THE ADVOCATE.  
LONDON, Printed by William Dugard, Printer to the Council of STATE. 1651.   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE Council of State.  
Right Honourable!  
I Am often in very great doubt (if I may so speak), That the Goodness & Wisdom of God, & his Thoughts of these, are very rarely met with, in the Paths, which the scantling of Man's Reason and Judgement walk in; And as I dare not but own the Belief of the Coming of his Appearance, and the breaking forth, very shortly, of his Glory: So I believ likewise, this will be a sight very strange, and very unexpected to men; and not only greatly above, but in some measure even contrary (and perhaps, very ) unto the most enlarged and raised thoughts we have yet prepared our selus with, to Receiv it.  
The sign of which Coming, will be the Detection, by little and little, of all Imposture, and the laying of all things low, naked, and mean before him; the stripping men of that Honour, Credit, and Repute, that they had by several means been gaining with themselves, and (by themselves) with others, either through a Not-knowledg, or through an artificial concealing of themselves.  
In these very things lying, and within these indeed, being spent and consumed, the whole Endeavours, Practice, Study and Wisdom (if not Religion) of All, State's, Nations and Men, viz.  
Either in devising shifts (by acquisition of such and such Habits, or otherwise) not to appear uncomely to themselves, but to beget rather an esteem and satisfaction of themselves;  
Or, in Concealing and keeping close (by several Glosses) the Imperfections and uncomlinesses, (known to themselves) from the sight and apprehensions of others.  
The most exquisite humane Wit exceeding the more inferior only in this, That the former is able to find out more Tied and exquisite Textures for itself then the other; And the most Fortunate man in this world, having the Advantage of the more Unfortunate, but after the same manner also, viz. That the Covering of this falls off a little sooner, and the other wrap's himself up in it a while longer.  
And thus all Lusts, (as well those of Acquisition) in the mind (as others to exterior things) both in their first Issue forth, and also in the Accomplishments of them, are still but to give countenance unto, and keep up a Repute and Esteem in us. The Assumption (on the other side) of Repute and Esteem to our selus, is the very ground and original of all Lusts (These two, observing tune, and keeping time each to the measures and motions of the other) and within this Circle is concluded whole Humane Nature, with all the Parts, and the most perfect Actious of it.  
Upon these Thoughts (Right Honourable!) I finding none not very ready to have ascribed to himself the name of being (in some measure) wise, find none that can endure the Manifestation (in any kind) of their Folly; or that can be willing to have this their Wisdom and Glory to be flatly and plainly called Pageantry, Mumming, or a playing at Bopeep with themselves and others; and yet (it really being no honester) if we cannot bear the Judgements thus one of another, how shall we abide the Trial, or be able to stand before the Judgement of God, which seethe us, (and will shortly search us) with more pure and uncorrupt Eyes? And how miserably then are the Imaginations of men muffled up in their own dress? when the Truth is our Beings, at their best (natural, or acquired) Appearances, are yet such feigned subsistences, and Propped up with such fundamental mistakes of themselves, that they would moulder and shatter themselves to pieces, should they be taken quite asunder from the disguises and patchings they have put upon themselves, bare-facedly and undeceivedly to see themselves but one half hour.  
Being convinced, by these thoughts, therefore (Right Honourable!) of the low Condition we are herein, I not knowing what the Councils of God intent to bring forth for the settlement of this Nation; Nor how he hath resolved in his Wisdom to dispose of it, as to its outward Condition, whether He intends we shall be oppressed by other Nations about us, that he may the more manifest his Power and Protection over us: Or that we shall be advanced in prosperity above others, that so he may perhaps show us our vanity (the Casting of the Scale either way in appearance much depending upon the present Councils) I say, not knowing This, I can as little Judge what means Providence will pleas to use in order to the bringing to pass these his purposes, whether he will choose This, or reject That.  
But in this Case, remembering the advice of Solomon, and 
Eccles. 11. 5, 6.  knowing nothing (for I can affirm it but as to mine own understanding) that hath presented itself of more Import to be looked after, or to be very heedfully taken into Consideration, than Matters of Trade (if we shall either regard the Safety, unanimity or Defence of this Nation) Nor any other way possible but This, to preserv and maintain this Country: calling also to mind, how many times I have heard it urged, That there is no other means to quiet or keep up the spirits of the poorer sort of people: No other to give them Employment, or to find a vent and Encouragement for their Labours (when they have wrought) and consequently no other to provide against the wants and distempers of them, and of the Generality, but solely by Trade, and by a due Order and Regulation of it. All these things making up a strong Affection in me, I judged it my duty (Right Honourable!), and what necessarily became the faithfulness I owe to the Commonwealth's service, to indevor the representing of this Truth (for your honour's fuller Information) with the clearest Grounds and demonstration I could, which being a thing that did much depend upon Experience, I knew not how to bring this more home, then by propounding a Precedent; and such an one as is still in sight, which may at once witness, The Advantage of Trade, By themselves, and the benefit they found by it; The Disadvantage of neglecting it, By what they brought upon us; And the clear way of Governing it, By the Courses they Actually took, and have practised to effect both these.  
All which Conceptions, nevertheless, are with all humbleness Submitted By  
Your Honour's servant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.   

THE ADVOCATE: OR, A NARRATIVE Of the state and condition of things between the English and Dutch Nation, in relation to TRADE, and the consequences depending thereupon, to either Commonwealth; as it was presented in August 1651.  
IT hath been a thing for many years generally received, That the Design of Spain (and which, to this day, he still in his Councils carry's on) is, to get the Universal Monarchy of Christendom. Nor is it a thing less true (how little soever observed) that our Neighbours [the ] (after they had settled their Liberty, and been a while encouraged by Prosperity) have, likewise, for some years, aimed to lay a foundation to themselves for engrossing the Universal Trade, not only of Christendom, but indeed, of the greater part of the known world; that so they might poiz the Affairs of any other State about them, and make their own Considerable, if not by the Largeness of their Country; yet, however, by the Greatness of their Wealth; and by their potency at Sea, in strength and multitude of Shipping.  
For the clear and certain carrying on of which, there being none (that was) like to be so great a Bar to them, in this their Aim, as the English Nation; nor any that lay so conveniently to keep up a Proportion of Trade with them. It concerned them, therefore, by all means and ways possible to discourage and beat out the English in all places of Trade, as far (at least) as was discreet for them, without too much Alaruming them; or having too early or hasty a Breach with them.  
Their particular Practices to which purpose in the East-Indies, at Guiny, Greenland, Russia, with the several unfair Carriages (of some among them) to us, in those places; and even in our own Seas, is not intended to be here mentioned: It sufficeth, that these following Advantages they had clearly gotten above us:  
1. In the great Trade they did drive to East-land, and to the Baltic Sea; for Masts, Timber, Hemp, Pitch, Tar, Copper, Iron, Salt-peter, all sorts of Grain, Pot-ashes, etc. the like most necessary Commodities.  
2. In their Herring-fishing; employing yearly upon the Coast of this Land only, above 2000 Sail of Shipping  
3. In the preserving and advancing their Manufactures; their Clothing Trade of late arising and increasing (as it is judged) to above 60000  yearly.  
4. In their East-India Trade; and by it, Monopolising three sorts of Spices almost to the whole world; as, Cloves, Nuts, and Mace, and lately much Cinnamon.  
The means whereby they have pursued and upheld these Advantages, were  
By the great number of Shipping they have constantly built; and by the manner of managing their Trade and Shipping, in a conformity and direction to their Grand End:  
For,  
1. Few Merchant's Ships among the Hollanders were Ships of much Defence, unless these going to India; and so they were neither at so great a Charge of Guns in building them; nor did carry a proportion of men, or victual (in setting them out) near, or answerable to English Shipping of the same Burden.  
2. Several Trades they did drive in Fleets, with great Flutes, or Vessels, having never a Gun at all in them, nor more men than would possibly sail them, as most of their East-land Trade, their Herring-Buss Trade, and their Salt Trade, which were driven after this manner.  
3. Those their Fleets were, and have been always carefully and constantly attended with a Convoy at the Public Charge; and which was always ready beforehand, and had their directions given them not from the State, but from the several Admiralties; whereby they were held to their duty, and strictly tied up to that service.  
4. Much of the Trade which they did drive to the Southward (not in Fleets, nor with Convoy, but in single Shipping) they would often ensure in England; so that when loss came, it was we sometimes that bore it, and our stock that was lessened and diminished by it.  
By all which means,  
1. They did engross the whole Trade of all bulky Commodities (to themselves singly), as Timber, Clap-board, Masts, Grain, Salt, etc.  
2. And were, in some Commodities, able to go as cheap again for Freight, as we: in some, half as cheap; and near in all, a full third penny cheaper than we.  
Which Cheapness of Freight produced again other great Advantages to themselves; For  
1. In some Commodities it was above 20 in the Hundred gain; in some 15; in others 10; and near 4 or 5 per Cent. in most; (which was a years Interest with them) And by which,  
2. They were sure to get the preference of the Market of us in other Countries, and if occasion were, to undersell us also as much per Cent. in all places, and upon all Trades; yea, sometimes in our own Commodities: And this together with an easy pretence of the unsafetie of our English shipping through our late Troubles.  
3. Compelled our Nation (that we might maintain a Stock going with them) to hire and fraught the Holland shipping, without which, indeed, we could not well have held up a Trade here with them, either out or home: And this being once begun by some, was immediately (by reason of the Advantage of it) followed by as many others as could: Which (though a good and beneficial expedient for the particular Merchant) begat notwithstanding several very great mischiefs to this Nation in general:  
For,  
1. By this we encouraged the building more and more of our Neighbour's Shipping, and discouraged our own; which hereupon were laid up by the walls in great numbers.  
2. We increased (by this) their great Trade for the Baltic Sea, and East-land, and gave them still the greater opportunity to make themselves the Mart and Masters over us, of all Commodities belonging to the building or furnishing of Shipping, whereby their Trade still came home in a Circle; they (like wise men) laying such a Cours, as one part of it strengthened another.  
3. We dis-obliged and discontented our own people and seamen, and insensibly weakened the strength and defence of this Nation: For by this course, we must at length have been reduced to have hired their Mariners, when we come to set out our Men of War: nor was it possible (had it held) to have prevented it.  
4. They, by this means, carried away much unnecessary Treasure out of this Nation, taken for freights; and so insensibly impoverished also this Country; our money occasioning a Luxe to their people, while our own Seamen starved at home for mere want, and through lack of employment.  
5. As the Cheapness of their Freight enabled them to undersell us abroad, in many Commodities carried to Foreign Markets by them, and by us, to sell: So it enabled them equally to overbid us abroad for the Foreign Commodities, which they and we bought, and to raise the price of them upon us, which while they had liberty to bring in hither, they either prevented our Merchant of the first of the Market, and then made us pay Sauce for them: or, if not, they carried them into their Country: on here watched the opportunity of another seasonable vent of them. And thus they served us; as for all our Norway, East-land, and Russia Commodities; so also lately in our Wines, Fruits, Oils, Currants, etc. which were the Commodities of Spain, Canaries, and the straits: By both these means (viz. by discouraging and beating us down abroad in the selling of some Commodities; and by raising and enhansing us abroad in the price, or buying up of others) concluding with themselves, to weary us out at length from all Trade, and to have the sole buying and selling of all Commodities for us.  
For this method and manner of managing their affairs, daily adding to Their stock, and answerably diminishing the Stock and Treasure of this Nation: and by laying it so, as it run thus in a Circle, each part of it (as we said) strengthening another part: it would unavoidably have tended to a greater and greater disenabling us to hold any Trade with them: and to have made themselves, for Wealth and Shipping, the Masters over us: Of sufficient testimony of which (over and above what we have said also) we might further see in the actual progress that they had gained upon us in our Shipping.  
For,  
1. In our Trade of East-land, whereas we did use formerly to send thither 200 Sail of Shipping in a year, we now did not send 16 Sail: The Hollanders in the mean time employing not less than 600 Sail thither; and whereby (had not a good Providence crossed or hindered a strict Alliance and Conjunction between some of those Eastern States and them) we must soon have given them their Price, and been at their disposing for all Commodities belonging to Shipping: and then it had been too great an hazard for us (by any Law made here) to have recovered our Trade from them.  
2. In our Plantations they had three, if not four Sail of Ships, for our one: whereas they never suffered us so much as to Trade at all in any place or Plantation settled by them.  
3. In India they have 20 Sail and above for our one.  
4. At Spain, Canaries, Zant, with several other places in the straits, where they formerly rarely laded hither one ship of Goods; they now lately laded hither more than we.  
And thus, in the way and manner of the managing the Trade in their shipping, lay much of their vigilancy to gain their advantage and design upon us.  
A second Cours (therefore) whereby they do and have upheld their Advantages above us, is, The greatness of the Stock they employ, which (as we now intimated) was more and more increased by the wisdom of this their Method in Shipping: And which, on the other side, as it did encreas and grow great, did enable them the more to give the Laws of Trade to us, both in the Government of the Exchange, and of the Markets abroad for Foreign Commodities.  
A third Cours for the gaining and upholding their Advantages of us, was, The singular and prudent care they took in preserving the Credit of most of those Commodities which are their own proper Manufactures; By which they keep up the Repute and Sale of them abroad; taking hereby a very great advantage of the contrary Neglect in us; and by this means, likewise, very much damnifying and spoiling us.  
Which that we may clearly see of what Import this one thing alone is to us, we shall here set down certain general Canons or Rules belonging to Manufactures.  
1. That although Divine Providence, in the greatness of his Wisdom, hath placed natural Commodities, some here, some there; yet no Manufacture or artificial Commodity, but may possibly be had or transplanted into any Country.  
2. That all Manufactures (especially such as are of Necessity) if they are of a certain goodness, They are (like Coin) of a certain value and price also; and so on the contrary.  
3. That two persons selling or making Commodities of a like goodness, he shall have the preference of the Market, that will sell them the cheapest: And so two Nations likewise.  
4. That the Cheapness of Manufactures, and artificial Commodities, doth altogether depend upon the plenty and cheapness of the matter, and upon the like cheapness of price, for Handie-labor.  
And these (though few) being unalterable Laws in all Manufactures, it cannot but be acknowledged, that it is through our want of the like Care, as our Neighbours, and only through that, that the Hollander hath any kind of Woollen Manufacture:  
For,  
1. The matter of no Woollen Manufacture groweth in his Country at all; but he is forced to fetch it from other places; whereas we have it here, within this Nation, plenty.  
2. The price of labour depending much upon the price of victuals, hous-rent, and other things necessary, It is certain (especially to any that know both Countries) that all this is much cheaper with us, then with our Neighbours, and are like so to be.  
3. Our Nation, as they were heretofore the only workmen of these Commodities; so none can excel them for Art, Skill, or Goodness, were but encouragement given them, and an Order, Regulation, and Government of the Manufactures settled among them: And therefore  
It is not our Neighbor's singular Industry above us, as it is the Carelessness of this Nation, in keeping our Manufactures to their due contents, weight, and goodness. Their Neglect in settling a Regulation, Government, and Superspection over them, and in Inflicting due and just punishments for the fals-making of them. That is (humbly conceived to be much) the Caus of the so great thriving of our Neighbor's Clothing, and of the so great Ruin and Decay (on the contrary) of our own Woollen Manufactures, and of the people depending upon them.  
A fourth Course taken by our Neighbours, Is, The Improvements of Trade that they have made by their Treaties or Articles of Confederations with other Princes; and by making this their Care and Protection of Trade abroad in all places their Interest of State. Thus taking hold of the Juncture of Circumstances, and making use of the Necessity of the King of Denmark, they have farmed the Sound of him: Thus also at the Treaty of Munster have they reserved a power of shutting us out of the Scheld, and have carefully in that Peace concluded on several other Articles and Provisions in order to the securing and promoting of their Traffic, And thus— etc.  
A fifth Cours (and not the least means for the upholding and increasing their Trade) Is, The smallness of their Custom, or Port-duties; also their prudent laying on and taking off Impositions, for the furtherance of their own Manufactures, and for the Encouragement of bringing in some, and Discouragement of bringing in other Commodities; and of which they have given us two ill Instances, The one in laying on a great Tax upon our English  and Manufactures; The other in forbidding our  wholly to be imported, if dressed or died in the Cloth; of both which we have had some cause to complain long, as being plainly an Inhibition of Commerce, and if not strictly against the Laws of Nations; yet at least against the Cours of Amity, Alliance, and Friendship.  
A sixth Cours hath been, The Constant Reward and Encouragement given to persons bringing in Inventions; making of new Discoveries, and propounding things profitable for public and common Interest: which (how little a thing soever it may seem to some, yet it) hath ever been, and is constantly, a very great spur to Industry.  
And these are humbly asserted to be the principal Causes of their so much greatness and flourishing in Trade above us.  
Other Causes that have been less principal and accessary to these, are,  
1. The Easiness or Lowness of Interest in that Country.  
2. The great facilitating of their Trade by a Bank.  
3. And last of all (the only thing proper to them) the dearness and scarcity of Land: and the dividing their Estates equally to their Children: whereby Trade is (as it were) continued in a Line without Interruption; the contrary being customary with us.  

Animadversion.  
All which Discourse being only an Evidence given in from matter of known fact; It will (as is humbly conceived) manifest itself.  

I.  
That our Neighbours have no such extraordinary advantage in matter of Trade, either through their Country, its Situation, or otherwise, as is proper or peculiar to them only, beyond all other Nations, as hath been long the opinion of some, but it is the manner of their Care, and of the Government that is among them, and the mere vigilancy of the Method observed by them:  
For,  
If the Nature of those Courses, which they have taken and pursued for the Encouragement of Trade, be looked into and considered (as they are obvious to any other that will pleas to heed them) it cannot be imagined but they shall make any people great, rich and flourishing in Trade; and therefore that they will do the like in any other place as well as in Holland, if put in execution, especially, if it be a place seated for Trade, and the people of the Country apt for it.   

II.  
It is presumed, That our Neighbours would not think it Just, if we should condemn them, merely for the taking these good Courses for themselves; or because they have given all Encouragements that were requisite to their Trade in their own Country: Much less than would they expect, that we should actually impute these things as Crimes to them, or ground hence any occasion to Estrange our selus, or make a Breach with them: Nor will they therefore (as it is hoped) take it more ill from us; if we (having now likewise recovered our Liberties) see the Necessity of providing for the Defence of this Commonwealth by Shipping (as being Islanders); or if we take up some of the like Courses as They, for the Encouragement of Trade among us: As without which, indeed, Shipping can neither be had, or maintained; which now also to neglect, were a very great Carelessness, and would, indeed, be an Argument rather of our being to be Blamed, then otherwise; having been so well taught, even by their own Example and Practice, That  
1. It is by Trade, and the due ordering and governing of it, and by no other means, that Wealth and Shipping can either be increased, or upheld; and consequently by by no other, that the power of any Nation can be sustained by Land, or by Sea: It being not possible (as is humbly thought) according to the Cours of humane affairs, for any Nation (having no Mines to supply itself) to make itself powerful in either of these (that is, either Money, or Shipping) without Trade, or a thorough Inspection into Trade, and the Cours of it.  
2. That it is by a Knowledge of Trade and Commerce, and the Cours of it, that one Nation or State knows perfectly how to straighten and pinch another, and to compel a Compliance from them, which may be, Either  
By debarring or deriving the Cours of some necessary Commodities from them; as for War, for Shipping, for Food, etc. Or  
By obstructing the Sale or Vent of the Native Commodities belonging to them: Or  
By weakening their Shipping, and dreyning them by degrees of their Treasure and Coin.  
By any of which Courses, if not spied, or (when spied, if) not able to be prevented, a People or Nation must at length be straightened and subjected: and every one of which Inconveniencies we were very manifestly liable unto (as appears by the foregoing Narrative) through the Advantages our Neighbours had over us, and through the Wisdom of those Courses they had laid in their Trade with us: we being so near pinched, that it had been very hard, fairly to have wrested our selus out of the Nets of our Neighbours, had Sweden been as much shut to us, as Denmark; and that the King of Poland likewise could have exercised his arbitrary Power on us at Dantzick: And had not (at length) that Cours about our Shipping and Navigation been so happily and timely established by the Parliament: which, as the Necessity of it could not suddenly be so well judged of by those that had not considered or been acquainted with the substance of the foregoing Relation: So certainly, being laid upon so equal and Necessary Grounds, if continued to be exercised, It will be a means, in some measure, to recover us.  
For besides what we said of the Constraint, that for the foregoing causes, lay upon us, It must even, from the Primitive grounds of Reason, be acknowledged, That a Commonwealth cannot be enriched, nor the People thereof provided for, by any other means, then by reducing those very Courses into general Practice, which are used by Private men; And Therefore as Private men, that buy and sell to suit the Conveniencies of others, as well as themselves, do Constantly observe these, or the like Rules:  
1. To buy at the first or best hand, or there, where they may have the Commodity cheapest.  
Answerable to which, Is,  
To fetch Commodities at the Immediate places of their Production, or Growth.  
2. To carry Commodities to places where they are most needed.  
Answerable to which, Is,  
To send all Native Commodities to their farthest, or utmost Market, where they yield greatest price.  
So these Canons and Rules must be as inviolably observed also by any Nation who will pretend an Interest, hope, or benefit from Trade: otherwise they may justly be reproved of less Care and Knowledge, then common or ordinary Shopkeepers. Which Rules, notwithstanding, are not to be pursued, nor can be imitated, without giving all the possible Indulgence and Encouragement, that may be, to Shipping.  
And this whole state of things, and these reasons that have been produced, being all of them duly and equally considered, It is hoped, little will remain of Dis-satisfaction (or Objection upon us) about the PARLIAMENT's late Act for the Encouragement and Increase of our Navigation; Which was, indeed, the Thing principally propounded to be here Argued, and the Censure of which is therefore freely Submitted.  
FINIS.