Politick Observation.
TWo things chiefly are necessary to render a Kingdome flourishing, Govern∣ment and Commerce, and as without the former it is impossible that it should long subsist, so without the latter, we find it want many things important to the life of man, and that the Nation cannot attain unto any great riches. Those Politicians have deceived themselves, who measure happinesse by vertue alone, and think that all their cares and dangers whereunto they expose themselves, are to no purpose. We are not now in those times, when men lived on Acorns dropping from Oaks, or when the Fruits of the Earth were the greatest delicacies without art or labour. Ma∣ny more things are now require to entertain 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…en heretofore, and the neglect of Commerce were to deprive ones self of them by lazinesse. And admitting it were not so, have not sundry Philosophers used Traffique as a means to attain the experience of many excellent things. Sol••n amongst the Athenians rendred him∣self capable of giving Laws to his Country. Thales one of the Sages of Greece, made no difficulty to imploy part of his time therein, and Plato himself did the same thing to get the charges of his voyage into Egypt, by carrying Oyls thither to sell, that he might purchase knowledge. Withall, we live not now so much by the Com∣merce of Elements, as by that of Gold and Silver, those are the great Springs which more all the rest, and without them, Kingdomes can neither be Potent in War, or flourish in Peace. Politicians acknowledge them for the Sinews of War, and as for Peace, never any poor State was yet considerable, or ever came to any great height, and what brings greater riches then Commerce? France aboundeth in many sorts of Grain, but wanteth Gold and Silver. Now the onely means which it hath to come by it, is to send abroad to its neighbours who want many of those commodities, what it can well spare by way of Commerce, a means so powerfull, that sending onely what is superfluous, it may bring in the greatest part of their wealth.