a kingdom so divided against it self could not stand And on the other side should the Prince first settle a government in the Church as it is at this day and then give toleration to all others the mischievous consequence would not be much less for first all such as would withdraw would not without grudging pay their dues to parsons from whom they receive no recompence nay rather whom they contemn and hate Secondly upon all invasions from abroad or rebellions at home the Prince shall be sure to have all such for his enemies as shall be so tolerated First because of their certain hatred to the present Church-government by which they conceive that they receive many injuries and oppressions Secondly in hope every one to advance their own party could they remove the power in being each imagining their own opinion as the most worthy would first take place And lastly where such advantages are offered to strengthen any discontented party no Prince can hope or expect to be long quiet or secure These mischiefs and inconveniences having of long time been so obvious it hath been thought by some that a strict uniformity in Church-government is the onely means to prevent all the aforesaid inconveniences I conceive it cannot well be denied but then care would be taken that what is so imposed be onely such things as are barely necessary and such as may agree best with the quiet and preservation of the State And in this also good regard would be had to the most sober way of the same profession in other countreys which would much advance the designe aforesaid and in all likelihood would preserve the Princes power more entire and his people in greater fidelity love and peace Bnt to return to the cause that first moved this discourse as a means to multiply people and enrich the kingdom it may be objected First that it doth not appear that people are wanting but rather that we have already too many if we consider the number of poor people that are found in every place and it might be prudence first to employ these before we endeavour to multiply more Secondly that to give the like liberty and priviledge to foreiners that English-men have might be a means to undo the natives for foreiners by their Correspondents abroad and industry at home will gain all the trade to themselves and also by purchasing of estates will make our land much the dearer It is answered first it is true considering our present condition how trade is decayed and the little encouragement people have to industry we have already more people then are well employed but I conceive it is so much the greater damage to the Prince to have his people both few and poor but if the manufactures and other profitable employments of this nation were rightly improved and encouraged there is no doubt but the people and riches of the kingdom might be greatly increased and multiplied both to the profit and honour of the Prince Secondly that any English-man of the like ingenuity as a stranger will have the like advantage of trade as any stranger can have as to the exportation or importation of any commodities for they may have their correspondents abroad as well as the other yet suppose they could not it would be no damage to the kingdom but an advantage if the Subjects by this means be more plentifully and cheaply provided with all forein commodities and may gain a better price and vent for their own and the number and Interests that can pretend to suffer hereby are so few and inconsiderable that it bears no proportion with the advantage And further by this liberty to foreiners we should quickly attain to the perfection of those manufactures which now we so highly value and purchase so dear from abroad for many of the best Artists of other countreys no doubt in short time would be transported hither perhaps no less to the benefit of this nation then the like encouragement hath been in former times by the improvement of our art of clothing and by which practice the Hollander at this day reaps unknown advantages And as for raising the price and value of our lands or of any thing else that is our own it is of so great an advantage that it might be wished nothing were cheap amongst us but onely money But to proceed in order and first of our natural store and annual increase of the soil the annual profit and increase of the soil of this kingdom consists chiefly in corn of all sorts flax hemp hops wooll and many more such like and also the best sorts of cattel as bullocks horse and sheep and the greater our increase is of any of these commodities the richer may we be for money and all forein commodities that come hither are onely bought by the exchange of our own commodities wherefore by how much our own store doth exceed those necessaries we want from abroad by so much will the plenty of money be increased amongst us Our care should therefore be to increase chiefly those things which are of least charge at home and greatest value abroad and cattel may be of far greater advantage to us then corn can be if we might make the best profit of them for that the profit we can make of any corn by exportation is much hindred by the plenty that neighbour countreys afford of that commodity as good or better then we have any Wherefore could we employ our lands to any thing of more worth we could not want plenty of corn though we had none of our own for what we should increase in the room of it of greater value by exportation would not onely bring us home as much corn as that land would have yeelded but plenty of money to boot Of cattel the most considerable are horse sheep and bullocks in all which we do not onely excel in goodness all other countreys whereby we can vent the profits of them at far greater rates but we may also by our singular advantage in the increase of those cattel have the sole trade being able so far to exceed our own wants as to furnish all our neighbours who must be forced to good rates no other countrey affording the like for goodness or scarce sufficient for their own use And might we freely have the liberty to export them or so much of them as may be fitting we should need no laws to hinder the exportation of corn for we should finde thereby a profit so far exceeding that which might be raised out of every acre that we might better afford to give a far greater price to buy it then we can now sell it for For the profit of one acre of pasture in the flesh hide and tallow of an ox or in the flesh wooll and tallow of a sheep or in the carcase of a horse is of so much greater value abroad then the like yeeld of the earth would be in corn
government 〈◊〉 disposition of the people I may say are not â—â—ly as good but much better then any 〈◊〉 for the ease quiet peace and security of the people Thirdly if our trade and manufactures were but improved to that advantage as they are capable of there would be no countrey in the world where industrious people might improve their estates and grow more rich then in this and the hope of gain commonly bears so great a sway amongst men that it is alone sufficient to prevail with most Fourthly this being the most eminent and intire countrey of all others that profess the Protestant Religion which profession is very numerous in most of the other countreys of Europe but many of them under constraint and danger and the free liberty of mens consciences with security to their persons being above all things most desireable it cannot be doubted or denied were those impediments removed that now may hinder but we might be sufficiently stored with wealthy and industrious people from all parts of Europe And were there not so many divine reasons to prefer the Protestant Religion before all others as being doubtless above all the most free from vain and superstitious beliefs and ceremonies being the onely model of true piety 〈◊〉 vertue without those allays of pretended 〈◊〉 evils that some abound with contriving 〈◊〉 murder treason and mischief to advance their opinions I say if there were not these reasons for it but that the Protestant Religion wanted this unvaluable worth to prefer it before others and suppose it onely equal with the rest yet in humane prudence it is most eligible and to be preferred by the Prince of this nation before all others First because thereby he remains the onely Supreme under God in these dominions and controllable by none whereby his power in government is much confirmed and the peace of his people secured when if it were otherwise as in some it is that mens consciences were at the dispose of others who use their power onely to the advancement of their own wealth pride and greatness it cannot be avoided but that the Princes Interest and theirs may often differ which can never happen but to the Princes great hazard and peoples ruine of which truth there hath been already too many sad examples in this kingdom so as I conceive there needs little more be said to perswade a Prince to prefer his own peace security and freedom above the perswasions of any that onely seek their own private Interest and advantage Secondly for the Prince of this nation to profess the reformed Protestant Religion is a matter of greatest policy and prudence for the advance of his own power and greatness For as it is said before considering how desireable the countrey is in it self and the onely chief in Europe of this profession and the hazardous and dangerous condition of those in other countreys and the power that the perswasions of mens consciences have to prevail with them he may always be assured of this that where any of this profession in other countreys shall happen to be persecuted or injured by a stronger party of a contrary belief their refuge will certainly be to him either to be received as his Subjects in his own countrey or else to offer their service to help him to become Lord of their own or otherwise if quarrels or differences should happen to arise between this Prince and the Prince of any other neighbour countrey if they should make war upon him he would be assured of friends abroad to help to divert them or if he should finde it fitting to attach others he cannot want confederates and assistants in the prosecution of his designe especially if there be any thing of pretence of Religion in the case which is seldom wanting where it is any ways serviceable to advance a designe But by the way it is to be observed that as this may be of certain advantage to this Prince against others so would it be of like mischief to himself or worse should he suffer the Interest of any other Prince to have the like advantage against him and in this kinde there is but one profession which is so considerable either amongst our selves at home or in countreys abroad that is worthy the taking notice of and it is so Catholick as I shall not need to name it And though Christians ought not to persecute one another and that onely for small differences in opinion when what is right or wrong for the most part remains a doubt and uncertain whil'st the evils are onely certain that such disputes produce And as it may be truly said morality may be short of true Religion yet it is most certain that no Religion can be pure that wants true morality I shall onely therefore make this short observation That that Religion which shall endeavour to advance it self by all immoral and wicked ways and means must needs be in that particular much defective And though this be commonly practised by most yet certainly the danger is greater from that whose profest principle it is then from such others who though often guilty yet wholly disown it And what Prince or state is likely to escape mischief or be secure when opportunity is offered to those who by ties of conscience are obliged to ruine it and have Interest and subtilty enough to contrive the same all which being rightly weighed and considered it is evident how perilous and desperate a thing it might prove if it were onely on account of policie and self-preservation for a Prince to admit or countenance such things which have not the least shew or appearance of good or advantage but in all likelihood of most certain hazard and ruine both to himself and State But granting what is said to be true yet what can be objected against the countenancing or at least toleration of all such other sorts of Christian professions who pretend they have not the will nor probably can have the power to contrive or act any thing considerable to the damage or disquiet of the Prince or State It may be answered that the toleration of all such in it self doth not appear altogether so dangerous to the Prince or State But if nature of man be rightly considered together with the common zeal in matters of Religion you shall finde that commonly things of the smallest consequence make the greatest differences and as the same faith and belief doth very much increase love and affection so contrariwise difference in opinions do onely beget and engender contempt animosities towards one another by which means the Prince shall at no time be either quiet or secure For should the Prince suffer all indifferently and not elect some one which should always be countenanced and maintained as the chief and most universal profession of his kingdom the confusions would be so great and the Princes Interest so small amongst them for want of any dependency on him that
manufactures are to be considered on which chiefly depends both the wealth and prosperity of this kingdom for by the increase and encouragement thereof the Subjects are employed in honest and industrious callings maintained and preserved from want and those mischiefs which commonly attend idleness the people furnished at home with all things both of necessity and pleasure and by the overplus procure from abroad what ever for use or delight is wanting The chief manufactures amongst us at this day are onely woollen clothes woollen stuffs of all sorts stockings ribbandings and perhaps some few silk stuffs and some other small things scarce worth the naming and these already named so decayed and adulterated that they are almost out of esteem both at home and abroad And this because forein commodities are grown into so great esteem amongst us as we wholly undervalue and neglect the use of our own whereby that great expence of treasure that is yearly wasted in clothing furnitures and the like redounds chiefly to the profit of strangers and to the ruine of his Majesties Subjects And this will more plainly appear if we examine the vast sums of money the French yearly delude us of either by such commodities as we may as well have of our own or else by such others as we might as well in great part be without whereby no doubt our treasure will be soon exhausted and the people ruined as this particular may make appear which not long since was delivered in to the King of France upon a designe he had to have forbidden the trade between France and England supposing the value of English commodities sent into France did surmount the value of those that were transported hither 1. There is transported out of France into England great quantities of velvets plain and wrought sattins plain and wrought cloth of gold and silver Armoysins and other merchandises of silk which are made at Lions and are valued to be yearly worth one hundred and fiftie thousand pounds 2. In silk stuffs taffeties poudesoyes armoysins clothes of gold and silver tabbies plain and wrought silk-ribbands and other such like silk stuffs as are made at Tours valued to be worth above three hundred thousand pounds by year 3. In silk ribbands gallowns laces and buttons of silk which are made at Paris Roven Chaimont S. Estienes in Forrests for about one hundred and fifty thousand pounds by year 4. A great quantity of serges which are made at Chalons Chartres Estamines and Rhemes and great quantities of serges made at Amiens Crevecoeur Blicourt and other towns in Picardy for above one hundred and fiftie thousand pounds a year 5. In bever demicaster and felt hats made in the city and suburbs of Paris besides many others made at Roven Lions and other places for about one hundred and twenty thousand pounds a year 6. In feathers belts girdles hatbands fans hoods masks gilt and wrought looking-glasses cabinets watches pictures cases medals tablets bracelets and other such like mercery ware for above one hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year 7. In pins needles box-combs tortois-shell combs and such like for about twenty thousand pounds a year 8. In perfumed and trimmed gloves that are made at Paris Roven Vendosme Clermont and other places for about ten thousand pounds a year 9. In papers of all sorts which are made at Auvergne Poictou Limosin Champaigne and Normandy for above one hundred thousand pounds a year 10 In all sorts of iron-mongers wares that are made in Forrests Auvergne and other places for about fourty thousand pounds a year 11. In linen cloth that is made in Britainy and Normandy as well course as fine there is transported into England for above four hundred thousand pounds a year 12. In houshold stuff consisting of beds matresses coverlids hangings fringes of silk and other furnitures for above one hundred thousand pounds a year 13. In wines from Gascoigne Nantois and other places on the river of Loyer and also from Bourdeaux Rochel Nante Roven and other places are transported into England for above six hundred thousand pounds a year 14. In aqua vitae sider vineger verjuice and such like for about one hundred thousand pounds a year 15. In saffron castle sope honey almonds olives capers prunes and such like for about one hundred and fiftie thousand pounds a year 16. Besides five or six hundred vessels of salt loaden at Maron Rochel Bouage the isle of Oleron and isle of Rhee transported into England and Holland of a very great value So as by this calculation it doth appear that the yearly value of such commodities as are transported from France to England amount to above six and twenty hundred thousand pounds And the commodities exported out of England into France consisting chiefly of woollen clothes serges knit stockings lead pewter allum coals and all else do not amount to above ten hundred thousand pounds a year By which it appears that our trade with France is at least sixteen hundred thousand pounds a year clear lost to this kingdom Whereby the King of France finding it would prove to his loss to forbid the trade with England soon laid aside the designe however raised the customs of some of our English commodities by which means the vent of those commodities is very much lessened and hindred Hereby it may appear how insensibly our treasure will be exhausted and the nation begger'd whil'st we carelesly neglect our own Interest and strangers abroad are diligent to make their advantages by us But most of these evils would be easily prevented if onely his Majesty would be pleased â—o commend to his people by his own example the esteem and value he hath of his own commodities in which the greatest Courtier may be as honourably clad as in the best dress Paris or a French Taylour can put him in besides it seems to be more honourable for a King of England rather to become a pattern to his own people then to conform to the humours and fancies of other nations especially when it is so much to his prejudice This alone without further trouble would be at least ten hundred thousand pounds a year to the advantage of his people for the Courtiers always endeavour to imitate the Prince being desirous to obtain his favour which they can no way better do then by approving his actions in being of like humour and the Court being the copy that the Gentry strive to write after and the rest of the people commonly follow it appears of what great consequence and advantage the good example of a Prince is to the benefit of his people And whereas it sometimes hath been thought prudence in a Prince to forbid and discountenance the excess of apparel in his Subjects whereby many of the nobility themselves have ruined their families and most of the Gentry have been impoverished whereby the great expence and waste of treasure in that vanity doth appear yet I conceive in a