Wheat was again at tenpence the bushel, and other commodities valued in like proportion, and far below the market-prices in Holland and England.
On the other, hand, the prosperity of the republic was rapidly increasing.

Notwithstanding the war, which had beer raging for a terrible quarter of a century without any interruption, population was increasing, property rapidly advancing in value, labour in active demand.
Famine was impossible to a state which commanded the ocean.

No corn grew in Holland and Zeeland, but their ports were the granary of the world.
The fisheries were a mine of wealth almost equal to the famous Potosi, with which the commercial world was then ringing.

Their commerce with the Baltic nations was enormous.

In one month eight hundred vessels left their havens for the eastern ports alone.