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Two hundred and fiftie thousand pounds of Pepper, at twentie pence the pound, cost two hundred and eight thousand three hundred thirtie three pounds sixe shillings eight pence. One hundred and fiftie thousand of Cloues, at six shillings the pound, cost fortie fiue thousand pounds▪
* 1.1One hundred and fiftie thousand pounds of Nutmegs, at two shill••ngs sixe pence the pound, cost eighteene thousand seuen hundred and fiftie pounds. Fiftie thousand pound of Mace, at sixe shillings the pound, cost fifteene thousand pounds. Two hundred thousand pounds of Indico, at fiue shillings the pound, cost fiftie thousand pounds. One hundred and seuen thousand one hundred fortie pounds of China raw Silkes, at twentie shillings the pound, cost one hundred and seuen thousand one hundred fortie pounds. Fiftie thousand pieces of Callicoes of seuerall sorts, rated at twentie shillings the piece one with another, cost fiftie thousand pounds. The whole summe of all is, foure hundred ninetie foure thousand two hundred twentie three pounds sixe shillings eight pence.
So that here would be our owne money againe and more, the summe of three hundred nine∣tie foure thousand two hundred twentie three pounds sixe shillings eight pence aduanced to∣wards [ 10] the generall Stocke of the Kingdome. For although the East India Companie shall dis∣burse the greatest part of the said summe aduanced vnto his Maiestie for Custome and Impost; and also vnto the Factors, Officers, and Mariners, for wages, together with the cost of ship∣ping Victuals, Munitions, Assurance and the like: yet all these (the Materials of shipping one∣ly excepted) are but transmutations and no consumption of the Kingdomes Stocke.
But if any man obiect and say, that the said Commodities being brought into England (as is before written) they are either consumed in the Land, or being transported into forraine parts, they are changed into other Wares: So that still we want our hundred thousand pounds in readie money. The answere is, First, that in the occasion of this dispute, wee must conceiue the said Wares to be of no vse for this Kingdome, but onely for so much, as doe concerne the [ 20] Trade thereof. And Secondly, in the said Trade we must consider, that although the said goods be sent out, and returned home in other Wares from forraine parts; yet still, they are negotia∣ted to the increase of the said Stocke, and for the imployment of the Subiects. Lastly, if there be a resolution to determine and end the businesse: who doubteth, that the whole value may not bee presently returned hither in readie moneyes? For in Italie, Turkey, and other places, where they are most vendible to profit, there likewise is the money free to be exported at all times and by whomsoeuer.
And as it is most certaine, that some other Merchandize, sent out of this Kingdome, were the meanes to bring in the hundred thousand pounds in readie moneyes, which is here supposed to be sent and imployed in the East Indies (as aforesaid) so likewise, there is the same power in [ 30] these Indian wares, to procure other summes of readie moneyes, to bee brought into this King∣dome: For let not man doubt, but that money doth attend Merchandize, for money is the prize of wares, and wares are the proper vse of money; so that their coherence is vnseparable. And if the French and the Venetians, made any doubt of this, they would not so willingly permit the value of sixe hundred thousand pounds sterling, or more in Spanish Rialls and Dollers, yeerly to be carryed out of their Dominions into Turkey: whereof three quarter parts at least are imploy∣ed, onely for the buying of Persia raw Silkes, which commoditie doth presently enable them with readie money from diuers other States to performe the Trade; whereby their wealth doth much increase, and their people are greatly imployed. So to conclude this point, I will onely adde, that the East India Trade alone (although it be driuen in no amplyer manner then is afore [ 40] written) is a meanes to bring more treasure into the Realme then all the other trades of this Kingdome (as they are now managed) being put together. For if the rule be true, that when the value of our commodities exported doth ouer-ballance the worth of all those forraigne wares, which are imported and consumed in this Kingdome, then the remaynder of our stocke which is sent forth, must of necessitie returne to vs in Treasure. I am confident, that vpon a diligent and true inquirie it will be found, that the ouer-ballance of all our other Trades together, will not amount vnto so great a summe of money as the East India Trade alone doth ouer-ballance in this kinde.
And to make the matter yet more plaine, whereas it is already said that one hundred thou∣sand pounds in money exported, may import about the value of fiue hundred thousand pounds [ 50] sterling, in wares from the East Indies, we must vnderstand that part thereof to be properly cal∣led our importation that this Realme doth consume, which is about the value of one hundred and twenty thousand pounds sterling yeerly. So the remaynder being three hundred and eightie thou∣sand pounds, is matter exported vnto forraine parts in the nature of our Cloth, Lead, Tin, or any other natiue commodities, to the great increase of this Kingdomes stocke, and that also in so much treasure, so farre as the East India Trade can be rightly vnderstood to subsist in this parti∣cular. For as all humane actions haue their Termination and Ends, so likewise there must bee an end assigned vnto the affaires of the East Indies; which are then truely said to bee finished, when this Realme is serued, and the remainder of those Wares which are sent from hence be∣yond [ 60] the Seas, sold there and conuerted into money; which likewise from thence may bee brought away freely and without the danger of Law, or prohibition. Forasmuch therefore as it is well knowne to many men, that moneys are thus procured by the Sales of Indian Wares to profit, in the parts of Turkey, and at Ligorne, Genoway, the Netherlands, Marcellis, and other pla∣ces:
yet notwithstanding if all the said Coyne, or any part thereof should bee diuerted from this Realme by some other new imployments or affaires, it must neuerthelesse bee granted, that the said India wares had their finall end in monies. But I will cease to heape vp any more argu∣ments, to proue a matter which is alreadie made so plaine; wherefore leauing this Obiection, I will endeuour to giue Answere to the next.
How much the Kingdomes Stocke may in∣crease yeerely by trading to the East Indies. 2500. tunn••s of shipping will lade home all the wares a∣fore written from the East Indies. And the materials of the said ship∣ping (vn∣wrought) is worth about 15000l. sterling India wares wil bring readie moneys into the Realme. We h••ue no other meanes to procure Treasure but by Trade and Merchandize. The French and the Vene∣tians send the value of 600000l. ster∣ling yeerely in ready money into Turkey. Trade maketh some States very rich which haue littl•• other meanes.
If the generall Trade of this Kingdome doth export a greater value in wares then it doth import yeerly, then doth our trea∣sure increase. The Trade to the East Indies may be said to export 480000 pounds and to import 120000 l. yeerely. So the ouerballance is 360000 l. sterling. Euery action ought especi∣ally to be con∣sid••red in his end.
The East Indi∣an wares whi••h were sent be∣yond the Seas, are sold and haue their fi∣nall end in money, which might bee brought into this Realme in that kind, if our other Trades did not diuert the same.