第 11 节
作者:尘小春      更新:2021-02-21 10:14      字数:9322
  ars:) because they may by this order be soone remooved or called home upon occasion; which cannot be done conveniently otherwise: where there is no vigilant eye to take care for the generall wealth of the Realme; for no nation of Christendome Traffiques so much in Bulke of Staple Commodities; as the Realme of England; which Boters (though altogether Spanish in times past; and no friend to England) confesseth; that two yeares before the taking of Andwarpe; all the wares of Christendome being valued; and summed by the offices of that City; (which were vented there in one yeare。) The whole being divided into sixe parts: the English amounted to foure parts thereof。      But we must not seeme to flatter Companies or Societies; when it is found that they deale unadvisedly; or that by their meanes; things are out of order in the course of Trade; for then the Kings authority or the Royall Merchant of great Brittaine; must be the true Palynurus; and sit at the Rudder of the Ship of Traffique; to reforme abuses。 For a Society may become to be A Monopoly in effect; when some few Merchants have the whole managing of a Trade to the hurt of a Common…wealth; when many others might also Traffique and negotiate for the Common good; having their Stockes employed therein to sell the Commodities of the Realme with reputation at convenient times; and not upon a suddaine to pay Billes of exchanges or moneys taken up at interest。      To make a Definition of a Monopoly; we neede not use many words; for the abuse of Monopolium hath made the same swell to be understood as the word of Usura; I meane biting Usury。 The parts of it are to be considered。      The Restraint of the freedome of commerce to some one or few; and the setting of the price; at the pleasure of one or few; to their private benefits; and the prejudice of the Common… Wealth。 And as this may be done by authority; so may the above… said course also be committed under the color of authority by the Princes grant or letters Patents。      Commendable is the custome of the City of Norenborough in Germany; where to maintaine the people on worke; they receive all their manufactures and pay them weekely; & afterward sell them for a reasonable profit; which thereby become dispersed in all countreys; whereby they have made a great Trade for the West Indies; & they maintaine therby their Common…wealth as an Aristocratick government: and this is neither A Monopoly; nor properly An engrossing; beeing dome by publike authority。 Such therefore as sel the Commodities of the Realme unto forraine nations with advantage of private benefite; (albeit within the Compasse of a Monopoly:) are more to be tolerated then those that undersell the Commodities of the kingdome; and procure their Gaines by the Commodities of other nations to bee solde deare within the Realme。      Here I call to mind our former observation of that Royall Commodity Tinne; which above one hundred yeares past; was sold for 40 shillings the hundreth; when the best velvets were sold for 10 shillings the yard: how the Merchants trading Turky found fault of his Majesties Praemption; and caused the same to be abolished; to keepe the price at 55 shillings the hundred; and bringing in Corints; Levant wines; Spices; and Indicoe (at deare rates:) used all meanes to suppresse the rising thereof: which caused forraine nations to fall into consideration thereof; and using meanes to incorporate the same; it brought that Commoditiy in estimation againe。 And the saide Praemption was reestablished againe; which hath advanced the price to double the rate; whereby the stocke or wealth of the kingdome; hath been since increased 600 thousand pounds Starlin; and his Majestie hath received for his benefite 150 thousand pounds; which was gotten by forraine nations; who justly paid the same according to the value; the price of forraine Commodities considered。 On the contrary; another Commodity minerall; namely Copperas; which was sold for 10 and 12 pound the Tunne; and whereof a great Trade might have beene made for other Countries: hath beene so ill governed by workmens underselling one another; and for want of good order; that the same is sold for 3 pounds the Tunne; and is become out of request in all countreys。 For the best things may be marr'd in handling; which by the wisedome of the State; is to be foreseene by meanes of Merchants of experience; who might have maintained the same。      In like manner the sole importation of Spanish Tobacco; doth gaine and save the kingdome many thousand pounds yearely。 For Bayes; Sayes; Perpetuanoes; and the like Commodities; which these two yeares have been solde in Spaine with 15 upon the hundred losse to procure money to buy the same; are now sold to so much profite; besides the benefite of his Majesties imposition and advancement of the Virginia and Bermodaes Plantation: the like may bee practised upon other Commodities; without incurring the inconvenciences of Monopolie。      Concerning Companies or Societies to deale in a joynt Stocke or apart: it may be thought convenient to have joynt Stockes for Remote places; as the East Indies and Persia。 And albeit that some would have the same to be only outward in the employment; but in Returne to bee divided in kinde or Species of the Commodities which they Receive: yet the manner of the Portugals; is (by experience) found better to sell aslo joyntly; considering we sell unto other Nations; who pay for it; although some part thereof is sold deerer thereby within the Realme to the Subjects and inhabitants。 But for other places neerer; the Merchants to deale apart under some Government; may seeme convenient。      The generall intention of all Grants by Letters Patents; for the making of any kinde of Manufactures hath Relation to set the people on worke; to recompence the Inventor for some yeares with a priviledge: but most especially; that thereby the said Manufactures or Commodities may be sold better cheape to the Subjects。 What shall wee say then of those Grants; which make the Commoditie deerer to the Subject; and sell the same better cheape to the Transporter or Stranger? Surely they may be thought to be; for to set the people on worke upon the common Purse; but otherwise there is but little pollicie in it; much like unto the Silver Mines of the Duke of Brownswicke; which he maintained to his charges; called the Wilde man: which causeth him to coyne Dollers; having on the one side his Armes; and on the other side a Savage man; holding a burning Candle in his hand with an inscription; Alijs inserviendo; Consumor。      To end this point; wherein the said Author hath made good distinctions; I shall onely adde moreover; that when new inventions are found out; for the good of the Common…wealth: That the next is; to augment them by Trade in forraine parts。 And to prevent that the same be not overthrowne by the knowledge of their servants or others; but that by some good priviledges and meanes; they may be maintained to the increase of Trade; for the Generall welfare of the Kingdome。
  Chapter IIII
  Of want of Government in Trade。
  Wise men have noted; that A Distinction only; doth dispell the foggy misteries of deceitfull fallacies: as the Sun drives away the Winde and Cloudes。 Therefore too many distinctions in a little Treatise may seeme superfluous; especially when they are grounded upon many Repetitions: so that having in the former Chapters; observed the Defective Parts of Trade; and tacite answered some objections; I will omit; the commendation of all the Societies of Merchants; handled by the said Author in his fourth chapter; as also the effects of the former Causes; as they may concerne the Kings Majestie and the Common…wealth mentioned in the fift and sixt Chapters; to avoyd the cramming of a man with learning; as promises doe with hope; and so come to his propounded Remedies。      But lest this Title of the want of Government in Trade; should seeme to be misapplyed: I have thought good to declare; wherein Merchants may easily commit errors; to the prejudice of the Common…wealth; albeit; it maketh for their private benefit; namely;      In the selling of their Cloth good cheape beyond the Seas in greater quantitie; when they have beaten downe the price with the Clothier; whereby the Clothier is forced to doe the like with the Wooll…grower; which disimproveth the Revenue of lands; but the Merchant employeth the lesser Stocke; and hath not therfore the lesse benefit; the Wool…grower and the Clothier bearing the losse。      To make over their moneys from beyond the Seas; at a low price of exchange; in giving lesse money there; to have the same paied here by Bill of exchange in Starlin money; receiving the moneys there at such prices; as they cannot import them; but to their exceeding losse: whereby it commeth to passe; that the exportation of our moneys; giveth an exceeding gaine on the contrary; and our Cloth is thereby more undersold as afore said。      To connive or winke at the false making of Cloth; and afterwards to abate the greater Tare; for the faults upon the Clothier。      To make continuall Returnes of our Cloth in forraine Commodities; and thereby procure the more gaine; because of the small gaine or losse either; had upon their Clothes; whereby the Common…w