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第14章

the maintenance of free trade-第14章

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nts as well English as Strangers; have an ability given them by exchange; to take up money here; and to deliver a Bill of exchange for it; payable beyond the Seas; and can send over that money in specie; and become a great Gayner thereby; insomuch; that if I receive here one hundreth Pieces of 20 shillings; I can send 90 Pieces to pay by Bill of exchange; and put 10 Pieces in my Pocket for an overplus and gaine。 The like may be done; by making over money from beyond the Seas; to be paied here by exchange; which being received; I can Transport with 15 upon the hundreth; gaines in two moneths and less; advancing thereby an hundreth upon the hundred in a yeere: which exceedeth all the benefit to be made by Commodities; wherewith I need not to entermeddle; neither can the said Statute be any helpe herein; to avoide the same。      Concerning moneys; which doe consist of weight; fineness & Valuation; it is evident; that Gold and silver are but materials; and in the nature of Bullion; but Valuation is the Spirit which giveth life。 This Valuation is twofold; the one by the Publicke Authority of Kings and Princes; the other by the Merchants in the course of exchange; and this is Predominant and over…ruleth the Kings Valuation: for when the King hath valued the shilling piece of Starlin money at 12 pence; they doe undervalue the same at 11 pence halfe pennie; or 11 pence; which undervaluation causeth the continuall exportation of our moneys; and is the hindrerance of importation of moneys and Bullion; as wee have so often inculcated; to make the motive stronger to produce a sufficient Remedy; as followeth。


Chapter V

Of the Remedie; for all the former causes of Decay of Trade。

     Having hitherto observed the Methode of the said Author; inpart of his Distribution in the matter and forme of Trade; and therein shewed very great deformities: I am now to apply the True Remedies likewise in order; according to the cuases alleaged; which are noted by me to be tenne in number。      The Efficient cause of the Transformation of our Moneys is (Gaine); and this Gaine ariseth by the undervaluing of our moneys; in regard of the inhauncing and overvaluation of forraine Coyne; so that the cause is Extrinsike & comprised under the said exchange of moneys; andnot intrinsicke; in the weight and fineness of the Coyne; which are considered in the course of True exchange betweene us; and forraine Nations; and thereupon it followeth; that neither difference of weight; finenesse of Standard; proportion betweeen Gold and Sivler; or th proper valuation of moneys; can be any ture causes of the exportation of our moneys; so long as a due course is held in exchange; which is founded thereupon。      Hence ariseth the facilitie of the Remedie; by the Reformation of exchange; in causing the value of our money to be given in exchange; which cutteth off the said Gaine; had by the said exportation; and causeth (in effect) that the forraine Coyne beyond the Seas; shall not be received above the value; although the inhauncing therefore; or the imbasing by allay were altering continually。 For take away the cause (Gayne) and the effect will cease。      All men of common understanding; when they doe heare of the raising of moneys beyond the Seas; are ready to say; we must doe the like; for they conceive the saying of Cato; Tu quoque fac similie; sic Ars deluditur Arte; to be a proper application hereunto: but they doe not enter into consideration; what Altherations it would bring to the State; and that the matter might runne; Ad infinitum; as shall be declared。      But let us suppose; that this will be a sufficient Remedy; to inhaunce our moneys; as they doe theirs; to imbase our Coyne; as they doe theirs; and to imitate overvaluation and undervaluation of Gold and Silver; as they doe; requiring a continuall laboure; charge; and innovation; is it not an excellent thing that all this can be done by the course of exchange; with great facilitie? And that without inhauncing of our moneys at home; or medling with the weight and finenesse of the Starlin Standard?      This is to be done only by his Majesties Proclamation according to the Statutes of exchanges; prohibiting that after three moneths next ensuing the same; no man shall make any exchanges by Bills or otherwise; for moneys to bee paied in forraine parts; or to be recharged towards this Realme under the true Par; or value for value of our moneys; and the moneys of other Countries in weight and finenesse; but at the said Rate; or above the same; as Merchants can agree; but never under the said Rate: which shall be declared in a paire of Tables publikely to be seene upon the Royall Exchanges in London; according to the said Proclamation; and the said Table shall be altered in price; as occasions shall be ministred beyond the Seas; in the generall Respective places of exchanges; either by their inhauncing of moneys by valuation; or by imbasing of the same by Allay; which by a vigilant eye may be observed; and will be a cause to make othr Nations more constant in the course of their moneys。 And this will be executed more or course; then by Authority; becuase Gaine doth beare sway and command with most men。      The facilitie hereof putteth me in minde of the Geometricall Axiom or Maxime; observed in commedation of the invention of round Wheeles; Circulus tangit Planum; unico puncta; as a reason to draw and carry Loads with a small strength; whereas if they had been made square; or any other Poly…angle and proportion: Forty horses would not so easily draw them; being laden; as two doth now; both with speed and ease。 Unto which this Remedie may bee aptly compared; which (in a manner) comprehendeth all the other Remedies。      For the Merchant Stranger; being here the Deliverer of money generally: will easily bee induced to make the most of his owne; receiving by exchange more for the same beyond the Seas; and the English Merchant being the Taker of the said moneys; will not bee so injurious to the State; as to give lesse beyond the Seas; then the value of the money of the Realme in exchange; contrarie to the said Proclamation: and if hee would; the Deliverer will not let thim have it。 Besides that the Takers occasions are enforced by necesssitie; and he can be no loser; for by this directio; he will sell his Commodities beyond the Seas accordingly。      English Merchants being the Deliverers of money beyond the Seas; and the price of exchange altering there accordingly; will have the like consideration; and the Merchant Stranger will provoke him thereunto。 And if there be no Takers; the English Merchant may bring over the money in specie; wherein he shall become a Gayner。      This course is agreeable to Justice and the Law of Nations; and will not hinder th'exchange to rise and fall as formerly; but keepe all in due order; with those considerations; Cautions and preventions as shall be set downe to prevent all inconveniences; proceeding by the inhauncing of money; which fall generally upon all men; in the indearing of things; and particularly upon Land… lords and Creditours in their Rents and Contracts; and especially upon the Kings Majesties Lands。      Now before we come to answer some objections made against this Remedie; let us examine what Time the old observer; and experience the best Schoole…master of mans life; have manifestly touching the Raising of moneys in forraine parts; and within the Realme; it being one of the 34 defective remedies before declared。      It is recorded in an ancient booke; that the inhauncing of the Coynes beyond the Seas; was the cause that King Henry the sixt of England; did raise the ounce of Starlin Silver from 20 pence to 30 pence: and King Edward the fourth from 30 pence to 40 pence。 And after him King Henry the eight; after many sendings to forraine Princes about Minte affairs and exchanges; (preceiving the price of money continually to rise beyond the Seas:) caused in the 18 yeere of his Raigne; The Angell Noble to be valued from 6 shillings 8 pence; unto seven shillings and four pence; and presently after to 7 shillings 6 pence; whereby every ounce of Starlin Silver was worth 45 pence: and yet there was nothing effected thereby; the money still altering beyond the Seas; whereupon C

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