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.

So long as this pre-emption is continued, the best the Na∣tion can hope for, is, that the Inhabitants of the Nation cannot expect any further Employment, than the abilities of these Freemen can arise to. So that it will be impossible to enlarge our Forrein Trades of Woollen and other Manu∣factures, beyond their abilities; or to conserve the Forrein Trades we now enjoy of them, if by War or other accident, their abilities become less. And as the Retailers in Corpo∣rations neither Labour, nor take care in labouring for the production of our Woollen and other Manufactures, but only how to impose upon the labourer and those they sell to: So these pre-emption-men, neither labour, take care in La∣bouring, or to bring the Manufactures of England to their Corporations; yet not only the Artificer must be at their mercy in buying, but all the world in selling. No question then but these men will thrive, though the Nation and all the world suffer. Yet I would be glad to be instructed in any one particular, what need the Nation or World hath of any one of these men: I cannot tell for France, but am confident not one of this kinde of men can be found in the Ʋnited Netherlands.

In truth I have often admired, the German Empire and Kingdom of Poland should give protection to Hamburg and Dantzick; for no member of the Empire or Kingdom is permitted to be supplied with Forrein Commodities, or to vend the Commodities of Germany or Poland in either place, but as they buy of, or sell to the Burgers of them; which are Impositions as injurious as can be imposed upon a Conquered Nation. And though Hamburg be otherwise a great Trading place to many places of the world by Navi∣gation, and very considerable in the Groenland-fishing; yet the Town of Dantzick hath little or no Trade, but their pre-emption of all sorts of Forrein Commodities, where∣with the Dutch and other Nations supply them, and they Poland; and by pre-emption of all the Commodities of

Poland, which these Burgers sell again to the Dutch and o∣ther Nations.

For my part, as I esteem the City of London to be a great ornament to the Nation, and equally with any man desire the Grandeur and Prosperity of it, so I wish the Grandeur and Prosperity of it were otherwise founded, than by pre-emption of the Commodities of the Nation, and such o∣ther means, whereby the Nation necessarily becomes im∣poverished; which must of necessity be more dangerous to the City, than Country: For the Country may subsist, though poorly, without a Forrein Trade, or a Trade with the City. But if the City loses the Forrein Trade of our Commodities, and if the Country by its poverty cannot en∣tertain a Commerce with the City, the City cannot subsist at all. Whereas, if by reason of the cheapness and freedom of vending our Commodities the Country be enriched, though this pre-emption were taken away, the City being the Head of a Noble Nation, and having the residence of the King's Court, and all the Supream Courts of Judicature, and the best Navigable River of Christendom, or perhaps of the World, to supply it with Forrein Commodities, and to vend our Native; it may hold a much better Trade with the Nation than now it does.