THE present Trade of this powerful Republick being formed out of that of many Nations, it will not be im­proper briefly to observe the several Changes the Trade or Commerce of Europe underwent, and on what Footing it stood, at the time the Dutch began to form themselves into a Common-Wealth.

It is about Six Hundred Years ago, that Trade, which was almost ruined by those con­tinual [Page 2]Wars that troubled Europe, began to revive and flourish under the Italians and Ger­mans. The former of these, after the Ruine of the Roman Empire, went into the Levant for Spices, Druggs, Silks, and all the other valuable Commodities those Eastern Climes produced, to dispose of, and sell them again in all Parts of Europe. Alexandria, and some other Ports of Syria, were the Places where this Trade was principally carried on, and which were supplied from time to time, with all these Sorts of Commodities, by the Asiaticks, both by Land and Sea, and by the Persians and Arabians, by means of the Red Sea; and this was the constant Practice both of Greeks and Romans, especially since the Reign of Pto­lomy surnamed Philadelphus, as I have elsewhere dicoursed of more at large, in my Treatise Of the Commerce of the Ancients.

The Italians having added to their Levant Trade the Manufactures of Silk which the Peo­ple of Europe were very fond of, made such considerable Progress therein, as to lay up im­mense Riches, by means of which they for­med those powerful Republicks, some of which subsist to this very Day, with great Splendour and Magnificence, the happy Effects of their ancient, and long established Commerce.

The Italian Trade however, properly spea­king, was only what remained of that which the Romans formerly drove with Asia, but that [Page 3]of Germany owed its Rise entirely to the Italians.

Towards the End of the twelfth Century, the Towns of Germany situated on the Baltick Sea, and those great Rivers that run into it, were famous for their trading all over the neighbouring Provinces; but as this Trade was often disturbed by Pirates, and those fre­quent Wars that at that time troubled the North, they united themselves together for their mutual Defence, to secure and protect their Commerce, from what might disturb, or annoy it for the future. These Towns thus united, and which increased to about 72, or thereabouts, were called Hanse Towns, from the German Word Amsee, or Ansee, which signifies upon the Sea, and their Inhabitants called Osterlins, that is, Easterlings, Names afterwards very well known all over Europe; and these Towns for a long while commanded all the Trade and Navigation of the North, which at that time were almost entirely un­known to the other People of Europe, except the Italians. These things made them so powerful, that for a long time they were the sole Arbiters of Peace and War, all over the North. But this Trade, which was for two Centuries successively the most flourishing that ever was, began to decay about the Year 1500, on Account of their falling out with one another, and of which mutual Divisions the English and Dutch made such considerable [Page 4]Advantage (especially the latter) that it fell almost entirely into their Hands, and has con­tinued so ever since, notwithstanding all the vigorous Efforts these Hanse Towns have made from time to time, to retrieve it. So true it is, that when Commerce has once changed its Course, it is the most difficult thing in the World to bring it back again.

By this one may see the State and Condi­of the Trade of Europe, during the last Age, and how it was divided between the Italians and Germans. But the Portugueze, towards the End of the Fifteenth Century, having found out a new Passage to the East-Indies, by the Cape of Good Hope, all the Trade which the Venetians drove to the East-Indies for Spices, and other Commodities of the East, soon fell into their Hands; so that Lisbon be­came the chief Magazine, or Store-House, for these Goods, whence the rest of all Europe might be conveniently furnished and supplyed. Soon after the Portugueze made the Discovery of the East Indies, Cadiz and Seville were full of all the rich and valuable Commodities the new World (or America) produced. Gold and Silver growing more common in Europe, and Navigation every Day coming to a grea­ter Perfection, Trade grew more lively and flourishing, and from that time all Nations in Europe strove to trade with the Portugueze [Page 5]and Spaniards, whom they looked upon as the sole Masters of Gold and Silver.

The Commodities of the North were found of extream Necessity to the People of Europe, who lived towards the South; for besides Wheat and other Grain, they had from thence other Commodities, as Materials proper for building Ships, Navigation, and the like; and the People of the North, on the other Hand, stood as much in need of the Commodities of the South, as Wine, Salt, Oil, &c. But then the Voyage from the Baltick to the Mediter­ranean, being very long, and full of Difficul­ties; (which yet have since been found not to be insuperable) the advantageous and happy Situation of the Ports of Flanders between the North and the South; the Manufacturies of Linnen and Woollen Cloth, which flouri­shed in those Parts since the tenth Century, to­gether with the free Fairs of these Towns, tempted the Merchants both of the North and South to set up their Store-Houses, or Maga­zines for Goods, at Bruges, and afterwards at Antwerp, by means of which the Exchange of Goods with each other, was carried on with greater Ease and Conveniency, and Half the Expence and Trouble of the Voyage en­tirely saved.

The great Trade and Manufactures of the Low Countries made Antwerp indisputably the most considerable Town in the World for [Page 6]Wealth and Commerce: But as the Trade of Amsterdam is entirely owing to the Ruin of Antwerp, it will not be amiss to look a little farther back, the better to discover the true Origin of the Commerce and Manufactures of the Low Countries, which were once so fa­mous throughout the whole World.

Caesar observes in his Commentaries, that the People of the Low Countries were very laborious and industrious, both for Invention and Imitation. His Words are, Est summae genus solertiae, atque ad ad omnia imitanda quae a quoquo traduntur aptissimum. Lib. 7. These People always were, and are to this very Day, the same as they were in Caesar's time; and it must be own'd, that they have brought the Art of Weaving to its highest Per­fection, not to mention several others for which the World is indebted to them. It is said the Flemings were the first of the Nor­thern People that made all Sorts of Woollen and Linnen Cloths, their Country yielding the finest Flax in the World, and England pro­ducing the most excellent and best of Wooll. Baldwin surnamed the Young, Count of Flan­ders, contributed very much to the Advance­ment of his Subjects Commerce, by setting up about the Year 960, free Fairs in several Towns of his Dominions, which drew thi­ther vast Numbers from the neighbouring Provinces, who came to furnish themselves [Page 7]with these Commodities, and indeed they dealt for vast Quantities, there being no Duty, or Custom to be paid for any Goods exported thence. This Woollen and Linnen Trade, which at first began in France and Germany, very much encreased for three Centuries; du­ring all which time nothing was more flouri­shing than the Trade of Flanders.

The Successors of Baldwin having laid se­veral Duties, or Customs, on these free Fairs, and the Flemish Manufactures, to raise Money in order to defray the Expences they were at, in several Wars with France, was the real Cause that the Woolen and Linnen Cloth-Workers, whose Numbers were almost infi­nite, made several cruel Insurrections in Ghent, in the Year 1301. And others of these Work­men, who lived in the open Country, finding but little Shelter there in War time, went away in great Numbers to Tillemont and Louvain, from whence they dispersed afterwards into several Parts of Brabant.

The Dukes of Brabant, one would have imagined, might have taken Warning by the ill Conduct of the Flemings, which was atten­ded with so many Inconveniencies; but on the contrary, they took the very same Measures, and in their Turn, laid several Duties upon Manufactures, which likewise caused Insurre­ctions in several Places of Brabant, particu­larly at Louvain, where the Cloth-Workers [Page 8]having killed several Magistrates, to escape unpunished, fled some of them into England, and others into Holland. Those who got in­to England, gave the English the first Insight into Cloth Making, and shewed them how to work their own Wooll, to the great Detriment of the Trade of the Low Countries; for it is certain, that to the Year 1404, and even since the English sold their Wooll to the Flemings, and took their Cloths in Payment.

Not only the Cloth-Workers of Brabant went into Holland, but a great many from Flanders did the same, and settled chiefly at Leyden, where that Art of Cloth-Working hath continued ever since, to shine out in its full Lustre.

Thus we plainly see, how laying on too high Duties was what removed good Part of the Manufacturies of Flanders into Brabant, and from that Province into those beyond the Maese, and into England, where they have raised the Woollen Manufacture to the highest Degree of Perfection it can possibly admit of.

The English and Dutch being very desirous to keep to themselves these important and va­luable Manufacturies, took particular Care not to burden them with too heavy Customs, or Taxes. We shall explain in another Place the Reason of this their wise Policy and Conduct.

[Page 9]About the Year 1400, the Art of Salting, or Pickling of Herrings, was found out by a Fleming of Pierulem, which much encouraged this Sort of Fishery, as being of very great Advantage, and together with the Manufa­ctures, made Navigation flourish in that large Province, and of Consequence very much en­creased their Trade and Commerce. The Towns of Sluice and Bruges were the two chief Places where the Flemings at that Time drove on the Herring-Trade with Foreigners. The former of which having a fine Harbour, both for Largeness of Extent, and safe Riding, capable of containing 500 Ships, was conti­nually full of Ships from different Nations that traded there as well as at Bruges; for, in Reality, Sluice is no more than the Port of Bruges, which Towns have a Communi­cation with each other, by means of a large Canal, Bruges is at present, one of the lar­gest Towns in Flanders, but has lost much of its Splendour, since the Year 1487; for at that Time, there was scarce a Nation in Europe, how inconsiderable soever, that had not their proper Magazine, or Store-House, and a Company established there for Trade; as the English, French, Scotch, Castilian, and Portugueze, the Companies of Arragon, Ca­talonia, Biscay, Venice, Florence, Genoa, Lucca, Milan, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and all the Hanse Towns. These last, about [Page 10]the Year 1262, set up in that Town their greatest Store-House, which gave a conside­rable Encrease to Trade. It was to this Place that the several Nations just now mentioned imported the Commodities of their respective Countries, which they exchanged with each other, or for Flanders Linnen.

This mighty Trade of Bruges drew thither Workmen of all Sorts, which made it ex­tremely rich and famous. Nothing can give us a better Idea of the Riches of this Town, than what History tells us of a Queen of France, who was Consort to Philip the Fair; who coming to Bruges in the Year 1301, seeing the Women so richly drest, could not in a Sort of Indignation forbear speaking these Words, I thought I had been the only Queen in this Place, but I see there are above Six Hundred.

The immense Riches of the People of Bru­ges on Account of their vast Trade, made them not only grow insolent and unjust to foreign Merchants (so that they left the Place) but also to their Sovereign, which was the very Ruin of their Trade, that had flouri­shed in an extraordinary Manner to the Year 1487, when a War broke out between the Flemings and the Arch-Duke Maximilian their Prince, which lasted about ten Years, and expired with the Death of the Trade of Bru­ges. The People of Antwerp and Amsterdam [Page 11]growing uneasy to see all the Trade of the Low Countries center in Bruges, assisted the Arch-Duke Maximilian in chastising that Town for their Rebellion; and in Recompence for such Assistance, obtained from that Prince all the Privileges of Commerce formerly enjoyed by Bruges. Thus was that Trade transferred to Antwerp and Amsterdam, but the greatest Share fell to Antwerp; and every thing after seemed to contribute to the Encrease of its Commerce. The Italians much about that time having caused the Use of Silk to be more common in Europe, imported great Quantities to Antwerp. The Portugueze and Spaniards having discovered both Indies, imported Spi­ces, and all other the rich Commodities pro­duced by those vast and wealthy Climates; the English set up a Store-House for their Mer­chandise, and the Hanse Towns, who after the thirteenth Century, had settled one of their four Magazines of Goods at Bruges, re­moved it to Antwerp, where they caused to be built that stately Town-House which remains to this Day.

The Persecutions raised in Germany on the Account of Religion, under the Reign of the Emperour Charles the Fifth, in France under Henry the Second, and in England under Queen Mary, forced a World of People thither, as well as Trade, and particularly encreased that of Antwerp. The vast Concourse of all the [Page 12]principal trading Nations made this Town the most celebrated Store-House, or Magazine in all Europe, if not of the whole World. In a Word, Antwerp was then, almost what Am­sterdam is now; for about the Year 1550, it was a common thing to see 2500 Ships in the Scheld, laden with all Sorts of Merchan­dise. By this it evidently appears, that Com­merce may flourish in a Monarchy, as well as in a Free State, especially if good Manage­ment be not wanting; for never any thing flourished more than the Manufactures and Commerce of the Low Countries, under the Government of four Princes of the House of Burgundy, and two of the House of Austria. I lay a long while under that old vulgar Error, that Common Wealths were most proper for carrying on a considerable Trade; but I al­tered my Opinion, after I had more narrowly examined things, and heard this Matter dis­cussed by some of the ablest Merchants and Politicians of England and Holland, and after I had seriously reflected on the happy Situa­tion and Fruitfulness of France, the Industry of its Inhabitants, and the Nature of its Go­vernment, I was fully convinced (and I think it would not be a hard Matter to convince others) that Commerce may be made to flou­rish there, as well as in any Republick what­ever, and by that Means render that Monarchy more powerful than ever it was yet.

[Page 13]It is certainly the Interest of Princes that Commerce should flourish in their Dominions; for never were greater things performed by Sovereigns than when the Trade of their Sub­jects has afforded them the Means to put them in Execution, which may easily be proved by infinite Examples both ancient and modern.

Trade has the only attractive Quality to draw into any State, Gold and Silver, which are the Primum Mobile of all Actions. This is so true, that Spain, in whose Dominions these two Metals are produced in greatest Abundance, is very often straitned for other Necessities of Life, and that purely for ha­ving neglected Trade and Manufactures, and all the Mines of America would scarce be suf­ficient to pay for all the Merchandise and Pro­visions that the other Nations of Europe bring thither.

Trade (which has not any Enemy so mor­tal as Constraint) changed its Residence as soon as the Spaniards began to deprive the seven­teen Provinces of the Low Countries of their Privileges. The Inquisition which was de­signed to be set up by the Duke of Alva, and the Cruelty he exercised in governing those rich Provinces, forced such infinite Numbers to leave them, that in a few Months, above a Hundred Thousand Families retired into other Parts. After this, the Prince of Parma ha­ving in the Year 1584, besieged Antwerp, [Page 14]gave a terrible Blow to its Trade; for the Scheld during that long Siege, being continually blocked up, the Merchants who used to come and trade in that Town, went elsewhere. In short, the bad Politicks of the King of Spain compleated the Ruin of the Trade of Antwerp, as well as of the other Towns in the Low Countries, that were under his Jurisdiction. For the Views he had in humbling that Town whose great Riches gave him Umbrage, made him, after its Reduction, neglect to keep the Scheld open, intending by so doing, to lessen its Trade, in hopes that most of it would then diffuse it self over the other Towns in the Low Countries. But his Hopes were frustrated: for being engaged in almost continual Wars with his Neighbours and not taking due Care to free the Seas from Rovers and Enemies, it so fell out, that the Towns of Flanders, which used to follow the Fishery and Sea Trade, lost both, so far were they from getting amongst them any Share of the Trade of Antwerp. This made the whole Fishery remove to Holland, and the Manufactures of Flanders into other Countries.

One third Part of the Workmen and Mer­chants, who wrought, or dealt in Silks, Da­masks, Taffeties, and Stockings, &c. went to settle in England, because none in that Coun­try knew at that time to work in those Manu­factures. A great many went to Leyden, and [Page 15]most of them that dealt in Linnen, went to settle in Harlem, not to mention those who went to Amsterdam.

It is astonishing to think, that the Merchants of Antwerp, in leaving a Place the most con­venient in the World for Trade, should make choice of one seeming the most improper in all Europe. One would have rather thought that the Neighbourhood of England, whose Situa­tion and Harbours are so admirably fitted for Trade, might have invited them thither.

Those Merchants who were of the refor­med Religion, would have had a greater In­clination to settle there, than in any other Place whatsoever, in hopes not only to live more at quiet, but also on Account of the Situation, which is very advantageous for trading with all Europe. But they wanted to be in a Coun­try where Foreigners were not obliged to pay such Customs, and other Taxes, which the native English are free from; for in England, it seems, at the time, Foreigners and all their Posterity payed double what the Natives did; besides, Foreigners were excluded all Compa­nies or Societies of Trade, so that none were allowed to work either as Partners, or Ma­sters, unless at such Trades as the Natives were unacquainted with, so that none went thither but such as wrought in Serges, Da­masks, Stockings, &c.

[Page 16]Most of these, and the like Inconveniencies, they were also sure to meet with in the Hanse Towns, which partly was the Cause that almost the whole Trade of Antwerp came to be established in the Towns of Holland, which were free from all those Obstacles. The Situation of these neighbouring Towns, and several other Considerations contributed very much to draw thither, especially to Am­sterdam, all this vast and profitable Trade.

After the Union of the seven Provinces, and the World saw this new Republick defend it self with Success against Spain, under the Conduct of the Prince of Orange, all those who hated the Spanish Government retired thither as to an Asylum, from its Rigour and Severity.

The Persecutions which Spain renewed with too great Severity in several Places, against those who had embraced the new Opinions, peopled the United Provinces, with a World of excellent Artisans, who set up there several new Manufactures, and brought those they had already, to great Perfection. The Civil Wars that lasted so long in France, then in Germa­ny, and last of all in England, augmented con­siderably the Inhabitants of the United Pro­vinces, and the Wars which broke out in the Year 1634, in the Low Countries, between France and Spain, made likewise great Num­bers of Merchants and Workmen come into [Page 17] Holland; for the richest Villages of Flanders, Brabant, and the Country beyond the Maese, being ruined by Winter Quarters, the Inhabi­tants themselves left them, because the most trading Towns had lost all their Commerce, and the Carriage of Goods was liable to such imminent Dangers.

All this caused not only the Towns of Holland to grow extraordinarily populous, but doubly encreased their Trade, as having a pro­digious Vent for almost all Sorts of their Ma­nufactures and other Commodities, during the Continuance of that War.

But after all, nothing has encreased the In­habitants of Holland, and their Manufactures, so much as the French Protestants, who were almost all of them Merchants or Artisans, and came thither about twenty or thirty Years since.

To conclude, it must be acknowledge for incontestable Truth, that whenever Trade is clogg'd or constrain'd in any Government, it will retire to others where it may have grea­ter Safety, and be more favourably used, which Happiness, at that time, it could no where find so well as in Holland.

Having here clearly explained and observed the principal Motives which induced so many Merchants and Artisans, to go in Millions to the United Provinces, let us now consider what their Commerce is, how they carry it on, and a Country producing nothing necessary to Trade [Page 18]and Navigation, is become the Centre of both: For Holland produces nothing at all necessary, except Butter, Cheese, and Clay to make Delft Ware, or other Eastern Ware, and this is well worth the Observation of the Reader that is any ways versed in Politicks.

IT is certain, that some Manufactures were set up in several Places of Holland, even while the Hanse Towns commanded all the Trade and Navigation of Europe.

The Art of Pickling Herrings having been found out, as I before observed, about 250 Years ago, and the Ruine of the Trade of Bruges encreasing that of Holland, tho' it was but then inconsiderable, in Comparison to what it was afterwards by the Destruction of that of Antwerp; the prodigious Numbers of Peo­ple that left the Low Countries, together with the vast Riches they brought thither (not to mention those who came thither from other Countries, where Liberty of Conscience was not permitted) were of Necessity obliged to trade by Sea, to procure for themselves Neces­saries for Life, the new Country they were come to inhabit being but of small Extent, and not producing near what they had an absolute [Page 19]Occasion for. This Barrenness of Holland was one of the principal Causes of the great Trade we see carried on there at this time; for the great, and incredible Numbers of People who fled thither for Security, had no other Way to subsist, and to pay those heavy Taxes so often laid upon them, in Defence of their Liberty against the Spaniards.

These two powerful Motives, the Preserva­tion of Life and Liberty, caused the Inhabitants of the United Provinces to carry their Goods to all Parts of the World, where they had any Prospect of Gain. About the Year 1625, they traded to the Kingdoms of the North; to Ger­many, Poland, Muscovy, England, to the Spanish Low Countries, and to Portugal, under Spanish Colours, or of any other Nation in Alliance with Philip II. But the Spaniards afterwards having by their Severities and Vexations deter­red the Dutch from so much as attempting to trade with either of these two Nations, found to their no small Loss, the fatal Consequences of their mistaken Politicks; for the Seamen and Traders, who had by the Interruption of Trade with Spain and Portugal, lost all Man­ner of Employment, were resolved not to sit still, but hazard all, rather than live without Trading. With this Resolution they went to visit the Coasts of America and Africa, and their adjacent Islands; at last, thro' almost infinite Dangers, they penetrated into the East Indies.

[Page 20]By means of these several Voyages they got, at first Hand, the greatest Part of those rich Commodities which they before used to furnish themselves with at second Hand, at Lisbon and Seville; and their famous East India Company, which began in the Year 1602, behaved them­selves so dexterously, that they possest themselves of the greatest Part of the best Places the Por­tugueze were Masters of in the Indies, and of almost all their Commerce too in those Parts.

The Truce of twelve Years being concluded in the Beginning of the Year 1609, between the Spaniards and the United Provinces, the States General omitted nothing all that time to increase their Trade where it was already esta­blished, or to establish it where they never had established it before.

In the Year 1612, the Grand Seignior al­lowed the Dutch a free Trade throughout all his Dominions. This Treaty of Alliance with the Turks, gave a free and favourable Access to their Ships, all over the Mediterranean. About that time the King of Morocco, and the Emperour of Japan permitted them also to trade in all their Dominions, since which this Republick might boast of having extended her Commerce over all Parts of the old World, except China.

The War breaking out again in the Year 1621, between Spain and the United Provin­ces, their East India Company pushed on their [Page 21]Conquests and Commerce in the East, with sur­prizing Success, at the Expence of Spain and Por­tugal. Their West India Company, which be­gan in the Year 1623, notwithstanding the War, besides those immense Sums they gained by ta­king of the Spanish Plate Fleets, and those consi­derable Advantages they made by ruining their Men of War, possessed themselves of Part of Bra­zil, and the most important Places the Portu­gueze held in Guinea, and the other Countries of the Western Coast of Africa; and could they but have kept the Conquests they made in Bra­zil, 'tis highly probable they would have been entire Masters of it, and in a few Years would have got into their own Hands, all the Trade of the Spaniards and Portugueze in that Place.

The United Provinces having obtained of the Spaniards very great Advantages for their Com­merce, at the Peace of Munster, which was concluded in the Year 1648, they pushed it on with the utmost Vigour during that Calm their Republick then enjoyed, and got together by that means, immense Riches, which put them into a Condition to support the War which they had with England and France, in the Year 1672. In a Word, this famous Republick has (notwithstanding the Wars) extended her Trade over all Parts of the World, where she has, and still does maintain it with such prudent Con­duct, and considerable Authority, that she may serve as a Model for all other trading Nations.

[Page 22]Before we enter into a particular Description of the Trade of the United Provinces, in all Parts of the World, It will be very necessary to speak somewhat of their Fishery, Manufa­ctures, and Navigation.

IT is certain, as I have already observed, that there were some Manufactures esta­blished in Holland, long before their Fishery, Traffick, and Navigation; but then this was so inconsiderable a Matter, that it may be truly said, that the Fishery gave Birth to their Traf­fick and Navigation, This was the Opinion of Monsieu De Wit, and the most understan­ding Persons in Holland.

The Subjects of the United Provinces fish on their own Sea Coasts, Lakes, and Rivers, and take vast Quantities of Cod, Haddock, Salmon, Soles, and other Sorts of Fish, and how considerable that Fishery may be, and how great the Quantities are which they carry to foreign Countries, yet it may truly be affir­med, that it is scarce any thing in Comparison of their Herring Fishery, which in the Provin­ces of Holland and Zealand employs above twenty Thousand Men. This Fishing, which [Page 23]continues from Mid-summer Day to the 14th of September, and from thence it holds to the 25th of November, is chiefly on the Nor­thern Coasts of England, off of Yarmouth, Wintertownness, and the River Humber.

From the very Beginning of this Republick, the States General have always used their ut­most Endeavours to secure their Countrymen the Herring Fishery. Their Regulations for that Purpose are wonderful, and the Orders almost innumerable. They take great Care to throw all away that are not extreamly good, and to salt the others in time, that the Salt be good, and the Quantity sufficient; that the Parcels be sweet and clean, and have no man­ner of Defect that may spoil the Fish. In short, it must be owned, that the Dutch omit nothing that may keep up the Value and Re­putation this Commodity has acquired by pas­sing through their Hands.

It ought not to be thought strange, that the States General are so very careful of their Her­ring Fishing, and of their good Way of curing them, since it is a Matter of so great Impor­tance, as to be taken Notice of in all their Proclamations, for the Continuance of Com­merce and the Fishery.

The Herring Fishery is the greatest Trade, and the best Gold Mine belonging to the Uni­ted Provinces: This enriches so many Fami­lies, and employs so many People; this makes [Page 24]them build so many Ships in Holland, which they send to all Parts laden with this Commo­dity. They sell vast Quantities to the neigh­bouring Countries, and are very often paid in ready Money; 'tis this which encreases their Commerce, their Privileges, and even their Revenues.

Monsieur Matteren assures us that in the Year 1601, in three Days time there sailed out from Holland 1500 Busses to fish for Her­rings. A Buss is a Vessel built on Purpose for this Sort of Fishing, and some of them are from 50 to 60 Tuns.

Sir Walter Rawleigh says, that in the Year 1609, the Dutch employed on the Coast of England in this Fishery, 3000 Ships, and 15000 Men; and a Dutch Author who was employed by Messieurs De Wit, tells us, that a little while before the Province of Holland alone sent out every Year, in time of Peace, above 1000 Busses, and 150 lesser Vessels.

It is said, that the Dutch fish and sell every Year above 300000 Tuns of Fish, which at 200 Florins per Tun, brings in every Year 75 Millions of Livers, of which 52 Millions turn (as they say) to the Country's Profit, and the 23 other Millions that remain, go towards defraying the Charges of such Fishery; so that if one considers that all the Ships employed in Fishing are built in Holland; that all the Cordage, Sails, Nets, and Barrels, are made [Page 25]there, and that they find their own Salt and Provisions for the Subsistance of this great Number of Fishermen, one may easily com­prehend, that this Employment only, maintains an incredible Number of Men and Families, not including all those who are employed to transport these Fish to almost all the Kingdoms and Countries of the World.

These Busses sail generally from Dort, Rot­terdam, Delft, Schiedam, Vlaerdinguen, the Brill, Maeslandshies, Enchuisen, and some other Places of less Note.

This Art of Pickling and Barrelling Her­ring, as I said before, was found out by a Heming of Bierulem, whose Name was Wil­liam Buerem. He died in the Year 1347, and was buried at Bierulem.

Charles the Fifth coming to that Town, caused a Tomb to be erected to honour the Memory of that Man who had procured so great an Advantage to his Country.

To the Fishery in general may be added that of the Whale, the Oil and Fins of which serve for several Uses. They fish for the Whales on the Coasts of Greenland and Spitsburg, which is but seven or eight Days Voyage with a South Wind, a thing very frequent in Holland.

Whale Fishing is only once a Year. There sails from Amsterdam, and the neighbouring Towns, from the Maose and Winde, above 200 Ships from 200 to 250 Tuns Burthen, [Page 26]having each 35 or 40 Men aboard to be em­ployed in the Fishery.

The largest Whales yield about 7 or 8 Tun of Oil: This Oil thickens like Hogs-Lard, and they use great Quantities of it in the United Provinces, especially the poor and labouring People, to burn in Lamps, and in making green Soap, a thing only in Use in the Low Countries, Artois and Picardy. Those that make Shammy Leather of Bucks, Goats, Sheeps and Elks Skins, consume great Quantities of this Oil, which is the most proper for this Son of Dressing Leather, of any Oil whatsoever and therefore they cannot well be without it.

The Manufactures in the United Provinces employ as many People as the Fishery. It is incredible how many get their Livelihood by both. I have before observed, that some Ma­nufactures were established before the Fishery but those Manufactures were then very incon­siderable to what they were afterwards. The Herring Fishery in particular, was so advanta­geous to the Dutch, that the Sale of their Fish brought into their Country, from the Places where they used to dispose of them, several un­wrought Goods, which they got finished at Home by those vast Numbers of Workmen of all Sorts, who had fled hither from Flanders, Brabant, France, Germany, and several other Countries, on the Account of Persecution.

[Page 27]I do not pretend to give an exact Particular of all the Manufactures of the United Provin­ces; it would be too prolix for the Brevity of this Treatise. I shall only say, that it is cer­tain, that in no Kingdom, State, or Country in the World, they are so numerous and flou­rishing, as in Holland. I shall take Notice only of some of the most considerable, and such as sell best in other Countries.

Tho' there are Manufactures in several Pla­ces of the United Provinces, yet they flourish most in the Towns of Amsterdam, Leyden, and Harlem; but Amsterdam, for Number, far exceeds the other two.

In this last Town they make Cloths, Cam­lets, and all Sorts of Woollen and Hair Stuffs; as also, all Sorts of Silks, Gold and Silver Stuffs and Ribbons, and are the best made in this Town of any in all the Provinces.

Besides gilt Leather, they work here all other Sorts, as Morocco, Shammy, and many other Sorts; and it may likewise be said, that Dying, which is settled in several other Towns and Places of these Provinces, is one of the most considerable Manufactures of this Republick.

There are also at Amsterdam several Houses for Refining Sugar, Borax, Camphire, Cinna­ber, and Sulphur; several for whitening yel­low Wax, a great many Saw-Mills for all Sorts of Woods, Powder-Mills, Snuff-Mills, Mills to polish Marble, and Mills to draw Oil from [Page 28]several Sorts of Seeds. In short, one may say of Amsterdam what Vopiscus said of Alexandria, who after he had given an Account of its Ma­nufactures, added, ‘"That all its Inhabitants followed some Trade; that the lame and the gouty were employed, and even those that had the Gout in their Hands did not sit idle."’

The Town of Leyden, without Dispute, is preferable to all others for all Sorts of Wool­len Manufactures, especially the finest Sort; as Serges, Camlets, and the like. They tell you that these Manufactures, after the Year 1400, began to grow in some Esteem, and the Work­men of Ipres that fled from their own Coun­try, settled themselves there. But be that as it will, every Body agrees they had not then that Esteem, till after the Persecutions for Re­ligion began, which effectually drove great Numbers of Workmen from the Provinces of Flanders, Hainault, and Artois, &c.

They make also good Woollen Stuffs at Harlem, but they are much inferior to those of Leyden, which latter may undoubtedly pass for the best of Europe in their Kind.

The Dutch have their Wooll from Spain, and England, Germany, Poland, and the Le­vant, that Sort of Wooll called Vigogue, from Peru, and that of Coramania from Persia.

The best Silks are made at Harlem, and this Manufacture, in its Kind, is not inferior to the Cloth Manuufacture of Leyden. They [Page 29]make in this Place, coarse flowered Velvets, Linnens, Silks, Gauzes, and in general, all Sorts of slight Silks, of which there is a great Consumption in Germany, and all over the North, Portugal, and other Places, where they prefer these Silks, and the Gold and Sil­ver Brocades made here to those of France. Besides they are 15 or 20 per Cent cheaper.

These Manufactures, in Reality, are not so beautiful, nor so good as those of Lyons and Tours; but the Difference in the Piece makes amends for that, and makes them go off bet­ter. And tho' their Workmen want a Genius for Design, and Invention, yet they no sooner come from France, but they imitate them to Perfection. They know how to work and finish them with all possible Dexterity and Neatness. This added to their Cheapness, makes other Countries rather make use of them.

Besides, the Dutch import Silks from Italy, the Levant, Persia, Bengal, Tonquin, and China.

The Town of Delft is a Place famous for fine earthen Ware, in Imitation of China.

Horne is for dealing in Cheese which is made in the North of Holland, as also for large Earthen, or Stone Ware.

In Dort and some other Places, there are Houses for refining Salt; and if I mistake not, Places for Spinning and Bleaching Thread.

Sardam, not far from Amsterdam, is certain­ly the only Place in the World where all Sorts [Page 30]of Ships are built for the Use of Merchants, not only of the United Provinces, but of other Countries, which causes a prodigious Consum­ption of Wood, Cordage, Masts, Sails, and other Necessaries for Shipping, of which great Numbers are daily sold to Strangers, ready built, and fit for Launching.

The Dutch have their Timber from Musco­vy, Norway, the Lower Germany, Pomerania, and the Provinces bordering on the Baltick, Most of this Timber is brought to Sardam, which is a Village somewhat more than two Leagues long, whose Inhabitants are all Car­penters; and they are so skilful in their Busi­ness, that (as it is credibly reported) if they have three Months Notice before-hand, they can every Day, for as long a time as is requi­red, build, and compleatly finish a Ship of 4 or 500 Tuns.

Tho' all the Linnen that goes under the Name of Holland, is not made in the United Provinces, yet I cannot but reckon it among their Manufactures, by reason of its being blea­ched there. They make vast Quantities in the Provinces of Groningen, Friseland, and Ove­rissell, where there grows Abundance of Flax; and I believe they make great Quantities in the Dutchy of Juliers, which they send thence in the Beginning of the Spring to Harlem, where they bleach wonderfully well by reason of the Sea Water, which by its being purified [Page 31]in the Downs, gives the Linnen that beautiful White which is so much admired.

The Manufactures of Sail Cloth, which was fomerly made in Britanny, Cordage, and Fishing Nets, employ almost an infinite Num­ber of People.

The Dutch generally bring from Muscovy, Poland, Dantzic, Riga, and other Towns of the North, those vast Quantities of Hemp and Flax they make use of in their Manufactures.

Printing employs also a World of People in these Provinces, were every one strives to ex­cel in that Art. It is the same in Hat-making, which is as considerable a Manufacture as that of Paper, which they have within these few Years taken from the French. This last Ma­nufacture of Paper, they have set up in seve­ral Places; but what they make in Guelderland is much the best.

Navigation and Commerce have so near a Relation one to another, that it is very diffi­cult for one to flourish in a State without the other; in Reality, it is impossible one should subsist without the other. For if Navigation be supported by Trade, Trade cannot flourish without Navigation, which may, in some Mea­sure be said to be the very Life and Soul of Trade, since by Navigation all Sorts of Mer­chandise are so easily transported to all Ports of the World, and with so little Expence. And whatever Nation can make it self Master of [Page 32]Navigation, will be so of Trade, and conse­quently immense Riches, and (if I may use the Expression) even of Empires and Kingdoms.

The Dutch who know very well this im­portant Truth, have for that End omitted no Pains nor Expence; and it has ever been the principal Object of their Care and Application. It must be owned, that their Fishery Manu­factures, and vast Trade have furnished them with all possible Advantages of raising their Maritime Affairs above those of other Nations; And the Secret they have found out of sailing, and carrying Goods much cheaper than other People, has contributed as much. This makes other Nations willing to employ the Dutch Ships, because 'tis not only less expensive, but they can have in Holland Ships always ready to sail for all Countries, but also because of the Convoys they send with their Merchant Ships. Besides, they are very just and faith­ful in giving a good Account of all they are entrusted with. This Trust considerably en­creases their Navigation, and causes them to build a vast Number of Ships, which gives constant Employment to a prodigious Number of Seamen, who repair thither from all Parts, and on their Arrival, are always sure of fin­ding Business. The Masters of Ships of Freight, in Holland, make up a considerable Part of that State.

[Page 33]We come now to Discourse of the Trade of the United Provinces to several Parts of the World; but it will not be improper first to observe, that such Foreign Trade is princi­pally carried on by the Merchants of the Pro­vinces of Holland and Zeland, &c. and that some certain Species of Commerce is peculiar to some certain Towns.

Amsterdam makes much the greatest Figure in foreign Traffick; for besides the Trade of both the Indies, she has likewise that of the Levant, Cadiz, Lisbon, Muscovy, and the North, which last is peculiar to her self; some small Trade she has with France, for Wines and Brandy, but nothing in Comparison to Roterdam: The Situation of this last Town on the Meuse or Maese, has made her Trade with France, England and Scotland, very con­siderable; she drives, besides, a great Trade to the Levant, Spain, and the East-Indies; in short, this Town has Commerce with all Parts, the North excepted, yet much inferior to that of Amsterdam, tho' her Port so ad­vantageously situated on the Maese, as I hint­ed before, is infinitly better and much more commodious.

The Trade of Dort consists in little else than that of Rhenish-Wine, (which is there put on Shoar,) and white Salt, refin'd in that Town. The Dutch have most of their pickled and dry'd Salmon from Dort.

[Page 34] Delft, Horn, and Enchuisen, have each their peculiar Chamber in the East-India Compa­ny. Delft is particularly famous for its fine Earthen-ware, resembling that of China; Horn for Cheese, which its Inhabitants transport to all Parts in great Quantities; and some Years ago, this Commodity of Cheese, and some other Articles, made Trade considerably flou­rish in Horn.

The Commerce of Enchuisen consists chiefly in Herrings, which makes that Town very considerable, and very rich.

I Begin with the Northern Trade, not only because 'tis one of the first the Dutch ap­ply'd themselves to; but also, because 'tis of the greatest Importance and Necessity of any to that Republick; since from hence she has the greatest Part of her Provisions; as Wheat and other Grain, so necessary for the Subsistance of her People; as also, all Things necessary for their Navigation, without which, and o­ther Commodities of absolute Necessity, they would find it very difficult to support them­selves. [Page 35]Under this Article of the Northern Trade, I comprehend that of Muscovy, Nor­way, and all the Ports of the Baltick-Sea; that is, that of Sweden, Denmark, Poland, and all the Lower-Germany.

The Hanse Towns for many Years together engrossed this Trade; but Erick the 8th of that Name, King of Denmark, against whom they waged a cruel and bloody War, having about the Year 1403, call'd in the Zelanders and some other Nations to his Assistance, open'd to them the South-Passage for their more commodious carrying on their Trade to the Baltick, thinking he could have no better way to be revenged on these Towns; since that time 'tis true they have often boasted of their keeping that Sea clear of Foreigners, but to little purpose; and their Trade (the greatest that ever was then known) declining in the Year 1500, diminished to that Degree, that their Power came to little or nothing about the Year 1506.

The Dutch and English applying themselves very earnestly to Navigation, and the former having with much Honour put an end to a War, they had so long maintain'd against the Spaniards, for their Liberties, by the Treaty of 1609, all Nations, especially such as were trading People, courted their Alliance: the Hanse Towns were the first that discover'd their Inclinations, believing that nothing would con­tribute [Page 36]more to the Preservation of the little Trade and Credit they had left.

The Dutch, on their side, desir'd nothing more than such an Alliance, which promis'd them great Advantage in the Northern Trade; and accordingly, on the 22d of May 1631, sign'd a Treaty of Confederacy with Lubeck, then Chief of the Teutonick Hanse Towns, for a free and safe Trade to the Baltick: In the Year following, the most considerable of the other Hanse Towns follow'd the Example of Lubeck; and the Dutch made so good use of these Treaties, and several other Advantages they got in the North, that they have almost entirely stript all the Hanse Towns, Hamburgh only excepted, of the little Trade there was left them, and (if we may be allow'd to say so) made themselves Sole Masters of all the Commerce of the North.

I shall in a few Words give you an Ac­count of their Trade to Muscovy.

The Trade that Europe drove with that vast Empire, was carried on constantly by the way of Revel and Narva, two Towns in Li­vonia, situated on the extream Parts of the Bal­tick, till the Year 1653; but the English who first attempted the North-Passage to China, dis­cover'd Archangel, one of the best Ports the Muscovites have upon the White Sea, and the most proper and commodious for a great Trade, being but seven or eight Leagues distant from [Page 37]the famous River Duina, which runs thro' the greatest Part of Muscovy; and the Czar granted them great Privileges, to engage them to set­tle a Trade at Archangel.

The Dutch soon follow'd the same Route; and, in spite of all the Obstacles the English put in their Way, they obtain'd of the Czar the same Permission to Trade to Archangel, as the English.

Every Year since that Grant, they have sent thither 36 or 40 Sail of Ships, from 200 to 400 Tuns, which go always from Holland in two Squadrons; the first consisting only of 5 or 6 Ships, goes off usually in the Month of June, and returns in September; and the second, con­sisting of 30, or 34 Ships, fails in July, and returns not from Archangel till the end of Octo­ber: These two Fleets, which vary sometimes as to their Number, have always a Convoy allow'd them by the City of Amsterdam, which City engrosses almost all that Trade. The Principal Time of Traffick, is during the Fan of Archangel, which begins the 20th of Au­gust, and ends the last Day of that Month.

I shall give you here a short Account of the Principal Commodities the Dutch import to Muscovy, and what they bring thence, viz. Silk, Linnen and Woollen Stuffs, Beaver's Skins from Canada, Paper, Small-Ware of all sorts, and Iron-work, Cannon, and Small Arms, Gun-powder, Sulphur, Copper, [...], [Page 38]Tin, Wines, Brandies, Oils, and Vinegar, Confections and dry Fruits, Saffron, Sugar, Spices, Pepper, and Pickled Herrings of the first Season, Frankincense, Copperas, Ceruse, or White-Lead, Indigo, and all sorts of Woods for dying Red, Galloons and Laces of all sorts, Gold and Silver-Thread, and all sorts of Silver Coin.

I shall before I conclude this Treatise, make some Remarks on the Commodities sent to and exported from Muscovy.

However by this Account, one may easily see, how considerable the Dutch Trade to Mus­covy is, not only in relation to its Convoys and Returns, but also on Account of the Number of Ships it continually maintains. One would have imagin'd the English, who first enjoy'd the Privileges of paying no manner of Custom, should have made themselves en­tirely Masters of the Muscovite Trade; how­ever, it is certain, they send now a-days no more than 4 or 5 Vessels thither, while the Dutch commonly send 40, or thereabouts.

A certain English Author has taken a great deal of Pains, to let us know what Methods the Dutch made use of to raise their Commerce with Muscovy, above that of England: His Words are these:

Let us now come to the Trade of Norway.

The Riches of this Kingdom, which is in subjection to the Crown of Denmark, consist in Masts for Ships, and other sorts of Timber, as well for Ship-building as other Carpenter's Work, Copper, and Iron Mines, Pitch and Tar, dry'd Fish, Furrs, Buck-skins, Ashes, Butter and Tallow.

These are the Chief Commodities the Nor­way Merchants exchange with Foreigners for many things they want, of absolute Necessity for the Support of Life. The Dutch who have a greater Trade to Norway than all other Nations put together, carry usually thither Spi­ces, Salt, Canary, Vinegar, Brandy, Cheese, Tobacco Rolls, Drapery, and Small Wares.

Tho' this Kingdom is of vast Extent, yet there is but very little Consumption, being nei­ther Rich nor well Peopled; and it may be said, that even Money would be entirely un­known here, was it not for what the Dutch bring along with them to buy Timber.

But however inconsiderable the Norway Trade may seem, it employs notwithstanding near 300 Dutch Vessels, most of which come [Page 41]from the Towns and Villages of Friseland, and those about Amsterdam, they are commonly of 4 or 500 Tons Burthen, and have not a­bove 10 or 12 Hands a-piece.

Berghen, the Capital of Norway, has a good Port, and is the Place of greatest Trade: The Dutch resort to several other Ports, as Dron­theim and Copernick.

As Timber is the chief Commodity the Dutch deal for in Norway, and which they bring in great Quantities from that Kingdom, they have concluded many Treaties with the King of Denmark to secure that Trade, viz. the Treaty of Christianople, signed August 13, 1645, and that of the Hague, the 12th of February 1669.

THE Trade of this Sea, which is almost 2000 Leagues in Circumference, in­cludes that of the Kingdoms of Sweden and Denmark; the Countries of Mecklenberg, Po­merania, Prussia, Courland and Livonia; most of which, supply the Dutch with a prodigious Quantity of all sorts of Grain, abundance of Copper, Iron, Steel, Arms of all sorts, Wood [Page 42]and Timber, Hemp, Flax, Pitch, Tar, and several other Commodities.

They carry a much greater Quantity of Goods from the Baltick than they bring to it, the Consumption being very inconsiderable in those Parts, unless it be at Dantzick, which is the common Magazine or Store-house of Po­land; the Discount or Overplus they pay in Rixdollars, which they bring along with them.

As most of the Commodities that come from the Baltick Sea are bulky and very heavy, that Trade employs a great Number of Ships, and the Dutch send thither every Year 1000 or 1200.

Denmark yields but few Commodities to Strangers, and the Trade of that Kingdom is nothing near so considerable as that of Norway; the Dutch bring a pretty good Quan­tity of Wheat from the sinall Island of Laland, which is very fruitful in all sorts of Grain, es­pecially Wheat. About forty Years ago they used to lade about twelve Ships with Rye from the Isle of Zeland, but the Boors now a-days scarce Sow more than what suffices for their Subsistance.

The Dutch bring also every Year vast Num­bers of lean Horn'd Cattle from Jutland, which they turn into the Meadows in Hol­land to fatten; and this is none of the least profitable Articles in the Dutch Trade.

[Page 43] Denmark has no considerable Port, but that of Copenhagen, which in reality is one of the finest in the World.

Sweden supplies the Dutch with more Commodities than Denmark, and its Trade is much more considerable. The princi­pal Goods they bring from this Country are Copper, (the best in Europe) Iron, Steel, great Quantities of all sorts of Arms made of those Mettals, as Muskets, Pistols, Cannons for Ships, Bullets, Pikes, Helmets, Breast-Plates, and Brass Wire, not to mention vast Quanti­ties of other Goods and Commodities, as Lead, Copper, Pitch, Tar, Masts, Planks, and Barks made of Deal, the best in the North.

The Dutch on their Part, furnish Sweden with the same Commodities as they do Den­mark and much about the same Quantity, viz. Spices and Drugs of all sorts, Salt, Sugar, Wines, Brandies, Linnen, Silks, and Woollen Stuffs, and such other Manufactures as those two Northern Kingdoms stand most in need of. The Dutch may be said to be in some sort the Masters of the greatest Part of the Swedish Trade, since they are of the Copper. The Farmers of these Mines, having always Oc­casion for Money, sell this Commodity to the Merchants of Amsterdam, who advance them whatever Sums they want: 'Tis just the same with their Pitch and Tar, the same Merchants buying most of these Goods from the King's [Page 44]Farmers, and making them besides very consi­derable Advances: This is the Reason why these and other Swedish Goods are sold as cheap at Amsterdam as in Sweden itself.

The chief Trade this Kingdom has with Foreigners, is at Stockholm, the Capital City, and some other Ports of the ancient Domini­ons of Sweden, as well as those of its Con­quests in Germany and Poland, of which I shall discourse hereafter.

Pomerania in the Year 1648, was divided by the Treaty of Osnabrugh, between the Swedes and Brandenburghers; that Part of it which is washed by the Oder, and the Ports of Stralsund, Wolgast and Stetin belong to the King of Sweden, and the other Part where Colberg, a Place of great Commerce is situa­ted, belongs to the Elector of Brandenburg.

Pomerania abounds in great Quantities of Corn, vast Numbers of Cattel, Skins, Leather, Wool, Timber, &c. the Isle of Ru­gen, which is one of its Dependencies, produ­ces a great deal of Wheat.

Stetin, the Capital of Pomerania, situated on the Oder, is a Place of the greatest Trade with Strangers in that Province; that of Silesia are of the richest and most fruitful Provinces in Germany, in Corn, Honey, Butter, Wax, Lead, Iron, Wooll, Tin, Flax, Linnen and Wool­len Cloths, is also carried on in Stetin, which likewise shares great Part of the Trade of the [Page 45]Marquisate of Brandenburg, the River Oder run­ing thro' both Provinces.

The Dutch, among other Things, export from Pomerania all sorts of Corn, vast Quan­tities of coarse Wooll, Silesia Linnen, Timber, Masts, and other Commodities.

Prussia is divided into two Parts, viz. the Royal Prussia, belonging to the Crown of Po­land, and the Ducal Prussia in subjection to the Marquis of Brandenburg, now King of Prussia, which Title was conferr'd on him by this Emperor's Father, about 10 or 12 Years since. This Kingdom, or rather Demy-Province, is very fruitful in Wheat, which is look'd upon to be better than that any in Po­land; it has several very good Sea-Ports, a­mongst which Dantzick, Koningsberg, and Me­mel are the most considerable: The two last are in the Ducal, and the first in the Royal Prussia, and almost all the Polish Trade is car­ried on in that Port: But before I treat of this Branch of Trade, I shall speak a few Wordsin re­lation to that of the Ducal Prussia, part of which is carried on at Koningsburg, a Town situated at the Mouth of the Pregel, this Port is much frequented by the English, as well as Dutch; the large Vessels commonly unlade at Pil'aw (a Port, formerly a For­tress only, on the Mouth of the Friscknaff) that they may the more easily go up to Kon­ingsberg; besides the Commodities of the [Page 46]Country, that abound here, Lithuania and Po­land send to this Place by the Way of Pregel, great Quantities of Oak for Coopers Work, abundance of Ashes, Wheat, Leather, Furrs, Rice, Honey, Wax, Barley, Millet, and Hemp. The Dutch bring likewise to Koningsberg, Cloths, Wines, Cheese, Salt, Tobacco, Spi­ces, Iron, Lead, Tin, and old Dutch Dol­lers.

Poland is the most fruitful Country in the World, in all sorts of Grain, good Pa­sturage, Cattle, Wax, and Honey, besides Mines of Salt, Iron, Lead Copper, Quick­silver, Vitriol, Salt-Petre, and Sulphur. All the Commerce of this great Kingdom is chief­ly carried on at Dantzick, some small Part excepted, at the other Ports of Prussia and Livonia: The Situation of Dantzick, on the Mouth of the Vistula, is wonderfully com­modious for Trade; for that River, which is one of the most famous in Europe, from South to North, runs thorough the greatest Part of the fertile Plains of Poland, and is almost Navigable all along its Course, which is more than 300 Leagues. This makes Dant­zick one of the chief Towns in Europe, as well on Account of its great Trade, as its vast Extent, and Riches: The great Magazines of Wheat in this Place, make it be taken Notice of by all Europe; and for that Reason Dant­zick is commonly call'd, the Granary of the [Page 47]Northern Kingdoms, and the United Provin­ces.

Besides Dantzick, properly speaking, is a Republic governed by its own Laws, under the Protection of the Crown of Poland: The Inhabitants have this Privilege, that none but they can buy any Polish Corn, if once en­ter'd their Port; but then on the other hand, they must take all what is brought at the Price the Magistrates shall set upon it.

As the Poles are all Strangers to Trade and Navigation, and much less to Manufactures, so are they oblig'd to make use of Strangers, the Dutch especially, to supply them with what Commodities they from time to time stand in need of. Here follows an Account of the Principal Goods they generally are supply'd with from Abroad, viz.

All sorts of Silks, great Quantities of Cloth, Woods for Dying, all sorts of Spices, Drugs, Italian Crema Tartar, Sugar, Oyl, Paper; Wines of all sorts, French Salt and Brandies; of these Liquors, there is a great Consumpti­on in Prussia.

These Commodities are generally truck'd for Wheat, and other Corn, Oak and Deal, excellent Masts, Hemp and Flax, Honey, Wax and Tallow, Steel, Iron, Copper and Lead; Saltpetre, Salt, Pitch and Tar, yel­low Amber, Bulls and Cow Hides, Furrs, and Wooll, &c.

[Page 48] Dantzick being the greatest Place for Trade in the North, the Dutch have ever taken a particular Care to assist that Town in the Preservation of its Liberties against the At­tempts of the Kings of Poland and Sweden, and other Powers.

The Dutchy of Courland is a particular So­vereignty, under the Protection of Poland; Libaw and Memel are its two Sea-Ports, from whence, besides Wheat and Wood, a great deal of Linseed is transported to Holland, where they use great Quantities in making of Oil; great Quantities is likewise carry'd in­to Flanders for Seed, the Linseed of those Countries being apt to degenerate, and be­come unfit for Sowing. I have been credibly informed, that the Dutch employ in the Trade of Courland, every Year 20 or 25 Ships.

Livonia belongs to Sweden; and is one of the most fruitful Countries in the World for Wheat, and would be one of the richest, had not a long War swept off such vast Num­bers of its Inhabitants: Not only the greatest Commerce of this vast Province, but good Part of that of Muscovy and Lithuania is carried on in the Ports of Riga, Revel and Narva; it is partly by the River Narva, and partly by their Sledges in the great Snows, that the Muscovites and Lithuanians bring to Riga their Flax, Hemp, Wax, Pitch, Wheat and Furrs, &c.

[Page 49] Revel has for a long time since, been repu­ted one of the best Northern Towns for Trade; its Situation and Port seem contriv'd for Traf­fick, especially that of Muscovy, which flou­rished here very much, before the North Passage to Archangel was found out.

Narva is situated on the River of that Name; this Town is well known to those who Trade to Muscovy by the Baltick, be­ing the direct Passage to Novogrod and Ples­kou, two Towns of the greatest Trade in that Empire, and both 40 Leagues distant from Narva.

The little Town of Pernaw, is in like Man­ner situated on a River of the same Name; People come thither to load Wheat for the Netherlands; it's Trade grows more consi­derable every Day, by reason of those great Quantities of excellent and well proportion'd Masts, and other fit Timber that come thither by Water: It is believ'd, if this Trade holds, it will prejudice that of Norway; for the Dutch, that used before the Year 1680, to send five or six Ships yearly to Pernaw, send now 50 or 60.

The chief Commodities that are exported from these four Towns of Livonia, and espe­cially from Riga, are great Quantities of Wheat, and other Grain; Masts from Russia and Livonia, (the latter are the most valua­ble) Wood for Tuns, Pipes and Barrels, Oak, [Page 50]Cordage, Deal-Boards, Hemp, Flax, Linseed, Wax, Honey, and Tallow, &c.

And in Exchange they give old Dollar, Salt, Spices, Sugar, Tobacco, Paper, Iron-Work and Small Wares, &c.

THE Dutch carry on good part of the Ger­man Trade by way of these Rivers; the three last of which disembogue themselves in­to their Estates: This Trade is very advanta­geous on account of the Provisions and Mer­chandize that are convey'd to them by these ways, as by the great Consumption that is made, by what is sent back in Return.

The Elbe takes its Source in Bohemia, and after having travers'd that Kingdom, and the Electorates of Saxony, Brandenburg and Ha­nover, falls into the Ocean about 20 Leagues below Hamburgh.

'Tis in this City (the most rich and flou­rishing in all Germany for Trade) that the Dutch secure to themselves that of the Elbe; that is, the Trade of the best part of the Pro­vinces of the Lower Germany.

The Dutch carry to Hamburgh such Com­modities as arise from their own Manufactures of Silk and Wool, small Wares, Spices, Drugs, and other Necessaries.

[Page 60]Hence they have their Brass Wire, White Iron (as they call it) or Tin'd Plates made in Saxony, Corn, Timber for Shipping, and for the most part, all other Commodities of the North.

The Dutch sometimes go up the Elbe as far as Harburgh and Madgeburgh, where they lade great Quantities of Wood and Wine (which they buy there) and sometimes hew down whole Forests, and take away the Wood as they have Occasion.

The People of Hamburgh, in short, have such a considerable Trade to all the Ports of Europe, that their City has gain'd the Name of little Amsterdam.

The Wezer, like the Elbe, runs thro' a good part of the fertile Provinces o [...] the Low­er Germany. The City of Bremen, which is situated on this River, 15 Leagues before its falling into the Sea, is a Place of great Trade, both active and passive; and I am very well inform'd it has the right of Staple. The Pro­vinces bordering on the Wezer, and the Ri­vers that fall into it all along its vast Course, furnish Bremen with excellent Timber, of greater Esteem and Value, and much dearer than that of Norway and the Baltick; as also Wheat, Wool, several sorts of Mettals, and Beer; that of Brunswick, call'd Mum, is the best and most esteem'd, a great deal of which, [Page 61]as well as that of Bremen, is sent to the East Indies.

The Dutch buy these, with their Silk and Woollen Stuffs, and sometimes with their small Wares and Wood for Dying, as Logwood, &c.

The whole Trade of the River Ems, that runs thro' all Westphalia, is at Emden, a Town of vast Trade, well affected to the United Provinces. Besides the Horses and Oxen the Dutch bring from East Friezland; Hams, Timber, Woollen, Cloth, Linnen of several sorts, (made by the Inhabitants of the Bishop­ricks of Munster and Paderborn) come down the River of Ems to Emden.

The Trade of the Rhine is one of the most Important the Dutch have; for besides, that this River is Navigable almost every where from Switzerland (where it has its Source) to its falling into the Holland Seas; it takes along with its Stream (which is almost 300 Leagues in length) many large Rivers, of which the Moselle and Mein are the most considerable. The many rich and fruitful Provinces that it washes, furnish Holland with a vast Quantity of rich Merchandize, with which she again, supplies other Countries.

Cologne; the most considerable of all the Towns on the Rhine, and long since celebra­ted for Commerce, is a Place of the principal Trade of that River, as well as of the Moselle; 'tis the great Mart for Rhenish Wines, which [Page 62]are there bought up for the United Provinces, where there is a prodigious Consumption of them.

The Moselle, which runs thro' all Loraine and the whole Electorate of Triers, falls into the Rhine at Coblentz, and unlades there vast Quantities of its Wines.

There comes down to Cologne, by these two Rivers, a great deal of excellent Oak. Besides Wine and Timber; the Dutch bring thence, Iron Cannons and Bullets, and fond thither from Holland then own Manufactures of Silk and Woollen Stuffs, Spices, Sugar, Cheese, Herrings, and other Necessaries: These Goods are likewise disposed of to all the other Towns on the Rhine and Moselle; from whence come the same sort of Merchandize in Return, as from Cologne, tho' not in that a­bundance, or with so much conveniency.

The M [...] that looses itself in the Rhine near Mentz, after having travers'd all Pranco­ni [...], (one of the finest and most fertile Countries of all Germany,) has open'd a Way for a vast Trade in Frankfort, its Capital City, where there are two noted Fairs kept every Year; the Dutch come thither to buy Iron and Cut­lers Ware (made at Nuremberg) Copper, and great Quantities of other Merchandize; and bring thither from their own Country, Silk, Cloth, small Wares, Ribands, Spices, Drugs, and all sorts of Wood for dying.

[Page 63]In short, there is not a Town near the Rhine and the Rivers that flow into it, but consumes a World of Goods of the growth and Manufa­ctury of Holland, in exchange of their own. The Dutchies of Juliers and Berghs, belonging to the Elector Palatine, furnish Flax, Thread, and Linnen, as do all the other Countries thereabout.

By the Maese, the Dutch carry on a great Trade, particularly with the Towns of Liege and Aix la Chapelle; the first is situated on that River, and the other not far off, but al­most all the Trade of the Meuse is at Liege, where are sold Serges, Slate, Pit Coal, Iron and Steel Work, Bullets, Bombs, Granadoes, Arms, Lead, Brazier's Ware, made at Aix la Chapelle, (which has its Brass and Copper from Holland and Liege.) Into this last Town the Dutch bring all sorts of Merchandize made of Silk and Wool, Spices, and Drugs for the Surgeon and Apothecary.

The Dutch ever had a watchful Eye to pre­serve the Liberties of Cologne, and the Navi­gation of the Rhine: They have in like man­ner frequently protected the Liberties of Ham­burgh against the Attempts of the Kings of Denmark; and those of Bremen, against the Swede; till some Reasons of State made them permit the last to fall under the Dominion of the Crown of Sweden. In short, they have always a particular Care not to suffer any new [Page 64]Customs or Imposts to be laid on the Naviga­tion of these five Rivers; by means of which they drive such an advantagious Trade, and render themselves so formidable; by these means, they have extended their Territories much beyond their usual Limits, and have been for six Years together entire Masters of the Electorate of Cologne, and Principality of Liege.

THIS Country heretofore, the Seat or Centre of a prodigious Trade, has now very little, by the great Application and Ad­dress of the Dutch, and particularly the Peo­ple of Amsterdam, to hinder even its recovery again in Flanders, especially at Antwerp. In the Truce made in the Year 1609, the Spa­niards would have oblig'd them to take off the Imposts they laid on the Navigation of the Scheld and other Rivers during the War, which gave a great Blow to the Trade of the Low Countries; but the States General would ne­ver consent to it, in hopes entirely to ruine the [Page 65]Commerce of the Low Countries subject to the Crown of Spain, and draw it to themselves.

When they made Peace with Spain, at the Treaty of Munster, they took all imaginable Precautions least Commerce should be re-esta­blish'd at Antwerp thro' a long Peace; not doubting but the advantagious Situation of that City for Trade, would once again revive it, if not timely obstructed: They stipulated then that they should keep the Scheld block'd up, that all Merchandize that went up that River should pay certain Customs at the Fort of Ryssel, and that Ships and large Vessels should pass no further, but unlade their Goods into Boats and small Barks, to carry them to Antwerp.

They had no Apprehension that Trade should ever flourish again at Bruges or Ghent, since they were Masters of the Canals of Com­munication of Sluice and Sas Van Ghent, to the very Sea.

I am very well satisfy'd the Dutch would never have consented to a Peace with Spain, how advantagious soever it might be, had they not seen it in their Power to hinder the re-esta­blishment of Commerce in Flanders.

The Trade the Dutch drive in Flanders and Brabant, (both in Obedience to the King of Spain,) is principally establish'd at Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, and Mehclin: The chief Com­modities they deal for in these Provinces, es­pecially [Page 66]in the Towns of Antwerp, Brussels, and Mechlin, are Thread, and Lace, which they make with that admirable Beauty and large Quantities, as is almost incredible.

From Ghent and Bruges they fetch a vast Quantity of fine Linnen of all sorts, as well for the Table, as other uses: The first of these is famous for Serges, the other for Sheeps Leather; Brussels and Audenarde for Tape­stry, where a long while since began those excellent Manufactures that gave Birth to those of the Gobelins in Paris, which for many Years past has been, and now is, the most fa­mous Work-house in the World.

To these Towns they send their own Manu­factures of Stuffs made of Silk and Wool, Spices, Drugs, Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, and a great Quantity of Muslins, and Indian Stuffs of all sorts.

To this one may add, the Trade they have with Lisle, Tournay and Mons, of which they have made themselves Masters by the Force of their Arms, and those of the High Allies; the Trade of Lisle consists chiefly in a sort of Linnen called there Toiles Baptistes, and Bara­cans, or coarse Camblets.

The Dutch, in short, are Masters of all the Trade of the Low Countries, and that with all the Liberty, Authority, and Ease imaginable, by reason of their bordering on those Provinces, and the Advantage they have [Page 67]of the Rivers and Canals that run by, and thro' all the Principal Towns, and wonderfully fa­cilitate the Carriage of all sorts of Goods from one to another, with great Expedition and very little Expence.

THE Neighbourhood of these two Nati­ons has for many Years since establish'd a mutual Commerce between them; but it has sometimes been interrupted: In the Usurpation of Cromwel, the Parliament made a Law pro­hibiting ever Nation to bring into England any Goods or Merchandizes but what were of their own Growth and Manufactury.

This Prohibition was principally levelled at the Dutch, whose Country produc'd very little that England had Occasion for, and had not then any thing like the Manufactures they have at this Day. But at that time, it was thought prudent not to let those People grow too great, or rival England in Trade. Howe­ver the English, I believe, were not over se­vere in relation to the Importation of Spices from Holland, the Dutch being Masters of [Page 68]them, and which could not be had but thro' their means. The Dutch on the contrary, permitted the English to bring into their Ports all sort of Goods, whether they were of the Growth of England, or not.

The English bring into Holland their Wool­len Cloths of their own Manufactury, and other Stuffs, both of Wool and Silk, Tin, Lead, Vitriol, Pitcoal, Virginia Tobacco, Barbadoes Sugar, and other Sugars of America.

The Woollen Manufactures that come from England into Holland, are the chief Article of that Trade, their Stuffs sell readily; Strangers, and particularly the Germans, come to buy them: At first, the English kept their Store­House for Cloth at Middlebourg in Zealand, then at Delst, after that at Rotterdam, and now at Dort, the Magistrates having granted them Privileges for that very Purpose: There are certain Days when they open their Stores to every body, but they generally open them when they have receiv'd a considerable Quan­tity of Cloth, and they give Notice some time before by Circular Letters.

Lead and Tin which the English carry to Holland, next to their Cloth and Stuffs, make the most considerable Article.

The Tade of the English with the Dutch, is carried on by the Meuse, the Passage from England being very easy, but I believe their Goods sell best at A [...]sterdam; they take from the [Page 69] Dutch their fine Linnens in Payment, and Canvis for Sails, as also great Quantities of Paper, since that Republick has set up that Manufactury, and a great Quantity of Silks of their making, especially when the English pro­hibited Trade with France.

The Scotch since the Year 1612, have set up a Glass-House in Zealand, where they make Glass much after the English Way; they bring thither great Quantities of Coal, but not near so good as the English; several Woollen Stuffs of their own Manufactury, and particularly Worsted Stockings; and if I am not mistaken a great deal of Ox and Cow Hides Calves and Sheeps Leather, Dogs and Rabbits Skins, as also Lead and Tallow.

The Irish have no Store-Houses in all Hol­land, their greatest Trade is from Dublin, Cork and Waverfard, whare they Transport to Holland pickled Beef in Barrels, Butter, Tal­low, Bulls and Cows Hides, Freezes, and o­ther Woollen Stuffs.

The absolute Necessity that the Dutch have of the English Ports on the Channel, is one of the principal Reasons that makes them suffer that great Inequality in the respective Liberty of the Trade between the two Nations, and to suit themselves to the Laws the English have made, in relation thereto.

THE Trade the Dutch have with France since the Establishment of their Repub­lick. has been very considerable in respect of the Number, Quantity and Quality of the Merchandize they bring thither, and carry thence every Year. That which France fur­nishes them with, are equally necessary to them for their own Subsistence, and their keep­ing up their Trade with other Nations.

The Principal Things they have from France, are Corn of all kinds, when the Years are good, Wines of all sorts, particularly those of Grave, Champagne and Burgundy, Honey, Saffron, large and small Chesnuts, Hazel Nuts, Turpentine, Rozin, Crayons, Verdu­grease, Soap, Wax, Cork, Carduus; to these may be added, Silks, Taffaties, Gold and Sil­ver Tissues, Stuffs of Amiens, Chalons and Rheims, Paper, Parchment, Hats, Small Wares, and Iron Ware, both small and great, and a world of other Goods which are (as they call them) the Merchandize of Paris, as Belts, Girdles, Combs, Looking-glasses, Trin­kets, Toys, Gloves, and Head-dresses.

[Page 71]All these different sorts of Commodities are sent by the Dutch into all the Provinces of the North, Germany, the Low Countries, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the Levant, the Coasts of Africa, and even the Indies. In short to all the Climates of the World, where these famous Merchants have carried and extended their Traffick.

They furnish the French in Return with all sorts of Spices, Cloth, Drugs, as well for Medicines as Painting; all sorts of Woods for Dying; all sorts of Linnen Cloth, &c. They bring from the North, Copper, Steel, Brass Wire, tin'd Plates, or white Iron, Cannons, Muskets, and other Arms, Gun­powder, Sulphur, Matches, Russia Leather, Furrs, Flax, Hemp, Pitch and Tar, Masts, Planks, and other Timber for building Ships or Houses; to these may be added Herrings, and other Salt Fish, Butter, Cheese, Tallow, and a great Quantity of other Merchandize, to spe­cify which, would be very difficult and tedious.

The Advantage and Benefit France has found by that Trade, and the Reasons of State which united her to his Republick a­gainst the House of Austria, have made her favour such Commerce in several Treaties with the States, and granted them many Privileges; this together with the Neighbourhood of the two Nations, made the French Trade very ea­sy to the Dutch; besides, the French being [Page 72]unskill'd in the Art of Navigation, the Dutch only were employ'd in making trading Voya­ges to all Parts, this filled the French Ports continually with Dutch Vessels, which ever were taking off their Superfluities, and the Vent of their Commodities, especially Stuffs and other home Manufactures was very great, and encreased in proportion as the Dutch had Liberty to come into their Ports and Harbous; this made the French Trade flourish very much, and gave a Value to their Manufactures.

The good understanding between the two Nations began to lessen, when the Treaty of Munster was on Foot, and as the French at that time thought they had reason to be displea­sed with the Dutch, they refused to renew the ancient Treaties of Commerce.

They let their Pirates disturb their Medite­ranian Trade, which made People believe a War would have ensued at that time between the two Nations; and the French made them be­lieve they would prohibit all Dutch Merchan­dize, at least lay new Duties on what should come into their Ports. Monsieur Boreel, who was then their Ambassador in France, repre­sented boldly to that Court, that other People would be oblig'd in like manner, to lay new Duties on all French Goods, which would in­fallibly very much diminish their Consumption, and consequently be of Prejudice to that King­dom. The French pretended to be ignorant [Page 73](or perhaps were really so) of the vast Quan­tities of their Merchandize that went out of their Country to Foreign Parts, and told him roundly that the thing was not so considerable as e represented it to them, and that it was only the Interest of his Country made him talk after that manner.

To undeceive them, that Gentleman made it appear to the Court that their Republick ex­pended every Year above thirty five Millions of Livres in French Commodies.

[Page 75]This Representation and other Politick Rea­sons (which is not my Business to meddle with) made the French change their Stile, and there was no more Talk of new Duties and Imposts. In short, after long Disputes upon the new Duty of Freight of 50 Sols per Tun, the French in the Year 1662, signed a Treaty of Commerce with the States General, and which was to be a lasting one. This Treaty made both the Dutch and French Merchants hope, that a Commerce so very useful and ad­vantagious to the two Nations would be con­siderably augmented; but their Hopes were frustrated, and they saw with Sorrow it sen­sibly lessened in the Year 1667, when the French encreased the Duties on Foreign Mer­chandize, without having any manner of Re­gard to the Treaty of 1662. They had for some Years, it seems, entertain'd a Notion that they could carry on a Trade after a new un­heard of Method, They pretended to sell their Goods to their Neighbours, and buy none of theirs.

It must be allow'd, a finer Project never could be invented to fill France with Gold and Silver; I call it a fine, not pernicious Project, but it has been found by unhappy Experience, it was altogether impracticable.

To put this Project in Execution, the first thing they did was to set up an East India Company, as also others for the Levant and [Page 76]Northern Trade, in order to furnish them­selves with such Merchandize of those Coun­tries as they should have Occasion of, and in Return, with what might be necessary for their Use without having recourse to Strangers.

To quit themselves entirely of Foreign Assistance, they began to set up in France the Manufacturies of other Countries, imagining at the same time, those other Countries could not be without French Goods and Provisions, and that they would take off the same Quantities as usual, and by consequence would be oblig'd to pay ready Money when they saw the French take no more of theirs in Return: 'Twas on this View that in the Year 1667 the French laid new Duties on Foreign Goods es­pecially Manufactures, which consequently made them much dearer than their own, and was done, with intent to make the People pre­fer their own to Foreign Manufactures.

The Dutch seeing themselves attackt in the most sensible Part, so well travers'd this new Establishment of the French Companies, that at last they fell of themselves. They forgot nothing that might ruine the Manufactures of France, they set up for making themselves those very Goods they used to have from France, and sold them much cheaper than the Franch could do; Reasons of State joined to those of Trade, and the Enmity of both [Page 77]Parties to each other, broke out at last into an open War, which was properly speaking a Trade War. The Conduct of the Dutch du­ring the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle, the Triple Alliance made afterwards with England and Sweden for the Preservation of the rest of the Spanish Low Countries, and their Gasconading Language made the King resolve they should feel his Resentment. To humble this Repub­lick, it was thought nothing would go so far as the ruining their Trade, by laying still new Duties on such Merchandize as should be brought into France, or else entirely to prohi­bit it.

The States-General try'd all ways to engage the French to regulate their Duties upon En­tries by the Tariff made in the Year 1664. and to execute the Treaty of Commerce of the Year 1662; but finding they could do nothing, they began to fight the French with their own Weapons; that is, they prohibited all French Wines and Brandies entring their Ports, and laid new Duties upon all Goods of the French Manufactury; and the Provisions and other Merchandize that a long time before they us'd continually to have from France, they then bought and dealt for from other Parts; the French soon perceived a very great Diminution of their Commerce: The War coming on be­tween France and Holland in the Year 1672, Trade on both sides was entirely prohibited. [Page 78]However, Monsieur Colbert happily foresee­ing, that 'twould be a very difficult Matter for France to continue long a War (wherein pro­bably all Europe might be engag'd against her) if no Body took off her Goods and Mer­chandizes, gave Passports to every one that would come and trade thither; and to this wise and sage Conduct, may be justly attribu­ted good part of the happy Success which af­terwards attended that Kingdom.

That War ending by the Treaty of Nime­guen, which was concluded the 10th of Au­gust 1678. the very same Day a new Treaty of Commerce was struck up, in which it was agreed, that the French and Dutch should en­joy reciprocally the same Liberty, in respect of Commerce and Navigation, in each other's Dominions, as they did before the beginning of that War. In Consequence of this Treaty, the Tariff of 1667 was entirely abolish'd in favour of the Dutch; and that of 1664 was set up in its stead, generally for all sorts of Goods whatsoever, that they should bring in­to that Kingdom, or export thence. One would have thought that this would have establish'd a lasting Commerce between the two Nations. However, in the beginning of the Year 1680, the French Provisions and other Goods, espe­cially Silks, bore no Price at Amsterdam; and those that traded thither were very sensible, that oftentimes they rather lost than gain'd, [Page 79]as I have elsewhere observ'd: So true is it, that Commerce once destroy'd, never again recovers it self. Those Gentlemen who had the Mangement of Affairs after the Death of Monsieur Colbert, without having any manner of regard to this last Treaty, set up the Tariff of 1667, and considerably augmented the Du­ties, in hopes to augment the Sale of their own Manufactures. The Dutch seeing their Com­merce continually attack'd in such open man­ner, and that they had no hopes of re-esta­blishing Matters on the ancient Footing, ap­ply'd themselves more than ever, with all Care and Diligence, to put themselves in that Condition, as never more to have occasion of the French Manufactures; and they succeeded so well in this last Article, that they set up amongst themselves those very Manufacturies; as, the making Silks, Gold and Silver Bro­cades, Hats, Paper, Ribands, and Laces, &c. And the French, since that time, have found to their no small Detriment, a prodigious De­crease of their Trade in these several Articles. I believe it may very truly be said, that these Trade-Quarrels were partly the Cause of the Wars breaking out again, between France and the United Provinces, in the Year 1690. The Declaration of this War was followed by the most severe and longest Prohibition of Com­merce that ever was known, and has hitherto continu'd; and 'tis to be fear'd, will only [Page 80]make the Dutch know, they can very easily let the French Provisions alone. Time will make it appear, whether after the Peace, the Dutch will resort to the Ports of France with such Numbers of Merchants-Ships as before; and we shall see whether they will take off such vast Quantities of Provisions, and Goods of the French Manufacture, as in times past; 'tis much to be wish'd they would, as well for the Benefit of Commerce, as the Good of the State.

NOtwithstanding the Revolt of the Dutch from Spain, Philip the Second pretend­ed he knew nothing of their Trading in his Dominions, under the Colours of his Allies; and tho' he saw very well, that such Trading must inevitably furnish them wherewith to maintain their Revolt, yet he did not think it worth his while to deprive them of it. It was the general Opinion, that that Prince acted after that manner, because he had occa­sion for the Merchandize of the North to equip his Fleets, and which he could have no other way but by means of the Dutch: [Page 81]it was believ'd he was likewise afraid, that if he should shut them out of the Spanish Ports, they would, being very powerful at Sea, open themselves a Way into the New World. How­ever, notwithstanding this Connivance of that Monarch, the Spaniards in time treated the Dutch Merchants, that traded to Spain, with such Cruelty, and laid on them such heavy Du­ties, that they were fore'd to leave off trading thither, as well as to Portugal, which then was subject to Philip. The Merchants and Seamen that were employ'd in that Trade, after it thus expired, took a Resolution to look out for those Goods in Asia, Africa, and America, which they used to have from Seville and Lisbon; and this was one of the principal Causes of the Rise of that Republick, and the Decay of the Spanish Monarchy.

Philip the Third, having succeeded his Fa­ther, Philip the Second, in the Month of September, 1598. seeing plainly that all En­deavours that were used to bring the Dutch to a Peace, proved ineffectual, resolved to forbid them all manner of Trade whatsoever with his Subjects, hoping that by taking away that which supported them to that time in their War, they would have no mind to continue it, when they should see themselves depriv'd of such Support. It was visible, that all the Riches of Holland were the Effects of their Naviga­tion and Trade, and that their greatest Traffick [Page 82]was with Spain, whither they not only carri­ed the Merchandize of their own State, but Corn from Poland and other Northern Coun­tries, that they might in Exchange carry home vast Quantities of Gold and Silver.

Philip the Third executed his Edict with a great deal of Severity; a very exact Search was made all over Spain for Dutch Merchants and Sailors; som of which were condemn'd to perpetual Imprisonment and the Gallies; others were cruelly put to Death by several kinds of Tortures. This Interdiction of Com­merce was likewise pulished in the Low Coun­tries, in the Name of the Princess Isabella, who was at that time their Sovereign.

The States General, on the other hand, were not contented with barely prohibiting all Commerce with Spain, they likewise forbid all other Nations bringing into their Country any Provisions, or other Commodities whatso­ever, from Spain, declaring, that all that did so should be esteemed Spanish Partisans, and be treated as Enemies. A Copy of this De­claration of the States-General was sent to all Princes, that they might not pretend Ig­norance.

France came into the Dutch Scheme, and declared, that if after 6 Months any of her Subjects should trade with Spain, they would, in so doing, expose themselves to such Incon­veniencies, as the Crown would not concern [Page 83]it self to remedy; and the other Powers like­wise acquiesced to this bold Declaration.

Notwithstanding these severe Prohibitions of the Spaniards, the Dutch, as before, tra­ded to all the Spanish Countries, by means of Passports, the Spaniards themselves gave them for Money, which they often wanted to car­ry on their Affairs. In short, the Truce of twelve Years was concluded between Spain and the United Provinces in the Year 1609, and by it the Freedom of Trade was re-esta­blish'd between the two Nation; and amongst other things it was agreed, That the Traders of each Nation should pay no greater Duties, than the Inhabitants or Allies of such Nations who paid the lowest Customs; and that the Dutch might be secured from apprehending any thing from the Inquisition, it was agreed, that they should enjoy the same Liberty as was stipulated to the English some time before, in the Articles of the Treaty of Velasco, which the Constable of Castile had made with the Crowns of Spain and England.

The War that was revived in the Year 1621, after the Expiration of that Truce, in­terrupted the Trade of both Nations till the Year 1648, when they concluded a perpetual Peace at Munster; and from that time the Trade the Dutch drove with Spain became much more considerable than ever, by reason of those Privileges that Crown yielded to them [Page 84]in that Treaty. Those great Advantages they offered the United Provinces, was one of the principal Means they made use of to draw the States from the French Interest, and to make a Separate Peace with them, and which in Effect, was the saving of that Monarchy.

The Dutch Trade with Spain continued from that time till now, that is, till the break­ing out of this present War, which began in the Year 1702, on Account of the Partition Treaty which was designed to exclude Philip V. the present King, from succeeding Charles II. whose lawful Heir and Successor he was. It is worth while to observe, how Reasons of State have united these two Nations, the most averse to each other in the World, and whose hatred especially that of the Spaniards seemed irreconciliable.

The Spaniards favour'd the Dutch in their Trade as much as they possibly could, par­ticularly since the Year 1667, in hopes to have ruined that of the French, and they were not unsuccessful in that respect; but the Dutch Trade never flourish'd so much in Spain as since the War between France and Holland, begun in the Year 1672, to the beginning of this present War; for they not only furnish the Spaniards with such Goods as they used to have from France, but furnish themselves like­wise from Spain with what France used to sup­ply [Page 85]them with before the several Wars of 1672, and 1690.

The Dutch traded very much to all those Places that were subject to Spain, as Flanders and Brabant, &c. before this present War, and which she has now lost, as well as those which the French lost some time after, that is to say, during the three last Campaigns: But their chief Trade of all was that of Cadiz and in the Mediterranean. 'Tis in that famous Port of Spain, where the Galleons are equipt out for Peru, and the Flotilla for Mexico and New Spain, and which return thither with their rich lading from those Empires, and bring almost all the Gold and Silver we see in Europe; however, tho' the Spaniards are the Masters of those Countries where Gold and Silver grow in such abundance, yet it is very true that they have less of either than those Nations that Trade with them, which shews that Mines of Gold and Silver contribute much less to the enriching of a Country than Trade and Commerce.

What follows, is a true Account of the Goods and Merchandize the Dutch used to carry into Spain and bring thence, before the last Rupture.

That which they imported consisted chiefly of Linnen of all sorts, Woollen Stuffs, a great Number of Silks, Gold and Silver Stuffs, [Page 86]Drugs, Spices, small Iron Wares, Masts and Timber.

The Linnen brought into Spain by Foreigners, ever was look'd on as the most considerable Article of that Trade, by reason of its vast Consumption both in Spain and America; the French furnish'd the Spaniards a long time with this Commodity; I believe I should not exceed the Truth, by affirm­ing that this only Article of the French Commerce amounted every Year to about eight Millions of Livres.

The Linnens that the Dutch bring into Spain, are generally of the finest sort that are made in Overissel, and about Douay and Va­lenciennes; they sell them in Spain by the Name of Lawns and Cambricks; they vend likewise a certain kind of Linnen, call'd Perseilles and Brabant; it is very broad and coarse, and serves the poorer sort of Peo­ple, to wrap up Goods in: Besides this, they sell a World of fine and coarse Callico stain'd in Holland with all sorts of Colours, which they make Use of both in Spain and America, for Lining of Cloaths: I pass by many other sorts of Linnen of less Note, which the Dutch bring into Spain in time of Peace, as well as Table Linnen, Tapes and Filletings, both white and coloured.

Their Woollen Stuffs are Drabs and Serges, Camlets of all sorts, fine and coarse; these [Page 87]Stuffs are all of their own Manufactures, as well as what they call black Anacosies.

Tho' this Article may appear very conside­rable, yet the Dutch bring into Spain other Goods of a far greater Value; the several sorts of Silks which they bring in vast Quan­tities amount to prodigious Sums. The Spa­niards used formerly to buy their Silks from the French, but since the Establishment of these sorts of Manufactures in Holland, the French have entirely lost that rich Commerce as well as that of Gold and Silver Brocades, which the Dutch sell much cheaper. 'Tis true, these rich Stuffs at first were neither so well made, nor so beautified as those made in France, but they are now come to that Perfection in Hol­land, that there is but very little Difference. The Dutch and they only furnish Spain with Cinnamon, Cloves and Nutmegs, and such like Spices; they serve them likewise with Pepper, but the English share with them in that Trade. I have been assur'd, that one third Part of the Cinnamon that the Dutch have from the East Indies, is consumed in Spain and America, es­pecially in Peru, where their Chocolate makes a vast Consumption.

The Dutch likewise dispose of in Spain, a considerable Quantity of Drugs from the Le­vant, both for the Apothecary and Painters Use.

[Page 88]I pass over the Article of Musk, Civet, Ambergrease, &c. which amount to no small Sum: They carry also into Spain small Iron Ware work'd at Nuremberg, Frankfort and Liege, Steel and Copper-work from Sweden, Leather from Denmark, and Russia Leather for Chairs and Coaches; great Quantities of Pa­per and Cards which they used to have from France, White and Yellow Wax. This last Article is so considerable, that it is believed to exceed four Millions of Livres, as well by the Dutch Accounts as those of other Nations that Trade thither. The Spaniards, especially those that live in the Indies, consume prodigi­ous Quantities, their chief Delight being to illuminate their Churches Sundays and Ho­lydays.

In the time of Peace the Spaniards have from Holland Planks, Masts, Cordage, Pitch and Tar, and almost every thing that is ne­cessary for Shipping, besides all sorts of Am­munition and Provisions, as Herrings, Salmon, Butter, Cheese and Corn (when there is a scarce Year, as it often happens in Spain) I must not forget Timber for building, nor that sort of Wood they make Pipes, Barrels and Casks of to carry their Wine and Oil in, to America. These are the principal Commodi­ties the Dutch bring into Spain, and which they will again undoubtedly continue to do after the Conclusion of the approaching Peace.

[Page 89]One might add to these the Negro Trade, which Slaves their East India Company fur­nishes the Spaniards with for America; and this makes no inconsiderable Article in the Dutch Trade.

All these Commodities (very few excepted) are equally proper for Spain and America; but the greatest part is sent into the New World, and Peru alone makes a greater Consumption than all Mexico.

‘'It must be observ'd as a Matter of Impor­tance, that only the Spaniards can Trade to the West Indies, and that all Nations else are forbidden on Pain of Death to trade thither, either directly or indirectly—'’ However, by means even of the Spaniards themselves, they have found out the Secret to send to those Parts all sorts of Merchandize on their own Account; the Method is to find out some Spaniard of Worth and Probity, and en­trust him privately to sell your Goods in the Indies in his Name, who will certainly do it for you, and return you faithfully your Profits.

This indirect Way of Trading to America is very frequent in Spain, and it was scarce ever known that a Spaniard betray'd his Trust.

The Court of Madrid is not unacquainted with these Practices, but Policy makes her connive at them. The Dutch have likewise found out the Way of Trading thither se­cretly, [Page 90]or indeed to speak better, directly by the way of the Island Curazao, which lies not far from the Town of Cartagena, the Mer­chants of that famous Place, and those of the other Towns along the Maritime Coasts, have a very good Understanding with the Dutch whom they furnish with the Merchandize of the Country, and carry their Goods even a-board their Vessels while they lie at Anchor in some convenient Place near the Coast; and in exchange receive from them the Merchan­dize of Europe.

The Trade between the new World and Spain is carried on by the Galleons and Flo­tilla: There are besides some few Vessels, but those are but inconsiderable.

The Galleons are design'd, as I hinted be­fore, entirely for the Commerce of Peru, which is by far the richest, and the Flotilla for that of Mexico. The Galleons may sail from Cadiz at any time, but the Flotilla is oblig'd to depart in the Month of August, to avoid the Stormy Winds that are very rife in the Gulf of Mexico, during the Month of September.

These two Fleets keep the same way till they come to the Islands of Antilles; thence the Galleons continue their Course till they come to Cartagena, and at last to Portobello, where is kept the famous Fair between the Merchants of Peru and Spain.

[Page 91]The Flotilla on the contrary, takes its Course towards the North, and passing be­twen the Islands of Cuba and Jamaica, ar­rives at the Port of Vera Cruz.

In coming back, the Galleons and Flotilla must meet and anchor at the Havana, a very famous Port in the Isle of Cuba; then they sail together thro' the Canal of Bahama, and keeping still in sight of Land, direct their Course Northward as far as the Azores, and touch at those Islands whence they fall di­rectly down to Cadiz.

And now I am treating of the Commerce of Spain, it will not be amiss if I give some par­ticular Account of that Part of it, which has relation to America.

What else the Dutch and other Nati­ons furnish the Spaniards with, is paid for in Money by the Merchants of America, as well as of those of Spain.

The chief Merchandize of America is Gold and Silver, Pearls, Emeralds, Cochinele, In­digo, that which the French call Laine de Vigogne. Quinquina, Cocoa, Vanilles, To­bacco, Leather, Wood of Campechy, and other considerable Commodities.

The Gold and Silver come to Spain by the the Galeons and Flotilla; but the Galleons as I said before, being design'd only for Peru, bring greater Quantities; 'tis chiefly from the Mountain of Potosi, in the Province of [Page 92] Chereassa, that almost all the Silver comes that is seen in all the Parts of Europe, Asia, and the Coasts of Africa; and the Spanish Pieces of Eight are no less known and sought after in China, and all the East (except Ja­pan, where there are a great many Mines of Silver) than in all the Countries of Europe; that which comes to us from New Spain, is dug out of the Mines of St. Lewis de Zaca­tecas, some Leagues from Mexico, the Capital City of that Empire.

Peru, Chili, and the new Kingdom of Grenada, are the three Countries that produce the most Gold.

These are the several Mines of these two valuable Mettals, and where every Day they make new Discoveries, which makes all the Nations of Europe so eager to Trade with the Spaniards; in reality this Commerce is the most profitable, the Returns being always in Gold and Silver.

Pearls, Emeralds, Quinquina, and Laines de Vigogne come with the Galleons.

For the most part they fish for Pearls, near the Terra Firma.

The Mines of Emeralds are near Santa Fe de Bagota, in New Granada.

Laines de Vigogne, come from Potosi.

Quinquina, from the Province of Quillio, which is likewise in Peru.

[Page 93]Cochineal, Indigo, Cocoa, Vanilles, and the Wood of Campechy, generally from New Spain or Mexico. The Province of Guatimala af­fords the best Cochineal, which they call there Meteq, and is the best and dearest of all. There is a prodigious Quantity consum'd all over Europe, in Dying Scarlet.

There is no less a Consumption of Indigo for Dying Blues; the best, if I mistake not, comes from Guatimala.

The Wood of Campechy, which is used in Dying Blacks, comes from Jacatan; Cocoa and Varnilles are two Fruits, with which they make Chocolate; the first comes generally from the Island Curazao, Miracuebo, and Gay­aquil, upon the Coasts of Terra Firma, and the other from Ducapello and Mexico, on the Coasts of the South-Sea.

The Tobacco we have from Spain, comes from Vernia, Miracuebo, the Havana, and St. Domingo; I think that which comes from the Havana is best to make Snuff of, the other to Smoak.

Their Leather comes generally from Mexi­co, the Islands of St. Domingo, the Havana, Curazao, and Buenos Aires, and is by much the best of any, and most valuable.

Tobacco and Leather make a great Article in the Spanish Trade, and the Dutch take off vast Quantities.

[Page 94]I take no Notice of Sarsaparilla, the Ro [...] Contrayerva, the Balsom of Peru, and othe [...] small Articles that come to us from the New World.

The principal Merchandise of their own Growth, that the Spaniards furnish these Coun­tries with, are Wooll, Wines, Fruits, Oils, Soap, Salt, Soude or Kalt, Iron and Steel.

The Spanish Wooll was ever in high Esteem on Account of its Fineness and Excellency; there is however, great Difference, the best coming from the Provinces of Andalusia, Va­lentia, Castile, Arragon and Biscay.

The Dutch, when they have a free Trade with Spain, take off vast Quantities, it being absolutely necessary in their Manufactures of Cloth. The French, Italians, and even the English themselves lay out considerable Sums in this Commodity; so that it may truly be said, that the Spanish Wool is the greatest Ar­ticle in their Trade on this side.

The Southern Parts of this Kingdom pro­duce great Quantities of excellent Red and White Wines; the chief Ports where these Wines are shipp'd off to Foreign Parts, are, Alicant and Malaga, in the Mediterranean: Much more Red than White comes from Port St. Mary, Port Real, St. Lucar, and Rosa, in the Bay of Cadiz; but the greatest Part of the Wines that grow about that Bay, are White, and are commonly call'd Xeres Wines. [Page 95]The Dutch lay out large Sums in these Wines, as well as in Canaryand Brandies, since they bought none of the French. The Spaniards, since this War, have sold much more Wine than before; for whereas during the Peace, in the Year 1691. the Duties run only for 3000 Buts, they have since risen to 16000.

The Dutch take off likewise abundance of Olives from the Island of Majorca, as well as from Sevil and Malaga, besides great Quanti­ties of Figs, Raisins, Almonds, and other dri­ed Fruits. I have been well informed, that there is scarce a Year, but they lade five or six Ships with these Goods, including Oran­ges, Limons and Capers.

The Soaps of Alicant and Carthagena are always esteem'd the best of any. Soude or Kalt, which is an Herb that turns to a kind of Stone, after being burnt, and which is used in making Soap and Grass, grows in large Quantities on the Coasts of the Kingdoms of Valencia and Murcia, and Foreigners take off a great deal from both Places.

The Dutch were wont to lay out great Sums with the Spaniards, for Iron and Spa­nish Salt; there is a world of this Salt all round about the Bay of Cadiz, and the Island of Iva. Iron is the Product of Biscay and Navarre; and as there is no better in Europe, so for that very Reason there is every Year a great Consumption of this necessary Metal.

[Page 96]The Dutch every Year employ in the Cadiz Trade about thirty Sail of Ships, besides those that unlade themselves at that Port, and con­tinue their Course to the Streights.

They tell you, that at the times of the De­parture and Arrival of the Galleons, the Num­ber of the Dutch Vessels, that trade to Cadiz, commonly encreases to 15 or 20.

The Ships that Trade to Cadiz (except those laden with Corn) go always without Convoy, tho' their Artillery and Lading be very considerable, which makes other Nations often put their Goods aboard these Vessels, as well for Safety as Cheapness of Freight.

They pretend that the Dutch receive every Return of the Flotilla and Galleons about five Millions for Goods sent to the Indies, and near upon as much for those sold at Cadiz; add to this the indirect Trade to America, actually carried on by the Way of Curazao, an Article of no little Consequence.

I have only one Word more to say, and that is in relation to the Trade the Dutch carry on with the Northern Parts of Spain: They come into every Port, but the Traders of Bilboa and St. Sebastian are they that deal most with the Dutch; the Port of the former is the most considerable, being the Magazine of the Provinces of Old Castille and Le­on; this Town by its Commerce furnishes these two Provinces with Woollen Stuffs, [Page 97]Silks, Lace, Ribands, Hats, Paper, Small Wares and Iron Work, brought thither by the Dutch; who likewise bring all things neces­sary for Shipping, Salt and Corn, of which they consume great Quantities in those Places, as well as in other Provinces on the Sea Coast.

They bring much the same Goods to St. Sebastian as Bilbao, which are again sent in­to Navarre, the Country of Guipuscoa, the Asturies, &c.

From all this side of the Country the Com­modities to be Exported are Wool from Arra­gon, Navarre, and Old Castille; excellent Iron from Guipuscoa, where the Iron Mines chiefly are; Nuts, Chesnuts, Limons, Oran­ges, Anchovies from Calica.

The Trade of the Southern Parts of Spain, which are wash'd by the Mediterranean Sea, is chiefly at Malaga, Cartagena, Alicant, Va­lentia, Almarica and Majorca, &c. which afford all the Commodities I spoke of above; to wit, Wines, Oils, Olives, Raisins, Figs, Almonds, Aniseeds, Salt, Soap, Soude or Kalt, and abundance of excellent Wool.

The Foreign Commodities which are most proper for this Country are French Linnens made in Bittany, good Quantities of Wool­len and Silk Stuffs, Lace, Hats, Small Wares of every sort, and Jewellers Work, most of which are sent from Cadiz, the rest [Page 98]the Dutch bring directly to the places they de­sign them for.

BEFORE Portugal and the Countries that Crown possessed in Asia, Africa, and A­merica came to be reunited in the Year 1580, to the Crown of Castille, under the Reign of Philip II, the Dutch traded very much with Portugal, and with a great deal of ease, not­withstanding the Difference of Religion and the great Severity of the Inquisition; their greatest Trade was that of Lisbon, whence they Exported besides the Merchandize of the Country, that of the East Indies, Africa and Brazil, all which at that time went only thro' the Hands of the Portugueze.

But after that Union, the Trade that the Dutch drove in Portugal, underwent the same Fate as in the other Provinces of the Spanish Monarchy, that is, those Gentlemen were de­priv'd of all manner of Commerce whatsoever.

The Portugueze having shook off the Go­vernment of the Castilians in the Year 1640, one of the first things they did was to stop the Conquests of the Dutch, which they were [Page 99]continually making of the Portugueze Terri­tories in the East Indies, Africa and Brazil, being Subject to the King of Spain. The new King sent forthwith an Ambassador to the Hague, to represent to the States General that the Portugueze, as such, never having any Difference with the United Provinces, he ear­nestly wish'd there might be establish'd a good Understanding between the two Nations, which would put them in a better Condition to resist the Spaniand, their common Enemy.

The States General finding their Account in the Offers of the Portugueze, a Truce for ten Years was signed between them in the Year 1641, and included all the Countries belong­ing to the two Nations, as well on this as the other Side of the Line: By this Truce it was agreed that there should be a free Navigation, and that each Party should be Master of those Places they were in Possession of at the time of publishing such Truce; which Truce was so ill observ'd by the Dutch in the Indies, that the Portugueze were in some Measure oblig'd to break it in the Year 1645, by an Insurrection they made in Brazil against the Dutch, whom they entirely drove out of that Country. This occasioned a new War in Brazil between the two Nations, but it did not break out in Eu­rope till the Month of October 1646, when the States General declar'd War in all its Forms against the King of Portugal, because [Page 100]he would not restore to their West India Com­pany that which his Subjects had taken from them in 1647; but this Affair was endea­vour'd to be accomodated by the Mediation of France and Cromwel.

The War between the Northern Crowns was the Cause that this Negotiation lingred out till the Restoration of the King of England, who resolving to marry the Infanta of Portu­gal, procur'd a Peace between the two Nations by his Mediation; and a perpetual Peace was signed by them accordingly, the 16th of Au­gust, 1661.

The Privileges the Portugueze granted to the Dutch by this Treaty, in relation to their Commerce, gave them an Opportunity of Trading very considerably in Portugal, parti­cularly after the French prohibited all Foreign Sugar and Tobacco, and the Portugueze on their side prohibted all French Manufactures: 'Twas with these two Articles chiefly that the Portugueze paid for all French Goods; but after the French left off taking these from Portugal, the Portugueze would deal no more in French Merchandize; this gave the Dutch an Opportunity to furnish them with theirs, taking in payment Sugar and Tobacco, which they knew very well how to dispose of.

The Trade of Holland is chiefly at Lisbon and Oporto, but the first is the most conside­rable: [Page 101]As for St. Ubes where they go for Salt there is very little or no Consumption.

The Goods they Transport to Portugal consist chiefly in great Quantities of Manu­factures of Silk, Wool and Linnen, Small Wares and Iron-work, Paper, Cards, Leather, Corn in time of scarcity (which is there very frequent.) Of all sorts of Merchandize except Corn, there is a vast Consumption in Portugal and its Colonies.

The Goods they bring from Portugal are those of the Country or its Colonies, the latter consist in Sugars, Tobacco, Wood of Brazil and Fernambouc, Ox Hides, Ginger, Pearls, Indigo, rough Diamonds, and Ambergrease, &c.

Tobacco and Sugar are the chief Commo­dities of Portugal, Sugar is one of their richest Returns from Brazil, where it wonderfully abounds: The Islands of S. Thomas, Made­ra, Capo Verde; and the Terceras also fur­nish considerable Quantities, but I am of the Opinion not near so good, unless it be that of Madera; they have also great Quantities of Brazil Wood, and other Woods for Dying, Ambergrease (which comes from Melinda) Pearls and Diamonds from the East Indies; this Merchandize is one of the greatest Arti­cles in the Portugal Trade.

[Page 102]The Merchadize of Portugal itself consists in Wines (amongst which I shall reckon those of Madera) Oils, Olives, Aniseeds, excellent Fruits, Rasins and Figs.

It is believ'd that the Dutch bring every Year from Portugal ten or twelve Ships laden with those Commodities, including Limons and Oranges, without reckoning their dry'd Sweet­meats made of several sorts of admirable Fruits in Portugal and Brazil.

It is said, that they send every Year di­rectly into Portugal above twenty Sail of Ships, besides other Ships that Trade in the Mediterranean, and come thence to S. Ubes for their lading of Salt, of which they make a great Consumption in the North, where it has been very much in Use for a long time. The Commerce of Holland with Portugal is car­ried on by a Fleet of fifty Ships that are eve­ry Year constantly employ'd for that End, from fifteen to thirty Guns, with which they do good Service against the Corsairs and Pirates.

THE Trade of the Mediterranean Sea was heretofore the most considerable in the World, when that of the Indies only past thro' Alexandria, and some other Ports of Syria: This Commerce was chiefly carry'd on by the French, Italians and Catalans; but the Venetians were the most considerable of all.

The Portugueze making themselves Ma­sters of the Trade of Asia turn'd the Current, and the Italians and the French enjoy'd only the Commerce with the Provinces and Coun­tries on the Coast of the Mediterranean, which however was very considerable.

And this they kept to themselves till the English and Dutch began to Traffick with the Subjects of the Grand Signior; the former in the Year 1599, and the latter in 1612. since that time, those two Nations have made them­selves so much Masters of that Trade, that the Italians and French have very little to do.

The Trade of Holland to the Mediterra­nean, is one of the most considerable that Re­publick enjoys, as well on Account of the [Page 104]great Quantities of Merchandize they carry thither, and vend at a high Price, as in re­spect of the vast Number and Quality of those Goods they have thence in return, and of which likewise they make a considerable Pro­fit in the other Parts of Europe; for which Reason the States-General are very careful and jealous of a Commerce so advantageous to their Republick. They have establish'd a Chamber, which they call the Chamber of Direction, com­pos'd of six Deputies and a Register; all the substantial Merchants of Amsterdam, who have attain'd the Rank of Burgomasters, have a particular regard to, and are much interested in what concerns the Navigation and Trade of the Mediterranean.

This Chamber has Authority to see that all Orders from the States-General, touching this free Navigation, and the Trade thereon de­pending, be duly observed; and this Chamber takes Notice or Cognizance of all Differences that may arise at any time, in pursuance of such Commerce: It regulates in some Measure, the Convoys that are necessary for Merchants Ships, and nominates Consuls for the Sea-ports of the Levant, with consent of the States-General.

They send every Year about 10 Ships, that sail from Holland in three or four Squadrons, to trade in the Dominions of the Grand Sei­gnior.

[Page 105]Their Vessels of Freight cannot have less than 20 or 25 Pieces of Cannon, and 60 or 70 Men each; and because these Voyages are very dangerous, by reason of the Corsairs of Barbary; they allow them a Convoy of two Men of War of 50 or 60 Pieces of Cannon, and 160 or 170 Men.

These little Squadrons, both going and com­ing, touch generally at Leghorn, one of the best and most convenient Ports in Italy; there they take in fresh Provisions and Pieces of Eight, things absolutely necessary for an ad­vantageous Trading Voyage to the Levant. The Genoese who are always well provided with this sort of Money, are the People that furnish them, tho' they very often furnish them­selves with it at Cadiz.

There are other Dutch Vessels that go to several Ports of Italy, Spain, and the Coasts of Barbary, with Merchandize which they dispose of there, and then take in other Commodities for the Levant, either on their own Account, or for the Italians, French, &c. and thence conti­nue their Course to the Levant. The same Me­thod they take in returning; that is to say, they sell in those Ports the Commodities they bring from the Levant, and lade themselves again with such as they judge proper for Hol­land, either on their own or other People's Account.

[Page 106]Amongst all the Ports the Grand Signior has in the Archipelago, Candia, Cyprus, Rhodes, Greece, Asia and Egypt, those of Constantino­ple, Smyrna, Aleppo and Grand Cairo, are Places of the greatest Commerce; but Smirna exceeds them all, by reason of the Carravans of Persia, and the prodigious Number of Chri­stian Vessels that resort thither.

This Town, is the very Centre of the Eng­glish and Dutch Levant Trade, and the prin­cipal Mart of their Cloths, which are not only much admired and sought after in the Terri­tories of the Grand Signior, but in Persia and the greatest Part of Asia.

The Trade of Egypt is by the way of Grand Cairo; this renowned City is not only the general Magazine of all sorts of Merchandize, produced in that rich and vast Kingdom, but also of what comes thither from the Coasts of the Red Sea, the East-Indies, Persia and Ara­bia Felix, and some Provinces of Africa: However, notwithstanding all this, the Trade of Grand Cairo is now only a Shadow, in Comparison of what it was before the Portu­gueze discovered the East-Indies.

The Trade of this Place with Europe and Asia, is carried on by the Nile; Alexandria and Rhodes, situated on the two Entrances of that famous River, are the two Ports where ordinarily resort the Christian Ships: Dami­etta, which lies in the South-Entrance of the [Page 107]same River, is frequented only by the Mer­chants of Africa and Turkey.

There is very little Consumption at the two former Places, which are to be consider'd as Places of Staple for those who trade to Grand Cairo, which City is about Fifty Leagues distant; and that is the Reason that the Dutch Trade in Egypt is very inconsider­able.

Besides, the Minister the Dutch always have at the Ottoman Port, whose principal Employ­ment is to see the Articles of Agreement be­tween the two Nations put in Execution, and secure and protect the Commerce of the Re­publick; they have their Consuls and their Vice-Consuls, in the chief Ports of the Le­vant, who do Justice to the Dutch Merchants that live there, without any Fee, Salary, or Perquisite.

The principal Merchandise that the Dutch carry to the Levant, are Cloths of all sorts, Spices, Cochineal, Indigo, Drugs, Woods fit for Dying, Tin, Lead, Iron, Steel, Cotton, Russia-Leather, and Money both Gold and Silver.

Their Clothes and other Woolen Stuffs have ever made the greatest Article of what the People of Europe are used to send into the Le­vant; the Venetians and French supply'd those Countries heretofore; but the English and Dutch have long since made themselves Masters of [Page 108]that considerable Trade; and it is said, that those two Nations send thither every Year a prodigious Quantity of all sorts, Qualities and Colours, great part of which is presently taken off by the Caravans of Persia that come for that very Purpose to Smyrna, and thence car­ry them to sell in their own Country, and Tartary.

The great Fidelity and Exactness that the English and Dutch always keep in the Quality, Measure and Colour of their Cloths, ad­ded to their cheapness, have been the principal Reason that this Trade runs only thro' the hands of those two Nations.

The Spices the Dutch bring into the Le­vant are Cloves, Nutmegs, Cinnamon, Pepper; to which I shall add Ginger and Sugar; 'twas heretofore from the Ports of Syria they had all their Spices, but now by a very surpri­zing Revolution of Commerce, the Dutch, a People of the North, after a Navigation of many thousand Leagues, which they constant­ly make to acquire this rich Merchandize, supply those very Ports with Spices which heretofore used to furnish all Europe.

The Dutch bring likewise into the Levant the finest Woods and Drugs for Dying, as Cochineel, Indigo, Gumlac, Woods of Brazil, Fernamboue, Siampan, Brazillet, and Cam­pechy.

[Page 109]All these Commodities, and many others come from Africa, except Gumlac and Siam­pon, which are the Product of the Indies.

They bring likewise thither a great deal of Steel, Iron, tin'd Iron, Iron Wire, Brass Plates, Russia Leather, Lead and Tin: But the English, whose Country produces these two last in greatest abundance, bring into the Levant much greater Quantities, and the vast Consumption that there is made, is none of the least Articles of the English Trade: The Tin Men over all the East use a great deal of it in Kitchin Furniture, which for the most part is made of no other Mettal but Copper.

Tho' the Money the Dutch make in Holland be nothing near of so good Alloy as the Spa­nish Pieces of Eight, they go nevertheless in the Levant as well as the other: I omit here some Commodities of lesser Consequence which the Dutch are likewise used to bring into these Parts; all sorts of Goods are well enough re­ceived at Grand Caico, except fine Linnen and Spices.

The greatest part of the Commodities that the Dutch bring from the Ports of the Levant, come from the Grand Signiors Dominions, the reft from those Ports where arrive the Caravans of Persia and Armenia, the chief of which Commodities are raw and spun Silks, twisted Goats and Camels Hair, Cotton, Callicoes, Cor­dovan and other Leather, colour'd Camblets, [Page 110]Wax, Allom, Galls, Wool, Boxwood, Tea, Coffee, Gurrants, Ultramarine, and all sorts of Drugs for the Apothecaries Use.

The Silks that come from the Levant are for the most part the Product of Persia, Syria, Egypt, the Islands of the Archipelago, and the Morea. But what the Caravans bring every Year to Smyrna, far exceeds in Quantity that which comes from the other Countries of the Levant.

These Caravans bring likewise a great deal of Goats Hair spun at Angora and Debazar in Persia, of which they make the finest Camlets in England and Holland.

It is said that the Dutch every Year bring from the Levant about 2000 Bales of Silk, and the like Quantity of spun Goats Hair, and the English take off almost as much.

The Cotton that comes from the Levant grows chiefly in the Grand Signior's Domini­ons in the Country about Smyrna, and in the Isle of Cyprus.

There are not such Quantities in Persia, but the Caravans bring to Smyrna Indian Callicoes, and other Stuffs made of Cotton, as Muslins, and that which the French call Cambresines, which are very fine, and bear a good Price.

They make in the Grand Signiors Domini­ons a vast Quantity of Cotton Stuffs, both blue and white, which are very excellent, and sell [Page 111]well, especially the blue, which are Dyed to that Perfection, that the Colour never stirs.

The Article of Cordovan, Turkey Leather and common Leather is also very considerable; there is a vast Consumption in Italy, France and Spain, and even in the North itself; these Turkey Leathers are of several Colours, but most commonly white, red, and yellow; this Commodity alone, is one of the greatest Articles of the Dutch Trade in the Levant.

The Trade for Drugs is no less, considering the great Consumption made in all Parts of Europe: Rhubarb and Scammony come from Tartary, and are brought by the Caravans of Persia to Smyrna and Aleppo, together with Galbanum, Yppomenes, Aromatick Gums, Tutia, and other Drugs.

Grand Cairo likewise furnishes several sorts of Gums and Drugs, viz. Frankincense, Sena, Cassia, Aloes, Sal Armoniac, and Tamarinds, Coffee, Pine Kernels, Ostridge Feathers, and some other Commodities of Egypt; I must not omit Mastick, which comes only from the Isle of Chio, nor Currants, of which the English make a great Consumption, and are the Pro­duct of the Isles of Zante and Cephalonia.

Tho' the Dutch were the last that came to trade in the Grand Signior's Countries, yet have they been treated no less favourably than other Nations; on the contrary, they and the English, who for a long while since have al­most [Page 112]shared all that Trade of those Parts, are the most esteemed and best treated, having paid for many Years only 3 per Cent. while other Nations pay five. This, together with the good Order and prudent Conduct of the English and Dutch in that Successful Trade, has made them Masters of it, while the French carried themselves after a different Manner.

Besides, this Trade is manag'd all over the Grand Signior's Dominions, with the greatest Ease and Prosit; for the Goods that are Ex­ported, pay no more than three per Cent. and those that are Imported five per Cent. once for all; after that you may transport them to any Province you please, subject to that Empire, without being obliged to pay new Duties: For Example, a Bale of Cloth that has paid the Custom of Entry at the Port of Smyrna, may go out for Constantinople Custom free; and the Officers (whatever is said of the Turkish Extortion) are not over severe, for if any one should give it in that, a less Quantity of Goods entered the Port than really did, and the Fraud should be discovered, yet he would be acquitted on paying the Overplus for what he had so concealed. By this it appears, that the Turks understand better the Maxims necessary for the flourishing of Trade, than other Na­tions who look upon them as a barbarous Peo­ple, that inflame and carry Matters with a high hand in relation to Delinquents in this [Page 113]Kind by Confiscations, Forfeitures, and Penal­ties, odious to the People, and no ways ad­vantageous to the Prince.

THE India Trade is of very great Impor­tance to the Dutch, not only on Account of the Spices they are Masters of, (which rich Productions are equally esteem'd and sought after by the Inhabitants of the old and new World;) but also because this Trade has given them Opportunities of conquering a vast Coun­try of prodigious Extent, and maintaining a strong Force at Sea, which in some Measure makes them sole Arbiters of the Commerce and Trade of those vast Regions.

It is now above 2000 Years ago, that the East-Indies and Europe traded with each other; Ptolemy H. King of Egypt, contributed most to cultivate this Commerce, by means of a new Road he caused to be made in his own Domi­nions from Copta, a Town bordering on the Nile, to Muris, a Port on the Red Sea; by Means of this Passage, the Carriage of all Commodities, as well those of India as Eu­rope, was manag'd with much Ease and Con­veniency by the mutual Assistance of the Mer­chants of Egypt and Grand Cairo.

Augustus having made himself Master of Egypt, the Romans omitted nothing that might [Page 117]serve to favour and increase the Indian Trade in Egypt; and whereas before the Egyptians used only to employ in that Affair twenty Ships in the Time of Augustus, they employ'd then a hundred and twenty; and this Commerce was so very advantageous to the Egyptians, that by the Merchandize they brought from the Indies, they got a hundred for one, or ten Thousand per Cent.

The Romans were Masters of this Trade till the Reign of the Emperor Heraclius; after­wards the Arabians engross'd it all, and they found it so Profitable and Advantageous, that they settled themselves in the Indies, and pro­pagated there the Mahometan Religion, which they professed; the Indians in most places rea­dily embraced it, as suiting their Humour and Inclination.

All the Merchandize of Asia continued its old Course, and came into Europe by the Red Sea and Alexandria; as also by the Persian Gulf, and then was carried in the Caravans belong­ing to the Persian Merchants, to the Ports of Syria, which likewise were in subjection to the Souldan of Egypt.

'Twas to these several Ports the French, Italians, Catalans, and other Traders of Eu­rope used to resort, to buy the East India Spices and other Commodities brought thither by the Arabians; which they again dispersed all over Europe with prodigious Profit; but [Page 118]the Italians being the nearest, were those that got the most riches, by this profitable Com­merce.

The Eastern Trade continued to be carried on with Europe, by the Ports of the Medite­ranean, till about the Year 1498, when the Portugueze having sailed round Africa, (a Thing before that time never performed by Man) came to Calicut a Town in the Indies, towards the end of the Month of May 1498, after having spent 88 Years time in discovering that Passage; this Action gained them greater Honour and Reputation than the Phenicians, Carthaginians, and Greeks ever had, who never attempted so bold a Voyage, tho' they were the first Inventors of Naviga­tion.

The Portugueze, when they arrived in the Indies, found the Arabians very powerfully establish'd in most Parts of that Country, and Masters of all the Trade, and who omitted nothing to hinder these new Comers from set­ling there. They not only stirred up the greatest and most powerful Kings of India a­gainst them, but even the Souldans of Egypt, with whom, for a long time, they had very sharp and cruel Wars; but all the Power that these confederated Princes could make against the Portugueze, did not hinder them from accomplishing their Designs; by their Valour and good Conduct, they made themselves [Page 119]Masters of the Trade of those vast Regions of the East, by conquering an incredible Number of the most important Places, and throughly fortifying those Conquests from Cape Couran, on the Eastern Coasts of Africa to China, and by their Men of War which were continually cruising on those vast Seas; particularly on the Coasts of Arabia, to hinder Commerce for the future being carried on at Grand Cai­ro and Alexandria, and fixing it entirely at Lisbon.

I have here inserted the Names of the prin­cipal Places that the Portugueze possess'd on the Coasts of Asia and Africa.

The Castle de las Minaes in Guinea; the Towns of St. Salvador on the Coasts of the Kingdom of Congo, and of St. Paul de Loan­des in the Kingdom of Angola, made them Masters of all the Commerce on the Western Coasts of Africa; and the Fortresses of So­fales, and Mozambique and Quitou of the Commerce of the Eastern Coasts. Besides these, they had the important Places of Mos­cats and Ormats on the Coasts of Arabia and Persia; on the Coasts of Cambay and Mala­bar besides Goa, (the Capital of all their Territories in the East) they had Possession of Diu, Cochin, Canar, Oranganar, and Coular. They were Masters of four good Fortresses in the Isle of Ceylan, which secured to them the Cinnamon Trade. On the Coast [Page 120]of Coromandel, St. Thomas, Nagapatan and Infanopatan, Golit in Bengall, and Sirem in Regu. The important Haven of Malaca on the Streights of the same Name, and Piacem in the Isle of Sumatra.

The Fortresses they had in the Isles of Ti­ron, Amboina, Ternate and Benda, made them likewise Masters of the Clove and Nutmeg Trade.

In short, they possessed on the Coasts of China the celebrated and important Town of Macar, and though they had no footing in Japan, of which they were the first Discoverers; yet they carried on a very considerable and rich Trade with the Japonese, a thing, at that time and since, unknown in the old World.

Their Shipping, which are continually go­ing to, and coming from Japan, bring thence a great deal of Silver and fine Copper; as also Gold, Silk woven and raw, Porcelain, Chi­na Ware, Tin and Lead, from the Kingdom of Siam; Rubies and Sapphires, from Pegu; Pearls from the Isle of Manar, and from Ba­herem Sugar, Salt-Petre, and rich Silks; Cot­ton from the Kingdom of Bengale, and the finest painted Callicoes; Diamonds from the Coast of Coromandel; Pepper from the King­dom of Golconda; Cinamon from the Coast of Malabar, and the Islands of Sumatra and Ja­va; Cloves and Nutmegs, from the Isle of Ceylan; from the Molucca Islands, Indigo; [Page 121]from Amphion, Cotton, Silks, Lacca and A­gates; from the Great Mogul's Country, Silk woven and raw, Gold Stuffs and Carpets, Rhu­barb, Sena, and other Drugs; from Persia, Myrrh, Frankincense, Manna, Balsam of Ara­bia, Gold, Ivory, Tygers Skins, Bezoar, and African Lyons Skins.

THough the Company which is composed of Threescore Shares is but One Body, and has but One common Purse, it is never­theless divided into Six Chambers, viz.

• 1. The Chamber of Amsterdam which has Half a Share.
• 2. The Chamber of Middlebourg which has a Fourth.
• 3. The Chamber of Rotterdam.
• 4. The Chamber of Delft.
• 5. The Chamber of Horn.
• [Page 174]6. The Chamber of Enchuysen, which Four last Chambers altogether have only One Quar­ter or Fourth Share.

In the Chamber of Amsterdam there are 24 Directors, of whom Twenty are Citizens and Magistrates, except Five or Six Merchants, who govern almost all what concerns Sales and Purchases, for the Company, and Provisi­ons: These Twenty Directors have each of them Three Thousand Guilders Pension, the other Four have only Twelve Hundred, and are nominated by the Towns of Tergou, Utrecht, Dort, and Leyden.

The Chamber of Middlebourg, has Thir­teen Directors who have each 2500 Guilders Pension.

To be Director, a Man must necessarily have Two Shares in the Stock, and be in the Regi­sters of the Company.

Every One of these Chambers nominates a certain Number of Directors which are deputed to compose the Assembly or Court called the Seventeen.

• Amsterdam names Eight.
• Middlebourg Four.
• The other Chambers, One each.
• Middlebourg, the Meuse or North Holland names One alternately.

[Page 175]Thus the Chamber of Amsterdam having Eight Voices of the Seventeen, has only One to gain, to carry every Thing as they please.

The general Assembly or Court of Seven­teen is held only twice or thrice a Year most commonly at Amsterdam, and sometimes at Mid­dlebourg; this Court or Assembly by plurali­ty of Voices, resolves all Matters relating to Shipping, sale of Goods, and Dividends, and names the Governour General of the Indies for Trade.

In a Word the Assembly of Seventeen, de­cides generally all the Affairs of Consequence relating to the East-India Company.

This famous Company governs all the Ter­ritories the Dutch possess in the Indies which are very considerable, as also all Commerce which is managed by a Council of State arbitrarily cho­sen and whose Residence is in Batavia.

• This Council is composed of a Governour General who is their President, and has Two Voices.
• A Director General.
• Six ordinary Counsellors of State.
• And as many extraordinary as the Compa­ny shall think fit.
• The Governour is also their Generalissimo in all Military Affairs on the other Side of the Cape of Good Hope.
• He has under him a Major General.
• Particular Admirals
• [Page 176] And the Admirals of each Squadron.

The Office of Governour General is only to give Orders, and is accountable to none, they chuse him every Three Years, but commonly he is continued on as long as he lives; for 'twould cost the Company too much to have a Gover­nour General get an Estate under them every Three Years.

The Company allows him every Month 800 Crowns Pension, and 500 Crowns more for his Table, besides the Entertainment of all his Family, which is a very considerable Ex­pence.

He has a Key to every Magazine and can take out what he will, without giving an Ac­count to any One.

It may be said his Authority in some sort would equal that of the late Princes of Orange, was it not in the Company's Power to re­voke it when they pleased; for in Effect he is Stadtholder, Captain General, and High Ad­miral of the Indies.

His Court is more Pompous, his Train more Magnificent than was that of those Princes, and surpasses even some Kings in Europe. When he goes out 50 Horse Guards go before his Coach, which is followed by a fine Company of Foot, 12 Pages walk of each side of his Coach and all very richly and Magnificently drest. When he gives Audience to the Ambassadors of the Indi­an [Page 177]Kings, 'tis with extraordinary Pomp and Splendour.

All which serves very much to gain Admi­ration and Respect from the People of Asia who are mightily taken with outward show and finery. In a Word there are few Kings in Eu­rope who make so splendid a Figure and Ap­pearance as his Governour General, especially if he be a Man of good Sense, for then it is in his Power to govern the Council as he pleases: The World has seen an Example of this in the Person of Monsieur Speelman; who did every Thing after his own Way, made War and Peace when he pleased, and the Company's Ge­neral that stood in awe of him approved of e­very Thing he did.

The Director General who is the second Person of the Council of State in the Indies, has every Thing in his Hands, and is answerable accordingly.

The Votes of the extraordinary Counsellours are not reckoned in any Debate, when the Ge­neral and the six ordinary Counsellours of State are present.

When a Counsellor dies or any other Member of the Assembly, 'tis in the Power of the Coun­sellours to appoint his Successor, who must be confirmed by the general Company; if I am not much mistaken Monsieur Champtiffe who succeeded Monsieur Speelman, was chosen by the Council, and confirmed by the Company.

[Page 178]Besides these, there are Two principal Mer­chants whose charge is to see the Ships lade and unlade; these are very considerable Posts, and are esteemed the best, next being of the Council.

There are six Governours of Provinces, viz.

• The Governour of Coromandel.
• The Governour of Amboina.
• The Governour of Banda.
• The Governour of Ternate.
• The Governour of the Isle of Ceylan, and
• The Governour of Malacca.

I have been assured that those six Gover­nours are all Absolute in their respective Pro­vinces, and that they cannot be displaced by the Council of Batavia.

The particular Governours of all the Pla­ces from the Cape of Good Hope are called Com­manders, I don't know if the Council of Bata­via has the Nomination of them, or the As­sembly of Seventeen; however I am certain that the Assembly nominates the Governour of the Cape of Good Hope.

The General and his Council chooses all the Commissioners, Merchants and Subaltern Offi­cers; however, if any one is recommended by the Sharers, they take care to provide for him very well.

[Page 179]Besides the Council of State, at Batavia, there is a Council of Justice who are Supreme Judges of all Process Civil and Criminal, and have even the Power to try the Governour General, and condemn him to Death, if found guilty of Treason.

The Dutch Company, the better to carry on Trade in the East-Indies, to secure the Coun­try and all Forts and Magazines or Store-hou­ses they are in Possession of in those Places, maintain a Hundred and Fourteen Vessels, from Thirty to Sixty Pieces of Cannon, and above Five and Twenty Thousand Men, Offi­cers, Common Soldiers, and Seamen in their Pay.

The Company maintains in the Indies in all Twelve Thousand regular Troops, but in every Place where there is a Dutch Gar­rison, there are always great Numbers of the Natives capable of bearing Arms, which they always put in the Front when they go to Bat­tle.

I have been informed that in these different Countries, the Company have, besides their re­gular Troops, above a Hundred Thousand Men able to carry Arms.

The Major General commands all the Troops under the Governour General, he is the Second Person in the Indies.

The Company in Time of War augment their Forces both by Sea and Land, and be­sides [Page 180]their ordinary Vessels, can equip Fourty of the larger Sort; there are many Crowned Heads in Europe who would find it very diffi­cult to do as much.

However all the great Power that this Fa­mous Company has in the Indies, is nothing but the Result of the Industry of a small Num­ber of Men, of about 60 Substantial and under­standing Traders, firm and constant in their Undertakings, and who want nothing of be­ing so many Sovereign Princes but their Inde­pendance on the States General: In other Re­spects this Famous Company is looked upon as absolute in Holland, and in all other Places no­minates all Magistrates, Admirals, Generals, and all Governours; sends and receives Ambassadors to and from Kings and Sovereign Princes, makes Peace and War when ever it pleases, and by its own Authority administers Justice, insti­tutes Officers to execute it absolutely in its own Name; punishes and pardons Crimes, gives Rewards and Presents worthy the Grandeur and Magnificence of Kings; establishes Colonies, builds Forts, levies Troops, maintains Armies and great Garrisons, fits out Fleets of Men of War, and coins Money.

It is easy to discover by this Account, that the India Trade must bring immense Treasures to the Company; besides the Dividend the Company makes every Year to the Sharers, it supplies those exorbitant Expences which it is [Page 181]obliged to make in the Indies and Europe, to pay all the Officers, Directors, Commissioners, Soldiers and Seamen; in building Fortifica­tions, buying Ammunition for all Places, and an infinity of other Expences, for Building, Freighting and Victualling great Numbers of large and small Ships, for the Maintenance and Augmentation of its maritime Forces.

The Gains of the Company, more than their Expences and Disbursments, amount generally to three Millions of Gold every Year, inclu­ding the Returns, all Freight paid, which comes to 15 or 16 Millions of Livres a Year, reckoning one with the other, amounting in the whole to 50 Millions of Livres.

The immense Gains of this Company, since their Establishment, excited the French in 1664 to undertake this Trade; but Experi­ence has made them know, that what is pro­per for the Dutch, is not always convenient for other People: In short, this Trade that has gain'd them such vast Riches (being Ma­sters of the Spiceries) can never be of advan­tage to any Country or People, who must em­ploy ready Money in purchasing at very dear Rates, and at second Hand, such Commodi­ties by which they get Twenty for One, or else take from them such Goods as are destru­ctive to their own Manufactures.

This has actually been the Case of France; for when the King prohibited all painted In­dian [Page 182]Stuffs to be worn in that Kingdom, they saw in a Moment their Manufactures of slight Woollen Stuffs recover their Credit.

The Gains of the Company would be much more considerable if they were served in the Indies with an exact Fidelity; the Company is very well satisfied, and has no Reason to doubt, but that the greatest part of the Offi­cers, of all Ranks, employed in that Service, and who have large Pensions and are well paid, do not scruple to raise themselves great Fortunes at the Company's cost: This is visi­ble in those who return from the Indies, and who had any Management there, or Au­thority.

But how great soever the Distance between Holland and the Indies may be, yet is it not impossible to reform the greatest part of those Abuses the Officers commit in the Indies; but most of them being Relations or Friends, and often Creatures of the Directors, are generally incapable of the Employments they are put in, which is the reason they are not over severe in passing their Account; nay, some will have it, that the Directors themselves protect them, and often go Sharers with them.

The Officers of the Company that are in Europe, are no less attentive to enrich them­selves; and I have been informed, that the Directors who are employ'd in buying Goods, and have the Inspection of all Vessels, or their [Page 183]Rigging and Provisions, or who are employ'd in managing any other Affair, find always Ways and Means considerably to augment their Salary and Fortune.

But nothing so much hinders the good Oe­conomy of the Company, as choosing Dire­ctors out of the Magistrates, when by their Establishment they were to be all Merchants or Tradesmen, without any Employment in the Publick, or more particular Government of the State; nevertheless, when there is a Director's Office vacant, the Magistrates are always intrieguing for the Authority and Sa­lary which they know are annexed to such Office.

Of the seventeen Places that the Town of Amsterdam has in disposal, there are twelve possessed by those Gentlemen, who having otherwise Employment enough, have not time to attend the Business of the Company, which requires a particular Application and Atten­tion. The other Sharers have often com­plained of these Abuses, but without any Remedy.

I shall insert at the End of this Treatise, a curious Piece, which will give great Light in­to the Dutch East-India Trade.

It is a faithful Report of One, who com­manded the Fleet from the Indies in the Year 1688, which he made to the States-General, [Page 184]touching the Posture of the Company's Affairs in the Indies.

I am principally moved to make this secret and important Piece publick, to justify, in some Measure, what I have said in Relation to the Indian Trade (if any one doubt of the Truth of it,) tho' the Dutch take all imagina­ble Care to hide and keep secret every thing that relates to their Trade in the Indies, and which passes with them for a Secret of State.

AFTER having spoken of the Trade the Dutch have in the East-Indies, I shall finish this Treatise of Commerce with what Trade the Indian Company have on the We­stern Coast of America and other Places.

The Portugueze were Masters of all the Trade of these Coasts, and all the neighbour­ing Islands, by reason of the Forts they caused to be built there, after they had made a Dis­covery of that Country, in finding out a Pas­sage to the East-Indies.

Philip the Second, as I observed before, coming to the Crown of Portugal, and having [Page 185]in some manner forbidden that State, as well as Spain, trading with the Dutch, the great­er Part of the most substantial Merchants, who saw themselves out of Employment by this Prohibition, resolved to go and trade up­on the Coasts of Africa and America, and the neighbouring Islands.

The Village of Moure, on the Golden Coast, was the first Place the Dutch had leave to trade in; and they knew so well how to ma­nage that Advantage, that in a very little time that Village became a Place very considerable for Traffick; the Africans, who agreed better with these new Traders than with the Portu­gueze, flocked thither from all Parts.

The Dutch Trade at length encreased so considerably all along the Coast of Guinea, that before the Truce of the Year 1609, it em­ploy'd above 20 large Vessels, besides above 100 of smaller Burthen, that were constantly employ'd in the Trade of Cape Verde and the Coasts of America.

The Portugueze not being able to suffer that any one should partake of this Trade be­sides themselves, forgot nothing that might exclude the Dutch, even to put a Price upon their Heads.

They, on the other Hand, to secure them­selves from these Persecutions of the Portu­gueze, in the Year 1612, built, with Leave of the King of Sabon, a Fort near the Village [Page 186] Moure, call'd Fort Nassau; and since that, their Trade went on with great Security and Quiet.

Some small time after their East-India Com­pany was settled, having a great deal of Mo­ney and Seamen unemploy'd, they began to talk of trading to the West-Indies; which Dis­course was occasined by the Memoirs of a cer­tain Merchant, whose Name was John Fles­singuen, presented to the States-General, who were divided in their Opinions thereupon: But those who wished for Peace, believing that an Establishment of the Dutch in Ame­rica would raise invincible Obstacles, hin­der'd the Execution of that Project.

The Truce of twelve Years, which they made with Spain in the Year 1609, expiring in the Year 1621, they began to revive that Project; and the States-General having appro­ved it, they regulated every thing that might any wise have relation to the Establishment of the New West-India Company, in hopes that their Republick might reap no less Benefit and Advantage by this, than they had by the East-India Company; and all these Regulations were made and resolved upon the 20th Day of June, in the same Year 1621.

This New General Company, which was set up on the Plan of that of the East-Indies, was composed of several particular Companies, that traded on the Coasts of Africa and America.

[Page 187]And there were several Subjects of Spain that entered into the Company under borrow'd Names.

The Funds of this Company were 7200000 Livres, and none but the Company, exclusive of all the rest of the Subjects of the Repub­lick, could, during the space of 24 Years, trade on the Coasts of Africa, from the Tropick of Cancer to the Cape of Good Hope; and thro all America, from the Streights of Magellan to Newfoundland

All the Members of this Company were divided into five Chambers, out of which were chosen nineteen Persons, to compose a Coun­cil to decide all Controversies and Matters of the greatest Importance.

The Progress this New Company made was so considerable, that the States-General enter­tain'd great Hopes to make themselves Masters of all the South Part of America. In short, after thirteen Years War, that Company saw themselves Masters of Brazil, the Provinces of Fernambouc, Tamarica, Pariba and Rio­grande, and there settled a vast Trade, to the great Loss and Detriment of the Spaniards and Portugueze.

It appears by the Registers of the Company, that from the Year 1623, to the Year 1636, they had put to Sea 800 Vessels on Account of War and Trade, the Charge and Expence of which amounted to 45000000 of Gulders, [Page 188]only for the Shipping, the Rigging and other necessary Furniture and Provisions, and that they had taken from their Enemies 545 Vessels which they valued at 60 Millions, and the o­ther Plunder, amounted to above 30 Millions.

That Peter Hem had taken near the Hava­na the Peru Fleet, aboard which he found Se­ven Millions of Silver, besides other Goods, Cannon and Stores which amounted to above Ten Millions, and that the Losses the Enemy sustained and of which the Company could make no Advantage, came to above 35 Milli­ons; one of their most considerable Losses was that occasioned by Monsieur C. Hermite on the Coasts of Peru, where he destroyed in the Port of Lima a Fleet of 30 Men of War.

In the Year 1636, the Directors of the Com­pany judging it proper to send to Brazil a Per­son of Reputation to reside there, chose the Count of Nassau to whom they gave the same Power and Authority as to the Governour Ge­neral of the East-Indies.

During the 8 Years of his Government, he added to the Conquests of the Company those of Siara, Sirigi, and Maragan: 14 Provin­ces in Brazil, the Company possessed them­selves of Seven.

The Company likewise made themselves Ma­sters of the Fort St. George de la Minas, the Town of St. Paul de la Conde, and the Island of St. Thomas on the Coast of Africa.

[Page 189]In the Year 1640 they destroyed in Four Battles successively the Enemies Fleet, consist­ing of Fourscore and Thirteen Men of War, which had on Board 1200 Mariners.

You see what the Purse of these Merchants has effected in Africa and America.

The Truce which the States General in the Year 1641, concluded with the Portugueze who had withdrawn themselves from under the Spanish Government towards the End of the Year 1640, stopt the Porgress of the Compa­ny which in some Measure was the cause of their Ruine; for seeing all Things in Peace, they recalled their Governour General into Eu­rope in the Year 1644, and remitted all Power and Authority into the Hands of Three Peo­ple, viz. the Sieur de Hamet at Amsterdam, De Basis a Goldsmith at Harlem, and Bul­lestrat a Carpenter of Middlebourg; Men whose Heads were wonderfully well turned for trad­ing, but very ill for Politicks as the Event clearly made it appear. These good Men who thought of nothing else but how to encrease their Rich­es and make Commerce flourish, sold Arms and Gunpowder to the Portugueze, on Account of those extravagant Prices they gave, and let the Fortifications of their strongest Places fall to ruine, neglected furnishing them with Ammu­nition and Arms, and permitted the Soldiers when ever they pleased to come into Europe, [Page 190]on Purpose to lessen the Expence of their Gar­risons.

This ill Conduct and Negligence gave Oc­casion to the Portugueze to retake from the Dutch all they had in Brazil, by renewing the War.

At last this War came to an End the Six­teenth Day of August 1661, by the Mediation of the King of England, who was to marry the Infanta of Portugal.

By this Treaty the Dutch Company entire­ly quitted all their Pretensions to Brazil for a good round Sum the Portugueze gave them, with Liberty that they might trade as Friends on the Coasts of Brazil, in the Ports of Por­tugal and their Dependencies, and on Conditi­on that the Portugueze would regulate the Price of Salt.

There remained at that time to the Compa­ny, only the Forts they had on the Golden Coast and Cape Verde, for the Portugueze had retaken the Island of St. Thomas, the Towns of St. Salvador and St. Paul, the Islands of Cura­zao and Tabaco, and the new Country between Virginia and New-England which was found out after the Loss of Brazil.

The extraordinary Expence the Company were at in the last Brazil War, drained them to that Degree, that they who before equalled the East-India Company, were reduced to such a Condition, that they could not pay Six Mil­lions [Page 191]of Guilders, or somewhat more, they had Occasion to borrow upon Interest.

The States General to preserve the Trade of the African Coasts and the Places they there were in Possession of, in the Year 1674 form­ed a new Company composed of the Old Part­ners or Sharers and their Creditors, the Me­thods they took and concerted pleas'd both Par­ties, and this second Company having got a Fund of about Six Millions of Guilders, kept up very well their Trade and Commerce, and got very considerable Sums.

I shall give you here some little Idea of their Trade and wherein it chiefly consists.

Of all the Nations in Europe, the Dutch are those who constantly have had the greatest Trade on the Coasts of Africa, they have there two principal Establishments, one at Cape Ver­de, and the other on the Golden Coast in Gui­ney.

In the little Island of Goree near Cape Ver­de, they have the Forts of Gor and Nassau, where there is a very good Road and excellent Bay; this Port is of great Use and Advan­tage to them in the Trade to Cape Verde which is very considerable, but the Establishment on the Golden Coast is of much more Conse­quence, their Trade there being now more con­siderable and rich.

[Page 192]The two strongest Forts, are Fort St George de las Minas and Fort Nassau, which are but 4 Leagues distant from each other.

The rest are the Forts of Achem, Danubo, Acaro, Sama and Bouten.

They Trade likewise to other Countries ly­ing along and beyond the Golden Coast, viz.

• The Kingdoms of Arden, Benin, Congo and Angola.
• The chief Commodities are, Gold, Ivory, Slaves, Leather, Gums &c.

Gold is found almost every where on the Coast between Fort d' Arquin near the White Cape (belonging still to the Dutch) and the Golden Coast. The Inhabitants get some in their own Country, and some from the Neigh­bouring Provinces of Africa, but there is no Place in all the West where there are so ma­ny and such rich Mines as on the Golden Coast, so called, by reason of the vast Quantities of the finest Gold that is there produced, this Country being an inexhaustable Treasury.

These are the Golden Mines which made the Nations of Europe establish themselves in those Climates, by Means or Favour of the several Forts they have caused there to be built, as the Portugueze who were the first discover­ers, the English, Germans, French, Swedes, Danes, and Dutch.

[Page 193]The Gold furnished by the Negores with, is in Ingots, Bracelets, Beads, and other Toys, or else in Dust; their Ability to counterfeit and falsifie Gold is so great, that they know how to gild tho' in Dust, and frequently gild over small Pieces of Copper; and that so curi­ously that it is inpossible not to be cheated, unless you stand very much upon your Guard.

The Trade for Slaves is undoubtedly one of the most considerable that the Merchants of Europe can make on these Coasts, their diffe­rent Degrees in goodness make the difference in their Price; those of Angola are look'd upon to be the strongest, this Trade is the more con­siderable and important, because without these Slaves 'tis impossible all over America and the Islands to do any thing in the Mines, or to manure the Ground, make Sugar and Tobacco.

The Dutch are the only People that deal in Negroes, the English I believe do not concern themselves about that Part of Commerce, the French very little, and the Portugueze buy none but for their Colonies in Brazil and their other Dominions in the Indies.

The Spaniards are the People the Dutch fur­nish with these Slaves, and they have entred into several Treaties with one another for that very Purpose to settle the Number they ought to be furnished with, their Price and the Places where they ought to be delivered, which ge­nerally are St. George de las Minas, and on [Page 194]the Coasts of Guinea, or in the Island of Cu­razao, near the Town of Cartagena in A­merica.

The Article of Ox and Cow-hides, or Lea­ther, is very considerable at Cape Verde, all along that Coast to the River Gambia.

Besides these Commodities, there is likewise brought a great deal of Wax from Cape Verde and Sierra-Lione, and other Countries on that Coast; as also Gum-Arabick for Dying, and Ostrich Feathers.

Next to the Dutch, the English are the greatest Traders on these Coasts.

All those different sorts of Commodities that are brought to the Negroes, do not sell indif­ferently alike; some are proper only for Capa Verde, others for the Golden Coast, and o­thers again for Arden and Angola, and the Merchants sort them accordingly.

But it is generally said that the best Com­modities, and most gainful to be carried to those Coasts, are, Rock-Chrystal, Coral and Lace, but especially Brandies.

All the Inhabitants of the Coast of Guinea consume great Quantities of Linnen Cloth half worn, which they think much more con­venient than the Callicoes of their own Coun­try, as keeping the Body more cool; and the Dutch supply them with great Quantities at very high Rates.

[Page 195]The Dutch Company are yet in Possession of some of the Islands; as, Curazao, Tabaco, Buenos Aires, Doruba, and St. Martin, but in Partnership with the French.

The two first of these are the most consi­derable, as having each of them a Fort, and Curazao a good Harbour: The Trade of which Island consists in the Commodities of the Growth of the Place, as Sugars, Wool, Ox and Cow-Hides.

The Inhabitants of Curazao trade with the Spaniards in America, as I before observed, which makes that Island of great Importance to the Dutch.

I believe the other Dutch Colonies in Ame­rica have no great Matter of Commerce; and if I am not much deceived, the Fort of Suri­nam does not belong to the Company, tho' I believe they would willingly buy it, but the Sharers of Zealand would never consent to it; but be that how it will, the Dutch have been Masters of it ever since the English delivered it up to them by the Treaty of Breda.

This Colony is very small, the Inhabitants not daring to Manure and Till the Ground out of Cannon-reach, for the wild Indians give them no Quarter, because they hang'd their Brother Indians; and, it must be own'd, without much Reason or Justice.

I shall end this Treatise with