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1. The number of inhabitants and particularly of labouring people ^add provided they are employable,/add is the real wealth and Strength of a State, and and idle and debauched populace one of the greatest grievances a commercial State can labour under; without Commerce no Country can grow rich, and what is worse can never be Secure against the encroachments of ambitious neighbours; but an Island without foreign Commerce, can have but an indifferent Navy, consequently cannot protect itself, nor deserve the protection of other States.

Till the reign of Queen Elizabeth England knew little of manufactures, whilst those of Spain and Italy were in great perfection, the latter alone had the Levant Trade, and the other European States furnished them with the raw materials their several Countries produced, as best capable of manufacturing them.

The Italians found Flanders a convenient Suppository for the manufacutres they intended for the North; the Flemings being naturally industrious soon became themselves manufacturers. the English still remained ignorant of the advantages arising from Manufactures and Commerce, but by the emigration of the Flemings, on the Count's of Flanders' withdrawing the privileges granted merchants, manufactures were attempted in England.

From want of skill or industry the Flemings in the Reign of Edward III. could add buy our wood /add pay high Custom out, manufacture, it and pay high Custom in, and yet sell their Manufactures cheaper than the Natives. In the Reign of Edward VI. great encouragement was given to Manufactures and the emloyment of the Poor, for by Stat. I. Edw. VI. C.3. all Vagrants to be branded, and be slaves to those who apprehended them for two years, to be kept on bread and Water, with an iron collar fastened on their neck,arms, or legs; and on running away to be again branded, and condemned to Slavery for life, and on again running away to be hanged; but commerce and manufactures gained but