第 12 节
作者:尘小春      更新:2021-02-21 10:14      字数:9321
  more gaine; because of the small gaine or losse either; had upon their Clothes; whereby the Common…wealth is impoverished。      To sell our Cloth so good cheape beyond the Seas; that other Nations may make a Trade thereby for Russia; Eastland; Barbary; and other Countries; to the great hinderance of the Merchants of those Societies。      To abate the Customes and Impositions here laid upon Clothes; to the end; they may sell them better cheape; by underselling others。      To undersell our Clothes so much in price; that in comparison of the Cloth made beyond the Seas; the Drapery there bee given over; without regard had; how to Returne some money and Bullion; but by tranferring of their Bills of debt for forraine Commodities; to over…lade the Kingdome with them at deere Rates; according to the inhauncing of their Coynes; all which may prove beneficiall to them in particular; but wonderfull prejudiciall to the whole Kingdome。      Now; before we come to intreat of the Remedies for all the afore…said inconveniencies; it is most necessary to examine the Defective Meanes and Remedies; which have beene tried; these 350 yeeres。 And these may be distinguished in their proper and severall natures; three manner of waies; for the wealth of a Kingdome cannot properly decrease but by selling our native Commodities too good cheape; by buying the forraine Wares too deere; and by the exportation of our moneys in specie; or by way of exchange for moneys by Bills。      1。 First; the Statute of Employment made for Merchants Strangers; for 3 3spciall causes。 1。 The advancing of the price and sale of our native Commodities。 2。 To prevent the over… ballancing of forraine Commodities And 3。 To preserve the moneys within the Realme。      2。 The lodging of Merchant Strangers with free hoasts; who had an inspection of their negotiations for Commodities and moneys。      3。 The keeping of Staples for Woolls; Woolsels; and other Commodities beyond the Seas; with the Correctors and Brokers to Register the buying and sellings of Strangers。      4。 To cause Denizons to pay Strangers Customes。      5。 The Sunday Treaties and Conferences; with the Commissioners of other Princes; about merchandise moneys and exchanges。      6。 the severe Proclamations for the observation of the Statutes made; concerning the same; and the Articles of entercourse。      7。 The prohibition to export Commodities; but at great Ports。      8。 The prohibition for Strangers to sell Wares by Retaille。      9。 The prohibition for English Merchants to ship in strange bottomes。      10。 The Transportation of money; made fellony by Act of Parliament。      11。 The attendance of Searchers; Waiters and other Officers。      12。 The informaitons in th'Exchequer and other Courts。      13。 The Swearing of the Masters of Ships; about moneys。      14。 The Reformation of the over…heaviness of our pound Troy of 12 ounces; in the Tower of London。      15。 The Reformation of the over…richnesse of our Starlin Standard。      16。 The Alteration of the proposition betwixt Gold and Silver。      17。 The making of more prices out of the pound Troy。      18。 The inhauncing of Silver and Gold Coynes in price。      19。 The imbasing of money by Allay of Copper。      20。 The use of several Standards; and the Reducing of them againe to Two Standards of Gold and Silver。      21。 The increase of Coynadge money to hinder exportation。      22。 The prohibition to cull out heavy pieces to export。      23。 The banishing of light Spanish money out of the Realme; and light Gold to be molten downe。      24。 The giving more for Bullion in the Minte。      25。 The prohibition of Gold smiths to buy Bullion。      26。 The making of the principall forraine Coyne; currant in England。      27。 The binding of Merchants to bring in Bullion。      28。 The prohibition to pay Gold to Merchant Strangers。      29。 The prohibition to take Gaine upon Coyne。      30。 The Bullion delivered in the Minte by weight; to be restored in Coyne by Tale。      31。 The inhauncing of Gold; and undervaluing of Silver。      32。 The punishment of the Transporters of money; by great Fines in the Star…chamber。      33。 The prohibition by Acts of Parliament; to make exchange for money by Bills for forraine parts without the Kings Licence。      34。 Money delivered to Sir Thomas Gresham Knight out of th'Exchequer to Rule the course of exchanges。      35。 The Officer of the Kings Royall exchanger; never put in practise; since the merchandising exchange began; whereof there was two Offices; namely; Custos Cambij Regis; erected by King Edward the first in the 11 yeere of his Raigne; and Custos Cambij infra Turrim: which were both put into one mans hands; by a Law made in the Time of K。 Henry the Sixt: so that all the precedent meanes; have beene found defective & fruitlesse; as more particularly may be proved; by divers Records and observations: The Coppies whereof aare in my custodie; to doe his Majestie all dutifull and acceptable service。      Here we are to observe; that the Statute of employment to be Defective; appeareth more manifestly at this time; when Merchants as well English as Strangers; have an ability given them by exchange; to take up money here; and to deliver a Bill of exchange for it; payable beyond the Seas; and can send over that money in specie; and become a great Gayner thereby; insomuch; that if I receive here one hundreth Pieces of 20 shillings; I can send 90 Pieces to pay by Bill of exchange; and put 10 Pieces in my Pocket for an overplus and gaine。 The like may be done; by making over money from beyond the Seas; to be paied here by exchange; which being received; I can Transport with 15 upon the hundreth; gaines in two moneths and less; advancing thereby an hundreth upon the hundred in a yeere: which exceedeth all the benefit to be made by Commodities; wherewith I need not to entermeddle; neither can the said Statute be any helpe herein; to avoide the same。      Concerning moneys; which doe consist of weight; fineness & Valuation; it is evident; that Gold and silver are but materials; and in the nature of Bullion; but Valuation is the Spirit which giveth life。 This Valuation is twofold; the one by the Publicke Authority of Kings and Princes; the other by the Merchants in the course of exchange; and this is Predominant and over…ruleth the Kings Valuation: for when the King hath valued the shilling piece of Starlin money at 12 pence; they doe undervalue the same at 11 pence halfe pennie; or 11 pence; which undervaluation causeth the continuall exportation of our moneys; and is the hindrerance of importation of moneys and Bullion; as wee have so often inculcated; to make the motive stronger to produce a sufficient Remedy; as followeth。
  Chapter V
  Of the Remedie; for all the former causes of Decay of Trade。
  Having hitherto observed the Methode of the said Author; inpart of his Distribution in the matter and forme of Trade; and therein shewed very great deformities: I am now to apply the True Remedies likewise in order; according to the cuases alleaged; which are noted by me to be tenne in number。      The Efficient cause of the Transformation of our Moneys is (Gaine); and this Gaine ariseth by the undervaluing of our moneys; in regard of the inhauncing and overvaluation of forraine Coyne; so that the cause is Extrinsike & comprised under the said exchange of moneys; andnot intrinsicke; in the weight and fineness of the Coyne; which are considered in the course of True exchange betweene us; and forraine Nations; and thereupon it followeth; that neither difference of weight; finenesse of Standard; proportion betweeen Gold and Sivler; or th proper valuation of moneys; can be any ture causes of the exportation of our moneys; so long as a due course is held in exchange; which is founded thereupon。      Hence ariseth the facilitie of the Remedie; by the Reformation of exchange; in causing the value of our money to be given in exchange; which cutteth off the said Gaine; had by the said exportation; and causeth (in effect) that the forraine Coyne beyond the Seas; shall not be received above the value; although the inhauncing therefore; or the imbasing by allay were altering continually。 For take away the cause (Gayne) and the effect will cease。      All men of common understanding; when they doe heare of the raising of moneys beyond the Seas; are ready to say; we must doe the like; for they conceive the saying of Cato; Tu quoque fac similie; sic Ars deluditur Arte; to be a proper application hereunto: but they doe not enter into consideration; what Altherations it would bring to the State; and that the matter might runne; Ad infinitum; as shall be declared。      But let us suppose; that this will be a sufficient Remedy; to inhaunce our moneys; as they doe theirs; to imbase our Coyne; as they doe theirs; and to imitate overvaluation and undervaluation of Gold and Silver; as they doe; requiring a continuall laboure; charge; and innovation; is it not an excellent thing that all this can be done by the course of exchange; with great facilitie? And that without inhauncing of our moneys at home; or medling with the weight and finenesse of the Starlin Standard?      This is to be done only by his Majesties Proclamation according to the Statutes of exchanges;