Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

turally yield, that they may some way help to defray the charge of the Plantation: so it be not, as was said, to the untimely prejudice of the main business; as it hath fared with tobacco in Virginia. Wood commonly aboundeth but too much, and therefore timber is fit to be one. If there be iron ore, and streams whereupon to set the mills, iron is a brave commodity where wood aboundeth. Making of bay salt, if the climate be proper for it, would be put in experience. Growing silk likewise, if any be, is a likely commodity. Pitch and tar, where store of firs and pines are, will not fail. So drugs, and sweet woods, where they are, cannot but yield great profit. Soap-ashes likewise, and other things that may be thought of. But moil not too much under ground; for the hope of mines is very uncertain, and useth to make the Planters lazy in other things. For Government, let it be in the hands of one assisted with some counsel; and let them have commission to exercise martial laws with some limitation. And above all, let men make that profit of being in the wilderness, as they have God always, and his service, before their eyes. Let not the government of the Plantation depend upon too many counsellors and undertakers in the country that planteth, but upon a temperate number; and let those be rather noblemen and gentlemen, than merchants: for they look ever

N

to the present gain. Let there be freedoms for custom, till the Plantation be of strength; and not only freedom from custom, but freedom to carry their commodities where they make their best of them, except there be some special cause of caution. Cram not in people, by sending too fast, company after company; but rather hearken how they waste, and send supplies proportionably; but so as the number may live well in the Plantation, and not by surcharge be in penury. It hath been a great endangering to the health of some Plantations, that they have built along the sea and rivers in marish and unwholesome grounds. Therefore, though you begin there to avoid carriage, and other like discommodities, yet build still rather upwards from the streams, than along. It concerneth likewise the health of the Plantation, that they have good store of salt with them, that they may use it in their victuals, when it shall be necessary. If you plant where savages are, do not only entertain them with trifles and gingles, but use them justly and graciously, with sufficient guard nevertheless and do not win their favour by helping them to invade their enemies ; but for their defence it is not amiss. And send oft of them over to the country that plant, that they may see a better condition than their own, and commend it when they return. When

:

the Plantation grows to strength, then it is time to plant with women as well as with men, that the Plantation may spread into generations, and not be ever pieced from without. It is the sinfullest thing in the world to forsake or destitute a Plantation once in forwardness; for besides the dishonour, it is guiltiness of blood of many commiserable persons.

Of Riches.

I CANNOT call Riches better than the baggage of virtue. The Roman word is better, Impedimenta; for as the baggage is to an army, so are Riches to virtue. It cannot be spared, nor left behind, but it hindereth the march: yea, and the care of it sometimes loseth or disturbeth the victory. Of great Riches there is no real use, except it be in the distribution, the rest is but conceit: so saith Solomon: "Where much is, there are many to consume it; and what hath the owner, but the sight of it with his eyes?" The personal fruition in any man cannot reach to feel great Riches: there is a custody of them, or a power of dole and donative of them, or a fame of them; but no solid use to the owner. Do you not see what feigned prices are set upon ittle stones and rarities? And what works of ostentation are undertaken, because there might seem to be some use of great Riches? But

then you will say, they may be of use to buy men out of dangers or troubles: as Solomon saith, "Riches are as a strong hold in the imagination of the rich man." But this is excellently expressed, that it is in imagination, and not always in fact: for certainly great Riches have sold more men than they have bought out. Seek not proud Riches, but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly yet have no abstract nor friarly contempt of them, but distinguish, as Cicero saith well of Rabirius Posthumus; "It appeared that in his desire of enlarging his property, he did not look so much for gain to feed his avarice, as for the means or an instrument of doing good." Hearken also to Solomon, and beware of hasty gathering of Riches: "He that hasteneth to be rich, will scarcely be innocent.” The poets feign, that when Plutus (which is Riches) is sent from Jupiter, he limps and goes slowly; but when he is sent from Pluto, he runs, and is swift of foot; meaning, that Riches gotten by good means, and just labour, pace slowly: but when they come by the death of others, (as by the course of inheritance, testaments, and the like) they come tumbling upon a man. But it might be applied likewise to Pluto, taking him for the Devil; for when Riches come from the Devil (as by fraud, and oppression, and unjust means), they come upon

speed. The ways to enrich are many, and most of them foul: parsimony is one of the best, and yet is not innocent; for it withholdeth men from works of liberality and charity. The improvement of the ground is the most natural obtaining of Riches ; for it is our great mother's blessing, the earth's, but it is slow; and yet where men of great wealth do stoop to husbandry, it multiplieth Riches exceedingly. I knew a nobleman in England, that had the greatest audits of any man in my time: a great grazier, a great sheep-master, a great timberman, a great collier, a great corn-master, a great lead-man, and so of iron, and a number of the like points of husbandry; so as the earth seemed a sea to him in respect of the perpetual importation. It was truly observed by one, that himself came very hardly to a little Riches, and very easily to great Riches; for when a man's stock is come to that, that he can expect the prime of markets, and overcome those bargains, which for their greatness are few men's money, and be partner in the industries of younger men, he cannot but increase mainly. The gains of ordinary trades and vocations are honest, and furthered by two things, chiefly, by diligence, and by a good name for good and fair dealing. But the gains of bargains are of a more doubtful nature, when men shall wait upon others' necessity, broke by servants and instruments to

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »