第 3 节
作者:尘小春      更新:2021-02-21 10:14      字数:9322
  rom Spayne to be Sixe pence the Reall; as value for value; or the Par in exchange; whereby it is less (as hee saith:) and hee doth account the price of 8。 Reals at 51 Stivers in Holland; and the Rate of exchange at 22 shillings 4 pence Flemish to answer our 20 shillings Starlin as at Par pro Pari for those parts; howbeit that 42 shillings 6 pence Flemish payde there for the 5 Realls of 8 make 25 shillings 6 pence Starlin according to that Computation; howsoever wee see that this is grounded upon the exchange; which is the efficient Cause thereof; otherwise the 15 in the hundreth to be gotten in Holland more than in England: is altogether imaginary and not Reall。 For example let five of these Realls of 8 be bought here for 22 shillings Starlin; and bee transported into Holland; and there buy commodities with the same; according as the price of them; is inhaunced there; no man maketh any doubt; but that the said Commodities are also raised in price; according to the money inhaunced。 So that the gayne becommeth uncertaine; for the Commodities may be sold to losse。 But the merchants trading in Spaine; which cause their Realls to be sent from Spaine thither; or doe transporte them from the Downes: Rely wholy upon the lowe exchange; whereby they are inabled to deliver their money there; by exchange at an undervalue; in giving there but 33 shillings 4 pence and under; to have 20 shillings Starlin payed by Bill of exchange in England; whereby the kingdome maketh good unto them the said 15 upon the hundreth。 For this Reall of 8 was valued but at 42 Stivers; when the Par of exchange was made to be 33 shillings 4 pence; in the yeare 1586; when Robert Dudley; Earle of Leycester; went to take the government of those Countries; And shal we now receive in exchange the said price of 8 Reals for 51 Stivers; which is about five shillings and one peny Starlin; because they have inhaunced the same to their advantage; and continue the Par of exchange at 33 shilling 4 pence by which Computation the said 42 Stivers make but four shillings two pence half penny or thereabouts in true value? Absit ignorantia。 Whereas; if our merchants of Spaine should give the saide price there in exchange for 42 Stivers; as they did formerly; (and may be done by order of exchange:) They shall not finde thereby Ten in the hundreth gaine; which they can make here more certaine and commodiously; whereby this money will be imported; without inhauncing of our Coyne。 This is so plaine in the understanding of Merchants; that there needeth no other explanation; for it demonstrateth manifestly; that if the lowe exchange were not; This Gayne would proove to be Imaginary; as we have noted。 And this causeth these Realls of Spayne to be diverted from us; and might els be imported to the said Merchants or others; which doe practice upon the Benefite of moneys to bee made betweene the exchange and moneys。      For the Rule is infallible; That when the exchange doth answer the true value of our moneys according to their intrinsicke weight and fineness; and their extrinsicke valuation: They are never exported; because the Gayne is answered by exchange; which is the Cause of Transportation。 This cause being prevented; maketh the effect to cease; and this is engraffed in every man's judgement; according to the Maxima often noted heretofore; Sublata Causa; Tollitur effectiu。      So that exchange still hath the command and striketh the Stroake; insomuch that albeit the price thereof riseth and falleth; according to Plenty or Scarcity of money: yet moneys are overruled thereby。 For is you inhaunce the Coyne; the exchange doth controlle it and rise accordingly。 And if you undervalue the same; The exchange in like manner doth fall in price。 Wherein note the operation of exchange both here and beyond the Seas; in places where exchanges runne upon the pound of 20 shillings Starlin。 If the inhauncing of Coyne be beyond the Seas; and the exchange be not made accordingly: Then our moneys are carried out。 If the inhauncing of Coyne were made here: E contra; moneys would bee imported。 But the merchant Stranger; who observeth the rule of exchange; and (will not be over…taken as wee are;) will over…rule the same ipso facto; and give you so much less in exchange; as we shall inhaunce our Coine by valuation; or imbase the same by Allay。 In like manner if you Cry downe moneys beyond the Seas; Th'exchange will alter in price accordingly: and if you Cry down moneys here; or undervalue them by name; Th'exchange ought to Rule and to make the denomination accordingly in price; and still remaineth Predominant over moneys and commodities。 For even as Commodities being the Body of Trafficke; draw unto them moneys; and therein may seeme to be Active; yet money (being the right judge or Rule which giveth or imposed a price unto Commodities:) is the Thing Active; and Commodities become the thing Passive: Even so; although money is the Subject whereupon exchanges are made: yet still th'exchange is made to Rule moneys; To the end; that the value thereof should bee answered by the Publike Measure of exchange; To prevent all abuses and inconveniences arising by the price of Commodities; and the valuation of moneys in exchange: which moneys are either Reall or imaginary; according to the Custome of the place of exchange by
  the device of Bankers。      This was Seriously observed in the yeere 1576 by divers most honourable and Grave Counsellours of State; Namely; Sir Nickolas Bacon; Lord Keeper of the great Seale; Sir William Burghley Lord Treasurour of England; Thomas Earle of Sussex; Francis Earle of Bedford; Sir Francis Knowles; Sir James Croft; and Master Secretarie Walshingham; with the assistance of other worthy persons of experience; namely Sir Thomas Chamberlain; Sir Thomas Gresham Knight; Master Peter Osborne; Master James Altham; Master Thomas Rivet; and Master Richard Martin; Master of the Mints: for they found that the following inconveniences were practised; by Bankers or exchangers for their Private gaine and benefite; for the advancing of some Common…weales; and the destruction of other Common…weales。      To lay their money with Gaine in any place of the world; where exchange lyeth。      To Gaine and waxe Rich; and never meddle with any Princes Commodity; or;      To buy any Princes Commodity with the Subjects money; and not one pennie of their owne。      To understand whether money employed on exchange or Commodities is more profit。      To live and increase upon every Princes Subject; which take up moneys。      To winde out every Princes Treasure out of his Realme; whose Subjects bring in more Wares; then they carry out。      To make the Staple of money Runne; where the Rich Prince will have it。      To unfurnish the poore Prince of his provision of money in Warres。      To furnish their need of money; that tarry the selling of their Wares or Commodities。      To take up money to engrosse any Commodity; or to incorporate any Trade。      To hide their carrying away of any Princes money。      To fetch away any Princes fine money; with the baser money of other Princes。      To take up Princes base money; and turne it into fine; and pay the party with his owne。      To get all Merchants money into their hands and gaine thereby; and paying them; with their owne。      To make that Realme gaine of all other Realmes: whose Subjects live most; by their owne Commodities; and sell yeerely the over…plus into the world; and both occupie that increase yeerely; and also their old store of Treasure upon exchange。      To undoe Realmes and Princes; that looke not to their Common…wealth; when the Merchants wealth in such and the great houses of one Countrie; conspire together; so to rule th'xchange; that when they will be Deliverers; they will receive in an other place above the Standard of the Minte of the Princes money dilivered: and when they will be Takers; they will pay the same in an other place; under the Standard of the Princes money taken up。      To get ready money to buy any thing that is offered cheape; and to raise the price of Wares。      To get a part; and sometimes all his Gaines; that employeth money taken up by exchanges; in Wares; and so make others travell for their Gaine。      To keepe Princes from having any Customes; Subsidies; or Taxes upon their money; as they employ it not。      To value justly any Wares they carry into any country; by setting them at a value; as the money that bought them; was then at by exchange in the Countrie; whither they bee carried。      By the premisses we may see; of what importance the operation of exchange is; wherein the endeavours of Sir Thomas Gresham; thinking to rule th'exchange of England by plenty of money proveth fruitlesse; and might have beene done with more facilitie by direction; as shall be made manifest。      This was the cause that the French King Lewys the ninth; and Philip the faire; did Confiscate the Bankers Goods; and so did Philip de Valois; who indited them as Coozeners of the Common… wealth; for it was found; that in a short time (with 24; thousand pounds) they had gotten foure and twentie hundred thousand pounds。 The kingdome of England would have beene more sensible of the like losse; if the hostile depredations heretofore made; had not supplied the s