Merchants many priviledges cuts a ditch for twenty miles to convey and cary up all commodities to Pisa and so to Florence the Metropolis of his Dukedome to conclude by making it a free scale and that all manner of goods wares and monies may bee freely shipped inwards and outwards without any charge or custome and that when commodities doe arrive which the purses of his subjects will not or cannot purchase he hath himselfe bought up the same and that sometimes to his losse and prejudice hee hath I say by these and other the like meanes within this 25. or 30. yeares made this the greatest port of traffike in all the Mediterranean seas to his owne great honour and to the exceeding profit and commodity of himselfe and all his subjects in generall The Hollanders who have need of all the politike helps that can be to support the charges of their war against a potent enemy who is continually ready at their doores to give them the alarme yet so well doe study this point of traffike and make so much of Commerce in their countrey where indeed they hold but a hand-full as it were of land to abide in though I say they have annuall Armies afoot which doth cost them infinite vaste and great sums to maintaine and nourish and that their very bread meate and beere which is eaten by them doth first pay the States an excise thereon yet in all their extremities dangers and debts they have erected many staples of trade in their countries and also raised an East-India and West-India Company of Merchants with large priviledges which they have prosecuted with happy good success wheron notwithstanding their great disbursements they impose little or no customes at all their interests are easie their Companies countenanced and protected by the Estates and their Fleets are ready in our Channell to safe-guard and defend both the Merchants Mariners and Fisher-men from the depredation and violence of either enemies or Robbers I am not able to recount how and with what care and industry the Venetians maintaine their traffike and the liberties of their subjects in point of Commerce they ease them of customes give large priviledges to their Mariners injoyne their ancient gentlemen and Clarissimi to use the sea make daily sundry advantagable decrees and orders for the suppressing of foraine traffike and advancing of their owne keepe a selected Court of the best experienced Merchants to superintend other Commerce and have a stocke ever in readinesse by the name of Cottimo to expend both in Turky and other places for the defence of their Merchants and their Estates from all wrong and injuries Yet none of these comes neere the care and industrious prudence practised by Iohn and Emanuell Kings of Portugall in erecting prosecuting and setling the trade of the East-India with such provident decrees and immunities for the ordering of their returnes Lectures for the instruction of their Pilots and Sea-men building of Forts and Holds to make good and preserve their traffike to their exceeding honour and profit in getting those small Ilands of India but of most notable consequence Mosambike Ormus Dieu Goa and Mallacca fit Receptacles of trade and strength and which have to this day preserved to them the Commerce of all others the parts of India Isabella that famous Queene of Castile having by her Christian Piety spent her owne estate in prosecution of the wars against the Moors of Granada Muâ—tia c. when yet she and her husband Ferdinando's Crownes and Revenues were drawne dry and farre ingaged in chasing those Barbarians out of their Kingdomes then when Henry the seventh accounted amongst the wisest of our English Kings had unhappily refused Columbus the Genoes his offer for the discovery of the Westerne Continent now termed America then I say being laden with her greatest debts and engagements her Coffers empty her Church plate spent and all drawne to the lowest ebbe by loanes and interests then did shee for incouragement to all her subjects and for to comply with the resolution of that brave Italian pawne her owne wearing Iewels to set him out in three Carvels where how he thrived and how that Kingdome Prince and People have beene bettered thereby eversince the whole Christian world may witnesse at this day as England hath had just cause to repent of ever after But Henry the seventh having now seene his errour and apparently discerned what hee had lost by his parcimony endeavoured to make amends to his Kingdome and people calling hither Sebastian Cabot also a skilfull Pilot Genoes giving him both encouragement honours and employment but the issue of his endeavours did not answer that Kings expectation though after his life the same was prosecuted in King Henry the eighth's dayes with various successe And though Margaret Countesse of Flanders did in envy to him set up Perkin Werbeque to disturbe the peace of England and that that mocke Prince came at length to bee a Scullion in his Kitchin yet that wise Prince found another more noble revenge to himselfe and more profitable to his people by setling here the Manufactories of Clothing and the strict prohibition of the Exportation of English wools which cost him 〈◊〉 two yeares as I have beene informed neare one hundred thousand pounds a mighty masse of monies the Prince and times considered but England soone found the benefit thereof for in Anno 1515. the English having removed their staple from Bridges to Antwerpe where the aforesaid Kings of Portugall had then setled their Contractors for the vent of their new gained East-Indian spices it was noted by those Registers of Commerce kept in that place and left to posterity by Guicciardin that hath written their Chronicle that the English Company of Merchant-adventurers did bring thither clothing to the summe of which was in value 9. of 15. parts of all the other commodities and wares brought thither of all other the nations whatsoever What a brave designe Edward the sixt his Grand-child had for the setling of sundry staples for that and other commodities in England and how that by reason of the then poverty of his Merchants hee intended upon security to lend them out of his Treasury great summes for the effecting thereof I have briefly touched before and for conclusion of this point looke a little into Queene Elizabeths dayes who though she was ever accompanied with state affaires of mighty consequence sometimes at home and sometimes abroad yet was she ever so careful to set forward traffike and encourage Navigators that both Earles Lords Knights Gentlemen and of every degree willingly thrust themselves in search of new traffikes and adventures and to her dayes are wee beholding for the trades of Barbary and Italy and other places and for the discoveries of Turky Egypt India Russia Muscovia and Greenland and the trades setled by the English therein which hath since found such fortunate successe to the benefit of our now happy Soveraigne
for the performance of that countries Traffike which other places could best afford him and which his monies might best and did then procure him and when the Portugal by his happy discovery had the East-India trade alone yet he wanted Rials to purchase the commodities of East-India which Spain was then best able to afford him but both these Kingdomes joyned now in one and bowing to one and the same Scepter it is observable that the VVest-India affords now the monies to drive the East-India trade withall and the East-India affords the rich spices and drugs which must procure the sundrie needfull diversity of European commodities to drive the VVest-India Traffike withall so that a man would imagine Spaine as it now stands should not at this day want any manner of thing to make it abound either in monies or in wares and commodiâ—ies and yet we find it to be both bare and poore in their Commerce and notwithstanding the so strict prohibition of the exportation of their silver and gold and the authorâ—zing of so much Copper-monies current amongst them yet stiâ—l his Kingdomes to remaine in great need and want thereof And as for the fertility and plenty of Tuscany though it must needs be in some sort granted yet its richâ—s and aboundance is to be attributed rather to the trade of the place to the excellent government of the Country in matters of Commerce then to the naturall Clymate thereof or industry of the inhabitants for it is noted that three well advised rules in Traffike hath brought it to this height that now it is The first is the allowance of free and publike exportation of monies The second is the easie duties and customes paid upon all merchandize to the Prince And the third is the goodnesse and reall value of the Coyn current throughout the Duke-dome but this is from my purpose This one example then I hope will suffice to make good the point beforegoing whereto many others might be alleadged to prove that this tolleration of exportation of monies makes not in it selfe the scarcity of silver and gold nether yet the prohibition thereof makes the aboundance but I will proceed no further in this point save by way of caution advise all Merchants to submit themselves to the Lawes and ordinances of Princes and conforme themselves to the customes of the Kingdomes and places to which they Traffike which almost varies in every Country one commodity being in one Kingdome prohibited which in another is permitted and allowed as we find that Lead a native commodity of this Land is lawfully exportable in England but is accounted a Contrabanda and prohibited exportation in Spaine and in many other Countries when once it is imported and we find that Woolls are prohibited also in England yet allowed in Spaine Iron againe allowed in Spain but prohibited in France and Saile-cloth Canvas and the lâ—ke allowed in France yet prohibited in Spaine so is gold and silver as aforesaid is mentioned forbidden in England Spaine and France yet allowed in Marsellia Leghorne Barbary Turky and in many other places Divers reasons are given by Stats-men for the prohibition of some peculiar commodities as I said before but indeed many of them are impossible to be observed in the execution for that Country that will maintaine a free Commerce with his neighbour makes in one Countrey one Commodity lawfull which in an other is not lawful unlesse all commerce might be made by a kind of Exchange and bartering of Commodities against commodities and that also practised in regard of the merchandise or wares which are not very necessary and not in regard of those that are for the place of our aboade and whereof wee cannot passe without and in this case Merchants are forced to have recourse to otheir foraign parts and then must take a law from them in either giving them other merchandises which may be as necessary for them as theirs are for us or in paying or contenting them with ready monies for the same however it happen this is found the general Rule in this point that a Kingdome and State doth commonly admit of the exportation carrying out of those commodities and wares which are native and growing in their Dominions or of that whereof they have store and plenty not regarding the lawes of other Countries but yet some prohibitions in these very places are made of exporting of some commodities of war-fare as is seene of Iron Ordnance in England and the like for the possessing thereof by our neighbours might at one time or other annoy and prejudice our selves or the place and countrey of our aboad within the compasse of this consideration is also comprehended those artificiall commodities and wares which are not to be carried out and exported and such are they as have not received their intire perfection at home as is ordained by wools in England which is not allowable till wrought into cloath and yet not in cloath neither till the same hath received all necessary and fit perfection by dressing dying and the like for thus the meanes of workeman-ship is taken away from the Artist and workman which in some certaine workes and fabrikes exceedes the price of the substance and matter it selfe and therby their lively-hoods deprived them and a powerfull furtherance and helpe of Commerce is by this occasion cut off and hindred This point is by some Princes so narrowly watched and so vigilantly looked into that they are not satisfied with those materials that grow amongst themselves and in their owne countries but they covet by al industry to draw others from their neighbours or foraigne nations to employ their subjects and to put their people on worke by this meanes much enriching themselves and honouring their Countrey and adding a great helpe to the publike Traffik therof selling and venting them thus once wrought even to those Nations who many times have first sold and furnished them with the very first materials of the said Manufactories Examples of this practise we find many and that in sundry Countries and places as the Florentine who of all others exceeds in silk Fabrikes yet at first provideâ— much of his raw silke in Valentia in Spaine in Naples and other the neighbouring Countries and having wrought and perfited the same in Toscany returnes it to the proud and lasie Spaniard and to other places in Damasces Sattins Taffeta's and the like so bringing it backe wrought to the selfe same place whence it first came out raw to be sold and vented The Dutch likewise buyes his Woolls in Spaine carries it home to his owne house there spins it weaves it and workes it to perfection then brings it backe into Spaine in Sarges Sayes and such like stuffes and so there againe sels the same to good profit and vents it The towne of Manchester in Lancashire must be also herein remembred and woâ—thily and for their industry commended
become either great Merchants or industrious Furtherers thereof for the same would yeeld them occasion to be sharers in the traffike of other Countries whereof before they neither had any profit nor yet the Prince any customes thereby the benefit of this staple of Trade may be the better discerned by looking upon the practise of those Countries where the same is put in use and especially by our Neighbours the Netherlanders where the same is practised with wonderfull industry paines care and conducible profit instanced by these examples First it is well knowne to us and all the world that they have there no timber nor yet Forests of any sort of their own growth yet the freedome of Trade begets them such fit materials that the same builds them yearly above a thousand sayle of ships partly serving to their owne use but principally to sell to others and that the huge pales of wainscot Claboard and Deale are in their staple Cities Next they are found to have no corn growing almost in all their countries for it is the East Countrey that affords the same in abundance yet wee know that the greatest Store-houses and staple Granaries of grainâ— is by the freedome of their trade in the low Countries for Amsterdam if report may gaine credit is continually stored with 8. in 100000. quarters besides what is by trade daily sold away and vented The maine shooles and massy bulke of Herrings from whence their industry and traffike raiseth to them so many millions yearely proceeds meerly out of our English seas but yet the great Fishery to the shame and wonderfull dishonour of England is in the Low countries wherewith not onely their owne occasions at home are plentifully supplyed but all Christendome besides abundantly stored it being computed that they send forth yearely into other Countries above one hundred thousand last which wee may account to bee two hundred thousand tuns The large and mighty vast Vineyards and great quantity and stoâ—e of salt is noted to be in France and Spaine yet the great Vintages as I may say and staples both of Salt and Wine is found in the Netherlands whereby they imploy yearely above a thousand sayle of their shipping The Wooll Cloath Lead and Tinne and divers staple English commodities are properly and naturally of Englands production but yet to the dishonour and prejudice of England the great Manufactories of Dying Dressing c. of them are seene in the Low-countries whereby they not onely imploy their poore by labour but their Mariners by shipping and often times under-sell the English both in their owne countries and abroad with these and other our owne commodities Many others in this kind may be produced for it is to be noted that wheresoever such a staple of trade is erected kept and maintained there all foraine and native commodities doe abound for the supply of any other countrey that may or doth want the same and where the customes upon Merchants goods is small it easily draweth all nations to trade with them and contrariwise where great impositions are laid upon Merchants goods the traffike of the place will be seen soone to decay to the prejudice of â—hat place and kingdom The difference thereof is made evident in any two townes of severall Princes Dominions in the one where customes are easie and there Merchants doe flock together from all parts of the world and abundance of foraine commodities are from all countries imported thither that benefit the Merchant the people and the Prince and in the other where the customes are heavie and burthensome to a Merchant and heavie upon his wares and there none comes nor brings any commodities but what hee knowes is liable and must pay this custome to his and the countries great prejudice which by an example or two I shall here manifest Two ships laden at Burdeux of equall burthen viz. of three hundred tuns the one goeth for England and the other for Holland she that commeth into England payeth for custome Prisedge Butleredge and other charges thereon by booke of rates one thousand two hundred pounds and upwards before she bee discharged and the other going for Holland is discharged there for threescore pound sterlin or there abouts so that after they have there unladen their said ship and custome being paid and the wines sold the buyer can transport them againe into some other countrey and if hee should in the second place but gaine this custome that was paid in England yea or halfe so much hee would thinke to have gained very well thereby but it is not possible for any English man to pay this great custome in England and to transport them againe into another Kingdome but he must be a great loser by them for the Hollander can still under-sell him and yet be a gainer thereby The like may bee alledged of two ships of two hundred tuns a peece comming alike laden with 200. tuns of Tobacco from Barmuda Saint Christopher or any other English Plantation now this 200. tuns paying custome c. in England vvill amount unto 10000. pounds whereas in Holland the said 200. tuns will bee cleared for 120. pounds Now though the said 200. tuns of Tobacco should be here againe shipped out within the yeare and the impost repaid him yet the Merchant loseth infinitly by bringing it into the kingdome which he would account for wonderfull gaine might hee enjoy the same upon all the whole parcell towards all his adventure interest and charges But some Princes may imagine that this will too much diminish their customes and draw their Revenewes to a low estate but I rather hold the same will bee a meanes to increase the same for though a Prince should for the ease of his people and the augmentation of the trade of his Countrey take but a small custome upon all forraine goods imported and thus exported with the reservations mentioned in the second consideration of trade yet he may have a moderate custome to be paid him upon all goods vented within the Kingdome as is now used in England and the multiplicity of trade which will be procured by this staple and small custome whereof there is not otherwise accruing to the Prince any profit at all wilâ— much increase the same in the totall Presuppose that this staple of traffike furthered with such immunities and smalness of customes were in some one two or three convenient Towns settled here in England let us consider the good in generall that by the former assertion it would produce to us First the Merchants would be enabled to export the commodities of France Spaine Italy Turky and Barbary and of the East and West India into the Kingdomes of Germany Poland Denmarke Swethland Pomerland Sprucia and Lifeland and the merchandise of those other countâ—ies which are both many and usefull will againe be transported from the said staple to those Southerne and Westerne Countries and hereby
and his Crownes that the customes were in her time some yeares before her death farmed but at fourteene thousand pounds which Smith commonly called Customer Smith in one yeare petitioned for reliefe as having beene a loser thereby and now in lesse then fifty yeres is come to five hundred thousand pounds yearely if report gaine credit to the Kings purse and how much more the Farmers have made thereof His Majesties custome bookes can best manifest If then Princes of all ages and the wisest of all Princes have made it part of their study and have in many occurrences prejudiced themselves and their estates to win this so excellent a benefit how carefull need all Princes to be when the same is brought to perfection to preserve and cherish it and not to suffer the liberties of their Merchants to be incroached upon the freedome of their traffike to be fettered by heavy imposts customes and Innovations which are like Cankers that doe insensibly eate out and ruine a trade before the Prince or the wisest of his Counsellors can see how to prevent or remedy it The want of this care and provident foresight hath lost many kings the traffike of their Kingdomes which were the best Iewels of their Crownes and the richest flower in their Diadems The want of good orders in the government of the trade of Antwerpe and the imposing of heavy customes upon the Merchants there trading hath within this fifty yeares brought that Towne to the lownesse wherein now wee see it Lions in France hath suffered wonderfully by the same inconveniences and Marsilia within the dayes of my knowledge had a wonderfull great traffike for many places of Turky Barbary Spaine and other kingdomes and was then able to shew many ships imployed in merchandise carrying thirty and forty peeces of Ordnance and now which is not above 24. in 25. yeares past the best of their vessels have not above ten peeces and of those but very few neither Here I could also particularize the fetters Incroachments and Intrusions that have within these late yeares beene laid upon the East-India traders of England and their liberties and what they have suffered both abroad and at home by the ill wishers of their prosperity but what will it availe them or benefit our countrey to travell into the disturbations crosses and afflictions which they have to their prejudice felt and to their losse suffered It sufficeth me here to say that the want of due and timely protection and incouragement from the Estate hath reduced them to that bad point and low passe wherein we now observe them to bee and that for the future erecting of such a brave society a great deale of time and mony must be expended and many larger immunities then formerly must be granted ere the same can be reduced to that pristine flourishing estate we lately have beheld it to be in I could also here by way of addition say somewhat of those disturbances that the Turky Moscovia and other Companies of London have groaned under but I trust the goodnesse of our Soveraigne and the wisdome of his Counsellors will rectifie the same or remunerate them by fitting encouragements some other wayes lest thereby the same be reduced to the present condition of the East-India Company to His Majesties great losse and dishonour and to the wonderfull prejudice of his people and kingdomes Now having thus handled the 3. first considerations of trade observed that neither naturall nor artificiall commodities of a kingdom can inrich a countrey without the helpe and hand of traffike and then shewed what commodities by a well ordered traffike a Kingdome must suffer entrance and what prohibit and what againe to send out and also what to forbid and withall shewed the particular meanes and wayes that Princes are observed to use to gaine settle preserve and augment the same with the laborious and studious courses that have beene taken by sundry late Princes to obtaine and purchase this so beneficiall a commodity I come now to the last point and consideration before mentioned wherein the rest is for the most part comprehended being the reasons and causes that move all estates Kings and Empires to covet the same which I may say doth extend it selfe into foure heads and principall parts The first is that traffike with foraine nations is notable in respect of the honour and reputation thereof Secondly excellent in point of riches both to the King his Countrey and Subjects Thirdly eminent in regard of strength offensive and defensive that it brings with it to the Countrey and Princes where it is orderly managed and regularly practised by skilfull Merchants First then a well governed traffike practised in a Kingdome by judicious and expert Merchants to foraine and remote countries will easily bee granted and confessed to bee both honourable and of singular reputation both to the Soveraigne in his particular and to the nation in generall I need not seeke farre for examples nor search much for arguments to make this good and manifest but only looke upon this our kingdome wherein wee live How had ever the name of the English beene knowne in India Persia Moscovia or in Turky and in many places else-where had not the traffike of our Nation discovered and spread abroad the fame of their Soveraigne Potency and the renowne of that peoples valour and worth Many parts of the world had peradventure even to this day lived in ignorance thereof and never dreamt of the inhabitants of so small an Iland had not the traffike of the Merchants by Navigation made it famous over all those remote Regions Nay the Portugals and Hollanders an obscure people in comparison of the English and enjoying but a handfull of those subjects that are comprehended under the Scepter of great Britaine have by this onely meanes given witnesse and good testimony to many powerfull remote nations of their countries worth and honour What brought the Portugall nation to be famoused in Affrica and Asia or the Spanish name to bee notable in America but her traffike and Commerce It is not our conquests but our Commerce it is not our swords but our sayls that first spred the English name in Barbary and thence came into Turky Armenia Moscovia Arabia Persia India China and indeed over and about the world it is the traffike of their Merchants and the boundlesse desires of that nation to eternize the English honour and name that hath enduced them to saile and seek into all the corners of the earth What part is there unsearched what place undiscovered or what place lyes unattempted by their endeavours and couragious undertakings most of which hath beene accompanied with such fortunate successe that they have contracted Leagues and Amity with the Mogull Persian Turke Moscovite and other mighty foraine Princes in their Soveraignes name and to his honour which even in our Fathers dayes was not
knowne to us either to have any such condition or being the Merchants of England And to speak truth of London maintaining now at their charge an Agent in Moscovia an Ambassadour and three Consuls in Turky and certaine Presidents and Agents also in India Persia and many other places thereof which by computation cannot cost them lesse then one hundred thousand pounds yearely which though it may be alledged is for their own profit the benefit of their traffike into these parts yet for as much as that it is not chargeable to their Soveraigne nor prejudiciall but profitable to his Kingdomes it must be granted that the same brings honour to his name and a great benefit both to him and his subjects and it is more then can be paralleld in all other Christian or heathen Countries now in the world The Danes and Swedish nations are potent and the French are yet more powerfull in Europe yet if you travell into India Persia and many of those Easterne Kingdomes of the world they know of no such people Kings or Countries but hold all Europe to be inhabited by the Portugals English and Dutch nay the French are hardly knowne in Moscovia and Russia save by name but not by their worth or actions and the Emperour of Germany the greatest of our Christian Princes for all his eminence and power in Christendome is not in India knowne no nor yet in Persia save for some leagues which the Sophy would sometimes have contracted with him to the prejudice of Turky and the Ottoman Empire So that by what hath beene said the Commerce of Merchants though many times it be accompanied with losse and prejudice to themselves and estates and that they are enforced to expose their fortunes to the mercy of mercilesse stormes and tempests be subject to the Lawes of Heathenish Princes and groan under the heavy customes of many Soveraignes and Infidels yet is it still attended upon with a great deale of honour to their owne Prince and reputation to his subjects Therefore I will conclude here this point that a well ordered traffike managed by skilfull Merchants hath beene and ever will be honourable to that Kingdome and Soveraigne where the same is duely practised and carefully protected and preserved The second point is in regard of Riches and the benefit that traffike bringeth with it where the same is preserved with fitting priviledges and practised with regular order and method and this Riches extendeth it selfe two wayes In the first place to the Soveraigne his Nobles and Gentry in the particular of their owne estates and Interests Secondly to his subjects the inhabitants in generall As to the Sea-men Husbandmen Artificers Labourers and others First for the Prince or Soveraigne it particularly inricheth him by his customes and imposts imposed inwards and outwards upon all commodities and wares either imported or exported in or out of his Kingdomes and Dominions by the Merchant and also by venting and dispersing of such wares and merchandises as hee appropriateth to himselfe either by purchase prerogative or by right of his Crowne as we find it to doe by the Gabell of Bay-salt to the King of France by the property of silke to the King of Persia by the Mines of Copper to the grand Signior and by the preemtion of Tyn to His Majestie of England and next it proveth beneficiall to the Nobility and Gentry by the improvement of their lands by the sale and working of their clothes by the use of their Timber by the vent of their Cattle Graine and other provisions and in many regards which experience daily maketh evident both in this and all other Kingdoms where the same is practised Secondly it inricheth the inhabitants of a countrey in the generall by setting Arts-men on worke by imploying the poore by furthering and incouraging of all professions whatsoever for every Arts-man Worke-man and Artificer is conducible one way or other to traffike and every hand is set on worke where a wel governed Commerce is observed to be driven and exercised by judicious and skilfull Merchants and to the whole countrey in generall it is found beneficiall by venting the native commodities of that land as experience tels us in Persia by the vent of their raw silkes in France by the vent of their Wines Oyles Lynens Graine c. in Zante by the vent of their Corrence in Spaine by the vent of their Wines Fruits Sugars c. and in England by the vent of their Tinne Cloath Lead c. as the like may be said of many other countries Thirdly and lastly it produceth strength and safety to the Kingdom and people where the same is duly and orderly practised Now this strength and safety may be considered two wayes either defensive or offensive if my former assertions be granted That a well ordered trade doth enrich a Prince his nobles gentiles and Subjects as of necessity it must it will be easie for mee to make good this point also for that which produceth Riches doth consequently also beget strength and safety so farre forth as treasure is accounted the principal nerve and sinnew of war either offensive or defensive but to come to some particulars It furnisheth the Prince and his subjects having maritime ports with plenty of shipping and store of Mariners to manage and sayle the same in all occasions of the state and countrey by sea and it furnisheth the same with all fitting Ammunition of and for warre as Powder Armes and other the like necessaries and by land it maketh the countrey a Magazine not only for warlike provisions brought in for the use of the Prince and the Kingdom it selfe but also for all other neighbouring countries that stand in need thereof I may here fitly bring in Holland to make good this point to all the world who though exercised in continuall warfare and daily pressed and sometimes oppressed by a potent Enemy yet their industrious traffike into Forrain parts is handled and practised with so much benefit countenanced from the State and good Iudgement that the same doth not onely supply their owne occasions with what warlike provisions they want but withall have thereof in such abundance that from their owne states they furnish freely all other neighbouring countries whatsoever therewith for the Arts-men that are by them employed daily in building of ships casting of Artillery making of Muskets shot powder swords pikes corslets cordage Canvas and the like Habiliments of warre doe not only supply their owne turnes and necessities and that both cheape and plentifull but herein proceed so farre contrary to the politike Rules of many countries that they sell and vent their over-plus yea even to the Spaniards their very enemies conceiving it no ill trick of thrift nor yet small point of State-stratagem to draw thus the monies and wealth of their greatest adversaries to be a reward to their owne labour and industry and so sell as