The Holy State, Book 2 · Chapter 19
Chap. 19. The Handicrafts-man.
HE is a necessary member in a Common-wealth: For though Nature, which hath armed most other creatures, sent man naked into the world, yet in giving him hands and wit to use them, in effect she gave him Shells, Scales, Paws, Claws, Horns, Tusks, with all offensive and defensive weapons of Beasts, Fish and Fowl, which by the help of his hands in imitation he may provide for himself, and herein the skill of our Artisan doth consist.
His trade is such whereby he provides things necessary for mankind. Maxime 1.What S. *1. Cor. 12.Paul saith of the naturall, is also true of the politick body, those members of the body are much more necessary which seem most feeble. Mean trades for profit, are most necessary in the State; and a house may better want a gallery then a kitchin. The Philistins knew this when they massacred all the smiths in Israel (who might worse be spared then all the userers therein) and whose hammers nail the Commonwealth together, being necessary both in peace and warre.
2Or else his trade contributeth to mans lawfull pleasure. God is not so hard a master, but that he alloweth his servants sauce (besides hunger) to eat with their meat.
3But in no case will he be of such a trade which is a mere Pander to mans lust; and onelyonly serves their wantonnesse (which is pleasure runne stark mad) and foolish curiosity. Yet are there too many extant of such professions, which, one would think, should stand in dayly fear lest the world should turn wise, and so all their trades be cashierd, but that (be it spoken to their shame) 'tis as safe a tenure to hold a livelyhood by mens ryot, as by their necessity.
4The wares he makes shew good to the eye, but prove better in the use. For he knows if he sets his mark (the Tower-stamp of his credit) on any bad wares, he sets a deeper brand on his own conscience. Nothing hath more debased the credit of our English cloth beyond the seas, then the deceitfulnesse in making them, since the Fox hath crept under the fliece of the Sheep.
5By his ingenuousnesse he leaves his art better then he found it. Herein the Hollanders are excellent, where children get their living, when but newly they have gotten their life, by their industrie. Indeed Nature may seem to have made those Netherlanders the younger brethren of mankind, allowing them little land, and that also standing in dayly fear of a double deluge, of the sea and the Spaniard: but such is their painfulnesse and ingenuity, hating lazinesse as much as they love liberty, that what commodities grow not on their Countrey by nature they graft on it by art, and have wonderfully improved all making of Manufactures, Stuffes, Clocks, Watches: these latter at first were made so great and heavy, it was rather a burden then an ornament to wear them, though since watches have been made as light and little, as many that were them make of their time.
He is wiling to communicate his skill to posterity. 6An invention though found is lost if not imparted. But as it is reported of some old toads, that before their death they suck up the gelly in their own heads (which otherwise would be hardned into a pretious stone) out of spight, that men should receive no benifit thereby; so some envious Artisans will have their cunning die with them, that none may be the better for it, and had rather all mankind should lose, then any man gain by them.
He seldome attaineth to any very great estate:7 except his trade hath some outlets and excursions into wholesale and merchandize; otherwise mere Artificers cannot heap up much wealth. It is difficult for gleaners, without stealing whole sheaves, to fill a barn. His chief wealth consisteth in enough, and that he can live comfortably, and leave his children the inheritance of their education.
Yet he is a grand Benefactour to the Commonwealth. 8England in former ages, like a dainty dame, partly out of state, but more out of lazinesse, would not suckle the fruit of her own body, to make the best to battle and improve her own commodities, but put them out to nurse to the Netherlanders, who were well paid for their pains. In those dayes the Sword and the Plough so took up all mens imployments that clothing was whollie neglected, and scarce any other webs to be found in houses, then what the spiders did make. But since she hath seen and mended her errour, making the best use of her own wooll; and indeed the riches of a kingdome doth consist in driving the home-commodities thereof as far as they will go, working them to their very perfection, imploying more handicrafts thereby. The sheep feeds more with his fliece then his flesh, doing the one but once, but the other once a yeare, many families subsisting by the working thereof. Let not meaner persons be displeased with reading those verses wherewith Queen Elizabeth her self was so highly affected, when in the one and twentieth yeare of her *Hollingshead. pag. 1290.reigne she came in progresse to Norwich, wherein a child, representing the state of the City, spake to her Highnesse as followeth,
Most gratious Prince, undoubted Sovereigne Queen,
Our onelyonly joy, next God, and chief defence,
In this small shew our whole estate is seen,
The wealth we have, we find proceeds from hence:
The idle hand hath here no place to feed,
The painfull wight hath still to serve his need.
Again, our seat denies us traffick here,
The sea too near decides us from the rest:
So weak we were within this dozen yeare,
That care did quench the courage of the best:
But good advice hath taught these *Sixteen little children were there presented to her Majestie, eight spinning worsted, and eight knitting yarne hose.little hands
To rend in twain the force of pining bands.
From combed wooll we draw this slender thred,
From thence the looms have dealing with the same,
And thence again in order do proceed
These severall works which skilfull art doth frame:
And all to drive dame Need into her cave
Our heads and hands together laboured have.
We bought before the things which now we sell:
These slender imps, their works do passe the waves:
Gods peace and thine we hold, and prosper well,
Of every mouth the hands the charges saves:
Thus through thy help, and aid of power divine
Doth Norwich live, whose hearts and goods are thine.
We have cause to hope that as we have seen the cities Dornicks and Arras brought over into England, so posterity may see all Flaunders brought hither, I mean that their works shall be here imitated, and that either our land shall be taught to bear forrein commodities, or our people taught to forbear the using of them.
I should now come to give the description of the Day-Labourer (of whom we have onelyonly a dearth in a plentifull harvest) but seeing his character is so co-incident with the hired servant, it may well be spared. And now wee'l rise from the hand to the arm, and come to describe the Souldier.