第3章

ThisTradeoftheHollandersfortheEastIndiesbeganupontheEmbargoesmadeinSpainoftheirgoodsandinterruptionoftheirTrade,whereintheydidassociatethemselveswiththeGermanestodisperseandventtheirsaidIndiacommoditiesbetterandspeedier。

TothisArgumentappertaineth,theconsiderationoftheTradesoutofChristendome,maintainedforthemostpartwithreadymoneys。AsforTurkieandPersia,whereintheabundanceofSilverandGoldcomeintoEurope,sincetheWestIndieswerediscovered,istobenoted,whichhathmadeeverythingdeareraccordingtotheincreaseofmoney,whichlikeuntoanOcean,dividingtheCourseintoseveralbranchesindiversCountries,hathcausedagreatalteration。ButEnglanddothnotparticipatebytheCourseofTraffiqueaproportionableCompetentshareofthesaidaboundanceofmoneys,asothernationsdoe:albeitnotmanyyearessince,wehadmoremoneysthenintimespast,beforethesaidediscoveryoftheWestIndies:Butwemustnowmeasurethingsaccordingtothesaidabundance,whichismuchdiminishedbythecontinuallexportationofmoneysfortheEastIndiesfromallplacesofTraffique。

ThefifthCauseoftheWantofMoneyinEngland,heesaith,aretheWarresofChristendome,causingexportationofmoneys,andthePirateshinderingimportationofmoney。ThelatterismeerelyaPreventionorRobbingofourmoneys,whicharesupposed,mightbebroughtin。ButifPiratesdidnottakesomeofourmoneys,itfollowethnot,thatthesameshouldcomeuntousinspecie。Forexperience,bytheexampleoftheSpanishMerchants,divertingtheReallsof8fromus(forGainetobemadeinforraineparts:)proovethuntousthecontrary。GaynebeeingalwaiestheScopeofMerchants:andtoproovethatthisGayne,ismadeReallyonelybytheabuseofexchange(whichotherwisewouldbebutImaginary),weehavealreadydeclared。

NowtouchingtheexportationofmonyesbythewaresofChristians,wherehedeclarethanurgentinstance:ThattheRiecksDoller,israised(twomarkesLubishmakingthesaidDoller:)totwentymarkesLubishinmanyplacesofGermany,wherebyabundanceofmoneyisdrawenuntotheMintesofthoseCountries,fromalltheMinesandPartsofChristendome:hereinheismuchmistaken;forwhenmoneysareinhaunced,theyneverarecarriedtotheMintesfortobeconvertedintootherCoyne。

Buttheyremainecurrant,betweenemanandman,runninglikeaPoste-horse,everymanfearingtoreceivealossebythefal。

NeithermakeththisanyruleformerchantsinplacesofTrade,otherwisethenthattheymaytakeknowledgeofthepublikevaluationthereof,toselltheirCommoditiesaccordingly,byratingthepriceofexchange,upontheirformerobservation;

whichbeingneglectedordoneinpart,causeththeundervaluationofourmonyesinexchange。AndthisistheimmediateCausebyhimfirstalleagedandtreatedof,whereintheCommoditiesarenomoreActive,thenTenderdonSteepleinKent,wastheCauseofthedecayofDoverhaven。

Tomakethistoappeare,letusnote,thatthisRieckxDollerbeingthemaineandmostusuallCoyneinGermany,Eastland,theUnitedandReconciledCountriesunderbothGovernments,andmanyotherplaces,wasvaluedat2marksLubish,everymarkebeing16shillingsLubish,or16Stivers;fortheyeare1575,thesaideDollerwasstillcoynedintheEmpirefor32Stivers。AndwassocurrantbyValuationintheLowCountries,wherbythesaidshillingLubishandtheStiverFlemishwerealone,butthewarsintheLowCountrieshathbinthecauseoftheinhauncingofthisDoller,whichwasbroughtto35Stivers,andtheyeare1586,to45StiversbyintermissiveTimesandValuationshowbeitatStoade,HamboroughandotherplacesinGermany,thesaidDollerdidremainestillat32Stiversortwomarkes。AndasthesaidDollerdidinhaunceinprice:sodidtheycoynenewStiversaccordingly,sometimeslighterinweight,andatothertimesimbasedbyAllayorCopper。Andyetinaccompt,theStiverdidanddothremainethegroundofalltheirmonyes。

ButthesaidDollerholdethhisStandardagreeabletothefirstDoller,whichiscalledtheBurgundianDollerwiththecrosseofSaintAndrewcoynedintheyeare1575whichisinfinenesstenneounces,andtwelvepennyweightoffinesilver,andfourandonehalfeoftheseDollers,weretheremadeequivalenttoour20

shillingsStarlin,asaPublickemeasureinexchangebetweeneus,andtheLowCountries,GermanyandotherplaceswherethisDollerwascurrant,whichmadetheParorpriceofexchangetobe24oftheirshillings,for20shillingsofours,accordingtowhichcomputation,exchangesweremade,alwaiesabovethatprice,bothhereandbeyondtheseas;andtheStiveroftheLoweCountrieswasnotinvalueanswerablethereunto,forbiengbuttwoounces17pencewithfine,their32StiversforthesaidDoller,(whichisfourepiecesandonehalfe144Stivers:)didnotcontainesomuchfinesilverinthem,asthesaidDollerproportionably。Buttherewantedabove3shillingsFlemishinthepoundof20

shillingsStarlin。

ThoseDollershavesincebeeneimitatedandmadebytheStatesoftheunitedLowProvincesintheirseverallMintes,asalsobytheArchdukeAlbertusinthereconciledProvinces。AndthepriceofthematHamborough,Stoade,andotherplaceswasinhauncedbutoneStiver;thatistosay,atthirtythreeStivers,wherethesaidDollers,wentintheLowCountriesbyvaluationfor45Stiversintheyeare,1586,atwhichtimetheParofexchangewasfoundtobeetwentyfoureshillingsninepenceforthoseparts,andfortheLowCountriesatthirtythreeshillings4pence;whichwassoagreedupontoourdisadvantage,foraccordingtothesaide41/2Dollers,atfortyfiveStivers,itmakeththirtythreeshillingsninepence;butourtwentyshillingsvaluedattenneStiversfortheshilling,wasthecausethatitwasputtothirtythreeshillingsfourpence。Myselfebeingthere,aCommissionerappointedbytheCouncellTable,withSirRichardMartinKnight,andMonsieurOrtell,MonsieurCoase,andMonsieurValcke,CommissionersfortheStatesoftheunitedProvinces。

ThisDollerissincethattimeinhauncedtofiftytwoStiversintheLoweProvinces,whichmakeththepriceofexchangeabovethirtyeightshillings,orratherthirtynineshillings:

andshallwesufferthis,andnotalterourpriceofexchangeaccordingly,butbecontentedtotakethirtyfoureshillingsorthirtyfiveshillings,andafterthatrateundersellalltheCommoditisofthekingdome,andsufferalso,(becauseofthisgaine)ourmonyestobeexported,theReallsof8tobeedebarredfromustobeebroughtinandcarriedtootherCountries,forbringingalossetotheimporter,whichbyinhauncingofthepriceofourexchange(andnotbyinhauncingofourmonyes:)canbeeeasilyprevented?asheereaftershallbedeclared。

ThisDollerislikewisesincethattime,moreinhauncedinGermanyfromtimetotime,andleavingtheexcessivealterationinRemoteplaces,letusnotetheValuationofHamborough,whereithathbeeneatfiftyfoureStinerstheDoller,whichmakeththeexchangeabovefortyshillingsoftheirmoneyforourtwentyshillings。Andalthoughwehaveraisedthepriceofexchangefromtwentyfoureshillingsninetothirtyfiveshillingsorthereabouts:shallweresthereandgonofurther?havewereasontodoeitinpart,andnotinthewhole,accordingtojustice,equality,andtruePolicy。Andshallwebeelikeaman,thatbyhaltinginjest,becamelameinearnest?Isayagaine,Absitignorantia。ThusmuchObiter。

ChapterII。

TheCausesoftheDecayofTradeintheMerchandizeofEngland。

TheMoneyesofChristendome,whichhavetheirebbingandflowing,doeshewtheiroperationuponcommodities,makingbyPlenty,thepricethereofdeare,orbyScarcitybettercheape。

AndontheContrary,byexchangewefindethatplentyofmoneymakethaLowexchange;andthepriceofmonyestofallinexchange:andthatScarcityofmoneymakethafhighexchange,andthepricetorise,overrulingboththepriceofmoneysandCommodities,whichbeeingobservedbythegreatexchangersorBankerers;causedthemtoinventallthemeanstocompassethefame,andtorulethecoursethereofattheirpleasure,havingthemaineseaofexchange,whereintheexchangeofEnglandrunnethlikeaRiverorBranche,andisoverruledbythegenerallCurrant;whichmaybeprevented:forwehavetheheadofexchangeof20shillingsStarlinfortheplaceswheremostofourCommoditiesaresold,whichwillcommandalltheparts&membersofthebodyofTraffique,andprocureplentyofmoney,wherebytheothercuasesofthewantofmonyesinEngland(asthewasteofthetreasureandthelike;)willnotbesosensibleasnowtheyare,especiallywhenneedfullCommoditiesofTrade,shalbeimportedfromsomeplaces,whichshallsupply(asintimespast)

theexportationofmuchmoney,whentheCommoditiesofRussia,beingTallow,Waxe,Hides,retransportedintoFranceandSpaine,didbyexchangefurnishtheRealmewithWines,Corints,RaisonsandthelikeCommodities。

TheWantofMoneythere,isthefirstcauseoftheDecayofTrade,forwithoutmoney,commoditiesareoutofrequest。AndwhentheyfallagaineintoPermutationorBarter,TraffiqueissubjecttothenecessityofMerchants,whichtendethtothedestructionofnecommonweale,andtotheinrichingofanother。

Andthisiseffectedbytheexchange,asthegraveandwiseCousellorsofStatebeforementioned,haveverywellobserved,whereofAristotleandSenecacouldtakenonoticeintheinfancyofTraffique,whichmakethmetoforbearetoalleadgetheiropinionsanddefinitions;howbeitCommerciumisquasiCommutatioMercium,whichthesaidAuthorwouldturneagainebyachangeofwaresforwares,andotmoneyforwares。NomarvellthereforethatheedothinvertthingsandrunnethintoaLabyrinthwithoutdistinction,betweenethethingActive,andthePassive,byapproovingMoneytobeetheruleandsquare,wherebythingsreceiveestimationandprice。AndyetcommendingtheCommutationbeforeMoneywasdevisedtobecoyned。

Aristotlesaith,ThatActionandPassionaremeerelyRelatives,andthattheydiffernomore,thenthewayfromThebestoAthens,andfromAthenstoThebes。WewillthereforeleavethisMerchanttowalkebetweenebothuntillheecandiscernetheonefromtheother。Andthenheshallfinde,thatastheLiver(Money)dothministerSpiritstotheheart(Commodities,)andthehearttotheBraine(Exchange:)sodoththeBrayneexchangeministertothewholeMicrocosmeorthewholeBodyofTraffique。

LettheheartthereforebytheliverreceivehisTincturedChilusbyhisownmouthandstomacke,andthebloodfullofSpirits,shallfillalltheVeines,andsupplythewantofmonyes。Theeasiecourseandrecourseofwhoseexchange,shallbringallthingsintime,andserveallmensturnes。ForevenastherearetwoCoursesobservedoftheSunne:theoneAnnual,andtheotherbydaylydeclination,risingandgoingunder:evensomuchweeobserveinexchangetwoCourses,theoneaccordingtoParproPari,orvalueforvalue:theotherrisingandfallingfromtimetotime,asweehavealreadydeclared。

ThesecondCauseofthedecayofTrade,saithhe,isUsury,meaningUsuryPoliticke,whereinheispreventedtospeake,becauseofaTreatisemadeagainstUsurybyanunknowneAuthour,andpresentedtothelastParliament,forwhomhetakethgreatcare,thatheebenotabusedasVirgillwasbyproclaimingtoolate,Hosegoversiculosfeci,tulitalterhonores。TrueitisthatthesaidAuthourdothnotattributeunothimselfthemakeingofverses:buttakeththewholesubstanceofhisdiscourseoutofothermensworkes,publishedabovetwentyyearessince。TurpeestDoctori,dumculparedarguitipsum。Cato。

UsuryinaCommon-wealthissoinherent,anddothproperlygrowwiththedecayofTrade,asPasturagedothincrease,withthedecreaseofTilling。Albeitinsomerespects,Tradeisincreasedbymonyesdeliveredatuseorinterestuponoccasions,whentheUsurerisgladtofindeatakerupofhismonyes,anddothprayhimtodoethesame,byreasonoftheabundanceofmoney;whichmakeththepriceofUsurytofall,morethenanyLaworProclamationcaneverdoe。SothattoabatetheRateofTenneuponthehundredtoeight(asthesaideTractagainstusurywouldhavehadtheParliamenttodo:)willbeeffectedorcourse,whichalwaieshaththegreatestcommand。

Thisdothalsomuchprevent,thattheRuleofConcordandEqualityisnotsosoonebrokenandoverthrowneinCommon-weales,somegrowingveryrich,andothersextreamepoore,notabletoliveintheirvocation:Themostpregnantcauseofdiscord,causingmanytimescivillwarres,asCorveliusTacitushathnoted,andappearethinanotherTreatisewheretheoperationsofUsuryaredescribed。

ThebitingUsury&intolerableextortioncommittedbycertainuncharitablemen,commonlycalledBrokersforpawnes,isnottobeetouchedinaword,forthisistheonlytheremarkablesin,(Imeaneextortion&oppression:)forwhichfeedethuponthesweat&bloodofthemeeremerchanicallpoore,taking40,50,60

&100uponthe100bytheyeare:besidesBillmoneyandforfeitureofthepawnes,whencharitablepersonshaveofferedabove20yearessince,togivelargely,andtolendmoneysGratis,asalsoafter10inthe100tosupplybywayofpawn-

houses(bysomecalledLombards:)theneedandoccasionsofthepoore&mechanickepeople;theneglectwherofsheweththatourheartsareoverfrozenwiththeIceofuncharitablenesse,whichotherwisecouldnothavesolongcontinued;foritprovokethGodsangeragainstusinthehighestdegree。IfthesemenhadbeeneJewes,ImighthavebestowedsomeHebrewuponthemindetestationofthewordNeshech,whichisnothingelsebutakindofbiting,asadogusethtobite&gnawuponabone;otherwisetousemanylanguagesinalitleTreatiseoffreetrademayseemimpertinent。

ThethirdcauseofthedecayofTradehesaith,is,thelitigiousLawsuits,whichasonewaytheyincreasebyscarcityofmoney,whichcompellethmentostandoutinLawforatime,whentheycannotpayuntilltheyreceive:Soanotherway,whenmoneysareplentifull,mencarethelessformoney,&pridecauseththemtospend,&togotolawforeverytriffle,disputingDelanaCaprina:trueitit,thatthisLawwarfareinterruptethtrade,buttomakethesametobeoneoftheefficientCausesofthedecayoftrade,Icannotaltogitheragreetherunto:butrathertotheRemedieswhichshalbehereafterdeclared;albeitmanymen,arevexed,imprisioned&overthrowne,havingspenttheirtime&meanesinLaw:whichmighthavebinemployedintradeforthegoodoftheComon-Wealth&theirownequietnesse。

Idolikewiseomittointreatoftransportationofordnance&munitionheretoforepermitted,mentionedbythesaidauthor,&

nowpreventedinsomesort;neitherwasEnglandintheyeere,1588insuchgreatdistressetobetermedinarticulotemporis,whenthemerchantsAdventurersdidprovidefromHambroughashipsladingwithPowderandshot,asparcelloftheirdutietoassisttheKingdome,byGodonlypreserved。

ThefourthCauseoftheDecayofTrade,ortospeakeproperly,neglectofTrade,is,TheadmittingofforraineNations,tofishinhisMajestiesStreamesanddominions,withoutpayinganythingforthesame,wherebytheirNavigationiswonderfullyincreased,theirMarinersmultiplied,andtheirCountrieinriched,withthecontinualllabourofthepeopleofallsorts,bothimpotentandlame,whicharesetonworke,andgettheirliving。

ConcerningthisfishingTrade:therehathbeeneacontinuallAgitatinabove30yeerestomakeBussesandFisher-boats,buttheActionisstillinterrupted,becauseotherNationsdoefindetoogreatfavourandfriendsheretodivertallthegoodintentionsandendevoursofsuchas(withtheAuthorofthisDiscourse)haveimployedtheirTimeandgoodmeanestherein;fortheMerchantsAdventurours,theCompanieofMerchantsTradinginRussia,andtheEast-landMerchants,didalsoopposethemselvesagainstitattheCouncellTable,anddidalleagethereasonsfollowing。

1。TheinfringingoftheirPriviledgeshereandbeyondtheSeas。

2。TheInterloopersadvantagetointerrupttheirTradeundercolourhereof。

3。ThewantofmeanestomakeReturne,bothforFishandClothalso。

4。TheinhauncingofthepriceofforreineCommodities。

5。ThepreoccupyingofmoneytothehinderanceofCloth。

6。ThedissolutionofthejoyntstockeoftheRussiaCompany。

7。TheincouragementofStrangershereupontomakeaContractwiththeRussianEmperour。

8。Thediscouragementtoundertakenewdiscoveries。

9。ThedefrayingoftheChargeofEmbassadoursandotherextraordanarieChargesforhonouroftheState。

10。TheplentyofFish,whichthoseCountrieshavefromtimetotime,andsomeotherReasons。

Sothatinconclusion,England(bytheirsaying)cannotmaintainetheSeaTradeandtheLandTradetogether;neitherdotheymakeaccounttomakeReturneinmoney,knowingthattheyshouldlosemorethereby,thenbytheexchangeofthoseCountries,orbyCommodities。AndalbeitthatallthepremissesmaybeemoderatedwithouthinderancetothesaidCompanies:

neverthelessesuchistheconditionofsomeMerchants,notunderstandingtheMysteriesofexchange,andover-rulingotheresbytheirorderofAntiuqitieintheirSociety:thatneitherReasonorexperiencecanprevaile;insomuch,thatwhereasotherPrincestaketheirDutiesofotherNationsforfishing,andfishthemselvesalsobytheirSubjects:yetEnglandcannotresolvetodoethelike,oratleasttakeorderforthesaidDuties。

InRussiamanyleaguesfromtheMaine,Fisher-mendoepaygreatTaxestotheEmperourofRussia,andinmostplaces,otherNationsareprohibitedtofish。

TheKingodDenmarkedoththelike,andtakethgreatTribute,bothatWard-houseandtheSound。

TheKingofSwedeninlikemanner,andthesaidKingofDenmarkenowfortheKingdomeofNorway。

AlltheBorderingPrincesofItalydoetakeTaxesuponfishwithintheMediterranianSeas。

ThelikeTaxeistakenbytheDukeofMedinaSidoniaforTunnyintheSpanishSeas。

TheStatesoftheUnitedProvincesdoetakeanimpositionuponfish,whichistakenwithintheStreames,andDominionsofotherPrinces。

TheHollandersdoeallowtheTenthfish,bothinRussia,Lappiaandotherplaces,orpayaCompositionforthesame;asalsomoreoveraTributeintheSoundforpassage,tofetchthesaidfish。Andofmineowneknowledge,Iamassured,theywouldwillinglyhavepaidthesameuntoEngland,oragoodcompositionforit,hadnotthegreedylucreofsomepersonshinderedthesame。

TheseexemplaryActionshavelongdeterminedthequestionofMareliberum,touchingtheCommunitieorfreedomeoftheSeas,whichisacknowledgedtobeso,forNavigation,withoutthatthesamedothanymannerofwayprejudicetheDistinctDominionsoftheSeasofallPrincesconcerningfishing;thatistosay,thefishingTrade。SothatitissuperfluoustoalleagetheopinionsofOratorsandPoetsaboutthefishingheretoforeintheMediterranianSeas,neitherdothitbelongtothisplacetocitetheDeterminationsofthelearnedCivilianswhicharementionedintheTreatiseDeDominioMaris。ForthematterhathbeenelearnedlyhandledattheCouncellBoord,beforetheGraveSenators,manyyeeressince,byourCiviliansandothers,which(toavoidprolixitie)Idoeomit。

NowfromtheFishingwearecometoClothingorDraperyoftheKingdome,andtheabusesthereof,asthefistcauseofthedacayofTrade:whereintousemanydistinctionsofthenewandoldDrapery(unlesseitweretoReducemattersinstatuquoprius:)shallbeneedlesse。AndalthoughthedressinganddyingofCloth,wasinsistedupontobedoneinEnglandintheyeere1616。ToestablishtheManufacturewithintheRealme,(atwhichtime64thousandClotheswereexported:)whichwasafterwardsrevoked:)IcannotomittoobservethePractiseswhichwereusedbyCombinationwithotherNationsabroad,anddomestickeintelligencesathome,wherebymanygoodActionsareoverthrowne,tothegenerallhurt,andwithlittleadvancementtotheparticular。