A. D. 1603. 237 



drefled, and undyed, there is an exceeding manufadory and drapery in 

 the Low Countries, wherewith they ferve themfekes and other nations, 

 and greatly advance the emplo\ ment of their people at home and traf- 

 fic abroad, and in proportion fupprefs ours. 



We fend into the eaft countries yearly but 100 fliips, and our trade 

 chiefly depends on three towns there, viz. Elbing, Koningfberg, ard 

 Dantzick ; but the Low Countries fend thither about 3000 fhips, trad- 

 ing into every city and port-town, vending their commoduies to ex- 

 ceeding profit, and loading their fhips with plenty of their commodi- 

 ties, which they have 20 per cent cheaper than we, by reafon of the 

 difference of the coin ; and their filh yields ready money. They fend 

 into Fi-ance, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, about 2000 fliips yearly with 

 thofe Eaft-country commodities, and we none in that courfe. 



They trade into all cities and port-towns of France, and we chiefly to 

 five or fix. 



The Low Countries have as many fhips and veflels as eleven king- 

 doms of Chriftendom have, let England be one. They build every 

 year near 1000 fhips*, although all their native commodities do not 

 require 100 fhips to carry them away at once. Yet although we have 

 all things of our own in abundance for the increafe of traffic, timber to 

 build fhips, and commodities of our own to load about 1000 fhips and 

 veffels at once, befide the great fifhing, and as fifl as they make their 

 voyages might reload again, yet our fhips and mariners decline, and 

 traffic and merchants dayly decay. 



For feventy years together we had a great trade to Pvuflia f , and even 

 about fourteen years ago we fent fiore of goodly fliips thither ; but three 

 years paft we fent out four thither, and lafl year but two or three fhips ; 

 whereas the Hollanders are now increafed to about thirty or forty fliips, 

 each as large as two of ours, chiefly laden with Englifh cloth, herrings 

 taken in our feas, Englifli lead, and pewter made of our tin, befide 

 other commodities ; all which we may do better than they. And al- 

 though it (Rufiia) be a cheap country, and the trade very gainful, yet 

 we have almofl brought it to nought by diforderly trading. So like- 

 wife we ufed to have eight or nine great fliips go continually a fifhing 

 to Wardhoufe, and this year but one. 



God hath bleft your majefty with copper, lead, iron, tin, alum, cop- 

 peras, faffron, fells, (i. e. Ikins) and many more native commodities, to 

 the number of about 100; and other manufadures vendible, to the 

 number of about looo; befide corn, whereof great quantities of beer 

 are made, and moftly tranfported by flrangers ; as alfo wool and coals. 



* With refpeft to this number of J]r:ps built f There was a trade with Ruflia at the port of 

 nnnually, it may be obferved, that the whole of Narva long before the route by the North "cape ■ 

 the Britifh dominions, even in the prefent very ex- was difcovered. 

 tended ftate of Britilli commerce, have never built 

 quite fo many vfjfeh in any one year. M. 2 



