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.

EPILOGUE.

THus have I, so well as I can, endeavoured to describe the benefits which may arise to my native Country, from those Natural Endowments wherewith God has adorn••d it above any other. But as the Law against Naturalization re∣strains the Improvement of our Native Commodities only to English, whereby infinite benefits might accrue to the Nation; and the priviledges of Corporations restrains the improvement of very few, yet veryer poor Freemen; where∣by both ways the Navigation, as well as the Forein and Do∣mestick Trade of the Nation is hindred: So the Act of Na∣vigation restraining the forrein vent of our Commodities, and making Returns into the Ports of England, not only by the scarcity and dearness of Shipping endangers the Trade and Navigation of the Nation, but prohibiting upon terms of Confiscation of Ships, Goods, Guns, Tackle, Ammuni∣tion and Apparel, all Nations to import Goods into any of the Ports of England, unless by the Natives, and Ships of the place; not only the export of French Wines, Salt, Brandies and other Commodities, with the growths and Manufactures of the Nation becomes impossible, to the infinite hindrance of the forrein Trade of them; but also by reason of the dearness and scarcity of Pitch, Tar, Timber, Ruff Hemp and Flax, and all sorts of Dying stuff, the Domestick working of our Manufactures, as well as the forrein Trade and Naviga∣tion which depends thereon, is forely damnified. Add hereto the intolerable injuries all the Natives of England suffer (un∣less in the Turkie and East-Indie-Companies) by the Masters of all ships, in almost all the Trades they now drive in the World; nor is it possible to be remedied, as the case stands: for if the Nation be not content herewith, they must have no forrein Trade at all.

Whereas it hath been always the practice of the Wisest Princes and States, by all just means to enlarge the Trades and Navigation of their Countries; and where Nature hath not granted them convenient Ports, by Art to supply Natures

defects. With what wonder is the Mole of Genoua foun∣ded for reception of Shipping, whereby to enlarge Trade to and from it! The Pen of Great Yarmouth is a rarity equal to any the Nation can boast of; by the benefit whereof, this Town (after London and Bristol) excels all others of England in Trade and Navigation. Our King in his Prince∣ly Wisdome, at great expence, endeavours to finish the Mole at Tangier, thereby reasonably hoping that that place may become famous for Trade, and a secure Harbour for his Men of War and the Merchants of England upon all occasions, both in Peace, but more in time of War. With a diligence and industry equal to his power, the French King endeavours to make the Port of Havre de Grace more deep and commodious for Shipping, thereby to advance the Trade and Navigation of France, especially of Normandy and Britain. Even the Act of Navigation with reason pro∣hibits the Trade of our Plantations to Forreigners, because thereby, though it would enrich them by how much more their Trade would become greater, yet this would be so much to the loss of the Nation: and permits a free Trade to Tangier, because it may enrich the place, and make it more frequented. I am sure the reason is the same by ma∣king the Ports of England free, which have no need of the Mole of Genoua or Tangier; nor is Trade to and from them interrupted by any Stoad, or Gluckstadt; the World by Trading to them, need not fear to encounter the Rocks before Gottenburg, or the Sands before Zealand, or the Mouth of the Maze. No danger of stranding ships in our Ports, as at Amsterdam, Harlem, Enchuysen, and other Ports within the Zuyder-Sea. By a benignity peculiar to our Country, no where else to be found in the same Cli∣mate, but in Ireland, so gentle a Temper thaws the sharp Frosts, so as our Ports are always open, and free for any Trade, especially to the Western, Southern, and South-East, and South-West parts of the World; whereas those upon our opposite Shores are commonly frozen three or four Moneths in the year:

And though all the Shipping and Goods thus imported

by Forreigners, were no longer ours than the Merchants and Owners pleased; yet by reason of the Intercourse and Commerce, the Trade would so much more fix, as the Commerce is more free: the World would finde the bene∣fit of Traffick, from the Excellency, Convenience, and Openness of our Ports; which in time may invite them to establish their Riches and Trade in our Country, and leave them to their Posterities with us in England. In the mean time, the Country-Farn or would finde vent of his Commodities in V••ctualling the Vssels, and poor peo∣ple employment in mending the Ships and Rigging, and in lading and unlading Goods; and many thousands of de∣solate Houses upon the Coast would let for good Rents, which now decay, and fall down for want of Inhabitants.

By this free Importation of Goods into the Ports of Eng∣land, we may infinitely improve the benefits which will ac∣cure to a'l sorts of Artificers by the plenty and cheapness of all things they need, and to the forrein Trades of our Wool∣len and other Manufactures, by their Returns into the Ports of England: the multitudes of Shipping and Traders, will excite them to seek employment for their Shipping in all sorts of Commodities we can supply them with, and they the World. This Freedom and Intercourse in our Ports would establish an Interest with all those Nations which hold Trade and Traffick with us, so as their Interest would be∣come interwoven with ours in all discords and Wars between us and other Nations. And I am not affraid to say, that the City of London would equally, if not more than any o∣ther place, enjoy benefit by this freedom of Trade and Na∣vigation; for it is the Trade London now enjoys above a∣ny other place in England, which makes it so eminent above all other places of England; which might be so much more increased, as the Nation by this Freedom may hold a greater Commerce with it. Whereas, in case we continue still to Tax and restrain our forrein Trades, of all places London will suffer most: For the Country of England may subsist, though poorly, without a forrein Trade, or Trade with London: But in case the Nation loses the forrein Trade of

our Woollen and other Manufactures, and the Country becomes so poor as they cannot hold Commerce with London, London cannot subsist.

But though all Humane Wisdome is Lame and imper∣fect, and, without a Blessing by God's Providence upon it, cannot reasonably hope to attain the designed end; yet no man can reasonably hope for God's Blessing upon business, where he designes by forceable means, more than the Nature of it, to attain his Ends. We have said the height of Duties upon Goods imported into England, was the Cause the Dutch are become so powerful in Trade and Navigation above us; and that it was the Imposition of 16 per Cent. upon Goods imported, which lost the Trade of Genoua to Legorne; and at this time we enjoy most infinite advantages above the Dutch, as well in our Country as Coast. And to these may be added the present Calamities the Dutch now labour under, by the terrible Inundation of Waters, which they can never securely prevent for the future. But as the Dutch in their long Wars with the Spaniards built a Fort called Lillo upon the Scheld, to interrupt the Traffick which many parts of the world held with Antwerp, thereby to gain that Trade to themselves: So the Act of Navigation, Free∣dom of Corporations, and the Law against Naturalization; are Lillo's upon all the Ports of England, yet was there no War between the Ports and Nation to cause them; and this not to gain a Trade to the Ports or Nation, but to establish it in other places. And though the forrein Trade of our Ma∣nufactures, and the Fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, and the Navigation depending thereon, be the Soul of the well-being and safety of the Nation; yet in it is not so much as a Council of Trade, or any established Power, to Govern or Regulate it.

THE END.