264 



A. D. 161 r. 



dnm of Spain, though about thrice as large as the ifland of Great 

 Britam, wherein are about twice that number of people. By thefe de- 

 populations, and by their bigotry, lizinefs, and pride, that fine country, 

 from being once one of the mofl; populous, as well as befl: cultivated in all 

 Europe, is become a barren folitude. Mezeray obferves that the Moors 

 in Spain had fo far improved the lands as to make them yield more by 

 one ti'iird part to the landlords than die Spaniih tenants could do; where- 

 for, when King Philip Til expelled them, he gave the nobles and gentry 

 one fourth part of the plunder, by way of recompenfe. The Moors left 

 behind them in Spain very illuflrious marks of their long dominion 

 there ; feeing moft of the eminent cities, caftles, and palaces, and alfo 

 cathedral churches, which formerly were mofques, remaining even to 

 this day, were built by them, who were accounted more ingenious, as 

 well as more induftrious in buiinefs, than the Spaniards. We thought 

 ourfelves obliged to dwell the longer on this article of the expulfion of 

 the Moors and Jews from Spain, that it might prove an ufeful memento to 

 us and all wife nations never to fuflfer a bigotted clergy to poifon court 

 and country with their perfecuting principles : a numerous, frugal, and 

 indurtrious commonalty being the greatefl riches, glory, and flrength of 

 a well-ordered flate. 



In mofl of the new branches of trade difcovered by the Englifh in 

 the later part of the laft, and the former part of the prefent century, 

 we may obferve that the Dutch followed clofe at their heels. This has 

 been feen in the Ruffia trade, the north-eaft and north-wefl attempts 

 for a pafHige to China, &c. in planting in America, in the circumnavi- 

 gations of the globe, and in the Eaft-India commerce. It is true De 

 Witt in his Intereft of Holland fays that the Dutch made early attempts 

 for the whale-fifliing at Spitzbergen ; yet as the mariners of Hull were 

 long before much in the fifhery at the North Cape, it feems probable 

 that the Dutch learned the way to Spitzbergen from them. 



The Hollanders, being emboldened by their late truce with Spain, 

 now ventured into the Levant feas, and fent their firfl: ambaflador to 

 the grand fignior at Conilantinople, where he concluded a favourable 

 treaty of commerce. 



This year is generally fixed on as the firfl time that the Dutch gained 

 a footing in Japan; and it is faid that by the year 1616 they were the 

 only European people permitted to trade or refide there. The invidi- 

 ous ftory of their artful anfwer to the Japanefe, upon being afked if 

 they were Chriflians is much more like a Portuguefe calumny than the 

 real truth : for as the Hollanders had entirely driven the Portuguefe 

 out of the trade to Japan, it is mofl probable that their priefts invent- 

 ed that deteflable calumny to render them odious every where ; and 

 we have the greater reafon for this fuppofition, as the Portuguefe je- 

 fuits (we know) were alfo very liberal of their falfe and cruel invectives 



