THat the Major part of the people of England have their best and chiefest dependance and subsi­stance by Forraign and Domestique Trade, surely I think no rational unbyassed person can or will deny, and as the dependance of the greater part relyes on Trade, so also it is undeniable, that the greatest securi­ty of the Nation doth and will rest and reside in the [Page 4]strength and number of shipping and Seamen, which cannot be increased but by using all prudent ways and means for the inlarging the Trade, by easing the bur­thens and vexations which are upon it. Hath not Eng­land the Dutch a neer Neighbour so powerful and am­bitious, that if our State do not providently prevent their designs, this Common-wealth will always be in danger if any advantage can be taken by them? And surely there is no better course than to encrease Ship­ping and Seamen.

Whilst the Romans were unprovided of Shipping, and so not able to match the Carthaginians in Naval Battles, they were not capable either to invade or sub­due the Carthaginians; but when their Naval power was great, they soon brought their Neighbour-Com­mon-wealth to their terms, and at last to a perfect Con­quest.

It is true that England is large, and hath many Lords and Gentlemen of Estates dwelling in it, and their Lands require numbers of men to manure them; but see and impartially consider, and you shall find, that those men that have nothing but their labour to subsist on either by plowing, threshing, hedging, and such like Country imployments, are little better then slaves, let them be never so laborious, their wages is so little, that they are never in all their lives, able to lay up any thing for the subsistance of their Families after their death; and therefore it generally comes to pass, that if Country-Labourers dye whilest their children are young and unable to work for themselves, they must unavoidably be relieved by the Alms of the Parish, which as the Laws are executed, is a sad lively-hood. But when Trade hath been good heretofore, and if God shall please to afford England that blessing, that [Page 5]it may be so hereafter, then did, and so may do again, all Handi-crafts that are careful, and Labourers five comfortably, and leave a maintenance to their Chil­dren.

This being proved, surely I cannot see any reason, but that this Honorable Parliament, should, and in­deed ought to reduce this Nation, to its pristine Con­dition of freedom for Trade. I shall grant, that when the Excise was first settled, they had reason and policy so to do: For the late King having the Command of the Inlands, and the Parliament of most of the Sea-Ports, they had no better way then to put Excise on Goods, whereby their Enemies making use of the said goods paid the Excise, and so the Parliaments Army: But now when no Enemy hinders the improvement of Land, but that the price is far higher then in ancient times, when our Noble Ancestors neither could nor would raise moneys any otherwise, then by Subsidies, Tenths, and Fifteenths, besides a small low Custome: Yea when they were never so much beset with danger, by Sea and Land, by French, Scots and Spaniards: That our present Rulers should continue such a great Excise, is a thing hardly to be imagined. Besides doth not the fourth part of Excise run out in Charges for collecting the same? and all this cometh out of the peoples purses.

Now surely if a Common-wealth be rightly consti­tuted and uprightly governed, all things either in Law, payments, &c. which are inconsistent either with the case and safety of the same ought to be taken away, else how can it be called a Common-wealth, or in plain English, a Common good; it's not the name of a Free-State, but the substance and power of a Free-State, [Page 6]that either will please or make the people happy.

Now as to the inequallity of the burthen of Excise, laid on the Merchant, observe what follows. The Ex­cise on Spanish Wine, is 9 l. per Tunn, on French Wine, 6 l. per Tunn, some of which costeth no more in France; on Salt 1 d. ob. per Gallon, which costeth the first penny in France, &c. but ob. per Gallon; on Tobacco 1 d. per Pound, which at Virginia and other English Plantations, may be bought for 2 d. per Pound: Nay the cruel Laws made by the late Single Person, are such, that if Wines are never so much decayed, they must pay 4 l. per Tunn Spanish, and 2 l. 10 s. per Tunn French, Excise, although they will not yeild hardly the same. Now the charge on Goods being so great, those that Trade in Wines, Tobacco, Salt, and other such Goods, must have double the Stock that other­wise their Trade would require. It's truth the Law that was (for indeed I cannot say, is, there being none at present) for Excise, saith, that the first buyer must pay Excise, and this on some things in London is pra­ctised; yet herein cometh an evil to the Importer: For he that buyeth, payeth down ready money for Excise, which should be paid to the Merchant, and would dis­charge Fraight and Custome; but in the Country Ports, no buyer there ever taketh notice thereof; so that the Excise of Wine, Salt, Tobacco, and all Goods, are paid by the Importer, who often trusteth both his Stock, disoursed for buying the Goods in Forraign Parts, and the Customes and Excise on them, and looseth all, both principal and cost, by the failing or inability of his Cre­ditor: So that it is not to be denied, but that many, both Merchants and Shop-keepers, by this means, that have but 400 l. or 500 l. Stock, to trade with, pay more to the publique maintainance, then Gentlemen [Page 7]of 400 l. or 500 l. nay I may say 1000 l. per annum, Lands.

Now whether this be an equal way to raise moneys, let all unbiassed men judge. And not only this; but there requires so much attendance, so much waiting for Tickets, so much Obligation in Bonds, that none that hath any full Trade, but must keep a Servant more then ordinary to mannage his business, whose food and raiment must cost something. Besides this is that which doth ruine Trade, the extraordinary charges on goods, not only hindereth the expence of greater quantities, in regard of the great prizes; but also often enforceth the Merchants to sell cheaper, considering the charges on them, then otherwise they might do; and not only so, but those that make little conscience of Oaths or lying, that have little Estates to lose, and that are subtile and politick, find ways to save the Custome and Excise, which is high, and so sell cheaper then those that are able, and plain in dealing can do, when the said char­ges are paid, which much spoileth the current of Trade. How many Brewers in the Nation, and how many Merchants in the Country have paid great sums for Excise, when their Debitors have not paid the Princi­ple? Let the good old way and practise of our Ance­stors, be put in use in raising moneys; no Merchant, no Shop-keeper nor Trades-man, that hath an Estate, but will be willing to pay to the height of their Estates, equal to all Landed men, let it be doubled, trebled, quadrupled, when the urgent affairs of the Nation, for defence of the same requireth it: And why Landed men, whose Estates are certain, should not be ready to agree to this, I know no reason; especially if they consider, that by freedom of Trade they shall buy all Forraign Goods cheaper, and sell their Wooll and other Goods [Page 8]dearer; and also by a good trade will their poor be so kept, that they will not be burthensome to them, for want of food and raiment to support them.

To conclude, Take notice into what a desperate po­verty, the late Ruler and his Confederates have brought the Nation, by imposing burthens on Trade: Inquire in all Ports, Cities, Towns, and Countries, and you shall find, there was never such a calamity brought on the poor, generally throughout the Land, in the midst of the late Warrs, as is at present. Oh! that those who now God hath once again brought to steere the Ship of the Common-wealth, that is almost shattered to peices, by Storms and Tempests of a des­perate, self-seeking Generation, may so lay it to heart, and be so indued with Courage and Counsel, that they may at last bring her into a safe Harbour, which is the hearty desire of all honest men.