'TIS very well known, that since the Discovery of the East and West Indies, and increase of Navigation thereon, the state of Europe in general, and every Nation in it in particular, is much altered, more especially in the course of War; for where­as before it was supplied by Souldiers, either voluntary or bound thereto by Tenure of Lands, who found their own Arms and Cloaths, and for a certain time Pro­visions; so that War was but of little Expence to the State, and often decided by a Field-Battle (as that be­tween Algiers and Tunis last Year) whereupon the Men went every one home again to his own House; now we see all corners of Europe crouded with listed, disciplined, and standing Armies in Pay, which as it cannot be done without huge Funds of Money, and the Ancient Demesnes of Princes not sufficing, Taxes are every where increased on the Subject; to the end the Foun­tains of which may be kept open, as 'tis reciprocally needful the State should by all means consult increase of Wealth to the People, (no other ways supplied so well as by Home Manufacture and Foreign Trade) accord­ingly a change of the Management of War in Europe is not more obvious, than the Methods used to furnish ne­cessary deniers for it in the Subject: Therefore in this [Page 2] Age, not only Republicks, but even the most Absolute Monarchies, do sedulously court Improvement of their Wealth by Trade, witness France and Sweden, Florence, nay, the Popedom; nor are we so to dread the Monster Arbitrary Power, as to conceive the same Considera­tions that lead every Man to proportion Burdens to the strength of his Animal, and yield a Pasture to the Milch Kine, will not also cherish so much Mercy and Good­ness in the worst Princes, as not to extort more from their Subjects than they have any Means or Ability to raise.

Nothing is more demonstrative than (point d'Argent, point de Suisse) no Money, no Souldiers; and no greater obstruction to the Success of Arms than want of Pay, besides the increasing use of Fortifications, Artillery, and Fire-Engines is costly; wherefore that State which has most Money, may have most Men, and will be most like to have her Enterprizes succeed: Whoever thinks the Valour of a few may counter-balance the Numbers of an Enemy, or that an unexperienced Army can stand against a Veterane, will run mighty hazard of being deceived; and tho' the English Ancient Victories in France were sufficient to breed in us a conclusion of the former, yet now a change of the Discipline of Arms puts Men under a nearer equality, so that whoever considers the course of our late and present Wars, may observe the A­gressor mostly to exceed in Number; besides War now adays is not determined by Point of Honour, and Dint of Sword, so much as by manifold Intrigues, wherein Gold has obtained the Reputation of a Vertue Superla­tive.

As an Alteration of the state of War in Europe requires unusual Supplies of Money from the Subject, 'tis as cer­tain that the support of Estates in Peace does now also call for Supplies much enhanc'd of those in former Ages, [Page 3] for Demesnes, the Ancient support of Crowns, are gene­rally embezelled, the Nature and Form of Courts, the Course of Alliances, Intrigues, and Negotiations are al­tered, Officers of all sorts multiplied, Frauds complicate and inveterate, besides the accurrence of standing Troops. Wherefore I conclude some extraordinary care is to be taken, that increase of Wealth in the Subjects may enable them to bear such new Burdens; for if maintenance of the State require increase of Revenue when the Subject's Purse is exhausted, as in the present case of Denmark, it must needs make both King and People uneasie; and whatever Country this happens in, will be exposed to danger of becoming a Prey to some other.

To draw down a Consideration of the Premises to a nearer relation with England, I take for granted Money is now more than ever the Nerve of War, and Trade the great Minister of Wealth; and if every Nation in Europe be Armed at all Points, that a Posture of Defence, even in Peace, is necessary to be maintain'd by us; 'tis a greater Blessing than the unthankful People of England esteem it, to have the Ocean for our Circumvallation and Bar­rier, which Fences us against Surprize and Ravages, ex­cuses the Charge and Terror of Garrisons and Fortifica­tions, and continues to us that Quiet, Liberty, and Secu­rity of former Ages, all the rest of Christendom, more or less, have lost; nevertheless an Island must have a Line also of moving Castles, Marine Force is so increas'd, and all Maritim Nations provided for Invasion, that we ought to conclude our selves no longer safe than our Naval Strength is superiour, or at least equal to that of our Neighbours.

To speak of Power at Sea, and the Advantages it gives Possessors of it, is a very large Theme, and we need not go back to Tyre, Athens, Carthage, Venice, and the Bar­barous Normans or Danes to enquire into her Wonders, [Page 4] our late and more experienc'd Ages yield as fruitful In­stances: Trade and Power at Sea are productive one of another, the former indeed seems Naturally entituled to Parental Honour, though she can no more slourish with­out Protection of Authority, than the Royal Navy with­out her, so that a Discourse of them may run as of one Interest. In the Invasions of the Romans, Saxons, Danes, and Normans, this Isle was unequal to them in Ships at those Junctures, though at several other times it was, and ever since the last has been upon the Offensive, and so exempted from the Broils of Europe, more at leisure to become Umpire and Ballance of it; even since increase of Navigation we have (blessed be God) been so happy as to maintain a Force at Sea, which has given Terror to other Nations rather than Encouragement to Invade us; but should it ever arrive (which God forbid) to have the Tables turned upon us, the ill Effects would be so much greater as our Security from such Attempts has hitherto been, our Coasts being easie of Access, and not so planted with Forts as those long accustom'd to De­fence; and the Union of Scotland and Ireland, which wholly rely on us, does not diminish but increase our necessity of Strength at Sea.

Before Discovery of the East and West-Indies, there was little Traffick in the Ocean, the Hans-Towns and Flemings had what was; but when Spain had of a sud­den by the Spoils of America, so over-topt the rest of Europe, as to make some fair offers for the Universal Monarchy of it, other Nations became enquirers after those Mines, and among them all, none made more Suc­cessful Advances to a Participation with her than Eng­land; the History of Queen Elizabeth, and our large Plantations give Evidence of it, and under that Illustri­ous Queen our Navigation reach'd the West-Indies and Muscovy; the Traffick of the Hans-Towns was here [Page 5] extinguisht, and our East-India, Turkey (if not Afri­can) Companies had their Foundations. How Navi­gation since has improved with us, the whole World can Witness, and that we may continue to equal, or exceed every Nation on Earth, is, if God permit, not improbable, our Stituation, Harbours, Productions, Ma­nufactures, Genius, Timber, and Nautick Skill afford­ing all Encouragements to hope it.

Every Country in measuring its own Strength, must taken in a Computation of her Neighbour's to make a right Estimate thereof, and 'tis this Consideration alone which can give Jealousie to our Honour and Welfare: The Neighbour-Nations which can only affect us, ei­ther to Eclipse our Glory, disturb our Quiet, or endan­ger our Safety, are France, Spain, Holland, Denmark, and Sweden; Spain, Denmark, and Sweden are as yet un­able to Enterprize on us, so that Holland and France on­ly fall under a watchful Consideration.

Holland (whose Seven Provinces are little more in extent than Yorkshire) is well known to have received the Birth of her Common-wealth since increase of Na­vigation, and is formed entirely to Encouragement of it; what Wealth, Strength, and Consideration in Eu­rope she has obtained by that means, needs no Proof: Moreover the long Wars, wherein she first lift up her Head, and scarce intermitted, with which she has been since exercised, have trained her to Modern Discipline of Arms, and enured her Subjects to such Taxes, that about 30000 Souldiers, and between 30 and 40 Men of War are maintained by her in time of Peace, and more than doubled in War without difficulty; Power­ful Fleets, and standing Armies, and established Funds for them, are things which ought to give Jealousie; nevertheless increase of Wealth seems her chief aim, she has Enemies at Land, her Government not composed [Page 6] for Foreign Conquests no more than the Genius of the People, and England has many Advantages of her both for War and Trade.

However I shall Remark here, that as Trade in Eng­land arose and has thriven, chiefly through the Advan­tages of Nature, and Genius of her People; in Holland it neither arose from the Productions of the Soyl, as in Aegypt and the Baltick; or from the peculiar Manu­factures of her People, as in France, and some Towns in Germany; or from Accident, as in Spain and Portu­gal; or from meer Necessity, as in Venice and Genoa; or from the Amaenity of her Clime, all four Elements conspiring to thwart it; or from Situation, for when standing on the same Platform with Flanders, she was infinitely out-stript by it; but plainly from the Interest of Trade being interwoven with her Original Scheme of Government: And 'tis from a steady pursuit of that Policy she has Triumphed over Nature, and Envy of Crowned Heads, and lives like a Salamander in the Flames of War, which consume all besides her. From this Ex­ample I crave leave to infer, that the Bon-minn of a Government is more Productive of Commerce than all Advantages of Nature.

Nevertheless, for Reasons above-mentioned, Holland is not to be feared, in comparison with France, the Scourge of this Age, which has a People Martial in their Nature, or made so by Discipline of some Ages, and stands possest of all the Arts of War, and whose immoderate Success has justly alarm'd all Christendom, though we might sit unconcerned, were not her Naval Force also proportionably increas'd. The Crown of France, Anno 1624. was not Owner of one Ship, but hired of her own Subjects, and of England and Holland those she then used to Assault Rochell. Cardinal Richlieu in that Juncture came to the Management of Affairs, [Page 7] and observing thereon how France lay open to the Arms of England, made it his principal care to provide a­gainst such an Inconvenience, and so effectually, that Anno 1637. France set out her first Line of Battle, con­taining above 50 Ships, and 20 Galleys, with which she recovered the Islands of St. Margaret and Honorat near Thoulon, then possess'd by the Spaniards; and Anno 1642. Richlieu dying, left above an Hundred Ships and Galleys, with Stores suitable, in the Royal Arsenals: how her Fleets have been increased since, to the Terror of Italy, Spain, and all the Mediterranean Shores, let Histories relate; I only observe, that England has been so far from forbidding her to build Ships of War in the Ocean (as 'tis said Queen Elizabeth did to Henry the Fourth) that we have been at least unconcerned Specta­tors, if not Contributors to it; nevertheless we have little felt the Effects of a stupid Contempt of that For­midable Growth till this War, wherein France has twice disputed even Dominion of the Channel.

France was so unacquainted formerly with the Sea, that her Language wants a proper term for the word, Fleet; and it appears, that though the Native Riches and Extent of the Country might enable her Monarch to maintain a Royal Navy without the subservience of an answerable Trade, yet that also was cultivated by the care of Richlieu; for Rochel and the Cautionary Towns being subdued Anno 1630. the Protestants were for many Years indulged Liberty: And 'twas found France had Materials of her own Growth for Building and Rig­ging Ships; from 1642, to Anno 1660, became a Paren­thesis as to this matter, through the Confusions of her pre­sent King's Minority, and a Civil War, but since that time Plantations have been Established and Improved in the West-Indies, an East-India Company formed by Royal Charter, with great Priviledges, Fishery encouraged, Har­bours, Channels, and all Conveniences to Traffick cul­tivated, [Page 8] Manufactures invented, and wonderfully im­proved, Customs on Port Trade above all Taxes avoided, Courts of Merchants for deciding all Affairs of Com­merce establish'd in most of her Great Cities; in fine, no Contemptible Trade has been raised in the Mediter­ranean from Marseilles, and I question if Dunkirk is more improved by Land in Fortifications, than by Sea in Traffick and Shipping since 'twas ours.

Dominion of the British Seas, especially the Chan­nel, is not only an undoubted Prerogative and Right of the Crown of England, but the brightest Gem in it: To the Nation 'tis a Wall of Brass, and the greatest Bulwark of our Religion, Laws, and Properties; with­out which all other Provisions will be too short to se­cure them: And should France ever obtain it, how heavy would the Yoak of our Slavery be, or Conflict diffi­cult to prevent it? Her Coast runs Parallel to ours, her Armies are above 300000 Men, her Gentry Nu­merous and Warlike, Pretensions she never wants to her Neighbours Possessions, nor Ambition, Reason of State, or Envy of our Wealth, nor Thrist of Revenge for our Ancient Glories over them; we may confidently aver, that the Miseries of this Island under the Roman, Saxon, Dane, and Norman Invasions, and all their Ra­vages, Cruelties, and Impositions, would be far ex­ceeded by those the Tyranny of France would bring with it, with more danger of continuance also: So much is said only to awaken us from that profound Security, our former Victories over her, a flourishing Power at Sea, Dominion of the Channel, and long Peace have nourish'd in us.

But to withdraw our Eyes from so black a Prospect, and be satisfied that the Gracious God has cut out so much Work for France, there's no fear of that Dilemma during this War; our Wealth accumulated by long [Page 9] Peace, good Condition of the Navy Royal, and mighty Stock of Shipping for Trade at beginning of the War, with a Powerful Consederacy by Land, Conjunction with Holland by Sea, and Renowned Vertue of our King, cannot fail (under God) to secure from it: But whereas Trade has extreamly suffered, and our Losses in it been such, as must have overwhelmed any other Nation, and which, unless better secured and improved, will doubtless expire in few Years, our National Wealth, and Naval Power must find much difficulty to survive, when Holland increased in the one, and France in the other by our Spoils, shall become more Formidable to us.

Whereas Wealth is now the Measure of every Na­tion's Strength, more than the Valour of its Natives, (the latter being enslaved, and only subservient to the Goddess Money, as in the instance of Switzerland) and this War is much more destructive to the Wealth of England, than to that of any other Country concerned in it; 'tis a Consideration, which, though it ought not to lessen our Devotion to so good a Cause, yet ought to excite us to furnish our selves with the means of pur­suing and more effectually promoting it, a Supply of Souldiers being much easier found than Money; in like manner, whereas the Barrier of our Island is a Naval Force, our Loss supposed of 2000 Ships, whereof near 1000 gained to the Enemy, the decay of our Native Timber, and inhancement in Price of Foreign, the Transmigration of Trafick, and a Check upon the Bra­very of our Seamen, require us to retrieve all by double Diligence, since the strong Confederacy now against France may in our particular future Exigence no Wayes be safely relyed on.

Upon the whole, I know nothing so probable to re­instate England in her Treasure exhausted, and Naval Strength perishing by this War, as some new Securities and Encouragements to Commerce; if all that has been desired of the Government had been consulted in its Favour, and our Losses came only from the unavoidable stroak of Heaven, or usual Fate of Arms, it were Cri­minal, and highly unworthy to Complain; but that the Cruisers and Convoys appointed by King and Par­liament, have been defective in their Duty, and that Complainants have found little Regard or Redress from the Lords of our Admiralty, is too notorious: This is said in relation only to Losses in the present War, but as to new Securities and Advantages requirable to Re­deem us from the Fatal Consequences of those Losses, we must insist on former and long Grievances to Trade, under which, though it has been able heretofore to struggle, yet there are many Reasons to fear it cannot possibly for the future; which Reasons are taken from a change of the Balance of Trade and Naval Power in Europe, which this War has already, and must further produce.

Some Papers touching the Balance of Trade have been Printed, wherein is seen how all Countries em­ploy their study to render it Advantagious, in particu­lar, before this War 'tis plain how France for Twenty Years preceding had gradually beaten out our Exporta­tions thither, and turned the Balance vastly to her own Advantage; several other Countries have done the like by us of late Years, in particular, touching Woollen Cloath, generally now Fabrick'd by those who used to be fur­nish'd hence; so as whoever will give himself the pains to enquire into the Acquests other Nations have made upon our Trade, and then add the dismal Effects of this War, will find no solid Grounds to expect that England [Page 11] should recover her former Glory, Wealth, and Domi­nion at Sea, without some new Advantages to Traffick from the Government; which if it had in any propor­tion to what other Countries give (as already instan­ced) the God of Nature has so bountifully supplied all furtherances, we should no doubt out-strip our Emulous Neighbours, and perhaps out-shine our Ancient Glories; for to Vindicate and Entail our Dominion of the Seas, I account more desirable, than to sound our Trumpets again in the Gates of the Louvre.

If a Man went about to enumerate Immunities and Advantages Holland gives Trade, it would be said, he had an inclination to such a Government as that; where­fore I here declare once for all, I no more envy Holland its Government than I do France, and I prefer our Constitution before any other whatever; I know nothing wherein 'tis so defective as in the Argument be­fore us, and if Navigation was more encouraged, no ways apprehend how the Royal Prerogative would be invaded by it, any more than the Priviledges of Parlia­ment, or Liberties of the People; nor would it be ex­pected that a Monarchy abounding in Territory, should pursue the Methods of Commerce in a Common-wealth, which has nothing else to trust to, any more than that a Gentleman, who may Hunt every day within his own Grounds, should put himself behind a Counter: If any say, Commerce cannot be so consulted in a Monarchy as a Common-wealth, I see no reason for such a Con­clusion from the Nrture of the thing, and am not of that mind; for though in former Ages Common-wealths have generally most abounded in it, that has arose chiefly from their Situation, want of Terra firma, or some o­ther Accident, and does not amount to a Conclusion against Monarchy; for Trade was in all Ages, till with­in [Page 12] little more than a Hundred Years past, counted a contemptible thing, as it is still by some Mighty and Famous Kingdoms, and is indeed but a Modern System of Politicks, little descanted on by the greatest Writers and Professors of that Science, and so not only out of the way of our Domestick Studies, but esteemed un­happily descrepaut with them, though in those King­doms wherein it has been cultivated, I do not see but Trade has slourish'd by as hasty degrees as in any Com­mon-wealths: I confess, where the Monarchy is Abso­lute, there can be no Security for any thing; and unless the Prince's Wisdom over-rules and pursues the good of Trade, as a Maxim of State, Merchandize must be more obnoxious to Rapine than Inheritances of Land; but where the Will of the King is circumscribed by Laws, there is as much Security as can be in a Com­mon-wealth, and I can see no Obstacle to the Encou­ragement of Trade, so the State conclude it her appa­rent Interest.

Under the House of Burgundy how did Commerce flourish at Antwerp and Bruges, several Ages before the Rabid Fury of the Duke D' Alva? Never did Naviga­tion more Improve in any Country than ours under Queen Elizabeth, People were safe in the increase of their Estates, and her Prerogative was neither Eclipsed, or her Learning tarnish'd by it. France did not pro­pound it a Care worthy of the State till about Sixty Years ago; what stupendious Advances has she made? And but for that Check given by the mistaken Politicks of extirpating Protestants, how much greater might they not have been? We might observe the same things of Portugal, Florence, Sweden, and others; but whereas they have been only under certain Princes, and at cer­tain Periods, and followed by intervals of Relaxation, [Page 13] besides that I suppose it no other Fate than has attended Common-wealths which have past their Zenith, and declined, I will observe that among the Princes of all those Nations before cited, the wisest and bravest have given most Encouragement to Navigation and Com­merce; and in the Periods they have had their highest Ascendant, Navigation and Commerce have rather con­tributed as a Cause, than followed as an Effect only. From all which Instances I infer, there is nothing per­taining to the Essence of Monarchy, which contradicts the Argument pleaded for.

As to England, if Navigation be the Source of her Wealth, and Wall of her Defence, and after this War, will be the only means of maintaining such a Fleet in readiness, as can continue the Blessings of Liberty de­rived from our Ancestors, and will be to us a better Se­curity than Fortifications, Garrisons, and Armies, and will establish on our Island the Glory of being the Ba­lance of Europe; 'tis therefore concluded the greatest Interest we have to pursue, and being no ways Injurious to Royalty, we may promise our selves from His Ma­jesty, who has already acquired Heroick Immortality in our Rescue from Fatal Miseries, whatever is needful to preserve us from the like in futurity. And His Ma­jesty's Gracious Concessions to Scotland, in a late Act of Trade, are a particular Pledge to us of his Royal Favour in any suitable Requests for England.

As I have referred the Reader already to several Books and Papers Printed of Trade, to make some Computation of the Ballance of it, so I must here to inform himself of the particular Incumbrances on it; in general I beg leave to say, that several Countries in Europe, nay, Monarchies, give more Encourage­ment, [Page 14] and study the Advancement of it more, and if Traffick with us stand upon daily increasing Disadvan­tages, in Comparison to other Nations, 'tis not like to remain long with us; whether the Alteration of the Exchange lately to most Foreign Parts, of near 20 per Cent. Prejudice to England, be not a sad Symptom of her approaching Exit, I leave others to Judge, though if our own Naval Power and Wealth were to be con­tinued without her, that Consideration would have no­thing of dismal in it; 'tis plain His Most Excellent Ma­jesty sees clearly a Necessity of some new Provisions on this behalf, by that Gracious Proposal of Laws for the Advancement of Trade, in his Speech to this Parlia­ment, and for the Subject in cases wherein the usual Methods are not adequate to new Emergencies, there our proper Remedy must be sought in Parliament.

The several disadvantages of Trade are not hereby pro­posed to be insisted on, our Parliament is too Numerous a Body to have Particulars Examined, Debated, and Re­solved; the generality of her Members unacquain­ted with Trade, the Houses taken up with multiplicity of Business, besides a time of War is not seasonable for such a Disquisition; howbeit some of her Grievances have already been touch'd, and in part relieved by Par­liament, as in the Act appropriating 43 Convoys or Cruisers for Ensurance of Traffick near our Coasts du­ring the War; but alas, there are most Conveniences in Port, and those who buy Places are not over-officious to lose their Lives; whereas the same under Direction of the Merchants might have saved probably above half our Losses. The Sum of what is fit to be requested of our Representatives is, for the Considerations herein before mentioned, and for as much as the Ancient Bo­roughs of the Kingdom have desisted from the Origi­nal [Page 15] Scheme of sending Resident Members (and no doubt in all regards, except Trade, more to the Kingdom's be­nefit) and it would be Interruption to other urgent Af­fairs in the Sessions of Parliament to descend into the detail of Merchantil, That An Act might Pass to Consti­tute A Council of Merchants, Sedentary at London, and vested with Powers only adapted to Improvement and Security of home Manufacture and Foreign Trade for the future.

Only the allowable Passion of Love to his Native Soil, and no particular Loss at Sea, or Personal Interest in Traffick (the Author no whit concerned) dictates these Lines, and he would rejoyce as much to see the End consulted by any other means as these here pro­posed. I find on the Restauration, King Charles pro­mised to erect a like Council, from his own Obser­vation of the wonderful Benefit of such in Foreign Parts, and need of it for the welfare of Trade in Eng­land. In fine, the Committees at Whitehall, if com­posed of Merchants, might have produced desired Ef­fects: The proper work of this proposed Council might be during War, to offer Directions to the Admiralty for Assignation of the Convoys (as best Judges of the dangers of Ships) and prescribe time of Sailing to our most distant Voyages. In Peace, to enquire narrowly into the Balance of Trade with every Nation, to exa­mine due making of Manufactures, to draw up Results and Methods for Improvement of Navigation and Com­merce, and intend studiously the welfare of them in every regard; in some cases to determine of themselves, in others to have recourse to the Privy-Council or Ad­miralty, in others to digest Matters for Information or Sanction of Parliaments. All which may be easily con­trived to the vast emolument of the Kingdom, without [Page 16] intersering (I conceive) with any part of our Consti­tution.

But if any love Contention, I think whoever seeks an Interest for the People separate from that of the Crown, and those who desire one in the Crown destru­ctive to the People's, are equally Publick Enemies; and I wish there was in the Political the same Care, Sympa­thy, and Tenderness, as is in the Members of a Natu­ral Body. It would be easie to accumulate particular Advantages from the Expedient mentioned, to the King and Parliament distinctly, besides the general ones al­ready quoted, and those peculiar to Tradesmen; but suppose the Clergy and Nobility should not find herein any particular Interests, yet the same Principles of Con­science and Honour which lead them in other things, will direct to concur to the National in this; and since it comprehends equal Provision for all Classes of Trade, I exhort those concerned not to bury themselves so much in the welfare of their particular Companies, or Perso­nal Concerns, as to despise or neglect that of others and future Ages, no Man more auspiciously consulting Pri­vate Wealth by other means, than by serving his Gene­ration, he may inward Peace, and future Blessedness.

Wherefore let a Bill be tendred this Parliament, with a Computation of Losses to the Port of London since the War, as a Foundation of praying the above said Re­medy, and there is reason to hope Success, since 'tis no more than needs, to set us on some tolerable Level with other Nations, and perpetuate Wealth and Navigation, which are the Security of England, no more than right Reason dictates that Merchants should direct in Affairs of Traffick, no more than the Nature and End of Cu­stoms warrant to expect, no more than has been [Page 17] granted the Scots in their last Session of Parliament, and His Majesty in his late Gracious Speech to ours, in­vites to sue for; and God forbid our chief Interest for preserving this Kingdom, should through our own de­fault be lost under the best King it has had some Hun­dred Years; for however invaluable Blessings otherwise we enjoy under this Government, they are all lodged in the Vessel of the Common-wealth, and must Ship­wrack with it.