第2章

FortheRuleisinfallible,Thatwhentheexchangedothanswerthetruevalueofourmoneysaccordingtotheirintrinsickeweightandfineness,andtheirextrinsickevaluation:

Theyareneverexported,becausetheGayneisansweredbyexchange,whichistheCauseofTransportation。Thiscausebeingprevented,makeththeeffecttocease;andthisisengraffedineveryman\'sjudgement,accordingtotheMaximaoftennotedheretofore,SublataCausa,Tollitureffectiu。

SothatexchangestillhaththecommandandstrikeththeStroake,insomuchthatalbeitthepricethereofrisethandfalleth,accordingtoPlentyorScarcityofmoney:yetmoneysareoverruledthereby。ForisyouinhauncetheCoyne,theexchangedothcontrolleitandriseaccordingly。Andifyouundervaluethesame,Theexchangeinlikemannerdothfallinprice。WhereinnotetheoperationofexchangebothhereandbeyondtheSeas,inplaceswhereexchangesrunneuponthepoundof20shillingsStarlin。IftheinhauncingofCoynebebeyondtheSeas,andtheexchangebenotmadeaccordingly:Thenourmoneysarecarriedout。IftheinhauncingofCoyneweremadehere:Econtra,moneyswouldbeeimported。ButthemerchantStranger,whoobserveththeruleofexchange,and(willnotbeover-takenasweeare;)willover-rulethesameipsofacto,andgiveyousomuchlessinexchange,asweshallinhaunceourCoinebyvaluation,orimbasethesamebyAllay。InlikemannerifyouCrydownemoneysbeyondtheSeas,Th\'exchangewillalterinpriceaccordingly:andifyouCrydownmoneyshere,orundervaluethembyname,Th\'exchangeoughttoRuleandtomakethedenominationaccordinglyinprice,andstillremainethPredominantovermoneysandcommodities。ForevenasCommoditiesbeingtheBodyofTrafficke,drawuntothemmoneys,andthereinmayseemetobeActive;yetmoney(beingtherightjudgeorRulewhichgivethorimposedapriceuntoCommodities:)istheThingActive,andCommoditiesbecomethethingPassive:Evenso,althoughmoneyistheSubjectwhereuponexchangesaremade:yetstillth\'exchangeismadetoRulemoneys;

Totheend,thatthevaluethereofshouldbeeansweredbythePublikeMeasureofexchange;TopreventallabusesandinconveniencesarisingbythepriceofCommodities,andthevaluationofmoneysinexchange:whichmoneysareeitherReallorimaginary,accordingtotheCustomeoftheplaceofexchangebythedeviceofBankers。

ThiswasSeriouslyobservedintheyeere1576bydiversmosthonourableandGraveCounselloursofState,Namely,SirNickolasBacon,LordKeeperofthegreatSeale;SirWilliamBurghleyLordTreasurourofEngland,ThomasEarleofSussex,FrancisEarleofBedford,SirFrancisKnowles,SirJamesCroft,andMasterSecretarieWalshingham,withtheassistanceofotherworthypersonsofexperience,namelySirThomasChamberlain,SirThomasGreshamKnight,MasterPeterOsborne,MasterJamesAltham,MasterThomasRivet,andMasterRichardMartin,MasteroftheMints:fortheyfoundthatthefollowinginconvenienceswerepractised,byBankersorexchangersfortheirPrivategaineandbenefite,fortheadvancingofsomeCommon-weales,andthedestructionofotherCommon-weales。

TolaytheirmoneywithGaineinanyplaceoftheworld,whereexchangelyeth。

ToGaineandwaxeRich,andnevermeddlewithanyPrincesCommodity;or,TobuyanyPrincesCommoditywiththeSubjectsmoney,andnotonepennieoftheirowne。

TounderstandwhethermoneyemployedonexchangeorCommoditiesismoreprofit。

ToliveandincreaseuponeveryPrincesSubject,whichtakeupmoneys。

TowindeouteveryPrincesTreasureoutofhisRealme,whoseSubjectsbringinmoreWares,thentheycarryout。

TomaketheStapleofmoneyRunne,wheretheRichPrincewillhaveit。

TounfurnishthepoorePrinceofhisprovisionofmoneyinWarres。

Tofurnishtheirneedofmoney,thattarrythesellingoftheirWaresorCommodities。

TotakeupmoneytoengrosseanyCommodity,ortoincorporateanyTrade。

TohidetheircarryingawayofanyPrincesmoney。

TofetchawayanyPrincesfinemoney,withthebasermoneyofotherPrinces。

TotakeupPrincesbasemoney,andturneitintofine,andpaythepartywithhisowne。

TogetallMerchantsmoneyintotheirhandsandgainethereby,andpayingthem,withtheirowne。

TomakethatRealmegaineofallotherRealmes:whoseSubjectslivemost,bytheirowneCommodities,andsellyeerelytheover-plusintotheworld,andbothoccupiethatincreaseyeerely,andalsotheiroldstoreofTreasureuponexchange。

ToundoeRealmesandPrinces,thatlookenottotheirCommon-wealth,whentheMerchantswealthinsuchandthegreathousesofoneCountrie,conspiretogether;sotoruleth\'xchange,thatwhentheywillbeDeliverers,theywillreceiveinanotherplaceabovetheStandardoftheMinteofthePrincesmoneydilivered:andwhentheywillbeTakers;theywillpaythesameinanotherplace,undertheStandardofthePrincesmoneytakenup。

Togetreadymoneytobuyanythingthatisofferedcheape,andtoraisethepriceofWares。

Togetapart,andsometimesallhisGaines,thatemployethmoneytakenupbyexchanges,inWares,andsomakeotherstravellfortheirGaine。

TokeepePrincesfromhavinganyCustomes,Subsidies,orTaxesupontheirmoney,astheyemployitnot。

TovaluejustlyanyWarestheycarryintoanycountry,bysettingthematavalue,asthemoneythatboughtthem,wasthenatbyexchangeintheCountrie,whithertheybeecarried。

Bythepremisseswemaysee,ofwhatimportancetheoperationofexchangeis,whereintheendeavoursofSirThomasGresham,thinkingtoruleth\'exchangeofEnglandbyplentyofmoneyprovethfruitlesse,andmighthavebeenedonewithmorefacilitiebydirection,asshallbemademanifest。

ThiswasthecausethattheFrenchKingLewystheninth,andPhilipthefaire,didConfiscatetheBankersGoods,andsodidPhilipdeValois,whoinditedthemasCoozenersoftheCommon-

wealth;foritwasfound,thatinashorttime(with24,thousandpounds)theyhadgottenfoureandtwentiehundredthousandpounds。ThekingdomeofEnglandwouldhavebeenemoresensibleofthelikelosse,ifthehostiledepredationsheretoforemade,hadnotsuppliedthesame,nothwithstandingthattheCoffersofQueeneElizabethofblessedmemory,werestoredwithsevenhundredthousandpoundsStarlin,beforetheWarreswiththeEarleofTyroneinIreland,whereinmorethandoublethatSummehathbeenespent,asIfoundbytheaccompts。Forthisdisordredcouseofexchange(asIhavesaid)isliketothecrueltyofthePlanetSaturne,whichmakethhisSphericallcoursein30yeerswithgreatoperation,anditisnotmanyyeereslesse,sinceIhaveobservedthisinconvenienceforthegoodoftheRealme,albeitEnvyhathcrossedthesame,byignorantmendenyingPrinciples,andbyothermeanesherenottobementioned。

ThesecondcauseofthewantofMoneysinEngland,is(saiththesaidAuthor)theSuperfluityofPlategenerallyinprivatmenshands。Herehehathomitted,toNotethegreatquantitieofSilverconsumedinthemakingofSilverThread,Spangles,Purles,Oaes,andthelike,whichuponlateexaminationoftheRightHonourableHenryVizcountMandevilleLordPresident,arefoundtoamount80thousandpoundsandupwardsyeerely;whereasthePlatemadeinLondon,isonlybut50or60thousandpoundsworth,whichremainethasastandingTreasure,whenth\'otherisworneandconsumed,leavingbutsomeparttobemoltenagaine:andifthePlatewereconvertedintomoneys,withoutalldoubt,itwouldmoreeasilybeTransported,havinghisweightandfineness,andaffording12inthe100。Gaineabovetheexchangeintwomonethsandlessetime。

Anexchangehereof,weehaveyetfreshinmemorie,duringtheRaigneoftheFrenchKingCharlestheninth,whoaftertheMassacreofParis,findingtheTreasureoftheRealmeexhausted,nadhisSubjectswealthtoconsistmoreofPlatethenofreadyMoney,wasadvisedbysome,thatundercolouroftheSupressingofPride,itweregoodtoprescribeeveryman,whatstoreofPlateheshouldkeepe,accordingtohisdegree&qualitie,&theresttobeturnedintomoneys:otherswereofopinion,thatitwouldntoonlybreedadiscontentuntohisSubjects,butalsoaderogatinanddishonourtotheKingsReputationwithforraineNations:Seeing,ThattheStateofaPrince,dothasmuchconsistbyreputation,asbystrength,ThereforelikegoodPolitians,advisedtheKingsomewhattoimbasehismoneyundertheStandardofthePlate,whichwouldcausethelesseexportation,andthePlate(ofcourse)tobeeturnedintomoney:andthiswasdoneaccordingly,andhadalsothesameeffect,savingthatwheretheythoughtmoney,wouldnotbeTransported;theyfoundthemselvesdeceived,forthecourseofexchangewasnotlookedinto,which,notbeingansweredaccordingtothetruevaluesofthemoneys,madeaGainebytheundervaluationoftheminexchange,andsolongastheGaineremained,itwascontinuallyTransported,wherebyatlastthePlateoftheRealme(turnedintomoney)waslost;aswellashelosthismoneybeforethattime:andsoitcametopasseinEngland,duringtheRaigneofKingHenrytheeight,whoGrantedseveralLettersPatents,orAuthoritiestodiversofhisNoblestomakebasemoneysoftheirownePlate,whichdidfalloutotbethegreaterprejudicetotheCommon-

wealth,andtohimselfebutapresentshiftforthetime。

ConcerningtheGoldandSilverthread,IhaveheretoforeendevouredtohavetheManufacturethereofinEngland,uponplentyofmoneyandSilvertobeeprocuredfromforrainepartsbymeanesofth\'exchange。ButfindingoflatesuchunreasonableConsumptionofsilverthereinspentaftertherefiningthereof,andtheuncertaintyingoodnnessebytheWier-drawers:itpleasedhisMajestiewiththeadviceofhismostHonourableprivyCouncell,toforbidthesamelatelybyProclamation,andtoadmittheforrainesilverThreadtocomein;wherebyourSilverisnotonlypreserved,butthequantityalsoisincreased,becauseafterthewearingagoodpart,remainethinburntSilve,whereastheSilkelaceisconsumedtonothing。AndsuchistheGaineofSilverbeyondtheSeas(inregardoftheloweexchangebyBills,undervaluingourmoneys,)thatPurles&Oaeses(insomesortpreparedhere)havebeen(bywayofMerchandise)Transportedofpurposetomeltthesamedownethere,forthemakingofmoneys,asIhaveseenebydiversCertificatesfromDortinHolland。

ThethirdCauseoftheWantofMoneysinEngland,istheConsumptionofforraineCommodities,whichIhavealwayescalled,TheoverballancingofthoseCommodities,withthenativeCommoditiesoftheKingdome,inPrice,andnotsomuchinthequantitie。Andthecomparisonhereofis,principallytobemadeintheTradeofcloth,andtheReturneofit,madebyForraineCommodities,AtSilkes,Linnencloth,Cambrickes,Lawne,andotherthelikeCommoditiesbroughtinbytheMerchantsAdventurourswhichhavetheMaineTrade,andbuytheseCommoditis(proportionably)dearerthentheysellourhomeCommodities;

whichIhaveproved,bymanyreasonstoproceed,bytheabuseofexchange,accordingtowhich,theyarebothwaiessoldandbought。Isthereanymanofjudgement,whoseethnot,ThatthisoverballancingdothexpellourmoneysoutoftheRealme,andwhichare(ineffect)asitweregiventobootetootherNationstoCountervailethisinequalitie?LetthemconsideroftheReasonsfollowing。

First,moneysbeingundervaluedinexchange,causeththepriceofourhomeCommoditiestobeabated,andtobeesoldbettercheapeinforraineparts,&isalsothecausethatourmoneysarecontinuallyTransported。

Secondly,themoneysbeingTransported,takethawaythelivelycourseofTraffiqueofoursaidCommodities,andcausethyoungmerchantstoRunnebyexchangesuponBillstomaintainetheirTrade,payinggreatInterestformoney,whichtheycannottakeupatUseupontheirsingleBond,astheycandoebyaBillofexchange,withoutSureties。

ThiscauseththesaidyoungMerchantsandotherstomakerashSalesoftheirCommoditiesbeyondtheSeas,topaytheirBillsofexchanges,wherebytheyoverthrowtheMarketsofothers,andmakethemtoSellgoodcheape。

Soonthecontrary,theCoynesbeingover-valuedinexchange,andalsoinhauncedbeyondtheSeas,causeththepriceofforraineCommoditiestobeincreasedmorethenourhomecommodities,andourMerchantsarecompelledofcourse,tomakeReturnethereby。Fortheycannotimportthoseovervaluedmoneys,buttotheirexceedinggreatlosse;andbyexchange,theyfindefewTakers,unlesseitbeouryoungMerchants,whichdoeconsumetheirEstatesbyexchanges&Rechanges:ForoftheThreeEssentialPartsofTraffique,wehavebuttheuseofone,whichisthebuyingofforraineCommoditiestomakeReturneshomewards,anddothincreasetheconsumptionofthesaidWares。

MoneysremainingherebyplentifullbeyondtheSeas,theratherforthattheymakeBillsobligatory,serveasreadyMoney,whichtheyTransferreandsetoverbetweenemanandmanforthepaimentofMoneysorWares;causeththerealivelycourseofTrade,wherebytheirCommoditiesareadvancedinprice&sale,neitheraretheycompelledtoselthem,butattheirprice,becausetheyfindemoneyatinterestat5and6inthehundred。

Thismoneyismadedailymoreplentifull,byourSpanishMerchants,whichdoediverttheReallsofSpaine,asbeforehathbeenedeclared:henceitproceedeth,thatourhomeCommodities,aremanytimessoldbetercheapebeyondtheSeasthenhere;foralthoughMerchantsdoelosethereby,theymakeaccounttogainemore,bythelowexchange,deliveringtheirmoneysthere,ortakingofthemupherebyexchange,topaytheirBillsofexchangeatanundervalue:insomuch,thatmanyMerchantshavingnocommoditiesthere,maytakeupmoneyhere,andsendingoverthesameinspecie,willpaytherewiththeirBillofexchange,andGaine(bydexteritieofwit)15inthehundrethinlessethantwomonethstime。ThuswhenGaineispractisedbyexchange,theCommoditiesoftheRealmearelessvented,andthemoneysareexported,whichcauseththelesseemploymentheretobemadeuponourCommodities:Evenastheimportationofmoneysbeinghindered(bytheinhauncingoftheCoynesbeyondtheSeas:)compellethourMerchantstomakethegreateremploymentuponforreineCommoditiesatdeereRates。

FortheCommoditiesbeyondtheSeas,areinthehandsofthemthatmakesaleofthem,uponacertaineprice(asitwere)

attheirpleasure,havingPlentyofMoney,atacheapeRateatinterest,whereasalsotheyhavenomantoundersellthem,hereandthere,asourMerchantsdoeourCommodities,which(withoutallcomparison:)arefarremuchfalleninprice,thentheforraineCommoditiesnowsomewhatabatedinprice。

ConcerningotherCommoditiesimported,AsWines,Raisons,Corints,Tobacco,andSpicesoftheEastIndies:Letusbriefelyobserve,thattheWinesofFrancemightbeboughtbettercheap,ifthemoneyoftheRealmewerenotundervaluedinexchange;forwherasheretoforetheygaveusinpaymenttheirFrenchCrowneofGoldfor64。Soulx,nowtheygiveusthesameat75Soulx,whichCrownewasthenworth6shillings,6penceStarlin,andtheirquartd\'eseunowpaiedfor16Soulxandabove,wasthenbut15

Soulx,forwhichwegavehere(accompting4totheCrowneofSilver)69penceandthereabouts,andnow72penceandabove。

Andbesidesthat,moreofournativeCommoditieswereventedwithbetterprofit,accordingtoth\'exchange;fortheRuleis,thatthelesseofStarlinmoneyweedoereckoninexchangewiththem,themoreistheGayneofourCommodities。ThelikemaybeapplyedfortheTradeofCorints,whichisnowprovidedbyothermeans。Butthelimitationstorestraineallmenfromimportingthem,thenonelythoseoftheLevantcompany,makethnofreeTradeofthisCommodity,norotherthelike。

TheimmoderateUseofthatweedeTobaccohathbeenesoeffectuallindebarringusfromSpanishReallstobe(asformerly)importedtoagreatvalueyearely:butthewisedomeoftheStatehathsoqualifiedthesame,thatourMerchantstradinginSpainedoenowsellPerpetuanoes,Bayes,Sayes,andotherourhomeCommoditiestobenefite,whichbeforeweresoldtolosse,tohavemoneystobuythisTobacco,thattheSpaniarddidsay,Todotepagarainhumo,Allshallbepaidwithsmoake。

ThefourthcauseofthewantofMoneyinEngland,is(asthesaidAuthorsaith)ThegreatwantofourEastIndiastockehereathome,whichhetermeththeespeciallRemoteCause;whereasmostmenwouldhaveexpectedthatthereadymoneyssentinReallsofPlatetomaketheemploymentofthesaidTrade,wouldratherhavebeenementioned。MymeaningisthattobecomeaTrapezuntiaFlatterer。ForAEsopsMoral,ThattheLyoncouldnotbehealedwithouttheApesLiver:thatis,Princescannotbesafewithoutthedestructionofflatters:remainethstillfreshinmemory;butinfavouroftruthandPolicy,Iamresolvedtodelivermyplaineandsincereopinion,concerningthesaidTrade,whichbeganwithusinEnglandimmediatelyafterthegreatJubileyeare,1600。

IntheDiscoursemadeoftheTradefromEnglandintotheEastIndiesbetruelycollected,nodoubtthesaidTrademaybefoundveryprofitablehereafter,albeitithathbeeneverydifficultinthebeginning,accordingtotheProverb,Omutprincipiumgrave;especiallywhentheControversiesbetweeneusandtheHollandersshallbedetermined,andtheiragreementsestablished。

ForifPepperdoebutcosttwopencehalfe-pennythepoundintheIndies,andthattenneshillingsimployedthereinwillrequirebut35shillingsforallchargeswhatsoever,todeliveritinLondon;whereitisusuallysoldforabove20pence:Itfollowethbyconsequence,thattheremustbeaverygreatgaine,whichwillincrease,whenthesaidpartiesshallbeunitedintrueLove,andbuythesaidCommoditiesbettercheape;andsoproportionablyforallotherSpices,drugges,silkes,indicoe\'sandCallecoes。

Againe,ifonehundreththousandpoundsinmoneyexportedmayimportthevalueof500thousandpoundsStarlininwaresofCommodities:albeitEnglanddonotspendabove120thousandpounds,and380thousandpoundsinexporteduntodiversforraineparts,andtheresoldforreadyforreadymoneywithgreatadvantage。

Andlastly,iftheveryCommoditiesoftheRealmeexportedintotheEastIndies,willbuysomuchasEnglandusethoftheirCommodities,andtheemploymentismadeforforraineCoyneorReallsof8procuredfromotherplaces,whatmanofunderstandingcanjustlyfindefaultwiththatTrade?Iftreatisewereimportedtherebyuntous,astheirfinallend,astheDiscoursesaith,butthatotherTradesdodivertthesame?ForwhenthesaidIndianCommoditiesaresentfromEnglandintoTurkie,Ligorne,Genoway,theLowCountries,Marselleisandotherplaces,andaresoldforreadymoney:ThesameisimployedagaineuponGorints,Wines,Cotton-WoollandYearne,GallesanddiversotherCommodities,wherewiththeShipsbeeingreladen:yetagreatproportionremainethtobebroughtoverinmoneys,whicharedivertedfromus,bythecourseofexchangeinundervaluingourmoneys,ashathbeenedeclared。Thelossewhreofisgreatertothiskingdome,thanallthemoneysemployedyearelyfortheEastIndies,comethunto,whichwithoutdueconsideration,seemethtobeeimpossible。

Sothatweemayverywellaffirme,thatbythisTradetheTreasureoftheRealmecangreatlybeincreaseduntoustheuseofforraineCommoditiesatreasonablerates。Andthereforeisthesamebyallmeanestobecontinued,theratherforthattheHollandershavedeclared5especiallReasonsforthecontinanceoftheirEastIndieTrade,whicharenottobeneglected,butaretobeeponderedbyallPolitiansandStatesmen。

1。BecausetheRight,Power,andfreedomeoftheTraffiqueandTradebelongethuntothem(iuregentium)aswellastoanynationoftheworld;whichtheSpaniardsdidcallinquestion。

2。FortherevengeofanyinjuriesdonetotheHollander,maybeerecompencedinthoseCountries;whichwasheretoforewithoutbreachofTruce。

3。ForthemaintenanceoftheirMarrinersandShipping,ofwhichtwo,theyaboundaboveallnations。

4。FortheincreaseofCustomesandmeanesraisedbytheBuyingofthesecommodities,theirCountreybeingaStorehouseforallwaresandmerchandizes。

5。BecausethatbythecontinuanceofthesaidTrade(althoughitshouldprooveunprofitable:)Theymaintaineacertainepeaceandassuranceinthecourseoftheirgovernmentwhichconsisteththereby。