Purchas his pilgrimes. part 1 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

In the East INDIES,

Sixe thousand thousand pounds of Pepper, cost with charges at two pence halfe pennie the pound, sixtie two thousand fiue hundred pound. Foure hundred fiftie thousand pounds of

Cloues at nine pence the pound, cost sixteene thousand eight hundred seuentie fiue pounds. One hundred and fiftie thousand pounds of Mace, at eight pence the pound, cost fiue thousand pounds. Foure hundred thousand pounds of Nutmegs, at foure pence the pound, cost sixe thousand sixe hundred sixtie sixe pounds thirteene shillings foure pence. Three hundred and fiftie thousand pounds of Indico, at fourteene pence the pound,* 1.1 cost twentie thousand foure hundred and six∣teene pounds twelue shillings foure pence. Ten hundred thousand pounds Persia raw Silke, at eight shillings the pound, cost foure hundred thousand pounds. The whole summe of all is, 511458. pounds, 5. shillings, 8. pence.

So that by the substance, and summes of these accounts it doth plainely appeare, that the buy∣ing [ 10] of the said quantitie of raw Silkes, Indico, and Spices, may be performed in the Indies, for neere one third part of the readie moneys, which were accustomed to be sent into Turkey to pro∣uide the same: So that there will be saued euery yeere the value of nine hundred fiftie three thousand fiue hundred fortie three pounds foure shillings foure pence sterling, of readie moneys, that heretofore hath beene exported out of Christendome into Turkey: which is a matter of such note and consequence, that it may seeme incredible, before the circumstance be duely con∣sidered; and therefore left I should leaue the matter in doubt, it is requisite, that I doe make an explanation of some particulars.

And principally, it must not be conceiued, that this great aduantage which hath beene spo∣ken of, is onely the Merchants gayne; for the Common-wealth of Christendome, hath a very great part thereof in the cheapnesse of the Wares, as shall be (God willing) proued hereafter in his due place.

[ 20] Secondly, the time of the Merchants forbearance and interest is very long; his aduenture and assurance much dearer; his charges of Shipping, Victuals, Mariners, and Factors their wages, farre greater then by the voyage into Turkey for the same Wares: so that the former great diffe∣rence must be vnderstood in these particulars: whereby we may perceiue to our comfort, that the materials of the Kingdome,* 1.2 and the employments of the Subiects (in lieu of readie mo∣neys) becomes a very great part of the price which is payed for the said Indian Wares: which cannot hurt the State (as some erroniously suppose) but greatly helpe it, as I shall better proue in that which followeth.

First therefore, I shew for an vndoubted truth, That the Persians, Moores, and Indians, who trade with the Turkes at Aleppo, Mocha, and Alexandria, for raw Silkes, Drugs, Spices, Indico, [ 30] and Callicoes; haue alwayes made, and still doe make their returnes in readie money: for other Wares, there are but few which they desire from forraine parts; some Chamlets, Corrall, wrought Silke, woollen Cloth, with some trifles, they doe yeerly vent in all, not for aboue fortie or fiftie thousand pounds sterling; which is no valuable summe in respect of that wealth which is carried from Aleppo and Constantinople into Persia for raw Silkes; when least, fiue hundred thousand pounds sterling per annum: and from Mocha about sixe hundred thousand pounds sterling (likewise yeerely into India) for returne of Callicoes, Drugs, Sugar, Rice, Tobacco, and diuers other things. So here is stil a very great commerce maintayned betweene those Infi∣dels; not onely for the Callicoes of many sorts, and other Wares (which concerne their owne vse) but also for the raw Silkes of Persia, which are altogether transported into Christendome.

How worthie an enterprise is it therefore in the English East India Companie? by whose en∣deauours [ 40] there is now good hope to turne a great part of this wealthie Trade into England, by shipping directly from the Persian Gulfe, whereby the employments, trafficke, and Customes of the Turkes, may be still more and more impaired, and the generall Treasure of Christendome much lesse consumed; as is already performed for the businesse of Spices and Indico.

And who shall then doubt our want of Siluer to maintaine the Trade? if by this way we doe obtaine the Silke, which with more aduantage and conueniencie will draw the money to this Mart, then it hath beene heretofore conueyed vnto those remote Dominions of the Turke.

And lest peraduenture it should be thought, that the trafficke in those parts by the Christians for the Persian Silke, is performed by change for other Wares, or by the money which procee∣deth of the sales of many rich Commodities, which yeerely they sell at Aleppo, Alexandria, [ 50] Constantinople, and these parts. The answere is, that neither the Venetians, French, nor Dutch, doe vent so much of their owne Countrie Commodities in those parts, as doe prouide their ne∣cessarie wants of the proper Wares of Turkes: such as are the fine raw Silke made in Soria, Chamlets, Grograns, Cotten Woolls, Cotten Yarne, Galls, Flax, Hempe, Fleece Woolls, Rice, Hides, Waxe, and diuers other things; so that still the raw Silkes of Persia, must be bought with readie money. Onely the English haue more aduantage then any other Nation in this kind: for they vent so great a quantitie of Broad-clothes, Tinne, and other English Commo∣dities, that the proceed thereof, doth not onely prouide a sufficient quantitie of part of the said [ 60] Turkish Wares (which fit their vse) but also a proportion of about three hundred great Balls of Persia raw Silke yeerely.

And if in any yeere they chance to buy a greater quantitie of Silke, then must and doe they furnish the same in readie moneys from the Ports of Marcellis, Genouay, Ligorne, Venice, or the

Netherlands. Neither are these the onely meanes, whereby the Empire of the Turke is so abun∣dantly stored with Gold and Siluer, to the performance of the Indian Trade. For, many are the Christian ships which yeerely lade with Corne for readie moneys in the Archipelago: great is the commerce from Poland, Hungarie, and Germanie, with Gold and Dollers, for Chamlets, Grograns,* 1.3 and other things: But that which is very remarkable, is the great quantitie of Gold, and some Siluer coyned in Grand-Cairo, which by two seuerall Carauans (in bullion) is yeerly brought thither from the Abassens Countrey in Ethiopia, for returne of many rich Commodi∣ties, as Veluets, Sattins, Cloth of Gold, Taffatas, wollen Cloth, pollished Corrall, and other things.

Thus by the coherence of the Turkish Trade with the Christians, Persians, and Indians, I haue shewed both the manner and the meanes, whereby the East Indian Wares haue beene heretofore, [ 10] and yet are in part, procured into Christendome. But lest it should seeme incredible, that the Turke would let so great a masse of Treasure yeerely to passe his Dominions, to the Indians, and to the Persians his professed enemies; I will make the matter yet more plaine.

And first concerning the raw Silkes, it is alreadie shewed, that he hath the money from the Christians, besides the benefit he reapeth in their Customes, with great employments also for his Subiects.* 1.4 And for Callicoes (his whole Empire hauing little or no other meanes for Lin∣nen) he cannot possibly be without them, although it hath, and doth greatly exhaust his Trea∣sure, neither doth he gayne any manufacture by the same, as the Christians haue alwayes done by the raw Silke, to the great reliefe of innumerable poore people, so much prouided for, by the pollicie of all well gouerned and flourishing Common-wealths; As by this occasion, and in a [ 20] businesse of the like kind,* 1.5 I may instance the States of Genouay, Florence, and Luca; who for the maintenance of Arts and Trade, doe prouide raw Silkes out of Sicilia for the value of fiue hun∣dred thousand pounds sterling at least yeerly; and for the payment thereof they doe vent at Naples, Palermo, Messina, and those parts, a certaine quantitie of Florence Rashes, and some o∣ther Wares, for about one hundred and fiftie thousand pounds sterling per annum; so the rest, be∣ing three hundred and fiftie thousand pounds sterling, is supplied all in readie moneys: which treasure they doe willingly forsake to procure their Trade: for experience hath taught them that Trade is their employment, and doth returne them Treasure; for by those Silkes (being wrought, transported, and sold at Frankford and other Marts,) they haue the better meanes to furnish their Contracts with the King of Spaine in Flanders; and so from Spaine the Siluer must [ 30] returne againe to Italie. But if I should runne out in this and other particulars (fitting our pur∣pose) it would make me too tedious, and so carrie mee beyond my ayme. which is to be briefe.

Wherefore I will proceed to cleere some doubts in those men, who perhaps not hauing the knowledge of occurrents in forraine parts, might thinke that neither Venice, nor Marcellis haue the meanes or yet the minds, to export such great summes of readie moneyes yeerely out of those Dominions, especially Marcellis being a part of France, where neighbourhood doth daily tell vs, that Gold and Siluer may not bee conuayed out of that Kingdome, for any valuable summe, more then is permitted for the necessarie vse of Trauellers: yet neuerthelesse, experi∣ence hath likewise taught vs, that for the effecting of those Trades (whereof we now speake, and which they esteeme so much) there is a free extraction out of the said places, of moneyes [ 40] both gold and siluer; whereof with them there is no want; for, the said Wares doe procure it abundantly.

* 1.6First, to Marcellis, it commeth not onely from Genouay, Ligorne, Cartagenia, Malliga, and many other Port Townes of Spaine and Italy, but also from Paris, Roan, Sainct-Malloes, Tolouse, Rochell, Deepe, and other Cities of France; who want not meanes to haue great store of Rials and Dollers from Spaine and Germanie.

And in the like manner, the Venetians dispersing the said raw Silkes, and other Wares into the seuerall States of Italie, Germanie, and Hungarie, (who haue but few Commodities fitting their barter or exchange, but onely moneyes) are there with abundantly serued: for, the Mynes of Hungarie and Germanie affoord good quantitie of Gold and Siluer; and likewise the States of [ 50] Italie, especially Genouay, Florence, and Millane, haue euer store of Rials out of Spaine in satisfa∣ction of many great disbursements,* 1.7 which those Merchants make for that King in his occasions of Italie and Flanders; of all which I might make a large discourse, but I conceiue I haue said suf∣ficient, to shew how the Trade of the East Indies hath beene, and now is brought into Christen∣dome generally; what money is yeerely sent out, by whom, and the possibilitie or meanes which they haue to performe it. I will therefore in the next place, satisfie the Obiectors, that it is not the East India Trade, which wasteth the Gold, and Siluer, Coyne, or other treasure of this Kingdome in particular.

For first, who knoweth not that Gold in the East Indies hath no ratable price with Siluer? [ 60] Neither hath the Siluer coyne of England any equall value with the Spanish Rials according to their seueral prices here; besides that, his Maiestie hath not authorized the East India Company, to send away any part of this Kingdoms Coyne, either Gold or Siluer; but only a certain limi∣ted sum of forren siluer yeerly; which as they dare not exceed, so neuer haue they as yet accom∣plished

the same. For it doth plainly appeare in their bookes, that from the originall and first foundation of the Trade in Anno 1601. vntill the moneth of Iuly,* 1.8 Anno 1620. they haue shipped away onely fiue hundred fortie eight thousand and ninety pounds sterling in Spanish Rials, and some Dollers; whereas by licence, they might haue exported in that time seuen hundred and twentie thousand pounds s••••rling. Also they haue laden away in the same terme of ninteene yeeres, out of this Kingdome two hundred ninetie two thousand two hundred eightie sixe pounds sterling in Broad-clothes, Kersies, Lead, Tinne, with some other English and forraine Commodities; which is a good Addition, and vent of our Wares, into such remote places; where heretofore they haue had no vtterance at all.

[ 10] And note, I pray you, how time and industrie hath bettered this Trade,* 1.9 when in the last three yeeres there hath beene sent more Wares to the Indies, then in the sixteene yeeres before; and yet our expectation is not at the highest; for those new borne Trades within the Red Sea, and in the Persian Gulfe, doe bid vs hope for better things, as lately by Letters from Spahan, we vnderstand of great quantitie of raw Silke prepared by the English Factors, which (by Gods assistance) wee may expect here about the moneth of August next, with encouragement also to vent our English Cloth, and Kersies in good quantities; the like of Iron, Tinne, and other things, whereof experience (of those already sold) hath giuen vs sufficient approbation of their validitie.

And now (omitting much matter which might be written touching the discoueries of other Trades from one Kingdome or Port to another in the Indies, with the Commodities thereof;* 1.10 [ 20] whereby the employment of our ships, together with the Stocke of money and goods which is sent out of England in them, may be much encreased) I will draw to a conclusion of the point in hand, and shew that whatsoeuer summes of forraine readie moneyes are yeerely sent from hence into the East Indies, his Maiestie in the Letters Patents granted to that Companie, hath notwithstanding with singular care prouided, that the brethren of the Companie, shall yeerely bring in as much Siluer, as they send forth; which hath beene alwayes truly performed, with an ouerplus, to the increase of this Kingdomes treasure: Neither is it likely that the money which is thus contracted for by the Companie at certaine prices, and to be deliuered them at times appointed, would be otherwise brought into England, but onely by vertue and for the per∣formance of the said Contracts: for, without this assurance of vent, together with a good price for the said moneyes, the Merchants would vndoubtedly make their returnes in other [ 30] Wares; the vse and extraordinarie consume whereof, would be found lesse profitable to the Common-wealth, when the matter should be duly considered, as I shall yet further endeauour to demonstrate.

And here I will suppose, That the East India Companie may ship out yeerely one hundred thousand pounds sterling: yet it is most certaine, that the Trade being thus driuen, with sums of readie moneys, it will not decay, but rather much increase the treasure of the Kingdome: which to proue, I will briefly set downe the substance of the English Trade vnto the East Indies, concer∣ning the quantitie of the seuerall sorts of Wares, to be yeerly bought there, and sold here; with the vsuall prices giuen for them in both places. And first, I will beginne with their cost and charges laden cleere aboord the ships in the East Indies.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The exporta∣tion of the va∣lue of 953543. l sterling out of Christendome into Turkey yeerely saued.
• * 1.2

  Instance only, that ten shil∣lings imployed in Pepper in the East Indies, will require thirtie and fiue shillings for all charges what∣soeuer to deli∣uer it in Lon∣don.

  The great summes of money which the Persians and the Indians carrie yeerely out of Turkey. The East India Companie doe endeauour to bring the raw Silkes from Persia directly by Sea.

  Marcellis sen∣deth yeerely to Aleppo and Alexandria, at l••••st 500000 l. sterling, and little or no wares. Venice sends about the value of 100000 l. and a great value in wares. The Low coun∣tries sends a∣bout the value of 50000 l. sterling mo∣ni••s, and litle wares. Messina 25000 l. in ready money.
• * 1.3

  Abassens a Peo∣ple in Ethiopia whose influ∣ence hath made them dull, lazy, and without arts; enioying di∣uers Mines of Gold, and one of Siluer, which doe procure their wants of for∣raine Wares.
• * 1.4

  Turkey hath litle meanes for Linnen but onely from India.
• * 1.5

  The proc••e∣dings of some States in Italie for the main∣tenance of Arts.

  The readie moneys which are yeerely carried from some States of Italie into Sicilia.
• * 1.6

  How Marcellis and Venice are furnished with ready moneys.
• * 1.7

  The Italian Merchants doe furnish the King of Spaine with money in Italie and Flan∣ders.

  The third part

  doth shew how the East India, Trade doth enrich this Kingdome.
• * 1.8

  How much money and wares the East India Compa∣nie haue sent forth euer sithence the beginning of this Trade.
• * 1.9

  The vent of English Wares encreased in the Indies.
• * 1.10

  Our stocke may be much increased by Trade from Port to Port in the Indies. For this see the former re∣lations, of the Trade from Surat to Achen, and all the Southerne and further Eastern Indies: as thence also to the red Sea &c.

  The moneys sent to the Indies is all forrain Coyne. The East India Companie are obliged to bring in as much money as they carrie out of the Realme. Tobacco, Rai∣sons, Oyles, and Wines, whereof there is no want, but rather too much Smoke. A proportion of such Trade as is hoped yeerely to be brought into this Realme from East India.