much encreased, as is ad∣ded to them.

7 Pet. 4. But Fishing and Trading Vessels are Riches.

8 Pet. 4. And the free admission of Forreigners to inhabit in England, and in any Vessels to fish, &c. and Trade, &c.

will add so many Vessels to those of England, as they Fish and Trade in.

Therefore it will so much encrease the Riches of Eng∣land.

Annot.

This Admission of Forreigners to inhabit in England, &c. as it will so much enrich the Nation as the Vessels they Fish and Trade in are in value, in case they bring Vessels into Eng∣land, so will it so much enrich the Nation, in case they bought the Vessels here in England, and employed them from the Ports of it: For then the Nation retains the Ves∣sels still; and so much as is expended therein, will be added to the Treasure of the Nation. Since therefore the Nation will be so much enriched, as the Vessels wherein Forreigners Fish and Trade from our Ports are in value; I say, that in case a Revenue for some time were established, to pay every Forreigner who would inhabit in England, and Fish upon the Coasts of England and Scotland from any of the Ports of England ⅓, or half the value of his Vessel, the Nation would be ⅔, or twice so much a Gainer, more than if any Native bought such forrein Vessel: and for my part, as poor as I am, I should most willingly Contribute to such a Tax.

Prop. 5. Theorem 5.

The free permission of Forreigners to make Re∣turns of the Fish caught upon the Coasts of Eng∣land and Scotland into the Ports of England, and to export them, may increase the Navigation of England.

1 Ax. 4. For business may be so much increased, as the principles are increased.

5 Pet. 4. But Trade to and from the Ports of England, is a principle to the Navigation of England.

9 Pet. 4. And the free admission of Forreigners to make Returns of Fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland into the Ports of England, &c. may increase the Trade of England to and from the Ports of England.

Therefore it may increase the Navigation of England.

Annot.

And this Navigation may be so much better, more conve∣niently and safely increased, as our Ports are better, more convenient and safe than those of Hamburg or the Ʋnited Netherlands. Which being so, I see no reason but that the Groenland Fishing, and the returns thereof, may be better, more conveniently and safely carried on from the Ports of England, than from Hamburg or the Ʋnited Netherlands, in case the Fishing and Returns were as free here as there.

As the free Fishery upon the Coasts of England and Scot∣land may increase the Navigation of England, so will the forrein vent of Fish, and so will the Returns, and Expor∣ting them again from the Ports of England, &c. But as the dearness of Navigation may strangle the forrein vent of our Fish, and fix the Trade and Navigation to other places; so unless the Returns be as free and cheap in England, as other places, whereby they may again finde vent in forrein Trade, though the outward Trade were as free and cheap as in o∣ther places, yet it would be impossible to increase the fishing trade beyond the consumption of the Returns in England, and the Moneys paid for them.

Prop. 6. Theorem 6.

The free admission of Forreigners to Inhabit in England, and to Fish and Trade in any Vessels to Forreign parts for Fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, may more secure the So∣vereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of Eng∣land.

2 Ax. 4. For things will be so much more secured, as the means of preserving them are increased.

10 Pet. 4. But Navigation is a mean of preserving the Sovereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England.

3 Prop. 4. And the free admission of Forreigners to inha∣bit, Fish and Trade, &c. may increase the Navigation of England.

Therefore it may more secure the Sovereignty of the Bri∣tish Seas to the Crown of England.

Coroll.

By the same reason, the free permission of For∣reigners to make Returns of Fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, and to Export them, may more secure the Sovereignty of the Bri∣tish Seas to the Crown of England.

10 Pet. 4. For Navigation is a mean of preserving the Sovereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England.

5 Prop. 4. And the free permission of Forreigners to make Returns of fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scot∣land into the Ports of England, and export them, may in∣crease the Navigation of England.

Annot. upon this Prop. and Coroll.

Navigation is a mean of preserving the Sovereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England; which being so, the Navigation which arises from the Fishing-trade, and the Re∣turns into the Ports of England, and exporting them again, &c. above all others, will more secure the Sovereignty of the British Seas. For in the Navigation which arises from the forrein Trade of our Manufactures, it may be, we employ not one Mariner to one thousand of those who are employed in working the Manufactures; and it may be, not one Ves∣sel to ten thousand: whereas even in the catching and cu∣ring

the Fish, we employ Vessels in Navigation; and all the Men are Mariners, or such as by it become Mariners. Be∣sides, the Bulkiness of the Fish in forrein Trade, employ so many more Vessels and Mariners, as they are more Bulky than other Goods: and the free Importing and Exporting of the Returns, creates a new Trade, and by consequence a new Navigation, to the further employment of Shipping and Mariners: so may the free returns of these, and expor∣ting them again, and so infinitely; whereby the Sovereignty of the British Seas may be infinitely more secured to the Crown of England.

Prop. 7. Theorem 7.

The free admission of Forreigners to Inhabit in England, and to Fish and Trade into forrein parts with Fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, and freely to make returns into the Ports of England, and Export them, will so much diminish the Navigation of those who may be E∣nemies to the Crown of England, as the Naviga∣tion of England shall be thereby increased.

2 Ax. 1. For in every thing, the Effects will be as the Causes are.

11 Pet. 4. But the increase of the Navigation of Eng∣land by Forreigners, will so much diminish the Naviga∣tion of others who may be Enemies to the Crown of Eng∣land.

3 Prop. 4. And the free admission of Forreigners to In∣habit in England, and to fish and trade into forrein parts, &c. will increase the Navigation of England.

5 Prop. 4. So will the free permission of Forreigners to make Returns into the Ports of England, and Export them, &c.

Therefore it will so much diminish the Navigation of those who may be Enemies to the Crown of England.

Annot.

It is said in a Treatise Licensed by the Authority of the Rump-Parliament, in the additional Evidences, p. 488. af∣ter Mr. Selden's Mare Clausum, that the Dutch in the Fishe∣ry upon the Coasts of England and Scotland employed 8400 Vessels, and 168000 Mariners and Fishers; which however it may seem incredible, yet if we consider the vast Fleets they yearly send into the Sound, to Muscovy, France, Spain, and Italy, whose Freight is in a great measure made up of Fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, be∣sides the Busses and Mariners employed in the Fishery; and the multitudes of Shipwrights, Carpenters, Smiths, and all sorts of people employed in making Ropes, Nets and Sails for the Fishery, and Trades depending upon it: without doubt the employment of people is very considerable, and the Navigation even incredible; it being the Basis of all the Trades the Dutch drive in the world, all their other Trades and Navigation being upon the Principles acquired from other places originally derived from the Fishing-Trade.

It is a Shame and Scandal then (besides the danger of it to the English Nation) that it was never in any well-weigh∣ed Counsel considered, from what Causes the Dutch in nu∣merous Fleets for four Moneths in the year follow the Her∣ring from Scotland to Yarmouth, whilest the wretched peo∣ple upon our Coast stand starving and looking on, and can∣not employ one Vessel or Mariner in it. Even in the Her∣ring-fishing before Yarmouth, we fish little above one fort∣night, and in that fishing the Dutch employ above threefold the Vessels we do, and above twofold the Mariners.

Consequences.

From whence the Dutch are able, without Pressing, to Man their Men of War against us, and at the same time to drive

incredible Trades abroad; when we by Pressing, and Land-Souldiers to boot, though we drive no Trade if we had not advantage by the goodness of our Men of War, finde it diffi∣cult enough to oppose them; whereas in case this Fishery, and the Trades and Navigation depending thereon, were driven by these Dutch-men, or any numbers of them, from the Ports of England, the Dutch would have so much less means to oppose the English, and dispute the Sovereignty of the British Seas, and the English would have so much more means to defend themselves, and bring the Dutch to Rea∣son.

Prop. 8. Theorem 8.

The free permission of the English to buy for∣rein Ships in all other Trades but the Newcastle, East-Indie, and Turkie Trades, will so much more preserve the Timber of England, as the Ships so bought are more.

11 Ax. 3. For things will be so much preserved, as less of them is expended.

12 Pet. 4. But so much less English Timber will be ex∣pended in building English Ships for all other Trades but the Newcastle, East-Indie, and Turkie Trades, by so many forrein Ships as the English buy in other Trades.

13 Pet. 4. And the free permission of the English to buy forrein Ships in all other Trades but the Newcastle, East-In∣die, and Turkie Trades, may cause so many more forrein Ships to be bought, as the permission is more free.

Therefore it may so much preserve the Timber of Eng∣land.

Annot.

And if it may preserve the Timber of England, I am sure it is more than time the English were permitted to buy

Ships in all other Trades but the Newcastle, East-Indie, and Turkie Trades: for by reason the Act of Navigation con∣fines the English to Trade and make Returns into the Ports of England only in English-built Ships; the English have not only not been able to build one ship for the Norway-trade for Timber, or the forrein Trade of white Herring or Cod caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, since the Rump-Parliament contrived the Act of Navigation, but to maintain the niggardly Trades we now drive; wherein upon the matter we consume all the Returns of our Manufactures, and the Product of our Plantations: The Timber of England is so wasted, that in any conveni∣ent distances for building Ships, there is not ¼ of Timber left standing, as was when the Rump-Parliament invented this Law. See more hereof, in the Annot. upon the 10, 11, 12 and 13 Propositions of The equal Danger of the Church, State, and Trade of England.

I have with as much Zeal endeavoured, yet without suc∣cess, to represent this to the Parliament, and the dire Conse∣quences of it, so far as I understood the Timber of England to be wasted upon the Coasts of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Es∣sex. And being last Easter-Eve was twelvemonth at Bristol, some Gentleman and I went to see the Oxford Frigat, then ready to be Lanched, and built by Captain Baily (a very Civil person, and I believe an excellent Builder.) After some discourse, I asked him if English Timber were plentiful in the West of England; and he told me, he with great diffi∣culty got Timber to build this Frigat; and that in building the Edgar-frigat, he bought the Timber twelve miles beyond Worcester, which is 50 miles from Bristol. I then asked him, what he thought of the State of the Nation, as it now stands, in reference to the Navigation of it, in English-built Ships, whenas the Ring with such difficulty built one Man of War: he told me, it was impossible to be continued, and that he had more reason than another to know it; for be∣sides his long being accqstiomed to build Ships, he had order from the King to survey his Western and Southern Forests, and to return an Account of it to the King himself. I

thanked him, and told him I was equally sorry with him for the condition of the Nation, yet was glad a man of his Knowledge and Experience had the same apprehensions as I had; though with all the Sollicitations I could use, I was so far from getting relief to the Nation herein, as that I could not get the Apprehensions he had herein, to be received by the Parliament.

Prop. 9. Theorem 9.

The free permission of the English to buy Ships in all other Trades but the Newcastle, East-Indie, and Turkie Trades, will more secure them, and al∣so the Sovereignty of the British Seas, to the Crown of England.

2 Ax. 4. For things will be so much more secured, as the means of preserving them are more.

14 Pet. 4. But the Turkie, East-Indie, Newcastle-Trades, and the Sovereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England, are more secured by means of ships built of English Timber.

8 Prop. 4. And the free permission of the English to buy Ships in all other Trades but the Newcastle, East-Indie, and Turkie Trades, will more preserve the Timber of England.

Therefore it will so much more secure the Newcastle, East-Indie, and Turkie Trade, and the Sovereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England.

Annot.

If we consider how much the Newcastle-trade increases, as does the East-Indie-trade; and how much greater the Dutch War-fleet is than the King's of England; And that, as the case stands, the Newcastle-trade is necessary, and the East-Indie-trade very beneficial to the Nation; it may be a question if the growth of these Trades, and the necessities of increasing the Navy Royal, will not require greater

quantities of Timber than for the future can be found in convenient distances in England; however, to preserve these, it is very reasonable the English be permitted to buy Ships in all their other Trades.

Prop. 10. Theorem 10.

The free permission of the English to buy Ships in all their other Trades but the Turkie, East-Indie, and Newcastle-Trades, may increase the Navigation of England.

3 Ax. 4. For things may be so much increased, as the means are increased.

22 Pet. 1. But Ships are means in Navigation.

15 Pet. 4. And the free permission of the English to buy Ships in all other Trades but the Newcastle-trade, &c. may increase the ships of England.

Therefore it may increase the Navigation of England.

Annot.

So that this permission, as it will more secure the Sove∣reignty of the British Seas, the Newcastle, East-Indie, and Turkie Trades, so it may increase the Navigation of Eng∣land in our Trades to and from our forrein Plantations, the Trades to Hamburg, into the Sound, Muscovy, France and Spain, but especially to Norway for Timber, Pitch and Tar; in which Trade, as we never built one ship since the Act of Navigation, nor, as the case stands, can ever hope to do: so in time of War between the Dutch and French, the New∣castle-ships are so employed in other Trades, as the home-vent of Coal is not only not throughly supplied, but our Norway-Merchants cannot hire enough to furnish us as at other times, especially in our Trades to Dromen Northward of Bergen; as Mr. Hammond a Norway-Merchant, who af∣firms, that in this Trade he vends more of our English Ma∣nufactures,

than all our Norway Merchants do in all their other Trades to Norway, has often complained to me. And though the King has been pleased to permit our Norway Merchants to buy about 50 Flyboats, yet these, with the ad∣dition of the Dutch Prizes taken in the late War, will not neer supply the defect. And I say moreover, in case the English be not permitted to buy Ships in this Trade, and in our Trades to our Plantations, Hamburg, Muscovy, to France, Spain, Guiny, and into the Sound, and other places, we shall endanger the loss of these Trades, as well as the Newcastle, East-Indie, and Turkie Trades, and the Sovereignty of the British Seas: And that the Title of the Act of Navigation is a contradiction, in affirming it to be for Increase and En∣couragement of Navigation and Mariners, yet confining them both to English-built Ships, and sailed by ¾ English.

Prop. 11. Theorem 11.

The free permission of the English to buy Ships in all other Trades but the Newcastle, East-Indie, and Turkie Trades, may cheaper increase the Navi∣gation of England.

4 Ax. 4. For things may be so much cheaper increased, as the means are cheaper.

22 Pet. 1. But Ships are means in Navigation.

16 Pet. 4. And the free permission of the English to buy ships in all other Trades but the Newcastle, East-Indie, and Turkie Trades, may cheaper increase ships in England.

Therefore it may cheaper increase theNavigation of England.

Annot.

May cheaper increase Ships in England. I could rarely discourse this point; but it would still be objected against me, that though forrein ships be cheaper than English-built, yet English ships are more strong and durable: and this con∣tended with such heat, as would not admit of a compari∣son

of the benefits which might accrue by the strength and durableness of ours, and the cheapness and convenience of forrein ships. I confess, for ought I know, the strength and durableness of English-built ships may be a reason to have the King's Men of War, and ships for the Newcastle, East-Indie, and Turkie Trades, built of English Timber, so long as the Timber of England can afford it. But in our other Trades, though we had Timber sufficient, and it were my opinion it were better to carry on these Trades in English built ships; yet I say, no man less conversant in any business, understands so well, as a man more conversant in it, by what means he can best carry on his business; and therefore if the English Mer∣chant findes he can better carry on his business in English-built ships, no question but he will prefer them before forein. But if the English Merchant be confined to English built ships in his trades, and can get none; or if they be so dear, or incon∣venient (for we do not understand how to build convenient ships for all Trades) as not to finde profit; not only the Mariners lose their employment, but, it may be, the employ∣ment of a thousand other people, whose Labours depend upon that Trade, will be hereby lost.

Corollary.

By the same reason, the free permission of For∣reigners to import Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp and Flax into England, may cheaper increase the Manufa∣ctures of Ropes, Nets and Sails in England.

17 Pet. 4. For Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp and Flax, are Prin∣cipal means in the Manufactures of Ropes, Nets and Sails.

18 Pet. 4. And the free permission of Forreigners to im∣port Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp and Flax, may so much increase these cheaper in England, as the Importation is more free.

Annot.

After the establishing Religion and Justice, no greater happiness attends any Nation, than the constant imployment

of people: And I say, both Religion and Justice may much better be propagated upon people bred up in honest Profes∣sions, than upon those who subsist by Pilfering, Cheating, Stealing, Canting, and Begging; and therefore all those Laws, or other means, which take away the employment of people in honest Professions, do not onely make them mise∣rable, and a burthen to the Nation, but hinder the growth of Religion and Justice. And if the Importation of Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp and Flax were permitted to be as freely im∣ported into England, as Hamburg or the Ʋnited Netherlands, I see no reason but many thousands of poor people in the Suburbs of London, and in all the Towns upon the Eastern Ports of England, might better and cheaper be employed in making Ropes, Nets and Sails, than in Hamburg or the Ʋnited Netherlands, by how much the Inhabitants may cheaper subsist, and be maintained, than those in Hamburg or the Ʋnited Netherlands.

Before the Act of Navigation, the English by the 1 Eliz. 13. might import Pitch and Tar in any Vessels; and before the year 1640, the English by reason of the goodness of their Trade into the Sound, returned such quantities of Ruff Hemp and Flax, that the poor people upon the Eastern Coast of England did make sufficient Ropes, Nets and Sails for the Fishery and Navigation of it. And after the Eng∣lish had, for reasons before-said in the former Treatises and this Preface, almost lost the Trade into the Sound; yet be∣fore the Act of Navigation, having free liberty to import Pitch and Tar, and the Dutch importing Ruff Hemp and Flax upon reasonable terms; this employment continued, to the incredible support of the poor Inhabitants in the Towns upon the Coast: But the Act of Navigation prohi∣biting the English to import Pitch and Tar, unless in English-built ships, and the English not being able to build one ship for the Trade of them, they were reduced to have it upon such terms as the Norwegians pleased to impose upon them. And though Oliver permitted the Norway Traders to import Timber in any Vessels, notwithstanding the Act of Navigation; yet the Law still was in force against Im∣portation

of Pitch and Tar; and theDutch not being permit∣ted to import Ruff Hemp & Flax, and the English Trade into the Sound every day decaying, few returns from Riga, Revel, Narve, or Quinborough, of Ruff Hemp and Flax, was made into England, but in English Vessels outward fraught with Ballast, and bought with ready Money; whereby Ruff Hemp and Flax became so dear, that the poor English lost the employment. In the Town of Yarmouth, before the Act of Navigation, the Inhabitants made yearly 2800 Tun of Cordage, besides Nets and Sails: now, for the Reasons afore∣said, they make not ten, and neither Nets or Sails; for the Dutch importing Ruff Hemp and Flax, and Pitch and Tar ⅓ cheaper, can work these so cheap, as the English cannot: and then the Act of Navigation permits the English to buy them, and the Dutch to import them; but sure this is not made either for employment of our people, or for increase of Religion or Justice in England.

Prop. 12. Theorem 12.

The free permission of Forreignes to import Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp and Flax, will so much more preserve the Treasure of the Nation, as the Importation is more free.

11 Ax. 3. For things will be so much more preserved, as less is expended of them.

19 Pet. 4. But so much less of the Treasure of the Na∣tion will be expended in buying Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp and Flax, as they are cheaper.

18 Pet. 4. And the free permission of Forreigners to im∣port Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp and Flax, will make them so much cheaper, as the Importation is more free.

Therefore it will so much preserve the Treasure of the Nation.

Annot.

This permission will not only preserve so much of the Treasure of the Nation, by how much Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp and Flax are cheaper sold; but by how much the Manufactures of Ropes, Nets and Sails made of them, arise in value above their Principles. Therefore, the not permit∣ting this Importation, both ways Exhausts the Treasure of the Nation, and that to such a degree, that I remember before the Act of Navigation, I was a part-Builder in a Vessel for the Newcastle-trade; and about four years after, the same Builder and Owners (when the poor people upon the Coast had lost their employment in making Cordage and Sails) paid above ⅓ more in proportion for the fitting out this Ves∣sel, than we did for the former.

Prop. 13. Theorem 13.

The free permission of Forreigners to import Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp and Flax, and Timber into England, may cheaper increase the building and fitting up of Ships in England.

4 Ax. 4. For business may be so much cheaper increased, as the means are cheaper increased.

20 Pet. 4. But Ropes, Sails, and Timber are means in building and fitting up of Ships.

Coroll. Prop. 11. And the free permission of Forreigners to import Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp and Flax into England, may cheaper increase the Manufactures of Ropes and Sails in England.

21 Pet. 4. And so this permission may cheaper increase Timber in England.

Therefore it may cheaper increase the building of Ships in England.

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.

Consequences.

From hence it is, that the English are not able so to build one Buss or Vessel for the Fishery and forrein Trade of White Herring caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, as to turn to profit; or for the Groenland Fishery and for∣rein Trade of it, or for the Norway Trade: But Trading in Newcastle-ships to Norway, and the ships being dear and In∣convenient

for that Trade, enables the Norwegians to impose like Rates upon us for Pitch, Tar, and Timber, as the English can import these in those dearer and more inconve∣nient Ships they are restrained to.

The King's Duties, and employment of English Mari∣ners, are opposed to this free Importation of Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp, Flax, and Timber. For the Kings Duties, upon an enquiry, about four years since, I found the King's Duties for Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp and Flax imported, did amount to about 1600 l. per Annum: and if the payment of Searchers and other Officers of the Custom-house were deducted, perhaps not 1000 l. per Annum came clear to the King: So that if the whole Duties hereof were taken a∣way, the Revenue of the Crown would not be hereby much diminished. It is true, the King's Duties for Timber im∣ported since the burning the City of London, are considera∣ble; yet not so to the King, for it is Farmed out, and the Farm to the King is (as I am informed) 6000 l. per An∣num; whereas, if the inward Freight of these were as cheap as into Holland or Hamburg, besides the employment of our people, the King's Duties, by the greatness of the Trade, might be so much more, as the Trade is greater; and the King save more, by the cheapness of Timber, in buil∣ding and repairing his Men of War and Palaces, than now his Revenue for Timber amounts to.

In the employment of our Mariners to import Ruff Hemp and Flax, two Considerations arise. First, The num∣ber of Ships and Mariners employed. Secondly, The Em∣ployment. The number of ships employed (so well as I can learn) are about nine, whereof two are fraught out∣ward with Cony-skins and Woollen Manufactures; the other seven take Bills of Exchange from Hamburg, and have no outward Lading but Ballast: so that the number of Ships being nine, allowing thirteen Men to every ship, and the Voyage to Dantzick, Queenborough, Riga, Revel, and Narve to be four Moneths, the whole amounts to 117 Mariners, who being employed but ⅓ of the year, the constant employ∣ment of 39 Mariners is equivalent to it. But if we con∣sider

the employment, the outward Voyage of seven of these ships is lost time to the Mariners, and loss to the Nation in the Ware and Tare of the Ships for want of a Freight, and so much more as the Hemp and Flax is bought with ready Money, for want of Goods to exchange for them. So I leave it to any to judge, whether the employment of 39 Ma∣riners, whereof above 30 are not only in half of their employ∣ment idly employed, but to the loss and impoverishing the Nation, be comparable to the constant employment of (it may be) above 100000 people, by the free importation of Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp, Flax and Timber, in building ships, and in the Manufactures of Ropes, Nets and Sails.

Coroll.

By the same reason, the free permission of For∣reigners to import Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp, Flax, and Timber, may cheaper increase the Navigation of England.

22 Pet. 1. For Shipping is a mean to increase Navigation.

13 Prop. 4. And the free permission of Forreigners to import Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp and Flax, and Timber, may cheaper increase Shipping in England.

Annot.

It is said, the Dutch build Busses and Vessels for the Nor∣way Trade, of little other Timber but Fir; and that in the Fishery these Busses will weather a Storm, when the Dutch Men of War cannot abide it. And if the Importation of Ruff Hemp and Flax, Pitch, Tar and Timber were as free in England as the Ʋnited Netherlands, we might have the convenience of building and fitting up Busses and Vessels for the Fishery and Norway-Trade as cheap as the Dutch, and also have the convenience of our Ports, better, more safe and convenient than theirs for the Fishery and Norway-Trade to boot; besides the benefit of fresh Water, and drying our

Nets in the Fishery; which the King, in case it were esta∣blished from our Ports, might deny to them; and also can cheaper freight Vessels for the Fishery and Norway Trade, than can be from Hamburg or any Port in the Ʋnited Nether∣lands; whereas by restraining and charging the Importa∣tion of Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp, Flax, and Timber, we do not only lose all these benefits, but establish them to the Dutch and Norwegians, who will never thank us for it.

Prop. 14. Theorem 14.

The free permission of Forreigners to import Pitch, Tar, Ruff Hemp, Flax, and Timber, may more and cheaper secure the Sovereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England.

5 Ax. 4. For things will be so much more and cheaper secured, as the means of preserving them are cheaper in∣creased.

4 Pet. 4. But Navigation is a mean of preserving the So∣vereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England.

Coroll. And the free permission of Forreigners to import Pitch, Tar, &c. may cheaper increase the Navigation of Eng∣land.

Therefore it may more and cheaper secure the Sovereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England.

Annot.

This permission will not only more and cheaper secure the Sovereignty of the British Seas, by how much more the King may draw out so many more Mariners to man his Fleet, as Navigation shall be hereby cheaper increased; but it will also so much more secure the Sovereignty of the Bri∣tish Seas, the Newcastle, East-Indie, and Turkie Trade, by how much the plenty and cheapness of forrein Timber may supply the building and repairing Houses, Ships, and

Inclosures, &c. in England, whereby our English Timber will be so much preserved, which otherwise would be ex∣pended in them.

Prop. 15. Theorem 15.

The free permission of Forreigners to Import and Export all sorts of forrein Commodities into the Ports of England, may cheaper increase Navi∣gation to and from the Ports of England.

1 Ax. 4. For business may be so much increased, as the Principles are increased.

1 Pet. 4. But the forrein Trade of our Manufactures, is a principle of Navigation to and from the Ports of Eng∣land.

23 Prop. 3. And the free permission of Forreigners to Import and Export all sorts of forrein Commodities, may cheaper increase the forrein Trade of our Manufactures.

Therefore it may increase Navigation to and from the •…•…orts of England.

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.

Coroll.

By the same reason, the free permission of For∣reigners to make Returns of Goods exported into the Ports of England, and to export them, may increase Navigation to and from the Ports of Eng∣land.

1 Pet. 4. For Trade to and from the Ports of England, is a principle of Navigation to and from the Ports of England.

2 Pet. 4. And the free permission of Forreigners to make Returns of Goods exported into the Ports of England, and export them, may increase Trade to and from the Ports of England.

Annot.

This permission will increase Navigation to and from the Ports of England; so will the Returns of these, and expor∣ting them again, and so infinitely. And in all these Trades and Navigations, the forrein Trades of our Manufactures and Growths, and Fish caught upon our Coasts, will receive this benefit, that if any part of the World wants any of these Goods, and but in a little measure stand in need of our Goods, these Goods of ours may finde forrein vent, which otherwise would not of themselves pay the charge of the Voyage. This permission also would create a constant Trade and Navigation to and from the Ports of England, whereby the people upon the Coast, and from all parts of England, would finde a constant employment, & infinite other benefits would accrue hereby to the Country and Lands of England, in Victualling Ships, &c. which can neither be foreseen or enumerated.

This King's Duties, and the employment of English Ships and Mariners, are usually opposed to this Permission. But the Opposition is without consideration of the nature of Trade, the King's Revenue, or Navigation: For Trade be∣ing a principle to the King's Revenue, and Navigation which depends upon it; both the King's Revenue and Navigation may be infinitely increased, as the forrein Trades of the Nation, or the forrein Trade of other Commodities driven from the Ports of England, are increased. But if men begin at the Consequences, viz. the King's Revenue and Navigation, and Tax Trade higher than it can bear; or restrain it only to such Ships, so that Trade hereby becomes lost, so does the King's Revenue, and the Navigation.

But because of the Importance of it, we will therefore more intently compare the Loss the King shall receive by this Permission, and what will be the damage of our English Navigation and Mariners; and if any be to either, whether it may not be otherways over-ballanced.

Herein I say, that this permission of Forreigners to inhabit

and Fish from the Ports of England, and to vend their white Herring in forrein Trade, and to import and export all sorts of forrein Commodities, and make Returns into the Ports of England, will not diminish the Kings Revenue, though they paid no Duties; nor the employment of English Ships and Mariners, for we employ no Shipping or Mariners in it, nor hath the King any Revenue thereby: whereas by it the King's Revenue would be hereby so much increased, as the consumption of Beer, Ale, and all other Exciseable Commodities are more; and our English Mariners, in all outward and inward Voyages, may finde employment. I do not believe (unless it be for French Wines imported and consumed in England) the King's Duties imported and exported out of Harwich-Haven (from whence all the Trade the Dutch drive in the East and North-East, might be better driven, than from all the Ports of the Ʋnited Netherlands) amount to 300 l. per Annum. Nor do we employ one Vessel or Mariner to any part of the World from thence, upon the forrein Trade of Goods imported: Even the Town of Tarmouth (which we so much boast of) is so far from carrying on any Trade upon this account, that, I am told, they cannot supply any part of the World with a piece of Norwich-stuff, though the Navigation between Nor∣wich and them be very commodious. Is it not a shame then, that such prodigious Trades and Navigations upon this account should from the other side of the Water be dri∣ven from worse and more incommodious Harbours, whilest we employ not one Vessel or Mariner in any of them? And what is affirmed of Yarmouth and Harwich, I believe, is as true of all the other Ports of England, except London. As Harwich is of all others the most opportune and excellent Harbour for the East and North-East parts of Europe; so is Falmouth for the South, South-East, West and South-West parts of the World. I cannot tell what the King's Duties for Goods imported there yearly arise to; nor whether within the Harbour there be any good Towns for reception of Mer∣chants, and Storehouses for Goods: But I think I may safe∣ly affirm, that in all Christendom is not so healthful and

delicate a place for Warehouses and reception of Merchants as Ipswich is: the Town so clean, though an even Level, that after the greatest Rains in the depth of Winter, a man in Slippers may walk the Town over without wetting his Feet: And though Ships of 200 Tun burthen may come up to the Key, yet every Street is watered with the purest and sweetest Water of any place I ever came in. To these may be added, that standing in the Bosome of the most Fertile County of Suffolk, which conjoyns with the no less Fertile County of Essex, it is, or, I am sure might be supplied with all sorts of Provisions by Land equal to any other. And if these two Ports were made free for Importation and Exportation of Goods by all Nations, and the same Revenue continued to the King; and that it were free for all people to inhabit in England, and to Fish, and Trade with Fish into forrein parts, and make Returns into England; I should be content the rest of the Ports of the Nation should enjoy their Priviledges so long as they pleased. The King of Sweden made Gottenburgh free but for seven years, which has made it the most flourishing Town for Trade in the North-East: So did the Duke of Florence Legorne, whereby it excels all other Ports in the Mediterranean; yet neither of these any ways comparable in any respect to Falmouth or Ipswich. But if this cannot be had, I must submit; yet I hope it will not be urged, it will be to the detriment of the King's Revenue, or hinder the English Navigation, or employment of our Mariners.

Another Objection made against the free permission of Forreigners to import Goods, is, that the greatest Returns which the Dutch make from Dantzick, is in Corn; whereby they supply their own necessities; which in case it were im∣ported into England, would make a glut here, and bring down the prices of our Lands. To this I answer, First, That the Dutch do not onely hereby supply themselves plen∣tifully, so as the prices of Corn are constant and reasonable, and so as whatever happens in other places, they never fear a Famine; but also upon all occasions supply other places with Corn, so as a Famine or scarcity of Corn becomes their en∣riching:

whereas we are never at any certainty in the prices of our Corn; but if a plentiful year happens, whereby Nature has disburthened her self of more than she can renew the future year, the Tenants are necessitated to vend it abroad at low prices, to pay their Rent; and when the dear year succeeds, it may be we pay double for the same Corn again. And I say also, it is Plenty in all things which makes Cheap∣ness; and therefore wherever Corn is plentiful, in propor∣tion to the people or Market, it will be cheaper. But in case our Towns in the Mediterrane parts of England were re∣plenished with all sorts of Artificers, and the Ports of Eng∣land abounded with the Dutch Navigation, the prices of Corn would bear a proportion to the number of Artificers and Mariners, and the means which by their Crafts and Traffick they should be enabled to buy Corn withal: We then should not need to fear the Importation of Corn or Irish Cattle. And I believe it would be a happiness equal to any Temporal, both to the Land-lord and Tenant, to have the prices of Corn constant and reasonable; and that such stores were preserved in all great and Navigable places, so as to prevent a Famine in England, and to supply other places which labour under it. Queen Elizabeth in the first Par∣liament of her Reign, permitted the English in any Vessels to import Corn, paying ordinary and but reasonable Du∣ties; which Law stands yet in force.

Corollary. 2.

By the same reason, the free permission of the English in English-built Ships to export Newcastle-Coals, and make Returns into the Ports of England, may increase the Navigation of Eng∣land.

22 Pet. 4. For the forrein Trade of Newcastle-Coal by the English, is a principle to the Navigation of England.

23 Pet. 4. And the free permission of the English in Eng∣lish-built

Ships to export Newcastle-Coals, and make returns into the Ports of England, may increase the forrein Trade of it.

Annot.

By free permission, here, I intend such Duties only, as that Newcastle Coal may, with regard to the goodness of it, be cheaper vended in forrein parts, than Scotch-Coal from the Ports of Scotland; for whilst the Duties of exporting Newcastle-Coal continue so high, Forreigners paying above 16 s. per Chauldron, and the English above 8 s. all Nations, unless it be in working Iron Manufactures, generally take in lading of Coals from Scotland. We glory much, that the Newcastle-Trade, in our home-vent of Coals, above all other Trades, employs our Shipping and Mariners; yet, as has been said, this Employment is to the loss of the Nation, by how much Pitch, Tar, Cordage and Sails are consumed in it: whereas the forrein Trade of it, if free to the English, for ought I know, might employ more Shipping and Mari∣ners, and both the outward vent and the Returns may be profitable to the Nation. I am sure the Coals under ground are no benefit to the Nation; nor need we fear, in case the collieries were drained, ever to want Coals to supply our selves or Forreigners. It is true, Forreigners in France, Flanders, Holland, and other places, by this permission might work Iron Manufactures cheaper, by how much cheaper the English should import Newcastle-Coal. But to this I say, that all Nations (except the English, in consuming Wines im∣ported) designe some benefit by Goods bought and sold; and therefore in Traffick, men compare the benefits in buy∣ing and selling; and it is great Wisdome in any Nation, so to establish Trade and Commerce, that the Nations Traf∣fick be improved: and therefore, in case the vending our Coals in forrein Trade, and making Returns, besides the em∣ployment of our Shipping and Mariners, be more beneficial to this Nation, than cheaper working Iron Manufactures be prejudicial to it, this Exportation is to be prefer'd.

Another Objection against this permission is, The King's Re∣venue will be hereby lessened, by how much the Duties are less. To this I answer, First, That the King's Revenue upon Trade, is a Consequence to Trade; and therefore, if the King's Revenue upon Trade be higher than it can bear, the Trade will be lost, and then necessarily will be the King's Revenue: and that it is the height of the Duties upon Coals exported, which establishes so great a Trade of Coals in Scotland, and makes our forrein vent so inconsiderable. Secondly, This Re∣venue upon Newcastle-Coals, in the forrein vent of it, is Far∣med; so that though the Duties be very high, yet it may be the King's Revenue is not considerable. Whereas, Thirdly, in case the forrein Duties were reasonable, the greatness of the Trade might much more increase the King's Revenue than as it stands, whenas the greatness of the Duties causes so small a Trade.

To sum up this Discourse, and leave the Progress of so ex∣cellent a designe to others, whose insight and abilities are better able to improve the Trade and Navigation of the Na∣tion: I say, that in case we should reserve the East Indie, the Turkie Trades, and the Trades to our Plantations, as also the home-vent and forrein Trade of Newcastle-coals, to the Natives of England, and again establish the Trade and Navigation to Ireland, as it was before the Act against Im∣portation of Irish Cattle, and permit all Nations to inhabit and Fish from the Ports of England, and import and export freely French Wines, Brandies and Salt from France, and Tim∣ber, Pitch and Tar from Norway, and Ruff Hemp and Flax from the Ports within the Sound; I know not of any Trades or Navigation we should be in danger to lose, so as not to employ our Shipping and Mariners, but those to France, Muscovy, and into the Sound. For the Trade and Navigation to Muscovy and into the Sound, by English ships and Mari∣ners only, we have examined it in the Annot. upon the 13th Prop. the Coroll. and 14th Prop. of this Treatise, and finde it not only prejudicial to the Trade and Navigation of the Nation, but dangerous to the conserving the Sovereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England. In the French

Trade for Wines and Brandies I observe, that this Trade a∣bove all others impoverishes the Nation, not only as we de∣bauch and impoverish our selves in drinking all the Wines, good or bad, imported; but also in the Ware and Tare of the Vessels wherein we import them; and the outward freight is with little else than Ballast, and the Returns as well as out∣ward Voyage in the most perillous seasons of Navigation of all others, wherein we lose more Shipping and Mariners than in all our other Trades & Navigation besides. Whereas in case we should increase a forrein Trade of Newcastle-coals, and restore the Trade we had to Ireland; both these Trades would be profitable to the Nation in the outward freight, so might the Returns; the Trades and Navigation might be constant, and in the seasonable Times of Navigation: and for ought I know, we might constantly employ double the Sea-men and Mariners in these Trades, to the Mariners and Navigation we employ for French Wines and Brandies in the Moneths of October, November, and December. For the Importation of Salt, I say, it may be one Vessel of Salt may with that Commodity supply a hundred Vessels for the Fishing Trade, &c. And in case Forreigners import Salt cheaper than the English, all these hundred Vessels will have the benefit of it. And whether we ought to prefer the Eng∣lish Navigation for one Vessel of Salt, or the Fishery of a hundred Vessels, and the Navigation which depends upon it, I leave to any one to judge. Besides, the cheap Importa∣tion of Salt, has not onely an Influence upon the forrein Trade of it, but upon all the Vessels which take in Provisions of Salt-Beef and Pork, &c.

Prop. 17. Theorem 17.

The free permission of the English in English-built ships to export Newcastle-Coals, and make Returns into the Ports of England, may more se∣cure the Sovereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England.

2 Ax. 4. For things will be so much more secured, as the means of preserving them are increased.

4 Pet. 4. But the Navigation of England, is a mean of preserving the Sovereignty of the Brittish Seas to the Crown of England.

2 Coroll. And the free permission of the English in Eng∣lish-built ships to export Newcastle-coals, and make Returns into the Ports of England, may increase the Navigation of England.

Therefore it may so much more secure the Sovereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England.

Annot.

This permission will not only secure the Sovereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England, by how many more Mariners are employed in it, whereby the King upon all oc∣casions may have them to help to man his Fleet; but even Colliers ships make very good Men of War, as the Nation found in all the late Wars with the Dutch. But if the in∣crease of Mariners and English ships secure the Sovereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England, then by the Rule of Contraries, the loss of English Shipping and Mari∣ners in Trading for French Wines by English, and in Eng∣lish-built ships in the dangerous seasons of Navigation, so much more endangers the Sovereignty of the British Seas to the Crown of England, by how many more Mariners and Ships we lose in so fruitless and unnecessary a Navigation.