THis East India Trade seemeth to be borne and brought vp an Vnthrift, for it wasteth and consu∣meth all; Neither doth it good to any.
1 But the Obiection, in some part is very weake:
[ 20] 2 And in the rest it is mistaken.
For first, concerning the weaknesse thereof,* 1.1 would men haue vs to keepe our woods and goodly trees to looke vpon? they might aswell forbid the working of our wools, and sending forth our cloth to for∣raigne parts; for both are meanes alike to procure the necessary wares, which this Kingdome wanteth. Do they not know that trees doe liue and grow: and being great, they haue a time to dye and rot, if oportuni∣tie make no better vse of them? and what more noble or profitable vse then goodly ships for Trade and Warre? Are they not our Barnes for wealth, and plentie, seruing as wals and bulwarkes for our peace and happinesse? Doe not their yeerely buildings maintayne many hundred poore people, and greatly in∣crease the number of those Artesmen which are so needfull for this Common-wealth? And is not all [ 30] this good performed also (with great prouidence) by bringing in yeerely store of Timber,* 1.2 and other pro∣uisions from Ireland? Why then, where is the great waste and dearenesse? I am sure, the East India Companie finds it not; for whereas they doe onely buy their prouisions in Hampshire, Essex, Kent, and Barkshire, in all which places they now may haue both Timber, Plankes, Sheathing boards, Trenals and the like, both for goodnesse and price, as cheape (yea better cheape) then they haue beene this fifteene yeeres; and likewise in all that course of time their Bookes doe plainly shew that those wares haue neuer varied much; for if they haue risen any small matter in one yeare, they haue fallen as much the next. And yet I pray you obserue (besides the East India Companies buildings) the many goodly ships which are daily made for other priuate Merchants (such as England neuer had before) and that which is most remarkable, is the continuall late buildings of his Maiestie, thereby yearely adding more strength and [ 40] glory of great ships, to his Royall and matchlesse Nauy; so that here we see this supposed waste and want is not considerable.
Yea but, say they, the East India ships are neuer here to serue the Kingdome vpon occasion: Or if they be at home, they are weake and vnfit for seruice.* 1.3
In Trade of Merchandize our ships must goe and come, they are not made to stay at home; Yet ne∣uerlesse, the East India Company are well prepared at all times, to serue his Maiestie and his King∣domes, with many warlike prouisions, which they alwayes keepe in store; such as Timber, Planckes, Iron∣workes, Masts, Cordage, Anchors, Caske, Ordnance, Powder, Shot, Victuals readie packed, Wine, Sider, and a World of other things, fitting the present building, repairing and dispatch of ships to Sea; as may be plentifully seene in their yards and store-houses at Deptford, and more especially in those at Blacke-wall; which are growne so famous, that they are daily visited and viewed by strangers, as well [ 50] Embassadors as others; to their great admiration of his Maiesties strength and glorie, in one only Company of his Merchants, able at short warning to set forth a Fleet of ships of great force and power.
For it is well knowne to all men who please truly to bee informed, That the East India Companie (be∣sides their Fleets of ships going and comming, and also abiding in the In••i••s) are continually building, repayring, rigging, victualling, and furnishing to Sea, with all prouision needfull for such a long Voy∣age, some seuen or eight great ships yearely; which are to bee seene at an Anchor in the Riuer of Thames in a great forwardnesse some fiue or sixe moneths together, before they commonly depart for the Indies, which is about the moneth of March: and they are no sooner got off from the Coast of Eng∣land, but shortly after, is the season of our shippes to returne from the Indies;* 1.4 who come not home so weake as some would haue them; for how often hath experience beene made of our ships which haue per∣formed [ 60] two or three seuerall Voyages to the East Indies? Yet at their returne, they haue beene indoc∣ked, n••w trimmed and lanched out againe▪ fitted for the like Voyages, in lesse then two monethes. But it will be needlesse to spend any more time in shewing the errors of this second Obiection: therefore I will rather come to the handling of that which followeth.