Want of shipping .

Concerning the want of shipping , though to presse the consideration thereof be very material , yet the poynt it selfe is to be handled very tenderly : for that as I haue no pleasure to touch our owne wounds , so I am loath in this case to discouer our owne wants ; for that I feare the enemie will sooner take the aduantage of them , then wee will be stirred vp thereby to make supply . To giue therefore the true and faithfull subiect a darke Lanthorne whereby hee may onely see himselfe , and he not be seene , setting the contemplation of the Kings royall Nauy aside , so mighty , so well conditioned , which hath so many good Officers , and such worthy Ouer-seers , which is so chargeable to his Maiestie to maintaine , as I hope it will neuer be safe for the enemy to meddle withall : setting , I say , this aside , our Merchants Nauie consisteth in the Shippes For The Straights . Spaine . France . Hambrough and Middlebrough . The Sound . Newcastle . Island . New found Land . The East Indies .

I haue not named Moscouie , because we haue in a manner lost that Trade , the troubles of that kingdome , and our desire of security hauing depriued vs therof , which we may the more lament , because I haue heard Marchants affirme , that in these vncomfortable daies of aduenturing , it was one of their best Trades , and with no small meruaile yet vpheld , and most prouidently followed by the Hollanders , The Countrey being afflicted with war , and the Hollanders will , petere cibum è flamma . we being scarred away from so good & profitable a trade , as birds from Cherrie-trees , with the shew of dead carkasses , or shout of boyes , whilst other lusty and plumpe laddes haue wililie beate away the children , beate downe the scarre crowes , and stolen the fruite away , to their great gaine , and our disgrace , there repairing not thither aboue two Ships English in stead of seuenteene of great burden for the company formerly , besides Enterlopers , to the great decay of our Marchants and shipping : whereas the Hollander ( according to a credible report made ) betweene the Ward-house and the East-ward , at Tippenie , Kilden , Olena , and the Riuer Cole at Colmograue , and at Saint Nicholas in Russia , had aboue thirty fiue sailes of their Shippes the last yeare . Happily some will say , that they made so poore a voyage that they had bene better kept themselues at home ; and it is very likely , yet the yeare before , they had some thirty saile , and now this yeare they haue againe repaired their Nauy , renewed their aduenture , and sent neere as many , as neither dismaied with troubles , nor yet discouraged with losse ; and to make it the more strange that they shold thus preuent our trade , & increase their own : as it was after vs that they came thither euen by leaue , as it were , to gleane with our Reapers , ( for the fields were ours ) the discouery of the Land , and Trade wholy ours , found out by Chanceler and Willoughby , Primo Edw. 6. and euer since continued by our Merchants ) so againe their best Trade thither , is maintained euen by our owne commodities , as Tinne , Lead , Course-clothes and Kerseis : the inconuenience whereof , together with the preuention , I leaue to the sensible consideration , to the sufficient ability of the Moscouie Marchant , who I feare can scarce heare mee , being ( as I said ) gone so farre as the East-Indies ; and if I should send to him , I feare I should not finde him at leasure , hauing thither transported much of the Moscouie Staple . For the Marchants that formerly vsed the Moscouie Trade are now there seated ; and because as we know it is warmer there , and as they find it , it is very profitable , we will also by Compasse trauell thither our selues ; that as Valeria a faire Lady , answering to Scilla in the Theater , being demanded , Why shee pressed so neere , said ; That thereby shee might haue so me of his felicity ; so by being in their company , wee may communicate with them of their good fortunes , or commune with them of our wants .

The Straights . So then , to beginne our iourney at the noblest place for worth , and one of the newest in knowledge , the worthiest in former remembrance , the worst in present reputation , for the bottome of the Straights , the first in name , and whilome a very materiall busines of Marchandize : I do find this Trade but easie , and the difficulties many and new , the Trade it selfe being lessened by the circumuention of the East-Indie nauigation , which fetcheth the Spices from the well head ; and I find the rest of the benefites alayed , by charges , by insultation of Pirates , and infidelity of seruants . These make presents and profit of their Maisters goods abroad , so farre , that some of the owners become lame at home : Pirates meete with that whereby others are extreamly hindred , and by the charges the rest are exceedingly discouraged , so that the Merchants returne is but poore , and the nauigation much lessened , the employment thitherward fayling in neere thirty shippes , & those of such burden , that they were of defence and renowne to the kingdome . I heard a worthy Marchant in his time Thomas Cordell of London say , that on the first beginning of the Turkey Trade , his selfe with other Merchants , hauing occasion to attend the late Queens Maiesties Priuy Councell about that businesse , they had great thanks & commendations for the shippes they then builded of so great a burden for those partes , by the Earles of Bedford and Leicester , and other honorable Personages , with many encouragements to goe forward ( euen to vse their owne words ) for the Kingdomes sake , notwithstanding it was then to their great benefite likewise , whose ordinarie returnes at the first were three for one , which I speake not out of enuy . For as all callings are , and ought to be maintained through the profite that ariseth thereby , labours rewarded , dangers recompenced by the sweat and sweet of gaine ; nay , in our most Liberall Professions , the Diuine for his spirituall nourishment hath temporall foode ; the Physition for the care of the body asketh the comfort of the purse ; and the Lawyer must bee payd for his Plea : so Merchants of all Companies the most liberall , are likewise of all sortes the most worthie to gaine , Vt qui per vniuersum orbem discurrunt , mare circumlustrantes & aridam ; to vse that hopefull Prince in his time King Edward the sixt his words in a Letter to forren Princes , in Sir Hugh Willoughbie his behalfe . Beeing bound for discoueries Prim. Ed. 6. But to end my long Parenthesis , I speake it I say out of pitty , to see now the returne so meane , the Merchant so discouraged , the shipping so diminished : and to conclude this poynt without loue or anger , but with admiration of our neighbours the now Sea-herrs , See-herren . the Nation that get health out of their owne sickenesse , whose troubles begot their liberty , brought foorth their wealth , and brought vp their strength , that haue out of our leauings gotten themselues a liuing , out of our wants make their owne supply of Trade and shipping there ; they comming in long after vs , equall vs in those partes in all respects of priuilege and port ; that haue deuanced vs so farre in shipping , that the Hollanders haue more then one hundred saile of shippes that vse those parts , continually going and returning , and the chiefest matters they doe lade outward , be English Commodities , as Tinne , Lead , and Bailes of such like stuffe as are made at Norwich .

For the rest of the Straights , one side , as the coast of Barbary , serues onely for places and Citties of refuge , not after the Diuine Leuiticall law , when one hath killed a man by chance there to be succoured : but after that diabolicall Alcoran , when any haue robbed and murdered abroad , thither they may repaire , be in safety , and enioy .

The othe● side , as Naples , Genoa , Ligorne , and Marseilles , employ some twenty saile , and they most with Herring . For the Ports neere to the Straights mouth , as Malega , &c. wee haue some store of shipping , as about thirtie saile , that begin in Iune to set forth some for Ireland , to lade Pipe-staues in their way to Malega , they returning Malega wines . But the Hollanders likewise haue found out that Trade , and be as busie amongst the Irish as our selues for Pipe-staues : nay , by your leaue , they haue beene too busie there of late with some of our poore Country-mens wind-pipes ; but that is besides the matter heere . But for Maleg a it selfe , the Inhabitants there haue through our plentifull resort thither , planted more store of Vines , so that on our recourse thither , our marchants haue withdrawne themselues much from Cherris .

Spaine . For Andalusia , Quantado , Lisborne , Pertugall , it is easily knowne what shipping wee haue there by our Trade , which is but meane , consisting in Sacke , Sugar , Fruit , and west-Indie Drugs , which may employ some twenty ships . Amongst these Cherris Sackes are likewise brought into England , especially in Flemish Bottomes .

For the bringing in from thence any store of salt by vs , it is excepted against , we being by report furnished principally by the Hollanders of most of the salt that our Fisher Townes do vse for the salting of Island fish , and all other Fish for Herring and Staple-fish , as the Ports of London , Colchester , Ipswich , Yarmouth , Linne , Hull , Scarbrough , can testifie . Albrough men were wont to bring it in , especially employing some thirty or forty Saile belonging to it , of some seuen or eight score , or two hundred Tunne ; which for the most part , were set on worke all the yeare long , with transporting of coales from Newcastle to France , and fetching salt from thence ; which Trade is now much decayed with France , by the double dilligence of the Hollanders , who serue vs principally from Spaine .

France . For our Trade to Burdeaux , it is lightly as great as euer it was : For I do not thinke there was euer more Wine drunke in the Land . Yet that voyage appeareth not to be so beneficiall in regard of the small rate that the Owners and Sea-men haue thither-ward . France may euery way employ , and those most small vessels , some threescore ships and barkes .

Hambrough & Middlebrough . To Hambrough and Middlebrough there are belonging six or seuen ships to each place , and they lade for the Company ( and are called Appointed Ships ) euery three months in all the yeare , there may be laden some thirty odde Shippes , and they but 14 or 15 bodily . But as they make , as is said , two voyages the Ship , how it standeth with them , or how they will stand , it is vncertaine in regard of the manner of the altering of Trading with their cloath . Once for certaine the Merchant aduenturers ships haue been alwaies formerly the sure stay of Merchants seruices both for their readinesse , goodnesse , and number of shipping touching the common-wealths affaires .

The Sound . For Danske , Melvin and Quinsbrough , there are not aboue fiue or sixe shippes of London , that vse those places , as many mote of Ipswich , and so likewise from Hull , Linne , and Newcastle , the like proportion resorteth thither for Trade . These make some two returnes in the yeare : but in all those places the Hollanders doe abound , and bring in more commodities by fiue times to vs , then our owne shipping . And for Liefland , the Narue , Rye , and Reuell , the Hollanders haue all the Trade in a manner ; the commodities from these former places being Corne , Flaxe , Sope-ashes , Hempe , Iron , Waxe , and all sorts of Deale .

For Norway we haue not aboue fiue ; and they aboue forty saile , and those double or treble our burden euen for the Citty .

Newcastle . The next is Newcastle Trade , and for certaine the chiefest now in esse , for maintenance of shipping , for setting Sea-fearing men on worke , and for breeding daily more , there may be about some two hundred saile of Caruiles , that onely vse to serue the Citty of London , besides some two hundred more that serue the sea-coast towns throughout England , small and great , as Barques and other shipping of smaller burden , and more might easily be : for hither euen to the Mines mouth , come all our Neighbour Country Nations with their Shippes continually , employing their owne shipping and Mariners . I doubt me whether if they had such a treasure , they would not imploy their owne shipping . The French saile hither in whole Fleetes , some forty or fifty saile together , especially in Summer , seruing all their Portes of Picardie , Normandie , and Brittaine , euen as farre as Rochel and Bourdeaux , with their owne shippes and sailers from Newcastle . So they of Breame , Embden , Holland and Zealand do serue all Flaunders , and the Archdukes Countries , whose shipping is not great : These paying no more then his Maiesties owne naturall subiects , if they transport any coales . Which imposition , say our men , made our Countrey men forbeare their carrying any more Coales abroad , because the Frenchmen would not giue aboue their old rate : and which was worse , thereby they sold away their shippes , some to France , some to Spaine , some to other Countries . Whereby sure their faults are more apparant then their ill fortune , in that though their gaine was lesse at the instant , by the imposition then formerly ; yet to leaue the Trade , argued neither good spirits , nor great vnderstanding , nor any especiall good minde to their Countrey . For whence I pray you came such a necessity to leaue the Trade and to giue ouer shipping , as if they could not liue thereby ; when presently forraigne Nations fell to the Trade themselues , as is formerly set downe , and fetch away our coales on the same tearmes which wee do refuse ? And by report , notwithstanding the fiue shillings imposed , the French do sell in France one Chauldron of coales for as much money as will buy three or foure of Newcastle . Had they held to with patience , either they might haue brought the stranger to their price , or else by due order and discreet fashion opened the inconueniency to the state , of the strangers stomack in refusing their Coale , and fetching them their selues : so as they might easily haue wearied them , and won their Trade and gaine againe ; whereas now they are beggard , our Country disfurnisht of shipping . The stranger keeping his coine at home , bringeth hither bare and base commodities , their shipping & Mariners are employed and increased ; and notwithstanding the Argus eyes of the Searcher , carry gold away with them , alwaies bringing more in stocke with them , then they carry away in commodities .

For to make a motion to haue this fiue shillings excused in our owne Nation , is rather profitable then necessary , in regard wee see the stranger thriueth notwithstanding it , and it being done out of his Maiesties royal prerogatiue , & ex causa lucratiua , as is apparant by what the stranger gaineth ; and the like is willingly imbraced here in other transportations , as Beere , &c. were , me thinkes , vndutifull likewise . But to mention a motion very lately made , and generally amongst his Maiesties loyall subiects imbraced ; Might it please his Maiesty to make and ordaine a Staple Towne in England for Sea-coale , and we haue many fit places , and Harbours more neere and proper then that of Tinmouth , at Newcastle ( and herein as I am bound in affection to wish well to London , so I must , out of many mens iudgements , commend Harewich , statio bene fida Carinis , and then lying fit for the Low-countries , and indeed open to all Nations by the benefite of the large sea which washeth it ) whereby strangers shall be restrained from further Trade to Newcastle , and shall all repaire to the said Staple Towne to fetch their Coales : Besides that it would be an exceeding benefite to his Maiesty , it would likewise helpe vs in this our complaint of want of shipping . For by this meanes our English bottomes bringing all the Coales to the Staple Towne , shall not onely be set on worke , but increase will follow in Shipping . The Venetians sometime passed being out-gone by those of Zant in their custome , drew the Trade from the Grecians , and planted as it were , a Colonie of Curranes at Venice . If for a little custome , and to pull downe their suspected subiects swelling mindes , they did so , why should not his Maiesty for the increase of his Shipping , and the releiuing of the prostrate estate of his faithfull and humble subiects , take this warrantable course ?

Island . Island voiage entertaineth 120 ships and barkes .

New found land New found Land employeth some 150 saile , from all parts , of small ships , but with great hazard ; and therefore that voyage , feared to be spoiled by heathen and sauage , as also by Pirates .

East Indies . Now followeth the consideration of the East Indie Trade , into whose seas , not onely the Riuer of Volga , as before you heard , disemboqueth it self , but euen the bottome of the Straights is emptied to fill vp those gulfes , and not so onely , but besides that many of our best Marchants haue transported their Staples thither ; it hath also begot out of all Callings , Professions , and Trades , many more new Merchants . Then where there is increase of Merchants , there is increase of Trade ; where Trade increaseth , there is increase of Shipping ; where increase of Shipping , there increase of Mariners likewise : so then rich and large East Indies . The report that went of the pleasing notes of the Swannes in Meander floud , farre surpassing the records of any other birds in any other places whatsoeuer , drew thither all sorts of people in great confluence , and with great expectation to heare , and enioy their sweete singing . When they came thither , they found in stead of faire white Swans , greedy Rauens , and deuouring Crowes ; and heard , in stead of melodious harmony , vntuneable and loathsome croaking . In indignation that they were so receiued and deceiued , in stead of applauding , they hissed ; and of staying , fled away . You are now braue East Indies , Meander floud , your Trade is the singing of Swannes , which so many iourney so farre to enioy . God forbid you should be found so discoloured , and we so ill satisfied . And howsoeuer that I may be sure to auoide any detraction , whereby my nature might haue any imputation , or by calling vp more spirits into the circle then I can put downe againe , I might incurre some danger , and be taxed likewise of indiscretion , for that we onely hitherto haue complained of the want of Shipping ; we desire now but herein to suruey the store , and see how you helpe the increase . You haue built more Ships in your time , and greater farre then any other Merchants Ships ; besides what you haue bought out of other Trades , and all those wholly belonging to you ; there hath beene entertained by you since you first aduentured , one and twentie Ships , besides the now intended voiage of one new Ship of seuen hundred Tunne ; and happily some two more of increase . The least of all your Shipping is of foure score Tunne : all the rest are goodly Shippes , of such burthen as neuer were formerly vsed in Merchandize ; the least and meanest of these last is of some hundred and twentie Tunne , and so go vpward euen to eleuen hundred Tunne . You haue set forth some thirteen voyages , in which time you haue built of these , eight new Shippes , and almost as good as built the most of the residue , as the Dragon , the Hector , &c. so that at the first appearance you haue added both strength and glory to the King dome by this your accession to the Nauy . But where I pray you are all these Ships ? foure of these are cast away , of the which one was of three hundred Tunne , another of foure hundred , the third of three hundred , and the fourth of eleuen hundred ; two more are docked vp there as Pinaces to Trade vp and down : the rest are either employed in the Trade in the Indies , or at home out of reparations ; which if true , if the Kingdome should haue need of them on any occasion , it shall surely want their seruice ; and so then there is not onely no supply to the Nauy this way , but hurt euen to the whole kingdome , the woods being cut downe , and the Shippes either lost , or not seruiceable . Surely stories can shew vs , which we may reade in the courses of Common-weales , how tolerable , nay how laudable it is in all States , to enlarge Commerce . Merchants whom wee should respect , can tell vs of the casualties which not onely the Ships , but their estates are subiect to by aduentures . Mariners whom we must pitty , can teach vs of the ordinary dangers not onely that Shippes and goods , but their liues are subiect to by sea . I must not then exprobrate that to them which is to be imputed to the Sea ; nor are they to be blamed out of reason for that which deserueth , in humanity , commiseration ; nor is England bounded by our Horizon , to go no further then we see . We haue learned long since , that Mercatura si tenuis sordida , si magna splendida : the stranger the Country , the greater the aduenture ; the more famous our Nation , the more worthy the Merchant . Before wee were , euen Herace writ , Currit Mercator ad Indos . Loath then am I to borrow that saying of Demosthenes on his courting of Lais , to pay it to the Indian Trade , by alleaging , that Non tanti Emam poenitentiam , only hauing now in common that Roman prouiso , Ne quid detrimentiresp . capiat . Let vs examine that which may moue patience , that our woods are cut downe , and the Ships either lost or not seruiceable : Our woods I say , cut downe in extraordinary manner , neither do the Shippes die the ordinary death of Shippes . Our woods extraordinarily cut downe , in regard of the greatnesse of the Shipping , which doth as it were deuoure our timber . I am able out of sufficient testimony to affirme , that since the Indian Trade , and meerely through their building of their ships of so great burthen , and their repairing ( the building notwithstanding beganne but fiue yeares since ) that timber is raised in the Land fiue shillings , and more , in the loade , nay , almost not to be had for money , which the Company ( no question ) being sensible of , very wisely seeke to helpe themselues in , by building of ships in Ireland for their seruice : yet it seemeth their incouragement that was , is but necessitous in regard by their owne saying , besides the hazard , the charges are little lesse ; and which is worse , that kinde of timber is but vntoward for that vse , being so extreame heauy , that a ship of small burden , draweth much water . If in fiue yeares space their building , together with their repairing of shippes , almost equall to building , beget such a scarcitie , what will a little continuance bring forth ? Bring forth I cannot say ought , but a priuation will follow euen of all our timber-wood . The Kings Nauy must be maintained , other Marchants of lower ranke must haue shipping , and the sea-trade may increase , and then either wee must trade without shipping , or make ships without timber .

When the Norman Conquerour hauing subdued the most part of the kingdome , passed from Essex into Kent , which then made head against him , the Kents , hauing by the aduice of their politique Bishop , and their stout Abbot , cut downe great boughes , and with them in their armes marched towards the Conquerour ; whereby , besides the nouelty of the sight , the Army appeared double as big . William himselfe so conceiuing it , as also amazed to see woods walke ; more feared and discontented with that sight , then otherwise assured with his former successe , condescended to what demands soeuer were made by those people , to haue such weapons laid downe , and to gaine such ingenious subiects ; whereby , to their eternall benefite , and credite , their persons were neuer in bondage , nor their Lawes altered . In this their Land-stratageme , I see our sea-Arts , in that and these woods being the fatal instrument of our fortunes , boughes of Trees kept the Kentish-men out of seruitude , when they held them in their hands , and but for shew ; their bodies will keepe vs in liberty when they containe vs , and are for seruice , and by their mouing on the water they will amaze both French and Spanish , and whomsoeuer , and keepe them , and all others , from comming neere vs : 34. Hen. 8.17.13 . Eliz. 25. Out of which prouident fore-sight , our most worthy Princes formerly raigning , haue made diuers Lawes in fauour of timber trees : Forbidding by Proclamation the building with Timber . and our most noble King hath prouided therto with new accessions for the preseruing and increasing of them ; but that a parricide of woods should thus be committed by building of ships , it was neuer thought on by any of our royall Solons , and therefore there was no prouiso for it : Nay , this inconuenience was so little suspected , that our sayd famous Princes haue prouided cleane contrary , with great bounty and indulgence , hauing encoraged by reward out of their owne purses the builders of great ships ; as bestowing on the builders fiue shillings on the Tun for euery Tunne that is builded aboue one hundred Tun in a ship , so necessary did the Prince thinke his maintenance of shipping , the accession thereof consisting much in their greatnesse , to the honour and safety of the Kingdome ; & such vse he made account he should haue of them . Whereas now this way he contributeth , to the spoile of his woods , to the losse of the ships , and to the hurt of the Kingdome . I heard a Ship-wright say on the losse of the Trades Increase , that if you ride forty miles from about London , you could not finde sufficient Timber to build such an other . It was a ship of eleuen hundred Tunne for beauty , burthen , strength , and sufficiency , surpassing all Marchants ships whatsoeuer . But alas ! shee was but shewne , out of a cruell destiny shee was ouertaken with an vntimely death in her youth and strength ; being deuoured by those Iron wormes of that Country , that pierced her heart , and brake many a mans withall memorable in her misfortune , onely redounding to the Common-wealthes losse . For as for the Marchants , though I pitie their aduentures with all my heart , yet in this their part of losse was least ; for all their goods were on shore ; and she had brought aboundance out of the Mecha Fleete , which she did both tith and toll : And thankes be to God , they are more then sauers by what is returned from her , and more then that often , by the grace of God , will come from her to the Marchants gaine .

The like vntimely fall had the other three of great burthen , gallant ships , neuer hauing had the fortune to see their natiue soile againe , or the honour to do their Country any seruice , in respect of all other ships that wander ordinarily to other Countries , therefore I may iustly say that they die not the ordinary death of ships , who commonly haue somer est , and after long seruice die full of yeares , and at home , much of their timber seruing againe to the same vse , besides their Iron-worke , and the rest otherwise seruiceable , and not in this bloudy and vnseasonable fashion , rather indeed as coffins full of liue bodies , then otherwise as comfortable shippes . For the rest that liue , they come home so crazed and broken , so maimed and vnmanned , that whereas they went out strong , they returne most feeble : Our ships are faine to take in the natiues of the Indian Countries to supply the wants of our dead Sea-men to bring home their shippes . and whereas they were carried forth with Christians , they are brought home with Heathen . What the profits are to the Marchants , for so great an aduenture , I know not . I am sure amends cannot easly be made for so great a losse , euen in this point which is our special subiect now , for wast of woods , & spoile of shipping .

And thus we haue surueyed all the fountaines whence our shipping especially doth flow : which before I shut vp , I remember me of a new Spring in Greeneland , that batheth some ships and burdeneth them likewise with her owne natural fraight , with the which the Whale is so richly loaden withall . This place is but of late frequented so especially , and hath employed this last yeare some foureteene ships , and more would do , but that the poore Fishermen , who though they knew the place before , yet being belike afraid of the Whale , The Moscouy Merchants haue procured an inhibition for all others from fishing there . are now swallowed vp in the Whales ships .

I cannot finde any other worthy place of forren anchorage . For the Bermudas , we know not yet what they will doe ; and for Virginia we know not well what to do with it : the present profit of those not employing any store of shipping : and for this other it is yet but Embrion : no question a worthy enterprise and of great consequence , much aboue the Marchants Ieuell & reach . And sure in regard of the great expences they haue beene at , and the poore returne that is made , they are much to bee regarded & commended for holding out so long : I could wish , that as many of the Nobility and Gentry of the land haue willingly embarqued themselues in the labour , so the rest of the Subiects might be vrged to help to forme and bring forth this birth , not of an infant , but of a man ; nay , of a people , of a kingdom , wherein are many kingdomes . When Alcmena was in trauell with Hercules , the Poets say Iupiter was faine to be Midwife ; and sure , as we haue the countenance of our earthly Iupiter , so we are humbly to emplore the propitious presence of our heauenly God , toward the perfection of this so great a worke . And so leauing to medle further with what we haue nothing to do , let vs returne to our ships , out of whose entertainements we may either reioyce at their increase , or by other obseruations preuent their decay : & because we propounded to our selues the necessity of our home-fishing out of the want of our shipping , we will affirme that by this our superficiall view we find a decay thereof , & that out of two reasons ; because that in places formerly frequented , our shipping lesseneth , and in places new found , they doe not succeed : we haue giuen reasonable probability of these already without any pleasure , & there is no need of repetition , and it will be more apparant in the preferring of this desire of Fishing , out of the examination of the next inducement therto , which is want of Mariners .

Want of Mariners .

Mariners , they vse the weapons , shippes , they weare the ornaments , shippes , out of them ships , are strength and pleasure : otherwise they are but Pictures , that haue but a shew , or are as carkasses bereft of life . It is the good Pilot that bringeth the Shippe to the Hauen : It is the wise Maister that gouerneth the men in the Ship ; but without men the Maister cannot gouerne , nor the shippe goe : What is a Leader without an Army , and that of Souldiers ? the same reason of Sea-men in a ship ; the body must haue life , bloud and flesh : the same are Sea-men to a shippe . Columbus found out the new world , Drake brought home the hidden treasure in a ship ; but they were both prouided well of men , and gouerned well : therefore as Shippes are manned ; and as Masters vse their men , so ordinarily their shippes succeede . As for this last matter of gouernement , it is besides our busines , wee will leaue that to whom it concerneth . Now then , though wee cannot vse shipping without men , and therefore they must goe together ; yet we must consider the one after the other , and hauing looked into the strength of the one , we will view in them the state of the other , in the which wee will not be long , for that the subiect is vnpleasant , and our Tale is halfe tolde already : for the consequence is necessary . As shippes are employed , so men are busied .

For Moscouy , it is apparant that the shipping thitherward is decayed ; so neither Mariners are well employed that way , nor any . Sea-men almost bred . The fleete that went ordinarily thitherward entertained three or foure Nouices in a ship , and so bred them vp Sea-men , which might make in the whole happily some foure score men yearely , which was well for their partes . Now then there were some fiue hundred Mariners and Saylers employed withall : so then this way there is want .

The like reason of the Straights in their proportion , the very bottome of the Straights failing in thirtie shippes , maketh yearely seuen hundred Sea-men and Mariners at the least , seeke some other courses which were that way employed , besides the vnder-growth hindred of some hundred and forty sea-men yearly . And but that I am loath to renue our complaints ; I would say it were great pitty of this so great an ebbe of our men in these seas , for that besides the voyages were of encouragement euen to the Frie , all in generall commonly went and returned in good health , a ship seldome loosing a man in a voyage ; nay , I heard a proper Maister of a shippe say , that in eighteene yeares , wherein he frequented those parts , he lost not two men out of his ship : and whatsoeuer may bee imputed to the incontinencie of our men , or the vnwholsomnesse of the women in other places , surely in those parts I heare the common sort of women to be as dangerous , and the generalitie of our men as idely disposed .

Naples , Ligorne , Marseilles , and those parts of the straights , may imploy some foure hundred men , and breed of these about forty .

Malega imploying besides some foure hundred men , the imployment that may come by all other places in Spaine and Portugall , not arriving to foure hundred men , in regard of the pouerty of the trade , and the superfluity of the commodities , it being indeede rather entertained because they will not be idle , otherwise then that they are well busied , like foode that keepeth life , not else maintaineth strength ; yet it hath a pretty mystery in it , that though the gaine scarce provideth for the Marchants liuelihood , yet the commodities make the land merry : and howsoeuer , I am of the opinion that the former hostile state busied more Sea-men then twice the Trade of Spaine can nourish , yet I differ from those that would rather by reprisall make Souldiers , then by nourishing commerce increase Mariners .

Our shipping into France , is not such as it hath beene , but nourseth many yong men , or rather sheweth them the Sea , and may busie some seuen or eight hundred men .

Hambrough and Middlebrough alwayes haue beene counted the ancient maintainers of Mariners for the States seruice on all occasions , being ready at hand , and therefore as we wished well to their Shippes , so we desire encouragement to the men . There may be belonging to their employment some foure or fiue hundred Mariners and Sea-men .

Norway and the Sound may breed and employ some foure hundred men , those parts being most frequented , those commodities most brought in by the Hollanders .

Newcastle voyage is the next , and if not the onely , yet the especiall Nursery , and Schoole of Sea-men : For , as it is the chiefest in employment of Sea-men , so it is the gentlest , and most open to land-men : They neuer grudging in their smallest vessels to entertaine some two fresh-men , or learners ; whereas , to the contrary , in the Shippes that voyage to the South-ward , or otherwise , farre out of the Kingdome , there is no Owner , or Maister , that will ordinarily entertaine any land-man , be he neuer so willing , as being bound by their Charter-partie to the Marchant , as they say , not to carry but sufficient men , and such as know their labour , and can take their turne at the helme , toppe , and yard . It is by great fauour that others slip in , and they very likely ; and therefore whereas in former aduentures I allow them the bringing vp of two or three men in a voyage , it is in generall to be vnderstood , that they were first trained vp , either amongst the Coliers in this iourney : or else came out of Fishermens Boates , and yet but Nouices to those Seas and Saylors , so then this Trade , without all exception , admits of all sorts that neuer see the Sea before : whereby are yearly bred and employed , out of the great store of ships busied therein , some two or three thousand people . A great comfort to youth , and men that want employment , and a great stay to the Sea state , that shall haue need on all occasions of their helpe . I haue shewed my good will enough , being so priuate , to further their employment ; and being so ignorant I must not bee bolder .

Island entertainement , asketh and nourisheth some two thousand fiue hundred men ; after the number of shipping and barques set downe , and ordinarily employed .

New-found-land may breed and employ some fifteene hundred ; but seeing what discouragements they haue , what casualties they are subiect to we may iudge of their incertainty .

Out of the extraordinary number of all people busied in these two former employments ; it is no vnnecessary obseruation , that in any Trade in particular , our coale excepted , our speciall employment , nourishment , and encrease of Sea-men , is euen in this forraine fishing , which I hope will proue but petty , when it commeth to be balanced with our home fishing .

The last Consistance of Shipping propounded , was that of the East Indies : which though yongest , was found in shew and state to haue ouer-topped all the rest ; as a bird that maketh herselfe gay with the feathers of all other fowles ; hauing borrowed ; nay , hauing bought the best Shippes out of other Trades to honour their voyage , and plumed euen Constantinople her selfe , of her shipping : therefore that men are entertained extraordinarily in this voyage , it is apparant out of the greatnesse of the Shipping ; the entertainment of them increasing , it should be a consequent that Sea-men increase this way : But that wee may not by ambages tryumph in their losse , or our calamities , wee see this way that our Shippes perish , and therefore our men they shrinke . Nay , though shippes come home , yet they leaue the men behinde : so in this voyage , there is a two-fold way towards our want of Mariners .

In that Shippes , nay great Shippes , are extraordinarily subiect to bee cast away , and then there must bee losse likewise of men ; In that though they come , they come home emptied of their men .

By the losse of foure Shippes , wee haue lost at the least foure hundred and fifty men : and in the adventure of some three thousand that haue beene imployed since that voyage beganne , wee haue lost many aboue two thousand .

Dauid refused to drinke of the Well of Betheleme , which the strong men had fetched , when he thirsted and longed , because it was the price of blood . This Trade , their commodities are at a far deerer rate , being bought with so many mens liues .

But happily some will say th●● the greatest losse of these men was at the beginning , when as all things are difficult : but since our men , framed to a better composition of themselues , to the variety of this Clymate , and heartned to the tediousnesse of this voyage , haue better endured and ouercome those difficulties , and returned more comfortably . Herein the latest voyages will informe vs best , and we will instance it in the three last that haue made returnes .

The first was vnder Sir Henry Middleton , whose former gouernment in that kind of voyage , had approued his wisdome and moderation . His ship was that famous and infortunate vessell of eleuen hundred Tun ; The Trades Increase . his company in that ship some two hundred and twenty men . After foure yeares errours vp and downe the sea , wherein he vnderwent many constructions at home , and ouercame strange difficulties abroad ; hauing , to his eternall reputation of policy and courage , out gone the perfidious Turke , and revenged their barbarous wrongs , to the Marchants gaine , and the Kingdomes repute . After He , and his , had , I say , been accompanied with many sorrowes ; with labour , hunger , heate , sicknesse , and perill ; That worthy Commander , with many a sufficient Mariner , with the whole number ( ten excepted ) of his liue Cargazon , perished in that Acheldama , in that bloudy field of Bantam .

Nicholas Dounton , the Vice-admirall of that Fleet returned , and of seuenty he carried forth , brought home some twenty ; the rest , their labours and liues were ●●crificed to that implacable East Indian Neptune : Captaine Pemerton that escaping imprisonment at Moha , iournying in that vnknown Countrey 15 miles by night , got to the sea side , and finding a small Canow , made a saile of his shirt , and a mast of a stick , and so recouered the ships . the Darling of that voyage is yet there , nor neuer will the Maister , an approued Sea-men , returne , with diuers others .

The second was that of Captaine Saris , and Captaine Towerson , men formerly exercised in those iourneys , and therefore thought meet to command . Whether they were short of the opinion conceiued of them or no , I know not ; if they were , I should attribute part of the losse of their men to their insufficiency , but that the destiny of that country chalengeth it all to it selfe . Captaine Towerson who first returned , hauing left behinde him of some hundred and twenty carried forth , fourescore and fiue ; and Captaine Saris , of some 90 & odde not having brought home aboue two or three and twenty : the Thomas of that voyage , which went forth with some 60 men , was brought home by way of a wrecke , By staying an Armenian ship , wherin at least were some 400 men bound to the Indies , and commaunding the Port , hee drew from them plain dealing , and made honourable conditions for the Marchants . He encountered foure Gallions , wherein might be some two thousand men . you know the destruction of men that name importeth .

The third , that of Captaine Tho. Best , Admirall of the Fleete , a man whose former behauiour in Sea-affaires , drew into that iourny with great expectation , and which is very seldome and hard , his carriage in this employment went beyond the great expectation of a reposed demeanour , indulgent to his men , vigilant in his charge , his courage like to his cariage ; and his fortune aboue all : he checked the Indians , he mated the Portugals : those honour our King , these feare his forces : he setled a trade in Cambaya , reduced things in order in Bantam , brought riches home for the Merchants , and kept reputation for himselfe ; yet for all this he had , Nemesin in dorso , the Indian vengeance hanted his ship euen to our coasts ; of some hundred and eighty men vnder him when he went forth , depriuing him of one hundred and odde men for euer . Some foure or fiue and twenty of the remainder are left , on the desperate account of men , for the Countries facteridge , onely thirty are returned . In two great Sea-fights with the Portugals and their Gallions , which continued foure whole dayes , hee lost not foure men . It was not then the fortune of the warre ; neither out of want of ought that victuals and good gouernment could affoord ; imputations to some other voyages : Nor had the length of time any fault , part of others bane ; he hauing made the voyage in shorter space then any other ordinarily ; the dogged Starre of those Clymates , the stench of those Countries were his Fatality .

As one Swallow maketh no Summer , so it is not much to bee maruailed , that in all these voyages some one Ship hath not beene scarred , and not else much hurt in this iourney : She indeed but euen seeing those Coasts , and presently on so great a glut of our men and ships , with the which it seemeth the Sea and Land was then busied and full : when as Captaine Newport returned with little losse , and in short time .

Now then as we haue said before , that the Indian shippes die not the ordinary death of Shippes : and that we haue shewen likewise before , that men doe die extraordinarily in this voyage , which is almost incredible : they are distressed likewise after their death , and that is very apparant by the meane account made to their heires of what they had in possession in their life time , by what should otherwise be due to them in their purchase , by the calamities of their wiues , children , and friends , after their death . Fabulous and phantasticall Legends haue beene made of the restlesse death of many concealed extortioners , and murderers , whose ghosts haue been said to walke in paine and pennance . On the contrary , how many liue bodies , indeed the true images of the deceased , complain on the death , call for the due of their friends , Fathers , Husbands , Children , Kinsfolkes , and Creditors ? Poore Ratlife , Lime-house , Blacke wall , Shadwell , Wapping , and other Sea-townes abroad can sensibly tell . The Marchant he is at home , and therefore he cannot embezell the goods abroad : and it is likely , that what is directly proued due , is paid here to theirs . Then is the calamity of that iourney more fearfull , because out of his owne ill Planet it maketh so many miserable . How this is recompenced it is neither my purpose , nor my part to examine : For certaine there is want of Trade : the Hollander would grow greater , if he had all this Trade in his own hands . The Kings customes are now aduanced : This way Shipwrights are set on worke , which must be maintained ; and other Mechanical Trades liue hereby , with a number of poore busied . And surely he that would not haue the poore to liue , I would he might begge : And he that would not advance the Kings profire in all liber all manner ; and Marchandize is a faire meanes , I would he might dye : and he that regardeth not his Countries good , it is pitty he was euer borne . I desire not , like a second Phaeton , to make a combustion . All that I would enforce at this time is , that in this trade our men are consumed , and thereby more want of Mariners . Let the Straights-men , and the Lisbone-Merchants complaine of their hinderance this way , and say their traffique before was more beneficiall by much , and more certaine to the Custom-house then the Indies be now . Let others report that the foundation of this trade was layd in the ruine of a Caricke that Sir Iames Lancaster tooke in the first voyage , and that the maine of this after-iollity proceeded of the forced trade driuen with the Mecha Fleete by Sir Henry Middleton , Wherein hee was his owne Trade-caruer out of tenne hundred thousand pounds worth of goods . whereby diuers durst not go presently after to the Straights , as the Angell , and other shippes , out of rumour of reuenge for violence offered by our Indian men to the Turkes in the red sea . Let the common people say that their commodities are vnnecessary : aske the Tradesmen , nay all men , what they haue cheaper : looke into the price of victuals how it riseth out of their great prouisions . Let the whole land murmure at the transport of treasure , and bring in Charles the fifth his opinion , Hall Chron. An. 25. Hen. 8. speaking to the Portugals of their trade to the East Indies , who said that they were the enemies to Christendome , for they caried away the treasure of Europe to enrich the Heathen . Let goe the speech of the small reliefe thereby to the poore , and they whom it doth concerne , may suggest the Indian home state and particular profite . Once I am sure , that as Vespasian the Emperour sayd , He had rather saue one Citizen , then kill one thousand enemies ; so his royall Maiesty had rather haue his Subiects , then Custome for them : and you see plainly , that his Maiesties subiects , our country-men , fall this way , and this way is want of Mariners .

Greenland ships , which before I had forgotten , entertaine some Mariners , and helpe to breed others ; as of late being fifteene saile , employ some foure hundred men , and may breed of these some fourescore , which helpe somwhat , and may be , by reasonable encouragement , farre more beneficiall , if it be more publique .

And thus we haue runne ouer the materiall trades state and condition in them of sea-men . In all in generall we conceiue want , in regard of the small increase of what is needfull to furnish this great Machina , this goodly Engine of our Sea-state , either by supporting their owne members , ( the Newcastle trade excepted ) or all ioyned together , to make vp the great body of our Lands Nauy : witnesse that general presse that was made of men from all the Coasts , to man the shippes that were to attend that matchlesse pearle , that peerlesse Princesse the Lady Elizabeth her grace , with her hopefull and happy mate , the illustrious Palatine , at their departure ; and our nakednesse that would appeare if there were sudden occasion to furnish some sixe of his Maiesties shippes : all which maketh for the furtherance of our proposition of fishing .