Politique Observation.
IF Commerce in general brings riches to a Kingdom, without doubt that of the Sea is more considerable, the gains being greater and more just: That of the Land, how advantagious soever, seldom yeilds above 15. or 20. per Cent. and many times is forced to such things as savour of Usury; whereas the Sea doth oftentimes yeild Cent per Cent, and somtimes more, and that without giving the least cause of complaint. Commerce at Sea is that which hath made small States very considerable, and great States vastly rich, and abounding with all sorts of commodities: There is another reason which rendreth it the more important, and that is, Princes being bound to make themselves powerful, as well by Sea as by Land, which double Power is the highest pitch of their greatness, for it renders them the more redoubted. It is in vain to drive a commerce by Sea, unless a pro∣vision of Ships be made to secure them, otherwise their riches will be exposed as a prey to Pirats; and is Prince who maketh himself powerful on this Element, is the more feared by his Neighbours, in regard he may make his attempts upon them both by Sea and Land, in case they should presume to offend him. Cosmo de Me∣dicis first Duke of Tuscany, and the ablest Politician of his time, said, That a So∣veraign can never gain an high repute, unless he joyn both those Powers together, which are to a State, as the Arms to the Body. This Sea Power is that which makes England considerable; were they but deprived of it, they would soon grow weak and poor; but maintaining that Power as they do, in a good equipage, by a long tract of time, they want nothing, but are capable of undertaking great ex∣peditions. Hath not this enabled the Hollanders, though their Common-wealth may be reduced to a small number of men, to sustain the whole power of Spain? What makes G••noa so rich, but this power by Sea? And what but this makes the great Duke of Tuscany one of the richest Princes in Italy? Thus we see all our Neighbours have been sollicitous to establish commerce by Sea in their Territories; and we know that our late King Henry le grand, whose Prudence was no less ad∣vantagious to this Kingdom, then his Courage, was extreamly desirous to settle it in France, after he allayed those storms of Civil War; to which end he gave order unto the President Janin, when he was treating with the Hollanders, to learn of them what was necessary in that particular.