- 
 
 LICENSED, November 
 the 18th, 1689. 
 
 And Entered according tq 
 Order. 
 
 By ' 
 
 jhiAoi CUtL 
 
A 
 
 DISCOURSE 
 
 ABOUT 
 
 TRADE 
 
 ^herein the Redu&ion of Interefl: 
 of Money to 4 1. per Centum, is 
 , . ^commended. 
 
 Methods for the Employment and Main- # 
 tenatice of the Poor are propofcd. 
 
 Several weighty Points relating to Companies of 
 MERCHANTS. 
 
 The Aft of NAVIGATION. 
 NATURALIZATION of Strangers. 
 
 Our WOOLLEN MANUFACTURES. 
 
 .... The 
 
 BALLANCE of TRADE. 
 
 And the Nature of Plantations, and their Confe- 
 quenccs in relation to the Kingdom, 
 
 . areferioufly Difcufled. 
 
 And foitic Arguments for erefling a Court of Me?;' 
 r chants for determining Controverts, relating 
 to Maritime Affairs,and for a Law forTrans- 
 fertance of Bills of Debts, are humbly 
 
 . Qfo*- 
 
 Never before Printed. ' 
 
 Printed by A. Sank, at the Crooked-Billet in HoU 
 lomy-Lme : And Sold k tic Three ia' 
 A r ^gf-fce<j(<- C mt t G r»ts-Ci * re h- S irect } i d yO. 
 
T H E following Sheets 
 were wrote, as the 
 Reader will obferve by the 
 Contents,foon after the dread- 
 fui Fire, which happened in 
 London in the Year 1 6 6 6. they 
 fell very accidentally into my 
 Hands in Manufcript (as they 
 had ever fince continued) this 
 daft Summer, and having, in 
 iny Converfation in the world, 
 heard feveral of the Propoll- 
 A i tions 
 
The Publijher 
 
 felons therein difcufled* fre* 
 quently contrafted, I did fet 
 my felf with fome Curiofity 
 to run them over, and in do¬ 
 ing it, difcerned (as I thought) 
 much experimental Truth 
 and' Reafon, and' a' more then 
 ordinary Life and Spirit, fpr 
 the Publick good , in the 
 whole Work; 1 therefore made 
 fuite to the Judicious & Wor¬ 
 thy Author^ to permit me (to 
 flie fume end for which it ap¬ 
 pears to have been at the firft 
 wrote) to hand it over to fome 
 of Our beft Patriots ', to'which 
 he’ being pleafed to concede, 
 I began to tranfcribe it, but 
 finding that that wOuld prove 
 & tedious' task, and that that 
 
 way 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 ,way would confine this excel¬ 
 lent Treatife to too narrow 
 bounds, 1 have prefumed thus 
 to emit it to the World. 
 
 I may not divulge the Au¬ 
 thor s Name, but this I may 
 truely fay; He is no Trader, 
 neither pays any life for Mo¬ 
 ney, but receives a great deal 
 yearly, and hath to my know¬ 
 ledge a confiderable Mate in 
 Lands, and therefore the moft 
 invidious cannot conceive he 
 had any private or feififh 
 end in the following DiC- 
 courfes. 
 
 I have in my time been pri¬ 
 vy to, and frequently concern¬ 
 ed in the buying and felling of 
 much Land, and 1 find every 
 
The'Fublijher 
 
 thing he faid at that time fo 
 true of the then low Rates of 
 Land, as was his Predi&ion of 
 its rifing in Purchafe fo foon 
 as that lazy way of Ufury by 
 Bankeering fliould be broke, 
 that l am morally confident 
 if the Parliament fhould be 
 pleafed to abate the Intereft of 
 Mony by a Law to ^ l, per 
 Cent . We fhall as certainly fee 
 Lands in Eng Was generally 
 fell at twenty five years Pur- 
 cbafe within five years after 
 fuch a Law, as We did fee 
 them about the time the fol¬ 
 lowing Difcourfe was Wrote, 
 fell at feventeen years Pur¬ 
 chafe ; and as We do now fee 
 Lands currently fell at twen- 
 
To the Reader . 
 
 ty years Purchase ml up¬ 
 wards, 
 
 I took occafion in my dif~ 
 eourfe with the Author^ to 
 obferve to him, that though 
 Lands in general were rifen 
 in fale, as he fore-fa w* to 
 twenty years purchafe or 
 more, that yet Mar(h and 
 Feeding Grounds-were abated 
 in Rent to the Tenants, at 
 leaft 20 or jo I. per Cent, He 
 granted me to be in the right 
 herein, and imputed the cauie 
 thereof partly to the Prohibiti¬ 
 on of lrijh Cattle , and partly to 
 the late general pra&ice of 
 lowing Clover, Saint-foyne, 
 Rye-Grafs, and other Graf-" 
 Seeds \ upon which I ask’d 
 B himp 
 
ThePublifber 
 
 him, Whether he thought it 
 would not tend to the publick 
 Good, to prohibit by a Law 
 the Towing of thofe Seeds ? 
 •He Lid by no means.; Honefi 
 Induftry and Invention is never 
 to be obfiru&ed by Lam. I 
 queried then, why Ufury 
 ihould be checkt by a Law ? 
 He replyed, that in the Trade 
 of Vfary there ms neither Indu¬ 
 stry not Invention , but Idlenefs 
 and Opprejfion ; and that all 
 Chrifiian Churches , as well as 
 mojt particular eminent Divines 
 ever fince our Saviour Chriff s 
 time , had condemned Vfury as 
 finful 
 
 The fore-going Difeourfe 
 leads to another great Quefti- 
 
 on; 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 on; Whether Foieign Corn-’ 
 modities, fuch as tend to nou» 
 rilh Vice and Luxury, ought 
 not for the pubjick Good to 
 be prohibited by a Law, or by 
 loading them . with a deep 
 Caftom; fuck as Wines , 
 Brandy , Sugar, Tobacco, See. 
 And I am humbly of opinion, 
 with the molt profound fub»' 
 fnlion to ail my Supmoursf 
 whofe proper Bufinefs it is to 
 agree and conlfitute Laws, 
 that it is not for the publick 
 Good to load,- even fuch 
 Commodities,-' -with fo' great a 
 Duty, as doth, or may ruin our 
 Plantations, or totally prevent 
 the Englifh from v a poffibility 
 fupplying theEafternand 
 B a- other’ 
 
The tub li/her 
 
 other parts of the World 
 with thefe Commodities, be- 
 caufe by fo doing, We give 
 away (the moft precious of all 
 our Trades) a great part of 
 our Navigation, to our wifer 
 Neighbours the Dutch , who 
 had rather pay their Twenti¬ 
 eth Penny twice a year, than 
 loofe their Trade to the 
 Baltick with Salt, Wine , Bran¬ 
 dy, Tobacco , &c. I mightily, 
 too, with Chefnuts and Wal¬ 
 nuts, as inconhderable as their 
 value is; Every thing being 
 to be prized above Gold, that' 
 encreafeth the Navigation 
 of any Country, efpecially 
 that of this Illand of Eng¬ 
 land. 
 
 I 
 
To the Reader . 
 
 1 have been always an Ad¬ 
 vocate for Liberty ? and an E- 
 nemy to Perfection for mat¬ 
 ters. of Religion , and fo lam 
 confident was the Gentleman , 
 our worthy Author , as the fol- 
 lowing-Trad: clearly evinces, 
 and by lb doing gives the Rea- 
 fon why this admirable Work 
 hath till now lain in obfcuri- 
 ty, the- Policy and Councils 
 of the- late Reigns conftantly 
 difcountenancing that excel¬ 
 lent Principle: And becaufe 
 Liberty of Confdenct is fre¬ 
 quently touch’d in this enfuing 
 Difcourle, and declared to be 
 a principal means to advance 
 the publick Good of this 
 Kingdbm,(wz.)Tr^ * Which 
 B 5 ’tis 
 
Ms evident is the real aftijon- 
 
 ydefigt, of this Treariie, I 
 iiiall take the freedom to tell 
 rny thoughts very plainly i„ 
 relation to it * 
 
 I remennber that greateft 
 Maher of Hiftorians, Cornelias 
 :. aa l M % sof the iucompara- 
 We Roman Emperourife^ 
 that he did Reconcile (Res 
 olm mjmkilet) things never 
 before adjujled, the,freedom 
 W all Men , with the file 
 Oxnmani of one. Such a Prince 
 1 1 °f e snc ^. verify believe God 
 Almighty in abundant Mer¬ 
 cy to this poor Nation, hath. 
 lent us ip his prefent 
 ftjj our truly good and n rat j. 
 
 RusSoveraign King Willm, 
 (the 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 (\be Favourite of Heaven^ and 
 Delight of Men) under whom 
 We may moft undoubtedly be 
 the Happieft People upon 
 the Face of the whole Earth, 
 if We will; but We fhall ne¬ 
 ver attain that Happinefs,and 
 hand it over to Pofterity, ex¬ 
 cept We all, as well Difenters r 
 as Church of England Men r do 
 fincerely and cordially endea¬ 
 vour to imitate the Wifdom 
 and Goodnels of that Memo¬ 
 rable Prince Nerua, to recon¬ 
 cile things formerly unfociable 
 (viz.) Liberty of Confdence to 
 ail, with the prefervation of 
 one entire Vniform National 
 Church , in the enjoyment of 
 all the publick Revenues there- 
 B 4 of; 
 
The Fublijher 
 
 of; tliefe two things, m 
 my me ft unbiafs’d , retired 
 thoughts, are fo far from con- 
 tradiddions, that (as our Peo¬ 
 ple in England are now, and 
 have been for two or three 
 Ages paid divided in Opini¬ 
 ons) they are neceftary Re* 
 htives one to the other, and 
 neither of them can ftand long 
 alone without the other; 
 Time, in innumerable in- 
 fiances having proved it a : 
 moft manifeft Error, in our 
 Kings^ Lords and Gentlemen 
 that they, attempted by Laws 
 to compel all the People of 
 England to a Conformity to 
 the National Church; And } 
 no Ids Error was it in the ; 
 *• ' Dijfenters 
 
To the Readero 
 
 Difenters and their Adherents 
 in the late Civil Wars , to 
 think to enjoy long the Fruits 
 of their Fighting and Con? 
 quefts, by keeping all Forms 
 of Religion loofe and equally 
 capable of preferment to the 
 publick Revenues j without 
 Eftabliftiing any National 
 Church,' the publick. Reve- 
 nue whereof, noneTiould be 
 capable of enjoying, but fucil 
 as were of it. 
 
 Many of the Diffenters are 
 fo ingenuous as to cdnfefs this 
 to be a very great Truth, and' 
 that England cannot long en¬ 
 joy a lading Peace and Quiet- 
 nefs without it:' ‘But then 
 they fay, Open your Church* 
 
The fublifber 
 
 Bom wide, remove all fumbling 
 Blocks,fy Jucb things m give of -- 
 fence to pious and learned Men,in 
 your Articles,Canons and Liturgy :; 
 and probably I may herein in¬ 
 cline to be of their Opinion. 
 But yet I tell them, I am a 
 Subject, and have now by 
 Law a liberty to worlhip God , 
 as I think he ought to be wor- 
 jhipped^nd enjoying that, 'tis 
 my Duty in Reafon m a Man, 
 and in Religion as a Chrifiian to 
 acquiefce without murmuring; 
 tj*3t the King % Lords and Com* 
 ww (who are the natural 
 and proper Legiflators of 
 England) flhould enjoy the 
 Liberty of their Conlciences, 
 to contrive or fettle fuch a 
 National 
 
To the Reader . 
 
 Rational Church as they fhall 
 think fit, and in their Judg¬ 
 ments moft agreeable to the 
 Scriptures, and the publick 
 I Peace qfthe Kingdom; and 
 | rethinks he that is not fatis- 
 ! fied with this, doth apparent¬ 
 ly violate that righteous Rule 
 
 of our Saviour of doing as he 
 would be done unto . 
 
 idljy Such diffatisfa&ion 
 at what our lawful Superiors do 
 in this matter of Religion, 
 while we enjoy our own Li¬ 
 berty, may be deemed, and 
 wili by many be laid to pro¬ 
 ceed rather from Fa£lion,Co- 
 vetoufnefs or Ambition, than 
 from pure Religion. 
 
 Rut fome Diffenters are rea- 
 dy 
 
■ The PiMifhet 
 
 if t6'reply, Why fhouldwe be 
 kept Mt of the publick Employ 
 merits ] of our Country ? Are mt 
 we m pod ProteftantS) as great 
 lovers'- of our Country , as virtu¬ 
 ous in our Lives , as diligent and 
 inoffenfm in our Callings , and 
 its true to the prefent Govern¬ 
 ment,. #5 any Church of England 
 Men whatfoever ? 
 
 I-fay, admit all that, (and 
 I cannot upon this occafion • 
 forbek'p to lay, what I have of¬ 
 ten declared,That I do believe 
 tlikt theProff^tDiffenters are 
 to a Man throughout England 
 truef&that Government which 
 the divine Providence hath moft 
 mercifully lit mimuioiijly fet over 
 us) yet you being private Sub¬ 
 jects, and having the liberty of 
 your 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 your own Confidences,you are 
 not to difturb the prelent Go¬ 
 vernment fettled by your law** 
 fulLegiflators ? but mu ft allow 
 them (your Governouis) the 
 liberty of their Confidences in 
 fettling the National Church, 
 or you are unjuft in the light 
 of God and Men: When you 
 are called to the Parliament 
 then you will have the free¬ 
 dom of declaring your Opi¬ 
 nions as you think fit. 
 
 adly, I tell them, great 
 Mutations upon a hidden in 
 the Fundamentals of Govern¬ 
 ment, fuch as changes in the 
 National Church, are dange¬ 
 rous to the publick Peace, and 
 that our Superiors being placed 
 upon the advantage of a bet-' 
 
The fublijher 
 
 ter profpe£t,can fee the danger 
 in a better light, and at a more 
 remote difiance then we, who 
 eonverfe only in the Valleys. 
 
 ^dly, That many Gentle¬ 
 men who bear no unkindnefs 
 to the Dijfenters , are yet af- 
 fraid of their fickle uncertain 
 tempers, not having forgot 
 that after our late Civil Wars 
 when' the Power was mainly 
 m their own Hands, they 
 themfelves made feveral Go¬ 
 vernments , yet were never 
 Jong contented with any of 
 their own Creation. 
 
 4thly^ That they are not 
 yet agreed among themfelves 
 what tjhe Errors or Stumbling- 
 blocks in the Church of Eng- 
 hnd are, that they would have 
 amended or removed, jthly 
 
To the Reader , 
 
 5thly, I tell them that this 
 repining temper at the deter¬ 
 minations of Superiors, in 
 them who are at perfect eale 
 themfelves, as to their Liber¬ 
 ties and Properties, looks 
 very like the Spirit of Perfe- 
 cution, againft which they 
 have always appeared to con? 
 tend. 
 
 Laftly, To conclude this 
 fubjed, for the love I bear to 
 all my honeft Country-men, 
 as well of the one perlwafion 
 as the other, I pray the 
 Church of England Men to 
 be indulgent to the Diffenter-s ,, 
 and I entreat my old Friends 
 the Eijfenters , to put on Pa¬ 
 tience, and not to cenfure or 
 repine at the Ads of their Su¬ 
 periors 
 
The PuMijhfjj &c. 
 
 periors, but to hope and ex- 
 ped, that God who hath 
 wrought this late moft fignal 
 deliverance for them and the 
 Nation in general, and who 
 hathfecured to them by Law 
 the Liberty of their Gonfci- 
 ences, which they could never 
 obtain, by all their Fightings, 
 Strivings, Vidories and Con¬ 
 quers, will in his duetime give 
 them fuch favour in the Eyes 
 of the King and Parliament, I 
 that they may be admitted by j 
 degrees into fucb publick ! 
 Trufts and Employments, 
 wherein they may not be judg¬ 
 ed dangerous to the National 
 Church or State. ! 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE- 
 
 T He following Anfwcr to that 
 Treatife, entituled,-/«/erc/? 
 of Monty mifinken, I wrote 
 . long before the Iaft Selfton of Par¬ 
 liament, that began the ipth of 
 Offober, 1669. but fore-leeing that 
 that SefTion might be engaged in 
 greater Debates of another Nature, 
 and in confequence not have leitlire 
 to confider this fubjeft, I deferred 
 the Printing ol it,fince u hich I have 
 feen another Treatife, wrote by 
 Thoms Manly, Gentleman, endea¬ 
 vouring to prove,That it will be for 
 the advantage of this Kingdom, to 
 continue the Intcrft of Monty at 6 per 
 Cent , but after feveral perulals ofhis 
 Treatife,I muft needs fay,that cither 
 
 (A) l 
 
The PREFACE . 
 
 I underhand norhing of this fubjed, 
 orelfe this Gentleman is the great- 
 eft Stranger to it that ever under¬ 
 took to diicourfe it, he having writ 
 much, but in my Opinion nothing 
 to the purpofe , more than was 
 much better (though brieflierj faid 
 by the Author of the fore-mention¬ 
 ed Treatife, out of which moft of 
 his feems to be hoi rowed, though 
 the Words be varied, with fome 
 additions of Interrogations, Expo* 
 filiations, Similes and Circumlo¬ 
 cutions. 
 
 Befidcs, the Gentleman taking 
 tip things at random, and ior want 
 of a due nnderffanding of the mat¬ 
 ter, i* very unfortunate in his In¬ 
 fiances oi Faft, viz. 
 
 In his Preface, about the middle, 
 Jhis Words are, Has Abutment of 
 Vfury " ' jon e other/Mime Policy, 
 cbli^tr :•> F enen of Unto fet ufon 
 Tradt 4 xd MasuO-clms ? And then 
 he aim ms, that I dare not touch 
 on 
 
Th e PREFACE. 
 
 on that String, in regard that Na¬ 
 tion hath not for many Years alte¬ 
 red Intereft from 7 per Cent, 
 
 To his Interrogation, I anfwer 
 pofitively, that the Abatement of 
 U/ury hath done it; and if you will 
 not believe me, read the French fi- 
 dnSts themlclves, and they will tell 
 you fo (an Abftraft of one whereof 
 I have recited in the following 
 Treatife.) 
 
 To his Affirmation, that I dare 
 not touch upon this String, I fay, 
 I dare do it, and put the whole iflue 
 upon this, for the French in faft 
 have brought down the Ufe of Mo¬ 
 ney under 6 per Cent, and that to 
 5 per Cent lately; as I have been 
 credibly informed, and do believe; 
 and if they had omitted this, all 
 their bushing in' other things 
 would fignifie very little in conclusion. 
 
 The Sweeds likewile fince they 
 eftabliflied their Council of Trade , 
 and fet themfelves to the confide- 
 (h 2) ration 
 
The PREFACE. 
 ration of making themfelves con¬ 
 futable by Trade, have reduced 
 their Intereft from xo to 6 per Cent. 
 
 His following Words are, Do 
 Italy And Holland owe their Trade 
 and Riches to the lomtfs of Vftiry , or 
 to th ir innate Frugality, wonderful 
 Induflry, and admirable Arts , 8rc ? 
 
 I anfwer; low Inter ef is the na¬ 
 tural Mother of Frugality, Indu- 
 ftry and Arts, which I hope the 
 Gentleman's Eyes will be open e- 
 nough to lee by that time he hath 
 read a little further, and conlidered ; 
 two or three Years longer. j 
 
 But: it may be faid, How can a 
 low Intereft be the natural Mother 
 of Frugality, when, if this Gentle- ; 
 man be to be believed, Abatement \ 
 of our Vft-Money brought in our 
 Drinking ? which he does not on- » 
 ly lay, but prove, as he thinks, by l 
 an infhnce of Fad ; for he fays, we jj 
 now fpend ufually twenty thoufand ! 
 Tuns of french Wine, (and he be- jj 
 lieves jl 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 jieves that a far greater qua miry is 
 yearly Imported; and chat the com¬ 
 putation of Spanijh , Rhenijb and 
 Levant Wines fat exceeds the for= 
 mer, fo that by his calculate, & as he 
 fays, grounded upon a very good 
 authority , viz- a Report to the 
 Houle of Commons, it Ihould feem 
 that there is about the quantity of 
 forty five thoufand Tuns of Wine 
 of all forts Imported annually into 
 kngland. 
 
 But if it fhall appear in Fad, that 
 before the lalt abatement of Inte- 
 reft from 8 to 6 ptr Cent, we did 
 ufually import near twice the quan¬ 
 tity of Wines annually we now do, 
 and that now in all ibrts oi Wines 
 we do not import above the quan¬ 
 tity of twenty thouland Tuns year¬ 
 ly; then what will become of his 
 large Strudure, built upon a Sandy 
 Foundation ? 
 
 Reader! this is the Cafe, and the 
 matter of Fad truly recited by me, 
 t (A $) (which 
 
The ? REF ACE. 
 
 (which many of the honourable 
 Members of the Houfe of Commons 
 well know/ and miftaken by him; 
 from whence I might with much 
 more reafon infer, that the abate¬ 
 ment ef Intereft drove out our 
 Drinking (fo fro tunto it did ) but I 
 know there were likewife other 
 Caufes for it, efpecially the additi¬ 
 onal Duties that from time to time 
 have been laid upon Wines. 
 
 But before I part with the Gentle- 
 mn on this point, I muft note to 
 him another monftrous miftake in 
 Faft,' or at leaft in his Inference, 
 •viz. he fays, that twenty thoufand i 
 Tuns of French Wines at i s. 8 d. \ 
 fer Gallon, ‘ amounts to 646000/. 
 and concludes fit I underhand him ) 
 that fo much is loft to Englwd; 
 whereas/were ihe matter of Fad: : 
 ashe fuppoleth, which it is net fo in | 
 any meafure, this inference would I 
 be ftrangely erroneous; for by the | 
 isxpence of fuch a quantity we can ra» \] 
 ’’ tionally 
 
The PREFACE . 
 
 tionally lofc only the firft coft, 
 winch is but about 6 or 7 l.ftr Tun, 
 and that amounts to but 120000 1 . or 
 140000/. at the utmoit, all the 
 red: being Freight, Cuftom and 
 Charges paid to the Kjngy and our 
 own Country-men, and confequent- 
 ly not loll to England. 
 
 To conclude this Head, I do a- 
 gree fully with the Gentleman, that 
 Luxury and Prodigality are as well 
 prejudicial to Kingdoms as to pri¬ 
 vate Families; and that the ex¬ 
 pence of foreign Commodities, efpe- 
 cially foreign Manufactures, is the 
 worft expence a Nation can be in¬ 
 clinable to, and ought to be pre¬ 
 vented as much as poffible, but that 
 nothing hath or will incline this or 
 any other Nation more to Thrifti- 
 nets and good Husbandry, then 
 abatement of Interefl, I think I 
 have proved in the following Dif- 
 courfe, -.and that therefore all that 
 this Gentleman hath laid about 
 (A 4) Luxury 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 Luxury ,&c. is againft himfelf, and 
 for bffcning of Inrercft. 
 
 The Gentleman at the beginning 
 of his Preface faith, He will not en¬ 
 quire into the Lnfulnefs of Intereft, 
 hut leave the fcrupulotts to the ftverd 
 Difcourfes made fuhltck on that fub- 
 
 jtft. For my part I Ml agree with 
 him in that likewife; And to the ii • 
 tent that what hath been made 
 pubiick formerly may the better 
 be known, I would entreat thofe 
 that would be throughly fatis- 
 fied therein, diligently to perufean 
 excellent Treatifc, entituled,T^e£^- 
 Itjh Vfurer, or Vfury condemned, be¬ 
 ing a Collection of the Opinions of 
 many of the learned Fathers of the 
 Church of England, and other Di¬ 
 vines, Printed at London , Anno 
 1624. & now about to be Reprinted. 
 
 But upon this eccafion I fhall 
 humbly prefume to fay, that if by 
 the following Difcourfes it fhall 
 appear, that the Inrereft of England 
 bang higher then that of our Neigh- 
 Lands 
 
The TRET ACE. 
 
 hour Country, it doth rerider our 
 Lands (our common Mother,) of 
 vile and bate efteem; doth prevent 
 the cultivation and improvement 
 of our Country, as otherwife it 
 might and would be improved; doth 
 hinder the growth of Tradeand im- 
 ployment aud encreafe of the Hands 
 of our Country ; doth encourage 
 Idlenefsaod Luxury, anddilcourage 
 Navigation, Induftry, Arts and In¬ 
 vention ; then I mske no queftion 
 but the taking of fuchan Incereftas 
 exceeds the meafure of our Neigh¬ 
 bours, is ill Cc, by tile light 
 
 ofNature, and confequcntly a Sin, 
 although God had never' exprefly for¬ 
 bid it. 
 
 But the Vfunr may fay, fuppofc 
 the Borrower makes 12 fer cent of my 
 Money, is it a Sin in me to take 
 6 fer cent of him? I anfwer, be-» 
 tween them two there may be no 
 commutative Injuftice, according to 
 my weak Judgment, while each re¬ 
 gains a mutual Benefit, the Vfmr 
 
The PREFACE. J 
 
 for his Money, the Borrower for hisjj 
 Induftry; but in the mean time if| 
 the Rate given and taken exceed the| 
 Rate of our neighbour Narions, 
 ihefc fatal National evil Conic-, 
 tjuences will enfue to our common 
 Country by fuch a pra&ice, which 
 therefore I conclude to be 
 ttt ft : And peradventure therefore 
 the Wifdom of God Almighty did 
 prohibit the Jew from lending upon; 
 fjfeone to another, but allowed them 
 to lend to Strangers for the Enrich¬ 
 ing of their own Nation, and Im-.i 
 provement of their own Teritory,;? 
 mndfor tlrelmpoverilhing of others,! 
 fhofe to whom they were permitted! 
 40 lend, being fuch only whom they| 
 were commanded to Deftroy, or at PI 
 'leaft to keep Poor and Miferable, as'; 
 the Gikonms,&c. hewers of Wood, if 
 and drawers of Water. | 
 
 I purpolc to do the Gentleman | 
 "that right as not to omit taking no-| 
 tice of any thing he hath of novel-g 
 
 tyl 
 
The PREFACE. . 
 
 ty in relation to the prefent Contro¬ 
 verts,whether it be material or no ; 
 and in order th&reunto, the next 
 thing I obferve new in his Treatife, 
 is. Page 9 - It is, faith he, Deamefs of 
 Wages that ffoils the Englifh Trade, 
 andabafes our Lands, not Vfury ; and 
 therefore he propounds the making 
 a Law to retrench the Hire of Poor 
 'wens Labour, (an honefi charitable 
 Prof ft, and well becoming a Ufurcr) 
 the Anfwer to this is eafie. 
 
 ift,I affirm, and can prove he is 
 miftaken in fa£t, for the Dutch with 
 whom we principally contend in 
 Trade, give generally more Wages 
 to all their Manufacturers by at 
 leaft two Pence in the Shilling, then 
 the Englifj. 
 
 idly ,, Where-ever Wages are high 
 univerfally throughout the whole 
 World,, it is an infallible evidence of 
 the Riches of that Country; and 
 where-ever Wages for Labour runs 
 low 
 
The PREFACE,, 
 
 iqw, it is a proof of the Poverty of 
 that place. 
 
 3 * 1 /, It is multitudes of People, 
 and good Laws, fuch as caufe an 
 encreafe of People, which princi¬ 
 pally Enrich any Country; and if 
 we retrench by Law the Pabour of 
 our People, wc drive them from us 
 toother Countries that give better 
 Rates, and lb the Dutch have drain¬ 
 ed us of our Sea-men and woollen 
 ’Manufacturers ; and We, the French 
 
 of their Artificers and Silk'M aw* 
 fatfurers, and of many more we 
 fliould, if our Laws otherwife gave 
 them fitting encouragement, where¬ 
 of mote in due place. 
 
 4 thljr. If any particular Trades 
 exaft more here then in Holland, chey 
 arc only fuch as do it by vertue of In¬ 
 corporations, Priviledges and Char¬ 
 ters, whereof the cure is eafie by an 
 
 Aft of Nmrdimim, and without 
 
 Compulfitory Laws. 
 
 It 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 It is true our great Great Grand* 
 fatkrs did cxercife fuch a Policy of 
 | endeavouring to retrench the price of 
 Labour by a Law (although they 
 could never cffed it) but that was 
 before Trade was introduced into 
 this Kingdom .; we are fince, with 
 the reft of the Trading World, 
 grown Wifer in this matter, and I 
 hope (hall fo continue. 
 
 The next new Oojeftion the Gen¬ 
 tleman hath, is Page i]. If we abate 
 kterefi (faid he) mil not the Hol¬ 
 lander take the fame courfe , while we 
 like Children wink, and think no body 
 fees us? 
 
 Yes, certainly the Dutch will take 
 the fame courfe, except they leave 
 their old wont, for we never yet a- 
 bated our Intereft, but they foon a- 
 bated theirs; but what if they do? 
 We having brought our Intereft to 
 4 percent, fhall have them againfta 
 Wall, we know the length of their 
 Tedder, they cannot run much far 
 ther 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 ther from us fo that if we wink, i £ 
 is not like Children as the Gentle¬ 
 man fuppofcth, but if we take his 
 Advice, we fhall wink like Children, 
 while other Nations ftrike us by a- 
 bating their Inrereft. 
 
 2. If we cannot gain all we would 
 of them prcfently, we fhall gain 
 the more from other Parrs of the 
 
 World, that cannot fuddenly abate 
 their Intereft to any proportion with 
 ours. 
 
 $. Why fhall we abfolutely con¬ 
 clude that other Nations will do it ? 
 May we not think that fomc Parts 
 or People in the World, may be as 
 un-fore-feeing as this Gentleman 
 pre f ends to be, and not know it is 
 for their Advantage to lower their 
 Intereft, though we know it to be 
 ours? 
 
 4. Why may we not think that 
 Corruption, Avarice and Ufurers, 
 may bcfo prevalent in fome parts of 
 the 
 
! The PREFACE* 
 
 t ; World, as to obftrubl: fo good 
 J National a Work as this? 
 
 I omit feveral other Errors in fa& 
 at the Gentleman is guilty of in 
 jeourfe of his Writing, and muft 
 eds be lb, having taken up his flor¬ 
 ins (for want of Experience) up- 
 truft from others, who perhaps 
 „..derftand as little as himfelf, viz, 
 iPage 16, he faith, Our vent into Spaiil 
 and Portugal is g reatly lejfened, and 
 confequently he reckons them two 
 Trades, among others loft in whole 
 or in part, fo great a miftake, that I 
 dare affirm,and appeal to the Reccrd 
 of the Cufiom-Houfe Books, for a 
 judgment in this cafe, that thofe 
 two Trades, as to our native Expor- 
 .tions are more then treebled within 
 lefs then jo. years. 
 
 Page 21. he faith, that, If Wages, 
 &C. were as cheap , and Vfttry as low 
 with us as in Holland, yet if our Mer¬ 
 chants live at fo great a rate as now 
 tkydoj hows is it f&jjMe we flsould 
 thrive 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 thrive on as eafie Gains at thofe who 
 fpcndJo much lefs, and Trade fo much 
 
 more ? 
 
 Ianfwer, there is nothing .in the 
 World will engage our Merchants 
 to fpend lefs and Trade more, than 
 the Abatement of Intereft, for the 
 fubduing of Intereft will bring in 
 multitudes of Traders, as it hath in 
 Holland , to fuch a degree that al- 
 moft all their People of both Sexes 
 are Traders, and the many Traders 
 will necelfitate Merchants to Trade 
 for lefs Profit, and conlequently be 
 more frugal in their Expences,which 
 is the true rcafon why- many confide* 
 rabie Merchants are againft the 
 klfening of Intereft , whereof I have 
 laid fomewhat more in the following 
 Treatife. 
 
 Page 45.' he propounds another 
 remedy f r the advance of our 
 Trade, and the keeping our Coin 
 at Home, and enlargeth much upon 
 it in his Appendix, which.is To 
 diminijh 
 
The PREFACE 
 
 'dww(b the intrinfuk t. aliie of our 
 Coin. , 
 
 If the Gentleman had underftood 
 Trade half fo well, as he is (aid to do' 
 Mortgages, Bonds and Bids, certain¬ 
 ly he would not have mentioned this 
 old thred-bare and exploded Projed, 
 which is a trick hath been tried fo 
 often in Spain, till it hath left them' 
 more black Money (as they call it) 
 thert white or yellow, notwith- 
 flandihg their Silver Mines in Peru 
 ant]Mejc/V0,and that their Laws make 
 it Death to export Gold or Silver. 
 
 This Conceit I have known' three 
 times experienced likewife in Portu¬ 
 gal, within this 24 or 25 years, 
 atfirft the piecd of 8 Rials went at 
 406 Hies* after that was brought to 
 480, after that to 520, and now to 
 600 Ries, and yet ftill we bring their 
 Money from them as heretofore,and’ 
 fell our Commodities to them for as 
 fliuch Silver as ever. 
 
 The reafon is - evident j fuppofe 
 
 ( B ; fotf 
 
The FREFAcE. 
 
 for example, a Hat that was ufually 
 fold to them for 4 pieces of 8, when 
 the piece of 8 was at 400 Ries, wc 
 then fold fuch a Hat for 1600 Ries, 
 
 when they raifed the piece of eight 
 $0 Ries per piece more, we fold the 
 fame Hat at 2000 Ries, .and fo rifing 
 in proportion' as they raifed their 
 Coin; the Merchant hill obferving 
 what the intrinfiGk value of ; tfie Mo¬ 
 ney is, not the name it is called by, 
 and lb it would be in Eftglwd, or any 
 part of the World. 
 
 I have now done with all I can 
 find of novelty in this .Gentlemans 
 Treatifc; to meddle with old and 
 Rale matter, which in other words 
 hath been often faid, and as often 
 anfwered, would be but to trouble 
 the Rudtr with Impertinencics; fo 
 would it likewife to ufe opprobrious, 
 Calumniating Reflexions, as he doth 
 covertly in a bufineis of that feriouf- 
 Belsj weight and publick concern¬ 
 ment as this is ; I underhand not 
 tk s 
 
The PREFACE . 
 
 the World fo little as not to know, 
 that he that will faithfully ferve his 
 Country, muft be content to pafs 
 through good Report and evil Re' 
 port, neither regard I which I meet 
 
 with, 'truth j am fare at iaft 
 
 ltJlli itnb'tcatr it ftlf, and be found 
 by my Country- men. 
 
 Yet before I conclude this Preface^ 
 
 I muft needs take notice of one thing 
 | to be wondred at, viz. That fome 
 ! had the Confidence publiekly to af- 
 ’ fcrt before the Lords, when this Con- 
 troverfie was debated before their 
 Lcrdjhip ; that when Intereft was 
 at 10 percent Land was fold at 20 
 years Purchafe •, a ftrange, prefump- 
 tiousand incredible Aflertion againft 
 Records,, againft Experience, and 
 againlt Reafon ; to which I doubt 
 not but their Lordjhips will be able 
 to give a full confutation put of their 
 own Memorials, before this be made 
 publick. .. 
 
 And for the Reafon of it, will any 
 
 (B‘*) Man 
 
^ The PREFACE. 
 
 Man believe that our Fathers were 
 fo ftupid, as to lay out their Money 
 in Land,not to fee it again in twenty 
 years, when at fingle Intereft at ten 
 percent they might double their Mo¬ 
 ney in i o years, at Intereft upon In¬ 
 tereft in feven years? 
 
 I have been told by a perfon of ve¬ 
 ry great Honour, that this Gentle- 
 man himfelfin his private difeourfe, 
 confefleth, that the Abatement of 
 Intereft will advance the value of 
 Land ; but he queftions whether it 
 will encreafe Trade; certainly a 
 needlefs fcruple to any Man that 
 fliall deliberately confider the infepe- 
 rable affinity that is in all Nations, 
 and at all times between Land and 
 Trade, which are Twins, and have 
 always, and ever will wax and wane 
 together, It cannot be ill with Trade , 
 but Land will fail, nor ill with Lands, 
 but Trade will feel it. 
 
 Butin regard this Gentleman is fo 
 milerably miftaken in the Trades 
 of 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 of Spain and Portugal , which he 
 reckons as loft; I think it may be 
 ufeful to inform him, and others bet¬ 
 ter, what Trades are really loft, and 
 enquire how we came to loofe them ? 
 and what Trades we ftill retain, and 
 why, and of both as briefly as I can ? 
 becaufc I have laid fomething of 
 them in the following Treatife. 
 
 Of Trades loft. 
 
 | r. The Ruffin Trade, where the 
 | Patch had lalt year 22 Sail of great 
 | Ships,and the Engiljb. but one, where¬ 
 as formerly wc had more of that 
 Trade then the Dutch » 
 
 1. The Green-land Trade, where 
 the Dutch and Hamburgers have year¬ 
 ly at leaft 4 or 500 Sail of Ships, and 
 the Englijh but one the laft year, and 
 none the former. 
 
 The great Trade of Salt from 
 St Vualf in Portugal , and from France, 
 (B ]) with 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 with Salt, Wine and Brandy to the 
 Eafi-lands. 
 
 4. All that vaft and notorious 
 Trade of Fifiling for whit e-Herrings 
 upon our own Coaft. 
 
 5. The Fafi-Country Trade, in 
 which we have not half fo much to do 
 as we had formerly, and the Dutch 
 ten times more then they had in 
 times paft. 
 
 6. A very great part of our Trade 
 for Spamfb-Woods from Bilvao. 
 Thefe Traces and fome more I could 
 name, the Dutch Intereft of $per 
 cent, and narrow iimitted Compq,- 
 hies in England have beat us out 
 of. 
 
 7. The Eafi-India Trade for Nut¬ 
 megs, Cloves and Mace, (an extra¬ 
 ordinary profitable Trade,) the Dutch 
 Arms and Sleights have beat us out 
 of; but their lower Intereft gave 
 ftrength to their Arms, and acute - 
 nefs to their Invention. 
 
 ; 8. Their 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 %, Their great Trade for China mi 
 'jAftn, (whereof we havenofharej 
 is an effect of their low Intercil, 
 thofe Trades not being to be obtained 
 but by a long precefs, and great di£ 
 burftments, deftitute of prelent, but 
 with expe&ation of future Gm 9 
 which 6 per cent cannot bear. 
 
 9> Tt\e Trades of Scotland and Ire- 
 knd , two of our o\yn Kingdoms, 
 the Dutch have bereaved us of, and 
 in effeft wholly engrolfed to them- 
 falves; which their low Intercft hath 
 been the principal engine, though 1 
 know other accidents have contribu¬ 
 ted thereunto, whereof more hereafter. 
 
 io. Th eTradcfor Norway is in great 
 part loft to the Dam , Holfieners^&c„ 
 by reafon of fome claufes is theJ^of 
 Navigation, whereof more in due 
 place. 
 
 11. A very great part of the French 
 for Exportation is loft, by rea¬ 
 fon of great Imp&fitions laid there 
 upon our Draperies, 
 
 (BO i2. A 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 12. A great parr of the Plafe* 
 Trade from Cadiz is loft to the Dutch, 
 who by reafon of the lownels of their 
 Intereft, can afford to let their Stocks 
 lie before-hand at Civil and Cadiz, 
 againft the arrival of the Spanifb f lo¬ 
 ta, who fometimes are expe&ed 3, 
 6 , 9, and u Months before they 
 come, efpecially fince the late inter¬ 
 ruptions that our' Jamaica Capers 
 have given them; by which means 
 they engrofsthe greateft part of the 
 Silver, whereas we, in regard our 
 Stocks run at a higher Intereft, can¬ 
 not fo well afford to keep them fo 
 long dead. It is true, the En^lifi 
 have yet a jftiare in this Trade; by 
 reafon of fome after recited' natural 
 advantages, viz. Woollen-Mantt- 
 faBures , Tin, Lead , Lift, &c. infe* 
 parably annexed by God's Providence 
 to this Kingdom. It is true likewife, 
 that the Peace at Munjler hath much 
 furthered the Dutch in that affair; 
 
 but 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 butastrueit is, that their lower In* 
 tereft hath enabled them to make a 
 much greater improvement and ad¬ 
 vantage in Trade by that Peace,then 
 I ever they could otherwife have done. 
 
 15. The Trade of Surranbamfi inoe 
 tile Dutch got poffeflion of that 
 Country in the late War, is fo to¬ 
 tally loft to the Englijfj, that we 
 hayenowno more Commerce with 
 that Country, then we ihould have 
 if it were funk in the Sea; fo fevere 
 and exaft are the Hollanders ,in keep¬ 
 ing the Trades of their own Planta¬ 
 tions iotirely to their own People 
 
 14. The trade of Menades or New- 
 fork ,, we ihould have gained inftead 
 of the former,fince we got pofleftion 
 of that place in the late War, if the 
 Dutch had not bln connived at there¬ 
 in at firft,which nowl hope they are 
 not; for if they ihould be, it would 
 not only be to the intire lofs of that 
 Trade to England, but greatly to the 
 prejudice of the Engltjh trade to Vir- 
 
The PREFACE . 
 
 ginia, becaufe the Dutch, under pre« 
 tence of trading to and from New- 
 fork, carry great quantities of Viy- 
 giniaTobaccod ire£lly for Holland. 
 
 i The Englifh Trade to Qttinj I 
 fear is much declined, by reafon 
 that Company have met with Dif- 
 eouragements from fome of our 
 Neighbours. 
 
 Note , That moft of the afore¬ 
 mentioned Trades are the greateft 
 Trades in the World, for the em¬ 
 ployment of Shiping and Sea-men. 
 
 2 dly. That no Trades deferve fo 
 much care to procrue, and preferve, 
 and encouragement to profecute, as 
 thofe that employ the moft Shiping, 
 although the Commoditities tranf- 
 ported be of fmall value in them- 
 felves; For, flrjl, they are certain¬ 
 ly the moft profitable ‘ y for befides 
 the gain acerewing by theGoodsdhe 
 Freight, which is in fuch Trades of¬ 
 ten more then the value of the 
 Goods, is all profit to the Nation; 
 
 befides. 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 befides, they bring with them a 
 great accefs of Power ( Hands as 
 well as Money) many Ships and Sea - 
 men. being jufily the reputed Strength 
 and Safety of England. 
 
 I could mention more Trades 
 that we have loft, and are in the 
 Highrway to loofe, but I (hail for¬ 
 bear at prefent, for fear this Porch 
 fhould prove too big, as alio, for 
 other Reafons. 
 
 The Trades we yet retain are; 
 i ft, For Fifh, the Trade of Red- 
 Herrings at Yarmouth, Pilchards 
 in the Weft-Country.) and Cod-fifty in 
 Ne Wr found-la nd WNew-EngJand. 
 
 2dly, A good part of the Turkey , 
 Italian fpan/jh and Portugal Trades. 
 
 Our Trades..to and from our own 
 Plantations , viz. Virginia , Barba- 
 does , New-England) Jamaica , and 
 the Leward Mauds, 
 
 If any fhall here ash me, How it 
 comes to pafs that t|ie Dutch low 
 Intereft hath not caihered us of 
 thcfe 
 
The PREFACE. 
 tfiefe Trades, as well as the former ? 
 
 I (hall anfwer, firft generally> and 
 then particularly. 
 
 x. Generally I fay , the Dutch 
 low lntcreft hath miferably leffend 
 mi* all Trades of the World , »t ft- 
 eared to us by Laws, or by fome natu¬ 
 ral advantage which over-ballanceth j 
 the difproportion of oar Inttreft of 
 Money , which difproporfion I take 1 
 to be ^ per cent. 
 
 2. Particularly the Red-Herring | 
 Trade we retain, by reafon of two 
 natural Advantages, one is,the Fifii 
 for that purpofe muft be brought 
 freflh on Shore, and that the Dutch 
 cannot do with theirs, becaufe the 
 Herrings fwim on our Coaft, and 
 confequently at too great a diitance 
 front theirs. . 
 
 The other is, thofc Herrings muft 
 be fmoked with Wood, which can* 
 not be done on any reafonable 
 terms, but in a woody Country,fuch 
 as England is, and Holland is not. 
 J.... Thefe 
 
The PREFACE . 
 
 fhefe advantages that God hath 
 riven our Land do counterpoize, 
 ind overpoize the difproportion of 
 [ntereft,v/s. 3 per Cent, otherwif® 
 we might fay, Farewel Red-Her- 
 riwzs well as White. 
 
 The Pilchards on the Weft-Coaft 
 likewife come to our Shores, and 
 muft.be cured and preffed upon the 
 Land, which is impoffible for the 
 Dutch to do. 
 
 The New-found-land Fijhing is 
 managed by Weft - Country-men, 
 whofe Ports are properly feituated 
 for that Country, and the Country it 
 [elf is his Majejly's ; fo the Dutch 
 an have ho footing there , if they 
 could, $ per Cent would foon fend m 
 borne to keep Sheep . 
 
 As to the Turkey, Italian Spanifh 
 and Portugal Trades , though our 
 vent for fine Cloth, and fome forts 
 of Stuffs be declined, yet we retain 
 a very confiderable part of thole 
 Trades, by reafon of fome Natural, 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 and tome Artificial or Legal Advaa 
 tages, which preponderates 3 p 
 cent, fuch as riiefc : 
 
 ' 1/, The Wool of which our mid- 
 firig and courts Clothes are made of, 
 is our own) and confequently cheap¬ 
 er to us then the butch can heal it 
 from us, paying Freights , Com. 
 mffton, Bribes and C open age, and 
 fometimcs armed Guards to force it 
 off. , 
 
 2 dtp Our fewel and Victual is 
 cheaper in remote parts from London, 
 and confequently our Manufa&u- 
 rers can and do work cheaper then 
 the Dutch, whatever Mr Manky 
 efroneouflyaffirms., 
 
 ' jetty, The Red-Herring, Pilchard, 
 New-found-land and New-England I 
 Mery, by which we carry on 
 rriftch of thofeTrades,areinfepara» 
 J% annexed to this Kingdom, as be- 
 fore is demonffrated, and by the 
 bounty of God Almighty, not by our 
 dwn? Wifdom or Induftry. 
 
The PREFACE, 
 
 qthly. Our Lead and 7 V#, by-which 
 we carry on touch of thofe Trades, 
 are Natives with us. 
 
 ^thly , Our Comtry confumes 
 within it felf more of Sfanijb Wims 
 tnd Fruit , Zant Cumins and Le¬ 
 vant Oyls, then any Country in 
 Europe. 
 
 6 tbly, Which is an artificial advan¬ 
 tage (and due to the wifdom of the 
 Contrivers) our Acl of Navigation 
 compels us,or at leaft would do, ifit 
 were juftly adminiftred, to import 
 'none of thofe Goods but from the 
 proper Ports of their Imbarkation,- 
 and by Englijh Shiping only. 
 
 The Trades to and from allour 
 o ymPUnuitions, are like wife&cu- 
 redjtous by the AB of Navigation, 
 or would be, if that Ad wereJtruly 
 executed, and if it were not for 
 that, you fhould fee forty Dutch 
 Ships at our own Plantations for' 
 One Englifh. 
 
 To conclude this paragraph, the 
 Dmh 
 
The PREFACE . 
 
 Dutch . W htereft, through ourom 
 fupntnefs , u .? totally- of 
 
 dll Trade, not injeperably annexed to 
 thts Kjngdom by the benevolence of 
 divine Providence , W oar of 
 Navigation , which, though it-have 
 fome things in it wanting amend¬ 
 ment ,, deferves to be called due 
 (Ctjatta Slpanttma) infomuchas 
 with frame to our (elves, it maybe! 
 truly faidof us, as wc Proverbially 
 fay. to' carelefs Perfons, They have 
 loft all that is loofe. 
 
 When I think of thefe things, t 
 cannot but wonder that there fhould 1 
 be found Engltjbmen w\\o l Want not : 
 Bread to eat, or Clothes to wear, 
 fhould be yet- fb unkind and hard¬ 
 hearted to their Country, asftrg- 
 niioufly to endeavour 1 ('for private 1 
 Ends,? the depriving her offo great’ 
 agoodv as Would be the abatement 
 ©four Intereft to 4 per Cent, by a 
 law. I have lately feen a Treadle’ 
 #rit about? thirty YearsTmcev by 
 Lewis 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 htwh Roberts, Merchant ■ wherein 
 he highly exaggerates (and with 
 great Reafon/ the wonderful ad¬ 
 vantage the Dutch have by t he low- 
 nefs of their Cuftoms, “but feeing an 
 exafl imitation in that refpeft is not 
 eonfiilant with our Adairs at pro-, 
 lent, though much tobedefired in 
 due time. I infill .not thereupon, 
 but think it mcdlary by the way. 
 to make this true Animadvert!' n, 
 viz. That 2 fer Cent, extraordinary 
 in Inter eft is worfe then 4 per Cent. 
 extraordinary in Cupjrns , because 
 Qi<(loms run only upon our Goods,' 
 imported or exported, and that 
 hue once for all; whereas fntcreil 
 runs as well upon our Ships, as 
 Goods, and mull be yearly paid 
 on both fo long as they arc in being, 
 and the Ships in many bulkey 
 Trades, and fuch as are Nationally 
 mod profitable, are of four times the 
 value of the Goods. 
 
 That old Objection about n i~ 
 (C) dom e 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 dows and Orphans, I have I think 
 fully aniwered in my former Trea- 
 tife, but becaufe I yet fometimes 
 meet with it, I fball fay a Word 
 more to it here, viz. 
 
 1. Widows and Orphans are not 
 one to twenty of the whole People ; and 
 its the Wifdom of Law-makers to pro¬ 
 vide for the good of the Majority of 
 People , though a Minor part fhould a 
 little ftijfer. 
 
 2. Of Widows and Orphans , not 
 one in forty will fttffer hy the abatement 
 of Inter eft for rhefc Realbns, viz. 
 
 i/, Of Widows and Orphans nine 
 of ten in this Kingdom have very 
 little or nothing at all left them by 
 their deceafcd Relations, and all 
 fuch will have an advantage by the 
 abatement of Intercft, becaufe fuch 
 abatement will encreale Trade, and 
 in conlequence occafion more em¬ 
 ployment for fuch neceffitous Per- 
 fons. 
 
 idly, Many Widows and Orphans 
 
 have 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 have Joyntures, Annuities, Coppy- 
 Holds , and other Lands left them, 
 as well as Money; and all fuch will 
 be gainers by the abatement of In- 
 tereft. 
 
 Idly, For all London Orphans the 
 City gives not now above 5, and 
 to fome 4 per cent. Intereft, fo the 
 lols to fuch is not worth (peaking 
 of; 
 
 4 thly, Many Executors are fo un¬ 
 worthy as to allow Orphans no lit¬ 
 tered:, and yet juftifie themfelves 
 by Law; to fuch Orphans it will be 
 all one what the legal rate of Inte- 
 reftbe. 
 
 yhly, When the Law for abate¬ 
 ment of Interelt is paid, many more 
 Parents will leave their Children 
 Annuities and Eftates running in 
 Trade, as they do in Holland and 
 Italy, whereby the abatement of In- 
 tered: will become profitable,not pre¬ 
 judicial to them. 
 
 And for the few tint at firf may 
 f C 2} hap- 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 happen to fuffer, whereof the num¬ 
 ber will be very fmall /and there¬ 
 fore not to be named in competition 
 with the common good of the King¬ 
 dom ) they have an cafie means 
 within their own Power, to prevent 
 their being one Farthing the worle 
 for the abatement of Intercft; it is 
 but wearing a Lawn-Whisk inftead 
 of a ■ Point de V inice ; and for the 
 meaner fort a Searge Petty-Coat, 
 inftead of a Silk one, and a plain 
 pair of Shoes inftead of laced ones. 
 And that the Ladies may not be 
 offended with me, I dare undertake 
 that this will never fpoil, but mend 
 their Marriages; belides the grea¬ 
 ter good it will bring to their Coun¬ 
 try, and to their Pofterities after 
 them, whether they prove to be 
 Noblemen, Gentlemen or Mer¬ 
 chants, &c. 
 
 I have in feveral places of my enfu- 
 ing Treatife,referred to fame Tra&s 
 I formerly publifhed upon this fub- 
 jed 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 jc®, which being now wholly out 
 of Print, I thought fit to Re-print 
 and annex unto this, which at firft 
 I intended not. 
 
 Some there are who would grant 
 that abatement of Inter e (l, if it could 
 be effaced, would procure to the 
 Nation all the good that I alledgc it 
 will bring with it, but fay it is not 
 practicable^ or at leaf not now. 
 
 1. A needlefs fcruplc, and yon- ' 
 tradi&ory to experience, for firft, 
 cl Law hath abated Interef in Eng¬ 
 land, three times within thefe few 
 Tears already \ and whatfhould hinder 
 its effett now more then formerly ? 
 
 2. If a Law will not do it, why 
 do the. Vfurers raife fuch a duft, and 
 engage fo many Friends to oppofe 
 the palling of an A£b to this purpofe?' 
 
 The true reafon is, becaufe they 
 are wife enough to know that a 
 Law will certainly do it, as it hath 
 done already, though they would 
 perfwade others the contrary. And 
 C j if 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 if it be doubted we have not Money 
 enough in England. Befides what 
 Ihavefaid in my former Treatife as 
 to the encreafe of our Riches in ge¬ 
 neral, Ifhall here give fome further 
 Reafons of probability,which are the 
 beft that can be expe&ed in this 
 ojje, to prove that we have now 
 much more Money in England then wt 
 had twenty fears jdjfl ■ 
 
 ’ 'j^otwithRanding the feepiing 
 {carcity at prefent,' if I fhould look 
 further bach then twenty years, the 
 argument would be ftrongcr on my 
 fide, and the proportion of the 'en- 
 creafc of Money greater, ana more 
 perfpicuous; but I fhall confine pay 
 felf to that time which is within 
 moft mens Memories. 
 
 1. We give generally now qne 
 third more Money with Appren¬ 
 tices then we did twenty years paft. 
 
 2. Notwithstanding the decay 
 
 and lofs of fundry Trades and Ma¬ 
 nufactures, yet in the grofs we Ship 
 off now one third part more of the 
 l/ Manu- 
 
The PREFACE . 
 
 Manufa&ures, as alfo Lead and Tin, 
 then wc did twenty years pad, 
 which is a caufe, as well as a proof 
 of our inereafe of Money. 
 
 If any doubt this, if they pleafe 
 to confult Mr Dickins , Surveyor of 
 his Majefties Cujtoms ,who is the bed 
 able I know living, and hath taken 
 the mod pains in thefe Calculations, 
 he may be fatisfa&orily refolved. 
 
 3. Houles new built in London 
 ^ield twice the Rent they did be¬ 
 fore the Fire; and Houfes generally 
 immediately before the Fire yield¬ 
 ed about one fourth part more Rent 
 then they did twenty years pad. 
 
 4. The fpeedy and codly build¬ 
 ings of London is a convincing (and 
 to Strangers an amazing ) Argu¬ 
 ment of the plenty, and late encrcale 
 of Money in England. 
 
 5. We have now more then double 
 the quantity of Merchants Shifting 
 we had twenty years pad.' 
 
 6. The courfe of our Trade from 
 the inereafe of our Money is ftrange- 
 
 (C 4) ly 
 
The ? REF ACE. 
 
 ly altered within thefc twenty years, 
 moil Payments from Mtrchms anti 
 Shop-keepers being now made with 
 ready Money, whereas formerly die 
 couric of our general Trade run at 
 three, fix, nine, t welve and eighteen 
 Months time. 
 
 But if this cafe be fo clear, fame 
 jnay ask me, How comes it to pdfs 
 that nil forts of men comphin fo much 
 of the femitf of Money, efp.ee i Ally in 
 the Country ? 
 
 My anfwcrs to this Query ar e,viz. 
 
 i. This proceeds from the Frail¬ 
 ty and Corruption of humane Na¬ 
 ture, it being natural for men to 
 complain of the .prefent, and com¬ 
 mend the times pail; fo faid they of 
 Old, Tk former Mjs were falter then 
 theft ; and I can fay in truth, upon 
 my own Memory, that men did 
 complain as much of the fcarcity of 
 Money, ever fince I knew the world 
 as they do now ; nay, the very fame 
 f erfon* that now complain of this, 
 and commend that.time. % .And 
 
. The PREFACE. 
 
 2. And more particularly, This 
 complaint proceeds from many turn 
 fading themfelves ttneafie in the ma.tr 
 ters of their Religion , it being nar 
 rural for men, when they arc dik 
 contented at one thing, to complain 
 of all, and principally to utter their 
 difcontents and complaints in thole 
 tilings which are moft popular. 
 Thofe that hate a man for forne one 
 caufe,will feldom allow of any thing 
 that is good in him; and fomi that 
 are angry with, one perfon, or thing, 
 will find fault with others that gave 
 them no olfence ; like peevilh Per- 
 fonsthat meeting difcontent abroad, 
 coming home, quarrel with their 
 Wifes, Children, Servants, &c. 
 
 I And more cfpccially this com¬ 
 plaint in tho Country, proceeds from 
 the late practice of bringing up the 
 Tax-Money in Wagons to London, 
 which did doubtlcfs caufe a fcarcity 
 of Money in the Country. 
 
 . 4. And principally this feming 
 fcarcity 
 
The PREFACE, 
 
 funky of Money proceeds front the 
 ‘Trade of Bunkering, which obftru&s 
 circulation, advancetsh Ul’urjr, and 
 renders it fo eafie, that molt Men 
 as Toon as they can make up a Sum 
 ®f'$o /. or a ioo /. fend it into the 
 Gold-Smith; Which doth , and will 
 mdfton while it lifts, that fatal prejfiHg 
 xehffity for Money, fovifthle through - 
 Gift the Me Kingdom, hath to fringe 
 and People. 
 
 From what hath been laft faid, it 
 appears the matter in England is pre¬ 
 pared for the abatement of Intereft 
 which as Sr Henry Blunt, (an hon¬ 
 ourable Member of his Majefties 
 Council ol Trade) well faid before 
 the Lords at the debate, is the 
 HMtm towards the prof- 
 
 perity of this Kingdom: It is a 
 -generative good, and will bring ma* 
 try other |ood things with it. 
 
 I Iball condude with two or three 
 Requefts to the Reader. 
 
 i. That he would Read, and con- 
 fider 
 
The. PREFACE, 
 
 fider what he Reads, with an entire 
 Love to his Country, void of pri¬ 
 vate kterefts, and former ill ground¬ 
 ed impreflions received into his mind, 
 to the prejudice of this princi¬ 
 ple. 
 
 2. That he would Read all (mind¬ 
 ing the matter, not the ftile) before 
 he make a judgment. 
 
 That in all his meditations up¬ 
 on thele Principles, - he would wari¬ 
 ly drftinguifh between the Profit of 
 the Merchant ; and the Gain Of the 
 which are fo far from be¬ 
 ing always parallels, that frequent¬ 
 ly they run counter one to the other, 
 although moft Men by their Educa¬ 
 tion and Bufmefs, having fixed their 
 eye and aim wholly upon the for* 
 met, 'do ufuajly,confound thefe two 
 in their Thoughts and Difcourfos of 
 Trader or elfe mifohe the former 
 for the latter; from which falfe mea- 
 iures have proceeded, many vulgar 
 errors, in Trade, fome whereof by 
 reafon 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 reafon of Mens frequent miftakmgs, 
 as afore-faid, are become almoft 
 Proverbial, .and often heard out of 
 the Mouths,not only of the common 
 Pcople,butof Men that might know 
 better, if they would duly confider 
 the afore-faid diftin&ion. 
 
 Some of the laid common Prover¬ 
 bial errors are, viz. 
 
 ' "M- "Vulgar Error ; We have too ma- 
 ny Merchants already. 
 
 2. The Stock of England is too hi* 
 fortheTrade of England. 
 
 2 j No Man fbould exercif• two CalL 
 ings. 
 
 4 * fyfecklljno Shop-keeper. ought 
 to be a Merchant. 
 
 1 Tuxuryandfome Excefs may be 
 profitable. \ ; ; 
 
 bvfflehkve people enough, and more 
 tkn-ke can employ. < 
 
 . 7 * To Jttfer Jrtifters to have as 
 many Apprentices as they wiB y is to de¬ 
 ftroy Trade. 
 
 1 The admijfm of Strangers is to 
 tall 
 
t\\t PREFACE. 
 
 (aH in others to eat the Bread out of our 
 own Mouthes. 
 
 g. No man ought to Live And Trade 
 in a Corporationjhat is not a Freeman 
 of the flate. 
 
 10. Nor jhould Any bt Free-men, 
 that Are not the fons of Free-men, 
 or have ferved feven years Jppren- 
 tifbip. 
 
 11. Its better we Trade but for a- 
 hundred pound at 20 per cent. proft 1 
 then for three hundred At re percent, 
 f refit, and fo pro rata. 
 
 12. Our Plantations depopulate , and 
 ionftftently intpoverijh England ; with 
 abundance more that might be na¬ 
 med, but that many of them are 
 occafionally hinted, and I hope them 
 and others confuted in the following 
 Difcourfe. 
 
 By what hath been faid, and what 
 follows, as well as by what moft 
 Men obferve; It is evident that 
 this Kingdom is wonderfully fitted by 
 the bounty of God Almighty for a great 
 Progrcsfion 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 Pr8grejJion in Wealth and Fewer ; and 
 that the only means to arrive at both 
 or either of them, is to improve and 
 advance Trade j and that die way 
 to thofe Improvements is riot hedg¬ 
 ed up with thorns, nor hidden from 
 us in the dark, or intrigued with dif¬ 
 ficulties,'. but very natural and facile,? 
 if wc would fet about them, and be¬ 
 gin the right way, calling off fome 
 of our old miftaken Principles 
 in Trade, which we inherit from 
 our Anceffors, who were Souldiers, 
 Hunts-men, and Hcrds-men, and 
 therefore neceffarily unskilful in the 
 Myfteries of, and Methods to im¬ 
 prove Trade (though their natural 
 Parts were nothing inferiour to ours ) 
 Trade being but a novel thing in ; 
 ^/^comparatively to other parts 5 
 of the World; and in my opinion 
 not yet advanced to the one fifth 1 
 part of improvement that this 5 Land 
 is capable of, and I think no true 
 will deny that the feafo n 
 
'YteTRtfACE. 
 
 ries aloud to us to be up and doing, 
 before our Fields become unoccupied/ 
 and before the Dutch get too much 
 the whip-hand of us, whom ('in fuch 
 a cafe were they freed from their 
 French fears which they labour under 
 at prefent J I fear we fhould find 
 asfevere task-Matters, as ever the 
 Athenians were to the letter Trading 
 Cities of Greece. 
 
 Neither are the Dutch the only 
 Neighbours we have at this time for 
 corrivals in Trade, but the French 
 Kjng and KJng of Sweeden are now as 
 aftivc, circumfpedh induftrious and 
 profpe&ive too in this Affair; and 
 have, and arc orderingthingsas pru¬ 
 dently for promoting thereof, as the 
 Dutch themfelves. 
 
 When I began to Write this Trea- 
 tife, I intended not to enlarge upon 
 fo many particulars, and the rather 
 bccaufc nothing can be faid for pub- 
 lick good, but will crofs the particu¬ 
 lar ends, as well as the opinions of 
 many 
 
The PREFACE; 
 
 many private perfons, and ftill the 
 niore is faid, the more are difobligcd^; 
 but my Duty to my Country over-, 
 coming thofe doubtful Confideratk 
 ons, I have adventured this fecond 
 time to expofe my Conceptions to 
 publick cenfure, withthis confidence, 
 that after thefe Principles have fuft 
 fered theaccuftomary Perfection of 
 Tongues and Pens,naturally and con* 
 ftantly accompanying all new Pro^ 
 pofal's for a wliile, they will at length 
 themeft,ifnotairof them, orfome* 
 thing very like them, come to bege< 
 serally received and honoured with’ 
 the publick San&ion, by being pab 
 led into Laws (gradually not at 
 once) concerning the time whereof 
 I am not' careful, but for my Coun^ 
 tries fake* l mid wtjh it might ht 
 fjjorkntd. 
 
THE 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Firft, \ Difmrfe Concerning 
 J\ Trade, &c. 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 A fieri Reply to a Treatife , emit tiled, 
 
 Iatereft of Money Miftaken, p. i. 
 
 Chap. 11. 
 
 Concerning the Relief and Employ - 
 meat of the Poor, p. j ^ 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 Concerning Companies of Merchants, 
 
 p- 8o.- 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Concerning the Alt of Navigation, 
 
The CONTENTS. 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Concerning Transference of Debts , 
 p. 106. 
 
 Chap. VI. 
 
 Comtrning a Court-Merchant, p. 112. 
 
 Chap. VII. 
 
 Concerning Naturalization, p. 122. 
 
 Chap. VIII. 
 
 Concerning Wool and Wollen Mam- 
 failures , p. 127. 
 
 Chap. IX. 
 
 Concerning the Ballance of Trade , 
 
 Chap. X. 
 Concerning Plantations, 
 
 p.135. 
 
 p.164. 
 
 Jfinall Treat ife againf Vfury $.20^ 
 
 A 
 
CO 
 
 A 
 
 DISCOURSE 
 
 Concerning 
 
 CraUe, ft*' 
 
 T UE Prodigious increafe of the 
 Netherlanders in their Dorae- 
 ftick and Foreign Trade, 
 Riches, and multitude of Shipping, is 
 the Envy of the prefent, and may be 
 the wonder of all future Generations: 
 And yet the means whereby they 
 have thus advanced themfelves, are 
 fufficiently obvious, and in a great 
 meafure linkable by mod: other Nati¬ 
 ons, butmoreeafilybyus of this King¬ 
 dom of England, which I fhall endea¬ 
 vour to demonftrate in the following 
 Difcourfe. 
 
 Some of the faid means by which 
 ( d 2 ) they 
 
( *5 
 
 they haye advanced their Trade, and 
 thereby improved their Eftatcs are thefe 
 following. 
 
 Firfi , They have in their greatcft 
 Councils of State and War , Trading- 
 Merchants that have lived abroad in 
 molt parts of the World; who have 
 not only the Theoretical Knowledge, 
 but the pradical Experience of Trade, 
 by whom Laws and Orders are contri¬ 
 ved, and Peaces with foreign Princes 
 projeded, to the great Advantage of 
 their Trade. 
 
 Stcmdly , Their Law of GaMind, 
 whereby all their Children polfefs an e- 
 qualffiareof their Fathers Eftates after 
 their deceafe, and fo arc not left to 
 wraftle with the World in their youth, 
 with inconfiderable affiftance of Fortune, 
 as moft of our youngeft Sons of Gen¬ 
 tlemen in England are, who are bound 
 Apprentices to Merchants. 
 
 Thirdly, Their exa& making of all 
 their Native Commodities, and pack¬ 
 ing of their Herrings, Codfifh, and all 
 other Commodities, which they fend a- 
 broad in great quantities; the confe¬ 
 rence whereof is, That the repate of 
 their faid Commodities abroad, conti¬ 
 nues 
 
(i) 
 
 jiues always good, and the Buyers will 
 accept of them by the Marks, without 
 opening ) whereas the Filh which our 
 Fnglifti make in New-found’ Land and 
 New-Fngland, and Herrings at Yarmouth, 
 often prove falfe and deceitfully made; 
 and our Pilchards from the Weft Country 
 falfe packed, feldom containing the 
 quantity for which the Hogfheads are 
 marked in which they are packed. 
 
 And in England the attempts which 
 our fore fathers made for Regulating 
 of Manufactures, when left to the Ex¬ 
 ecution of fome particular perfon, in 
 a fhort time refolved but into a Tax up¬ 
 on the Commodity, without refpeft to 
 the goodnefs thereofj as moft notori- 
 otifly appears in the bufmefs of the 
 A U' L N A G E, which doubtlefs our 
 Predecefibrs intended foraferutiny in¬ 
 to the goodnefs of the Commodity \ 
 and to that purpofe a Seal was invented, 
 as a fignal that the Commodity was 
 made according to the Statutes , which 
 Seals it is faid, may now be bought by 
 Thoufands, and put upon what the 
 Buyers pleafe. 
 
 Fourthly, Their giving great incou- 
 ragement and immunities to the Inven¬ 
 tors 
 
tots : of New-Manufa&itres, and the 
 Difcoverers of any New Myfteries in 
 Trade, and to thofe that ftiall bring the 
 Commodities of other Nations firft in 
 life and practice amoirgft them, for 
 which the Author never goes without 
 Aik due Reward allowed him. at the Pub- 
 Sick' Charge. 
 
 Fifthly , Their Contriving and Build¬ 
 ing of great Ships to fail with finall 
 charge,, not above one third of what 
 We are at, for Ships of the fame Bur¬ 
 then in England. \ and compelling their 
 feid Ships (being of fmall Force ) to 
 fail always in Fleets, to which jn all time 
 of danger they allow Convoy. 
 
 - Sixthly , Their parciraonious and 
 thrifty Living, which is fo extraordina¬ 
 ry,. that a Merchant of One hundred 
 fihoufand Pound Eftate with them, will 
 fcarce fpend fo much per mmm , as one 
 of Fifteen hundred Pounds Eftate in 
 London. 
 
 Seventhly , The Education of their 
 Children, as well Daughters as Sons; 
 all which, be they of never fo great 
 Quality or Eftate, they always take care 
 lo king, up to write perfed good 
 
Hands, and to have the full -knowledge 
 and ufe of Jrithemetick and Mtrchms* 
 Accounts, the well undemanding and 
 practice whereof, doth ftrangdy infufe 
 into raoft that are the owners of that 
 Quality, of either Sex, not only an A- 
 bility for Commerce of all kinds, but 
 a itrong aptitude, love and delight ia 
 it; and in regard the Women are -as 
 knowing therein as the Men, it doth 
 incourage their Husbands to hold on 
 in their Trades to their dying days, 
 knowing the capacity of their W ives 
 to get in their Eftates, and carry on 
 their Trades after their Deaths.: 
 Whereas if a Merchant in EngUnd ar¬ 
 rive at any confiderable Eftatc, he com¬ 
 monly with-draws his Eftate from 
 Trade, before-he comes near the con¬ 
 fines of old Age-, reckoning that if 
 God fhonld call him out of the World, 
 while the main of his Eftate is engaged 
 abroad in Trade, he muft lofe one third 
 of it, through the unexperience and 
 junaptnefs of his Wife to fuch Affairs, 
 and fo it ufually falls out. 
 
 Bcfides, it hath beenobferved in the 
 nature of Arithmetic^ that like other 
 parts of the Adatbemtfkhs., it doth not 
 only 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 only Improve the Rational Faculties, but 
 inclines thofe that are expert in it to 
 Thriftinefs and good-Husbandry, and 
 prevents both Husbands and Wives inf 
 fome meafure from running out of their 
 Eftates, when they have it always rea¬ 
 dy in their Heads what their Expcnces 
 do amount to, and how foon by that 
 courfe their Ruin mult overtake 
 them. 
 
 £i^/y, The lownefs of their Cufiems f 
 and the height of their Excife , which 
 is certainly the moft equal and indiffe¬ 
 rent Tax in the World, and leaft pre- 
 judical to any people, as might be made r 
 appear, were it the fubjefr of this Dif* 
 courfe. 
 
 Ninthly , The careful providing for, 
 and employment of their Poor, which 
 it is eafie to demonftratc can never be 
 done in England comparatively to what 
 it is with them, while it*s left to the 
 care of every Parifli to look after their 
 own only. 
 
 Tenthly , Their life of BANKS, 
 which are of fo immence advantage to 
 them, that fome not without good 
 grounds have eftimated the Profit of 
 them to the Publiok, to amount to at 
 leaft 
 
teiftone Million of Pounds fterlingper 
 annum. 
 
 Eleventhly , Their Toleration of cliffennt 
 Opinions in matters of Religion : by rea- 
 fon whereof many induffrions People of 
 other Countries, that dijfentfrom the E- 
 ftablified G ■yuernmcnt of there own Churches , 
 refart to theni with thetr Families and E- 
 fiateff dnd after a few years co-habitation 
 with them , become of the fame Common in- 
 tereff. 
 
 Twelfthly , Their Law-Merchant , By 
 which all Controverfies between Mer¬ 
 chants and Tradefmtn arc decided in three 
 or four days time, and that not at the 
 fortieth part (I might fay in many cafes 
 not the hundredth part) of the charge they 
 are with us.. 
 
 ThirteemHy , The Law that is in ufc 
 among them for Transference of Bills for 
 Bibt from one Man to another: -This 
 is of extraordinary advantage to' them 
 in their Commerce ; by means where¬ 
 of, they can turntheir Stocks twice or 
 thrice in Trade, for once that we can 
 in England y for that having fold our 
 Foreign Goods here, we cannot buy 
 again to advantage,' till we are 
 poflelt of our Money; which it may 
 (D) be 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 be we (hall be fix, nine, or twelve 
 Months.in recovering: And if what 
 we fell be con fider able, it is a good 
 Man’s work all the Year to be follow¬ 
 ing Vintners and Shop-keepers for Mo¬ 
 ney. Whereas, were the Law for 
 Transferring bills in pra&ice with us. 
 We could piefsntly after fale of our 
 Goods, difpofe of our Bills, and cl fe 
 up our Accounts. To do which, the 
 Advantage, eafe, and Accommodations 
 it would be to Trade, is fo great, that 
 none but Merchants that have lived 
 where that cuftom is in ufe, can value to 
 its due proportion. 
 
 Fourteenth^ Their keeping up PUB- 
 LICK REGISTERS or all Lands 
 and Houfes, Sold or Mortgaged, where* 
 by many chargable Law-Suits are pre¬ 
 vent'd, and the fecurities of Lands and 
 Hou fes rendred indeed, fuch as we com¬ 
 monly call them, REAL SECU¬ 
 RITIES. 
 
 Laftly, The lownefs of Jntmfi of Ma 
 mey with them, which in peaceable times 
 exceeds not three per .cent per annum ; 
 an<i is now during this War with 
 hngland, , not above four per ccttt at 
 ffloit. 
 
 Some 
 
'9 ) . 
 
 Some more Particulars might be ad¬ 
 ded, and thofe aforefaid further im¬ 
 proved, were it my purpofe to dif- 
 courfe at large of Trade. . But feeing 
 ipoif of the former Particulars are ob« 
 fcrved and granted by all men that 
 make it any part of their buiinefs. to in- 
 fpeft the true nature and Principles of 
 Trade ; but the lafi: is not fo much as 
 taken notice of by the molt Ingenious, 
 to be any Caufe of the great encreafe of 
 the Riches and Commerce of that 
 people.. 
 
 I lhall therefore in this Paper confine 
 my felf to write principally my Ob- 
 fervations touching that, viz. 
 
 The Profit That People have received, 
 and any other may receive , 1 by reducing 
 the Inter eft of Money to a very low rate.- 
 This in my poor opinion, is the Cau*. 
 fa caufanst of all the other caufcs of 
 the Riches of that People; and that if 
 Intereft of Money were with us reduced 
 fo the fame rate it is' with them , it 
 would in a fhort time render us as rich 1 
 ;md confiderable in Trade as they now 
 arey and confeqiiently be of greater 
 damage to them^ and advantages us'y 
 then cam happen by the IfTue cf this prc~ 
 (' Dz ) &nt : 
 
'(io; 
 
 fent War, though the fnccefs of it 
 fhould be as gopd as we can wifh 7 ex- 
 cept it end in the.r total Ruin and Ex¬ 
 tirpation . 
 
 To illuUrate this, let us Impartial¬ 
 ly fearch our Books, and enquire what 
 the Rate and condition of this Kingdom 
 was, as to Trade and Riches, before 
 any. Law concerning Intereil of Money 
 was made : The firlt whereof that I 
 can find, was Am 1545. and we ihall 
 be informed that the Trade of England 
 then was Inconiider ible, and the Mer¬ 
 chants very mean and few : And that 
 aftsiwards, viz.. Amo i<S3sf. within 
 ten Years after Intereil was brought 
 down to eight per Cm y there was more 
 Merchants to be found upon the Ext 
 change worth etch OncThoufand Pounds 
 and upwards, then were in the former 
 dayes, vh. before the Year 1600. to be 
 found worth One Hundred Pounds 
 each. 
 
 And now fince Intereil hath been for 
 abet twenty Years at fix per Cent , not- 
 withJhnding our long civil Wars, and 
 the great complaints of the deadnefs of 
 Trade, there are more men to be found 
 «poa the Exchange now worth Teh thou- 
 ftnd 
 
(II) 
 
 land Pounds Eftates, then were then of 
 One thoufand Pounds. 
 
 And if this be doubted, let us ask the 
 aged, whether five hundred pounds 
 Portion with a Daughter fixty Years 
 ago, were not efteennd a larger pro¬ 
 portion then Two tlr-ufand pound- h 
 mw : And whether entlewomen in 
 thofe dayes would n.otefteimi themieKes 
 well cl'athed in a SeirneGown, whic h 
 a Chamber-Maid now will be afhamcd to 
 be fe n in: Whether our Citizens and 
 middle ftut of Gentry now a-e not 
 more rich in Cloaths, f'l«te, T ewels, ?nd 
 Houlhold-Goods, &c. then the heft Put of 
 Knights and Gcnti y were m tlu.T days. 
 And whether our bed Put op Knights 
 and Gentry now do nor hy 
 
 much in thofe things the Nobility of 
 England (htv Years pad : Many of 
 whom then would not go ro the price 
 of a whole Sattin-Doublet ; the Em¬ 
 broiderer being yet being, who hath af¬ 
 fined me he hath made many hundreds 
 of hem for the Nobility with Canvas 
 backs 
 
 Which way ever we "take our men- 
 liires. to me it feems evident, that Place 
 <pur firit abatement of Intereft, the 
 ( D 3 ) Kicheg 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 Riches and Splendor of this Kingdom is 
 increafed - to above four (1 might fay 
 above fix ) times fo much as it was. 
 
 We have now almoft One hundred 
 Coaches for one we had formerly. We 
 with eafe can pay a greater Tax now in 
 one Year, then our Fore fathers could 
 in twenty. 
 
 Oiir Cnfims are very much improved, 
 I believe above the proportion afore- 
 faid, of fix to one, which is not fo 
 much in advance of the Kates ef Goods, 
 as by epcreafeof the bulk of Trade j for 
 though fome Foreign Commodities are 
 advanced, others of our Native Com¬ 
 modities and Manufactures are confide- 
 rably abated, by the laft Book of Rates. 
 
 I can my f If remember fince there 
 were not in London ufed fo many Wharfs 
 or Keys for the Landing ot Merchants 
 Goods, by at leaft one third part as now 
 there are j and thofe that were then,could 
 fcarce have Imployment for half what 
 they could do and now notwithftard- 
 ing one third more ufed to the fame 
 purpofe, they are all too little in a time 
 of Peace, to land the Goods at, that 
 cotne to London. 
 
 If we look into the Country, we ftall 
 find 
 
( *3 ) 
 
 Sind lands as much Improved .fince the 
 abatement of Intcreft, as Trade, &c. in 
 Cities; that now yielding twenty Years 
 purchafe, which then would not have 
 fold for above eight or ten at moil: 
 
 Befides, the Rent of Farms have 
 been lor thefc hit thirty Years much 
 advanced; and although they have for 
 thefc tlree or four laft rears fallen, that 
 hath no refpeft at all to the lownefs of 
 Jntereft at pi efent, nor to the other 
 miftaken Reafons which are commonly 
 *ffigncd for it. 
 
 But principally to the vaft Improve¬ 
 ment of Ireland, fince a gi eat part of it 
 was lately polfeflld by ti e Induftrous 
 Englifh t who were Soldiers in the late 
 /iimy, and the late great Land-Taxes. 
 
 More might be faid, but the Prcmi- 
 fes being conlidered, 1 judge will fuffi- 
 cicntly dcmonftiate how greatly this 
 Kingdom of England hath been advanc d 
 in all relbe&s for thefe laft fifty Years : 
 And that the abatement of Intcreft hath 
 been the caule thereof, to'mc feems molt 
 probable; becaufeas it appears, it hath 
 been in Englandfo l find it is at this day 
 in all Europe, and other parts of the 
 .World.* Infomiuh that to know whe- 
 ( D 4 ) ther 
 
( ia) 
 
 thcr any Country be rich or poor, or 
 in what proportion it is fo, no other 
 Queftion n>~cds to be rcfolved, but this, 
 m,. What Intereft do they fay for Monty? 
 Near home we fee it evidently, in 
 Scotland arid Ireland , where ten and 
 twelve fer Cent is paid for Intereft, the 
 People are poor and defprable, their 
 Pcrfons ill cloathed, their HOufes worfe 
 provided, and Money intollerably 
 fcarce, notwithftanding they have 
 great plenty of all Provifions, nor will 
 their Land yield above eight or ten 
 Years purchafe at nioft.' 
 
 In Frame where Money is at f ven 
 fer Cent , their Lands will yield about 
 eighteen Years purchafe; and the Gen¬ 
 try who may poUels Lands, live in tood 
 condition, though the leafants are little 
 better then Slaves, becaufe they can 
 pofTefs nothing but at tbr will of others. 
 
 In Italy Money will not yield above 
 three fer Cent, to be let out upon real 
 Security, there the People are rich, full 
 of Trade, well attiied, and their Lands 
 will fell at thi; ty five to forty Years 
 purchafe \ and that it is fo, or better 
 with them in Holland, is too manifeft. 
 
 “ In Sfain the ufual Intereft is ten and 
 . twelve 
 
twelve ftr Cent, ami there, notwicfcf 
 ftanding they have the only Trade in 
 the World for Gold and Silver, Money 
 is no where more fcarce •, the people 
 poor, defpicable,and void of Comm^cc, 
 other then fuch as knglifc, Dutch , leu- 
 li 4 ns y Jews, and other For driers oring 
 to them; who arc to them in effedt, but 
 as Leeches, who fn.ck their Blood and 
 vital Spirits from them. 
 
 I might urge many other Inft mces of 
 this nature, not only out of Chriacndm, 
 but from under the Turks Dominions, 
 EaU-Ind <<and America : But every man 
 by his Epericnce in Foreign Countries, 
 may eafiy inform himfelf, whether this 
 Rule do univerfaily fl&ld true or not: 
 For my own part, to fatisfie my own 
 curiofity, I have for fome Years, as oc- 
 cafion offered, diligently enquired of 
 all my acquaintance that had knowledge 
 of foreign Countries, and 1 can truly 
 fay that I never found it to fail in any 
 particular Inftance. 
 
 Now if upon what hath been faid, it 
 be granted that defatto, this Kingdom 
 be richer at lealt four-fold, (I might fay 
 e. ti it-fold) then it was before auy Law 
 foi Intereft was made, and that ail Cs m- 
 “ tries 
 
VteV art At tVu day richer or poorer in An 
 fXAft proportion to jebar they pay , and have 
 pfuaHy paid f» tie / tereft oj Mo ey •, it 
 remains that wc enquire carefully, whe¬ 
 ther the abatement ofIntereft be in truth 
 the Ciufe r.f the Riches of any Coun¬ 
 try, or only the Concomitant or Effect 
 of the Riches of a Country; in which 
 feemsto He the Intricacy of tliis Que- 
 ftion. 
 
 To fatisfie my feif wherein, l have 
 taken all opportunities to difeourfe this 
 point, with the moil: ingenious imn I 
 had the Honour to be known to, and 
 have fcarcht for, and read all the Books 
 that I could ever hear were printed 
 againft the Abatement of Intereft, and 
 ferioufly conlidered all the Arguments 
 and Objefrions ufrd by them againft it: 
 All which have tended to confii m me in 
 this opinion, which I bnmbly offer to 
 the confederation of wifer Heads, viz. 
 
 €ljat tlie abatement of Inters ft in 
 the cattfe qfttjr l^ofperitp i Eifljetf 
 
 iff anpj£atij0tv> ^ that the bringing down 
 of Into eft in this Kingdom from fix to four 9 
 or three per Cent, will mtjfartly , i left 
 then mmy Tears time , double the Capital 
 Stock of the Nation* 
 
The moil material Obje&ionsI have 
 $et with againft it, are as follows: 
 
 Objeft. i. To abate Inter efi , will caufe 
 the Dutch, and other P< ople that have Mo¬ 
 ney pat ont at Interefi \n E ngland, by their 
 Friends and Fatlors , to c <11 home their 
 Ffiates,and conf-cfuently will occafon a great 
 [canity and want of /i 'oncy amongft m. 
 
 To this l anfwer, That i I iter eft be 
 brought but to four per Cent, no Dutch¬ 
 man will call in his Money that is out 
 upon good Security in England, becaufe 
 he cannot make above three per Ce t of 
 jt upon Intereft at home, but if they 
 fhould call home all the Money they have 
 with us at Intereft, it would be better 
 for us than if they did it not; for the 
 Borrower is alwayes a Jlave to the Lender,, 
 and fhall bc fure to be always kept poor, 
 while the other is fat and full: HE 
 THAT USETH A STolK THAT 
 IS NONE OF HIS OWN. BEING 
 FORCED FOR THE Ui HOLDING 
 HIS REPUTATION TO LIVE TO 
 THE FULL, IF NOT ABOVE THE 
 PROPORTION OF WHAT HE 
 DOTH SO USE, WHILE THE-LEN- 
 PER POSSE SING MUCH, AND 
 USING 
 
USING LITTLE OR NONE, LIVE 
 ONLY AT THE CHANGE OF 
 WHAT HE USETH, AND NOT 
 OF WHAT HE HATH 
 Befides, if with th s Law for abate¬ 
 ment of Intereft, a Law for Trmjer. 
 ring Bills of Debt IN: uld pafs, we fhculd 
 not mifs the Dutch Money, were it ten 
 times as much as it is among# us-,for that 
 luch a Law will certainly fupply the 
 the defed of at lea# one half of ail the 
 ready Mpney we have in ufe in the 
 Nation. 
 
 Objed. 2. If Intereft he abated, Land 
 mitft rife in pnr chafe, and confeque tly 
 fonts } and if Rents , then th< Fruits of the 
 Land', and fo all things will he dear , and 
 hove fhai the Pm live l d?c. 
 
 Anfw. To this 1 fay, If it follow that 
 the Fruits of our Land, in conf qoence 
 of fuch a Law for abatement of intereft, 
 grow generally dear, it is an evi lent 
 demonstration ' that our Ptople grow 
 richer j for generally,wfotre-ei-er trow* 
 fms are for continuance of Tears diar in any 
 Country , the 1-cople are rich-, and where 
 they are mfi cheap througlmtt the iVerld, 
 for the moft part the People are very poor. 
 
’And For our own Poor in EttgUudjt is 
 
 obferved,rk> they live better in the dear eft 
 Countries for Provifons, than in the cheap- 
 tfi, and bette r in a dear year than in a cheap, 
 (efpecially in relation to the publick 
 good) for that in a cheap Year they 
 will not work above two dayes in a 
 Week; their humour being fuch, that 
 they will not provide for a hard time; 
 but juft work To much and no more, as 
 may maintain them in that mean condi¬ 
 tion to which they have been accultomcd 
 
 Objeft 3. If Interef be abated, Vfir.trf 
 mil call in their Money ; fa what full Gentle¬ 
 men do, whofe £ fates are Mortgaged ? &c, 
 
 Atifw.l anfwer,That when they know 
 they can make no more of their Money 
 by taking out of one, and putting it in 
 another hand, they will not be fo for¬ 
 ward asth.yth eaten, to alter that Se¬ 
 curity they know is good, for another 
 that may be bad: Or if they fho.uld do 
 it,our Laws are not fo fevere, but that 
 Gentlemen may take time to difpofe of 
 part of their Land, which immediately 
 after fuch a Law will yield them thirty 
 yea s purchafe at leaft, and much better 
 |t is for them fo to do, than to abide 
 
(■ 20 ) 
 
 longer under that confuming Plague of 
 Ufury, which hath infenfibly deltroyed 
 very many of the belt Families in Eng- 
 handy as well of our Nobility as Gen¬ 
 try. 
 
 Object. 4 . As htcrefi is now at fix per 
 cent, the Kings Majefiy upon any emergency 
 can hardly be J applied y md if it (houtd he 
 reduced to four per Cent, hew fimlhhc 
 King find a confiderable fum of Money to he 
 lent him by his People! 
 
 Jnfw: I'anfwer, The abatement of 
 Intereft to the People, is the abatement 
 of Intereft to the King, when he hath 
 occafion to ; take up Money: Tor what 
 is borrowed of the City of London , or 
 other Bodies Politick,' nothing can be de¬ 
 manded but the legal Intereft u and if 
 the King have occafion to take up Mo¬ 
 ney of privateTerfpns, being his Ma- 
 jefty, according to good righty is above 
 the common coqrfe of Law, the King 
 itmlt, and alwayshath given more then 
 the legal Rate. As for inftanceThe 
 legal Rate is ijow fix per cent , but his 
 Ma jelly, or ftch as have difpofed of his 
 Majefties Exchequer-Tatties, have been 
 laid to give tea and twelve in fome cafes; 
 
(*o 
 
 and if the legal Rate were ten, his M*. 
 jelly might probably give thirteen or 
 fourteen: So if Incereft be brought to 
 four per cent, his Ma jelly in fuch cafes ajs 
 he now gives ten, muft give fix or fevenj 
 by which his Majcfty would have a clear 
 advantage. 
 
 Objeft. 5. If Intereft be abated, it-wiH 
 he * great prejudice to Widows and Orphans, 
 who have not Knowledge and Abilities to im * 
 prove their Eftates otherwife. 
 
 Jnfw. I anfwer, That by our Law 
 now, Heirs and Orphans can recover no 
 Intereft from their Parents Executors , 
 except it be left fully and abfolutely to 
 the Executors to 'difpofe and put out 
 Money at thediferetion of the Execu¬ 
 tors, for the profit and loft of the Heirs 
 and Orphans: And if it be fo left to 
 the Executors diferetion, they maf im¬ 
 prove the Monies left them in Trade, 
 or pm chafe of Lands and Leafes, as well 
 as by Intereft; Or when not, the da¬ 
 mage fuch Heirs and Orphans will fuftain 
 in their minority, (being but twop«r 
 cent) is inconhderable, in refpeft of the 
 great advantage will accrew to the Na¬ 
 tion in generel, by fuch abatement of 
 Intereft. 
 
 Befides, 
 
Betides, when fuck a Law is made and 
 in ufe, all Men willfo take care in their 
 Life to provide for, and educate their 
 Childmi , and , inftruft their Wives, as 
 that no prejudice can happen thereby 5 
 as we fee there doth not in Holland and 
 Italy, and ether places where liitereft is 
 fo low. 
 
 Having now offered my' thoughts in 
 anfwer to'the aforefaid Objections, it 
 will, not be amifs, that we enquire Who 
 will be advantaged, and who will re¬ 
 ceive prejudice, in cafe fuch a Law 1 be 
 Wade. 
 
 Fir/, His Majefty, as hath been Laid 
 in anfwer to that Objection 1 , will, wherf 
 he hath occafion^ ta ^ e U P Money on 
 Better terms: Be tides which, He will’ 
 ffiedye a great Augmentation to his Re¬ 
 venue thereby, all his. Lands being imme¬ 
 diately worth, after the making fuch a’ 
 Law, double to what they Were before y 
 his Cufloms will be much increas’d by the' 
 increafe of Trade, which muft neceiFa- 
 rily iiifue upon the making fuch a- 
 Law. 
 
 The Nobility and Gentry ^whofe Effete? 
 Be moilly in Land, may prefcntly upon' 
 all 
 
all they have, infiead of Fifty, write one 
 Hundred. 
 
 The Merchant; and Tradesmen, who 
 hear the . Heat and Burthen of the Day, 
 (molt of our Trade being carried on by 
 young Men that take up Money at In- 
 tereft) will find their Took fit lighter 
 upon their Shoddier;, and beincoiuaged 
 to go on with greater alacrity in their 
 Euiinefs. 
 
 . Our Marriners, Shipwrights, Porters, 
 ClMthiers, Packers , and all forts of La¬ 
 bouring People that depend on Trade, will 
 be more ronftantly and fully employ¬ 
 ed. 
 
 Our Farmers fell the produd of their 
 Lands at better ra tes. And whereas our 
 Neighbours the Nether landers (who in 
 regard of the largenefs of their Stocks, 
 and Experiences, the Sons continually 
 lupceeding the Fathers in Trade to many 
 Generations, we may not unfitly in this 
 C-afe term Sons of Attach, and Aden of 
 renown) againlt whom we fight Dwarfs 
 and Pigmies in Stocks and Experience, be¬ 
 ing younger Brothers of Gentlemen tliaf fel- 
 dom have above one Thoufard Pounds, 
 Sometimes not two Hundred to begin 
 the World with: In (lead I fay of iuch 
 (, E ) young 
 
young Men and fmall Stocks (if this 
 Law pafs ) we fhall bring forth out 
 isamffons and Goliahsi n Stocks, fubtilty, 
 and .experience in Trade to coap with 
 our potent Adverfaries on the other fide j 
 there being to every Mans knowledge 
 that • underftands the Exchange of -Lon- 
 don, divers Engltjh Merchants of large 
 Eftates, which have not much paft their 
 middle-Age, and yet have wholly left 
 off their Trades,, having found the 
 fweetnefs of lntereft, which if that 
 Ihotfld abate, mu ft again fet their Hands 
 to the Plough f (which they arc as able to 
 hold and govern now as ever) and alfo 
 will engage them to train up their Sons 
 in the fame way, becaufe it will not be 
 fo eafie to make them Country Gentlemen 
 as now it is, when Lands fell at thirty 
 or fourty years Purchafe. 
 
 • For the Sufferers by fuch a Law, I 
 know none but idle Perfons that lives at 
 as little Expence as Labour, Neither [cat - 
 wing by their Exfences , fo as the Poor may 
 Glean my thing after them i nor Working 
 •with their Hands or Heads to bring, either 
 Wax or Honey to the common Hive of the 
 Kingdom ; but fuelling their own Furfes by 
 thfweat of. ether Mens Brows , and the con*. 
 ■ u < •; trivances 
 
trivances of ether Mem Brains : J}nd how 
 unprofitable it is for any Nation, to J offer 
 
 3)&lenef$J to fuck tye grafts of hv- 
 OufftPi needs no Demonftration. Anl 
 if it be granted me, ttiat thefe wij be 
 the cfFe&s of an Abatement of Intcrcfl, 
 then I think it is oat of doubt, taat the 
 abatement of Inter eft doth tend to the En¬ 
 riching of a Nation, and confequently, hath 
 been me great canfe of the Riches of the 
 Dutch and Italians, and the encreafe of 
 the Riches of ear own Kingdom in thefe laft 
 fiftyyears. 
 
 Another Argument to prove which, 
 we may draw from the nature of lnte~ 
 refi itfclf, which is of fo prodigious 
 a Multiplying nature, that it mult of 
 neceffity make the Lenders monitrous 
 Rich, (if they live at any moderate Ex¬ 
 pence ) and the Borrowers extream 
 Poor; A memorial in fiance whereof, 
 we have in Old Astdky deceafed, who. 
 did wifely obferve, That one Hundred 
 founds only , put out at Jnterefi at ten per 
 cent, doth in fevehty years (which is but 
 the Age of a Man) increafe to above one 
 Hundred Thmfaud Founds: And if the 
 Advantage be fo great to the Lender, 
 the Lofs muft be greater to the Bor- 
 (£2/ rower^ 
 
.. (* 6 j 
 
 rower, who (as hath been faid) lives 
 i»t a much larger Expence. And as it 
 is between private Perfons, fo between 
 /Nation and Nation, that hare Commu¬ 
 nication one with, another. For Whe¬ 
 ther the Subje&s of one Nation lend 
 Mon .y to Subje&s of another, or Trade 
 with them for Goods, the effeft is the 
 fame.? -As for example, A Dutch Mtr- 
 chm that hath but four or live Thoufand 
 pounds clear Stock of his own, can eafi- 
 ly borrow and have credit for fifteen 
 “Thoufand Pounds more at three per cent 
 at Home; .with which, whether he 
 Trade or put it to Ufc in England, or 
 any Country where Interefl of Money 
 is high, he mult nece-flarily (without 
 very evil Accidents attend him) in a ve?- 
 ry few years, treble his own Capi¬ 
 tal. - 
 
 . This difeovers the true caufe, why 
 the Sugar-Bakers of Holland can afford 
 to give a greater price for Barbados Su¬ 
 gars in London, befides the fecond Freight 
 and Charges upon them between England 
 and Holland , and yet grow exceeding 
 Rich upon their Trade: Whereas our 
 Sugar-Bakers in London , that buy 
 Sugars here at their; own Doors, before 
 fuel* 
 
fuch additional Freight and Charges 
 ; come upon them, can fcarce live upon 
 their Callings, ours here paying for a. 
 good fhareof their Stocks lix per cent , 
 and few of them employ in their Sugar- 
 works,- above fix to ten Thoufand 
 Pounds at molt:'. Whereas in Holland' 
 they employ twenty, thiity, tof.urty 
 Thoufand Pounds Stock in a Sngar-Houfe 7 
 paying but three per cent at moll for • 
 what they take up at Intereft, to fill up 
 their Paid . Stocks, which is fometimcs 
 half, fometimes three quarters of their 
 whole Stocks. And as ic is with this 
 Trade,-- the fame Rules holds throughout 
 all other. Trades whatfoevcr. And for 
 us to fay, if the Dutch put their Money 
 to- Intereft among us, w.e-lhall have the- 
 advantage .by being - full and flulh of. 
 Coinat-HotneyTt is -a meat'. Chymra. ? 
 and fo far from an Advantage, that ir. 
 is an extream- Lofs, rendring us only. 
 iuthe condition.of a young Gallant,, 
 that hath 'newly Mortgaged his Land, 
 and with, the Money. thereby raifed, 
 Ruffes his. Pockets, and looks big -for a 
 time, not confidering that the draught 
 of Cordial he hath received, though it - 
 be at prcfent grateful to his Pallat, doth 
 (E 3) k- 
 
(s«) 
 
 indeed prey upon his vital Spirits; aind 
 will in a fhort time render the whole 
 body of his Eftate in a deep Confumpti- 
 on, if not wholly confnmed: Befides, 
 whatever Money the Dutch lends us, 
 they always keep one end of the Chain at 
 home in their own Handsjby which they 
 can pull back when they pleafe theirle*« 
 
 JCinc which they fend hither to be fat¬ 
 
 ted. 
 
 This makes me conclude that Mefes 
 (that Wife Legiflator) in his forbidding 
 the Jews to lcnd^Money at ufe one to an¬ 
 other, and permitting them to lend their 
 Money to Strangers, ordained that Law 
 as much to a Political as a Religions intent ; 
 knowing that by the latter they fhould 
 Enrich their own Nation, and by the 
 former no publick Goods could infue; 
 the confequencc being only to Impove- 
 rilh one Jemo make another Rich. 
 
 This likewife takes off the wonder 
 how the People of Jfrael , out of fo fmall 
 a T erritoi y as they poflefled, could up¬ 
 on all occalions fet forth fuch vaft and 
 numerous Armies ( drnoft. incredible; 
 as all Hiftories, fined and prophane, 
 report they did; which is neither im- 
 
 pofllblc nor ftrange to any that have well 
 con- 
 
confidercd the effe&s of their Laws con- 
 ernin gVfury, which were fufheient to 
 make any barren Land fruitful, and a fruits 
 ful Land an entire Garden, which by con- 
 fequence would maintain ten times the 
 number of Inhabitants, that the fame. 
 Trad of L^nd would do where no fuch 
 Laws were. 
 
 . To conclude^ isf I ,think)agrced on by 
 
 all, That Merchants, Atifctrs,.,Farmers 
 of Land, and fuch as depend ori them, 
 (which for brevity-fake we may here 
 include under one of thefc general 
 terms) viz..- Sea-men, Fifher-mcn, Bree¬ 
 ders of Cattel, Gardners, ere. are the 
 three forts of People which by their 
 Study and Labour do principally, if net 
 only, bring in Wealth to a Nation from 
 abroad j, other kinds of People, viz.., 
 Nobility, GentryLawyers, Phyfcians , 
 Scholars of all forts, and Shop-keepers, 
 do only hand it from one to another at 
 Home: And if'abatement of Intertill 
 (befides the general Benefit it-brings to 
 all, except the Griping Dronifs Vfarer) 
 will add new Life and Motion to thole 
 moil: profitable Engines of the King¬ 
 dom fas I humbly fuppofe) will bema- 
 nifeft upon ferious conlidevaticn of what 
 (SE4) hath 
 
( 3 °) 
 
 hath been laid *, then 1 think it will be 
 out of doubt, that Abatement of In¬ 
 tersil is the Caufe of increafc of the 
 Trade and Riches of any Kingdom, 
 
 Suppliment. 
 
 T H E fore-going Difcourfe I 
 V\ rote in the Sick nefs-Sum met 
 at my Country-Habitation, not 
 then intending to publilh it, but only 
 to communicate it to fome Honourable 
 and Ingenious Fiiends of the prcfent 
 Parliament, who were, plcafed to take 
 Copies of it for their own deliberate 
 conlideration anddigeftion of the Prin¬ 
 ciples therein averted } which at firft 
 were Grange to them, as 1 exped they 
 will be to molt others, till, they have 
 fpent fome time in thinking on them ; 
 after which, 1 doubt not but all Men. 
 will be convinced of the Truhoi them, 
 that hare not fo ne private Intereft of 
 heir own them, external to the 
 general 
 
# _ V 5* / ;■ ; 
 
 general'Good, of the Kingdom. Fof furc | 
 am they have a Foundation in Nature, and 
 that according to the excellent, Sr Wil¬ 
 liam Petty* sObfervation in his late Dif- 
 courfe, concerning Taxes, Res nolrn 
 male Admmflrare : Nature muft and 
 will have its courfe, the matter in Eng¬ 
 land is prepared for an Abatement of In- 
 tereft, and it cannot long be obftru&ed, 
 and after the next Abatement, who ever 
 lives fourty Years longer, fhall fee a 
 fecond Abatement; for we fhall never 
 j Hand on even ground in Trade with the 
 Dutch, till Intereft be the fame with us, 
 las it is with them. 
 
 His Majcfty was gracioufly pleafed at 
 the opening of the laft SelTion of this 
 | Parliament , to propofe to the Confide- 
 ration of both Houfes, the Ballancing 
 of the Trade of the Nation j toeffed 
 which, in my opinion, the Abatement 
 of Intereft is the firft and principal 
 Engine which ought to be fet'on work, 
 which notwithftanding, 1 fhonld not 
 have prefumed to expofe it to publick 
 cenfure, on my own fingle Opinion, 
 if I had not had the concurrance of 
 much better judgments then my own; 
 
 having 
 
(p) 
 
 having never feen any thing i,n Print for 
 it (though much again# it) until the 
 latter end of January lalt ; at which 
 time, a Friend whom l had often dig 
 eourfed with upon this fubjed, met 
 with by accident a fmall Trad to the 
 fame purpofc, Wrote near fifty years 
 ago, which he gave me , and I have, 
 for publick Good, thought fit to annex 
 it hereunto, ■verbatim. ■/ 
 
 The Anthor of the faid Trad, by thc : 
 ftile thereof, feems to have been a Com - 
 try Gentleman , and my Education hath- 
 fnoftly been , that of a Merchant-, fo l 
 hope that going together,' they may in 
 fpmerneafui e, fupply the defeds of each 
 other. 
 
 Another Reafon that induced me to 
 to the Printing of. them together, is, 
 becaufe what he Wrote then, would be 
 the confluences of the Abatement of 
 Intered from ten to fi xper cent. I have, 
 I think,fully proved to the Convidion of 
 Si] Men'not wilfully blind,' have been 
 the real effects. thereof, and that to a 
 greater proportion then he did premife, 
 every Paragraph whereof was Writ by 
 nib," aiid Copies thereof delivered to fo 
 
C 3? ) 
 
 vcral worthy Members of this Farliment, 
 many Months before ever I faw or heard 
 of this, or any thing elfe Writ or Prin¬ 
 ted to the like purpofe. 
 
 What I have aimed at in the whole, 
 is the good of my Native Country, o- 
 therwife I had not bufied my felf about 
 it, for I want net employment fufficien t 
 of my own, nor have reafon to be out of 
 love with that I have. 
 
 The feveral Particulars in the begin¬ 
 ning of this Treatife, relating to Trade, 
 
 I have only hinted in general terms; ho¬ 
 ping that fome abler Pen, will hereaf¬ 
 ter be incited for the fervice of his King 
 and Coi.ntry, to enlarge more particular¬ 
 ly upon them. 
 
 Before I conclude, though I have fiudi- 
 ed brevity in the whole, I cannot omit 
 the inferting of one Objettm more, 
 which 1 have lately met wirh, to the 
 main delign of this Treatife, viz..- 
 
 Objctt. It is faid that the lownefs of 
 Interdl: of Money in HoEwd, is not the 
 EFFECT OF LAWS, but proceeds 
 only FROM THEIR ABUNDANCE 
 THEREOF, for that in Holland , 
 there' 
 
' ' 
 
 there is no Law limitting the rate of j 
 Ufury. 
 
 'jinfa. Ianfwer, that it may be true, 
 that in Holland there hath not lately been 
 any Law, to limit Ufury to the prefcnt 
 rate it is now at, i. e. three or four per 
 cent‘s although molt certain it is, that 
 many years lince, : there was a Law that 
 did limit it to five or fix at moft : And 
 by confequence, there would be a renew-, 
 ing of that Law to a lefler rate, were- it 
 neceffary at this time g It having always 
 been the Policy of that People to keep down the 
 Interefi of their Money , -three or four'. 
 percent, under the rate of what is. ufuaU 
 ly paid in their. Neighbouring Countries , 
 which "(being now naturally-done) it 
 is needlefs to life the Artificial Stratagem 
 of a Law to Efiabhjb. 
 
 . Anfw. 2. Although they have no 
 Law exprefly, limitting. Intereft at pre- 
 fent, yet they have other Laws which 
 we cannot yet arrive to, which do 
 effeft the .fame thing . among them, 
 and would do the like among ,us, if 
 we could have them : One whereof, 
 
(ill 
 
 is, their attaining REAL SE¬ 
 CURITIES by their PUBLICK 
 REGISTERS: For we fee evi¬ 
 dently, Money is not fo much want¬ 
 ing in England as Securities, which 
 Men account Infallible j a remarkable 
 Inftance whereof is, the Eafi. India - 
 Company , who can and do rake up 
 what Money they pleafe, for four per 
 cent at any time. 
 
 Another Law L, Their conftitution 
 ofBANKS and LUM BARDS, 
 whereby private Perfons that have but 
 tollerable credit may be fnpplied at eafie 
 rates from the State.- 
 
 A third, arid very confiderable one, 
 is. Their Law for Transferring Bills of 
 Debt, mentioned in the beginning of this 
 Difcourfe. 
 
 A fourth, which is a Cuftom, and in 
 effect may be here to our Purpofe ac¬ 
 counted as a Law, is the extraordinary 
 Frugality ulcd in all their Pdlick Affairs , 
 which in their greateffc Extreamities 
 have been fucli, as not to compel them 
 to 
 
to give above four per cem for the lo^ 
 of Money. .Whereas it is faid, His Ma- 
 ' jefiy in fome Cafes of. exigency , when the 
 National Supplies have not come in to anfwer 
 the prefent Emergencies of Affairs y hath 
 been inf or ccd to give above the ufual Rates 
 to Gold-Smiths j and that encouraged 
 them to take up great Sums from pri¬ 
 vate Perfons at the full rate of fix per 
 cenr y whereas formerly they ufully gave 
 but four per cent otherwife, in humane 
 probability, Money would have fallen 
 of itfelf to four per cent. 
 
 But again j to conclude, Every Nation, 
 does proceed according to peculiar Methods 
 of their own in the Tranfattms of their 
 fublick Affairs and Lm-maki’g : And in 
 this Kingdom it hath always, been the 
 Cuftom to reduce the Rate of Intertfi by a 
 Law y wkn-Nature had prepared the matter 
 fit for fuchan alteration as now I fay it 
 
 bath. By a Law it was reduced from 
 an unlimitted rate, to ten y and after¬ 
 wards from ten to eight ■, after that 
 from eight to fix. And through the 
 Blefling of Almighty God, this King¬ 
 dom hath found, as 1 think lhave fill- 
 
(r?i 
 
 ly proved, and every Mans Experi¬ 
 ence will witnefs, prodigious fuccefs 
 and advantage thereby. And I doubt 
 not, through the like Bleffing of ood 
 Almighty, but this Generation will 
 find the like great and good effedts, by 
 the reduction of it.from - fix to four, 
 which is now at the Birth. And that 
 the next Generation will yet fee far 
 greater Advantage by bringing it from 
 four to three per cent. ' 
 
 A 
 
TRADE 
 
 AND 
 
 intereft of Money 
 confidered^ &c. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 A fhort Reply to a Treat ife, 
 entituled 7 Intereft of Money 
 miftdken, 
 
 T Here was never any thing pro¬ 
 pounded for PublickGood,thac 
 did not meet with Gppo- 
 fition, arifing fomctimcs from the diffe¬ 
 rent apprehenfions of men, in regard of 
 the way, who'yet have the fame defign 
 as to the end-fometimes from a did ike of 
 the Perfoti propounding, or the humor 1 
 A of 
 
of fuch as would hive nothiig brought 
 into the World but by their own Mid¬ 
 wifery » and are therefore onlydifplea- 
 fed with a thing, becaufe they were not 
 the firft Propofcrs of it themfelves; 
 fometimes from a mote inveterate and 
 corrupt Principle of wifliing things 
 worfe, becaufe they are not well, ha¬ 
 ting diatany thing fhould be reformed, 
 becaufe they cannot bring all things to 
 the Figure of their own Fancies, and 
 foretimes from other by Refpe&s and 
 private Interefts. 
 
 Whether any,, or which of thefe hath 
 moved my Oppofcr, I will not here de¬ 
 termine, becaufe I know him not, but 
 leaving that to the Judgment of the im¬ 
 partial Reader, if the Gentleman’s love 
 to his Country be fuch as he profefleth, 
 and equal with mine, I lhall not doubt 
 but after a more feriow Examination of 
 the Matter, he will agree with me in the 
 thing delircd. 
 
 In the beginning of his Trtmfe he re¬ 
 cites nineteen Ofotrfmm of mine, as 
 means whereby the Dutch have encreafed 
 their Trade and Riches; And page 9. 
 feems to approve of all them, faying as 
 I 
 
£ told him, as alfo be doth, page 22, 
 That more migkt he added, but is not fo 
 kind to his Country to let us know what 
 they are } which if he had done, would 
 have been, more agreeable to,, his pre¬ 
 tended Candor., and as well of life to 
 his Country, as' art Evidence of his own 
 Sufficiency; it being, a much' eafier thing 
 tocavel at what other men have done, 
 than to prefent the World with any 
 thing new and' material of oar own. , 
 
 ; Page 10, (paffing over many others) 
 he quarrels at that factious infttnee of 
 Noble-? Mem wearing in former times Sattin* 
 th ablets, with Canvas hacks, which is the 
 mbit inconfiderable mftance of many,yet, 
 upon the whole he concludes with me,. 
 That we are much Richer am than we were. 
 Stef ore any Law for Inter efi was made, and 
 that we have grown Richer ftnee the abate*; 
 mnt.of Int er efi from 10 to 8 per Cent, and, 
 yet more Rich fince it was abated frem 8 to 
 6 perCent y which pag. io. he confef- 
 leth, and pag. it. he implicitly cpnfcf- 
 Icth, and pag. 14.exprefly, That accord*, 
 ihg to the more or lefs Interefi any Country 
 fays for Monty, the richer or poorer it it. 
 Tam glad we are thus far agreed,,,and' 
 that'my Oppofer is fo well iiftru&cd, 1 
 
 A i lipping 
 
(4) 
 
 hoping I (hill with the lefs difficulty 
 perfwade him to a perfect anderftand- 
 ing of the Principle in Controverfic, 
 wherein as yet I think it will appear he 
 is no great Mailer. 
 
 But before l enter upon the matter,. 
 I mud tell the Gentleman, he hath no 
 caafc to boaftas to that particularlnftance 
 concerning Noble Men’s former meaner 
 Cloathing;for what I thence inferred was 
 certainly true, as to the time I fpoke of, 
 which was of a time within the memory 
 of a man then living,fince Trade was in¬ 
 troduced into this Kingdom, which he 
 endeavours to overthrow by an in (lance 
 put of thole times, when Noble men 
 kept multitudes of Retainers about 200 
 Years pad, viz., before Henry, the 7th’s 
 time, and before Trade was underhood 
 in England, which I think is nothing to 
 this purpofe. Pag. 11. the Gentleman- 
 reciting my Anfwer to that Objection, 
 That if Intertfi he abated , the Dutch will 
 call home their Monty ; to which -1 repli¬ 
 ed, that if they fliould, it would be bet¬ 
 ter for us, The Borrower being always a 
 Slave to the Lender which he faith. Is no 1 
 more in the cafe if Engli'lh tend Dutch, then 
 in that of Englilh and Englilh. And fag. 
 
 12. 
 
12. at the beginning, he faith, That I 
 have difcovered my defign of engraving aU 
 Trade into the Hands of a few rich Mer - 
 thants , who have Money enough of their am 
 to trade with , to the excluding ail young men 
 that want it. 
 
 In which two Affections I appeal to 
 all rational men, whether the Gentle¬ 
 man be not in a very great Error, as to 
 the very nature of the Principle hedif- 
 courfeth ? For if one English -man lend 
 to another, be the Intereft high or low, 
 between them two nothing is got or loft 
 to the Nation; whereas if a Dutch man 
 lend Money to an Erglijb-man , he at 
 length carries home both Principal and 
 Intereftj which Intereft, be it more or 
 lefs, is a ciear lofs to the Nation, which 
 is fo evident, that I hope my Oppofer, 
 when he hath thought upon it again, will 
 pot upbraid me for tagging the Que- 
 ftion, becaufe I trouble not the Reader 
 with the particular Proof of thofe 
 things which I hear no man deny, and 
 therefore conclude every man will 
 grant: For whether Snow be white 
 is not to be diluted. 
 
 In his fecond Afaion likewife, that 
 A a " tfes 
 
(.*) 
 
 the abatement of Intereft tends to the 
 engroffing of Trade into a few rich mens 
 hands, to the excluding of young men,i 
 appeal to the judgment of all tmder- 
 Jhnding Merchants and rational men : , 
 whether the Gentleman be not mifera- 
 bly miftaken ? And whether the never- 
 failing effeft of a 'high lntereft all the 
 World oyer, ’be not to enrich afevy 
 greatly, "and impovcrifh the gene¬ 
 rality of Traders.? So it is in Turkey, 
 where Intereft is at 20 per Cent, and up¬ 
 wards, if we may believe thofe honeft 
 and worthy Turkey Merchants, who are 
 how upon the Exchange, and have lived 
 long in that Country$nd fo it was 
 with us here, when Interefl was at 10 
 fer Cent , and upwards, as ! have already 
 demonftrated by the infhnces of Smdv, 
 Grejham, Cruven and Spencer ^ fo that he 
 huift pe naturally blind,’ or put out h|s 
 £ycs, who doth' not fee that the 
 Abatement of lntereft is a dijfu* 
 
 , five Principle .* Hence it follows, 
 that as few great and rich Merchants, 
 whofe Eftates are Perfonal, (except they 
 Jiave.aJfo great Souls) can bear the dif- 
 courfe of abating fijtereft with more 
 ' ' l " ■ patience 
 
t 7> 
 
 patience than IXfurers, well knowing 
 that it ftraft ncccflarily retrench their 
 prefent Profits by tncreafing the number 
 of Traders; which though it be a final! 
 lofs to Individuals, will be a vaft gam 
 to the generality of the, Nation- A t the 
 ldwer end of pag. 12- his Words are, 
 that in my rnftanceof old Jitdirfz ©b- 
 fervihg that loot, at io per Cent, wouM 
 in 70 Yeats amount to t 00000 L he af¬ 
 firms, 1 pent no lefs mjhthn than in ether 
 things* ■ 
 
 Truly, if I have miftook no more m 
 Other things than in that, infuch 
 untrodden Path as this, I have failed 
 much tefs then I could hope for *. to de- 
 monftrate which I have here inferred a 
 feortTable, fheyring that 100/. at 
 that rate, rifeth (within a trifk) to 
 260 k in feven Years, Intereft upon In- 
 terefe, fo that the iifual accompt is and 
 Was formerly, that Money doubles once 
 in feven Years, at 10 fer Cm y accord¬ 
 ing to which rule 100 1 . in fcventy Years, 
 amounts to 102400/, 
 
(«)• 
 
 
 
 
 fine plundred Pounds nt 
 
 Ten Pounds per 
 
 Cent, per Annum, *\ 
 
 ' Inter eft upon In - 
 
 weft , mmfctb thus, 
 
 yiz. . 
 
 
 
 
 U 
 
 ;S. 
 
 D. 
 
 A T 
 
 1,00 
 
 00 
 
 op 
 
 * rv> At 3 Months jt is 
 
 J.O* 
 
 1°, 
 
 00 
 
 At 6 Months, 
 
 F °5 
 
 J 
 
 03 
 
 At 9 Months ? 
 
 107 
 
 >3 
 
 9 
 
 'At 12 Months, 
 
 JIO 
 
 07 
 
 7 
 
 At i Year i : 
 
 
 .02 
 
 9 
 
 At i Year \ 
 
 ns 
 
 ip 
 
 4 
 
 At i Year i 
 
 11-8 
 
 *7 
 
 4 
 
 At 2 Years 
 
 121 
 
 i (5 
 
 9 
 
 At 2 Years £ 
 
 124 
 
 >7 
 
 8 
 
 At 2. Years i 
 
 J2B 
 
 00 
 
 F 
 
 At 2 Years ^ 
 
 131 
 
 ■f 
 
 
 At 3 Years 
 
 134 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 At 3 Years % 
 
 ?37 
 
 >7 
 
 0 
 
 At 3 Years i 
 
 HI 
 
 5 
 
 10 
 
 At 3 Years £ 
 
 *44 
 
 1(5 
 
 ? 
 
 At 4 Years 
 
 48 
 
 8 
 
 IF 
 
 At 4 Years \ 
 
 152 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 At 4 Years i 
 
 >55 
 
 J 9 
 
 * 
 
 At 4 Years £ 
 
 ? 5 ? 
 
 17 
 
 2 
 
 At 5 Years 
 
 163 
 
 17 
 
 
 At 5 Years £ 
 
 167 
 
 19 
 
 O 
 
 At 5 Years i 
 
 172 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 At 5 Years £ 
 
 >76 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 At 6 Years 
 
 2 So 
 
 17 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 At 
 
At 5 Years i 
 At 5 Years i 
 At 5 Years £ 
 At 7 Years 
 
 L. S. B, 
 185 7 9 
 
 190 5 o 
 
 *5 S 
 iP9 12 10 
 
 S*M fag One Hundred Founds to double in 
 [even Years at Interejt upon Intend, as 
 aforcfiiid, thp encreafe is, viz. 
 
 At firit 
 At 7 Years 
 At 14 Years 
 At 21 Years 
 At 28 Years 
 At 35 Years 
 At 42 Year? 
 At 49 Years 
 At 5 5 Years 
 At 63 Years 
 At 76 Year'} 
 
 L. 
 
 100 
 
 200 
 
 1500 
 
 3200 
 
 5401* 
 
 12800 
 
 25509 
 
 51209 
 
 102409 
 
 Pag. 13. he faith, That I male ufeof, 
 the ahufe of Inter efi, which no man pleads 
 for, annexing a Difcourfe againft Interejl, 
 prit in 16-11. jvhen it was at 1 p per Cent, 
 endeavouring thereby to impofe a Belief that 
 the Gentleman who writ tha Dtjcourfe was of 
 my mind, whereas it may be fuppofid the Ju- 
 % «/ that Book was rntmed with 8 per 
 C«rt* 
 
( IS? 
 
 Cent, hecaufe within four Tears after it waj 
 brought down to that Rate , and that tither. 
 wifelie would have writ furthtr fit being fro. 
 lable that he might live till after fotfr Tears, 
 
 I anfwer 5 That through the Mercies 
 of Almighty God, and for the good of 
 fhis Kingdom ,' that Patriot of his 
 Country -,014 Sr Thomas Cutpeffer, who I 
 have fince beeji allured was the Author of 
 that Treatife, idid live above .twenty 
 Years after the writing thereof, and 
 then publifhed a fecond Treatife, which 
 was lately Re-printed by his worthy Son, 
 which fecond Treatife is now to be haa 
 at Mr Witkinfon' s, over agajnft St 
 Dunftan’s Church in Tlcet-fireet , Which 
 I would advife my Oppofer to read, and 
 then 1 hope he will be more moduli here¬ 
 after, then to mif-call themoft Natural 
 and Rational Conclufious, IMP Q. 
 SINGS, 
 
 •But left he Ihould not meet with the 
 .faid Treatife, 1 lhall here infert a few 
 Lines out of it to the prefent purpofe, 
 viz,. 
 
 ' Old Sr Thomas fpeaking of the certain 
 good EfFe&s of the Abatement of late- 
 reft from 10 to 8 per Cent y pag. 19. of 
 his fecond Treatife, faith, This good fuc- 
 cefs 
 
ttfs doth cdufon m not to *cjt here , h» 
 that m bring the ttfe for Money to a lower 
 mejvhich now! fuffofe will find mQffpofitm, 
 for allObjcftions which l efore the Statute were 
 made againfi it , are nm anfwered by the Sue - 
 cefs,& mft certainly the benefit will be much 
 [mttr to the Common wealth , by calling the 
 Vfe for Money down from 8, to 5 or 6 per 
 Cent, then it was from calling jt down from 
 10 to S.j ter Cent,, i fhall not Comment 
 upon his Words, but only .declare that 
 ( jn truth, I never heard of this Trea- 
 jtife, nor of any other to the like effeft, 
 
 | when I write miac. 
 
 Pag. 13. the Gentle-man brings up 
 his Battalia, and like a ftout Champion 
 for theflie and timerous heard-of-Ufu- 
 rers, plants.his."main Battery againffc 
 that'part which I coafefied to be wcak- 
 tft, viz. that the difficulty of this Que- 
 ftion is, Whether the lomefs of Interefi be 
 the caufe or the Effeft of Riches ? And he 
 pofitively denies that the lowncfs of Iti- 
 tereft is the Caufe,& affirms it to be only 
 the Effect thereof, which he endeavours 
 to prove by four Arguments, which I 
 lhall particularly anfwer in a due place, 
 in the mean time ufe my own Method 
 to prove, That the Abatement of 
 
tn) 
 
 Imreft fy a Lay in England mil be, 
 me*ns to improve the Riches of this Kingdom ■ 
 And I prove it thus § 
 
 E cL u 5 
 
 wi ri <h 'fin'C t> 
 
 Hoi 
 
Now that the abatement of Interdt, 
 will advance the value of Land, I prove 
 firft by Experience, for certainly Am 
 16214 the currant price of oar Lands 
 in England was twelve Years purchafe 9 
 and fo I have been allured by many 
 antient Men whom I have queried par¬ 
 ticularly as to this Matter $ and I find it 
 fo by purchales made about that time by* 
 my own Relations and Acquaintance, 
 and I prefume that any Nobleman or 
 Gentleman of England , by only com¬ 
 manding ■ the Stewards of their Man- 
 nors to give them Lifts out of the 
 Records of any Mannors or Farms 
 that their Grand-Fathers, or Fathers 
 bought or fold fifty Years paft, will 
 Had that the fame Farms to be 
 now fold, would yield (one with 
 another) at lea'll treble the Mo- 
 ny, and in fome cafes fix times the 
 Mony they were then bought and fold 
 for; which I fubmit ftill to the fingle 
 ind joynt Judgments of the honourable 
 Members of both Houfes of Parliament, 
 Vho being thegreateft Owners of our 
 Territory, are in their private, as well 
 asin their politick Capacities, the moll 
 proper and experimental Judges of this 
 Cafe; 
 
( 14 / ... 
 
 Cafe; if the Antient of them will 
 pkafe to recoiled their Memories, and 
 the Younger will pleafe to be informed 
 By their Elder Servants ; and if this be 
 fo, it cannot be denied, but the 
 abatement of Inhered: by ^ Law, 
 hath greatly advanced Lands in 
 purchafe as well as improved Rents, 
 by meliorating the Lands themfelves, 
 thofe improvements by marling, linae- 
 ing, draining, &c. haying been made 
 fince .Money was at 8 and 6 percent; 
 whiefr 10 per cent could not bear. 
 
 And to prove that Lands’ were then’ 
 dt twelve s Years purchafe, I have the 
 written Tcftimbnyof that incompara¬ 
 ble worthy Perfon Sr Thomas Ciilpepfcr 
 Senior, who, page n. ofhis firftTrea- 
 tife, efprefly affirms,- That Land vas 
 then at twelve Tedrs Purchafe y who being 
 himfelf a grave and'antient Parliament 
 Man,and dedicating his Book to the then 
 parliament,-whereof he wasthena Mem¬ 
 ber,: canpot without horrible imchari- 
 tablenefs, be prefumed to impofe upon’ 
 bis Country. . 
 
 And now that our InterelL is at 6 ptr 
 cent y as the fame worthy Author did 
 Wifely fore-fee,^ I appeal to the Judg¬ 
 ment’ 
 
* 
 
 dent tod Experience of my Country 
 MeQ, whether the genuine price of our 
 Lands in England now would not be 
 10 Years Purckafe, were it not for acci¬ 
 dental Preffurcs, under which it labours 
 at prefent, fuchasthefe; 
 j. Our late great Land Taxes. 
 
 2. And principally the late great Im¬ 
 provement of Inland^ mentioned in my 
 former Trcatife, the conference 
 whereof is, that that Country now fup- 
 plieth Foreign Markets, as well as our 
 own Plantations in America , with Beef* 
 Pork, Hides, Tallow, Bread* Beer* 
 Wool and Corn, at cheaper Rates then 
 we can afford, to the beating us out of 
 thofc Trades, whereas formerly, v\u 
 prefeatly after the late Jrijh War, ma¬ 
 ny Men got good Eftates by Tranfport- 
 ing Englijh Cattle thither* 
 
 And that the Improvement of Ireland) 
 is the principal caufe why our Lands in 
 purchafe rife not as naturally they fhonld, 
 with the fall of our lutereft, appears 
 evidently from the effect the fall of In- 
 tereft hath had upon Houfes in Lender? - 7 
 where the growth of Ireland could have 
 no fuch deftru&ive influence, which 
 bath been fo conhderable, that whofo- 
 evsf 
 
tl6) . 
 
 ever will pleafe to inform tn.emfelves by 
 ©Id Scriveners, or antient Deeds, lhall 
 find, that a Houle in London, about fifty 
 Years paft, that would fell' but for 390/. 
 at moil,would readily fell within a Ihort 
 time afier intereft was brought to 8 per 
 tent, at f or 600 /. and the fame tjoufes 
 to be fold fom.time after Intereft was 
 brought to 6 ferccrity viz.- before and 
 after the late Dutch War, would have 
 yielded without fcruple 1000 or 1200/, 
 The abatement of Intereft having had a 
 double effedt upon Houles, by encreafing 
 Trade, and confequently railing Rents, 
 as well as encreafing the number of 
 Years purchafe. 
 
 3. A third reafon why Land doth not 
 at prefent bear an exact, proportion to 
 6 per cent. Which Ihould naturally be’ 
 twenty Year's, is the late Plague, 
 which did much depopulate this King¬ 
 dom. 
 
 4. The late Fire inLo»i/o»,which hath 
 Engaged'Men in Building in the City,, 
 who otherwife would have been pur- 
 chafingin the Qountrv. 
 
 5. The unufal plenty of Corn, which 
 hath been for thefe three or four Years 
 paft ih-moft parts of Chriftendom, the 
 
 like 
 
like whereof hath been fddom known, 
 it happening moil commonly that when 
 one Country hath had great plenty, 
 others have had great fcarcity. 
 
 6. The racking uy of Rents in the Tears 
 1551. and 165-2. which was prefently 
 after the laft abatement of Inure ft. 
 
 A feventh accidental Reafon why 
 Land doth not fell at prefent, at the 
 rate it naturally ihould, in proportion 
 to the legal Interefl, is, that innovated 
 
 pra&ice of Bankers in London , which hath 
 «nre effe&s attending it then moft I 
 converfc with have yet obferved 5 but 
 I lhall here take notice of that only 
 which is to my prefent purpofe, viz.. 
 
 The Gentlemen that are Bankers , ha¬ 
 ving a large Interefl from his Majcfty, 
 for what they advance upon his Maje- 
 fties Revenue : can afford to give the full 
 legal Interefl to ail Perfons that put 
 Money into their hands, though for 
 never fo fhort or long a time, which 
 makes the trade of Ufury fo eafie, and 
 hitherto fife, that few, after having 
 found the iVeetncfs of this lafie way of 
 miprovement (being by continuance 
 and fucccfs grown to fancy themielvcs 
 [ccureiaicj can be lead (there being 
 B neither 
 
(i.B j 
 
 neither cafe nor profit to invite them) 
 to lay out their Money in Laud, though 
 at 15 Years pur chafe ^ whereas before 
 this way of private Bunkering came up, 
 :r.en that had Money were forced oft- 
 times to let it lie dead by them, until 
 they could meet with Securities to their 
 minds •, and if the like neccflity were 
 now of Money lying dead, the lofs of 
 ufe for the dead time being deduced 
 from the profit of 6 /. fer Cent , (commu¬ 
 nions (turns) would in effect take off 
 i l. fer Cent fer Annum of the profit of 
 Ufury, and confequently incline men 
 more to purchafe Lands, in regard 
 the difference between Ufury and 
 Burchafing would not in point of pro¬ 
 fit be fo great as now it is; this new in¬ 
 vention of Cafheiring, having! in my 
 opinion clearly bettered the Vfureri 
 trade 1 or 2 fer Cent fer Annum. And 
 that this way of leaving Money with 
 Gold-Smiths hath had the aforefaid effeft, 
 feems evident to me from the fear city it 
 makes of. Money in the Country; for 
 the Tiade of Bankers being only in 
 London , doth very much drain the rea¬ 
 dy Money from all other parts of the 
 Kingdom. 
 
 The 
 
The fecond point I am to prove, is, 
 That it will advance the Rent of Farms. 
 
 To prove that it did fo in fadt, de¬ 
 pends on memory and for my own 
 part, I and molt others 1 converfe with, 
 do perfectly remember that Rents did 
 generally rife after the late abatement 
 
 of lutcreft, ( [viz..) in the year 1651.and 
 
 1652. 
 
 The reafon why they did fo,was from 
 the encouragement which that abate¬ 
 ment of Interell gave to Landlords and 
 Tenants, to improve by Draining, Mar- 
 T;ng,Limeing, xc.excellently made out by 
 the aforcfiid two worthy Authors, fo 
 that I do (I think with good Reafon) 
 conclude that the prefent fall of Rents 
 is not natural, but accidental, and to 
 be aferibed principally to the fore-going 
 Reafms, given for the prefent abate¬ 
 ment of Land in purchnfe, and efpe- 
 cially to the late Improvement of 
 
 Ireland. . 
 
 The third thing I am to prove, is, 
 That the abatement of Intcrcft will en- 
 crcafe the bulk of foreign Trade, which 
 I do thus. : 
 
 By evidence of fact, it hath been fo in 
 England, the enenaft of our Trade hath al- 
 B 2, mys y 
 
(20 ) 
 
 ways followed the abatement of our Interefc 
 by Law, I fay, not preceded, but fol¬ 
 lowed it, and theCaufe doth always go 
 before the Effeft, which 1 think I have 
 evidently deraonftrated in my former 
 Treatife. 
 
 If any douk of this , and will 
 be at the pains to examin the Cufiom- 
 houfc Books, they may foon be rcfolved. 
 
 2. By Authority •, not only of that an- 
 tient Gentleman Sr Thomas Culpepper in 
 his fecond Treatife, and therein of the 
 judgment of the Ere? ch King and Court, 
 in an Editt there recited, but likewife 
 of a Parliament e/ England : King,Lords & 
 Commons , in the Act for reducing it to 
 6 per Cent , in the Preamble whereof 
 arethefe Words, m. Forafmmh as the 
 Abatement of Jnterefi from t o in the Hun¬ 
 dred in former thnes r hath been found by 
 mta le Experi>nce bentfeial to the Ad¬ 
 vancement of Trade , and Improvement of 
 Lands by good Husbandry , with many other 
 conftderalk Advantages to this Nation , e- 
 fpecially the reducing of it to a nearer pro¬ 
 portion with foreign States , with whom we 
 traffck: And whereas in frtfh memory the 
 like fall from 8 to 6 in the Hundred by a 
 late confant Brattice hath found the like 
 fuccefs 
 
( 2 <; 
 
 fiiccefs to the general contentment of this Na¬ 
 tion, as is vifible by feveral Improvements, 
 &c. 
 
 3. By nccejfary conference, when. 
 Intereft is abated, they who call in their 
 Money mull either buy Land, or trade 
 with it: If they bay Land the many 
 Buyers will rajfe the pr ice of -and : If 
 they trade they encrcafe the number of 
 Traders, and coufequently the bulk of 
 Trade; and let their Money lie dead by 
 them, I think I have fully proved they 
 cannot; in an addition 1 publifhed to my 
 fir ft Obfervations. 
 
 4. By r.eafou for fir ft whilft Inte¬ 
 reft is at 6 per Cent, no man will run an 
 adventure to Sea for the gain of S or 9 
 per Cent, which the Dutch having Money 
 at 4 or 3 per Cent at Intereft are conten¬ 
 ted with, and therefore can and do fol¬ 
 low avaft trade in Salt from StNnall 7 
 Rochet, and other parts to the Bdtique 
 Seas, and alfo their fif ing Trade for 
 JBerrings and. Whale-fiflung, which wc 
 negledt, as being not worth our trouble 
 and hazard,while weean make 6 ycrCent 
 of our Mone> ileeping. For the meafure. 
 of Money employed in Trade in any 
 Nation bears an exad proportion both® 
 
 B 3 Intereft 
 
(22 } 
 
 Intcreft paid for Money; As for in- 
 ftance, when Money was at 10 per Cent 
 in England, no man in his wits wouM 
 follow any Trade whereby he did not 
 promife himfdf 14 or 12 per Cent gain 
 
 at leaftr when Intcreft was at 8, the 
 hopes of 12 or 10 at lcaft was nccelTary, 
 as 8 or 9 per Cent is, now Intcreft goes 
 at 6 per Cent , the Infallible Confcquetice 
 whereof is, 'that the Trades before 
 recited, as well as thofe of Mufcovy and 
 Greenland , and fo much at leaft of all 
 others, that will not afford ns a clear 
 profit of 8 or 9 per Cent , we carclefly 
 giveaway to the Dutch, and rnuftdo fo 
 forever, nnlcfs wc bring our Intereft 
 nearer to a Tar with theirs , and hence 
 in my poor Opinion it follows very 
 clearly, that if our Intcreft were aba¬ 
 ted one third pair, it would occafion 
 the employment of one third part more 
 of Men, Shiping and Stock, in foreign 
 and doraeftick Tiades. 
 
 This difeovers the vanity of all our 
 Attempts for gaining of the White- 
 Herring Fijhing - Trade , of which the 
 Dutch, as every body obferves, make 
 wonderful great advantage, though 
 the Fifti be taken upon our "own Ccap, 
 
f 2$ ) 
 
 I wifli as many did take notice of the 
 reai'on of it, which therefore I fhall fay 
 fomcthing of now, though I have touch¬ 
 ed it in my former Treat ife, 
 
 The plain cafe is this, A Dutch-mm 
 will he content to employ a Stock of 
 5 or 103GC /: in Burfes, ‘materials for lift¬ 
 ing, ViEl-nah, &c. for the carrying on 
 of this Trade, and if at the winding up 
 of his Accounts, he finds he hath got 
 clear ,commrnnbus amis, for his Stock and 
 Adventure 5 per Cent per Annum, he 
 thanks God , and tells his Neighbours he 
 hath had a thriving Trade: Now while 
 every iloathflil ignorant man with us, 
 that hath but wit enough to tell out his 
 Money- to a Geld- Smith, can get <5 per 
 Cent without pains or care; Is it not 
 
 ■ monflrous abfurd to imagine that ever 
 the EngHfi will do any good upon this 
 
 ■ Trade, till they begin-at the right end, 
 ■which mnft be to reefoce the Intereft of 
 Money ? 
 
 Secondly, The depraved nature of 
 man affecting cafe aad plea fore, while 
 ufe of Money runs at 6 per Cent, hath 
 always at hand an eafie expedient to in¬ 
 dulge that humor, and reconcile it to 
 another as conliderable, viz. his Co- 
 13 4 vetou fuels, 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 vetoufnefs, by putting his Money to 
 ufe; and if a Merchant through his 
 youthful care and induftry, arrive to 
 an Eftate of 20000/. in twenty Years 
 trading, whilft Money is fo high, and 
 Land fo low, he can eafily turn Coun¬ 
 try Gentleman or llferer, which were 
 Intcreft of Money at 4. per Cent he could 
 . not do and confequently muft not 
 only follow his Trade himfelf, but make 
 his Children Traders alfo *, for to leave 
 them Money without skill to ufe it, 
 would advantage little, and'pur chafing 
 of Lands lefs, when the fall of Intel eft 
 ihall raife them to twenty or thi t/ 
 Years pnrehafe, which 1 hope yet to 
 live to fee. 
 
 Thirdly , From this neceffity of Mer¬ 
 chants keeping to their Trade, and 
 Childrens fucceeding their Fathers there¬ 
 in, would enfue to Merchants greater 
 . skill inTrade,more exact andeertain cor- 
 refpondency,furer & more ivuftyFattors 
 abroad,& thofe better acquainted & con- 
 catinated together by the' experimental 
 links of each others Humors, Stile, E- 
 ftate and Bnfmefs. And whereas it is 
 as much as a prudent man can do in ten 
 lYears time, after his fettling in Lett- 
 
cfotf, to be exactly well fitted with VaBm 
 in all parts, and thofe by Ccrrefpon- 
 dency brought into a mutual Ao 
 quaintance of each other, and honefl: 
 Work-men and Majlers of Ships,&c. And 
 by that time he hath traded ten Years 
 •longer, if he fucceed well, it is fix to 
 one but he leaves Trade, and turns 
 Country Gentleman , or Vfarcr , and lo 
 that profitable Engine, ^ the Wheels 
 whereol by Correfpondency move one 
 another in many parts of the World) 
 which he huh been fo long a framing, 
 within a few Years after it is brought 
 to work well, is broken to pieces, and 
 the benefit thereof to the Kingdom 
 (which is ten times more then to him 
 that made it) is loft, whereas in Holland 
 and JtJy, ' where Money is at 3 and 4 
 fer Cent , and (onfcquently Merchants 
 forc’d to keep and truft to their Trades 
 only, their Bufineffes are, and mull: be 
 fo ordered and .carried on from the be¬ 
 ginning, that when a Man dies, the 
 Trade is no more difturbed then when 
 the Wife dies in England. 
 
 I am afhamed of the odious Prolixity 
 and Repetition I am (contrary to my 
 Nature) forced to ufe; but my Offo/ey 
 ' ' ' doth 
 
Ci6). 
 
 'doth fo often, and I think difingenu, 
 oufly upbraid me with begging the 
 Queftion, that I am compelled to it. 
 
 The fourth thing I am to prove, is, 
 that It multiplies Domcfiick Artificers. 
 
 If the former be true, that it en- 
 ereafes-foreign Trade, I fuppofe no 
 wan will have the confidence to deny 
 this to be a neceflary and infallible con- 
 fequence of that: For we fee through¬ 
 out the World, where-ever there is the 
 greateft Trade, there are the molt Arti¬ 
 ficers, and that fince our own Trade 
 encreafed in England, our Artificers of 
 all forts are., proportionably encreafed. 
 The building of London hath made mul¬ 
 titudes of Bricklayers and Carpenters ; 
 much ufe of Shiping will make' Ships 
 dear, and the dcarnefs of Shiping will 
 Wake many Shipwrights •, much' foreign 
 Trade will encreafe the vent of our Nt t- 
 nvt MamifaUsmes, and much vent will 
 make many work-men and if we can¬ 
 not get and breed them fall: enough our 
 felves, wefeall'draw them from foreign 
 parts, as the' Dutch draw away ours, it 
 being a wife and true obfervation of 
 fas I remember;,). Sr Walter Rmleigh, 
 
 €&at no Ration ran want ftopte 
 tfiat fiats gooO 2,atofc Jh$ 
 
( n) 
 
 _ The fifth thing to be proved, is, that 
 It inclines a .Nation to thriftimfs ; this is 
 likewife confequent to the former, and 
 by experience made good in England $ 
 for Cnee our Trade encreafrd, thought 
 the generality of our Nation are grown 
 richer, as I have Ibewed, and confe- 
 quently more fplcndid in/ lothes,Plate, 
 Jewels, Houfbold-lhnf, and all other 
 outward fig ns of Riches; yet are we not 
 half fo much given to Hofpitality and 
 good Honfe-keeping (as it is called) as 
 ill former dayes, when our greatelt Ex¬ 
 pence was upon our Bellies, the moffc 
 deftructive Confumption that can hap¬ 
 pen to a Nation, and tending only to 
 nourifh Idlends, Luxury and Beggary j 
 whereas that other kind of Expence 
 which follows Trade, encourageth Lsl- 
 bour, Arts and Invention: To which give 
 me leave to add,that The abatement of In- 
 well' conjoint with Excifes upon our home 
 xovfumption(if the later could be hit upon 
 without disturbance to Trade, or dan¬ 
 ger of continuation ) are two of the 
 n / comprehenfve and effectual ~)U 1 U- 
 ptitftbp that ever were efia- 
 
 lliffed in any Nation , and moll necdlita- 
 Jing and. engaging any People to thrif- 
 tinefs, 
 
08 ) 
 
 tinefs, the high Road to Riches, as well 
 for Nations as private Families. 
 
 The frugal Italians of Old, and the 
 provident Dutch of latter rimes I think 
 have given the World a fufficient proof 
 of this Theorim ; and if any lhall tell 
 me, it is the nature of thofe People to 
 be thrifty ; I anfwer, all men by na¬ 
 ture are alike; k R only Laws, Cuflora, 
 and Education t'.at differ men; their 
 Nature and Difpofitwn , and the dtffofuion 
 ef all People in the World proceed from 
 their leaves ; the French Peafantry are a 
 fiavifh, cowardly Peop'e, becaufe the 
 Laws of their Country nave made them 
 Slaves; the French Gentry , a noble, va¬ 
 liant People, becaufe free by Law, 
 Birth and Education: In England we 
 are all free Subjects by our Laws, and 
 therefore our People prove generally 
 couragious, the Dutch and Italians are 
 both frugal Nations, thou yh their Cli¬ 
 mates and Governments differ as much 
 as any, becaufe the Laws of both Na¬ 
 tions encline them to Thriftinefs; other 
 Nations I could name, are generally 
 vain & prodigal,not by Nature, nor for 
 want of a good Country; but becaufe 
 their Laws, C h. difpole them fo to be.. 
 
( n ) 
 
 The fixth proof of the Propofition , is, 
 that It employes the Poor *, which is a nc- 
 neccffary Confluence likewife of the 
 encreafe of Trade in Cities , and Em- 
 provement of Land in the Country, 
 which is well and truly demonftrated 
 from Experience, by the Elder and 
 Younger Sr Thomas Culpepper, to whom 
 to avoid Prolixity, I mull refer the 
 Reader. 
 
 Seventhly, It encrcafcth the People of a 
 Nation j this alfo neceflarily followeth 
 the encreafe of Trade and Emprove-" 
 ment of Lands, not that it caufeth mar¬ 
 ried men to get more Children. 
 
 But j/, a trading Country affording 
 comfortable Subliftances to more Fa¬ 
 milies then a Country deftitute of 
 Trade, is the reafon that many do 
 marry, who otherwifc muft be forc’d 
 to live (ingle, which may be one reafon 
 why fewer People of either Sex are to 
 be feen unmarried in Holland at 25 years 
 of age, then may be found in England 
 at 40 years old. 
 
 idly, Where there is much Employ¬ 
 ment, and good Pay, if we want Hands 
 of our own, we fhaB draw them from 
 others, as hath been faid. 
 
( ?0 ) 
 
 3 dty. We fhall keep our own People 
 at home, which otherwife for want of 
 Employment would be fored to leave 
 us,and ferve other Nations, as too many 
 of our Sea-men, Ship-wri&hts, and 
 others have done. 
 
 4 thly. Our Lands and Trade being 
 Improvedwill render us capable not 
 only of employing, but feeding a fir 
 greater number of People, as is manifeft 
 in that in fiance of the Land of Paleftinc. 
 
 And if thefe will be the dfe&s of aba¬ 
 ting Interefl:, then I think it is out of 
 doubt that the Abatement of Interefl is 
 the caufe of the encrcafe of the Riches of 
 any Kingdom, for qdcqmd cfficit tale efi 
 m*gh tale . Now to anfwer his four 
 recited Reafons, viz.. 
 
 Fir ft, he faith, If a love fated Inter eft 
 by Law be the caufe of Picks , -no Country 
 ■mold be foor, all defiring Riches rather 
 then Poverty, and all having it in their 
 power to ftate their Interefl: as low as 
 they pleafe by Law. 
 
 I anfwer, firft, Whatever Nation doth 
 it gradually, for fo it muft be done \ as 
 it hath been hitherto in England (2 pr 
 Cm being enough to abate at one time ) 
 viBfmd thefe effcfls I have mentioned j but 
 
 it 
 
f P ; 
 
 it Is a work of Age?, and cannot be 
 done at once *, For $ec natUtS 0 Ut 
 
 Icy opcrantur ptt faltum. 
 
 Secondly , It is great Imprudence to 
 imagine that any Country undemand¬ 
 ing their true Interelt fo well, as by 
 degrees to abate Life-Money, will not 
 likewife by the fame Wifdom be led to 
 the inftituting of many other good 
 Laws for the encouragement of Trade, 
 as our Parliaments have ftill proceeded 
 to do, as Intereft hath been abated. 
 
 His fecond Rcafon is, That if the lomefs 
 of Interefi were not the ejfeft of Riches in 
 Holland, they might take as much Vfc± 
 Money as they could get , there being m Law 
 gain]} it. 
 
 I anfwer, There were formerly Laws 
 in Holland that reduced Interelt to 
 8 and 6, and afterwards to 5 per 
 Cent , Anno 1640. and fince in the 
 Year 1655. to 4 per Cent, the P lac art 
 for which I have feen, and have been 
 told, and do believe they have fince 
 reduced it by Placart to 3 per Cent , as to 
 their Cantors , and all publick Receipts, 
 which in Hdland is as much in effect as 
 if they had made a general Law for it, 
 becaufe the moll: of their Receipts and 
 Payments 
 
fayments are made in and out of the' 
 aforefaid publick Offices, or elfe into 
 and out of their Banks, for which no 
 Ufe-Money is allowed; which feveral 
 gradual and fuccesful Abatements of 
 Jntereft did occafion their Riches at firft, 
 and brought their People to that con- 
 fiftency of Wealth, that they have fince 
 wrought themfclveS into fuch an abun¬ 
 dance, that there are more Lenders nm 
 than Borrowers, and fo I doubt not but it 
 will be with Us in a few Years, after 
 the next Abatement of Intereft is made 
 by Law *, which I have good reafon to 
 conclude, not only front the vifible o- 
 perations of nature in all other things 
 and places,but fromFaft and Experience 
 in this very cafe; being certain that the 
 Gold-Smiths in London could have what 
 Money they would upon their Servants 
 Notes only, at 4 /. and 4 /. 1 0 s. per Cent , 
 before the late Emergencies of State, 
 which I could demonftrate, have very 
 much obftru&ed the natural fall of In¬ 
 tereft with us; fomething more 1 have 
 faid in anfwerto this in the addition to 
 my former Treatife; and this may 
 ferve likewife for an anfwer to his third 
 Reafon. 
 
 Fourthly 
 
any Country in the U orld from a poor and 
 low condition, ' while Intertfr was at 6 per 
 Cent, was made rich by bringing it to 4 per 
 Cent, or 3 per Cent by a Law. 
 
 .1 anfwer, If the inftanceof Holland 
 and Italy were not fufficient to fatisfie 
 him in this point, yet that having pro- 
 vcd(which he cannot deny)that our own 
 Kingdom hath been enriched confcquent- ■ 
 Iy, conftantly and proportionably to 
 and after our fcveral Abatements of In¬ 
 tereft by Law, from an un limit ted rate, 
 to 10, from 10 to 3 , and from 8 to 6 
 per Cent , 1 think it may rationally be 
 concluded that another Abatement of 
 In ter eft in England would caufc a fur¬ 
 ther encreafe of Riches, as it hath done 
 in Holland. 
 
 From Italy I have endeavoured to 
 gain a certain accompt of their legal 
 Intereft, but am advifed that no taking 
 of life-Money is alio wed by their Poa- 
 tifcial Laws, the Intereft now taken 
 there, which is generally 4 jiir Cm, is 
 done only by difpeniation oi Fopc Paul 
 th e fifth, and that notwithltcnding no 
 man cm mover Inter efi of Money there , 
 
 C f 
 
rj4). 
 
 if the forty nho paid fay tt cm prove hi 
 hath 1 no gained the value »/ the httrefi de¬ 
 manded: New let the Reader'judge 
 Whether that prk&ife of Holland, and 
 this of Italy, where the Romijh Church¬ 
 men have to great power,who are to take 
 Cognizance, and may by their Auricu¬ 
 lar Confeffors , of all Offences of this 
 kind; the Laws concerning the ufe of 
 Money in thofe Countries being hntu 
 fetal , do not amount in effect to a low 
 •Hated Intereft by Law in England, 
 
 But to deal more ingenuoufly with 
 •cay Offofer then he hath done with me, 
 I will grant him that much Riches will 
 bccafion in any Kingdom a low rate of 
 intereft, : and yet that doth not hin¬ 
 der but a low Rated Intereft by Law 
 may be a caufe'of Riches: For if Trade 
 be that which enricheth any Kingdom, 
 and lowciing of Intereft advanced! 
 Trade (which I think is fufficiently 
 proved) then the Abatement of Inte¬ 
 reft, or more prperly reftraining of 
 llfary i which the antient Remans, and 
 all other wife and .rich People in the 
 world did always drive at, isdoubtlcfs 
 1 primary and o incipal caufe of the 
 fishes cf any Na; 'm 5 it being not. im* 
 
proper to fay, nor abfurd to conceive, 
 that The fame thing may be both a Canfe 
 md an Eft ft. Peace begets Plenty, and 
 plenty may be a means to preferve 
 Peace: Fear begets Hatred, and Hatred 
 Fear: The diligent Hand makes rich, 
 and Riches makes men diligent, fo true 
 is the Proverb, Crtfcit amor Nnmmi, 
 (jumum iff * fecania erefcit ; Love we fay 
 begets Love, the fertility of a Country 
 may caufe the eacreafe of People, and 
 the encreafe of People may caufe the 
 further and greater fertility of a Coun¬ 
 try ; Liberty and Property conduce to 
 the encreafe of Trade and Emprove- 
 ment of any Country ; and the en- 
 creafc of Trade and Emprovements 
 conduce to the procuring, as well 
 as fecaring of Liberty and Pro¬ 
 perty ; Strength and Health conduce 
 to a good digeition, and a goed dige- 
 ltion is neceffary to the prefen aticn of 
 Health and encreafc of Strength; and 
 ss a Perfon of very great honour 
 pertinently inltanced at a late debate 
 upon this Queftion, An Egg is the canfe 
 a Hen , and a Hen the canfe of an Egg, 
 The incomparable Lord Bacon in his 
 Hiftory of Henry the 7th,faith,pag 245, 
 pffhat frpet as well as other iaen^That 
 C a, his 
 
(*6 ) 
 
 his Fortune worked upon his Nature, & 
 his Nature upon hisFortunejthe like may 
 be fa’dof Nations j The abatement of 1 »- 
 tere’tl cauftth an tr.creaf of Wealth , and the 
 ever cafe of Wealth may ca*fc a further Abate¬ 
 ment of later'ft. But that is belt done by i 
 the Midwifery of good Laws, which is 
 what I plead for \ the corrupt Nature i 
 of man being more apt to decline to; 
 Vice, then incline to Veituc. ! 
 
 Folio 15. he affirms, Lands are not\ 
 rifett in Fnnhafe^ nor Bents imfrovtd face i 
 the Abateme t of Interefi. \ 
 
 That I fliall fay no more to, it is mat- \ 
 terofFaft, and Gentlemen who are the; 
 Ow.ers of Land arc the b zRJudgts of this; 
 cafe, only I would entreat them not! 
 to depend upon their Memories alone,[ 
 but to command paiticular accompts to| 
 fee given them what fum or fums off. 
 Money were given 40 or 50 Years paftl 
 for any intire Farms or Mannors they? 
 row know ; and I doubt not bnt they! 
 will find that mrft'cf them will yiddf 
 double the faid fums of Money nowj; 
 rotwithftanding the prefent great p ef 4 
 fnres that Land lies under, which ought!, 
 maturely to he confidered of, when thi$ 
 judgment is made, I lather 
 
 defire th< 
 
enquiry to be made upon the grofs fum 
 of Money paid, then the Years pur- 
 chafe, as being lefs fallible, becaufe 
 many Farms have been of late Years fo 
 rackt up in Kents, that it may be they 
 will noc yield more Years purthafe now, 
 according to the prefent Rents, then 
 they would many years paft, and yet 
 may yield double the Money they were 
 then bought or fo’d for, becaufe the 
 Rents were much lefs then; 
 
 Fob t 5. he impertinently quarrels at 
 my inftance of Inland, faying, I quote 
 it fometimes to prove the benefit of a 
 low Intcrcft, fag. 8. And fometimes 
 the mifehief of high Intercft,' fig. 9. 
 Which feems to me to be an unfriendly 
 Way of prevaricating .• For fag. 8. I 
 mention the late great improvement cf 
 Inland only, as an accidental caufe 
 why our Rents at that prefent fell, and 
 in this it appears 1 was not much mi- 
 fhken, for within.a few Moneths after 
 I firft writ that Treatife, the Pur Ha- 
 man took notice of it. Pag. 9. I men¬ 
 tion that place among others, that pay 
 a high Ihtereft, and are confeqiun ly 
 very poor y if there be any contradicti¬ 
 on in this, let the Reader judge.l 3 ^. 1 6. 
 
 C 3 the 
 
(38; 
 
 the Gentleman puzlcth liiffifclf about 
 finding Miftakes in my Calculation cf 
 the encreafe of Merchants Eftates, hut 
 difcovers none but his own} fo I lhaft 
 not trouble the Reader further about 
 that, all Merchants granting me as much 
 as I defign by it, though fome of them 
 have not, or care not to obfervetheA- 
 batement of Intereft to have been the 
 principal caufe thereof. 
 
 Fol. 17. Bccaufe he cannot anfwer 
 that large and pregnant inftance of the 
 effedts of a low Intereft which I gave, 
 in the cafe of the Sugar-Bakers of London, 
 and thofe of Holland , which was but 
 one of a hundred, which I could have 
 mentioned \ he endeavours to let up ano¬ 
 ther of a contrary effeft, which is a 
 weak rediculous Inftance, and nothing 
 to his purpofe; for that Commodity 
 that I mentioned, viz. Sugar, is a folid 
 bulky Commodity, always in falkion, 
 not eonfequent to humor, as is that of 
 Silk-Stockings , r 000 1. worth whereof may 
 be with left charge carried to Italy,. 
 then 3 ul. worth of Barbadots Sugar can 
 be fent to Holland : Eelides, the reafon 
 why we of late fent Silk-Stockings thi<- 
 ther, is accidental, not natural,, only 
 happening. 
 
?j happening by means of an Engin we 
 have to weave them, whereof they have 
 not yet the ufe in Italy : Bcfidrs, wear¬ 
 ing things being more elte. med through 
 Fancy then Judgment, the Italians may 
 have the fame Vai.it/, which is too 
 much amongft us, to efteem that which 
 I is none of their own making, as we do 
 French Rifonds, and the French-men. Eng- 
 lip onesy befides, he is miitaken ia fay-, 
 ing we bring the Silk we make them of 
 from Italy, for the Silk of which we 
 make that Commodity is Turky, not 
 Italian Sifk. ; 
 
 . Fol. i S. The GentUmm begins to be 
 kind, and finding me out of the way,’ 
 pretends to fct me right,, wz.. to in- 
 flrud me,as frit* what will bring down 
 hterefi. 
 
 j ft. Multitude of People. 
 
 2 dly, A full Trade. 
 
 3 dly y Liberty of Confcience. . 
 
 I Anfwer y That I have I think, pro'^ 
 ved, that the Abatement of Inter eft 
 will effect the two former, and 1 think: 
 my Oppofer. is not clear. lighted,’ if he 
 cannot difcern that the latter, in a due 
 and;, regulated proportion mult be a 
 cqnfequent of them. 
 
 C 4 K 
 
C 40) 
 
 In the next place, the Gentleman find¬ 
 ing me at a lots, as he fays, for the 
 reafon of our great Trade at prefent, 
 will help me as well as he can. 
 
 Ianfwer; Thofe latter Words (as 
 mil as he can ) were well put in, for as 
 y:t he hath told me no News, nor gi¬ 
 ven any lliadow of Reafon, that I knmv 
 not before, and had maturely confide- 
 red on many Years before 1 writ the 
 firfl Treatife. ■ > 
 
 The Reafons he gives for our prefent 
 greatnefs of Trade are ^ 
 
 Frit, Our cajting of the Church of 
 Rome. 
 
 Secondly , The Statutes in Henry riff 
 7 th's time,prohibiting Noble mens Retainers , 
 and making their Lands liable to the pay-; 
 went of Debts. 
 
 Thirdly, Toe difcovery of the Eaft and 
 Well-India Trade , pag. 19, :o. • 
 
 To his fir ft and fccond RcafonS,‘:<;I 
 anfwer, that Thofe Statutes of Henry/ the 
 •jth , and our caf n of the Church .of 
 Rome, did long precede our being any thing 
 in Trade ; w hich bea.a a not until the lat¬ 
 ter end of Oi'een Elizabeth's Reign, 
 and after waHs encrcafed in the time of 
 IUng James and King Charles the fii ft, 
 as 
 
<\ 4 » > 
 
 as we abated "our In ter eft, and not- 
 otherwife j there king a Perfon yet living, 
 and but 77 Years of Age, viz. Captain 
 Rufel of Wappvng, who affures me he cm 
 remember finee we had not above three Mer¬ 
 chants Ships of 300 Tans , and upwards , 
 belonging to England. 
 
 Secondly, That in Italy where there 
 are no Rich Statutes for abridgement of 
 Noble, men’s Retainers, nor calling off 
 the Church of Rome,- there is notwith- 
 ftanding a very great Trade, and Land 
 at from 35 to 40 Years purchafe, which 
 fuffidently lliews that a low Interefl is 
 abfolutely and principally neceffary, 
 and that the other particulars alone will 
 not do, to the procuring of thofe ends, 
 although a low Intereft lingly. doth it in 
 Italy . 
 
 To his third Reafon, I anfwer, that 
 There are fome men yet living who do remem¬ 
 ber a greater Trade to Eaff-India, and afar 
 greater Stock employed therein , then we have- 
 novo ; and yet we were fo far from thri¬ 
 ving upon it, that we loll by it, and 
 could never fee our principal Money 
 again; Nor ever did we greatly pros¬ 
 per upon it, till our Interefl was much 
 abated by Laws j nor ever fhall mate the 
 Dutch 
 
Dutch in it, till our Inter ejl k as l<m as j 
 theirs. The like, in a great meafure, j 
 is true in our Weft-India Trades,, we j 
 never got confiderable by them till our 
 laft Abatement of Intereft from 8 to 6 
 per Cent > 
 
 Pag. 21,2 i. he labours to prove, that. 
 If we would have Trade to flmijh, and 
 Lands high, we tnuft imitate iht Hollan¬ 
 ders in Mr PraBices « which in matter 
 6f Trade 1 know is mbft certain, 1 fo far 
 as they art confident with the Govern¬ 
 ment of our own Country r And the 
 firft and readied thing wherein we can 
 imitate them, 1 is to reduce our Intereft 
 of Money to a lower rate, 1 after the 
 manner of our Fathers!,- and they did it 
 before us, which will naturally lead us: 
 to all the other advantages in Trade 
 which they now ufe.. 
 
 I. For, If Intereft he abated to 4 per 
 Gent who wiH not, that can leave his 
 Children any comment Efiatc of 1000 or 
 2600 1 each , bring them up to Writing, 
 Arithmetck , and Merchants Accomptsj 
 OndtriftruB them in Trades, well knowing: 
 that the bare ufe of their Money, or the j 
 produd of it in' Land will fcarce keep 5 
 taL- 
 
2. Muft not all Perfons live tower in Ex* 
 fence y when all Trades will be lefs gainful to 
 individuals, though mere profitable■ to the 
 Piiblick ? 
 
 3. Will it not put m upon building of 
 bulky and cheap failing Ships as they ? 
 
 4. Will it not bringTrade tobe fo familiar 
 | amongft that ear Gentlemen , who are in 
 
 I oar greatefl Councils fall come to underfland 
 ' ify and accordingly contrive Laws in favour 
 of it ? 
 
 $.Will not ; nayfath it not already brought 
 m to lower our Cufloms upon our own na¬ 
 tive Commodities and Manufactures ? 
 
 6. Will it not in time bring m to tranj - 
 faring Bills of Debt ? Is not neceflity the . 
 Mother of Invention, and that old Pro¬ 
 verb true, facile elf inuenttss abbetc ? 
 There is in my poor Opinion nothing 
 conduceablc to the good of Trade, that 
 we (ball not by one accident or other hit 
 upon, when we have attained this Fun¬ 
 damental point, and are thereby necef- 
 fitated to follow and keep to our Trades 
 from Generation to Generation. 
 
 7. Do 
 
f 44 ) 
 
 7. Do we not fee that even as the 
 World now goes, ties Item fcocet, 
 fearce a Seffion of Parliament paffeth 
 without making forae good Ads for the 
 bettering of Trade, and pareing off the 
 extravagancy .of the Law,for which ends 
 this lafl: Seffion produced three. 
 
 That about the Silk-Thrwfiers. 
 
 That about Tranfportation of Hides , &c. 
 
 That about Writs of Error. 
 
 8 . Will not the full mderftanding of 
 Track (acquired by Experience, and 
 never wanting to any People that make 
 it their constant bufinefs to follow 
 Trade, as we muft do when Intereffc 
 ffiaH be at 4 percent) quickly bring ns to find 
 w advantage .in pe. mitring all Stra gtrs to 
 to-habit, trade andpurchafe Lands among ft 
 us upon as eafie terms as the Dutch do ? 
 
 Will not the Conference of this Lat 9 t 
 by augmenting the value of Land, bring 
 us in rime to ngsdar and juft Enclsfemms 
 efcur Ferrefts, Commons and Waftes , and 
 making our fmalkr Rivers navigable ? the 
 higJieS Improvements that this Land 
 is capable of: And have not thefe lait 
 5® Years, ftnce the feveral Abatements 
 ©f laterell, produced more of thefe 
 
 profi- 
 
( 4 <-> 
 
 prontableWorks then 2ooYears before^ 
 
 Will not the Conference of this Law dif, 
 cover to ns the vanity and oppofition to t rade 
 that there fcems to be in many ofonr Statutes 
 yet in force, fuch as thefe following, viz. 
 
 i ft, The Statutes of Bankrupt fas they 
 are now ufed ) in many cafes more to the 
 Prejudice of honefi Dealers then the Bank - 
 rapt himflf by compelling men often 
 times to refund Money received of the 
 Bankrupt for Wares juftl 1 ' fold and de¬ 
 livered him, long before it was poffible 
 for the Seller todifeover the Buyer to be 
 a Branknipt, 
 
 idly, Such are oar Laws limiting the 
 price of Beer and Ale to one Penny per 
 Quart, which bir us from all Improve¬ 
 ments and Imitation of foreign Liquors 
 made of Corn, commonly called Mum y 
 Spruce-Beer, Roficker-Beer, which may, 
 and are made in England, and would 
 occafion the profitable Confumption of 
 an incredible quantity of our Grain, 
 and prove a great a dition to his 
 MajeJHesKeve nue ofExcife,ey pend abun¬ 
 dance of Coals in long boy ling of thofe 
 Commodities,imploy many Hands io the 
 Manufa&ure of them, as well as Ship¬ 
 ping in Tranfportation of them, not 
 
U6) 
 
 drily to all our own Plantations in A- 
 mrica, b.ut to many other parts of the 
 World. 
 
 3dly, Our Laws againft engrafting Cm 
 and other Commodities , there being no 
 Perfons more b. neficial to Trade in a 
 Nation, then Engroftcrs , which will be 
 a worthy Employment for our prefent 
 Vfurers, and render them truly ufeful 
 to their Country. 
 
 4thly,S#e/j was our Law againft Export** 
 tion of Bullion lately repealed. 
 
 5 thly, Such is the ufe of the Law at 
 prefent , which takes not only a Cuftom, hut 
 
 15 s , pTw Excife m ftrwg Beer ex¬ 
 ported, being the fame Rate it pays when 
 fpentat home, contrary to the pra¬ 
 ctice of all trading Countries. 
 
 6 thly, Such are our Laws which charge 
 Sea-Coals, or any of our native Provifwm 
 exported with Cuftom, viz. Beef, Pork, 
 Bread, Beer, &e. for which l think in 
 prudence the Door Ihould be opened 
 fride to let them out. 
 
 7thly, Of the like nature is ottr Law im- 
 pofing a great duty upon otf,r Horfes, Mares 
 and Nags exported. 
 
 8. Such in my weak Opinion, is that 
 branch of the Statute of 5 Eli?, that none 
 fhould 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 fould ufc any manual Occupation, except 
 'fa hath ken Apprentice to the jamt . 
 
 pthly, M(in my Opinion)/; the Law, 
 thick yet prohibits the Exportation of oar 
 own Coin ; for lince it is now by confent 
 of Parliament agreed and found by ex¬ 
 perience of all underftanding men, to 
 be advantagioij* for this Kingdom to 
 permit the free Exportation of Bullion, I 
 think it were better for ns that our own 
 Coin might Jikewife be fredv exported^ 
 becaufe by whgt of that went out, we 
 fhould gain the Manufacture (the Coyn- 
 ing ) bclid.es the great honour and 
 note of Magnificency it would be to 
 his Majcfty and this Kingdom, to have 
 his Majejrfs Coin currant in all parts of 
 the Vmverfe. 
 
 1 othly,SwJ> are all by-Laws ufed among 
 theSociety of Cooper s,& other A tificers,limi¬ 
 ting Mfiers to keep but one Ap , rcntice at a, 
 time *, whereas it were better for the 
 publick, they were permitted to keep 
 ten, if they could or would maintaia 
 or employ them. 
 
 nthly, Such fe-ntobe many ef our. 
 Laws relating to the Peer, efpecially thofe 
 againjl Inmates in Cities & trading 1 owns , 
 dad thofe obliging Parities to maintain their 
 6 vn Poor only. Pag* 
 
r 48) 
 
 Page 23. and 24. the Gentleman makes 
 a large Repetition of what lie had Paid 
 before, wherein I obferve, nothing new 
 but that he faith, the Eaft-India-Company 
 have Money at 4. per cent , only be- 
 caufe Men may have their Money out 
 when they pleafe, which is a miftake, 
 though a fmall one, for the Company fel— 
 dom or never take up Money but for a 
 certain time,though) doubt not but that 
 Generous Company will, and do at molt 
 times, accommodate an\ Pctfoa with his 
 Money before due, that hath occalion to 
 require fuch a kindnefs of them? al¬ 
 though they oblige not thcmfdves to do 
 it. 
 
 In this tenth particular, at the latter 
 end of page 24. he faith, I am miftaken 
 in my Aflertion of the Imereft of Scot¬ 
 land, which upon further enquiry a- 
 mongft the Scmb Merchants upon the 
 Exchange , I am Did it- his own miftake; 
 So I muft leave char, being matter of 
 fad, to thofe that knovv that Country 
 and its Laws, move and bitter then 
 either of us: Laflly, he concludes, 
 that whilft 1 fay the matter in England is 
 fo naturally prepared for an Abatement 
 of Intereft, that it cannot be long cb- 
 ftruded: 
 
(49,' 
 
 ftrufted: I propound a Law to antici¬ 
 pate Nature, which is againft Rea- 
 Ton. 
 
 I anfwer, it was the W ifdom of our 
 Grandfathers to bring it to what it 
 would bear, in their time} and ourF*- 
 tbtrs found the good effects of that, and 
 brought it lower, and the benefit there¬ 
 of isfincemanifefted to us by thefuc- 
 cefs ^ and therefore, feeing the matter 
 will now bear further Abatement, it is 
 reafonable for us to follow that excel¬ 
 lent Example of our Jneefiors } Lam 
 againft Nat are I grant would be imftSual ; 
 but 1 never heard before , that Laws t9 
 help Nature, were againfi Reafon. 
 
 Touching the Gentlemans perlonal 
 Reflexions upon roc, 1 fhall fay little, 
 it appears fufficiently by what I have 
 writ, and his Anfwer, that I am an Ad¬ 
 vocate for Itidufiry, he for Idltntfs: It 
 appears likewife to thofe that know me 
 in London , which are many, that I am 
 fo far from defigning to engrofe Trade, 
 that I am haflening to convert what I 
 can of ray fmail Eftate that is perfoual, 
 into real, fuppofmg it to be my Jnterdfc 
 lo to do, before the Ufeof Money falls, 
 yrhich 1 conclude cannot long ftfpend, 
 D and 
 
( 5 °) 
 
 and that then Land and Houfes flnric 
 rife ^ and I doubt it wi ; l appear, when 
 t'mGewkmm h zi rvell known as Iarti, 
 that he is more an Vfnr$r, then"an Owner 
 of Land or Manager of Trade at prtf- 
 fent; my ends have only beep to ferv'e 
 my Country , which.I can with a frncere 
 Heart declare, in. the Prefence 6 f God 
 and Mtn : And thit nothing elfe Canid 
 have engaged me into, this unpleaimg 
 Controverfie, wherein. 1 have given un¬ 
 willing offence to all my ncareft Relati¬ 
 ons, and knew at firil that I muff needs 
 do fo, moll of them being fuch as Ag« 
 and Wif lorn hath in ftrucled. rather to be 
 
 Box-keepers thyn Gamijters. . 
 
 I have brfore-mentioned the jfudg-, 
 mentof the French King and Com , bpt 
 intended not to recite the £diti x being 
 it is at large in Sr Thomas Culpeppers &- 
 nior his laft Treatife, yet on fecond 
 thoughts, conflicting a’.l Men perhaps^ 
 my not come , to a light of that, arjd 
 finding the Lid Mill fo comprchenfive 
 of the whole matter of this Controvef- 
 iie, I have here recked it 
 The King by the fa Edids had nothing re- ' 
 litved the neeeifitics of the Nobility , if he 
 had. not provided for Vfuries 7 which have' 
 mined 
 
ruined many good and antient Houfcs • fifed 
 Towns with unprofitable Servants, and the 
 Countries with Miferies and Inhumanities ; 
 he found the Rents viz, Vfuries conflated 
 after 10 or % in the hundred, did ruin ma¬ 
 ny good Families, kindred the Traffick and 
 Commerce of Merchandise's, and made Til¬ 
 lage and Handicrafts to be neglected, ma¬ 
 ny defining through the eafntfs of a dec tit¬ 
 ful'G din tolweldhlyin good Towns of tht'p- 
 Rents, rather then to give themftlvcs with 
 any fains to liberal Arts, or to till or husband 
 their Inheritances: For this reafon, mean¬ 
 ing to invite his fab felts to enrich themfehes 
 ■with more juft Gain, to content themfehes 
 with more moderate frofit, and to give the 
 Nobility means to fay their Debts ; he did 
 forbid ad Vfttry or Confutation of Rents at 
 an higher rate then fix' Founds five Shillings 
 inihbhfUtf.red. 
 
 The Edift was Verified in the Court 
 of Parliament, which confdend that it was 
 always prejudicial to the Commonwealth, 
 to give Money to Vtyry ; for it is a Ser¬ 
 pent whofe brteing is nor apparent, and 
 ye; it i ! s.fo feaiible, that it pcirccth the 
 Yery Hearts of thc.beft Families. 
 
 The whole of this Controverfie lies 
 narrowly in thefe two ihort Qireftions, 
 P 2 viz. 
 
( 5 2 ) 
 
 viz. Will abatement of Intereft improve 
 Trade ? Secondly, Will it advance the 
 price of Land ? The collcttive united Bo¬ 
 dies of the Government of our own and o- 
 ther Kingdoms , exprefly fay it will do both ? 
 and Experience cries Mom that fo it will do, 
 and hath done in all Ages and in all I laces j 
 and I never yet met with any private 
 perfon, how much foever concerned in 
 Interest, that had the ignorance or 
 confidence to deny both. 
 
 For difeourfe with a Country Vfurer, he 
 ■will affirm, and perhaps be ready to 
 fwear to it, that this abatement pf In¬ 
 tereft ,is a Kmvijh defign of the Citizens 
 to advance thcrofelves,who are too proud 
 already ^ and that if it go forward it 
 .will undo all the Country Gentlemen iji 
 England'. And if one fpeak jrith the 
 City VfurerSj they will be as resray to af¬ 
 firm, that this is a plot carried on only 
 by Noblemen Gentlemen, whofe Effatcs 
 
 are all in Land, for their own advantage^ 
 and-tliat it will fpoil all the Trade of the 
 Kingdom , being a projeft at one inftant 
 to take off juft one third pf all Mens 
 Eftates that are pcrfonal, and add the 
 lame proportion to all fuch whofe Eftates 
 $re reals which in effed is to Impover- 
 
ifh all the Younger, and Enrich all Elder 
 Brothers in England : So that out of 
 the Monthes of the greateft and wifeft 
 Adverfades to this principle, it may 
 be juffcly concluded, that though lingle- 
 ly they d^ny the truth of it, yet joynt- 
 ly they co'niefs it. 
 
 To conclude, there is nothing that l 
 have faid, or that I think any other can 
 fay upon this occafion, but was faid id 
 fubftance before by old Sr Thomas Cul- 
 pfpjpe r (though unknown to me) who had an! 
 arripeland clear fight into the whole na¬ 
 ture of this Principle, and the true ef¬ 
 fects and confequences of it, Truth be¬ 
 ing always the fame , though IHitft rations 
 may vary \ nor can anything now be 
 cbjeded again!! the making a Law for 
 a further abatement of Interefly but the 
 fame that was objected in thofe times 
 wherein the former Statutes paft ; fo 
 that why my Opjofer fliould cavil at the 
 doing of that by a Law in England , now 
 (which he feertis to like well, [fit could 
 be done ^ I know noreal’caufe, except 
 it be that in truth he is wife enough to 
 know that a Law ip England will certain¬ 
 ly do' the Work, as it hath done former- 
 ■ 
 
ly, and in confequence his own private 
 Gain will be retrenched. 
 
 Before 1 concluded 1 think it necefia- 
 ry, for caution to my Cwntrymtr , to let 
 them know what eflk&s thefe difcourfes 
 have had on others; when 1 wrote my 
 fir ft Treatife, intereft was in the If and 
 of Barkadoes at 15 per centum^ where it 
 is fince by an Ad of the Country brought 
 down to 10 per cetit (a great fail at once) 
 and our weekly Gazjets did fome Months 
 paft inform us, that the Srneds by a 
 Law had Vroughtdown their Intereft to 
 6 per cm ; neither of which can have 
 any good effeds upon us, but certainly 
 the contrary, except by way of emula¬ 
 tion they quicken us to provide in 
 timefor our own Good and Profperity. 
 
 I- have now done with this Controvcr- 
 fie, and therein difeharge my Duty to 
 my native Country, and though Igno¬ 
 rance, Malice, or private Intereft may 
 yet for fome time oppofe it; I'm confi¬ 
 dent the Wifdom of my Country-men , will at 
 length find their true and general Inter eft , in 
 the EftakUfhmcnt of fuch a Law , which as 
 to my own particular concernments, fig- 
 nifies not two Farthings whether they 
 do or not. 
 
 CHAp. 
 
CHAP. II 
 
 Concerning the Relief and 
 Employment cf the Poor. 
 
 T His is a calm Subject, and thwarts 
 no common or private Interefli 
 amonglt us,' except that of the 
 common Enemy of Mankind (the Devil) 
 fo I .hope that what ihall be offered to¬ 
 wards the effecting of fo univerfally ac¬ 
 ceptable a Work as this, . and the re¬ 
 moval of the innumerable Inconveni¬ 
 ences that do no w a'nd have in all Ages at¬ 
 tended this Kingdom,'through defedof 
 fuch provifion for the Poor, will not be 
 
 ill taken, although the Plaiflcr atfirft 
 
 effay do not exadly fit the Sore. 
 
 In the .Difcourfe of this fubjed, I 
 Ihall firfl: alTert forrie particulars, which 
 I think are agreed by common Confent, 
 and from thence take occafionto pro¬ 
 ceed to What is more doubtful. 
 
 i. That our Poor.in England have al- 
 mys been in a moft fad and wretched cordi- 
 
(< 6 ) 
 
 ftoft , fotne Familhed for want of Bread, 
 others ftarved with Cold and Naked- 
 nefs, and many whole Families in all 
 the out Parte of Cities and great Towns, 
 commonly remain in a languilhing,natty 
 and ufelefs Condition, Uncomfortable 
 to themfelves, and Unprofitable to the 
 Kingdom, this is confefled and lamented 
 by all Men. 
 
 2. That the Children of our Poor bred 
 up in Beggery and Lttzjntfs, do by that 
 means become not only of ufthtakhy Bo¬ 
 dies , and more then ordinarily fubjeft to 
 many loathfome Difeafes, Whereof ve¬ 
 ry many die in their tender Age, and 
 if any of them do arrive to years and 
 lfcrength, they are, by their idle habits 
 contra&ed in their Youth, rendered for 
 ever after indifpofedto Labour,and ferv« 
 only to ftock the Kingdom with Thieves 
 and Beggars. 
 
 3. That if all our impotent JPoor were 
 provided for , andthofeof both Sexes and all 
 Ages that can do Work of any kind , employ¬ 
 ed) it maid redound feme Hundreds of'Thou- 
 funds of Pounds per annum to the publici 
 Advtntage. 
 
 4. That it is our Duty to God and Na¬ 
 
 ture , fo to Provide for , and Employ the 
 Poor . 5. 
 
( 57 ) 
 
 That by fo doing one of the great Sint 
 (for which this Land ought to mourn) would 
 be removed. 
 
 6 . That our fore-fathers had pious Inten¬ 
 tions towards this good Work, as appears by 
 the many Statutes made by them to this pur- 
 pofe. 
 
 7. That there art places in the World, 
 wherein the Poor are fo provided for, and 
 employed , as in Holland, Hambrough, 
 New-England and others , and as I am in¬ 
 formed now in the City of Paris. 
 
 Thus far we all agree : The firft 
 Qnelhon then that naturally occurs* 
 is, 
 
 Queftion, How comes it to pafs that in 
 England we do not, nor ever did comforta¬ 
 bly Maintain and Employ our Poor] 
 
 The common Anfwers to this Quefti¬ 
 on. are, two. 
 
 1. That our Laws to this purpofe are as 
 good as any in the iVorld , but we fail in the 
 execution. 
 
 1. That formerly in the days ef our pi¬ 
 ous Anccflors the jverk was done , but now 
 Charity is deeeafed , and that is the rea- 
 fon we fee the Poor fo negle&ed as now 
 they are. 
 
 In both which Anfwers (1 humbly 
 coc- 
 
f 5§ ) • 
 
 conceive) theEffed is miftaken for the 
 Caufc: For though it cannot be denied, 
 but there hath been, and isa great failure 
 in the Execution of thofe Statutes which 
 relate to the Poor \ yet l fay, the canfc 
 of that failure, hath been occajimd by de¬ 
 ft: of /he Laws themfelves. 
 
 For otherwife, what is the reafon' 
 that in our late times of Confulion and 
 Alteration, wherein almoft every Party 
 
 in the Nation, at one time or ot her, took 
 their turn at the Helm, and all had that 
 Compafs (thofeLaws) toStearby, and 
 yet none of them could, or ever did, 
 Condnft the Poor into a Harbour of fecu- 
 rity to them, and profit to the King¬ 
 dom, i. e. mne fuffcientty maintained the 
 impotent , and employed- the Indigent a- 
 mongjl ns :■ And jf this was never done 
 in any Age 1 , nor by any fort of Men 
 whatfoever in this Kingdom, who had 
 the ufe of thofe Laws now in force, it 
 feems to- me a-very ftrorig Argument 
 that it never could,nor ever will be done 
 bv thofe Laws, and that confequently 
 the defed lies in the 'Laws themfelves, 
 fiot in the Men, i. t. thofe that lhould 
 ,put them in Execution 
 
 Astothefecond Anfwer .to theafore- 
 faid 
 
laid Queftlon, wherein mnt of Charity 
 is afligned for another caufe why the Poor 
 are now fo much neglefted, 1 think it is 
 a fcanddms ungrounded Accujdion of our 
 Contemporaries ('except in relation to 
 Euildiag of Churches , which Iconfefs 
 this Generation is not fo prophenfe to as 
 former have been) for moft that I 
 converfs with* are not fo much troubled 
 to part with their Money, as how to 
 place it, that it may do good, and not 
 hurt to the Kingdom: For, if they give 
 to the Beggars in the Street syor at their Doors, 
 they fear they may do hurt by encouraging 
 that LaZy Unprofitable kind of Life* 
 and if thty give more then their Propftiens 
 in tkir rejpettwe Parijbes) that (they fay) 
 is but giving to the Rich , for the Poor are' 
 not fee on Work thereby, nor have the 
 more given them; but only their Rich 
 Neighbours pay the lefs. And for what 
 was given in Churches to the vifited Poor , 
 andtofuch as were impoverijhed by the 
 Fire ; we have heard ©f fo many and 
 great Abides of that kind of Charity , 
 that moft Men are under fad difeourage- 
 inents in relation thereunto. 
 
 1 write not this to divert any Man 
 from Works of Charity of any kind 
 He 
 
(6o) 
 
 He that gives to Any in Want dees tfr# j 
 hat he that gives to Employ and Educate the 
 Poor, fo as to render them njeful to the 
 Kingdom, in my judgment does better ., 
 
 And here , by the way, not to leave 
 Men at a lofs how todifpofe of what 
 God (hall incline their Hearts to give for 
 the Benefit of the Poor, lthink.it not 
 Impertinent to propofe the Hoffitals of 
 this City, and Poor Labouring People that 
 have many Children, and make a hard Ihift 
 to fuftai-n them by their Indultery, 
 thereof there are multitudes in the put 
 Parts of this City , as the befi Objects of 
 Charity at prefent. 
 
 But to returnto my pnrpofe, viz. to' 
 prove that the want of Charity like- 
 wife that is now, and always hath been, 
 in relation to the Poor, proceeds from a de- 
 ftti mom- Laws. Ask any Charitable 
 minded Man as he goes along the Streets 
 of London, viewing the Poor, viz. Boyts, 
 GirlesMen and Women of all Ages, and 
 many in good Health, &c. why he and 
 others do not take care for the letting 
 thofe poor Creatures to Work ?• Will 
 he not readily anfwer, that he wilheth 
 heartily it could be done, though it coft 
 him a great part of his Eftatc, but he is 
 but 
 
(6i) 
 
 but one Man, and can do nothing to-' 
 wards it, giving them Moneys ns hath hit a 
 fiiid, being but to bring theni into a liking 
 and contirmance in that way. 
 
 The fecond Queftion then is, 
 
 Queftion 2. Wherein lies the defeat of 
 0 nr frefent Lqws relating to the Par * 
 
 I anfwer, that there may be many, 
 but I fliall here take notice of one only, 
 which I think to be Fundamental, and 
 which until altered, the Poor in Eng¬ 
 land wn. never be well Provided for, or 
 Employed $ and that when the faid fun¬ 
 damental Error is well amended, it is 
 almoft impoffible they Ihould lack either 
 Work or Maintenance. 
 
 The [aid radical Error . I efteem to bt 
 the leaving it to the care of every Tarifh to 
 Maintain their own Poor only ; upon which, 
 follows the lhifring off, fending or whip- 
 ing back the poor Wanderers to the 
 Place of their Birth, or laft Abode; the 
 pradice whereof 1 have feen many years 
 jn London, to fignifie as much as ever it 
 will, which is juft nothing of good to 
 the Kingdom in general, or the Poor 
 thereof, though it be fomedmes by ac¬ 
 cident to fome of them aPuni&mcnt 
 without effed 3 I fay without effed, bc- 
 caufe 
 
(62) 
 
 caufe it reforms not the Party, nor de- 
 fpofeth the minds of others to Obedi¬ 
 ence, which are the true ends of all Pun- 
 iihment. 
 
 As for mltance, fipoor idle Terfon , that 
 will not Work, or that no Body will 
 Employ in the Country, comes up to Lon¬ 
 don to fet up the Tr.tde of Beggings fuch a 
 perfon probably may Begg up and down- 
 the Streets feven years, it may be (even 
 and twenty, before any Body'asketh 
 why file doth fo, and if at length (lie 
 hath the ill hap in fome Parilh, to meet 
 with a more vigilant Beadle then one of 
 twenty of them are, all he does is but 
 to lead her the length of five or fix 
 Houfes into another Parilh, and then 
 concludes, as his Mafiers the. Pari (hirers 
 do, that he hath done the part of a mall: 
 diligent Officer: But fuppofe hefliould 
 yet go further to the end of his Line, 
 which is the end of the Law ■, and the 
 perfeft Execution of his Offiicc * that is, 
 fuppofe he fhould carry this poor wretch' 
 to a Jttftice of the Peace, and he fhould 
 order the Delinquent to be Whipt and 
 fent from Parijh to Pari(h y to the place 
 of her Birth or lad A .-ode, which not one 
 Jnfiice of twenty (through pitty or other 
 caufe) 
 
(<5j) 
 
 caufe) will do -, even this is a great charge 
 upon the Country, and yet thebuiinefj 
 of the Nation it felf wholly undone : 
 for nofooner d<ath the Delinquent a? rive 
 at the place affigned, but for Shame or 
 Idlenefs ihe prefently deferts it, and 
 wanders directly back, or fome other 
 way, hoping for better Fortune, whilft 
 the fiarifh to which (he is fent, knowing 
 her a Lazy and perhaps a worfa 
 qoalited perfon, is as willing to be 
 rid of her, as (he is to be gone from 
 thence. 
 
 If it be here retorted upon me, that 
 by my own confeflion, much of this mif- 
 chief happens by the non, or ill Execu¬ 
 tion of tne Laws, I fay, better Execu¬ 
 tion then you have feen you muft net ex- 
 pe& \ atjd there was never a good Law 
 made that was not well exec uted , the fault of 
 the Law canfing a failure of execution , it 
 being natural to all Men to life the re¬ 
 medy next at hand, and reft fatisfied 
 with (hiftirig the Evil from their own 
 Doors which in regard they can fo eali- 
 ly do, by threatning or thrufting a poor 
 Body out of the verge of their own Pa- 
 rifi, it is nnreafonable and vain to hope 
 that ever it will be otherwife, 
 
 For 
 
(<54 ) 
 
 For the Laws againfi Inmates , and em¬ 
 powering tiie Parilhionersto take Secu¬ 
 rity before they fiffer any poor Perfoa 
 to Inhabit amongft them \ it may be they. 
 were prudent comtitutioHS at the times 
 they were made ( and before England was 
 a place of Trade) and may be fo ftill in 
 fome Countries* but lam fun in Cities 
 and griat Towns ef Trade they are altogc~ 
 
 ' then improper, and contrary to the proffice of 
 other Cities and Trading Towns abroad. 
 The Riches of a City , as of a Nation, 
 confifting in the multitude of Inhabit 
 tants ; and if fo, yon waft allow Inmates , 
 or have a City of Cottages. And if a right 
 courfe be taken for the Suftcntation of 
 the Poor, and fitting them on Work, you 
 need invent no Stratagems to keep them 
 out, but rather to bring them in. For 
 the refort of Poor to a City or Nation wed 
 managed , is in tjftff, the conflux of Riches 
 to that City or Nation \ and therefore the 
 fubtil Dutch receive, and relieve, or em¬ 
 ploy all that come to them,not enquiring 
 what Nation, much lefs what Parilh they 
 are of. • 
 
 Qnefiion, 3. The third Queftion; If 
 the de feff be in our Laws , how flail we find 
 a remedy thjtt may be rational and conflflem ? 
 
 This 
 
. Tliis I confefs is a hard and difficult 
 quell ion, it is one of the Arana Front, 
 'and may very .well defuve the moft 
 deliberate confideration of onr wiled: 
 CcHnfellors And if a whole Scffionof 
 Parliament were employed on this lingu¬ 
 lar concern, 1 think it would be time 
 fpent as much to the glory of God and: 
 good of this Nation , as in any thing that 
 noble and worthy lairhts of their 
 Country can be engaged in : But feeing 
 I have adventured thus far, I (hall hum¬ 
 bly proceed to offer fome general pro- 
 pofals that have a tendency towards the 
 effieding this great Work, which being 
 lerioudy thought of and debated by wi- 
 fer men, may be capable of fuch melio¬ 
 ration' as may render them in a great 
 meafure effectual to the Kingdom in' 
 general,' although at prefent, to pre¬ 
 vent that common Objection, that great 
 Mutations are dangerous; i ffiail only 
 ptopffie them to be expei interned in 
 thefe parts of the Kingdom, which are 
 the Vitals of our body politick, w’-idr 
 being onCe marie found, the care of the 
 red: will not be difficult. 
 
 Profo(itm,i Fird: then I prop-Te That 
 the City of London and Wcftmi niter, 
 K Bar rough 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 Bumujfh of Southwark , and alt ether 
 places within the ufid Lines of Communi¬ 
 cation , defcribed in the weekly Bills of 
 Mortality, may by All of l nr lament be 
 affeaated into one Province or Line of Com* 
 mankatm for relief of t he Poor. 
 
 2. t hat there be one Affcmbly of men 
 (and Inch as they Hull from time ro time 
 appoint and deputife) mrujied with 
 the care for, and treafure of all the Poor 
 within the f&id Pale or Lint of Communica¬ 
 tion. 
 
 3 That the faid Affembly k incorpora¬ 
 ted by Act of Parliament , with perpetual 
 Sueceftion, by the name of Fathers of the 
 Poor , or fomc other honourable and fig- 
 nificant Title. 
 
 4. That all Con fables , Church-wardens , 
 Overfecrs , or other Officers in all Parifhes , 
 within the laid Line, be fnbordinate and 
 accomptable to the faid Fathers of the Poor y 
 and their Deputies f or , and in all things re¬ 
 lating to the Poor. 
 
 5. That the faid Fathers of the Poor may 
 have liberty to affefs and naive into their 
 common Ireafwry , for relief of their 
 Poor, fa much Money from every Parifh 
 as they yearly paid to that purpofe any of the 
 three Tears preceding this Cowflimw, and 
 
 to 
 
i 6 1 ) 
 
 .to compel the Payment thereof, hut Mt of 
 .more. 
 
 6. That the [aid fathers of the Poor ., 
 and their Deputies , may have very large 
 .and fujfcient fower in all things relating to 
 the.Poor, and particularly to have and re¬ 
 ceive the charitable benevolence of all 
 Perfons once every Lord? s Day in every 
 Parifh-Church, and in any other Meet¬ 
 ing of Pious Chrifiians , and at arty other 
 time or times which they /hall think fit. 
 
 7. That the [aid Fathers of the Poor, 
 and fuch as they fliall authorize, may 
 have porter to fur chafe Lands , entl and 
 endow Worh-houfes , JJofpitals , and Honfij 
 of Concern, and to exercife all other 
 Powers relating to the Poor, that any 
 number of Juices of the Peace now 
 may do, in their Quamr-Seifiom or 
 Qtherwife. 
 
 8. That the [aid Fathers of the Poor may 
 have Power to fend fuch Poor beyond the 
 Seas as they Jhall think fit into his Majefiks 
 Plantations , taking Security for their 
 comfortable Maintenance during then* 
 Service, and for their freedom af¬ 
 terwards. 
 
 9. That the [aid Fathers of the Poor may 
 ■have Power to erett petty Bancks and Lunu 
 
 E i hards 
 
(5H-) 
 
 hards for the benefit of the Poor,, if they fiiall 
 find it convenient, and allb to receive the 
 one half of what is paid at all the Doors 
 of Play-Houfes, and have the Patent for 
 Farthings , and to do whatever elfe his 
 Majefty and the Parliament lhall think fit 
 to recommend to them, or leave to 
 their difcretion. 
 
 10. That the Treafure that pall be col¬ 
 lected for this purpofc be accounted farced,: 
 and that it be Felony to mifapply, con¬ 
 ceal,. lend or convert it to any other 
 ufe or purpofe whatfoeyer. 
 
 11. That there be no Oaths , or other 
 Tefis impofed upon the Jatd Fathers of the 
 Poor, at their admijfion, to bar our Non- 
 c on for mips, among# whom there will 
 be found fome excellent Inilruments- 
 for this good Work, and fuch as wifi 
 eonftantly attend it (for if they be 
 kept out, the People will be cold in 
 their Charity, and in their hopes of the 
 fuccefs.j 
 
 1 Z. That the faid Fathers of the Poor 
 may confiantly wear fome honourable Med - 
 dal, fuch as the King and Parliament , 
 pakdevife , befidesthe green Staff which 
 is now ufed in London to fuch like pur- 
 po£ (but upon extraordinary dayes-. 
 
( 6 9 ) 
 
 only) to denote their Authority and Office' 
 at all times, and in all places,, after the 
 manner of the Habits in Spain, or ra¬ 
 ther, as have all the Familiars of the In- 
 (juifition in molt Po/nijh < 'ountnes, with 
 adVnimble effect, though to a wicked 
 purpofe*, the confluence whereof will 
 be, that the Hid Fathers of the Poor, be¬ 
 ing numerous, and difperft b/ their 
 'Habitations and Eufinefs, into molt 
 parts of their Province , will r eadily lee 
 any negleftsof Outers, and aseafily 
 redi efs them ; the Meddd which they 
 wear about them, being a fufheient 
 Warrant to command Obedience from 
 all Parijh Officers where-eve-they come, 
 although their Ferfons be not known 
 there. 
 
 13. That the [aid Fathers of the Poor 
 may have liberty to admit into their Society 
 and all Powers and Priviledges equal with 
 them , any Perfons that are willing to ferve 
 God , their King and Country in this pious 
 and public k Work, the Per Jons di firing to be 
 foadmitted,paying at their adtwjfvni tool. 
 or more into the Poors T: earn, y, as a 
 demonftration of the Sincerity of their 
 Intentions to labour in and enkiv’te 
 this moll Religious Vineyard. Thf I 
 E 3 only 
 
( 7 ° ) 
 
 only offer becaufe the number of the faid 
 Fathers of the Poor hereafter mentioned, 
 may be thought rather too few then tot^ 
 many. 
 
 14. That the [aid Fathers of the foor, 
 befides the Authority now cxerciftd by [it- 
 fiices of the Peace , may have fame kfs li- 
 initted Powers y hen them , in relation to the 
 punifiment of their own , and PariJI) Officers 
 by pecuniary rmrffts for the Poors benefit in 
 cafe of ntglett, and otherwife as his Ma* 
 jefiy , and the Parliament fhall think fit. 
 
 15. That the faid Fathers of the Poor 
 may have freedom to fit the boor on work 
 about whatfoever Manufacture they think 
 fit, with a Non obfiante to all Patents 
 that have been or (hall be granted tp any 
 private PerfonorPerfons for the foleMa- 
 nufa&ure of anyCommodity,the want of 
 ■which privikdge, I have been told, was 
 a prejudice to theWork-houfe at Clerk - 
 tnwell, in their late defign of fett-ing 
 their poor Children about making of 
 Hangings. 
 
 16. / hat all Vacancies by reafon of death 
 if any of the jaidFathers of the Poor be perpe¬ 
 tually [applied by eltClm of the Survivors . 
 
 Qiigfi. 4. The fourth Queftion is, 
 ‘who [ball be tie Per fins entrufied with fi 
 great 
 
( 7 1 ) 
 
 great a Wort, and fuck txtt ft of ?mwi 
 This is a Queftion likevvifeoffoRse 
 difficulty, and the more in regard of 
 our prefent Differences m Rrfigm y but 
 I fhall anfwer it as well as 1 can. 
 
 In general I fay. They muft be fitch as 
 the People mad have ample fatisfattion in 7 
 or tlfe the whole Befign mil be left: For if 
 the univerfality of the People oe not fa- 
 tisfied with the Perfons,thcy will never 
 part with their Money; but if they be 
 well fatisfied therein, they will be mi- 
 raculonfly charitable. 
 
 Cfaefi. 5. This begets a fifth Queflion, 
 viz. What fart of men the people will be moft 
 fatufed in l 
 
 1 anfwer, I think in none fo well as fitch 
 inly as a, common Hall of the Livery- men of 
 London fhall male choice of, it bring 
 evident by the experience of many Ages, 
 that the feveral Corporations in Lmxsn 
 are the bell Jdmimftrarors of what is 
 left to charitable Vj'es , that have ever 
 been in this Kingdom , which is usanifcll 
 in the regular, juft and prudent ma¬ 
 nagement of the Hofpitah of 1 Oiidcrtj 
 and was wifely obfervedby Bettor Collet 
 Bean of St Paul's that prudent Ecthfu- 
 JHtk , when he left the Government of 
 E 4 that 
 
( 7 2 ) 
 
 that School, and other great Revenues 
 afligned by him for charitable Ufes, un¬ 
 to the difpofition of the Mercers Com¬ 
 pany. 
 
 Ohjitt. But here it may be objcded, 
 That Country - Gentlemen , who have 
 'power in places of their Relidences, 
 and pay out of their large Eftates con- 
 fiderable fums towards the Mainte¬ 
 nance of their Poor within the afore- 
 limited Precincts, may be juftly offen¬ 
 ded if they Ikewife have not a ihare in 
 the diMbution of what lhali be nifed 
 to that purpqfe. 
 
 Anfw- I anfwcr the force of this ob¬ 
 jection may be much taken off if the 
 City be obliged to choofe but a certain 
 number out of theCfoy,as fuppofc feventy 
 for London , ten out of Southwark for’that 
 Bur-rough , twenty for Weflminflcr , this 
 would heft fatisfie the People, & I think 
 do the work: But if it be thought too 
 much for thef wyto have the choice ofany 
 move then their own feventy, the Juft ices 
 of Peace in their Qutrrter-:>effms may 
 nominate and appoint their own num¬ 
 ber of Pcrfons to affiffc for their refpe- 
 ctivc Jurifdidions, and fo to fupply 
 the vacancy in cafe of Death, &c. But 
 
In) 
 
 all matt be conjunctive, but one Boty 
 politick, or the work will never be done. 
 
 Qucfi.6. The fixt'.iQueftionis, IVbat 
 will be the advantage to the Kingdom in ge¬ 
 neral^ and t.o the Poor in fat ticular, that 
 mil accrue by fitch a Society of men, more 
 than is enjoyed by the Laws atfrcpnt ? 
 
 I anfwer \ innumerable and unfpeak- 
 jble are the.Benefits to this Kingdom 
 that will arife from the Confutations 
 and Debates of fuch a wife and honeft 
 Council, who being men fo ele&ed as 
 aforefaid, ‘ will certainly confcionably 
 ftudy and labour to difeharge their 
 truft in this, fcrvicc of God, their King 
 and Country. 
 
 i ft, The Poor , of what quality foever, 
 as foon as they are nut with , will be imme¬ 
 diately relieved or fet on work where they are 
 found , without hurrying them from f hue to 
 flace , and torturing their Bodies to m 
 furpoft. 
 
 2 . Charitabk-minded-men will know 
 certainly where to difpofe of their Charity , 
 
 . fo as it may he employed to right purpofes. 
 
 3. Honfe-htpcrs will be freed from the 
 intole able incumbrance of B ggars at their 
 Doors. 
 
 4. The 
 
f 74 ) 
 
 4-- Tkt Plantations will be regularly fttf* 
 ■plied with Servants, and thofe that are fen$ 
 fhither well provided for r 
 
 5. The [aid Afmbly mil doubtle/s op- 
 pmt feme ef their own Members to vifit and 
 relieve fuch as an fuk , as often as there 
 fiiall Ik occafion, together with poor 
 labouring Families bo.h in City and 
 Suburbs* 
 
 6r Poor Children will be infir utt cl in 
 teaming andA-ts, and thereby rendred 
 fcrviceable to their Country, and many 
 ether worthy Ads done for publide 
 good by the joynt deliberation of fo 
 many prudent and pious men, a (filled 
 with fnch a Power and Parfe, more 
 then can be forc-feen or exprefled by a 
 private Pcrfon. 
 
 Qrnfi. 7. The feventh Queftion may 
 be, What fall all the Poor of thefe Cities 
 and Countries, being very numerous, be <.m- 
 flowed about ! 
 
 This queftion will be anfwer’d bell 
 by the Paid AlTembly themfclves when 
 they have met and confuted together, 
 who cannot be prefnmed deficient of 
 Invention to fet all the Foot on work, 
 efpecially fincethey may eafily have ad¬ 
 mirable Prefidents from the pradice of 
 HJand 
 
Holland in this particular, and have al¬ 
 ready very good ones of their own, in 
 the orders of their Hofpitals of Chrifi- 
 Chureb-i nd Bridewell in London ; the Girles 
 may be employed in mending the Clothes of 
 of the Aged , in Spinning r Carding and o- 
 ther linnet Manujattares^ and many in Sow¬ 
 ing Lumen for the Exchange , or any Houfe - 
 beepers that will put out Ltnnen to the Ma¬ 
 trons that have the Government of them. 
 
 The Boys in picking Okam^ making Tins y 
 rafping H'eod^ making Hangings , or any o- 
 ther Manufathtre of any kind , which whe¬ 
 ther it turns to prefent profit or not, is 
 not much material, the great 1'uiinefs 
 of the Nation being firft but to keep 
 the Poor from Begging and Starving, 
 and enuring fiich as are able to Labour 
 and Difcipline, that they may be here¬ 
 after ufeful Members to the Kingdom: 
 feut to conclude, I fay the wifeft Man 
 living, folitarily cannot propofe or 
 imagine fuch excellent ways and methods 
 as will be invented by the united Wis¬ 
 dom of fo grave an Afftmbly. 
 
 The fitting of the Paid Affembly I hum¬ 
 bly conceive, ought to be, Be die in 
 diem j the Quorum not more then thir¬ 
 teen * whether they M Yearly, Month¬ 
 ly 
 
!y or Weekly cho Te a Prefdent, how 
 they fh .11 d:itribute themfjlves into the 
 fevera! quotas of the Communication , 
 what Tnajimrs and other Ojjiurs to em¬ 
 ploy,and when.,and how many,will belt 
 be determine i V themfelves, and that 
 without difficulty, becacfe many that 
 will pr bably be Members of the laid 
 Jjjembly, have already had large expe¬ 
 rience of the Go , eminent of the Hof- 
 fitds of London : The manner of E- 
 lecfion of the laid Fibers of the Poor , I 
 humbly fuppofe, cannot pofilbly be bet¬ 
 ter contrived, then after the fame way 
 which t\vtEaft-India-Corny anydioofc their 
 Committee , which will prevent theCon- 
 fulion, Irregularity and Incertitude that 
 may attend the Ele&ion of Voices, or 
 holding up of Pands •, efpecially becaufe 
 the perfens to be elected at one time will 
 beverymaiiy 5 the faid manner propo- 
 fed is, every Elector , viz., every Livery- 
 Man to bring to Guild-Hall at the ap¬ 
 pointed day for Elettions, a Lift of the 
 whole number of Perfons, fuch as he 
 thinks fit that are to be Elefted, and de¬ 
 liver the fame openly nnto fuch Perfons 
 as the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Com- 
 mn-Comil-Mtn fiiall appoint to make 
 the 
 
( 77 ^ 
 
 tneScrutiney; which Perfms fo en* 
 trailed, with the fud Scrutiney, fevcn, 
 or ten days after, as fluff be thought fit, 
 at ano'her common Hall may declare who 
 are the Perfons Eie&ed by the Majority 
 of Votes. 
 
 If it be here objected to the whole 
 pnrpofe of thisTreatife, that this work 
 may as well be done in diflinft 
 if all Parijhes were obliged to build. 
 Work- Honfa , and Employ their Poor 
 therein ^ as Dorcbfier and fome others 
 have done with good fuccefs. 
 
 IanEver, that fitch attempts- have 
 been made in many places to my know¬ 
 ledge, with very good intents and ftre- 
 nuons endeavours, blit all that ever I 
 heard of, proved vain and ineffectual, 
 as l fear will that of Clerken-lVdl, ex¬ 
 cept that Angle in fiance of the Town 
 of Dorcbcfier , which yet iignifies no¬ 
 thing in rclnt on to the Kingdom in ge¬ 
 neral, became all other places cannot do 
 the like, nor doth the Town of Dor* 
 ekficr entertain any bur. their own Poor 
 and Whipawiy all >:tbers; who e- 
 as uat which l de'icn is to propofc fuch 
 a Foundation, as fir 11 be large, wife, 
 honeil and rich enough to maintain and 
 employ 
 
( 7 *) ... 
 
 employ all Poor that come within the 
 Pale of their Communication, without 
 enquiring where they were Born, or laft 
 Inhabited: Which I dare affirm with' 
 Humility, that nothing but a National, 
 'brat lead fuch a Provincial Purfe can fo 
 well do,nor any perfons in this Kingdom^ 
 but fuch only as (ball be pickt out by po¬ 
 pular Eleftion for the reafon. before al- 
 ledged, vk. That in my opinion, three 
 fourths at lead: of the' Stock mull: ilfue 
 from the Charity of the people ; as 1 doubt 
 not but it will to a greater proportion,if 
 they be latisficd in the Managers there¬ 
 of } But if otherwife,' not the fortieth j 
 I might fay not the hundredth part.. 
 
 . I propofethc Majority of the faid Fa¬ 
 thers ef the Poor to be Citizens (though / 
 am none my felf) becaufc I think a great 
 {hare of the Money to be employed, 1 
 hiuft and will come from them,- if ever ; 
 the Work be well done, as alfo, bccaufe 
 their Habitations are nhareft the Center : 
 of their Bufinefs, and they bed acquain¬ 
 ted with all affairs of this nature,by their 
 experience in the Government of the I 
 Hofpitals. ‘ 
 
 Earnedly to delire and endeavour,; 
 that the Poor of England fnould be better 
 provided 
 
provided for and employed, is a wori 
 that was much ftuddied by my deceafel 
 Father i and therefore though 1 be as rea¬ 
 dy toconfefs, as any ihall be to charge 
 me with Difability to propofe a Model 
 of Laws for this great Affair, yet I hope 
 the more Ingenuous will pardon me for 
 endeavouring to give aim towards it, 
 iinceit is fo much my Duty, which in 
 this particular I (hall be careful to per¬ 
 form (though I may be too remife mo¬ 
 thers! as ihall appear by more vifihle 
 and apparent demonftrations, if ever this 
 defign, or any other (that is like to ef- 
 fed what is defired) fucceed. 
 
 Now I have adventured thus far, Khali 
 proceed to publifti my Thoughts and 
 Obfervaticns concerning fome other 
 things that have relation to Trade, 
 which I do without any purpofc or de¬ 
 fign, fave only to give occalion to my 
 Country-mm , to beDifcourlmg and Me¬ 
 ditating upon tbofe things which have 
 a tendancy to publick Good, from 
 whencc(though my Suggeftions fhould be 
 midakes ) probably Kmc good effect may 
 enfue, and therefore the Ingenuous, 1 
 know, though they may differ from me, 
 will not blame me for the attempt. 
 
 CHAP, 
 
Ho) 
 
 CHAP, III. 
 
 Concerning Companies' 
 of Merchants. 
 
 C ompanies of Merchants are of two 
 forts, viz,. Companies in joynt Stocky 
 fuch as the Eafi-fndia-Company , the, 
 Morea-Company (which is a Branch of 
 the Turkey-Company) and the Greenland-, 
 Company , which is a Branch of the Muf- 
 eovia-Company -j the other fort are Com-' 
 panics' who trade not by a joynt Stocky but 
 only are under a Government and Re¬ 
 gulation,; fuch are the Hambrough-Com¬ 
 pany, the Turkey-Company , the Eafiland- 
 Company ,• the Mitjcovia-Company. 
 
 It hath for many Years been a trioote 
 cafe, whether any Encorporating of 
 Merchants , be for pablik Good or 
 not. 
 
 For my own part I am of Opini¬ 
 on. » 
 
 That for Countries with which his Ma- 
 jefiy 
 
jtfty hath no Allieancc , nor can have any 
 by reafon of their diftance, or Barbaii- 
 £y, Or non-Communication with the 
 Princes of Chriftendom , &c. where there 
 is a neceflity of Maintaining Fotcesand, 
 Forts, (fitch as Haft- India and 0 ninja) 
 Com fames of Mordants aieabfolute ne- 
 
 ceflary. - 
 
 2. It [cents evident to me, that the great- 
 eft part of th'fe two Trades ought for public ft 
 Good, to hi managed l y joynt Stock 
 
 3. Ids qmfiionable to me,-rite: her any other . 
 Company of-Merchants are jor publjck good 
 or hurt. 
 
 4.1 conclude however, that all re - 
 fkrittions of Trade are naught, and con- 
 fequently that no Company whatfeever, 
 whether they Trade in a joynt Stock or 
 under Regulation, can be for publick 
 Good, except it may be eafie for all, or 
 any of his Majefly ’s Sabjitts to be admit* 
 ted into«all, or any of the faid Companies, 
 at any time for a very jnconhderable 
 Fine , and that if the Fine exceed 20 /. 
 including all Charges of admiflion, it 
 is too much, and that for thefe Rea- 
 fons. . , 
 
 1. Becaufe the Dutch who thrive bell 
 by Trade, and have the furelt rules to 
 F thrive 
 
(82) 
 
 thrive by, admit not only any of their otv$ 
 People, hut even Je ws and all kind of Ali¬ 
 ens, to he Free of any of their Societies of 
 Merchants, or any of their Cities or Toms 
 Corporate. 
 
 2 . Nothing in the World can enable us to 
 coape with-the Dutch in any Trade , hut en- 
 creafe of Hands and Stock , which a general 
 ddimjfmwilldo ; many Hands and much 
 Stock being as n'eceflary to the Profpe- 
 rity of any Trade, as Men and Money 
 to warfare. 
 
 3- There is no pretence of any good 
 to the Nation by Companies , but only 
 Order and Regulation of Trade j and if* 
 that be preferved (which the admifiion 
 of all that will come in and fubmit to 
 the Regulation , will not prejudice) all 
 the good to the Nation that can be hoped 
 for by Companies, is obtained. 
 
 4. The E aft land, belides our Native 
 Commodities , fpend great quantifies of 
 Italian , Spanifh, Portugal and French Com¬ 
 modities. , viz. Oyle, Wine , Fruit, Sugar, 
 Suceads , Shoomack , &c. Now, in regard 
 our tail-Cemtry Merchants of England 
 are few, compared with the Dutch, and 
 intend principally that one Trade out 
 and home, and xonfequently are notfo 
 converfant 
 
. . (s;f 
 
 convcrfant in the aforefaid Commodities, 
 nor forward to adventure upon them, 
 and feeing that by the Companies Charter 
 our Italian , Spanijh, Portugal and French 
 Merchants , who underlhnd thofe Corn-, 
 modifies perfectly well, are excluded 
 thofe Trades, or at lea ft, if the Compa¬ 
 ny will give them leave to fend out thofe 
 Goods, arc not permitted to bring in 
 the Returns; it follows, that th € Dutch 
 mull fupply Denmark, Sweden, and all 
 parts of the Balticjue, with moil of thofe 
 Commodities , and fo it is in fad. 
 
 . 5. The Dutch who have no Eafiland- 
 Companies , yet have ten times the Trade 
 to the Eajiern parts as we have \ and for 
 Italy, -, Spain and Portugal , where we have 
 no Companies ,_ we have yet left full as 
 much, if not more Trade, then the 
 Dutch. And for Rujfia and Greenland 
 where we have Companies (and f think 
 Eilablilht by A 3 or Atls of Parliament) 
 our Trade is in effed wholly loif, while 
 the Dutch, have, without Companies, en- 
 creafed theirs to above forty times the 
 the Bulk of what the refidue of ours’ 
 now is. 
 
 From, whence may be inferred. 
 
 1. That retrained limitted Companies 
 
 F i re 
 
,(h) 
 
 dre m d’m fuffkuntio preferve andencreafe 
 a Trade. 
 
 2.That Umhted Comp antes,though Eflablifu 
 ed h Ad of Parliament, may lofe a Trade. 
 
 3. T!w Trade may bt earned on to any 
 fart of Thriftadorn, andencreaftd without 
 Companies. 
 
 4. That we have da-lined more, at leap 
 b;nt tncreafedhf, inthofe Trades limitted 
 to C cmpanics, then in others where all his 
 ffldejlics Subjects have had equal freedom tb 
 Trade. 
 
 The common Objections again!! this 
 eafteadmifElonofail his Afajefties Subjects 
 into Companies of Merchants, are} 
 
 Object. 1. If all perfons may come 
 into any Company of Merchants on fuch 
 eafie terms, then young Gentlemen , Shop- 
 heptrs and divers others will turn Mer¬ 
 chants, who through their own unskil- 
 fulm Is will pay dcai for our native Com • 
 modifies here, and fell them chef.pabroad; 
 and alfo buy Foreign Commodities dear 
 abroad, and fell them here for lefs then 
 their coll, to the Ruin of thrmfelves, 
 and Dcltrnfticn of Trade. 
 
 I anfwer, hrft, caUrat ftlipfo?, let 
 particular Men look to themfeSves, and 
 fo donbtlefs they will in thofe Trades 
 for which there are now Companies , as 
 well 
 
(SO 
 
 well as they da in others for which there 
 are no Companies. 
 
 It is the care of Law-makers firft srd 
 principally, to provide for the Ftyk m 
 grofs, not particulars,, and if the confe- 
 quencc of ioeafie an admmiun, fhouM be 
 to make onr Marm; allures cheap abroad, 
 and Foreign Commodities cheap here, (as 
 is alledged) our Nation in general 
 would have the advantage both wavs. 
 
 Qbjeft. 2. If all fhould Ire admitted, Stc. 
 Shop-keepers, being the Retailorsthe jams 
 Commodities the Company Imports, 
 would have fomueh the advantage oj the 
 Merchant , that he would beat the Merchant 
 wholly out of the Trade . 
 
 1 anfwer, firft, We fee no fueh thing in 
 H.lland, nor in the open Trades , viz. 
 France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and ail our 
 own Plantations, neither can that well 
 be, for to drive a retail Trade to any 
 purpofe, requires a Mans full Stock, 
 as well as his full attcndence, and fo 
 doth it to drive the Trade of a Mer¬ 
 chant, and therefore few can find Stock 
 and time to attend both •, from whence 
 it follows, that of the many Hundreds 
 which in memory have turned Mer¬ 
 chants, very few continued long to fol¬ 
 low both, but commonly after two or 
 F 3 lines 
 
(U) 
 
 three \ ears Experience, betake tliem- 
 felves wildly to Merchandizing, or re¬ 
 turned to the foie Exercife of their 
 Retail way ; but whether they do, or do 
 not, concerns not the Nat'm in general, 
 whole common Intereft is to buy cheap, 
 whatever appellation th e Seller hathj 
 whether that of a meer Merchant,, Gen¬ 
 tleman, or a Shop-keeper. 
 
 Object 3. If Shop-keepers and other 
 Unexperienced perfons may turn Mer¬ 
 chants, &c. they will through Ign .ranee 
 Uegleti buying and fending out omNa- 
 the MmtfaBures, and will End out our 
 Money, or Bills of Exchange to buy 
 Foreign Commodities, which is an apparent 
 National lofs. 
 
 I anfwer, that Shop-keepers are, like all 
 other Men (led by their profit ) and if 
 it be for their Advantage to fend out 
 Manufactures, they will do it without 
 forcing ; and if it be for their Profit to 
 fhndover Money or Bills of Exchange, 
 they will do that, and fo will Merchants 
 as foon and as much as they. 
 
 Objeft. 4. If any may he admitted, &c. 
 what do rre get by our [even Tears Service , 
 and the great Sums of Money ear Barents 
 gave to bind ns apprentices to Mer¬ 
 chants, 
 
f»7> . 
 
 chants? &c* And who mil hereafter bind 
 his Son 10 a Merchant? 
 
 1 anfwer, The end of Service and giving 
 of Money with Apprentices, I have always 
 underwood to be the Learning of the Art or 
 Sei-me of Merchandisings not the pur chafing 
 of an Immunity or Monopoly to the prejudice 
 of our Country \ and chat it is fo,is evident 
 from the pra&ice, there being many ge¬ 
 neral Merchants that are free of no par¬ 
 ticular Company , who can have as large 
 Sums of Money with Apprentices^ as any. 
 other that arc free of one or more par¬ 
 ticular Companies tf Merchants $ and many 
 Merchant* that are free of particular Com¬ 
 panies, unto whom few will give any cob- 
 fiderable fums of Money m£nAppremiees\ 
 the proportion of Money given with Ap¬ 
 prentices not following the Compaq a. 
 Merchant is free of, but the condition the 
 Mafter,ts to his more or lefs reputed skill 
 in his Calling, Thriving or going back¬ 
 ward,greater or leflcr T t ade, well or ill 
 Government of himfelf end Family, &c. 
 
 Obj.<;. If d!Jhouhi be admitted ortfucb enfieterms, 
 will not tbit be maniffi Injujlice t» the Companies 
 of Merchants, who by tbemfelves or Preiecefiors have 
 been et ireatDisburfhnenls to furebife PmMgcs IS 
 Immunities tbmd , as the Turkey* Company, and tie 
 Hambrough-Company b/tve done. 
 
 1 anfwer, That I ana yet to learn that 
 
( 88 ) 
 
 any Company of Merchants not trading 
 with a joynt Stock, fuch as the Turkey } 
 
 . UambroHgb , Mufcwia and EajHatid Com¬ 
 panies ever purchafed their Priviledges, 
 ,or built and maintained Forts, Cattles or 
 Fa&ories,or made any Wars at their own 
 charge •, but I know the Turkey Compa¬ 
 ny do maintain an Embaflador and two 
 Confuls, and arefometimes neceffitated 
 to make Prefents to th g Grand Senior , or 
 his great Officers j and the Hambrouah 
 
 Company are at fome charge to main¬ 
 tain their Deputy, and Minifter at Him- 
 brougti-j and I think it would be great In- 
 juftice that any ffiould trade to the places 
 within their Charters, without paying 
 the fame Duties or Leviations towards 
 the Companies charge as the prefent Ad¬ 
 venturers do pay, but I know not why 
 any ffiould be barred from trading to 
 'thofe places, or forced to pay a great 
 Fine for admition, that are willing to 
 pay the Companies Duties, and fubmit 
 to the Companies regulation and orders 
 mother refocfts. 
 
 Qbj.6.If all may be admitted as aforefaid,then fuel) 
 numbers of Shop keepers and others would come into 
 the Society of Merchants, as would hy the Majority 
 'of fetes fo much alter the Govemurs, Deputy and. 
 jffiftants of the refpeBive Companies, that Ignorant 
 Ter fans would tome into thofe ruling places , to the 
 general prejudice of tbofc Trades, l 
 
(Sg) 
 
 I anfwer, Thofe that male this Obje - 
 {lion, if they be Merchants , knew there is 
 very little in it , for that it is not to be ex- 
 yetted that trenty Shop-keepers will come in¬ 
 to any one Company in a Tea '; and there¬ 
 fore can have no conllderable influence 
 upon the Elections \ but if many more 
 ftiould come in, it would be the better for 
 the Nation, and not the worfe for the 
 Company , for that all men are lead by 
 ‘ their Intereft, and it being the common 
 Intereltof all that engage in any Trade, 
 that the Trade flnuld be regulated and 
 ■ governed by wife, honeft and able men, 
 f , there is no doubt but molt m:n will 
 Vote for fuch as they efteem fo to be, 
 which is manifelt in the Eafi-India - 
 Company , where neither Gentlemen nor 
 , Shop- eepers were at f rfi excluded, neither 
 ii; are the yet kept out; any Englifh-man 
 s whatfoev- r being permitted to come into that 
 ' Company that will bay an Ad ion, paying 
 only five Pounds to the Cmpany for his ad - 
 miffwn ; and yet undeniable experience 
 ; hath convinced all Gain-fayers in this 
 matter ^ that Company , lince its having 
 had fo large and National a Founda¬ 
 tion, having like wife had a fuccelTion 
 of much better Governors, Deputies and 
 Ajfiftaatt 
 
f 9<>) 
 
 'Affifiants then ever it had upon that 
 narrow bottom it food formerly, when 
 none could be admitted to the freedom 
 of that Company, for lefs than a Fine of 
 Fifty Pounds ; and the fiiccefs hath been 
 anfwerable, For the firfi Company fettled 
 nyon that narrow limitted Interefi, although 
 their Stock was larger, then th# y decayed 
 and finally came to ruin and dejhuFtion j 
 Whereas on the contrary, this being 
 fettled on more rational, and confe- 
 quentlymore juft,as well as more profi-. 
 tablePrinciples,hdfh threughGods Goodnefis 
 thriven and enemfedto the trebling of their 
 firfi Stock . 
 
 6hap. iv. 
 
 Concerning the A& of 
 Navigation. 
 
 'T'Hough this M be by moft conclu- 
 -*• ded avery beneficial Ad: for this 
 Kingdom, efpecially by the Mafitrs and 
 Owners of Shifting , and by all ota-men • 
 yet fome there are, both wife and ho-- 
 neil 
 
( 9 T ) 
 
 lieft Gentlemen and Merchants, that 
 doubt whether the Tamvenkncks it 
 hath bro.u ht with it, be not greater 
 then the Conveniences. 
 
 For my own oait, I am of Opinion 
 that in relation to Trade, Sniping, Pro¬ 
 fit and Power, it is one of the choice!! 
 andmoft prudent JBs that ever was 
 made in England, and without which we 
 had not now been Owners of one half of 
 the Shifting, nor Trade, nor employed 
 one half of the Sea-men which we do at 
 prefent; but feeing time hath difeo- 
 Vered Some Inconveniences in it,if notDe- 
 fifts, which in mypoor opinion do admit 
 of an ea lie Amendment, and feeing that 
 the whple Jtt is notapproved by una¬ 
 nimous confent, I thought fit to di£ 
 courfe a little concerning it, wherein, 
 after , my plain method 1 frail lay down 
 fuch Objections as I have met with, and 
 fubjoyn my Anfwets,' with fo..h Rca- 
 fons as occur to my monay in confir¬ 
 mation of my own Opinion. 
 
 Th c Objections again!! the whole M 
 are Rich as thefe, 
 
 ObjeB. i. Some have told me, That 
 I on all occafioas magnihe the JOmch 
 ■policy 
 
f 92 J 
 
 policy in relation to their Trade, and the 
 Patch have no Ati of Navigation, and 
 therefore they are certainly not always 
 in the right* as to the underfMing of 
 their true Inter ell: in Trade, or elfe wc 
 are to the wrong in this. 
 
 I anfwer, I am yet to be informed 
 where the Dutch have miffed their pro¬ 
 per Intereft rn Trade, but that which 
 is fit for one Nation to do in relation 
 t©'their Trade,is notflt for all, no more 
 then the fame Policy is neceffary to a 
 prevailing Army that are Mafrers of the 
 Field, to an Army of lefs force, then to 
 be able to encounter their Enemy at all 
 times and places: The Dutch hy reafon 
 of their great Stocks , low hterefl , multi¬ 
 tude of Merchants and Shifting, art Ma¬ 
 kers ffth Field in .Trade , and therefore 
 have no need to build Caft Its , Fortnfes and 
 faces of Retreat \ fuch I account Laws of 
 limitation, and fccuring of particular 
 Trades to the Natives of any Kingdom •, 
 becaufe they, viz. the Dutch , may b* 
 well allured. That no Nation can enter in 
 common with them in any Trade , to gain 
 Bread by it, while their own ife of Money 
 u at 3 per Cent, and others at 6 per Cent 
 *nd upwards^ &c. Whereas if welhould 
 
r ( 9?) 
 
 fuler their Shiping in common with 
 ours in thofe Trades, which are recur¬ 
 red to the Englifl) by Ad of Navigation, 
 they mult necefiarily in a few Years v for 
 the Reafons above-faid, eat us quite out 
 of them. 
 
 Objctt. 2. The fecond Objection to the ' 
 whole Mi s; Some will confcfs that 
 as to Merchants and Owners of Ships 
 the AS of Navigation is eminently benefi¬ 
 cial , bat lay, that Merchants and Owners 
 are but an inconfiderable number of 
 men in refpect of the whole Nation, and 
 that i ntereft of the greater number, 
 that our Native Commodities arid Mann- 
 fadures lhould be taken from us at the 
 belt rates, and foreign Commodities 
 fold us at the cheapelt,with admi.Tion of 
 Dutch Merchants and Shiping in comm n 
 with the Englifl q by my o wn implication 
 would effect. 
 
 My anfwer is, That I cannot deny 
 but this may be true, if the prefent 
 pi oSt of the generality be barely and 
 iingly considered; but this Kingdom be¬ 
 ing an Ifand, the defence whereof hath 
 alwayes been our Shiping and Sea-men, 
 it feems to me abfotutdy neuffary that Pro¬ 
 fit and Pmer ought joyntly to be confdertd^ 
 
and if fo, I think none can deny but the 
 AJ of Navigation hath and doth occafion 
 building and employing of three times 
 the number of Ship and Sca-men , that 
 otherwife we fliould or would do, and 
 that confeqnently, If our Force at Sea 
 were fo greatly impired , it would expofe us 
 to the receiving of all kind of Injuries arid 
 Affronts f om our Neighbours , and in cm- 
 ctufion render us a deff cable rind mifr able 
 
 Qbje&ms to federal Tarts of the 
 AM of Navigation. 
 
 Object, i. The Inhabitants and Plan-' 
 lersefour Plantations in America, fayfThis 
 AU will in time ruin their Plantations, if 
 they may not be vermitted, at leaf to carry 
 their Sugars to the bejt Markets, and not be 
 compel! d to fend alito, and receive all Com¬ 
 modities from England. 
 
 I anfwer, If they were not kept to the- 
 Rules of the Act of Navigation, the confe¬ 
 rence would he, that in a few Tears the. 
 benefit of them would be wholly loft to the 
 Nation j it being agreeable to the Po¬ 
 licy 
 
(90 
 
 licy of the Dutch, Dangs, French, Sfxt* 
 wards, Portugal;, and all Nations in the 
 World, to keep their external Provinces 
 and Colonies in a fubje&ion unto, and 
 dependency upon their Mother-King¬ 
 dom ; and if they fhould not do fo, the 
 Dutch , who as I hare faid, are Mafiers 
 of the Field in Trade, would carry 
 away the greateft of advantage by the 
 Plantations, of all the Princes in Chri- 
 fiendom, leaving ns and others only the 
 trouble of breeding men, and fending 
 them abroad to cultivate the Ground, 
 and have Bread for their Induitry. 
 
 Here by the way, with entire fub- 
 miflion to the greater Wifdom of thofe 
 whom it much more concerns, give me 
 leave to Query, Whether,infiead of the late 
 prohibition of Ii iJfh Cattle, it would not have 
 been more for the benefit of this Kingdom of 
 England, to fttffer the Irifh to bring into 
 England not only their live Cattle, but aljo 
 all other Commodities of the Growth or Ma¬ 
 nufacture of that Kingdom, C u ft am fret, or 
 on eafie Cufioms, and to prohibit them front 
 Trading homeward or outward with the 
 Dutch, or our own Plantmons, or any other 
 places , except the Kingdom of England ? 
 Mofi certainly fuch a Law would in a few 
 Tears 
 
( 9 6 ) 
 
 Tears wonderfully encreafe the Trade, Ship* 
 mg and Riches of this Nation . 
 
 Query 1. Would not this he a good additi¬ 
 on to the JB of Navigation, and much en- 
 mafe the employment of Englilh Shiping 
 and Seamen, m wdl in bringing from thence 
 all the Commodities of that Country, as fap¬ 
 plying that Country with Deals, Salt, and 
 d{ other foreign Commodities winch now they 
 have from the Dutch? 
 
 Que. 3. Would not this be a means efe fin¬ 
 ally to-prevent the Exportation of Irifh Wool, 
 which now goes frequently into France and 
 Holland* to the mamfefl and great damage 
 both of England and Ireland < 
 
 Que. 4 Would not this be a Fortrefs or Law 
 to fee are to > m the whole Trade of Ireland ? 
 
 Que. 5. Would not this wider that which 
 mw dimniflieth, and feems dangerous to the 
 value of Lands in caghnd,viz..the growth of 
 Ireland advantagiout, by encreafe of Trade 
 and Shiping, and confeqntntly the power of 
 thk Kingdom ? 
 
 Qbjefi, 2. The fecond Qjefiion to part 
 of the Afi of Navigation, is ufually made 
 by the Eaftland and Norway Merchants, 
 who affirm,, that in effect their Trade 
 is much declined, fince the palling the 
 dfi of Navigation .; and the Banes, Sweeds, 
 hdfentrs, and all Eafterlings, who by 
 the 
 
( 97 ) 
 
 the faid M may Import Timber, and 
 other Eafletn Commodities, have encreaftxi 
 in the number of their Shaping, imploy- 
 ed in this Trade, fince our Jtt of Na¬ 
 vigation ^ at leaft two third parts ; and 
 the Englijh have proportionally decli¬ 
 ned in the number of theirs imployed 
 in that Train. , . v 
 
 I anfwer, That I believe the matter 
 of Fadt afferted is true, as well as the 
 caufe affigned, viz. the Jet of Naviga¬ 
 tion ; and yet this fhould not make ns 
 out of love with that excellent Law, 
 rather let it put us upon contriving the 
 Amendment of this feeming Defedt, or 
 Inconvenience, the Cure whereof, I 
 hope, upon mature confederation, will 
 not be found difficult, for which 1 hum¬ 
 bly propound to the Wifdom of Parlia¬ 
 ment, viz. That a Law be made to im- 
 pofe a Cnftom of at leaft 50/. per Cm on 
 all Ea (Hand Commodities ,’ Timber , Boards , 
 Pipe-Staves and Salt imported into England' 
 and Ireland upon any Ships FxrEnglifh hilt 
 Ships ; or at leaft fuch only as are' failed 
 with an Englijh Mafier , and at leaft' 
 three fourths £»g/i/h Marrmrs. 
 
 And that for thefe Reafons 
 Leaf Firft, If this be not done , the 
 G Danes, 
 
( 9 ?) . . 
 
 Danes, Sweedes W Eafterhngs w/fcer- 
 tainly in a few Tears carry the white Trade , 
 by reafon of the difference of the 
 charge of building a Ship fit for that 
 Trade there or here, viz. a Fly-boat of 
 Boo Tuns new built, and fet to Sea for 
 fucha Voyage, may coll there 13 or 
 1400/. which here would coll from 22 to 
 2400 1. which is fo vail a difpropor- 
 tion, that it is impoflible for an Enghjh 
 man to coape with a Dane in that Na¬ 
 vigation under fitch a difeouragement \ 
 to ballance which there is nothing but 
 the Strangers duty which the Dane now 
 pays, which mav come to 5016/- per 
 Shipper Voy geat moll, one with ano¬ 
 ther,which is ncompitable with the dif¬ 
 ference of Price between the fir ft coft 
 of the Shipsin eit’ er Nation: And this 
 is fo evident to t'.ofe who x e conver- 
 fant in thofe Trades, that beiides the 
 decreafeof our S’ ipine andeneveafe of 
 theirs that hath Tea ; y happened, ours 
 in probability ha I been who 1 iy beaten 
 out of the Tr de, and only Danes and 
 Eafierlings freighted, had we been ne- 
 cefUtated to build Eng lift Ship*, and had 
 not been reomit d on moderate Prices 
 by Fly-boats (being ships proper for this 
 Tradej 
 
\ yy / 
 
 TYadeJ takett in the latte Batch War , 
 and by a further fupply of Scotch Prizes 
 likewife, through his Majeftics permif- 
 fiOn. and indulgence. 
 
 Beaf 1. Btecaufethe number of Stran* 
 jrers Ships fmployed in the aforefaid 
 Trade yearly,I eftimtate to be about two 
 hundred Sail; Which if fiich a Law 
 Were made, mild Unavoidably be all ex¬ 
 cluded, and the Employment fall whol¬ 
 ly into Efigiijh Hands; which would be 
 an excellent Nurfery, and give con- 
 jtent Maintenance to a brave number of 
 Englifh Sea-men, more then we can or 
 do employ at prefent. 
 
 Reaj. 3 . The Net of Navigation is now 
 Of fevtnteen or eighteen Tears fan ding in 
 England, and yet in alitbefe Tears not one 
 Englilh Ship hath been built ft for this 
 Trade * the reafon whereof is that before 
 mentioned, m.that it is cheaper freight¬ 
 ing of Banes add Eafitrlins ; and it be¬ 
 ing fo, and all men naturally led by 
 their Profit, it feeiiis to me in vain to 
 expeft that ever this hard will procure 
 the building of one Englif \ Ship fit for 
 that employment, tiil thofe Strangers 
 are excluded this Trade for England , and 
 much more improbable it is, that any 
 G 2 ftiould 
 
'( 100 j 
 
 feosld now be built than it was former¬ 
 ly., when the AB was firlt made, be- 
 caufe Timber is now at almoft double 
 the price in England it was then; The 
 conftcjnence whereof is, That if timely Pro* 
 ■vijiG'a be not made by fomt additional Law, 
 when oar old Stock of Flemifh Prizes is 
 worn oat, as many of them are already , we 
 fhad have very few or no Ship in this Trade. 
 
 The Objections whkh I have heard 
 made to thi s Proportion, are, viz. 
 
 OhjeCt. i. If fuchan Impofition be laid 
 ©n thofc giofs Commodities imported 
 by Strangers Ships , that will amount to 
 the excluding all Strangers from this 
 Trade \ we fhall want Ships in England 
 to carry on the Trade, and fo the Com¬ 
 modity will not be had, or elfe will 
 , come very dear to us. 
 
 I anfwer, If the Commodity Ihould be 
 fomewhat dearer for the prefent, it 
 would be no lofs to. the Nation in gene¬ 
 ral, becaufe all Freight would be paid to 
 Englifh men ; whereas the freight paid 
 to Strangers (which upon thofe Com¬ 
 modities is commonly as much or more 
 then the value of Goods) is all clear lofs 
 to the Nation. 
 
( iOl ) 
 
 idly, If there fhonld be a prefeat 
 want of Shipiug,' and the Parliament 
 fhall pleafe to enjoy it os to build English 
 Ships for this Trade; This extraordi- ‘ 
 nary good Effect will follow, viz.. 
 
 It will engage ns to do that wene-* 
 ver yet did, viz. To fall to building of 
 Ely'bouts, (great Ships of burthen of 
 no force, arid fmall charge in failing) 
 which would be the moll profitable un¬ 
 dertaking that ever E nglift mn were 
 engaged in, and that which is abfblnte- 
 ly nectary to be done, if ever we in¬ 
 tend to board the Butch in their Trade 
 and Navigation; thefe Fly-bouts being 
 the Milch-Cows of Holland, from which 
 they have fttchd manifoldly greater Trap 
 than from all their Ships of force’, though 
 both I know are neceflary .* But if at 
 firft the Parliament fhall think fit to en- 
 joyn us only to Ships failed with an £»- 
 lifh Map erf and three fourths Englijh 
 Marriners , the Danes and Eaftrlins be¬ 
 ing by this Keans put out of fo great an 
 Employment for their Striping, we fhall 
 buy Ships proper for this Trade on ealie 
 terms rtf them, perhaps for half their 
 coft, which under value in purchafe will 
 Ik a prefent clear profit to England. 
 
 £ » Object, 
 
( S O? J 
 
 Ohjrth 1 . If this he done in England* 
 may not otherPriwce; account it hard and 
 unreafonable, and consequently R>et»r 
 liate the like upon us ? 
 
 'To anfwcr this Qbjettioq, its necef* 
 ary t o enquire what Kimdm and Cwpr 
 ry w ill be concerned in this Law.. 
 
 i/, Then Italy, Spain and ToWigd 
 will be wholly unconcerned¬ 
 ly, So will Twee, who if they were 
 concerned, can take no offence, while 
 they lay an Jmfofitm of 50 or doper 
 Cent upon our D-apery. 
 
 ' sdly,. The and fJamkstrgers 
 
 would not by fuch, additional Law be 
 more excluded, then now they are* and 
 the latter would have an advantage by 
 it, in cafe tl)e Danes fhoiild (as jt may 
 be fuppofed they will) lay a Tax upon 
 our Shiping there, for the confequence 
 thereof would be, that much pf thofe 
 Rind of Commodities we fhould fetch, 
 from Hambrough , where they are plen¬ 
 tifully to be had, though at a little 
 dearer Rate, and yet not (0 dear, but 
 that the Dutch fetch Yearly thence 350, 
 or 400 Ships loading of Timber } and 0- 
 ther wooden Commodities, 
 yhly. The Sweedet- would have ah 
 apparent 
 
( •o? ) 
 
 apparent benefit by it, by turning a 
 great paitof the Stream of our Trade 
 for thole Commodities to Gotten'hrroy, 
 and divers other parts of Sweden, that 
 are lately opened, and now opening, 
 where very, large quantities of T^nbtr, 
 Mafis and Boards like wife may be bad, 
 though, fome fmah matte dearer than- 
 in Norway. Besides, if the Swedes 
 Ihou'd expxl no advantage, Vt rather 
 lofs .by well amendment of oar o/ra 
 Laws, they have no reafonto be angry, 
 becaufe they have lately made fo many 
 Laws for encouragement of their own 
 Sinking and Navigation, and conf quent- 
 ly diicourggemcnt of ours, that d-. in 
 effedfc amount- tp a prohibition of l e 
 English ,frpra (ending their own Mm*- 
 failures, to Sweden in Englifa Shiping, in- 
 f .'much that the Euglijl: Merchants when 
 Smedijb Shiping doth not prc&nt, a re 
 forced many-times to, fend thuv Goods 
 to Elfime, to lie t' c e till a Syeedfh Ship 
 come by .to.put them aboaid of, and 
 pay i. eir Factoridge, and other charges, 
 be rank jf dv:.y ihould fend them on 
 fyglifi Ships, the Duties are fo high in 
 $rveeaen, that it is lmpoifible for them 
 to make their hi ll coil of them. 
 
 G 4 yhly. 
 
{104 ) 
 
 5 My, The Eafierlins or Ham-Tomf 
 though they were excluded this Trade 
 for England with their Shiping, where¬ 
 of they have little, (the greateft fhare 
 being carried away by the times) 
 would be gainers by the encreafe of 
 our Trade with them, for Boards, 
 Timber, Spruce Deals, &c. at timt- 
 tick, Qainsborough, and other' places, 
 which would be very confiderable m 
 cafe the King of Denmark Thould impofe 
 any confiderable extraordinary Tribute 
 on our Shiping; which brings me to 
 the third Objcttion. ' 
 
 Objeft. 3 . If this be done,will not the 
 King of Denmark lay a great Impofitim 
 iipon all our Shiping that Trade into his 
 Dominions , and alfo upon our Drapery, 
 and other Native Engtijh Commo¬ 
 dities. ' • 
 
 I anfwer, That whatever that King 
 may do at firft, l ain perfwaded' after 
 he hath confidered of it, he will be 
 moderate in his Impofitim , becaufe he 
 can hurt none but himfelf by making 
 them great; for as to Drapery , and 0- 
 ther Englifii Goods, his Country fpend* 
 none worth fpeaking of, and that 
 charged with about 30 or 40 perCeni 
 ■' Cnfim 
 
< '«*'<) 
 
 guftom already, nine tenths of all the 
 Timber and Boards we fetch from thence, 
 being, in my opinion, purchafed with 
 ready Dollars lent fro m England and 
 Holland ; and if he fliould by. a great 
 Imfofitm totally difeourage us from 
 trading with his People, we Ihould 
 lay out that Money with the Sweedes , 
 Hamburgers, Danzickers, and others, 
 where we may have fufficient fupply, 
 while the Hanes would to exceedingly 
 Tburthened with the lying of their Goods 
 upon their Hands-, there being in 
 Norway great quantities ©f Goods, viz.. 
 the courfe Hemlock, Timber, common¬ 
 ly brought from Larmek , Tmsberry , 
 Sandyford, Oskeftmd, Hohmjlmd , and 
 many other parts, which no Nation in 
 the World trades with them for,or wiU 
 buy or ufe but th sEnglift only. 
 
 chap.; 
 
(|Q6) 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Concerning Transfer- 
 ranee of Debts. 
 
 T HE great Advantage that would 
 accrue to this Kingdom by a Lam 
 far Transferring Bills of Debt, From one 
 perfon to another, is fufficiently under¬ 
 load by moft Men, efpecially by Mer- 
 thants. 
 
 The difficulty Teems not to be To much 
 in making of a Law to this purpof, as 
 reducing it to pra&ice, becaufe.we have 
 leen To long accuftomed to buy and fell 
 Goodsby verbal Contracts only, that 
 Rich and Great Men For Tome time will 
 be apt to think it a Diminution of their 
 Reputation, to have Bills under their 
 Hands and Seals demanded of them for 
 Goods bought; and meaner Men will 
 fear the loofing of their Cudomers, by 
 infilling upon having fuch Bills for what 
 they fell, which Inconveniency proba- 
 
0^7 ) 
 
 bly flay be avoided, and the Good ho¬ 
 ped for folly attained, if it be en- 
 a&ed. 
 
 That fill iwd every P erf on and Perfors 
 Native ana Foreign, Bodies Politick and 
 Corporate^ Being or Inhabiting within the 
 Kingdom of England, or Dominion of 
 Wales, who from and after tae day of 
 pall buy and receive any Wares, 
 Goods, and Merchandize from any others, 
 pall immediately on receipt thereof, (in cafe 
 ready Money be not paid for the fame) give 
 unto him or them of whom fuch Goods, Wans 
 and Merchandize fimil be bought, or to his 
 and their ufe, a Bill or Writing obligatory , 
 under the Hand or Seal of him or them fo 
 buying the fame , which .pall mention the 
 quality of the.faid Goods, and the neat fum 
 af Money, with the time or times of pay¬ 
 ment, agreed upon. 
 
 2 . Than all Per font, &c. may Tyanf- 
 fer the faid Bills under their Banc-), to any 
 Other by a port Ajfignation on the • back 
 fide. 
 
 3. That every fuch Affgnee may re-cffg» 
 
 tatfesjquoHrss. 
 
 4. After fitch Jfignment it jhall not be 
 in the power of any AJfgnor to make void,, 
 releafeor difeharge the Debt. 
 
 * 5 * 
 
( * 0 ? ) 
 
 5* No Debts, after Alignment Jo he TtMo 
 to any Attachments, Execution, Statute er 
 Commijfion of Bankrupt or other Demand, 
 as the Eft ate of him or them that Affigntd 
 the fame. 
 
 6 That each Alignment fall ahfolutely 
 vtfi the Property into the Affignee, to all in¬ 
 tents and purpofes. 
 
 That fuch Alignments being received, 
 and Receipt or Difcharges given for the 
 fame , pall he deemed good Payment. 
 
 8 . That all Goods fold above the value of 
 jo /. after the day of for which no 
 fuch Bill er Writing obligatory pall be given 
 or tendred as aforefaid, to the feller or fel¬ 
 lers thereof, or to his or their Vfe, pall be 
 deemed and confined to all Intents and Pur- 
 pfts in the Law, as if the-fame had been 
 cwtraBed for to be paid in ready Money, 
 any Concejfion or verbal Agreement between 
 the faid Parties to the contrary notwitb- 
 fianding. 
 
 ThisClaufe I hope may beeffe&ual 
 to initiate us to a pra&icc and obfer- 
 vance ef fuch a Law. 
 
 6 . That the fir ft Alignment of any fuck 
 Bill or Bills of Debt, be to thk or the Hie 
 
(io$J 
 
 - ! A. S. do engage and atteft,fhat the 
 Debt within mentioned is atrueDebt, 
 and no part of it paid to me or to my 
 ufc, or difeharged by me; and I do 
 hereby Affign over the fame to C. D. 
 for his own Account. 
 
 10. And that the fcmd,and all other 
 *fttr Affixations upon any fuch Bills , jhall 
 . he to this or the like effect, viz. 
 
 I A. B. doatteft,thatnopart of the 
 'within-mentioned Debt is paid to me 
 ormyufe, or difeharged by me, and 
 I do hereby Transfer the fame t© 
 
 C Z>i 
 
 The Objections I have met with to the 
 making fuch a Law are, vfc. 
 
 Object, i. This would be repugnant to otk 
 iommon Law, and fome Statutes , Yiz.- 
 Maintenance , Champarty , Bankrupt , &c. 
 
 i. I anfwer,not fo repugnant as at firlh 
 view it feems to be, for though by our 
 Laws at prefent, Bonds and Bills cannot 
 be Ajfigned, Mortgages (which are but 
 another kind of Security for Money 
 lent) may be Affigned. 
 
 2- If any Laws at prefent are repug¬ 
 nant to the common good of the Nation,’ 
 •ad if the making of fuch a new Law 
 wil' 
 
. (no) 
 
 will effe&ually encreafe theufcful Stock 
 of the Nation, at lealt one third part,- 
 and greatly cafe thecourfe of Trade, 
 as I humbly conceive this will do, I hope 
 none will deny but it may eonfift with 
 the Wifdom of Parliament to create new 
 Laws. 
 
 3. Moll of ohr Statutes were made in' 
 times before we underftood Trade in 
 England , and the fame Policy and Laws 
 that were good then, and nray yet be 
 good for a Country deftitute of Com¬ 
 merce, may not be fo fit for us now, 
 nor for any Nation fo abounding with 
 Trade as England doth at prefent. 
 
 Object. 2. May not this occaf on many 
 Cheats and Law Sams ? 
 
 Jnfw. 1 .1 anfwer no, Experience ma- 
 nifefts the contrary, not only in other 
 Kingdoms and Countries abroad where 
 Transfemnce of Bills of Debt is in 
 life, but even in our own where we have 
 for many Ages had the Experience of 
 Indorfmmtm Bills of Exchange , and in 
 this preient Age of the faffing of Gold- 
 Smiths Notes from ohe Man to another, 
 which two pradtices are very like to the 
 defigacd way of Transferring Bills of 
 
I Cm; 
 
 1 Debt, and yet no confiderable Cheats or 
 
 : Inconveniences have arifen thereby, 
 j Jnfw.i. No Man can be Cheated except 
 j it be with his own confent, and we com- 
 J inonly fayeflUeat rtliptOLnoManistobe 
 ■ forced to accept anothers Bill that him- 
 felf doth not approve of,and noMan will 
 i accept of another Mans Bill except he 
 know him,or until he hath ufed means to 
 ; fatisfie himfelf concerning him, no more 
 i then he will fell his Goods to a Stranger* 
 cnlefs he hath fome reafon to believe he 
 | is able to pay him. 
 
 | Object 3. Will not fitch a Law as this 
 ; be very troubl font , ([finally in Fairs and 
 Jkarktts, and alfo to Gentlemen and Ladies 
 when they [nail be forced for all Goods they 
 bay above the value of ic l. to give Bills tm- 
 der their Hand and Seals ? 
 
 Ianfwer, this Law will not at all In¬ 
 comode Gentlemen as to what they Buy 
 in Shops, &c. neither thofc that con- 
 verfe in Fairs and Varkets j for that 
 [Which Gentlemen Buy in Shops. &c. and 
 others in Fail s, &c. they either pay or 
 promife ready Money, or elfe fay no-* 
 thing of the time or payment, which 
 the Law underftands to be the fame with 
 a 
 
a promife of prefent pay; fo that ii 
 they give no Bills,there is no penalty at¬ 
 tends the neglect or rcfofal, but only 
 that the contraft between the Buyer and 
 Seller lhall be prefumed in the Law to 
 be as if it were made for ready Mo- 
 fiey. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Concerning a Court 
 Merchant. 
 
 I Hare conceived great hope froni 
 the late molt Prudent and Charita¬ 
 ble Inftitution of that Judicature, for 
 determination of Differences touching 
 fioufes Burned by the late Fire in London, 
 that this Kingdom will at length be blef- 
 fed with a happy msthod, for the fpce- 
 dy, eafie and cheap' deciding of Dif¬ 
 ferences between Merchants, Mafiers of 
 Ships and Seamen, &c. by fome Court 
 dr Courts of Merchants, like thofc which’ 
 
Xm) 
 
 krc eftablilhed in moft of the great Ci* 
 ties and Towns in France, Holland and o- 
 ther.placesfthe want whereof mEngland^ 
 is and hath eYerbeen a great bar to the 
 Progrefs arid Grandure of the Trade of 
 tliis Kingdom ; as for inftance, if Mer¬ 
 chants happen to have differences with 
 Mafiers and Owners of Ships, upon Char¬ 
 ter-parties or Accounts, beyond ea, &c. 
 The Suite is cqmmonly firft commenced 
 in the Admiralty Court, where, after te¬ 
 dious .Attendance and vail Expcnces, 
 probably juft before the Caufe fhould 
 come to Determination, it is either re¬ 
 moved into the Deligatcs, where it may, 
 hang in fufpence until the PUmiffznd 
 Defendant have empty, purfes and grey 
 Heads, or elfe r becaufe moft Contracts 
 for Martain Affairs, are made upon the 
 Land (and moft Accidents happen in 
 feme Rivers or Harboqrs here, or be¬ 
 yond Sea, are not in alto man) The De¬ 
 fendant brings his Writ of, Prohibition , 
 and removes the Caufe into his Majefties 
 Com of KingfrBemb, where after, great 
 Expences of Time and Money, it is well 
 if we can make our own Council (being 
 common IrfiryeW),, underftand one half 
 if our Cafe, we being among!]; them as 
 i* 
 
( !I 4 ) , 
 
 In a foreign Country, oar Language 
 ftrangeto them, and theirs as ftrangeto 
 11s *, after ail, no Atteftations of Fo¬ 
 reign Notaries nor ether pnblick Inftru- 
 ments from beyond Sea, being Eviden¬ 
 ces at Law, and the Accounts depend¬ 
 ing, conlifting perhaps of an hundred or 
 more federal Articles, which are as fo 
 many Iffiiesat Law, the Caufe ttiuft 
 come into the Chancery, where after ma¬ 
 ny Years tedious Travels to I Veftminfter, 
 with black Boxes and green Bags, when 
 the Plantif and Defendant have tired 
 their Bodies, diftra&ed their Minds, 
 and confumed their Eftatcs, the Caufe 
 if ever it be ended, is commonly by or¬ 
 der of that Court referred to Merchants , 
 ending raiferabiy, where it might have 
 had at jfrft a happy iflue if it had begun 
 right 
 
 From whence follows theft National 
 hcoaveniencies. 
 
 i. It is a vaft Exf ence to the Perfrn 
 concerned. 
 
 1. It takes (ff Men from following their 
 Callings, to the Publicklofs, as well as the 
 farticular Damages of the concerned, that 
 time being loft to the Nation that it ffent in 
 Zap-Suits* 
 
 %-k 
 
("O 
 
 3. Itrnales Men, after thty have once 
 attained indifferent Ejhttes , to leave Tra¬ 
 ding, and for eafe to turn Country-Gentle¬ 
 men, whereas great and experienced 
 Men are the only, Perfons that mult 
 mate the Dutch iii Trade, if ever we do 
 it. 
 
 4. It ii my opinion a great cattfe of the Pro - 
 digality, Idlenefs and Injufiice of many of 
 our Mafiers of Ships in England, and eoe- 
 fequently a wonderful bar to the growth of 
 our Englilh Navigation, who knowing 
 that their Owners cannot legally ejed 
 them, efpecially if the Mafler have a 
 part of the Ship himfelf, but that Re¬ 
 medy to the Owners will be worfe then 
 the Difcafe, which occafions Mafiers to 
 prefume to do thofe things, and be 
 guilty of fuch negleds as naturally they 
 "would riot, if they Hood more upon 
 their good behaviour. 
 
 I could fay much more of the Damage 
 this Nation Mains by the want of a 
 Law-Merchant, but that is fo evident to 
 ill Mens Experience,, that 1 ihall not 
 longer infill upon it, but proceed hum¬ 
 bly to prppoTe fohie particulars, which 
 bcin^duely coafidered, may peradven- 
 H 1 ture 
 
(n6) 
 
 ture by wifer Heads be improved to* 
 wards the cure of this evil, viz,. 
 
 1. That it be Enabled, that there Jhall 
 be eretted within the City of London, et 
 fiandwg Court-Merchant, to confift of 
 
 twelve able Merchants, [neb ns Jhall be tk - 
 
 fen by the Livery Men of the faidCityin 
 their common Hall, at the time and in the 
 manner herein after limitted and appointed. 
 
 2. That the J'aid twelve perfons fo to he 
 Elected, or any three or more of them , fit - 
 ting at the fame time and place, and not o- 
 therwife, (hall be accounted Judiciary Mer¬ 
 chants, and Authorized to hear and de¬ 
 termine all Differences and Demands what - 
 foever , which have arifen (and are not 
 hitherto determined) or may any waps arift 
 between Merchants, Traaes-Men, Arti¬ 
 ficers, Matters *»«! Owners of Ships, 
 Sea-Men, Boat-Men and Freighters of 
 Ships, or any other Perfons having relation 
 to Merchandizing,Trade or Shiping, for 
 or concerning any Account or Accounts of 
 Merchants, Freight of Ship, or Goods, Bill 
 or Bills of Exchange, or Bills of Bottom¬ 
 ry, or Bumery, or for Work done upon, or 
 Materials deliiered to the ufe of any Ship, 
 or Monty due for . fale of Goods , ' or 
 
I . t I1[ 7 J 
 
 fi «ny other thing relating to Trade or Ship- 
 
 ; 3. That any three or more of them fas' 
 
 ^the Judges lately did at Clifford's-Inn) 
 Imay proceed [manly to the hearing and 
 |determining of any fuch Differences , and 
 ithat their Sentence Jhall be fna!, from which 
 ithereJhall be no sipped or Review, other- 
 hvife then as is hereafter mentionsd, nor any 
 f Writ of Error lie for the removal, C r re* 
 \verfal of the fame . 
 
 4. That they , or any three of them may 
 ] fo iffae out Sammons for convening all 
 iferfons before them , as the TuJecs 
 
 |M& 
 
 5. That they be a Conn of Records , as 
 the Judges were. See. - 
 
 6 . That they take nothing for their own 
 pains , dircEliy or indirettly, but fix pence 
 each for Signing every final Order in every 
 Caufe , whereof t be value of the Money to 
 be paid doth not exceed 1 p /. And 12 d. 
 for all Caufes not exceeding 100 /. and only 
 \i\s. each for all Caufes exceeding the value 
 of tool. 
 
 The f,did Fees to be due and payable only 
 tofuch and fo many of the f did Judiciary 
 Merchants as heard the [aid Caufe and 
 H 3 Caufes j 
 
(nU 
 
 Caufes, and Signed the Judgments or final 
 Decrees in them. ■ 
 
 7. That for Rewards to Officers , the Ju¬ 
 diciary Merchants do conjhiute a Table of 
 reafonable Fees , to be confirmed by the two 
 Lord Cheif-Juftices, and Lord Chief 
 Baron of the Exchequer- 
 
 8 . That in any Cafe determined byalefs 
 number then [even of the f aid Judiciary 
 Merchants, then may be an Appeal to fe- 
 vtn or more , as was lately pra&ifcd in 
 the afore-mentioned Jndicature. 
 
 9. That they may have power to levy Ex¬ 
 ecutions upon Eftates red or perfond , with 
 fnch Refiriftms at the Parliamentfh'allpleaft 
 to appoint. 
 
 10. That the extent of the Jurifdiclion 
 of the f aid Court, fhdl be to all Places 
 within ten Miles of London, or only to the 
 late Lines of Communication,as the Parlia-\ 
 mem fhaU think ft. 
 
 11. That the fad Judiciary Merchants 
 and their Officers, before they exercife theirl 
 Authority, take fush Oathes at the Parlia¬ 
 ment fhall pleafe to appoint. 
 
 12. That f any of the Judiciary Mer-, 
 chants be Profecuted for exercifmg any of 
 the Powers that fhall be committed to themf> 
 
('* 9 ) 
 
 they may plead the gtnerd Iff®and 
 give the Jtid iff evidence far their D's* 
 
 fence. 
 
 13. That mfflrit or Writs of Scperle-* 
 deas, Certiorary, or Injunctions m af 
 n*y of to* Majeflics Courts., fiag fiper- 
 tsedy fir fiay Execution &c 
 
 14. The Jtt to comime Prohstio 
 narily fo long at the Parliament fia£ ihi?& 
 
 15. That the tmhst Judicmy Mer¬ 
 chant* fiat be chofifi Yearly by x& the Free¬ 
 men* that are Livery-men of Louden, sx 
 the Guild-Hall of the [aid City, or hr fi 
 many of them at fiall hep?font at ftw £~ 
 klHonty upon every Monday Yearly* xtxs 
 before the Feafi day ef St Michael (or as 
 the Parliament mail appoint) i» max- 
 vtr foltomng* Every Livtry-mm theayrc- 
 fent y t& deliver goto any tree fuck Aldermen 
 and four Commoncrsyfi the Lord Mayor 
 and Court of Aldermen far the time ps- 
 tngy fiaH appoint to tab the viap cr firx- 
 terry of Eleftiotty a taper cmmhtg the 
 names ef fttth twelve Perfem as he thinks 
 befito he Elefted far the pttrpofes aftirt-[aid* 
 fitting his y the fata EleSarsy am 
 *«mw the had-fdc of the faU taper* 
 
 H 4 , and 
 
(i?o; 
 
 'met the next M’.mday after, in the faU 
 'Guild-Hall, the [aid two Aldermen, and 
 fear Commoners, or fo many of them, at 
 full have taken the Scrutiney, full' publicity 
 declare unto the Lord Mayor, Aldermen 
 and Commoners then prefent, who are the 
 twelve Perfons chofen by the majority of 
 Votes, and how many Vties each of them 
 'had. ’ ' ' .. 
 
 16. I fit happen that any of the judicia¬ 
 ry Merchants dye before the end of the 
 Tear, or refufe to undertake the Trip, it be 
 lawful for the Livery-men to choofe another ; 
 or others, totics quoties. And the Lord 
 Mayor being enjoyned to fummon Common - 
 Halls to that purpofe. 
 
 ‘ 17. That every Tear fix of the old ■ judL \ 
 tiary Merchants go off incourfc, and be un- i 
 tap able of being re-eletted, And fix new | 
 i ones chofe in 'their fiead, viz. all the twelve \ 
 to be re-chofen, but only fix of the old ones > 
 that had the mop Voices to hold next Tear, 
 
 ‘ although more of them fmld happen to bt >, 
 etettedfor the next Tear. 
 
 Objett. 1 1. The 1 many Objections that 
 I can fore-fee ‘will be made againft this ; 
 ConftitutioH, is, that It thwarts that j: 
 ■ mop'excellent order of our Englifh Juries. "■ j 
 
1 (. 121 ) 
 
 \ Anfw. i. Ianfwer, That I hope 
 •there is no Englifli man more in love with 
 ‘Juries then my fclf •, but it is evident 
 [that the common way ofTryals, doth 
 iiiot well reach the variety and flrangc- 
 nefs of Merchants cafes, efpecially in 
 ;relation to foreign Affairs. 
 
 Anfw. 2. What better Jury can a 
 Merchant hope for, than twelve able 
 arid honeft Merchants , chofe by the col- 
 ,le&ive Body of the whole Ci^y, and’ 
 iuch a,s fliall all of them fland upon their 
 Good Behaviour to be turned out with 
 Ignominy the next Year, if they do not 
 equal right to all men. 
 
 ' Object. 2. The admitting of no appeals 
 from a Cow i -Merchant feems too arbitrary. 
 
 ' 1 anfwer; While we choofe our 
 
 fudges our felves for Merchants cafes, 
 and may remove them our felves, in 
 my opinion they can be no more too ar¬ 
 bitrary than too much power can be 
 given to Referees, when both parties 
 defirean end of their Differences • be- 
 fides, if their Power be not great, the 
 ihany defigns of cheap, fpeedy, and 
 Jhort iflues will be loft. Bat if it fhall 
 pleafe' the Parliament , there may be in 
 the M an appeal referved to the Houfe 
 
( 122 ) 
 
 ©f Lords the Money condemned, to lx 
 firft paid or depolited before the Appeal 
 be allowed. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 Concerning Naturalization, 
 
 T Hat an M of NatnraRzAtm of 
 Strangers would tend to the ad¬ 
 vancement of Trade, and encreafe of 
 the value of the Lands of this Kingdom,; 
 is now f® generally owned and afentedi 
 to, by all degrees of men amongft os, 
 that I doubt not but a fhort time will 
 produce fome Aft or Jfts of PMittmat 
 to that purpofe. 
 
 I have therefore thought it not imper, ■; 
 tinent to note fome few Particulars,! 
 which if not warily prevented, may de4; 
 prive us of the greateft part of the Fruit [ 
 hoped for by fo good a defi ; n, viz. f 
 lft, The Privfadges ef eneorfwated Ci*; 
 ties and Towns. i 
 
 2 dly, More cfyecially the Societies 
 Artificers MndTrades-men htknitng to fait 
 Cities 
 
j (I23-> 
 
 {pities and Towns Corporate, [neb as Wea - 
 ^erSj Coopers, and many others , who by 
 ; verm of their Charters, pretend toVrivi- 
 ' ledge and Jmfdittion, not only to the ut~ 
 ‘ mojl extent of the Liberties of their refpe- 
 \ ftive Cities and Tms, but fo the diftme 
 ‘ often Miles about thtm. 
 
 3. That branch of the Statute of %th 
 \ of Elizabeth, which mutts, That none full 
 ' ttfe any manual Occupation that hath not 
 ferved an Jpprcnticefhip thereunto, upon 
 which Statute it hath' been ufual to- inditt 
 Strangers, work-men that have excrcifed 
 their Callings in the out-parts of London. 
 
 Upon this point of Naturalization, 
 many men make a great doubt, whe¬ 
 ther it be for publick good to pe; mit 
 the Jews to be Naturalized in common 
 With other Strangers. 
 
 Thofe that are againft their admiflion, 
 who for the moft part are Merchants, 
 urge thtfc Rcafoijs ;, 
 
 1. They fay the Jews are a fubtil 
 People, prying into all kind of Trades, 
 and thereby depriving the Englifh Mer¬ 
 chant of that Profit he would otherwife 
 gain. 
 
 2. They are a penurious People, li¬ 
 ving miferably, and therefore can, and 
 
 do 
 
( 124 ) 
 
 do afford to trade for lefs profit then 
 t\ ie English, to the prejudice of the Eng, 
 lijh Merchant. 
 
 3. They bring no Eftates with them, 
 but fet up with their Pens and Ink on¬ 
 ly , and if after fome few Years they 
 thrive and grow rich, they carry away 
 their Riches with them to fome other | 
 Country (being a People that cannot 1 
 mix with us) which Riches being car 4 
 ried away) is a publick lofs to this| 
 Kingdom. j, 
 
 Thofe that are for the admifllon of| 
 the Jews , fay in anfwer to the aforefaid; 
 Reafons, viz.. 
 
 1/, The fubtillcr the Jews are, and 
 the more Trades they pry into while; 
 they live here, the more they are like to | 
 encreafe Trade, and the more they do| 
 that, the better it is for the Kingdom in ' 
 general, though the worfe for the Eng* rj 
 lijh Merchant , who comparitively to the; j 
 reft of the People of England is not one) 
 of a thoufand. ) 
 
 idly , The thriftier they live, the 
 better Example to our people; there her t 
 ing nothing in the World more conducing to j) 
 enrich a Kingdom then thriftinefs,. sj 
 
( 12 ?) 
 
 3<//y, It is denyed that they bring 
 Over nothing with them ; for many 
 have brought hither very good Mates, 
 and hundreds more would do the like, 
 and fettle here for their Lives, and 
 their Pofterities after them, if they 
 had the fame Freedom and Security 
 here as they have in Holland and Italy i 
 where the grand Duke of Tufcaney , and 
 other Primes allow them riot only per- 
 fefifc Liberty and Security, but give 
 them the priviledgc of makirig Laws a- 
 mong themfelves j and that they would 
 rcflde with us, is proved from the 
 known Principles of Nature, viz.. 
 
 Principle l .• M mm by Nature are 
 ali\e i at 1 have before demonfirated^and Mr 
 Hobbs hath truly afferted , how Erroneous 
 foever he may be in other things. 
 
 Princip. 2< Fear is the caufe of Hatred 
 and hatred of ftparation from , as well as 
 evil Deeds to the Parties or Government 
 hated , when opportunity is offered: This by 
 the way pews the difference between a bare 
 connivence at Diffenters in matters of Reli¬ 
 gion^ and a toleration by Law \ the former 
 keeps them continually in Fear , and confe * 
 qtiently apt to Sedition and Rebellion , when 
 any probable occafton of fuceefs grefents : 
 
 The 
 
(?26) | 
 The Utter difarms cunning , ambitions rmw 
 ed men , who wanting a pop id. re difcunttntel 
 Party to work upon,can cjfett little or nothing 
 to the prejudice of the Government; dm 
 this methinks difcovers dearly the Caafl. 
 why the Lutherans in Germany, Prote-j 
 ftants in France, Greeks in Turkey,/wij 
 Sectaries in Holland, are [neb quiet peace-, 
 able-minded-men , while oitr Non-Con -1 
 form Ills in England are fed to he enclif 
 nable to Strife , War and Moodjhed ; ((Eakj[; 
 
 aftap tljc cawfe, anD t&e Effect totllf 
 crate. -1 
 
 While the Laws are in Force dgainfi men! 
 they think the Sword hangs over their Heads J 
 and arc always in fedr( though the Execu-p 
 tion be fufpended) not knowing howjbofi 
 Councils , or Counfellors , Times or Perfonti 
 irnty change , it is only ^etfEEt HObl 
 tljat calttfOUt dFeerC ; aird all menare| 
 in love with Liberty and Security : It| 
 cannot be denyed that the mduftrioiisi 
 Bees have Stings, (’though'Drones have! 
 sot) yet Bees fiing net , except thofe that | 
 hurt them , or dijlurb their Hives. f. 
 
 It is Laid , the Jews cannot Inter- 
 marry with us, and therefore it cannot | 
 be fuppofed they will refute long a-| 
 fijongft us, although they were treated I 
 never I 
 
. „ (■ »*7 ) 
 
 never fo kindly; why not relide her<s 
 as wellas in My, Maud or Holland .j 
 they have now no Country of their own 
 to go to*, and therefore that is their 
 Country,and mult needs be lb efteemed 
 by them, where they are bell ufed, and 
 have the greateft Security. 
 
 CHAR VIIL 
 
 Concerning Wool and Wool¬ 
 len Manufactures. 
 
 T Hat Wool is eminently the Founda¬ 
 tion of the English Riches* I have 
 not heard denyed by any, and that 
 therefore all poflible means ought to be 
 ufed to keep it within our own Kingdom 
 is generally confefled, and to this pur- 
 pofc moft of oar modern Parliament 
 have flrenuoufly endeavoured the con¬ 
 triving of fevere Laws to prevent its 
 Exportation, and the felt AH made it 
 
 Ffiony to Ship out Wool, Wtelfels , &c. 
 Notwithstanding which, wc fee thaC 
 English 
 
Engli(h and Irifh Wool goes over fo plen¬ 
 tifully,that it is within a very-fm J1 mat¬ 
 ter as cheapin Holland s in England. 
 
 The means to prevent this Evil, by 
 additional Penal Laws, and alterations 
 of fome of thofe now in being, were 
 long under debate , by his Maftfties 
 command in the Cow cH of Trade , who 
 according to their duty, took great 
 pains therein; and lince, I have been 
 informed the fame things wefe under j, 
 confideration in Parliament, fo.that l| 
 doubt not, but in due time we fhall fee ; 
 fome more effeftnal Laws enafted toi 
 this purpofe, as well in relation to 7 re-' 
 Und, (from whence the greateft of this ! 
 mifehief proceeds ) as in England, then 
 ever yet have been j yet I do utterly i 
 defpair of ever feeing this Difeafe per- \ 
 fedtly cured till thcCaufes thereof be re- ? 
 moved, which I take to be; 
 
 ill, Heigktbof Inter eft in England ft 
 which' an Abatement by Law to 4 per 
 
 Cent would cure. 
 
 2dly, Want of Hands, which ail Aft 
 of Naturalization would cure.. 
 
 3dly, Comp nl [ion in matters of Religion , 
 which fome relaxation of the Eccleftafti - 
 fcj/ Laws, 1 hope would effectually cure. 
 
 For 
 
( i2 W 
 
 For while our, Neighbours, through 
 the cheap valuation of their Stocks, can 
 afford to trade, and disburfe their Mo¬ 
 nies for lefs profit then we, as l ath 
 been I think fufficiently demonltrated 
 by the fore-going Difcourfey and have 
 more Hands to employ then we, by 
 reafon of the large Immunities and Pri- 
 viledges they give both to Natives and 
 Foreigners, there is no queftion but 
 they will, be able to give a better Price 
 for our IVoo/j than we can afford our 
 felves y and .they, that can give the belt 
 price for a Commodity fliall never fail 
 to have it, by one means or other, not* 
 withftandiug the oppofition of any 
 Laws* or ; interpofition of any Power 
 by Sea'or Land^offuch force,fubtiky and 
 violence is the general courfe of Trade. 
 
 But fome may fay* and take 
 it as well from what I have writ elfe- 
 ' where, as from their own Obfervations* 
 Will not the well-making of our Woolkn- 
 Afmtfattures, contribute much to the 
 keeping of our Wool naturally within 
 our, own Kingdom.. . 
 
 I anfwer y Doubtlefs it will have a 
 great tendency thereunto, but can ne- 
 fer effed it, till the aforefaid Radical 
 I Caufes 
 
( ) 
 
 Caufes of this Difeafe be removed,which 
 brings me to the next Queftion, viz* 
 What will improve our Woollen-Mam t- 
 failures in quality and quantity ? 
 
 This is a very great Queftion, and 
 requires very deliberate and ferious 
 Confideration, but I fhall write my prc» 
 fent Thoughts concerning it, defiring 
 thofe Gentlemen's pardon, from whom I 
 may differ in Opinion, having this 
 to fay for my- felf, that I do it not rafh- 
 ly,this being a bnfinefs that I have many 
 Years confidered of,and that not folitari- 
 ly, but upon converfe with the moft 
 skilful men in our feveral Englifh Woollen 
 Manufactures ; 
 
 1. Then I fay, Thofe three fort-men -; 
 t'mtd Particulars which will naturally keep 
 our Wool at home , will as naturally encreaft 
 our Woollen-.Manufactures. 
 
 2. Negatively, I think that very few of 
 
 mr Laws now in force to this p«rpo/e(though 
 our Statute-Books are repleniflicd with 
 many) have any tendency thereunto , nor 
 any thing I have yet feen in Print ; For, 
 i/?, All our Laws relating to thej 
 Adnegeors duty, every body knows fig-! 
 nifie nothing to the encreafe, or well- 
 making oar Manufactures, but are ra¬ 
 ther chargeable and prejudicial. 2dly 9 
 
( !?0 
 
 , idly , All our Laws that oblige our 
 People to the making of llrong, fub- 
 ftantial (and as we cali it,Loyal) Cloth 
 of a certain length, breadth a>'d weight, 
 if they, were duly put in Execution, 
 would in my opinion do mors hurt than 
 good, becaufe the Humors and Falh ; ons 
 of the World change, and at fometimes 
 in fome places (as now in moll ) flight 
 cheap light Cloth will fell more plenti¬ 
 fully and better, than that which is hea¬ 
 vier, ftronger and truer wrought •, and 
 If we intend to have the Trade of the Worlds 
 i re miift imitate the Dutch, who make the 
 wrft as well as the be ft of alt Manufactures , 
 that we may be in a capacity of ferving all 
 Markets , and aH Humors . 
 
 _ 3 dly, I conclude all our Laws limit- 
 ting the number of Loomes numbered, 
 or kind of Servants,and Times of work¬ 
 ing, to be certaimy prejudicial to the 
 cloathing of the Kingdom in general, 
 though .they be advantages to fome 
 particular Men or Places, who firlt pro¬ 
 cured thofe Laws of Reftri&ion and Li¬ 
 mitation. 
 
 4 tbly, I think all thofe Laws are Pre¬ 
 judicial, that prohibit a Weaver from 
 being a Fuller, Tucker or Dyar, ora 
 Fuller or Tucker from keeping a 
 Lcomc. 12 5 My, 
 
(tpj 
 
 5 thly, 1 conculde that Itretchirig of 
 Cloth by Temers, though it be fometimes 
 prejudicial to the Cloth, is yet abfolute- 
 ly ncceflary to the Trade of England , 
 and that the excefs of {training cannot 
 be certainly limitted by any Law, but 
 muft be left to the Sellers or Exporters 
 difcretion, who bed knows what will 
 pleafe his Cuftomers beyond the Seas \ 
 befides, if we Ihould wholly prohibit 
 flraining of Cloth, the Dutch (as they ha Ve 
 often clone) would buy our unftrained 
 Cloth, and carry it into Holland , and 
 there drain it to fix' or feven Yards per 
 piece more in length, and make it look 
 a little better tothe Eye, and after that 
 carry it abroad to Turkey , and other 
 Markets, and there beat us out of Trade 
 with onr own Weapons. 
 
 Bntfome may then ask me,Whether I 
 think it would be for the advantage of 
 the Trade of England, to leave all men 
 at liberty to make what Cloth and Stuff's 
 they pleafe, how they will,, where and 
 when they will, of any lengths or 
 fees? 
 
 Ianfwerj Yes, certainly in my judg¬ 
 ment it would be fo, except fuch Spe¬ 
 cies only as his Majefiy & the Parliament 
 Hall 
 
( I??) 
 
 fhall think fit to make Styles, as fuppofe 
 Cslchtfier Bayes, Perptnanm, Cheanyts, 
 and fome other forts of Norwich Stuffs 
 to be allowed the honour of a pib- 
 lick Seal, by which to be bought and 
 fold here, and beyond Seas, as if it 
 were npon the pnblick Faith of England-, 
 and where-evcr fuch Seal is allowed, or 
 ihall be thought fit to be affixed to any 
 Commodity, I would defire the Com¬ 
 modity Ihotild be exadly made accor¬ 
 ding to the Inftitution, and always kept 
 to its certain length, breadth and good- 
 nefs. 
 
 But in cafe any Ihall make ofthefaid 
 Commodities worfe then the Inftitution, 
 
 1 think it would be moft for the pnblick 
 advantage to impofe no Penalty upon 
 them, but only deny them the benefit 
 and reputation of the publick Seal, to 
 fuch Bayes or Stuffs as ihall be fo insuffi¬ 
 cient } which in my opinion would bo 
 punifhment enough to thofe that fhould 
 make worfe than the Standard, and ad¬ 
 vantage enough to thofe that fhould 
 keep to it. 
 
 2. For all Cloth and Stiffs not being 
 made Styles,\ think it would be of very 
 great ufe that the Makers did weave 
 I 3 ia 
 
in their Marks, and affix their own 
 Seals, containing the length and breadth 
 of the Pieces (as hath been provided in 
 foitie Statutes) and that no Maker un¬ 
 der fevere Penalties Hull ufe another 
 Mark or Seal, with fuch Penalty to eve¬ 
 ry marker or fetter whofe . loth or Stuffs 
 ihall not contain the length and breadth 
 fet upon the Seal, as Ms Majefiy and the 
 Parliament lhall trunk fit. 
 
 ' 3. if the makers of all Stuffs whatfo- 
 ever for Exportation, whether Stafles 
 or not (which arc commonly fold by 
 the Piece,'anJ net by the Yard or E 11 J 
 were obliged to make them no fhorter 
 thanantiently they have been made; the 
 particular lengths of each fort whereof 
 might be provided for, and fcxprefled 
 in the this good effect would fol¬ 
 low upon it, viz,. 
 
 • At all foreign Markets , where we pay 
 a great Cufiom by the Piece,according to 
 the Books of Rates, currant in the fevc- 
 ral Countries, we fiiould pay but the 
 feme Cufiom abroad for a piece of full 
 length, which no w we do for one that 
 is fhorter: Notwithlhnding,I conceive 
 it would be expedient to leave it to the 
 makers diferetion, to make their pieces 
 % much longer as they pleafe. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
( 135 ) 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Concerning the Ballance 
 of Trade. 
 
 the Greatnefs of this Kingdom 
 X depends upon Foreign Trade, is 
 acknowledged, and therefore the Inte- 
 reftof Trade not unbecoming Perfons of 
 the higheft Rank} and of this Study, 
 as well as others, it may be faid, there’s 
 an infinite in it, none, though of tire 
 largeft Intelefts and Experience, being 
 able to fathom its utraoft depth. 
 
 Among other things relating to 
 Trade, their hath been much difeourfe 
 of the Mlance of litabS •, the right 
 undemanding whereof may be of fk- 
 gular ufe and ferve as aCom pafs to Stear 
 by, in the Contemplationsand Propaga¬ 
 tion of Trade for publick Advantage. 
 
 The Balance of Trade is commonly un¬ 
 der food two ways. 
 
 l. Generally, fomething wherehy it may 
 
 U iv 
 
( ) 
 
 be known whether this Kingdom gaineth or 
 loftth by Foreign Trade. 
 
 2. Parti':ularly, fomething whereby we 
 may know by what Trades this Kingdom 
 gaines. and by what Trades it loftth. 
 
 '■ For the firft of thefe. 
 
 It is the mejt general received opinion, 
 and that not ill-grounded, that this Bal¬ 
 ance is to be taken by a ftrift Scrutiny 
 of what proportion the value of the 
 Commodities exported out of this King¬ 
 dom bear, to thofe Imported, and if the 
 Exports exceeds the Imports, it is conclu¬ 
 ded the Nation gets by the general 
 courfe of its Trade , it being fuppofed 
 that the over-plulh is Imported jnMw/, 
 and fo adds totheTreafureof the King- 
 : dom; Gold and Silver being taken for the 
 ■ merfure and jiandard of Riches. 
 
 2. This Rule is not only commonly 
 applyed to the general courfe of Fo¬ 
 reign Trade, but to particular Trades 
 to and from this Nation to any o- 
 ther. 
 
 N ovr although this notion have much 
 of truth in it, was ingenioully and 
 worthily ftarted by him that firft pub- 
 iilhed it; and much good' hath accrued 
 to the Kingdom by our Law-ma’ers 
 i II.A 
 
( T ?7 ; 
 
 (JSfobh men And Gentlemen) refenting it, 
 yet if the difficulty of the Scrutiny 
 whei eby to reduce it into pra&ice, and 
 the many Accidents that may accrue, 
 be feriouily weighed, it will appear too 
 doubtful and uncertain as to our general 
 Trade,- and in reference to particular 
 Trades fallible and erroneous. 
 
 That it will not hold as to Foreign 
 Trade in general appears j 
 
 ii From the difficulty and impoffi- 
 bility of taking a true account, as well 
 of the quantity, as of the value of 
 Commodities Exported and Imported. 
 
 ' The general rule for this hath been the 
 Cuftom-Houfe-Books, but that they cannot 
 be in any meafurccertain will eafily be 
 granted, for, 
 
 i. As to the quantity,if it be confide- 
 red that many fine Commodities of fmall 
 bulk and great value, & Points, Laces , 
 Ribands,fine Lennen,$ilks,Jemlsjk c.are Im 
 ported by Health-,&that alfo in manyoxr- 
 P.orts andCmta of England &Wale ,Com¬ 
 modities of bulk are both Imported and 
 Exported oftentimes by indirect means, 
 that never are Regiftred, betides alfo of 
 what is en.ered,there may bef though not 
 coniiderablc iaLondon)yQt in other parts 
 
Cqg) 
 
 pinch difference in the quantities and 
 qualities. 
 
 1. As to the value, how Ml the 
 compute be made, feeing the rates of 
 the Cufims are in no kind proportina. 
 ble, our own Commodities being fome 
 rated very low, as Drapry, Silk-Wares, 
 Haberdashery, and all Manufactures of 
 Iron: Others high, as Lead and Tin ; 
 and Fijh in Englilh Shipng nothing ; and 
 for Foreign Commodities Imported, the 
 rates are yet more unequal, fo that the 
 value rated for the Cufioms cannot be a 
 due meafure. 
 
 Befides ,ForeignCommodit\es Imported by 
 Englijh Shipng , Ihould be valued only at 
 their firft Coll and Charges aboard, and 
 thofe by Foreign Shipng , with the en- 
 creafe of the home-ward Freight. 
 
 2. From the many Accidents that fall 
 oat in Trade, without the true know¬ 
 ledge whereof a right BalUnct cannot be 
 made, as, 
 
 i. Accidents that diminifhthc Stock 
 felt out, as lolfes at Sea, bad Markets, 
 Bankrupt, alfo Confifcations, Sdfures 
 and Arrefts, which fall out often on fe¬ 
 vers! oecafrons. 
 
 ‘ ■ c■ Now 
 
( iJ9<> 
 
 Now if by any of thefe or fuch like 
 the original Stock comes to be impai¬ 
 red, and kflcncd, the value of the Csm- 
 modifies Imported in teturn, may be 
 far lefs then the value of the Commodi¬ 
 ties Exported, and yet may be the full 
 produdt, and fo the Nation no Gainer, 
 though the Fxports were more in value 
 then the Impoi ts. 
 
 2 . Accidents whereby the Stock fent 
 out, comes to be extraordinarily advan¬ 
 ced in Sale abroad, from whence it may 
 1 fall out, that the Commodities Impor¬ 
 ted in return, mav appear to be of a much 
 greater value then the Commodities Ex- 
 I ported, and yet be no more then the 
 | real produce of them, and fo the Nati- 
 l on no lofcr, but a Gainer thereby, al¬ 
 though the Imports exceeds the Ex- 
 I ports. 
 
 And if the afore-cited Inftances fuf- 
 fice not to prove the uncertainty (in 
 fome cafes ) of this Notion of ttjt 
 lance Of '(t'cabc, the following Exam¬ 
 ples of Ireland , Virginia and Bdrbadoes, 
 are fo pregnant to this cafe, as I think 
 will convince any Man: “For thofe 
 three Countries do without doubt Ex¬ 
 port Annually a far greater value of 
 
( MO ) 
 
 the Commodities of their native growth 
 and produd, then is Imported to them 
 fron^hence, or from any Foreign Coun¬ 
 try, and yet they are not fuch great 
 Gainers, bat continue Poor y the true 
 rcafon whereof as to Inlaid, is given by 
 the moft Ingenious Author of that Tna. 
 tife of Taxes and Contributions, Page 27. 
 where he faith, That a great fart of 
 JEfiates both real and ferfonal in Ireland, 
 are owned by Abfentees , and fuch as draw 
 ever the Profits raifed out of Ireland, re¬ 
 funding nothing \ fo as Ireland Exporting 
 more then it Imports, doth yet grow 
 Poorer to a Paradox. 
 
 Here let me glaunce at my old 
 Theme, and defire the Reader to conli- 
 der ferioufly, whether it may not im¬ 
 properly be laid of all Kingdoms and 
 Countries where the Inttreft of Money 
 runs higher then their Neighbours, 
 that a part of their E;fates are owned 
 by Abfentees, and confequently they 
 lhall be fure to be kept Poor, whether 
 their Importations or theirExpo.rtations 
 exceed. 
 
 This like wife refolves a Queftion 
 that was once, put to me by an Honour a- 
 ble ferfon concerning the County of Corn- 
 well, 
 
(Hi) 
 
 we//, which notwitftanding the great 
 quantity of Tin and Pilchards, which 
 Annually the Inhabitants are fending" 
 forth from their two Mines of Land 
 and Sea, yet that Country ftill remains in. 
 a poor Condition *, The reafm whereof 
 to me feeriis clearly to be, hecaufe a great 
 fart of the Stock imfloyed in the afore [aid 
 great Trade, is taken Hf at Interefi, and 
 mfecjutntly owned by Londoners, and other 
 Abfentees. 
 
 And though it may be hoped that this 
 is not yet the cafe of England , yet it is 
 a demonftration that the notion of take- 
 ing the IBaltance this way, is not abfo* 
 lutely, and in all places, and under all 
 circumftances, without exception true 6c 
 good for in cafe the Trade of England 
 fhould be carried on by Abfentees, then 
 the fuppofition upon which this Noti¬ 
 on is grounded, (viz. that when the 
 Exports over Ballarice the Imports, the 
 Surplufage is returned into England in 
 Mkin)v( ill prove a miftake,and the con* 
 trary will be true, m. that the Sur¬ 
 plufage will be conveighed into Foreign 
 parts, to the places of the r-efideace of 
 fuch Abfentees.- 
 
 2. The 
 
C?42 ) . 
 
 i. The fecond thing I am to Illuftrate 
 is, that this rule (barely confidered) is 
 fallible and erroneous, as to particular 
 and diftinft Trades. . 
 
 This will appear, if it be confidered, 
 that a true meafure of any particular 
 Trade, as to the profit or Jofs of the 
 Nation th.reby, cannot be taken by 
 the consideration of fuch Trade in it 
 felf finglely,- but as it Hands in refe¬ 
 rence, and is fubfervient to the general 
 Trade of the Kingdom for it may fo 
 fell out that there may be fonie places to 
 which little of our Engl'^i aBurv 
 are Exported, and yet the Commodi¬ 
 ties we have from thence, may befo 
 neceflkry to the carrying on our 
 Trade in general, or feme other parti¬ 
 cular Trades, that without them the 
 Nation would greatly decline and decay 
 in Trade. 
 
 . Now in this cafe, if we ihould mea¬ 
 fure fuch a particular Trade by the 
 af refaid Notion of the Ballance, wc 
 feould.find th? Imports abundantly ex¬ 
 ceed the Exports, and fo be ready to 
 conclude againit fuch a Trade as de- 
 feru&ive, whereas (notwithftanding) 
 it 
 
(* 4 ? ) . 
 
 it may in truth, be a very neceflary be¬ 
 neficial Trade, and to the very great 
 advantage of the Nation; as for 
 inftance. 
 
 The Trade of Denmark an & Norway, 
 the Imports from whence are certainly 
 many times the value of our Native 
 Commodities exported thither, and yet 
 it cannot be denied but that Trade is 
 advantagious to the Kingdom, not only 
 becaufe it gives, or would give employ¬ 
 ment to two Hundred, or three Hun¬ 
 dred Sail of Englijh Sbiping (if n>c did * 
 little mend our Alt of Navigation) but 
 principally becaufe the Commodities 
 imported from thence, as Timber, 
 Pitch, Deals and Tar, are of fuch ne¬ 
 ceflary ufe, in order to the building and 
 fupplying our Shiping, that without 
 them other Trades could not be car- 
 tied on- 
 
 It will not be denied by the honou¬ 
 rable Eaft-India Company , but they im¬ 
 port much more Goods into England , 
 than they export, & that to purchafe the 
 fame,they carry out quantities of Gold Sc 
 Silver annually; yet no man that under- 
 Hands any thing of the Trade of the 
 World, will affirm, that England lofeth 
 
. ( H4 ) 
 
 by that Trade. The Dutch ■ with good 
 reafon elteem the trade of i\\zEafl-Indk 
 more profitable to them' than ire' the 
 Wines of Gold and Silver in America to 
 the E wg of Spain and ( if tiie Englf 
 Companus were veiled by Aft of Far- 
 Ijaincnt with lo much Authority as the 
 Dutch have, and thereby encouraged to 
 drive as full a Trade thither,' a‘s the 
 Dutch do, I doubt not but it would be 
 fo(not fo much to the private gain of the 
 M embers of that Company) as the pub- 
 lick profit of this Kingdom in general'; 
 feowever as it is, it will net be difficult 
 to prove that it is the moft beneficial 
 Trade' this Nation drives at 1 prefent; 
 For, 
 
 i/, That trade confl.a'ntly’ employes 
 twenty five to thirty Sail, of the moil 
 iVar-likc Ships with Sixty 
 
 to a Hundred Men in each Ship, and 
 dray in two or three Years more employ 
 a greater Number \ and ih order to the 
 carrying on that Trade, that Company 
 lath lately (unconftrained) given con¬ 
 siderable Encouragements for the 
 building of great Ships, which hath had 
 good effect.' 
 
 a F/y, 
 
(mO. 
 
 , idly, It fupplies the Nation conltant- 
 ly and fully, with that fin this Age) 
 necefiary material of Salt-Pctre. 
 
 idly. It employs the Nation for its 
 Confumption, with Pepper, hdico, Ca¬ 
 licoes , and fever al ufeful Drugs, near the 
 value of 1 50000 /. to 180000 /. per An¬ 
 num. ^ - ■ 
 
 4thly, It furniflied us with Pepper, 
 
 Cowryes, Long-Cloth , and other Callicoes 
 and painted St proper forthe Trade of 
 Turkey, Italy , Spain, France and Gniny, 
 to the amount of 2 or 300000/. per 
 Annum ; molt of which Trades we 
 could not carry on with any confidc- 
 rableadvantage but forthofe fupplies, 
 and thefe Goods exported do produce in fo¬ 
 reign parts, to be returned to England, fx 
 times theTrtdfure in Specie,that tbeCcmpany 
 exports from hence. 
 
 Now, if not only the aforeftid ad¬ 
 vantages' be ferioufly conlidcred , but, 
 alfo what detriment the Nation would 
 fuftain, if we were deprived of thofe 
 fupplies, both in point of Stienethand 
 War-like Provifions, in regard cf Ship-, 
 ing and Sa t-Petre , but alfo in refprff of 
 the furtherance it gives to many other 
 Trades before-mentioned, it will evilly 
 K appear 
 
( ) 
 
 appear that this Trade, though its Im¬ 
 ports exceeds its Exports, is the moil 
 advantages Trade to England, and de* 
 ferves all encouragement; for were we 
 to buy all our Pepper and Callicoes , &c. 
 of.the Dutch , they would raife our 
 
 Pepper (which now ft and: the Nation hut 
 about 3 d. per pound in India ) to, or near 
 the proportion which they have advan¬ 
 ced on Nutmegs, Cloves and Mace , 
 (which coft the Dutch not much more 
 per pound in India than Pepper ) fmce they 
 engrolled the Trade for thofe Commo¬ 
 dities •, and the ufe of CaUm in England 
 would be fupplied by foreign Linnen at 
 greater Prices ^ fo that what may be fe- 
 enred from this Nation’s confumption, 
 would in probability coft them above 
 400000 /. per Annum more then now it 
 doth \ and our foreign Trades for Italy, 
 Guiny , &c. would in part decay for 
 want of the afore-faid fupplies. 
 
 There is another Notion concerning 
 the Ballar.ce of Trade , which I think not 
 impertinent here to take notice of, viz..- 
 Some are of opinion, that the way to 
 know whether the Nation gets or lofeth 
 in the general by its fore-going Trade, 
 is to take an inspection into the courfe 
 
of die Exchange , is generally above 
 the intrinfick value or Par of. the Coins 
 of foreign Countries, we not only lofe 
 by fiic'h Exchanges , but the fame is 
 a demonltration that we lofe by the ge¬ 
 neral COUi'fe of our foreign Trade and 
 that we require move fuppiy. of Com¬ 
 modities from abroad, than our exports 
 in Goods do ferve to purchafeArid 
 certain it Jq that when once the Ex- 
 charge comes to be 5 or 6 per Cent above 
 the true value of foreign Monies, our 
 Trcafure would be carried out, what¬ 
 ever Laws Ihould be made to prevent it f 
 and on the contrary ,' .when the Ex¬ 
 change is generally below the true value 
 of the foreign Cms, it is an evidence 
 that our Exports do in value exceed 
 what we require front abroad .• And fo 
 if the Exchange comes to be 5 or 6 per 
 Cent below the true value of the foreign 
 Coins, returns will be made for England 
 in the Coins of foreign Countries. . 
 
 Now, that there is alfo a great deal 
 of truth in this Notion, is not to be 
 denied, arid that the diligent obfcrvance 
 andconfideration of the courfe of the 
 Exchange , may be of ufe, and very ne- 
 ceflary in many refpe&s, and is a very 
 K i ihgeni- 
 
< 148 J 
 
 Ingeniueus Study for any that would 
 dive into the myfteries of Trade j yet 
 becaufe this is likewife fubject to vary 
 on many accidents of Emergencies of 
 State and War ,&c. & becanfe there is no 
 fettled courfe of Exchange, but to and 
 fi'OWlFrance,Holland,Flanders,Hambroiigh, 
 Venice,tegorn^L Genoa, and that there are 
 many other great and eminent Trades 
 befides what are driven to thole Coun¬ 
 tries, this cannot afford a true and fa- 
 tisfa&ory/;//tfffl»to the prefnt Queftion. 
 
 Thus haying deraonftrated that thefe 
 Notions, touching the Ballance of 
 Trade, though they are in their kind 
 ufefnl Notions, are in fome cafes fal¬ 
 lible and uncertain. If any lhall ask, 
 How fail we then come to be refolded of the 
 matter In One [ lion ? 
 
 I anfwer •, firfi, The bell and molt 
 certain difcovery, to my apprehenfion, 
 is to be made fi om the encreafe or di¬ 
 minution of our Trade and Sniping in 
 general; for if our Trade and Shiping 
 diminifh , whatever profit [.articular 
 men may make, the Nation undoubted¬ 
 ly lofeth; and cm the contrary, {four 
 T>vJc and Shiping encreafe, how fmall or 
 low foever the profits are to private 
 mefl 
 
C *49 ^ 
 
 tiicttr it is an infallible Indication! that 
 I the Nmn in general, thrives \ for I 
 ; dare affirm,, and that Catagorically is 
 ! all pairs of the whole World, where* 
 
 : ever Trade is great, and continues fo, 
 and grows daily more great, and en- 
 creafeth in Shiping, and that for a iiic* 
 ceffion not of a ffiw Yearn, but of Ages, 
 thatTrade mull beNationallyprofirahfe, 
 As a Town where only a Fair is kept, 
 if every Year the number of People and 
 Commodities do augment, that Town 9 
 however the Markets are, will gain ^ 
 whereas, if there comes flill fewer and 
 fewer People and Commodities, that 
 place will decline and decay. Difconr- 
 fing once with a N&bk Lord concerning 
 this meafure or method of knowing the 
 MUna of our Trade, or more plainly 
 our generalA’d.'zwdgain or lofe byTVWe, 
 his Lordfhip was pleafed to oppofe, by 
 asking two very proper Queftions, viz., 
 Ouefi . i. Is there not a great ft mi* 
 Htude between the Affairs of a private 
 Perfon , and of a Nation, the former 
 being but a little Family, and the latter 
 3 great Family ? 
 
 lanfwer; Yes, certainly there is, 
 Qmft. 2.' His Lordjbip fecoiid que- 
 K 3. It ion 
 
( 5 SO ) 
 
 ftion was, May not a private Mer¬ 
 chant be, or feem to be owner, of much 
 Shiping, drive a great Trade, receive 
 and fend out many Goods, and yet de¬ 
 cline and grow poorer, notwithftand- 
 ing all his tumbling and bulfeling ? 
 
 I anfwer}' Yes, certainly he may, 
 but this will foon appear, either while 
 he lives, or at his Death ; and his great 
 Trade will come to be but a final! one, 
 or none at all: But that man who 
 drives a great Trade, and is owner or 
 employer of much Shiping, and doth 
 all his dayes continue and encreafe in 
 Trade and Shiping, and his Son, or Suc- 
 celTor after him, and after him his 
 Grand Son, &c. this would be an in- 
 difputable Evidence that that Perfon or 
 Family did thrive by their Trade; for 
 if they had not thriven, their Trade 
 would not have long continued, liiuch- 
 lefs encreafed: This is the cafe of Na¬ 
 tions, and this through God’s goodnefs 
 is the cafe of England *(as bad as we are 
 at prefent.J 
 
 The reaion of this is as evident as the 
 fir It, for where a great Trade is driven , 
 efpecially where much Shiping is em¬ 
 ployed, whatever becomes of the poor 
 Merchant , that drives the Trade, Mul¬ 
 titudes 
 
(i; r ) 
 
 titudes of People will be certain gainers, as 
 his Majefiy and his Officers of Cafiem , 
 befidcs Shipwrights, Batchers , Brewers, 
 Bakers, Rope-makers, Porters , Sea-men, 
 Mamifother ers, Car-men. Lighter-men, 
 and all other -Artificers, and People that de¬ 
 pend on Trade and Shying, which indeed 
 more or lefs the whole Kingdom doth. 
 
 But it may be faid again, If this en- 
 creafe of Trade depend upon, and proceed 
 from our ordinary Importations,for which our 
 ready Money goes out, it will impoverijb ns. 
 
 I anfvyer, In fome cafes it may be fo, 
 and in fome cafes (as I have already de- 
 monftrated) it may be otherwife, but 
 that will belt be known by the effeds; 
 for if we are impoverilhed, our general 
 Trade and our Shiping will nccedarily 
 and vifibly grow lefs and lefs, and muft 
 rationally and unavoidably do fo; for 
 that being impoverilhed, we lhall lofe 
 our Tools four Stock) to drive a great 
 Trade with; whereas on the contrary, 
 if our Trade in the grofs bulk of it 
 (though we may decline in fome) do 
 fill encreafe, efpecially our Shiping for 
 a long trad of Years, it is infallible 
 proof of our thriving by our Trade, 
 and that we are fill getting more Tools 
 fmore Stock) to trade with. 
 
 K 4 Some 
 
(M2; _ 
 
 Some there are would limit this dii- 
 ' covery to the encreafe and dimunition 
 of our Coin and Bulloin, but becaufe 
 that is more fecret and indifccrnable, 
 it cannot, I conceive, afford fo clear a 
 demonftration as the ether, if any at all, 
 for. that Money feems to vulgar Obfer- 
 vers molt plentiful when there is leaft 
 occaiion for it j and on the contrary, 
 more icarce, as the occafions for the 
 employment thereof are more numerous 
 and advantagious, according to which 
 we fhould feem to have molt Money 
 when we hive the leaft Trade, and yet 
 then certainly the Nation gets leaft \ 
 this is apparent to thofe that will ob- 
 jerve that when the Eafi-India-Company 
 have a great fale to. make, then Money 
 is generally found to be Icarce in London , 
 not that is fo in reality more t>cn at o- 
 ther times, butbecaufe that extraordinary 
 occafion engageth men to employ quan¬ 
 tities, which they provide and lay afide 
 for that purpofe from the fame rea- 
 fon it is, that a high rate of Ufury 
 makes Money feems fcarce, becaufe eve¬ 
 ry man then, as foon as he can make up 
 a fmall fum lends it into the Goldfmiths, 
 whereof more is faid before in the 
 Preface to this difeonrfe. 
 
 i 
 
1 anfwer, that though the Study of 
 the jBallance of Trade in this laft menti¬ 
 oned refped be a Study very Ingenious 
 and Commendable, yet in my poor opi¬ 
 nion, the enquiry, whether we get or 
 iofe, doth not fo much deferve our 
 greatelt pains and care, a$ how we may 
 be fure to get, the former being of no 
 ufe but in order to the latter, and this 
 therefore leads to the Confideration of 
 the other Ballance of Trade, as molt qfe- 
 fui! and neceflary, via. 
 
 What is to be done in England to improve 
 the Trade thereof to fitch a degree as to 
 (cjiidizc or over-ballance our Neighbours in 
 mr National Profit by our Foreign Trade ? 
 
 I anfwer, this is a large and ex- 
 tenfive Queftion, and requires to refolve 
 it, the greateft Skill and Experience 
 both in affairs of State and Trade, and 
 therefore I have only made an Elfay to¬ 
 wards it, which the whole Difcourfe 
 fore-going is, ( and therefore I 
 hope the Reader will accept : f my good 
 Affe&ion to my Country herein, though 
 he meet not with that full fatisladion he 
 might exped and wifh for ). 
 
 The method I propofe for the further 
 aofwering of this great Queftion, is, 
 (following 
 
. 154 ) 
 
 (following my own principle) that if 
 ■Trade be great, and much Englijh Ship. 
 psj employed, it will be good for the 
 Nation in general, whatever it may be 
 for private Merchants JFirft to lay down 
 forae general Rules for the enlargement 
 of Trade in England, and then fome 
 ways of reducing thofe general Rules 
 into life and Pra&ice; the general 
 Rules for the enlargement of Trade are 
 not many. 
 
 1. Encreafe Hands} . , 
 
 2. Imnlfc Stock f 
 
 3. Make Trade eafie and ncejfary, i. e. 
 make it our Inter ep to Trade. 
 
 4. Make it the Intereft of other Nations 
 to Trade with us, 
 
 1 . To encreafe Hands in Trades , the fol¬ 
 lowing Particulars would much contri¬ 
 bute. 
 
 ift. An Acl of Naturalization before- 
 mentioned . 
 
 ! 2. Some enlargement of the Foundati¬ 
 ons ef Societies of Merchants , asbefore- 
 fimitted. 
 
 3. A more eafe and free admijfion of 
 Inhabitants, Merchants, and Artificers, to, 
 he Burgers of our Cities and Boumtghs. 
 
 4. Not to hinder any Man front keeping : 
 
.('SlJ 
 
 to many Servants as he can , nor Um% 
 
 worUrig-T&oles^tkc. 
 
 5. Eo abate the Interefi of Money, as 
 afore-faid. 
 
 6 . Some Relaxation of the Ecclefiaftical 
 Laws, would kcef our- own People at Home, 
 and invite others to m , and confequently 
 encreafe the number of our Hands in 
 Trade. 
 
 7. Employ,Educate and Relieve the foor ¥ 
 fo as they may neither be Idle, her perijh for 
 Want, or leave the Land by Reafon of their 
 Mt [cries. 
 
 8. Giving fuch Honour and Perferment 
 to Merchants in the Affairs of the. Nation,as 
 their Exferknce&Educatiou hath fitted them 
 for , will doubtlefs encreafe their number. 
 
 Te encreafe our Stock in Trade. 
 
 1. All the fix fore-going particulars, 
 will very much contribute, efpecially 
 the Abatement of Intereft, becaufe 
 bringing in of more Stock, for that the 
 perfons engaged in Trade, mult necefia- 
 rily bring in their Stocks with them, if 
 they have any} and for Artificers that 
 have none, their Labour in confequence 
 will generate Stock to the Nation, and 
 encreafe that we have already. 
 
 2 . A Law for Transference of Bills 
 
 of 
 
if Debt, (as before-mentioned} will 
 muchai.d fpeedily augment our ufefu] 
 Stock- 
 
 3. The refraining of the Trades of one 
 own Plantations wholly to England , and p: e- 
 venting til kind of abufes of that part 
 of the JCtsof Trade and Navigation ,, 
 would' tend much to the encreafe of our 
 Stock in Trade. 
 
 4.. Thefee uringof that great Trade for 
 Shiping imployedfor Importation of Timber , 
 Mafis, Boards and P,jes-Stayes into theft 
 three Kingdoms, to be done only by 
 his Majeftie's Subje&s, and not by any 
 Strangers, would in a very few Years 
 much encreafe the Stock of England. 
 
 . Prevention of the Exportation of our 
 Wool , and encourageicg our Woollen 
 Jtfamfattms. 
 
 6. Encourage and encreafe oar Fifing 
 Trades , which how that is only to be 
 done, is before-mentioned. 
 
 7. To fei up the iTniUtt rather then the 
 Woollen Manufacture in Ireland , and give 
 extraordinary encouragement and privi- 
 ledges to the firfl Undcrtakei s. 
 
 . 8. To encourage thofe Trades moft, that 
 vent moft of our Manufactures, or fupply 
 m with Materials to be further Manitfdltt- 
 red 
 
redin England, or elfe fuch as fnfmfh 
 tis with Commodities for the carrying 
 on of other Trades, as the Eaft-India~ 
 Company doth eminently. 
 
 9. // his Majefties Navy, Debts, &c. 
 tore all paid,and if for the future,all feMa- 
 jefties Payments were made with punctuality, 
 it would much encreafe the Stock of this Na¬ 
 tion in Trade , fach fatal flops being to 
 the Body politick, like great obflni<fti~ 
 onsof the Liver and Spleen to the 
 Body Natural, which not only procure 
 ill Habits, but fometimes defperate 
 and accute Difeafes, as well as Croni- 
 cal. 
 
 10. Leffening the number of on'r Hdly- 
 Days would encreafe the days of our IVirk¬ 
 ing, and Working more would make us 
 Riche?: Riches and Stock are the fame* 
 
 11. If our Affairs would permit, that 
 the fullCufiom jhould be paid back,hc.( &mt 
 the half only) for all Foreign Goods brought 
 hither, and afterwards Exported, (as I am 
 credibly informed the French King hath 
 very lately done in all the parts of his 
 Dominions,) it would, wonderfully en¬ 
 creafe our Navigation, and inconfequence 
 our People, as well as our Domeflick 
 and Foreign Trade 7 and in my opini- 
 
, . (J5*> 
 
 on be much better for the Nation in 
 general, then particular Free Ports. 
 
 And if only fuch Foreign Goods as, 
 fbould be Loaded outwards on Englijh 
 Shiping, had the benefit of this Indul¬ 
 gence, it would be much the more 
 Efficatious as to our main concern, viz. 
 the encreafe and improvement of our 
 Englijh Navigation. .. 
 
 3 d. General Rule,: 7 o male Trade eafie 
 and neujfary , and thereby to makeit our 
 Intereft to Trade. 
 
 1. To make Trade eafie, a Law for 
 Transfer ranee of Bills of Debt , will do much 
 (as before/ 
 
 2. To make Trade eafie, a Court-Mer- 
 ibant will do mtch(-as before in that Chap¬ 
 ter. . 
 
 3. Taking of the 'Burthen of Trade , 
 whereof one is the. great-trouble and delays 
 in receiving back our Impojiat the Cnftom- 
 Tioufe , and the great Charge of Fees to 
 Searchers , Waitors , &c. 
 
 4. 'Reducing Intereft of Money to 4 per 
 tent, will maxe Trade ealie to the Bor¬ 
 rowers, and to maiie it neceifary, it 
 is the ©tlUUl ^agnmu (as before is 
 faid ) for while we that are Merchants, 
 
 cm 
 
> 
 
 can fo eaftly turn Gentlemen by buying 
 Lands for lefs then twenty Years pur- 
 chafe, let no Man e.xpeft that if we 
 thrive, we will drudge all our days in 
 Trade; or if we would, to be fure our 
 Sons will not. 
 
 4 th. General Rule, 7 o make it the Im- 
 reft of ether Nations to Trade with as. 
 
 i; Being in a good condition of 
 Strength at Horae, in reference to the 
 Navy, and all other kind of Military 
 preparations for Defence, (and Offence 
 upon juft occafion given) will render 
 us Wife and Honourable in the efteem 
 of other Nations, and confequently o- 
 blige them not only to admit us the 
 Freedom of Trade with them, but the 
 better terrasfor, and countenance in the 
 courfe of our Trade. 
 
 2. To make it the Intereft of others 
 to Trade with us, we niuft be fure to 
 furniih them at as cheap or cheaper 
 Rates then any other Nation can or 
 doth, and this I affirm can never be done 
 withoutfubdueing Vfmy efpecially, and 
 doing thofe other things before-menti¬ 
 oned, that will conduce to the encreafe 
 of our Hands and jStock, for our be¬ 
 ing in a condition tp fell our Neighbours 
 cheaper 
 
. i i 6 o} 
 
 cheaper then others, mud be when it i; 
 principally an effeft of many Hands and 
 much Stock. 
 
 Objctt. Eut it may be fa id how fhall 
 we profit by this Rule of felling cheap 
 to Foreigners, whereas the contrary is 
 faid to be the way to Riches, viz., to 
 fell dear and buy cheap. 
 
 Anfio. I anfwer, in a ftrift. fence it 
 may be fo, for the private Merchant ; 
 but in this difcourfe I am defigning how 
 ourpublick National Trade maybefo 
 managed, that other Nations who are 
 in Competition with ns for the fame, 
 maynotwreftitfrom us, but that ours 
 lilay continue and encreafe, to the di¬ 
 minution of theirs; if there were no 
 others to wage with us, we might as 
 the Proverb faith, make our oWn Mar¬ 
 kets; but ds the cafe now ftands, that 
 all the World are ftriving to engrofs all 
 the Trade they can, that other Proverb 
 is very true and applicable, all co&fR 
 
 all lofe. . 
 
 3. The well contrivement and man¬ 
 agement of Forei n Treaties , may 
 very much contribute to the making it 
 the Interrft of nthtrj Nations to Trade 
 with us, at leaft to'the convincing of 
 Foreign 
 
' . , C i6t ) 
 
 Foreign Princes wherein, and how it is 
 their Intereft to Trade with us. 
 
 ■ 4. Publick JufHce and Honefty will 
 make it the Intereft of, other Nations to 
 Trade with us, that is, that, when any 
 Commodities pafs under a publick com¬ 
 mon Seal (which is in a kind the pub-, 
 ii k Faith of the Nation ) they. may be 
 exaft in length, breadth and nature, ac¬ 
 cording to what they ought to be by their 
 Seals. 
 
 . The like care ought to be taken for 
 the true packing of our Herrings and 
 Pilchards , (formerly mentioned .) ■ 
 
 ; 5. If we would engage other Natl* 
 onsto Trade with us, we mult receive 
 from them the fruits and Commodi¬ 
 ties of their Countries,, as well, as fend 
 them ours, blit its our.Intenjt by Exam- 
 fie and other means (not diftaftfui) above 
 all kinds of Commodities to prevent as much 
 as may be , the Importation of Foreign Ala- 
 mfathires. 
 
 6 . .The Vemtuvm being a People that 
 take from us very little of our Manu¬ 
 factures have prohibited oui: Engl'tlh 
 Cloth , and from whole Territories we 
 receive great quantities of Cur ranee, 
 purchafed with our ready Money; It 
 L feems 
 
1 162 ) 
 
 feeras to me advantages for Bngknd i 
 that that Importation,as well as the Im¬ 
 portation of wrought-Glaile, drink- 
 ing-Glafles and other Manufactures 
 from thence, fliould be difconraged j 
 it being fuppofed we can now make 
 them as well our delves in England. 
 
 The Trade for Cmnary- Wines, I 
 take to be a molt penurious Trade to 
 England^ becaufe thofe Iflands confume 
 very little of our Manufattures, Fijh , 
 or other Englijb Commodities , neither 
 do they furnilh us with any Commodi¬ 
 ties to be further Manufactured here, 
 or re-Exportcd, the Wines we bring 
 - from thence being for the moll part 
 purchafed with ready Money j fo that 
 to my apprehenfion, fomethmg is ne- 
 ceffary to be done to compel thofe 
 JJlanders to fpcnd more of our Englifb 
 Commodities , and to fell their Wines 
 cheaper, (which every Year they ad¬ 
 vance in Price ) or elfe to leflen the 
 Confumption of them in England* 
 
 1 have in this iaft Difcourfe of the 
 of CtaDc, as well as in my 
 former, confined my felf to write only 
 general Heads and Principles that 
 relate unto Trade in general, not this 
 
or that particular Tradebecaufe the 
 feveral Trades, to feveral Countries, 
 may requirediltinft and particular Con* 
 fidcrations, refpeding the time, place, 
 competitors with us and other circum- 
 ftanccs to find out, wherein our advan¬ 
 tages or diftdvantages lie, and how to 
 improve the former, and prevent tile 
 latter; but as this would be too great 
 a Work for one Man,' fo I fear it 
 would make tills too great a Book t o be 
 well read and confidered. 
 
 . Bht in'the Preface to this Treatife, I 
 fiave briefly mentioned many particular 
 Trades that we have loft, and are 
 boling, and by what means, and ma¬ 
 ny Trades that we yet retain and are en- 
 creafing, and how it happens to befo. 
 Which may give forne Light to a clearer 
 bifeovery and Infpe&ion into particular 
 Trades,- unto which Ingenious Men 
 that have Hearts to ferve their Country 
 in this ( fo necelfary . Work at this 
 time ) may add, and further improve, 
 by the advantage of Abilities to ex- 
 prc'fs their Sentiments in a more In¬ 
 telligible and Paulible Stile \ but when 
 I and others have faid all We can, 
 
■ (i6 4 J 
 
 A loro Inter ef is, as the Soul to the Body 
 of Trade , it is the (JUS nOl-1 to the 
 Trofterky and Advancement to the Lands 
 andTradeof England* 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Concerning 
 
 PLANTATIONS, 
 
 T HE Trade of onr Fnglifi) Plantations 
 in America , being now of as 
 great Bulk and Employing . as much 
 Shipingas molt of the Trades of this 
 Kingdom , it feemsnot nnnecefiary to 
 Difcourfe more ar large concerning the 
 Nature of Plantations, and the good or 
 evilconfequences of them in relation to' 
 this and other Kingdoms:, ?nd the ra¬ 
 ther becaufefome Gu.il men of no mean 
 Capacities, are of ( pinicn that his* 
 Maff it's Plantations abr ad, have very 
 much prejudiced this Kingdom by drain- 
 
( '6 5 ) 
 
 ing ns of our Peoplefor the confirms* 
 tion of which Opinion they urge the 
 Example of Spain, which they fay is al- 
 moft ruined by the Depopulation which 
 the Weft-Indies hath occasioned ) to the 
 end therefore a more particular Scrutiny 
 may be made ints) this matter, I fhall 
 humbly offer my Opinion in the follow¬ 
 ing Propofitions, and then give thofe 
 Reafons of Probability which prefently 
 occur to my Memory in confirmation of 
 each Propofition. 
 
 1. Firil I agree, That Lands (though 
 excellent ) without Hands proportionable 
 will not enrich any Kingdom. 
 
 2. That whatever tends to the Depopu¬ 
 lating of a Kingdom , tends to the Impove- 
 riftment of it. 
 
 3. Tnatmoft Hattons in the civilized 
 farts of the World , are more or lefs Rich 
 or Poor proportionally to the Paucity or Plen¬ 
 ty of their People , and not to the Sterility or 
 Fruitfulnefs of their Lands. 
 
 4. I do not agree that our People in Eng¬ 
 land, are in any conftderabk meaftire aba¬ 
 ted by reafon of our Foreign Plantations ; 
 butprepofe to prove the contrary. 
 
 5. I am of Opinion, that we had imme- 
 
( 166 J 
 
 People in England, then we h^d before tk 
 Inhabiting of Virginia, New-England, 
 Sarbadoes, and the reft of our American 
 Plantations. 
 
 6 . That all Colonies or Plantations do 
 
 endamage their Mother-Kingdoms , whereof 
 the Trades of fitch Plantations are not 
 confined by fevere haws , and ' ■ good 
 executions eftkfe Laws , to. the Mother* 
 Kingdom. - ' ; 
 
 7. That the Dutch will reap tk greatefi 
 advantage by all Colonies ijfuing from <wy 
 Kingdom o f Europe^ when of the Trades 
 one notfo.ftriclly confined tq the' f/oper Mo .- 
 thsr-Kpgdmis. ' 
 
 8. That the Dutch (though they 
 thrive- fo exceedingly in Trade ) will in- 
 probability never endamage this Kingdom by 
 the growth of their Plantations.' 
 
 ~ 9- That neither tk French, Spaniard nor. 
 PortugeeZ are much to be feared on that ac¬ 
 count pot for the fame, hut for other mfes. 
 
 10. That it is more.for the advantage of 
 England, that New-found-Land jhould 
 remain Vnplanted , then that Colonies food A. 
 be fent or permitted to go thither to Inhabit^ 
 with aCovernom , Laws^ the. 
 
 11. That Newr England is the moft pre¬ 
 
 judicial Plantation to. tk Kingdom, of Eng" 
 land. I. That 
 
( ^7 ) 
 
 f. That Lands though in their Nature ex* 
 cellcntly good, without Hands proportion* 
 able , will not enrich any Kingdom. 
 
 This firffc Proportion I fuppofe will 
 readily be a (Ten ted to by all judicious per- 
 fons, and therefore for the proof of 
 it, I ih ill only alledge matter of Fad. 
 
 The Land of Paleftine , once the Richeft 
 Country in the Vniverfe , fmcc it came un¬ 
 der the Turks Dominion , and confeqnently 
 unpeopled , is now become the Poor eft. 
 
 AncldnzJui and Granada , formerly 
 wonderful Rich and full of good Towns, 
 fince cfif-peopled by the Spaniard by Ex¬ 
 piation of thed^orf,many oftheirTowns 
 and brave Country Hoafes are fallen 
 into Rubbifh, and their whole Country 
 into miferable Poverty, though their 
 Lands naturally are prodigioufly Fer« 
 til. 
 
 A Hundred other InEances of Fad 
 might he given to the like purpofe. 
 
 JI. Whatever tends to the populating of a 
 Kingdom^ tends to* the emprevemem of it. 
 The former Propofttmbtmg granted, 
 I fuppofe this will not be denyed, and 
 of th,e means (viz, good Laws) where- 
 L 4 v 
 
it 6Kf 
 
 by any Kingdom, maybe populated,' 
 and confequently enriched, • is in effedt 
 the fubUmce and defign of all my fore¬ 
 going Difconrfe, to which,for avoiding 
 repitition I mult pray the Reader’s re- 
 trofpedion. • ; ! ' 
 
 III. That mojl Nations in the civilized parts 
 - of the World, are more or lefs Rich or 
 Poor, propo tionahle to the paucity or 
 plenty of their People. " ' 1 . ' . ' ’ 
 
 ■ This third is a confeqnent of the two 
 former Propofitions; and the whole 
 World is a witnefs to the Truth of 
 it : The f even united Provinces are certainly 
 the mofi populom trail of Land in Chriften- 
 dom, and for their bignefs, undoubtedly the 
 richef. England for itsbignefs, except 
 our Forrefis, Waftes and Commons , which 
 by our own Laws and Cuftoms are bar¬ 
 ed from Improvement, I hope is yet a 
 more populous Country than France, 
 and confeqnent 1 y richer - 7 I fay, in pro¬ 
 portion to its bignefs; hay in bke pro¬ 
 portion more populous than Frame, and 
 richer; and France more populous and 
 rich than Spain , &c. 
 
(% ) 
 
 ly. 1 do not agree that our People in Eng- 
 ‘ land arc in- any confiderable meafure 
 abated ,. by reafon of our foreign' Plan¬ 
 tations, butpropofe to prove the contrary. 
 This I know is a controverted Point, 
 & do believe that where thei e is one man 
 of my mind, there may be a thoufand of 
 the contrary j but I hope when the fol¬ 
 lowing Grounds of ray Opinion have 
 been throughly examined , there will 
 not be'fo many DiU'enters.' 
 
 That very many People now go i and 
 have gone from this Kingdom , almoft 
 every Year for thelc iixty Years paft, 
 and have and do fettle in our foreign 
 Plantations is molt certain. But the firft 
 Queftion will be, Whether if England, 
 %ad no foreign Plantations for thofe Peope to 
 be tranfported unto , they could or would have 
 fayed and lived at home with us ? 
 
 I am of Opinion they neither would ney 
 could. 
 
 To refolve this Queftion, we mtifl; 
 ^confider what kind of People they were, 
 and are, that have and do tranfport 
 themfelves to our foreign Plantations. 
 
 New-England (as every one knows)nw 
 originally inhabit ated r and hath [me fuc- 
 . ■' * *. cejjmly 
 
ieftmly hem replemfht by a fort of People 
 called Puritans , which could not con- 
 form to the Ecclefiaftkal Lam of England^ 
 but being wearied with Church Cmfum 
 and Perfccmonsj were forced to quit 
 their Fathers Land, to find out new 
 Habitations, as many of them did in 
 ( fermany and Holland , as well as at New- 
 England ; and had there not been a 
 Htw-EngUnd found for fome of them, 
 Germany and Holland probably had re¬ 
 ceived the reft: But Old England to he 
 fire k'ad loft them all 
 
 Virginia and Barbadoes were fir ft peopled 
 by' a fort of loofe vagrant People , vicious 
 and destitute of means to live at home, 
 (being either unfit for labour, or fuch 
 as could find none to employ themfelves 
 about,' or had fo mif-behaved them- 
 felves by Whoreing, Thieving , or 
 other, Debauchery, that none would fet 
 them on work) which Merchants and 
 Mafterstf Ships by. their Agents (or SpL 
 rits^M tfeywere called ) gathered up about 
 the Streets of London , and other places, 
 (loathed and transported,to be employ¬ 
 ed. ityonPlantations ■ and thefe I fayVere 
 fuch,as. had there been no-Englijh foreign 
 B&ntation in the World, could pro- 
 
(171/ 
 
 babjy never have Jived, at home to do 
 Service for their Country, but mult 
 have" come to he hanged or ffcarved, or 
 dyed untimely of fume of thofe mife- 
 table, Difeafes, that proceed from want 
 and Vice 5, or elfe have fold themfelves 
 for Soldiers, to be knockt on the Head: 
 or ftarved in the Quarrels of our Neigh¬ 
 bor^,, as many thonfands of brave 
 Bglifomn were in the. low Countries, 
 as ajfo, in. the Wars of G ermany , France , 
 and Sweden, &c. or elfe if they could, 
 by begging, or otherwife, arrive ta 
 the Stock of 2 j1. 6 L to waft them 
 over to Holland ., become Servants to 
 the Dutch, who refufe none. 
 
 But the principal growth and encreafc: 
 of the afore-faid PUnutions of Vvrginiec. 
 md parbadoes happened in, or immedi¬ 
 ately after our. late Civil Wars, when, 
 the worfted party, by the fate of War, 
 being deprived of their Eftates, and- 
 having fame of them never been bred to. 
 labour, and other made unfit for it by 
 the lazy habit of a Soldiers life, there 
 wanting Means to maintain them all 
 abroad with his ddajefty, many of them 
 betook themfelves to the afore-faid 
 Plantations, ^nd : great, numbers, of Scotch 
 Soldm 
 
{ 1J2 } 
 
 Soldiers of his Majeftfs Army after 
 Worcefier Fight, were by the then pre¬ 
 vailing Powers voluntarily fent in thi¬ 
 ther* 
 
 Another great [warn, or acceflion of 
 new Inhabitants to the afore-faid Plan, 
 tations, as alfo to New-England, Ja¬ 
 maica, 2nd all other his Majefties Plan¬ 
 tations in the Weft-Indies, enfued upon 
 his Majefties Reftauration,when the for¬ 
 mer prevailing party being by a divine 
 Hand of Providence brought under, the 
 Army disbanded jnmy Officers dif-placed, 
 and all the new preharfers of publick 
 Titles, dispofleft of their pretended 
 Lands, Eftates, &c. many became im- 
 poverifhed, deflitute of employ¬ 
 ment and therefore fuch as could find 
 no way of living at home, and fome 
 which feared the rereftablifhmem of the Ec- 
 clefiafiicd Laws,under which they could not 
 live, were forced to tranfport them- 
 felves, or fell thcmfelves for a few 
 Years,to be tranfported by others to. the 
 foreign Englijh Plantations: The con- 
 fbant fupply that the faid Plantations 
 have fince had, hath by fuch vagrant 
 loofe People, as I before-mentioned, 
 picked up, efpeciall/ about the Streets 
 and 
 
and Suburbs of London, and Wcftminftcr, 
 and by Malefafters condemned for 
 Crimes, for which by the Law they de- 
 ferved to dye and fame of thofe People 
 called Quakers, banifhed for Meeting on 
 pretence of Religious Worfnp. 
 
 Now, if from the Premifes, it be 
 duly confidered what kind of Perfons 
 thofe have been, by which our Planta¬ 
 tions have at all times been repleniihed, 
 
 I fuppofe it will appear that fuch they 
 have been, and under fuch Circurn- 
 ftances, that if his Majefiy had had no 
 foreign Plantations, to which they 
 might have reforted, England however 
 muft have loft them. 
 
 To illuftrate the truth whereof a 
 little further, let us confider what Cap¬ 
 tain Graunt the ingenious Author of the 
 Obfermtions upon the Bills of Mortality f . 
 faith, pag.76. and in other places of 
 his Book, concerning the City of Lon¬ 
 don ; and it is not only Laid, but undeni¬ 
 ably proved, vi i.Tbatthe City of London, 
 let the Mortality be what it will , by Plague , 
 or otberwift, repairs its Inhabitants once in, 
 two Years. And pag. 101. again, If 
 there be encouragement for a hundred 
 Ferfons in London (that is, a way hoW 
 
. ( > 74 ) 
 
 a hundred may live better theii in the 
 Country ) the evacuating of a fourth or 
 third part of that number muft fcou 
 be fupplied out of the Country, who 
 in a lhort time remove themfelves from 
 thence hither, fo long until the City fot 
 want of receipt and encouragement, re¬ 
 gurgitates and fends them back, 
 
 1. What he hath proved concerning 
 London , I fay of England in general, and 
 the fame may be faid of any Kingdom 
 or Country in the World. 
 
 Such as our employment is for People , 
 fo many mil our People be y and if we 
 fhould imagin we have in England em¬ 
 ployment but for one hundred People, 
 and we have born and bred amongft us 
 one hundred and fifty People y I fay, 
 the fifty mull away from us, or ftarve, 
 or be hanged to prevent it, whether we 
 had any foreign Plantations or not. 
 
 2. If by reafon of the accommoda¬ 
 tion of living in our foreign Plantations ; 
 we have evacuated more of our People 
 then we fhould have done, if we had no 
 fuch Plantations , I fry, with' the afore- 
 faid Author in the cafe of London y and 
 if that Evacuation be grown to an ex¬ 
 cels (which 1 believe it never did barely 
 
 on 
 
c 17 O 
 
 on the account of the Plantations) that 
 decreafe would procure its own Reme¬ 
 dy j for much want of People would pro¬ 
 cure greater Wages •, and greater Wa¬ 
 ges, it our Laws gave encouragement, 
 would procure us a fupply of People 
 without the charge of breeding them, 
 as the Dutch are, and always have been 
 fupplied in their greareft Extremities. 
 
 Qbjtft. But it may be faid, Is not tire 
 Facility of being tranfpovted into the 
 Plantations, together with the enticing 
 Methods cuftomarily ufed to perfwade 
 People to go thither, and the encou¬ 
 ragement of living there with a People 
 that fpeak our own Language, fhong 
 Motives to draw our People from us j 
 and do they not draw more from us, 
 then otherwife would leave us, to go in¬ 
 to foreign Countries, where they un¬ 
 derhand not the Language 
 lAnfwer; 1 fi, It is not much more 
 difficult to get a paflage to Holland , than 
 it is to our Plantations. 
 
 idly. Many of thofe that go to our 
 Hammons, if they could not go thither, 
 would and muft go into foreign Coun¬ 
 tries, though it were ten times more 
 difficult to get thither then it isor 
 dfe, which is worfe(as hath been faid ) 
 
( 176 ) 
 
 Would adventure to be hanged, to pre¬ 
 vent begging or Itarving, as too many 
 liave done.. 
 
 3. I do acknowledge that the facility 
 of getting, to the PUrna ms, may caufe 
 ibine more to leave, us, than would do 
 if they had none but foreign Countries 
 for refuge: But then if it be confider?d 
 that our Plahmom fpending moffly our 
 Englijh Manufactures, and thofe. of all 
 forts almolb imaginable, . in egregious 
 Quantities,- and employing.near two 
 thirds of all our Englijh Shiping,do therein 
 give rt cenftant Suftenance to it , may bt 
 ttpo hundred thoufand Perfens here at home j 
 
 then .1 mult needs conclude upon the 
 
 whole mattety that we have not the fewer, 
 but the more People W England,. byreafon 
 of our Engldh Plantation in Ameiica. . 
 
 Objett. 2. Butit may be .laid, Is not, 
 this inferring and arguing againlt Sence 
 and Experience? Doth not. all the 
 World fee that the many noble. King/ 
 doms of Spain in Europe , are almoft de¬ 
 populated and. rt mated, by reafon of 
 their Peoples flocking over to the Weft- 
 Indies ? And do not all other Nations di- 
 minilh in people after they become pof- 
 felled of foreign Plantations ? . 
 
( * 77 ) 
 
 Jnf t. Ianfwer, With fubmiflion to 
 better Judgments, that in my opinion,' 
 contending for Uniformity in Religion bath 
 contributed ten limes more to the depopula¬ 
 ting of Spain, then all the American Plan¬ 
 tations : . What was it but that which 
 can fed the expuliion of fo many thou- 
 fmd Moores who had built and inhabi¬ 
 ted molt of the chief Cities and Towns 
 in AndaluAa, Granada , Aragon, and o- 
 other parts ? What was it but that, 
 and the Incjuifition that hath and dor.it 
 daily expel fuch vaft numbers of rich 
 Jews with' their Families and Efraies- 
 into Germany, Italy , Turkey , Holland - a ud 
 England ? What was it but that which 
 caufed thofe vaft and. long Wars be¬ 
 tween that King and the low,Countries v - 
 and the cftiifion of fo much Spanifn Blood 
 and Trcafure, and the final I ds of the. 
 feven Provinces , which, wc. now fee fo 
 prodigious, ridi and.full of People, 
 while Spain is empty and poor, and .Plan-, 
 ders thin and weak, in. continual fear of 
 being made'a prey to their Neighbours. 
 
 2. lanfwcr; We mult warily diffin-. 
 guilh between Country & Country •, for 
 ihou^hPlamations may have drainedS/ww. 
 of People, it does not follow that they. 
 
 M have 
 
( >78 ) , 
 
 have or will drain England or Holland, 
 becaufe where Liberty and Property 
 are not fo well preferved, and where 
 Interelt of Money is permitted to goat 
 j ? per Cent , there can be no confider- 
 able Manufacturing, and no more of 
 Tillage and Grazing, than as we Pro¬ 
 verbially fay, will keep Life and Soul 
 together , and where there is little Ma¬ 
 nufacturing, and as little Husbandry of 
 Lands, the profit of Plantations , viz. 
 the greateft part tbei eof will not re¬ 
 dound to the Mother-Kingdom, but to 
 other Countries wherein, there are 
 more Manufactures and more Producti¬ 
 ons from the Earth j from hence it fol¬ 
 lows, Plantations thus managed prove 
 drains of the People from their Mother- 
 Kingdom \ whereas Plantations belong¬ 
 ing to Mother-Kingdoms or Countries, 
 where Liberty and Property is better 
 preferved, and Inter eft of Money re- 
 fhained to a low rate, the confequence 
 is, that every perfon fent abroad with 
 the Negroes and Utcnlils, he is con- 
 ftrained to employ, or that are em¬ 
 ployed with him , it being cuftomary 
 in moft of our Jfl&nds in America , upon 
 every Plantation, to employ eight or 
 
(* 7 9 ) 
 
 ten Blacks for one White Servant; I 
 fay, in this cafe we may reckon, that 
 for Provifions, Clothes and Houlhold- 
 Goods, Sea-men, and all others em¬ 
 ployed about Materials , for build¬ 
 ing, fitting and victualling of Ships, 
 Every Englilh man in Barbadoes or Ja¬ 
 maica creates employment for four men at 
 home. , 
 
 3 dly, I anfwer, That Holland now 
 fends as many,' and more people yearly- 
 to rclide in their Plantations, FortreJTes 
 arid Ships in the Eafi- Indies (befides 
 many into the Wi-fi-Indies) than Spain, 
 and yet is fo far from declining in the 
 Number of their people at home, that 
 it is evident they do monltruouily en- 
 creafe y and fo 1 hope under, the next 
 Head, to prove that England hath con- 
 ftantly encreafed in People at home, 
 finceour fettlement upon Plantations in. 
 Amenta , although not in fo great a 
 proportion aS the Dtitch. 
 
 V.' I am of Opinion thltt we had immedi¬ 
 ately, before the late Plague , more Peo¬ 
 ple in England, than we had before the 
 inhabiting of. New-England , Virgi¬ 
 nia, Barbadoes, &c ? 
 
 .T* lie' proof of this at belt I know can 
 M' z b i 
 
(iS 6 ) 
 
 hit be conje&ural; but in confirmation 
 of my Opinion, 1 have i think, of my 
 mind the moil induftrious Englifn Cal¬ 
 culator this Age hath produced in pub- 
 lick, viz. Captain Gram in the fore- 
 mentioned Treatife, pag. 83 . bis words 
 are, c Upon the whole matter vae may there - 
 ‘/are conclude , that the people of the whole 
 4 Nation do encrenfc , and confyuently the 
 4 decreafe of Winchefter, LincolnyW o- 
 4 thtrlikc places , muft he attributed to other 
 4 Rcafons then that of refumjhing London 
 4 only. 
 
 2. It is ffianifeft by the afore-faid 
 worthy JuthoSs Calculations, that the 
 Inhabitants of London, and parts ajacent 
 have encreafed to almoft double within 
 this fixty Years, and that City hath u- 
 fually been taken for an Index of the 
 whole. 
 
 I know it will be faid, that although 
 London have fo encreafed, other parts 
 have as much diminifhed, whereof fome 
 are named before ) but if to anfwcr the 
 diminution of Inhabitants in fome par¬ 
 ticular places, it be confidcred how 
 others are encreafed, viz, Tamo nth, 
 Hull, Scarbrough , and other Ports in the 
 North, as alfo Liverpool, Weftchefer 
 and 
 
(iSij 
 
 and Briftol } Tortfmonth, Lime and PH* 
 month•, and withal, if it be confidercd 
 what great Improvements have been 
 made thefe laft Jixty Years upon break¬ 
 ing up and enclofing of Waites, For- 
 relts and Parks, and draining of the 
 Terns, and all thofe places inhabited 
 afld fiirnilhed with Husbandry, &c. then 
 I think it will appear probable that we 
 have in England now, at lead had be¬ 
 fore the late Plague, more People then 
 we had before we firft entred upon fo¬ 
 reign Plantations , notwithstanding like- 
 wife the great Numbers of men which 
 have ifliied from us into Ireland -, which 
 Country, as our Laws now are, I 
 reckon not among the number of Plan¬ 
 tations profitable to Enghnd, nor with¬ 
 in the limits of this difeourfe, although 
 peradventure fomething may be pickt 
 outoftiicfe Papers, which may deferve 
 confideration in relation to that Coun¬ 
 try. 
 
 But it may be Paid, If we have more 
 People now then in former Ages, how 
 came it to paf . tnai in the times of King 
 Henry the fourth and fifth, and c cher 
 times formerly , we could nife Hi 
 great Armies, and employ them in m- 
 
 M 3 
 
,{ I%2 ) 
 
 reign Wars, and yet retain a fufficient 
 number to defend the Kingdom , and 
 cultivate our Lands at home ? '' 
 
 ' I anfwer; firfi , 'The bignefs of Ar¬ 
 mies is not alwayes a certain Indication 
 of the numeroufnefs of a Nation, but 
 fometimes rather of the nature of the 
 Government and Diftrubation of the 
 Lands; as for inftance,' Where the 
 Prince arid Lords are owners of the 
 whole Territory, ; although the People 
 be thin, the Armies upon occafion may 
 be rery great, as in Eaft-India , Turkey , 
 and the Kingdoms of Fejje and Morocco , 
 Where Tdffelet was lately laid to have an 
 Army of one hundred and fifty, or two 
 hundred thoufand men, although every 
 body knows that Country hath as great 
 a fcarcety ‘ of people : as any in the 
 World; But fince Free-holders are fo 
 much encreafid in England, & the lervile 
 Tenures altered,doubtlefs it is more diffi¬ 
 cult, as well as more chargeable to draw 
 great numbers of men into foreign Wars. 
 
 2. Since the fntrodu&ion of the new 
 'Artillery of Powder, Shot and Fire-Arms 
 in the World, all War is become as 
 much rather an expence of Money ais 
 Men, and fuccefs attends thole that caa 
 mo# 
 
<!*?) , 
 
 moft & longefl: fpcnd Money,rat her than' 
 men ; and confequendy Princes Armies 
 in Europe are became more proportionable 
 to their Purfes then to the Numbers of their 
 People. 
 
 VI. That all Colonies and foreign Planta¬ 
 tions do endamage their Mother-King¬ 
 doms, whereof the Trades of fitch Plan¬ 
 tations are not confined to their find Mo¬ 
 ther Kingdoms , by good Laws and fe ver e 
 Execution oftbofe Laws. 
 
 i. The practice of all the Governments of 
 Europe witnefs to the truth of this Pro- 
 pofition. The Danes keep the Trade of 
 Inland to themfclves: The Dutch, 3ur- 
 renham , and all their Settlement', in 
 Eafi-India : T ie Frenco St Cbrijhphers , 
 and their other Plantati ns in tV It W?- 
 Jndies : The Portugecu, K ami ait 
 the Confts thereof: Tdc Sp anurds , aii 
 their vaft Terriorics upon t 'e Main in 
 the Weft Ladies , and many ’(lands there ; 
 and our own Laws Teem to dciign the 
 like, as to all our Plantations in Neva 
 England , Virginia, Barbadoes, &c. al¬ 
 though we have not yet arrived to a 
 compleat and effectual Execution of 
 thofe Laws. 
 
 M. 4 
 
 2 . 
 
(184'; 
 
 2 . Plantations being at firft furnilhed, 
 and afterwards ' fucceffively fupplied 
 with People from their Mother King- 
 doms, and people being Riches, that 
 lofs of people to the Mother Kingdoms 
 be it more or Jefs, is certainly a da¬ 
 mage, except the employment of thofc 
 People abroad, do canfe the employ¬ 
 ment of fo many more at home in their 
 Mother Kingdoms,and that can never be, 
 except the Trade be reft rained to their 
 Mother Kingdom , which will not be 
 doubted by any that underftands the 
 next Propofttion, vk. 
 
 VII. That the Dutch will reap the greateft 
 '■ advantage by all Colonies , iftting from 
 any Kingdom in Europe, whereof the 
 Trades are not fofiritily confined to their 
 proper Mother Kingdoms. 
 
 This Proportion will readily be a 11 cm 
 ted unto by any that underftand the 
 nature of low Inter eft and low Cttftoms , 
 where the Market is free, they fhall he 
 Pure to have the Trade that can fell the 
 belt penny-worths, that buy deareft 
 and fell cheapeft, (which Nationally 
 fpeaking ) none can do but thofe that 
 Money at the loweft rate of Inter eft, 
 
(r^i 
 
 and pay the leaft Cufloms , which are the 
 'Dutch ; and this is the true caufe why, 
 before the Aft of Navigation ,. there 
 went ten Dutch Ships to Barbados for 
 one Englijh. 
 
 VIII. That the Dutch (though they thrive 
 fo exceedingly in Trade) will inf rot 
 ^ability nwer endamage this Kingdom by 
 the growth of their Plantations. 
 i. In faft the Dutch never did much 
 thrive in planting, for I do remember 
 they had .about twenty Years paft, Ta-. 
 kigo, a moil fruitful I fund in the Wefh 
 Indies , apt for the production of Sugars . 
 and all other Commodities that are pro; 
 pagated in Barbadoes , and as I have 
 heard Planters affirm, better accomo= 
 dated with Rivers for Water-Mills, 
 Which are of great ufe for grinding of 
 the Canes; this If and is ftill in their pof- 
 feflion, and Corafoa , and fome others, 
 and about fixteen or feventeen Yearspaft 
 they were fo eager upon the Improvement 
 of it,that befides what they did in Holland 
 they fet up Bills upon the Exchange in 
 London , proffering great Priveledges to 
 any that would Tranfport themfelves 
 thither. Notwithftanding all which to 
 
(i8«J 
 
 this day, that Ifland is - not the tenth 
 part fo well improved as Jamaica hath 
 been by the EngliJh within thefe five 
 Years ^ neither have the Dutch at any 
 other time, or in any other parts of the 
 World, made any emprovement by 
 Planting$ what they do in the Eafi-In- 
 dks being only by War, Trade and 
 Building of Fortified Towns and Cattles 
 upon the Sea-Coaits, to fecure the foie 
 Commerce of the i lac es, and with the 
 people, lyhich they Conquer not, by 
 clearing, breaking up of the t Ground, 
 and Planting as the English have done. 
 
 This 1 take to be a ftrong Argument 
 pf Fad to my prefent purpofe. 
 
 2. The fecond Argument to prove 
 this Propofition is from Reafon: I have 
 before-mentioned the feveral Accidents 
 and Methods b? which our Foreign Plan¬ 
 tations have from time to time come to. 
 be peopled and era proved. 
 
 Now the Dutch being void of thole 
 Accidents, are deftitute of theoccafions 
 to emprove Foreign Plantations by dig- 
 ing and delving as the EngUJh have 
 done. 
 
 For jfi.lnUollattd their Imerttt and Cuf. 
 tom feeing low,together with their other 
 Encourage- 
 
Encouragements to Trade,mentioned in 
 the former part of this Treatife, giyes 
 Employment to all their people born and 
 bred araongft .them, and alfo to multi¬ 
 tudes of Foreigners. 
 
 ‘ ' 2. Their giving Liberty , or at leaft Com 
 vivrnce to nil Religions, ns well Jews and 
 ftoman'-Catholicks, or Sectaries, gives 
 fecurity to all their Inhabitants at home, 
 and expels none, nor puts a necefiity 
 upon' 'any to Banilh therafelves upon 
 that account. 
 
 3. Their careful and wonderful pro¬ 
 viding for and employing their Poor at 
 home, puts all their People utterly out 
 of danger of Starving, or necefiity of 
 Stealing, and confequently out of fear 
 of Hanging; I might add to this, that 
 they'have not for along time had any 
 Civil War among them, and from the 
 whole 'conclude, that the Dutch as they 
 <lid never, fo they never can or will 
 thrive by planting; and that our Eng- 
 UJh Plantations abroad are a good ef- 
 feft, proceeding from many ivil 
 caufes. ■ 
 
IX. That wither the French, Spaniards 
 or Portngeeze are much to he feared on 
 the account of Planting, not' for the 
 fame, hut for other Rcafens. 
 
 That the French have had footing in 
 the Wcfi-Indies almoft as long as the Eng ,. 
 lifh is certain, and that they have made 
 no confiderable Prop refs in Planting is 
 ascertain; and finding itfo in fad, I 
 have been often exercifing my thoughts 
 about enquiry into the reafon thereof, 
 which 1 attribute cfpecially to two. 
 
 Firfi, becaufe France being an abfo- 
 lute Government, hath not until' very 
 lately, given any countenance or encou¬ 
 ragement to Navigation and Trade. 
 
 Secondly and principally, becaufe the 
 French Settlements in the Wefi-Indies 
 have not been upon Free-Holders as the 
 Englijh are, but in fubje&ion to the 
 French Wef-India Company, which Com¬ 
 pany being under the French King, as 
 Lord Proprietor of the places they fettl^ 
 upon, and taxing the Inhabitants at plea- 
 fure as the King doth them, it is not 
 probable they fliould make that fuccef- 
 ful Progrefs in Planting; Propriety, Free - 
 
.. . Uh) 
 
 km and Inheritance being the moft effectual 
 Spin to Indaflry. 
 
 2. Though Tome (who have riot 
 looked far into this matter; may think 
 the Spaniards have made great Progrefs 
 in Planting, I a:n of opinion, that the 
 Englijh fmcc the time they fet upon this 
 Work, have cleared and emproved 
 fifty Plantations for one,,and Built 
 as many Houfes for one the Spaniards 
 have Built j this will not be very 
 difficult to imagine, if it be conli- 
 dered. 
 
 Firft, that it is not above fifty or 
 fixty Years fince the Englijh intended 
 the Propagating Foreign Plantati¬ 
 ons. 
 
 Secondly, that the Spaniards were' 
 Pofielled of the Weft-Indies about our 
 King Henry the qt'Ks time, which is near 
 two Hundred Years pall:. 
 
 Thirdly, that what the Spaniard h^tK 
 done in the Weft-Indies , hath been ten 
 times more by Conquelt then by Plant- 
 ing. . 
 
 Fourtly, That the Spaniards found in 
 the Weft-Indies molt of the Cities and 
 ^Towns ready Built and Inhabited, and 
 much 
 
much of the Ground emproved and cui< 
 tivated before their coming thither. . 
 
 Fifthly,', That the Inhabitants which 
 they found there, and fubdtied, were 
 fuch a People with whom' fome of the 
 Spaniards could and hare mixed,- from 
 whence hath proceeded a Generation 
 of People which, they zd\X Mtjhfcs: 
 whereas the EngliJTp where they have 
 fet down' and Planted,- either found 
 none, or fuch as were naeer wild Hea¬ 
 then, with whom' they could not,' nor 
 ever have been known to mix. . 
 
 Sixthly,’ That now after fuch along 1 
 feries of time, the Spaniards are fcarce 
 fo Populous in any Part of the Wejl- 
 jndies , as to be able to bring an 7 Army 
 of Ten Thoujand Men together in’ a 
 Months time. 
 
 From all which I conjecture; 
 
 • ill. That his Majefty hath now more 
 fnglilh SubjeCh in ail ins Foreign Plants, 
 Hons , in fix'ty Tears , tom the King of 
 Spain hath Spaniards w all his , in two 
 Hundred Tears. 
 
 2 d- That the Spaniards Progrefs in 
 Planting hears r,o Proportion to the emreafe 
 ofthe Englilh Plantations. 
 
 $d. That feeing the Spaniard /, id 
 the : 
 
C I9 1 ) 
 
 the time of their greateft Prolperity,' 
 and under fo many Advantages, have 
 been fuch indifferent Planters, and 
 have made fuch flow progrefs in Peo- 
 pleing thofe parts of the Weft-Indies 
 which they poflefs, It is not much to be 
 feared that ever the Englifh mil be mated 
 by the Spaniards in their Foreign Plantati¬ 
 onsjr Production of the Native Commodities 
 ef thofe Parts. 
 
 Now the reafons why the Spaniards 
 are fo thin of people in the Weft-Indies i 
 1 take to be fuch as thefe following, 
 viz.. 
 
 Fir ft and principally, becaufe they ex- 
 ercife the fame Policy and Governments , 
 Civil and Ecclefiafiical in their Plantations , 
 as they do in their Mother-Kingdom ; from 
 whence it follows that their People are 
 few and thin abroad, from the fame 
 caufesas they are empty and void of 
 people at home; whereas although tot 
 in England vdnely endeavour to arrive at 
 aVniformity of Rtligim at home , yet we al* 
 low an A miter dam Liberty in our PLn* 
 tations. 
 
 It is true, Ntto-LngUnd being a more 
 independant Government from this 
 Kingdom then any other of our Planta¬ 
 tion^ 
 
( i9 2 ) 
 
 tions, and the People that went thither 
 more one peculiar Sort or Sed, then 
 thofe that went to the reft of our Plan¬ 
 tations, they did for forae Years paft, 
 exercife feme Severities againft the 
 Quaker^ but of late they have under- 
 ftoed their true Intereft better, info- 
 much as 1 have not heard of any Ad of 
 that kind for thefe five or iix Years laft, 
 notwithftaiiding . am well informed,that 
 there are now amongft them many more 
 Ojjkrs and other D'lftev.tm from their 
 Forms of Religions Worfhip, then 
 were at the. time of their greateft Se« 
 verity, which Severity had no other ef- 
 fed but to encreafe the New-Englt^ 
 Non-conformifis. . 
 
 id. A fecond’ reafon why the Pro- 
 dudions of the Spa-nip Wefi-Jndia Com¬ 
 modities are fo inconfiderable in re- 
 fped to the Englp , and confenuently 
 why their Progrefs in Planting, hath 
 been, and is like to be much Ids then 
 the Englp, as alfo the encrcafc of their 
 People , f take to be the dearnefs of 
 the Freight of their Ships, which is 
 four times more then our Englp Freight, 
 and if yon would know hotv that comes 
 to be fo, twelve per cent liftercft will go' 
 a 
 
f >9? ) 
 
 great way towards the fatisfymg you,’ 
 although there are other concomitant 
 lelfer caufes, which whofoever under- 
 ftands Spam, or fliall carefully read 
 this Treatife, may find out thern- 
 felves. 
 
 3 d f A third, reafon I take to be the* 
 greatnefs of the Cuftoms in Old-Spnw , 
 for undoubtedly high Cuftoms do as well 
 dwarf Plantations as Trade. . - . 
 
 , 4 th. The Spaniards Intenfe and fingu=, 
 larlnduftry in their Mines for Gold 
 and Silver, the working wherein de- 
 ftroys abundance of their people, at 
 leaft of their Slaves, doth caufe them' 
 to negleft in' .great mcafure Cultivating 
 of the . Earth, and producing Commo¬ 
 dities from the growth thereof, which 
 might give employment to a greater 
 Navy, as. well.as.iiiilenance to a far 
 greater number of people by Sea and 
 Land. . ■ , 
 
 5 th'. Their multitude of Fryers, Nuns 
 and ether recluft and Ecclefapical Per - 
 fans which are prohibited from Man 
 
 #*&*• ■ ' ... 
 
 , 3, The third fort of People l am to, 
 Diicourfe of, are the Portugecze, and 
 arid tfieja I nsult acknowledge to have 
 N been 
 
( m ) 
 
 been great Planters in the Brawls and 
 other Places *, but yet if we preferve 
 our People and Plantations by good 
 Laws, I "have reafon to believe, that 
 the Fortugeeae (except they alter their 
 Politick?, which is almoft impoffible 
 for them to do) can never bear up 
 with us, muchlefs prejudice our Plan¬ 
 tations. 
 
 That hitherto they have not hurt us, 
 but we them, is moil apparent, for in 
 my time we have beat their Mufcovado 
 and Paneal Sugars quite out of ufe in Eng- 
 land, and their Whites we have brought 
 cdown in all thefe Parts of Europe in 
 price, from feven and eight pounds 
 perl, to fifty Shillings and three Pounds 
 per. l. and in quantity; whereas formerly 
 their Brauil-Flects confifted of One hun¬ 
 dred, to One hundred and twenty thou- 
 fand Chefs of Sugar , they are now re¬ 
 duced to about Thirty thoufand Chefts, 
 
 lince tke great encreafe of Barba- 
 does. 
 
 The reafon of this decay of tke Portu- 
 geeze Productions in Brazils , is certainly 
 the better Policy that our Englifh Plantati- 
 tions are founded upon. 
 
 That which principally dwarfs the 
 Per- 
 
C T95 ) 
 
 Portugetu Plantations is the fame before- 
 mentioned, which hinders the Spaniards , 
 viz • extraordinary high Citfioms , at home, 
 high Freights , high lnterefi of Money , 
 Tcchfajlical perfons , &C. 
 
 From all that hath been faid concern¬ 
 ing Plantations in general, 1 draw thefe 
 two principal Conclufions. 
 
 , ifi.Tkat onrZngYibh Plantations may 
 thrive beyond any other Plantations in the 
 World , though the Trades of all of them 
 were more fever ely limit ted by Laws and good 
 Execution of thofe Laws to their Mother- 
 Kingdom of England, exclufive to Ireland 
 and New-England. 
 
 2 dly. That it is in his Majefties power , 
 and the Parliaments, if theypleafe , by 
 taking of all Charges from Sugar , to make 
 it more intirclyan Englilh Commodity, 
 then white-Herrings are a Dutch Commo¬ 
 dity, and to draw more profit to this King¬ 
 dom thereby , then the Dutch do by that : 
 And that in confcqiience thereof all Planta¬ 
 tions of other Nations muf in a few Tears 
 fink to Hi tie or nothing.' 
 
 y. That it is more for the Advantage of 
 England that New found Lands Jhonld 
 remain implanted , then that Colonies 
 M 2 Jhoitld 
 
(196 ) 
 
 paid k ftnt or p emitted to go thither to 
 
 Inhabit under a Governor, Laws, &C. 
 
 I have before difcourled of Plantations 
 in general, molt of the Englijh being in 
 their nature much a like, except this of 
 New-found-Land , and that of New-Eng. 
 land, which 1 intend next to fpeak of. 
 
 The advantage New-found-Land hath 
 brought to this Kingdom, is only by 
 the Fiinery there, and of what vaft con- 
 ce-nment that is, is well known to moft 
 Gentlemen and Merchants , efpecially thofe 
 of the G'efi parts of England, from 
 whence-efpecially this Trade is driven. 
 
 It is well known, upon undeniable 
 poof, tbat in the Year, 1605. the Eng ■ 
 lijk employed 250. Sail of Ships fmall 
 and great, in Fiihin upon that Coaft; 
 and it is now too appaicnt, that we do 
 not fo employ fum all Parts, above 
 Eighty Sail of Ships. 
 
 It is like wife generally known and 
 confefled, that wh m we employed fo 
 many Ship s in that T’-ade, the current 
 price of our Fifh in r ; at Ccmury, was 
 (CommunifsHs e.r.nis) f .'cnte-ii Rials, 
 which is eight Shillings ux Pence 
 far Qunital, and that fince, as 
 we have lellened in that Trade, the 
 French 
 
( 197 J 
 
 Preach have encreafed in it, and that we 
 have annually proceeded to raife our 
 Fifh from feventeen Rials to twenty 
 four Rials, or twelve Shillings, (Com- 
 mmbus trims ) as it now fells in the 
 Country: 
 
 This being the Cafe of Eng 1 and in re¬ 
 lation to this Trade, it is certainly 
 worth the enquiery. 
 
 i ft. How we came to decay in that ' r rode* 
 
 2dly, What mean* may he fid to reco¬ 
 ver our antient GreatntJ's u that Trade,or at 
 lea ft to prevent our further diminution there¬ 
 in ? 
 
 The decay of that Trade ■ a’tribute. 
 
 Fit it and principally, to the growing 
 Liberty which is every Year more and 
 more ufed in Romijh Countries , as well 
 
 as others, of eating Flelh in Lent and 
 on Filh-days. 
 
 %. To a late abufe crept into that 
 Trade, (which hath much abated the 
 expence within thefe twenty Years of 
 that Commodity ) of fending over pri¬ 
 vate Boat-heptrs , which hath much di- 
 minilhed the number of the Fijhing-Ships. 
 
 3. To the great encreafe of the French 
 Fijhery of Placentia and other Ports on 
 tile back-fide of Fkve-found-Land. 
 
 N 3 4* 
 
4 - To the feveral Wars we have had 
 at Sea within thcfe twenty Years, which 
 have much empoveriihed the Merchants 
 of our Weft era Parts, and reduced them 
 to carry on a great part of that Trade 
 at Bottumry , viz.. Money taken upon Ad¬ 
 venture of the Ship at twenty per cent 
 per Annum. ■ 
 
 2. What means may be ufed to recover our 
 dntient greatnefs in that Trade , or at leajl to 
 prevent our farther diminution therein. 
 
 For this, two contrary ways have 
 been propounded, 
 
 1. To lend a Governour to refide there, 
 and to encourage people to Inhabit 
 there,as well for Defence of the Country 
 again# Invafion, as to manage the 
 
 O'there by Inhabitants upon the Pkce, 
 this hath often been propounded by the 
 Hunters and fome Merchants of London. 
 
 2. The fecond way propounded, and 
 which is directly contrary to the for¬ 
 mer is, by the Weft -Country Merchants 
 and'Owners .of the Fiflring-Ships, and 
 "that is to have.lip Governour nor Inhabi¬ 
 tants permitted to refide at New-found- 
 Land, nor' any Paffengers , ©f private 
 -Boat.keepers fuffered to Filh at New¬ 
 found-Land.' 
 
 ■ This 
 
( >99 ) 
 
 This latter way propounded is molt 
 agreeable to my Proportion, and if it 
 could be effected, I am perfwaded would 
 revive the dcakdEnglijh-Fiping-Trade at . 
 New-found-Landed be otherwise great¬ 
 ly for the advantage of this Kingdom, 
 and that for thefe following reafons, 
 
 1. Becaufe mff of the Provifon the 
 Planters which are fettled at New-found- 
 Land, do mike nfe of vk, Bread, Beef, 
 Pork, Butter, Cheefe, Clothes, and 
 Irifk- Bengal Cloth, Linnen and Wool¬ 
 len } /m/b-Stockings,« alfo Nets, Hooks 
 and Lines, 'f’c. 'hey are fupplied with from 
 New-England and Ireland j and with 
 Wine, Oyl and Linnen by the S-lt Ships 
 from France and Spain, in confeqmmc 
 whereof the Labour, as well as the Feeding 
 and Clothing offo many Men is loft to Eng¬ 
 land. 
 
 2. The Tlanters fettled there, be¬ 
 ing moftly loofe vagrant People, and 
 without Order and Government, do 
 keep diflblute Houfes, which have De- 
 baucht Sea-Men,and diverted them from 
 their laborious and induftrious Calling} 
 whereas before there were fettle meats 
 there, the Sea-Men had no other refort 
 during the Filhing Seafon (being i!e 
 
 N 4 time 
 
C 200 ) 
 
 .time of their abod; in that CountryJbnt 
 to their Ships, which afforded them con¬ 
 venient Food and Repofe, without the 
 fnconvenie'ncies of Excefs. 
 
 3 If if'be thelntereff of all Tiading 
 Nations principally to encourage Navi¬ 
 gation, and to promote efpecially thofe 
 Trades which employ molt Shiping: 
 then which nothing is more true, nor 
 more regarded by the wife Dutch, then 
 certainly it is the Intereft of England to 
 difcountenance and abate the number of 
 Planters at New-found-Land, for if they 
 fhould encreafe, it would in a few Years 
 . happen to us, in relation to that Coun¬ 
 try, as it hath to the Fijhery at New-Eng- 
 land, which many Years fince was man¬ 
 aged by Englijh Ships from the Weftern 
 Ports-, but as Plantations there cncrea- 
 fed, fell to [be the foie Employment 
 of feople fettled there, and nothing of 
 that Trade left the poor old Englijh - 
 'Men, but the liberty of carrying now 
 and then by courtefie or purchafe, a 
 Ship loading of Fifh to Mm, when 
 their own A w-EngliJh Shiping are bet¬ 
 ter Employed, or not at leifure to do 
 it. 
 
 4 . It is numfejl that btfore ther mt 
 
 '• Eo at* 
 
(201 j 
 
 Qottbhepers orFlanters at Ncwsftmddand 
 ftp if ^ fold cheaper than now it ispy about 
 40 per .Ce^, and confequcntly more rent¬ 
 ed, the reafon whereof 1 take to be this j 
 The Boat-keepers and Planters, being ge¬ 
 nerally at firit able Piper-men , and being 
 upon the place, caa doubtlefs afford 
 their Filh cheaper then th,eFiIhing Ships 
 from Old England, fo doubtlefs they did 
 .at firft as well at New-England asatiVetp- 
 feund-landj until they had beat the Eng- 
 lip | Ships out of the Trade \ after which 
 being freed from that competition, they 
 became Lazy as to that laborious em¬ 
 ployment, having means otherwife to 
 live and employ themfclves, and there¬ 
 upon enhaunced the price of their Fifh 
 to fuch an excefs, as in effeft proves 
 the giving away of that Trade to the 
 French , who by our aforefaid impolitick 
 management of that Trade, have of late 
 Years been able to under-fell us at all 
 Markets abroad; and moft certain it is, 
 that thofe that can fell cheapeft wiil 
 have the Trade. 
 
 5 . This Kingdom being an Ifland , it is 
 our Interefi , as well for our prefervation as 
 our profit , not only to have many Seamen, 
 but to have them as much as maybe within 
 tall in a time of danger. Now the Fife 
 ing 
 
( 202 ) 
 
 sng Ships going out in March, and r& 
 turning home for England in the Month 
 of September yearly, and there being em-. 
 ployed in that Trade two hundred and 
 "fifty Ships, which might carry about 
 ten thoufand Sea-men, Filhcrunen and 
 Shore men, as they ufually call the youm 
 ger Perfons, which were never before 
 at Sea : I appeal to the Reader, whether 
 finch a yearly return of Stamen, abiding 
 at home with us all the Winter, and 
 fpending their Money here which they 
 got in their Summer-Fifhery, were not 
 a great accefs of Wealth and Power to 
 this Kingdom, and a ready fupply for 
 fiis Majefly's Navy upon all Emergencies. 
 
 6 . The Fif sing Ships yet are, and always 
 have been the breeders of Sea-men } the 
 Planters and Boat=keepers are generally 
 fiich as were bred, and became expert 
 at the coll of the Owners of Fifliing 
 Ships, which Planters and Boatdteepers 
 renter very few new or green men. 
 
 7. By the building, fitting,victualling 
 
 .and repairing of Filhing-Ships, multi¬ 
 tudes of Englijh Trades-men and Arti¬ 
 ficers (befides the Owners and Sea-men) 
 gain their fubfiftance; whereas by the 
 Boats, which the Planters and Boat- 
 keepers build or ufe.at Ncw-fomd-Land, 
 England gets nothing. Qbj. 
 
< 20? i 
 
 Ob jiff. But againftall that I have fa id, 
 tliofe, that contend for a Gmnw'r at 
 Newfound-Land, object j 
 
 1. That without a Covernear and Go¬ 
 vernment there, that Country will be 
 alwayes expofed to the furprival of the 
 French, or any Foreigners that fhallpleafe 
 tQ attacqne it. 
 
 2. Thatthedifprdersoftlie Flamers, 
 which I. complain of (and fome others, 
 which fpr brevities fake, I have not 
 mentioned ) cannot be remedied with¬ 
 out a Qovernour. 
 
 To which I anfwer,. firfi. That when 
 we cannot preferve our Colonies by our 
 Shiping, or fo awe our Neighbours by 
 our Fleets and Ships of War, that they 
 dare not attempt them, our cafe will 
 be fed, and our Propriety will be loft, 
 or in eminent danger, not only abroad, 
 but athomelikewife. 
 
 ■ 2 dly. All the Fijh that is killed at 
 New-found-Land in a Summer, is not 
 fufficient to maintain ftrength enough 
 onshore to defend two Filhing Harbours 
 againft ten men of War, whereas that 
 Country hath more Harbours to defend, 
 than are to be found in Old England. 
 
 %dly, If a Goverman be eftabli/hed, 
 the next conference will be a Tax upon 
 the 
 
{ 264 J 
 
 the Fifhiflgi and the leaf!: Tax will en« 
 creale the price of Fife, and that una¬ 
 voidably will give the Trade away 
 wholly into the French Hands. 
 
 apthly, A Government there is already 
 of aiitfent Ciiltom among the Afafte-.s 
 of the Fiih:ng-Sh;ps,to which the Fifher- 
 men are inured, find thac free from 
 Oppreffion, and adapted to theTiade, 
 infomuch that although a better might 
 be wiftied, I never hope to fee it. 
 
 XI That New-England it the mofi pre* 
 judical Plantation to this Kingdom. 
 
 / am now to write of a , cople, vokofe Fru¬ 
 gality, Jhdufiry and Temperance, and the 
 happinefs of whofe Laws and InJHtutm , do 
 promife to themfelves long Life, with a won¬ 
 derful encreafe of People, Riches and Power: 
 And although no men ought to envy 
 that Vertue andWifdom in others,which 
 themfelves either can or will not pra¬ 
 ctice, but rather to commend and ad¬ 
 mire it; yet I think it is the duty of eve¬ 
 ry good man primarily to refped the 
 well-fare of his Native Country; and 
 therefore though I may offend feme, 
 whom I would not willingly difpleafe, 
 I cannot omit in the progrefs of this 
 difeourfe, to take notice of feme par¬ 
 ticulars, wherein Old England fuffers di- 
 mu,Mm 
 
(2ri$) 
 
 rnmt'm by thtgrmh oftbofeColonies fettled 
 in New-England, and how that Plantation 
 differs from thofe more Southerly, with 
 refpcd to the gain or lofs of this King¬ 
 dom,^. 
 
 1. All our American Plantations ,except 
 thafof New- England, produce Commo-. 
 dities of different Natures from thofe of 
 this Kingdom, as Sugar, Tobacco, Cocoa * 
 Wool, Ginger , fundry forts of dying Woods, 
 &c. Whereas New-England produces 
 generally the fame we have here, vk. 
 Corn and Cattle ; fome quantity of Fifh 
 they do likewife kill, but that is taken 
 & laved altogether by their own Inhabi¬ 
 tants, which prejudiced our Nt:v found- 
 land Trade,where,as hath been faid,very 
 few are,or ought according to Prudence, 
 to be employed in thofe Filheries, but 
 the Inhabitants of Old England. 
 
 The otherCommodities we have from 
 them, are fome few great Mafis, Furs , 
 andTrain-Oyl, whereof the Yearly value 
 amounts to very tittle, the much grea¬ 
 ter value of returns from thence, be¬ 
 ing made in Sugar, CottenfVool, Tobacco ,, 
 and fuch like Commodities , which they 
 firft receive from fome other of his Ma- 
 jeftfs Plantations, in Barter for dry Cod- 
 Tiffs, fait Mackerel, Beef, Pork, Brcad r 
 Beer,, 
 
( 2 q6) 
 
 Acer, Flower,? cafe, See. which- they ftipf 
 ply Farbadocs , Jamaica, &c. witfc, to 
 the diminution of the vent of thofe Coni- 
 modifies from this Kingdom ) the great 
 
 Experience whereof in our own W(f 
 
 India Plantations, would foon ‘be found 
 in the advantage of .the value of our 
 Lands in England, were it not for the 
 vaH and aim oftincredible fupplics thofe. 
 Colonies have from Nsw-England. i 
 a. The People of New-England, by 
 vertue of their Primitive Charters being 
 hot (b ftriftly tied to the observation of 
 the Laws of this Kingdom, do fome; 
 times affhme a liberty of Trading, con-- 
 fraryto the Act of Navigation, byreafon 
 whereof many of our American Com¬ 
 modities, cfpccially Tobacco aud Sugar, 
 are tranfported in New-Englijh Shiping, 
 d'ireftly into Spain, and other foreign 
 Countries, without being Landed in 
 England, or paying any Duty to his 
 Majefiy , which is not only lofs to the 
 King, and a prejudice to the Navigation 
 of Old England •, but alfo a total exclu¬ 
 sion of the old Englif)' Merchant from 
 the vent of thofe Commodities in thofe 
 Ports, where the' New-Englijh Veflels 
 trade.) ben life, there being no Cuftom 
 paid on thofe Commodities in New-Eng- 
 ■ hud, 
 
C 3°7 )., 
 
 laid, and a great Cafiom paid upon tnem 
 j a Old England, it muff neceffarily fol¬ 
 low that the New-.EngliJh Merchant will 
 be able to afford his Commodity much 
 cheaper at the Market, than the Old 
 Englifb Merchant : And thofe that can 
 fell cheapelt, will infallibly engrofs the 
 whole Trade fooner or later. 
 
 3. Of all the American lint aims, his 
 Majefiy hath none fo apt for the build, 
 ing of Shiping as Netc-.EngUnd, nor 
 none comparably fo qualified for the 
 breeding of Sea-men, not only by rea- 
 fon of the natural induftry of that people 
 but principally by reafon of their Cod 
 and Mackerel Fijheries : And in my poor 
 opinion, there is nothing more preju¬ 
 dicial, andin profpe&more dangerous 
 to any Mother Kingdom, then the cn- 
 creafe of Shiping in their Colonies , Plan¬ 
 tations or Provinces. 
 
 4. The People that evacuate from us 
 to Barbadoes, and the Other Weft. India 
 Plantations , as was before hinted, do 
 commonly work one Englijb man to ten 
 or eight Blacks -and if we kept the trade 
 of our faid Plantations intircly to Eng¬ 
 land, England would have no lets Inha¬ 
 bitants, but rather an cncreafc of people 
 by fuch evacuation, bccaufc that one 
 
 Englijh 
 
( 20 8 ; 
 
 Engllfi man, with the ten BUth that wort 
 with him,accounting what they eat, ufe 
 and wear, would make employment for 
 four men in England^ was laid before y 
 whereas, peradventure of feri men that 
 i'lTue from us to EJew-EngUnd & Ireland ., 
 what we fend to, or receive from them, 
 doth not employ one man in England. . 
 
 To conclude this Chapter, and to do' 
 right to that molt fnduftirous Engltjl) 
 Colony ;, I mult confefs that though we 
 Ipofe by their tinlimitted' Trade with our 
 Foreign - Plantations, yef wc’ are very 
 great Gainers, by their dited Trade t6 
 and from Old-England'. Our Yearly Ex¬ 
 portations of Engtijh Manufactures, 
 Maiilt and other Gobds from' hence 
 thither," amounting in my opinion to 
 ten times the value of what is Impor¬ 
 ted from- thence,- which Calculation I do 
 not make at randum, but upon mature 
 Confederation, and peradventure upon 
 as much Experience in this very Trade’, 
 as any other perfoii Will’ pretend' to \ 
 and therefore, when ever a Reformation 
 Of our Correspondency in Trade with 
 that people lhall be thought oil,it will in 
 my poor Judgment require great Ten- 
 dernefs 5 c very ferious CirCumfpeCtion. 
 
 F I N I S.' 
 
A Small 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 Againft 
 
 USURY- 
 
 T O leave the proofs of the unkw- 
 . fulnefs of Ufury to Divines, 
 wherein a number, as well Pro - 
 tefiams as Papifts, have learnedly Writ¬ 
 ten} here is only fetdown fome Argu¬ 
 ments to Ihew how great the hurt is it 
 doth to this Kingdom, which hath no 
 Gold nor Silver Mines, but plenty of 
 Commodities, and many and great Ad¬ 
 vantages of Trade > to which the high 
 rate of Ufury is a great prejudice and 
 decay. 
 
 For proof how much the high rate of 
 Ufury decays Trade \ we fee that gene¬ 
 rally all Merchants when they have got¬ 
 ten any great Wealth, leave Trading, 
 and fall to Ufury, the gain thereof be- 
 O ing 
 
ing fo eafie, certain, and great} where¬ 
 as mother Countries, where Ufury is 
 at a lower rate, and thereby Lands dear¬ 
 er to purchafe, they continue Merchants 
 from Generation to Generation, to in- 
 rieh themfelves and the State. 
 
 Neither are they rich Trades-Men 
 only, that give over Trading, but a 
 number of Beginners are undone or dis¬ 
 couraged by the high rate of Ufury, 
 their Induftry ferving but to EnLch o- 
 thers, and Begger themfelves; - 
 
 .. We alfo fee many Trades themfelves 
 inuch decayed, bccaufe they will not af¬ 
 ford fo great a gain as Ten in the Hun¬ 
 dred } whereas, if the rate, of Ufury 
 were not higher here their in other Coun¬ 
 tries, they had^ftjll, fulfilled and flou¬ 
 rished, and perhaps 'with as much Ad¬ 
 vantage to the Publick, as thofe that do 
 bring more to the private Adven¬ 
 turers. 
 
 Yet are not thofe the greatbft hinde- 
 rances the high rate of Money brings to 
 Trade \ our great"it diladvantage is, 
 that other Nations, efpecially our In- 
 duftrious Neighbours the butch , are 
 therein Wifer then we .• For with them, 
 and fo in molt Countries. with whom 
 
( 207 ) 
 
 vtc hold Commerce, there is not any 
 life for Money tollerated, above the 
 rate of Six in the Hundred: Whereby 
 itmuft of neoeflity come to pafs, though 
 they have ho other Advantages of In- 
 duftry and Frugality, that they mull; 
 ont-Trad'e us; for if they make return 
 of ten per Cent , they almofl: double the 
 life allowed, and fo make a very gain- 
 ful Trade. But with us, where ten in 
 the Hundred is fo currant, it is other- 
 wife*, for if we make not above ten, 
 we are loofers, and confequently the 
 fame 'Trade being with them and us 
 equally good for the Publick, is to'the 
 private Adventurers lofsful with us, 
 with them very gainful. ' .And; where 
 the-good of Publick and ,private ; Mens 
 go hot together, the Publick is feldom 
 greatly advanced. 
 
 And as they, out-Trade, fo they mav, 
 afford'to-under-fell us'- in the Fruits cf 
 the Earth,- wbichare equally natural to 
 our and their llanos,'as to our great 
 lhairie we fee ohr-Neighbours the Dutch 
 do,' even in Our own Country; For in 
 moft Commodities the Earth brings 
 forth, the Stock imployed in Planting 
 and managing of them, makes a great 
 
( 20 * ) 
 
 (in many the greateft ) part of their 
 Price j and confequently, their Stock 
 with them, being rated at fix in the 
 Hundred, they may with great Gain 
 under-fell us, our Stock with us being 
 raced at ten. 
 
 And as they may out-Trade us and 
 under-fell us, fo are all Contributions 
 to the War, works of Piety and Glory 
 of the State, cheaper to them then to 
 us. For the Ufe for Money going 
 with us near double the rate it doth in 
 other Countries, the giving the fame 
 Sum mull needs be double the charge to 
 us it is to them. 
 
 Amongll other things which the 
 King,with fomuch Wifdom, delivered 
 to the Houfe of Parliament, he com¬ 
 mitted to their Confideration the Bal- 
 lancing of Trade and Commerce, where¬ 
 in there is nothing of greater conl'e- 
 quence, then the ratc of Ufury, which 
 holds no Proportion with us and other 
 Nations, to our difadvantage, as by Ex- 
 perieme we fee and feel. 
 
 . Neither is the high rate of Ufury lefs 
 hurtful to Commerce within the Land, 
 the Gain by Ufury being foeafic, cer-, 
 tain, and extream great, as they arc 
 not 
 
( 209 ) 
 
 hot only ^Merchants and Trades-men, 
 but Landed-men, Farmers, and men of 
 Profeflion that grow l .azv in their Pro- 
 fcilions, and become Ufurers •, for the 
 rate of Ufury is the meafure by which 
 all men Trade, Purchafe, Build, Plant, 
 or any other ways bargain. 
 
 It hath been the Wifdom and Care of 
 former Farlkmtnts to provide for the 
 prefervation of Wood and Timber j 
 for which there is nothing more avail* 
 able then the calling down of the high 
 rate of Ufury , for as the rate of Mo¬ 
 ney now goeth, no man can let his Tim¬ 
 ber Hand, nor his Wood grow to Inch 
 years growth as is belt for the Common* 
 Wealth, but it will be very lofsfull to 
 him ; The dock of the Woods after 
 they are worth forty or fifty Shillings 
 the Acre, growing fader at ten in the 
 Hundred, then the Woods themfelves 
 do. 
 
 And for Shipping, which is the 
 ftrcn^th and fafcty of this Land; I 
 have heard divers Merchants of good 
 Ci edit fay, that if they would Build 
 a Ship, and let it to any other to im- 
 ploy, they cannot make of their Money 
 that way, counting all charges, tear 
 0 3 and 
 
and Wear ] above ten or twelve In the 
 Hundred, which can be no gainful 
 Trade, Money it felf going at tea in the 
 Hundred. 
 
 But in the Low-Countries, where Mo¬ 
 ney goeth at fix, the Building of Ships, 
 and Hiring them to others, is a gain¬ 
 ful Trade; and fo the Stock of rich 
 Men, and the Induftry of Beginners', 
 are well joyned for the Publick. 
 
 And yet that which is above all the 
 reft, thegrenteft Sin againft the Land 
 is, that it makes the Land it felf of 
 fmall value, nearer the fate of new¬ 
 found Lands, than of any other Coun¬ 
 try, where Laws, Government, and 
 Peace, have fo long fiourifhed f for the 
 high rate of Ufury makes Land fellfo 
 cheap \ and the cheap fale of Land is 
 the cau fe Men feek no more by Induftry 
 and Coft to improve them. 
 
 And this is^ plain both by Exam-, 
 pie, and Dcmonftration: For we fee 
 in other Countries, where the Ufe of 
 Money is of a low rate, Lands arc gene¬ 
 rally fold for thirty, forty* in fomefor 
 fifty Years Purchafe. 
 
 And we know by the rule of Bar¬ 
 gaining, that if the rate of life were 
 v • ' 1 not 
 
( 21 1 ) 
 
 not greater here, then in other Coun¬ 
 tries ; Lands were then as good a pen¬ 
 nyworth at twenty Years Piirrhafe,. as 
 they are now at fixteen : For Lands 
 being the belt Aflurance and fecurefl: 
 Inheritance, will (till bear a rate above 
 'Money.- 
 
 Now if Lands were at thirty Years 
 Purchafe, or near it, there were no fo 
 cheap Purchafe as the Amendment of 
 our own Lands •, for it would be much 
 cheaper to make one Acre of Land, now 
 Worth five Shillings by the Year, to be 
 worth ten Shillings, or being worth 
 ten to be worth twenty Shillings, and 
 fo in Proportion •, then to purchafe an 
 other Acre worth five or ten Shil¬ 
 lings. 
 
 And in every Acre thus purchafedto 
 the Owner, by the .amendment of his 
 own, there were another purchaied to 
 the Common--Wealth. 
 
 And it is the Bleffing of God to this 
 Land, that there are few places of it 
 to which he hath not given means, by 
 rcafonable Coll and Induitry, greatly 
 to amend it, in many to double the va* 
 lue, fo as in time, if for their own 
 good, rncos Induftry were compelled 
 0 4 that 
 
( 212 ) 
 
 that way, the Riches and Commodities 
 of this Land will near be doubled. 
 
 Then would all the wet Lands in this 
 Kingdom foon be drained, the barren 
 Lands mended by Marie, Slee.ch, Lime, 
 Chalk, Sea-fand, and other means, which 
 for' their profit, 'mens induftry would 
 find out. 
 
 We fee with how great induftry and 
 charge our Neighbours, the Dutch , do 
 drain and maintain their Lands againft 
 the Sea, which floweth higher above 
 them, then it doth above the loweft 
 parts.of our drown’d Lands. 
 
 I will admit a great deal to their Indu¬ 
 ftry,but I Ihould very unwillingly grant, 
 that they are fo much more ingenuous 
 and induftrious then we, as that all the 
 odds were therein- 
 
 Certainly, theniain canfe of it is, that 
 with us Money is dear, and Land cheap; 
 with them Land is dear, and Money 
 cheapo andconfequently the Improve¬ 
 ment of their Lands at fo great a charge 
 with them, is gainful to the Owners, 
 which with us would be lofsful} for r 
 Ufury going at ten in the Hundred, if 
 a man borrow five Pounds, and beftow 
 it cm an Acre of Ground, the amend¬ 
 ment 
 
( 
 
 inent llands him in ten Shillings the 
 Year, and being amended, the Land is 
 not worth above fifteen Years purchafe. 
 
 But if the Ufe of Money went at no 
 more with us, then in other places,then 
 five Pound bellowed upon an Acre of 
 Gotmd, Would (land a man but in five 
 or fix Shillings a Year, and the Acre of 
 Land fo amended, would be worth, as 
 hath been Ihewed, fix and twenty or 
 thirty years purchafe. 
 
 Whereby it appearcth that as the rate 
 of Ufe now goeth, no man (but where 
 the Land lieth extraordinarily happily 
 for it ) can amend his Land, but to his 
 own lofs j whereas if Money were let as 
 it is in other Countries, he might be¬ 
 llow more then double fo much as now 
 he may, and yet be a great gainer there¬ 
 by } and confequently, as was before re- 
 membred, Ihould to his own bene¬ 
 fit purchafe "Land tb ihe:: -Common¬ 
 wealth. 
 
 Neither would fuch purchafe of Land 
 to the Common-wealth, be the benefit 
 to the Landed men only, the benefit 
 would be as mnch to the poor Labou¬ 
 rers of the Land •• F or now when Corn 
 and other Fruits of the Land, which 
 grow 
 
(2M> 
 
 grow by labour, aie cheap, the Plough 
 and Mattock are call into the Hedge, 
 there is little work for poor men, and 
 that at a low rate '\ whereas,, if the 
 mendmentcf their own Lands were the 
 dieapefi: purchafe to the Owners; if 
 there were many more people then there 
 are y they, fliould more readily be fee a > 
 work, at better rates then they now are,' 
 and none that had their Health and 
 Limbs could be poor, but by their ex- 
 treameft lazinefs. 
 
 And as |he high rate of Ufury doth 
 imbafe Lands:, foit is as great a hin¬ 
 drance to Difcoveries, Plantations, and 
 ad good undertakings, making it near 
 double as chargeable to the Adventu- 
 eers, (Money being at ten in the han- 
 dre&J as it is,mother Countries, where 
 ther life of Money is fo much lower. 
 
 ~ Now let usdfceby the contrary,, and 
 conceive if llfury were tollcrated at 
 fifteen or twenty in the : hundred (and 1 
 fear many Borrowers, all things con- 
 fidered, pay above ten) what the con¬ 
 dition of things would then be, and if it 
 appear how defperate the hurt.wouLd be 
 which that would bring j it may (at 
 lead: upon good reafon^ perfwade us 
 
(it's) 
 
 how great the good would be of calling 
 it down. 
 
 Certainly, it muft of neceflity come 
 to pafs, that all Trades would in a fhoit 
 time decay : For few or none (and rec¬ 
 kon the hazard at nothing) yield fo 
 great a gain as twenty in the hundred; 
 and all other Nations might with fo 
 great gain out-trade and under-fell us, 
 that more than the Earth would of her 
 felf bring forth, we fhouid fcarce raife 
 any thing from it, even for our own ufe 
 within the Land and Land would he 
 fo much imbafed, as men might afford 
 without lofs to themfelves, to carry the 
 Compoft out of their Clofes, upon their 
 next adjoyning Lands to mend them: fo 
 far Should we be from Marling, Liming, 
 Draining,Planting, and any other works 
 of Colt or Industry, by which Lands 
 ate purchafed to the Common-wealth. 
 So far from building, making of Havens, 
 Difcovcries, new Plantations, or any 
 other a&ions of V'ertue and Glory to 
 the State j for private gain is the Com- 
 pafs men generally fail by. 
 
 And fence we cannot, without extra¬ 
 ordinary diligence, Plant, Build, Drain, 
 or any otter way amend our Lands, but 
 it 
 
C 216 ) 
 
 it will be dearer to us, than the pur- 
 chafe of others, Money being at ten in 
 the Hundred-, if Money then fhould go 
 at twenty in the Hundred, the charge 
 of mending our Land would be doubled, 
 and the Land abafcd to feven or eight 
 Years purchafe; and confequently all 
 works of Induftry and Charge, for im¬ 
 proving of Lands, would be quite neg- 
 leded and given over : We should only 
 eat upon one another with Ufury, have 
 our Commodities from other Nations, 
 let the Land grow barren and unma¬ 
 nned , and the whole State in Ihort 
 time come to beggary. 
 
 Againft this (perhaps ) may be ob¬ 
 jected, That before the 37 0/H.8. there 
 tc/u no limitation of V fury , and hew did w: 
 then ? 
 
 To this may be anfwercd, That ia 
 thofe times there was a ftrider Band 
 in that point upon Mens Confidences: 
 So far forth as Ularers were in the fame 
 cafe as Excommunicate Perfons, they 
 could make no Wills, nor were allowed 
 Chriilian Burial. 
 
 Therefore let us, for our Fore-fathers 
 lake, hope, that the tie upon their Con* 
 fcienccs then was a greater Reftraint of 
 Ufury, 
 
C 517 ) 
 
 Ufnry, than the Statute of ten in the 
 Hundred is now. I fear fornication is 
 too frequent among us \ yet,thanks be to 
 God, not fo much ufcd as where there 
 is allowance of Curtizans and Stews. 
 
 The Objections likely to be made 
 againfi the calling down of 
 Money, are, 
 
 Firft, That general Obje&ion of 
 Ignorance againft all Changes, be 
 they never fo neceffary and appa¬ 
 rently good, that it hath been fo 
 a long time, and been well enough; 
 what will become of the alteration 
 we cannot tell ; why then fhould 
 we make any change ? 
 
 Secondly, That as in Bodies Na¬ 
 tural, fo in Politique, great and 
 fudden Changes are moft commonly 
 dangerous. 
 
 Thirdly, That Money will be 
 fuddenly called in, and fo all Bor¬ 
 rowers greatly prejudiced. 
 
 Fourthly, 
 
(2I?J I 
 
 Fourthly, That Money will be I 
 harder to come by, and thereby ' 
 Commerce greatly hindred. 
 
 Laftly, That much Money of 
 Foreigners, by Reafon of the high 
 rate of Ufury, is brought over here 
 to be managed at Intcreft,' which 
 would be carried away again, if the 
 Rate of Ufury fhould be called 
 down. 
 
 TotheFirft. 
 
 That Money hath longgon$ at Ten, and 
 things been well enough. 
 
 It is anfwered, That it is not long 
 that the pra&ice of Ufury hath been fo' 
 generally ufed, without any fence 0* 
 fcruple of the unlawfulqefs of it j for 
 mens Confidences were hardened jto 
 with example and cuftom, by degrees,, 
 and not upon the ftidden. ' 
 
 And as the beginning,of many dan¬ 
 gerous Difeafes in healthful Bodies, fo 
 the beginning of many Ineonveniencies ; 
 Si a State, are flotprefendy felt. 
 
 With 
 
v 2i9 \ . 
 
 With us, after that with long .CivjJ 
 Wars-the land was ' half unpeopled, .fo 
 as till .of late Years, ,it came not to his 
 full J ftock' of People again, there being 
 the fame quantity \6( l^pd to half the 
 number of People, the furplufege of 
 our ln-l t isid.Commodities mult needs be 
 fog; St, t! at though Trade were not 
 equ tijy balbmctd with us and other Na- 
 'fbns, we could not but grow rich. 
 
 Eejries, Frmce and i the'. ! Z-biP-Xroa»fri« 
 were for' many Years half'laid wafte 
 with Wars,, .arid lb did trade but little, 
 iior: manage their own, .Lajids to their 
 bell, advantage *, whereby they did japt 
 only not take the Traded -Market from 
 us which'-now theyidq, . but they them- 
 felvcs were fed anddoathed .by us, and 
 took our Commodities from us at grea£ 
 high great Rates* ' 
 
 Whereas now we fee the Dutch do 
 every where out trade us, and the Frmb 
 feed us with their.Corn,even in. plentiful 
 Years. 
 
 So as now our Land being full Hock¬ 
 ed with, People, our Neighbours indu- 
 ftvxous ahd llbde in Trade, if we do not 
 more equally Balknce Trade, and bring 
 to pafs that we m'j uTord the Fruits 
 of 
 
(226) 
 
 of our Land, as cheap as other Coun¬ 
 tries afford the fame of the fame kind \ 
 we muft (though we leave a number of 
 our fuperfloities,| as God forbid but we ' 
 fhould) in a fhort time grow Poor and 
 Beggarly. . 
 
 And in this condition ten in the Hun¬ 
 dred, in a little more time, will as well 
 ferve to do it, as if Money were at 
 twenty: For fas was before remem- 
 bred) inmoftof the Commodities the 
 Earth bringeth forth, the Stock em¬ 
 ployed in Planting and managing of 
 of them, makes a [great part of their 
 Price \ and confequently, they may, 
 with great Gain to thcmfelves, under- 
 fell us; our Stock with us going at 
 double the rate that theirs goes with 
 them. 
 
 And this we fee and feel too well by 
 Experience at this prefent •, for having 
 a great furplufage of Corn, we can find 
 no vent for it \ the French with their 
 own, the Dutch with the Corn of PoUnd, 
 every where fupplying the Markets at 
 cheaper rates than we can afford it. 
 
 And even our Cloaths, which have 
 hitherto been the Golden Mine in Eng- 
 lund, 1 have heard many Merchants fay, 
 That 
 
( 221 ) 
 
 That (except it be in fome few of the 
 fineft fort of them, which is a Riches 
 peculiar to this Nation ) other Coun¬ 
 tries begin to make them of their own 
 Wool, ahd by .affording them cheaper 
 then we may, fo to take our Markets 
 
 from us. . . : 
 
 -r And this I, hope may in partferve 
 for Anfwer to the next Obje&ion y that 
 all great and fudden Changes arc com¬ 
 monly dangerous; for that Rule holds 
 true, where the Body Natural. or Poli-. 
 tick is in perfed ftate of Health, but 
 where there' is a declining, (as I have 
 fomecaufe to fear there is, or may foon. 
 be with us) there to make no alteration 
 is'a certain way to Ruin* 
 
 To the Third. 
 
 That Money will he fuddenly called in r 
 and fo d Borrowers greatly prejudiced. 
 
 For that there may be a claufe in the 
 end of the Statute whenfoever.it Thai! 
 bsrnade : That it (hall be lawful for 
 all that have lent Money at ten in the. 
 Ku;- 'CQ, which is now forborn, .and 
 owing, to take for fuch Money fb lent,. 
 
 P and' 
 
( 222 ) 
 
 •and owing, during two Years after tfiis 
 Seflion of Parliament, fuchUfe as they 
 might have done if this A&. had not been 
 made; Whereby Borrowers lhall be in 
 lefs danger of fudden calling in of their 
 Money, then now they are ; for where 
 the Lenders upon continuance of their 
 old Security* may take ten in the Hun¬ 
 dred \ upon new Security they may be 
 content with lefs, fo the calling is 
 of tfeeikMoney will be to their own 
 prejudice. 
 
 And if there be any Borrower to 
 whom this giveth not fufficient Satif- 
 fa&ion, if fuch Borrower have Lands 
 of value to pay his debt, the world con¬ 
 dition he can fear, is to have at the leaffc 
 twenty Years Purchafe for his Land, 
 wherewith to clear his Debts; for as I 
 faid before,, Land being the beffc 
 Secu'ity, a.d feenreft Inheritance, 
 will ftill bear a rate above Mo¬ 
 ney. 
 
 And fo there being no life allowed 
 for Money above the rate tollcrated in 
 other Countries, Land will as readily 
 fell at twenty Years Purchafe, as it doth 
 now st twelve. And l think there is 
 no Borrower that hath Land of value 
 to 
 
will now 
 Purchafe, 
 Debt. 
 
 fell his Land at ten Years 
 he might foon be out of 
 
 To ike fourth Obje&ion. 
 
 That Money mil be hard to be borrow¬ 
 ed) ah fo Commerce kindred. 
 
 Ianfwer, That it were true, if the 
 high rate of lifury did increafe Money 
 within thisXand j batthehigh rate of 
 lifury doth enrich only the Ufurer, and 
 impoverilh the Kingdom, a-, i ith been 
 ihewed ; and it is the plenty of Money 
 Within the Land that maketli Money 
 eafie to be borrowed, as we foe V, the 
 Examples of other Countries, where. 
 Money is ealier to be bon owed then' 
 it is with us, and vet the rate toll -rated 
 for life, is little mote then half fo 
 much. ,, ' 
 
 It is the high rate of Ufe that undo- 
 eth fo many of the Gentry of the Land, 
 Which malteth the number of borrowers 
 fo great; and the number of Borrowers 
 mbit of neceffity make Money the har- 
 ? 2 dcr 
 
( 2 ' 4 ) 
 
 der to be borrowed, whereas if life 
 for Money were at a lower rate, Land 
 as hath been fhewcd, would be much 
 quicker to be fold, and at dearer rates* 
 and fo the Nobility and Gentry 
 would feon be out of Debt, and 
 confequently the fewer Borrowc s, and 
 fo to Trades-men and Merchants Money 
 eafie to be had. 
 
 Further, let us eonfider if Money 
 were called down, what llfurers would 
 do with their Money:, they would not 
 I fuppofe long be fullea, and keep it a 
 dead ftock by them , for that were not 
 fo much as the fafeft way of keeping 
 it.- They muft ihen either imploy it 
 in Trade, pur chafe Land, or lend for 
 Ufc at fuch rate as the Law will tclle- 
 rate .- If it quicken 'T rade, that h the 
 thing to be deiired j for that will en¬ 
 rich the Kingdom, and fo make Money 
 plentiful. 
 
 And yet need not any Bo-rower fear 
 that Mcn>y will fo be imployed in 
 Trade, as that there will not be 
 fufficienr of Money to purchafe Land j 
 where tie Pur chafer my have as much, 
 or near fo much Rent by the purchafe 
 of 
 
( 22 {) 
 
 of Land, as he can by putting his Mo¬ 
 ney to life: For a great number of 
 Gentlemen and other in the Country, 
 know not how to imp’oy any ftock in 
 Trade, but with great uncertainty, and 
 lefs fatisfadion to therafdves, then the 
 letting of their Money at a lower rate, 
 or purchafmg Land at twenty Years pur¬ 
 chase or upwards. 
 
 No doubt for the prefent there 
 would be great buying and felling of 
 Land, till Men had cleared them- 
 felves, and payed their Debts: But 
 in fhort time Land , as it is ihewed 
 before, would fell at fo dear a rate, as 
 Money let at a lower rate of Ufe, would 
 bring m proportion as great a rate above 
 the Rent that would be made then by 
 the purchafe of Land, as the rate 
 of Money now is above the Rent of 
 Land, purchafcd at fourteen or fif¬ 
 teen Years purchafe, and fo byccn- 
 fequence Money would then as eafily 
 be borrowed as it is now, and fo 
 much eafier, as it would be more plenti¬ 
 ful, and fewer Borrowers. 
 
 P a 
 
 To 
 
( 22 6 ) 
 
 To the lc/1 and weakeft of 
 
 v 'bieftions. 
 
 That there is now much Money 
 of Foreigners in the Land, 
 to be managed at ten in the 
 Hundred , which if Money 
 jhould he called down , would 
 be carried out of the Land, 
 
 There is no donbt it is true: But I 
 defire to know, whether any man think 
 it better for the State, that they fhould 
 inw carry out one hundred Pounds, or 
 feren years hence, two$ or fourteen 
 years hence four} or one and twenty 
 y. ars hence eight: For fo in effect up¬ 
 on the multiplying of Intereft they 
 do. 
 
 It will feem incredible to fuch as have 
 H 1 : t onfulered. it, but to any that will 
 but caff ic up, it is plainly manifeff, 
 that a hundred Pounds managed at ten 
 ill 
 
in the hundred , in feventy years ^ 
 multiplies it ielf to a hundred thou fa nd 
 pounds. So if there fhould be an hun¬ 
 dred thoufand pounds cf Foreigners 
 Money now managed here at tea in the 
 hundred, (and that doth feetn no great 
 matter) that an hundied thoufand 
 pound ia threefcore and ten years, 
 which is but the age of a man, would 
 carry out ten Millions, which I believe 
 is more ihun all the Coin at this pre- 
 feiit in the Land. 
 
 I know we cannot conceive how 
 any fuch fum fhould be managed at In¬ 
 ter eft, y‘t this is fufficient to make us 
 little to joy in Foreigners Money. 
 
 Eefides, we muft not conceive that 
 the Money of Foreigners which is here 
 managed at llfury, is brought inro the 
 Land in ready Coin or Bullion : The 
 courfe is, That Merchants fend over 
 Bills of Exchange to their Factors, for 
 which thev receive our Money here; 
 and this is the Money they manage at 
 Jn-ereft, and fo they eat us out with 
 our own Money. 
 
 The old comparifon, which com¬ 
 pares Ufury to the Butlers Box, de- 
 P 4 ferves 
 
( 228 ) 
 
 fervesto be remem bred; Whilft men 
 are at play, they feel not what they 
 give to the Box; but at the end of 
 Chriftmafs it makes all, or near all, 
 Gamefters loofers: And I fear the com- 
 parifon hold thus much farther, That 
 there is as few efcape that continue in 
 llfury, as that continue Gamefters j a 
 man may play once or twice, and leave 
 a Winner, but theufc of it is feldons 
 without ruin. ' 
 
 Now becaufe I know mens private 
 
 Intercfts doth many times blind their 
 Judgments, and left any may be temp¬ 
 ted for their own, againft the publick 
 Good \ I will defire them to remember, 
 that if they have Lands as well as Mo¬ 
 ney, that what they lofe in their Mo¬ 
 ney, they fliall get it in their Land ; 
 for Land and Money are ever in Bal- 
 lance one againft the other; and where 
 Money is dear, JLand is cheap $ and 
 where Money is cheap, Land is dear. 
 
 And if there be any yet fo hearty a 
 welbwifher to ten in the hundred, as 
 that he Hill thinks it fit to be conti¬ 
 nued, my wilh is, That he and his Po- 
 fterity may have the priviledge to 
 borrow 
 
f 229 I 
 
 borrow , but not to lend at that 
 rate. 
 
 Jn the baginning of this Treatife, I 
 did difeiaim the proofs of the rnilaw- 
 fulnefs of Ufury, leaving them to 
 Divines, this one only ( rifing from 
 the Premifes ) which may ferve for all, 
 I think fit to fet down: 
 
 It is agreed by all the Divines that 
 ever were, without exception of any j 
 yea, and by the Ufurers themfeives, 
 That biting Ufury is unlawful: Now 
 fince it hath been proved that ten in the 
 hundred doth bite the Landed men, doth 
 bite the Poor, doth bite Trade, doth 
 bite the King in his Cuftoms, doth bite 
 the Fruits of the Land, and moil of all 
 the Land it felf •, doth bite all works 
 of Pitty,' of Vertne, and Glory to the 
 State; no man can deny but ten in the 
 hundred isabfolutely unlaw iul, howfo- 
 ever happily a lefler rate may be other- 
 wife. 
 
 To the King, increafe of his Cu¬ 
 ftoms. 
 
 To the Kingdom, increafe of Land, 
 byinriching of this. 
 
C 2^ ^ 
 
 To the Nobilic / and Gentry, deliver 
 irancc from Bondage and Debc. 
 
 To Merchants, continuance and flou- 
 riihin • in their Trades. 
 
 . To young Beginners ia Trade and 
 Commerce, the fruits of their own 
 Labours. 
 
 To Labourers, quick imployment. 
 
 Jo Ufurers, Land for tire Money. 
 
 Poftfcript 
 
Poftfcripr. 
 
 S ince the fore-going Papers were 
 delivered to the Prefs, Mr 
 Henry Dakers Merchant, lent me 
 a moft rational and admirable 
 TVeatife concerning Trade, called 
 ENGLAND’S INTEREST 
 
 AND improvement, 
 
 writ by Samuel For trey, Efq; one 
 of the Gentlemen of the Muffles 
 Privy Chamber, in which he men¬ 
 tions ibmething concerning the 
 Incereft of Money, in the follow¬ 
 ing Words,-.pag.42. Vi*,. 
 
 In the lajl place, concerning the 
 Vfe of Money ; which being the Life 
 and Sinews of Trade , it hath been 
 
lick ; for that Strangers finding 4 
 greater benefit to be made of their 
 Money here, than other when, would 
 fend it hitherwhereby Monty would 
 he m ck more plentiful amongfi 
 us. 
 
 Indeed Jjbould be of their Opinion, 
 if 4 * fo&n as. by this ».eans great 
 fms of Money were tranfported hi¬ 
 ther, all their Money fhould he con- 
 fifeate to the Publish • But if other- 
 wife, fare it cannot b,c denied , but 
 the greater the Vfe , the more the 
 Profit Jo the Vfurer , andlofsto the 
 Debtor, fo as in a few Tears we 
 fhould find our felves fo little, in - 
 ricbed ihreby, that when the Prin¬ 
 cipal fionld be again recalled, we 
 jbould find but little Money left; all 
 our. own being m x (led in Vfe. Where - 
 fqre indeed the true benefit to the 
 Publish, is, 1 0 fet the Vfe of Money 
 as low, or rather lower than in our 
 Neighbour Countries it is; for then 
 they would make no Profit out of us 
 
(o)i ) 
 
 |y that ntedns, but rather m on them . 
 Jnd it is the elm profit that me 
 get of out own, that; mil make tfm 
 Nation rich , tnd not the great fim 
 we Are indebted to others. 
 
 Which i hive here inferted, for 
 fuch like Reaforis: 
 
 *irf, That the World may fee 
 I am not fingular in this Opinion, 
 although I thought I had been fo, 
 when firft I wrote the afbre-faid 
 Obfet vat ions* 
 
 Second'y , For Confirmation of 
 the Truthbv the Authority of 
 a Perfon of fuch known Abili¬ 
 ties. 
 
 Thirdly, To give the Author 
 his due Honour of being the firft 
 Obfcrver ,&c> 
 
(*u) 
 
 , And I a m lorry l know not the 
 ingenious Author of the former 
 Tra£t, that* I might qq right to 
 his Memory , Who bath done more 
 for his Country than muli have been 
 the Gift of fome Millions of Pounds 
 Sterling , into the \ Vuhluk Ex¬ 
 chequer. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Difcourfe concerning Trade, &c. 
 
 ]N I»ec 15 line 15 read experience, p 25 121 r ,1 menu- 
 1 table. pji 16 r adimnijlrari. 
 
 Trade and Intereft of Money, &c. 
 
 p A?c 11 line 27 lor * due r due. p 48 I 17 i' thi, r hi,. 
 
 7 r 1 29 ^'f^rged P- 57 I 26 r *■ 
 
 creafed. a 59 ^ 7 t prophence r propenfe. p 65 I 261 cure 
 rcurr.pB) I 16 r company, p 97 ] 21 r 50 or '•■/ r,r cent 
 P 99 1 7 r cfiimatc. I 18 f not an, r very fee,.if any. ho 
 cur , any prill 27 f nr r of. p ,,, 1, \ \ 
 ^.iurcrand.fuj] ,3 delc/i. 1 16 x record, pi*, 
 ke "‘ & 1 1 25 " W "- > r ” u ' n - P 121 I Id f many 
 
 P‘3‘ p 134 I7 r maker. pi,5 
 
 I V fcucrcUy l 7 I rtf,,/,, r hfni , y _ 
 
 4 [ ' V.\ A7 . * r '/ r '/• P 48 I 4 r accidents and. n 
 152 r 1 2° r that it,,, p , 5 S I 27 I nmJr 
 
 mm. p 163 1 27 r pin,,/,hi,, p 172 I 3 r hvoimta- 
 
 Sl'T# ' 27 r r halh *""• P 162 1 5 rMri- 
 
 , , p i#7 0 r ax SeBanei. p 174 117 r percent. 
 
 II Jr per cent, p 175 I 27 r Ncw-found-iand. p r?; I 
 .2 f Ben^/ r Btndcl. p 2311 y rb» MajcJUc,.