Good Work for a Good Magistrate, Part 2 – Part 2
For Juſtice in Criminal Cauſes.
1. LEt the ſame men in everie town, and Countie, that have the Judgment in Civil, have the Judgment in Criminal Cauſes; but in Countrie towns and places, where are no men of much judgment, let them not have the power of life and death in their hands, but onelyonly ſom other corporal puniſhments; yet 'tis ſtrange to ſee in the Low Countries, how their Bores, or men in Countrie towns, that in manie places have power of life and death, will do better juſtice then learned men in other Countries.Ioſhua 20. 4. Numb. 35. 24. Deut. 21. 2. Deut. 1. 16.
2. Next daie (or two) after anie are com or brought into priſon, let them bee examined, that if anie bee unjuſtlie impriſoned, hee may bee forthwith ſet at libertie; and for ſuch as are guiltie, let them bee tried, and ſentence pronounced, and executed as as often as poſſible may bee, that Iuſtice may bee ſpeedily exerciſed to the terror of evil doers; and it will ſave much charge to the Common-wealth, not to keep long in priſon.Deut. 1. 16. Prov. 21. 7.
3. Let no Malefactors againſt the light of Nature, and civil ſocietie, eſcape unpuniſhed, but bee juſtly and ſpeedily puniſhed, not in priſons before hand, by cold, heat, ſtink, famine, or anie other wale; but out of humanitie, let them bee comfortably provided for, till ſentence bee given▪ and then let Juſtice take place; Tha… all Murtherers, Theeves, Whore▪ mongers, Adulterers, falſ-witneſs▪ bearers, evil-ſpeakers, deceivers▪ Bankrupts, Drunkards, roiotors Traitors, Blaſphemers, and all manner of evil doers may bee duly puniſhed, rather inclining to merciemercy then crueltie, and alwaies with a merciful heart.Deut. 35. 31, 32. Prov. 12. 18.
4. Let no man or Court have power to pardon anie offenders; for merciemercy to one offender is crueltie unto manie innocent perſons; for if one get's pardon, one hundred will hope for the like; and it increaſeth offenders, and wrong's the Common-wealth, and tend's onelyonly to the unjuſt greatneſs of him, or them that have that power, and by God never commanded.Deut. 35. 31, 32, 33.
5. Let no difference bee made between Iews, or Gentiles, bond or free, ſtranger or Natives, in either Criminal, or Civil things: for ſo hath God commanded, and by this means ſhall the Governors bee true fathers of humanitie; And it will mightily populate, and inrich the Common-wealth, when the oppreſſed in anie other Countrie know where to go dwell, under ſo juſt Government, with freedom from oppreſſion.Deut. 1. 16, 17. Prov. 24. 23. Prov. 20. 8.
6. That the children nor heirs of Malefactors bee puniſhed, or diſinherited for the miſdeeds of their Parents, becauſ the Lord hath ſo commanded, and the puniſhment of children for their Parents faults in former times, hath been uſed chiefly by Tyrants, who, to ſecure * themſelvs the better againſt treaſons, and hurt to themſelvs, ſet ſuch ſore puniſhments to deterr all from hurting them, which ſhould not have needed, had they lived juſtly. * If the Father forfeit his eſtate, do it, but let his ſmall children have their portions out of it, if they have no waie approved their father's evil.Ezek. 18. 20. Deut. 24. 16. 2 Kings 14. 6.
7. And I believ it can never bee ſhewed out of anie Hiſtorie, either Divine, or humane, that ever God changed or put down that Government, or brought ſo general a plague as war, &c. upon a Nation, to deſtroie half, or a quarter of the Inhabitants, ſo long as, but anie reaſonable meaſure of Juſtice *Prov. 16. 12.was found amongſt them; how much then will hee bleſs that Nation, and Government, with all manner of bleſſings, both ſpiritual and temporal, where with good Juſtice, both true Religion and MercieMercy are advanced? And moſt certainly, *Prov. 16. 12.that Government †1 Sam. 15. 11. 23. 1 King. 2. 4. 1 King. 3 9.that followeth theſe principal Rules of God's word, ſhall never bee changed whilſt they continue ſo doing, *Prov. 16. 12.and that Nation ſhall alwayes continue moſt happie †1 Sam. 15. 11. 23. 1 King. 2. 4. 1 King. 3 9.who are ſo governed; for the Lord will not fail of his good word, nor is his arm ſhortned.
* Deut. 11. 22. to 25. and the whole ch.† Deut. 28. 2. to 13. and the whole chap.It is verie adviſeable, that ſince England breed's ſo manie thieves, and hanging thereupon is ſo common and cheap, and yet little reformation, that two Gallies may bee built to row from Graveſend to Queenborow, and where elſ they may, (according to weather) and put theeves on theſe two years, ſeven, ten, or during their life; certainly this will help more then the Gallows, and more conformable it is to God's will; and ſince the root of manie miſchiefs is baſe ſwiniſh drunkenneſs, and the cure hereof never reached by all the Laws alreadie made; there is but one main Cure propounded, Viz.
That it bee inacted through the Nation, that none drink to another, directly, or indirectly, upon the forfeiture of twelve pence, whereof ſix pence to the informer, and ſix pence to the poor; which, though it ſeem ridiculous, will prove the likelieſt waie of prevention; the practice beeing of men ingrammatical, and practiſed in no Countries, but among our neighbors in Germanie, &c.
ANd becauſ Juſtice cannot bee executed without Power, therefore God hath given the Sword into the Magiſtrate's hand to maintein the Good, and puniſh evil doers; wherefore the Militia muſt bee alwayes well looked to, and provided for.Rom. 13. 1. 4 2 Chro. 8. 3. 6. 2 Chro. 25. 5. & 9. ch. 25. v. and 32. 5, 6.
1. By putting into all offices, both in Garriſon and field, godlie and truſtie men, the State may relie on.Exod. 18. 21. 2 King. 22. 7.
2. To have all Store-houſes bee neer at hand, and well provided of all ſorts of Ammunition, and conſtantly well dreſt and looked to, both in peace, and in time of war eſpecially.2 Chro. 8. 6. 2 Chro. 11, 12. Ezek. 27. 11.
4. *To put the Sword into no private Souldier's hand, that is uncivil; much leſs into the hands of lewd perſons, who love no Juſtice. * They will deſtroie victuals in plentie, cannot faſt in want, ſooner fall ſick, and weaken the Armie: mutinie ſooner, and fail and faint in the time of battail.
5. Let all Militarie perſons, both Souldiers, and Officers, bee truly and juſtly paid, whatever is promiſed them; for they that are to maintein Juſtice, muſt bee firſt juſt themſelvs, and keep Souldiers from injuſtice, which cannot bee without due paiement; for by good paiment you may have choiſ of Souldiers; and may keep them in good diſcipline, and may bee ſo juſtly ordered, that they will bee no burthen, but profit to the places where they are.Levit. 19. 13. Mai. 3. 5. Exod. 2. 9. Luke 3. 14.
6. Do juſtly in advancing ſuch to Offices in the Armie and Garriſons, as are deſerving men, and have longeſt, and faithfully ſerved the State, and not to put in friends that never were ſouldiers, or other men for money, or other ſelf-ends, whereby manie are diſcontented, and the Armie made leſs ſerviceable, and the State thereby weakned: when the ſouldiers ſee them in power ſo unjuſt.2 Sam. 23. 8, 9, &c. Pſal▪ 125. 4.
7. Let all roiotous, and deboiſt ſouldiers bee turned out of ſervice; for ſuch are plagues to provoke God to wrath, they will brag much, and when it come's to fighting, do little; when an Armie is in plentie, they will devour abundance, and the ſooner bring the whole to want; and when want com's they are the leſs able to bear it; but will ſooner grow ſick, infect others, die themſelvs, and weaken the whole. Neither can rioters faſt when need is, ſo long as temperate men.Prov. 23. 20. Prov. 28. 7. 1 Pet. 4. 4. 2 Pet. 2, 13. Iſa. 28. 1.
8. Laſtly that all Commiſſions and Orders paſs in the militarie channel, and all Souldiers to give an account to the General, and the General to the State, no interfearing with them and the civil Government, the Engliſh Souldierie being the moſt unparalel'd men in the world.
ANd becauſ the Militia cannot bee maintained without money; Therefore hath God commanded, that Tribute ſhall bee paid to them that bear the ſword of Juſtice; and things muſt bee ſo ordered, that the Common-wealth may have a verie rich ſtock, or revenue at leaſt, to defray all charges plentifully, without which they cannot be juſt.Luke 2. 1. 2. Rom. 13. 6. 2 Chro. 10. 4. 18.
2. The charges of the whole common-wealth, muſt bee duly known, and all unneceſſarie charges cut off, and then a proportionable tax laid accordingly, plentifully to defray all thoſe charges; ſo as no man muſt paie more currantly, nor buy all things cheaper then the Common-wealth; for they muſt bee an example of truth in what they promiſe; and Juſtice in performance to the whole Common-wealth, how will the Lord then bleſs them?Levit. 19. Mal. 3. 5.
3. Special care muſt bee had, that men fearing God and hating covetouſneſs, may bee choſen and truſted with the ſtock of the Common-wealth; and yet ſo regulated, that if any prove falſ, they may do little hurt.Exod. 18. 21. 2 King. 22. 7. 2 King. 12. 15.
4. The Charge of the Commonwealth may bee made much leſs by leſſening the ſtate of Officers, both civil and militarie, by land and ſea, which is nouriſhed in a Kinglie Government, to maintain their Port and Grandure: But in a Common wealth, who deſire wealth indeed, this ſtatelie Port is wholly needleſs, as hath moſt eminently been ſeen in the Low Countries, where 'tis ſtrange to ſee (though now 'tis ten times greater then in the heat of their wars againſt the King of Spain) how ſmall ſtate, the States themſelvs hold: Lords of the Admiraltie, Burgomaſters of the greateſt Cities, not one of an hundred have ſo much as a man or ſerjeant to wait on them in the ſtreets, yet do the higheſt acts of Power, with aſmuch vigor as the King of Spain himſelf.Prov. 16. 32.
5. Let as many offices of the Common-wealth (as can bee) bee ſerved by men of qualitie, who will do it freely without any charge or ſalaries; of which you need not doubt of choiſ; for how manie thouſands are in England, men that have enough to live on, and nothing to imploie their able parts in; who gladly, ſom out of love of humanitie and the common good, others, but that they might bee well imploied, ſom out of love of Autoritie, and honor, &c. would gladly ſerv the Common-wealth; yea, and would petition ten for one office, (if it were but brought into cuſtom, as it was under the Romane Common-wealth-government*) and what a maſs of monie might bee ſaved by this means, and the Common-wealth more honored by beeing ſued to to bee ſerved? and yet all offices better ſerved then now by needie men, that deſire ſtill more to inrich themſelvs, and whoſe hearts ſaie not yet, I have enough, as manie men do, that live on what they have. * And ſhould not Chriſtians ſerv the Common-wealth freely, as well as the Romanes?Nehemiah 5. 15. to 18. Prov. 21. 15.
6. As manie officers about cuſtom, exciſe, Clerks, Treaſurers, Committees, Towns, freeedoms, Officers of Companies, and manie the like might bee diſcharged, as would alone maintein a great Armie, if all cuſtoms, Exciſe, and a hundred other waies of gathering monie were put down, and inſtead thereof, all men throughout the whole Common-wealth, that are able to paie anie thing * taxed once in a year, what each ſhall give, each according to his rents, eſtate, trade, and handicraft, and a place appointed in each town, and Citie, where everie one ſhall themſelvs bring the money they are taxed at, with how few Officers and little charge might this bee don, and how eaſie would it bee for men to paie, when they ſhould have all things ſo cheap without cuſtom, Exciſe, or charge of thouſands of Officers; how would men bee inabled hereby to paie their taxes by the multitude of Trade that would flow in, if all Cuſtoms, &c. were free.Luke 2. 1, 2. 2 Kings 23. 25. 2 Chro. 24. 9. Deut. 16. 17.
7. This tax to paie the whole charge of the Common-wealth (both the charge of the State, and all the charges of each town and Citie) may bee ordered to bee paid at once, or at three, or four ſeveral times everie year; or rebate ſet for them that bring it in before the time limited, proportionable to the time; and manie other means may bee uſed, to cauſ people to paie willingly; or the tax may bee laid much leſs, and the reſt taxed upon Burials, weddings, and feaſtings, or the like, and people forbidden by a Law, not to make ſuch great weddings, burials, Chriſtnings, &c. and inſtead thereof, to give but the half ſo much to the State. 'Tis ſtrange, what abundance of monie might bee gathered by this means, and yet people have never the leſs, ſeeing now they ſpend twice ſo much, in ſuch things as bee wholly uſeleſs, and do but hurt and trouble themſelvs, ſo to ſpend their monie.
8. Great would the advantages bee, both to the State, and particular towns, to have a rich publick ſtock; as a well monied man that is prudent, by God's bleſſing get's up above all his Neighbors; ſo would it bee with a rich State, through God's bleſſing beeing well managed; I could bee large herein: firſt, the State might bee juſt, and paie all juſtly, and preſently, upon which a bleſſing is promiſed. Secondly, all things might bee bought for readie monie, the advantage whereof is verie great. Thirdly, you are readie to lend to anie Neighbor▪Nation, and take ſtrong holds for ſecuritie, which is oft of great concernment. Fourthly, you are readie not onelyonly to defend, but to offend anie Nation that wrong's you, or aſſiſt anie Nation oppreſſed, by which oft whole Provinces are gained, and in general all happineſs attend's this State; for as Chriſt ſaith to him that hath (uſing it well) ſhall bee given, and this riches is your ſtrong tower.
9. Tis as eaſie for anie State to get a rich ſtock, and Revenue, as for anie private man that hath a good trade, to gather monie, if hee will bee thriftie and diligent; but as no man can grow rich that will bee gallant, and coſtly at firſt; So Kings, Princes, and States that will bee thriftie, and diligent, may gather monie like duſt, and make ſilver like the ſtones of the ſtreet, and that in twentie, thirtie, or fiftie years time; for think not but it muſt have a time, and may as eaſily ſpend all again, as wee ſee in Solomon, or bee alwayes poor, and in ſtraits, as all States almoſt are, and know not how to get out of debt, when 'tis meerly their own faults, as may moſt evidently bee proved. And no people, (when a State is ſetled) will bee *2 Chro. 10. 4.unwilling to paie anie taxations, when they but ſee, or conceiv that 'tis well uſed, and improved; but if States will go upon profuſe charges, when they are poor, and keep thievs that ſteal the publick ſtock continually, no marvel if people bee unwilling, &c.Prov. 10. 4. 15. Prov. 12. 24. Prov. 21▪ 5.
10. If this waie of gathering monie with moſt eaſ, and leaſt charge cannot bee brought about, without diſturbance of the Common-wealth; There are manie waies to gather more monie by Exciſe and Cuſtom, then now on foot, and with leſs grievance to the Common wealth.
It is wiſhed that all that uſe Coaches ſhould paie fifteen pound, or twentie pound yearly to the State. And ſo for Hackney▪men, according to diſcretion. And to give all incouragement to Weavers and others, to make all the manufactures of ſilk in England, and to treat with ſom Weavers, and merchants, for the ſetting up of Looms, and other inventions in England, for getting of the manufacture here, and that countenance by the Magiſtrates may bee given to the undertakers of what Nation ſoever, provided they bee bound to ſet onelyonly our Engliſh poor awork, and bring over into England but a certain number, not exceeeding a hundred, to teach our Nation the manufactures aforeſaid: this beeing don, would imploie manie thouſands of our poor, and get this Nation a rich manufacture, and ſerv the exportation of our treaſure, which ought now carefully to bee looked after, the like ought to bee don for the advancement of making all ſort of linnen cloth.
That whereas great quantitie of Gold, and Silver is waſted in this Nation, in the making Gold and Silverlace and thred, and the vanitie and exceſs thereof is grown ſo great, that an Act may bee made for the putting of it totally down, that none bee permitted to wear it (or expoſe it to ſale under a certain penaltie) or if it bee allowed to bee worn, then onelyonly for perſons of qualitie, and that an Exciſe of at leaſt ſix pence the ounce bee laid on all the Silver Wyer (and ſtrict order taken, that none of the currant coins of the Nation bee melted down for the making of that manufacture, of Gold and Silver-Thred, or Wyer) and that all the workers, both men and women may bee tyed to ſuch juſt Rules, as all the former abuſes practiſed in this Trade, may bee prevented in the making of that manufacture (and reſtrained onelyonly to perſons of qualitie, to bee allowed to wear Gold or Silver-lace;) By this means manie people will have their monie in their purſes, to ſupplie their neceſſarie occaſions, which they vainly laie out on their backs, to the great waſte of their private fortunes, and dammage of the Common wealth: for in all well regulated Common-wealths, the extravagancies of Coin, and profuſe people ought to bee reſtrained by the Magiſtrates. That all forrein Laces, ſuch as are made beyond Seas, either in ſilk or thred, bee debarred to bee imported into this Nation, upon the forfeiture of ten times the value the Laces ſhall bee appriſed at: and if you will allow Laces to bee worn here, then let our own poor have the benefit of making Lace here, and not forreiners.
To adviſe all waies and means for the bringing in of Gold and Silver into this Common-wealth, and to inquire, and finde out what waies and deſigns have been practiſed to obſtruct the Mint and tranſport your Treaſure, and to prevent it carefully for the future, and to give all incouragement to Merchants to bring monies into the Nation; to do this effectually, would bee a great advantage to the Common-wealth, and require's a diligent proſecution and inquirie after; to prevent the great abuſes in clipped Engliſh money, to paſs a Law it may all bee cut in pieces, and none to expoſe it in paiement; but as Bullion to bee new coined upon ſtrict penalties, againſt anie perſon that ſhall offend in the premiſes; for the Common-wealth is verie much cozened by clipped monie.
NOw as a man cannot bee accounted verie religious, who is ſlothful: nor can ſhew much MercieMercy without plentie of means to do it withal; nor will bee just to others, who is not juſt to himſelf, and Familie, by diligence to do his utmoſt indeavor; in ſom honeſt calling; So the Magiſtrate in his place is bound to uſe, and ſee that all diligence bee uſed, to make happie the Common-wealth.Pr. 18. 9. Prov. 21. 25. Prov. 10. 4.
Which hee ſhall do.
I. By the advancement of Learning.Iſa. 29. 11.
II. By the improvement of Nature.Deut. 11. 10.
III. By the incouragement of Arts.2 Chro. 24. 11, 12.
IV. By the increaſ of Merchandiſe.Ezek▪ 27. 33.
I.
FOr the Advancement of Learning, Lord Verulam hath *Bacon's Advancement of Learning.propounded manie excellent things, and more may bee added by other learned men; for doubtleſs, Learning will mightily improve all other things, if ſo regulated, as ſelf might bee leſs, and the publick more intended.Eccleſ. 7. 12. Prov. 24. 6. 1 Kings 4. 30, 31. and 10. Ch. 8. Acts 7. 22. Dan. 1. 17. Prov. 1. 5. 7. John 7. 15. Job. 22. 2. Prov. 12. 18. Prov. 15. 7. Prov. 21, 22. Prov. 22. 17.
Two books wee want in England; viz. Firſt another Martyrologie, continued from Queen Marie's time to the death of the late King. Secondly, the Experiments Miniſters and others have in ſeveral caſes of Converſion, and other caſes of Deſertion, with the quieting of ſouls, and means thereunto, with a probatum eſt, the names of the parties concealed: which if everie able Chriſtian would write, and keep by him, and print, how might Satan's Methods bee diſcovered, and manie ſouls comforted?
II.
FIrſt for the Improvement of Nature, Lord Verulam hath alſo manie excellent, and learned Problemes, experiments, and ſpeculations, and more in that kinde may bee added, and brought to act by other learned men, by the incouragement, and help of the publick ſtock, in times of Peace, when war is ended.Prov. 13. 23. Deut. 9. 10. Bacon's natural Hiſtorie.
2. But of all things, I thinke there is nothing conduceth ſo much to the profit of all, as cutting of Rivers, where none are, and making them deeper that are too ſhallow, both within, and without Towns, and from one town to another; as wee ſee in the Low-Countries, who have as the Lord Verulam ſaith, the richeſt mines above ground in the world: meaning their Rivers. For in a Countrie like England, the third or fourth part of all the Grain ſown in the whole Land, is ſpent upon beaſts for carriage, &c. which by Rivers might bee ſpared: and might by a joint hand, and good order bee made more eaſily then is thought of.Gen. 13. 10. Iſa. 30. 25. and 32. 2. and 23. 3. Pſal. 107. 35.
3. Som Privileges may bee promiſed, and made ſure to ſuch, to be injoied for life, or ſo manie years, whoſoever ſhall finde anie new invention, for improvement of nature in anie kinde; bee it in manuring of ground, making it better, and finding anie inſtruments, to till the ground mith more eaſ, or leſs charge or the like.Ioſhua 15. 16. 2 Sam. 5. 8. Prov. 10. 4.
4. Much may bee don about improvement of Commons; making of ſom waters land, and gaining of ground out of the Sea, as is to bee ſeen in the Low-Countries, to their great inrichment, and admiration of other Nations.Gen. 26. 12. Pſal. 107. 37. Deut. 11. 10.
5. A rich publick ſtock in everie Town, and Citie may hereby bee laid out in improvement of Nature, to the great profit of the Revenue of the Town, and yet greatly to the common good, of which manie examples might bee produced.Eccleſ. 10. 19. Prov. 22. 7. Eccleſ. 7. 12.
6. Daies of publick praier to God, to bleſs the fruits of the earth, and of publick thankſ-giving for his bleſſing thereupon, is a ſpecial means for improvement of Nature ordained by himſelf, and will bee bleſſed by him, if rightly kept, and then are ſpecial fruits of faith.Deut. 16. 10. 11. Prov. 10. 22. Deut. 26. 10. 11. Zech. 8. 10. 12.
III.
FOr Incouragement of Arts and Manufactures, great care muſt bee taken, becauſ it imploie's hundred thouſands, who live upon it, and alſo is a chief ground for Merchandiſe, and manie chief ſetters of people on work, do alſo much inrich themſelvs, to the great good of the Common-wealth.Gen. 4. 20, 21, 22. 1 Chro. 29. 5. 2 Chro. 24, 11. 12.
1. For finding of new Arts, or for bettering of the old, by inſtruments, eaſineſs, or the like, great riches, honors, or Privileges would bee propounded, and aſſured, or the State to chooſ two men, and the inventer two; and if they agree not themſelvs to chooſ an Umpire, to determine the reward of the inventer, and the ſame liberally to bee rewarded accordingly: the ſame whereof would ſet all the wits of the world on work, to advance your Common-wealth, to the greateſt happineſs that ever the world yet ſaw.Eccleſ. 9. 10. 2 Sam. 5. 8. 15 Ioſhua 16, 17.
2. All means to buy Materials at the cheapeſt priſes, muſt in a ſpecial manner bee indeavored; and amongſt other means a chief will bee, to ſuffer all Commodities, from all parts of the world to bee brought in free without Cuſtom; and if they cannot make price to their mindes, that they may tranſport them freely out again, at all times.1 Kings 5. 6. 9, 10.
3. That all poſſible care muſt bee taken, for cheapeſt tranſportation of goods, within the Land, from place to place, both by water and by Land; 'Alſo ſuch order about laborers, boats, Carts, and all things thereupon depending; 'Alſo ſuch order about workmen, and victual, &c. as may beſt conduce thereunto, about which much may bee ſaid, too large for this place.Eccleſ. 9, 10. 1 King. 5. 9.
4. That no Artiſt, or handie-laborer, that gain's not thereby ten or twentie pound a year (or ſo much as ſhall bee thought fit, according to the cheapneſs of the place hee live▪s in) if a batchelor, or thirtie, or fortie pounds a year if hee bee married: and five or ten pounds a year for each childe hee hath beſides, ſhall give anie kinde of taxation to the Common-wealth, &c.Prov. 14. 31. Nehem. 5. 18.
5. That all Companies of Artiſts, or trades▪men, give Freedom for all that will (and are capable thereof) to ſet up, or bee free of that Trade, without paying anie thing for freedom, either of the Citie or Companie: for why ſhould anie thing for common good bee ſo lock't up, incloſed, or paid for? this freedom would bee found true Freedom, if it were but in uſe, however it may ſeem at preſent.Prov. 22. 16.
6. What if once in a year all of each trade (at ſeveral times) meet together; and hee that could do beſt, or moſt of anie Trade, to have ſom kinde of priſe, or honor that year, &c.Eccleſ. 9. 10.
7. Publick daies of praier, that God would pour out his Spirit (as of grace eſpecially, ſo) of ſciences and Arts upon his people, &c.Eccleſ. 9. 11.
IV.
FOr Increaſ of Merchandiſe, and Merchants, and helps for diſpatch of their affairs; manie things may bee don by the Magiſtrate, and ought in a ſpecial manner to bee looked upon, as a ſpecial means to inrich anie Nation.Iſa. 23. 8. Ezek. 27. 33. 34.
1.
To preſerv the Common-wealth at peace, at home eſpecially, and abroad alſo, as much as poſſible can bee, with all Nations; is a chief means to increaſ Merchants, and Merchandiſe▪ And therefore to meddle verie little with other States, but truſt in God, who ſeldom order's his people to that work; nor to keep anie Leger-Ambaſſadors from other Nations.Levit. 26. 6. 1 Kings 4. 24, 25. Ezek. 26. 11, 12. Zech. 8. 10.
2.
To have ſpecial care to keep the Soveraintie of the Sea, by numerous and able men of war, well furniſhed with all things; and Mariners, Volontiers, and well paid; and good order for conſtant convoies, for all places, that Merchants may bee kept from loſſes; to accompliſh which, manie things are to bee don. This ſhort regulating of the preſent Navie may incourage others to add their thoughts.Dan. 11. 30. 40. Ezek. 26. 15. 18.
The brief Regulating of the preſent Navie, which now coſt's five or 600000 l. yearly.
The work conſiſt's either in the Governing, or the Executive part.
I. For the Governing thereof.
1. A Committee of Admiraltie conſiſting of five or ſeven verie able men, ſhould alwaies ſit neer the Council of State, with ſufficient Secretaries: and theſe men (if need) may have competent ſalaries.
2. Theſe to bee able to give ſatisfaction for all marine affairs whatſoëver at all times: theſe to have in them the Court of Admiraltie alſo; which may eaſily bee don; if the Law of Merchants were in force, who, by ſix men yearly choſen, may end the uſual controverſies among Seamen and Merchants. The Admiraltie Court (as now it ſtand's) beeing verie offenſive.
3. In this Committee, the Admirals of the Sea, to ſit, when they return home, as Aſsistants.
II▪ The Executive part conſiſt's either in building the Ship, or employing it, when built: to which end
1. Laie by all the Docks at Chattam, Detford, &c. whence neer one thouſand mouths are daily fed upon the State, beſides Officers, &c.
2. That the Ship bee built in a Merchant waie, at anie Dock the Carpenter will, and ſo built per tun as can bee agreed by the ſaid Committee, and paiement upon deliverie; for wee finde the verie carriage of the State's own timber is dearer then timber can bee bought elſwhere.
3. That for the performance of Covenants the Committee have a Check, or Overſeer upon the ſhip, whilſt building.
4. That ſom Act bee made for the preſervation of timber through the Common-wealth, there beeing much ſpoil made continually.
5. That the offer of New-England may bee entertained, who tender the building of what Ships, or Frigats are deſired, and to bring them into the Thames, and there their value impartially judg'd: who likewiſe may furniſh iron guns, maſts, &c.