the maintenance of free trade-第13章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Surely they may be thought to be； for to set the people on worke upon the common Purse； but otherwise there is but little pollicie in it； much like unto the Silver Mines of the Duke of Brownswicke； which he maintained to his charges； called the Wilde man： which causeth him to coyne Dollers； having on the one side his Armes； and on the other side a Savage man； holding a burning Candle in his hand with an inscription； Alijs inserviendo； Consumor。 To end this point； wherein the said Author hath made good distinctions； I shall onely adde moreover； that when new inventions are found out； for the good of the Common…wealth： That the next is； to augment them by Trade in forraine parts。 And to prevent that the same be not overthrowne by the knowledge of their servants or others； but that by some good priviledges and meanes； they may be maintained to the increase of Trade； for the Generall welfare of the Kingdome。
Chapter IIII
Of want of Government in Trade。
Wise men have noted； that A Distinction only； doth dispell the foggy misteries of deceitfull fallacies： as the Sun drives away the Winde and Cloudes。 Therefore too many distinctions in a little Treatise may seeme superfluous； especially when they are grounded upon many Repetitions： so that having in the former Chapters； observed the Defective Parts of Trade； and tacite answered some objections； I will omit； the commendation of all the Societies of Merchants； handled by the said Author in his fourth chapter； as also the effects of the former Causes； as they may concerne the Kings Majestie and the Common…wealth mentioned in the fift and sixt Chapters； to avoyd the cramming of a man with learning； as promises doe with hope； and so come to his propounded Remedies。 But lest this Title of the want of Government in Trade； should seeme to be misapplyed： I have thought good to declare； wherein Merchants may easily commit errors； to the prejudice of the Common…wealth； albeit； it maketh for their private benefit； namely； In the selling of their Cloth good cheape beyond the Seas in greater quantitie； when they have beaten downe the price with the Clothier； whereby the Clothier is forced to doe the like with the Wooll…grower； which disimproveth the Revenue of lands； but the Merchant employeth the lesser Stocke； and hath not therfore the lesse benefit； the Wool…grower and the Clothier bearing the losse。 To make over their moneys from beyond the Seas； at a low price of exchange； in giving lesse money there； to have the same paied here by Bill of exchange in Starlin money； receiving the moneys there at such prices； as they cannot import them； but to their exceeding losse： whereby it commeth to passe； that the exportation of our moneys； giveth an exceeding gaine on the contrary； and our Cloth is thereby more undersold as afore said。 To connive or winke at the false making of Cloth； and afterwards to abate the greater Tare； for the faults upon the Clothier。 To make continuall Returnes of our Cloth in forraine Commodities； and thereby procure the more gaine； because of the small gaine or losse either； had upon their Clothes； whereby the Common…wealth is impoverished。 To sell our Cloth so good cheape beyond the Seas； that other Nations may make a Trade thereby for Russia； Eastland； Barbary； and other Countries； to the great hinderance of the Merchants of those Societies。 To abate the Customes and Impositions here laid upon Clothes； to the end； they may sell them better cheape； by underselling others。 To undersell our Clothes so much in price； that in comparison of the Cloth made beyond the Seas； the Drapery there bee given over； without regard had； how to Returne some money and Bullion； but by tranferring of their Bills of debt for forraine Commodities； to over…lade the Kingdome with them at deere Rates； according to the inhauncing of their Coynes； all which may prove beneficiall to them in particular； but wonderfull prejudiciall to the whole Kingdome。 Now； before we come to intreat of the Remedies for all the afore…said inconveniencies； it is most necessary to examine the Defective Meanes and Remedies； which have beene tried； these 350 yeeres。 And these may be distinguished in their proper and severall natures； three manner of waies； for the wealth of a Kingdome cannot properly decrease but by selling our native Commodities too good cheape； by buying the forraine Wares too deere； and by the exportation of our moneys in specie； or by way of exchange for moneys by Bills。 1。 First； the Statute of Employment made for Merchants Strangers； for 3 3spciall causes。 1。 The advancing of the price and sale of our native Commodities。 2。 To prevent the over… ballancing of forraine Commodities And 3。 To preserve the moneys within the Realme。 2。 The lodging of Merchant Strangers with free hoasts； who had an inspection of their negotiations for Commodities and moneys。 3。 The keeping of Staples for Woolls； Woolsels； and other Commodities beyond the Seas； with the Correctors and Brokers to Register the buying and sellings of Strangers。 4。 To cause Denizons to pay Strangers Customes。 5。 The Sunday Treaties and Conferences； with the Commissioners of other Princes； about merchandise moneys and exchanges。 6。 the severe Proclamations for the observation of the Statutes made； concerning the same； and the Articles of entercourse。 7。 The prohibition to export Commodities； but at great Ports。 8。 The prohibition for Strangers to sell Wares by Retaille。 9。 The prohibition for English Merchants to ship in strange bottomes。 10。 The Transportation of money； made fellony by Act of Parliament。 11。 The attendance of Searchers； Waiters and other Officers。 12。 The informaitons in th'Exchequer and other Courts。 13。 The Swearing of the Masters of Ships； about moneys。 14。 The Reformation of the over…heaviness of our pound Troy of 12 ounces； in the Tower of London。 15。 The Reformation of the over…richnesse of our Starlin Standard。 16。 The Alteration of the proposition betwixt Gold and Silver。 17。 The making of more prices out of the pound Troy。 18。 The inhauncing of Silver and Gold Coynes in price。 19。 The imbasing of money by Allay of Copper。 20。 The use of several Standards； and the Reducing of them againe to Two Standards of Gold and Silver。 21。 The increase of Coynadge money to hinder exportation。 22。 The prohibition to cull out heavy pieces to export。 23。 The banishing of light Spanish money out of the Realme； and light Gold to be molten downe。 24。 The giving more for Bullion in the Minte。 25。 The prohibition of Gold smiths to buy Bullion。 26。 The making of the principall forraine Coyne； currant in England。 27。 The binding of Merchants to bring in Bullion。 28。 The prohibition to pay Gold to Merchant Strangers。 29。 The prohibition to take Gaine upon Coyne。 30。 The Bullion delivered in the Minte by weight； to be restored in Coyne by Tale。 31。 The inhauncing of Gold； and undervaluing of Silver。 32。 The punishment of the Transporters of money； by great Fines in the Star…chamber。 33。 The prohibition by Acts of Parliament； to make exchange for money by Bills for forraine parts without the Kings Licence。 34。 Money delivered to Sir Thomas Gresham Knight out of th'Exchequer to Rule the course of exchanges。 35。 The Officer of the Kings Royall exchanger； never put in practise； since the merchandising exchange began； whereof there was two Offices； namely； Custos Cambij Regis； erected by King Edward the first in the 11 yeere of his Raigne； and Custos Cambij infra Turrim： which were both put into one mans hands； by a Law made in the Time of K。 Henry the Sixt： so that all the precedent meanes； have beene found defective & fruitlesse； as more particularly may be proved； by divers Records and observations： The Coppies whereof aare in my custodie； to doe his Majestie all dutifull and acceptable service。 Here we are to observe； that the Statute of employment to be Defective； appeareth more manifestly at this time； when Merchants as well English as Strangers； have an ability given them by exchange； to take up money here； and
