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。