King _Solomon_, who was pleased to encourage _Trade_ in his Dominions by his Royal Example, soon found it to be the weightiest Jewel in his Dyadem, bringing him in more Treasure from abroad, than all the Tribute he received from _Judea_; The _Trade_ of this Kingdom hath always been a profitable Ornament to the Crowns of Your Royal Predecessors, Kings and Queens of this Realm, and it may be still so to Your Majesty's, if the Causes of its languishing were inquired into, and apt Methods applyed for its Recovery. That it may please God to make this Nation happy, by giving Your Majesty a long Life, crown'd with Victories over the Enemies of its Peace and Tranquility, is the Prayer of Your Majesty's most Faithful, And most Obedient Subject, John Cary. TO THE HONOURABLE THE Commons of England IN Parliament Assembled. May it please Your Honours, IT is the greatest Happiness of the People of _England_ that the Laws by which they are govern'd cannot be made without the Consent of their _Representatives_, who as they obtain good Ones from the Favour of their Prince, so 'tis their own fault if they pass such as are bad. Amongst all our Laws none tend more to the promoting the Wealth of this Nation than those which advance its _Trade_ and _Manufactures_, by the latter we not only imploy our Poor, and so take off that Burthen which must otherwise lie heavy on our _Lands_, but also grow Rich in our Commerce with Foreign Nations, to whom we thereby sell our _Product_ at greater Prices than it would otherwise yield, and return them their own Materials when wrought up here, and encreased in their Value by the Labour of our People. This little _Tract_ I humbly offer to this _Honourable House_, not to direct, but with all Humility to lay before Your Honours an Anatomy of the _Trade_ of _England_, dissected and laid open so as to discover its Vitals, which have seemed to be struck through by some late Acts. Whatever doth Prejudice to our _Manufactures_, or burthens our Foreign _Trade_ above what it is well able to bear, stabs them to the Heart, and where _Taxes_ are thus laid, they disable the _Subject_, and consequently are so much more burthensome as they make him less able to pay them; But when our _Manufactures_ are encouraged, and our Foreign _Trade_ made easie, and well secured, the Lands of _England_ will be advanced, and _Taxes_ paid without Discontent, because they will scarce be felt, especially when equally laid; and in such a Manner, that every Man shall pay his Proportion in a Regular way. If what I have written may be serviceable to this _Honourable House_, I shall think my Time and Labour well imployed. That God will direct your Councels, to the Advancement of his Glory, and the Welfare of this Nation, shall ever be the Prayer of Your Honours most truly Devoted Servant, John Cary. THE PREFACE TO THE READER.