第 14 节
作者:尘小春      更新:2021-02-21 10:15      字数:9322
  or to buy Commodities for them; as the manner is。      To the third; experience maketh a full answer to both; that there did not want takers; when the late inhauncing of money at Hamborough; caused the exchange to rise from under 28 shillings to above 35 shillings; which is more then the present alteration will be; and Wooll was at 33 shillings the Todde; which is now fallen under 20 shillings。 So that the vent of our Cloth was not hindered when it was solde dearer by one full third part: But there was above 80 thousand Clothes sold yearely; where there is not sold now 40 thousand Clothes。 The time is also to bee thought more convenient to advance a Commoditie being undervalued; then to doe it when the price is high。 For this Pleurisie of the Common…wealth is dangerous; and admitteth no time to bee cured; like the fire in a City; which permitteth not enquiries to examine how the fire beganne; but requireth every mans helpe to quench the same。      And whereas it is alleadged in defence of the inhauncing of our Coyne; That which is equall to all; when hee that buyes deare; shall sell deare; cannot be saide to be injurious to any。 This opinion seemes to be eiusdem farina; as the former; and hath no consideration what the alteration of Weights or Measures betweene us and forraine nations; may produce to the losse of the Common…wealth; albeit that betweene man and man; it may proove alike in some respects。      To make this evident; suppose two Merchants; the one dwelling in London; and the other dwelling at Amsterdam; do contract together; that the Londer sending Clothes to sell at Amsterdam; the merchant of Amsterdam sendeth him Velvets and Silkes to bee solde at London; and in the account to be kept betweene them they agree to reckon the moneys in exchange but at 30 shilings flemish for 20 shilling Starlin; and so make returne each to other from time to time as money shall be received; both; here and beyond the Seas。 Wherupon put the case; that there is received at Amsterdam 1500 lib。 flemish for Cloth; and at London there is received 1000 lib。 Starlin for Velvets and Silkes; which by the said rate & calculation is all one (in effect) between them; and might by way of Rescounter answer each other in account。 But the Merchant of Amsterdam; (knowing that by reason of the moneys inhaunced there) he can make a great gaine to have the said 1000 lib。 sent unto him in specie:) desireth the Londoner to send him this 1000 lib Starlin in silver & gold coyns; Realls of eight or Rieckx Dollers; wherby he shal profite 15 upon the 100; by the meanes aforesaid; which amounteth to 150 lib gaines。 The Londoner having his 1500 lib。 flemish or 1000 lib。 Starlin at Amsterdam; cannot doe the like; because the moneys are inhaunced and received above the value; so that his money must be delivered by exchange there at a low rate; or at 33 shillings 4 pence; whereby he doth receive here the said 1000 lib。 with no gaine at all。 Thus the account betweene them is made even; but by these means; the Kingdome is deprived of the 1000 lib。 of the Merchants money sent to Amsterdam; which doth not onely procure the want of money in England; whereof every man hath a feeling to his losse: but also it causeth the native Commodities to be undersold; and the forraine Commodities to be advanced in price beyond the Seas; by plenty of money; and hindereth the importation of money and Bullion; as aforesaid。      To prevent this; the Question is now; whether it be better and more expedient; to raise the price of exchange; or the price or valuation of our moneys; Surely all men or judgement wil say; that the raising of exchange breedeth not that alteration; which the inhauncing of moneys doth; namely to make every thing deere; and to cause Landlords and Creditors to lose in their Rents and Contracts。 And Merchants of experience doe know; that wee cannot doe as they doe。 For the inhauncing of moneys here; will be countermined by other Nations; who still will undervalue them in exchange betweene us; unlesse it be prevented by our own true valuation to be made knowne as aforesaid; which by the Law of Nations; cannot be contradicted; whereby we shall also bee enabled to meet them upon all Alterations and practices; to direct our course accordingly; sooner then a Milner can turne his Winde…mill; to grinde Corne with the variation of all windes。      It followeth (saith the said Author) that the Raising also of the Coyne; would raise the price of Plate; To lessen the superfluitie; or to bee turned into Coyne。 It is worthy the observation; that (by reason of the want of money:) the price of Plate is fallen from 6 shillings 6 pence guilt; to 5 shillings 6 pence; and white Plate from 5 shillings 8 pence to 5 shillings 2 pence。 And if the moneys were inhaunced ten in the hundreth; that is to say; an ounce of Starlin Silver to 5 shillings 6 pence: the Plate and all other things would rise accordingly。 Whereby if a man that spendeth two or three hundreth pounds by the yeere; should spare one hundreth pounds worth of his Plate; and bring the same to be Coyned; might thereby get once tenne pound; and pay ever after (for all other things) twenty and thirty lib。 dearer yearely。 And the moneys made thereof; would neverthelesse be transported; unless the exchange did prevent the same。      In this place; we are to remember; that the Silver used for divers manufactures and Plate; doth much differ in finenesse; whereby many of his Majesties Subjects are deceived: It may therefore be thought convenient; that no silver made into manufactures be sold; unlesse it bee tried by an Assay master; and marked accordingly; especially the silver Threed comming from beyond the Seas: some beeing but eight ounces fine; which is offered to be solde accordingly: or els to make it finer; as shall be thought convenient to serve the kingdome; and to become bound to make Returne in the manufacture of our Wooll for their manufacture of Silver and Silke; which may bee thought a very reasonable Permutation。      The want of mony coming by the consumption of forraine Commodities; may properly be tearmed overballancing of Commodities; which are more worne and used; because of the quantity of them; imported: proceeding also of the abuse of exchange; as the efficient Cause thereof; as aforesaid。      The excessive Use of Tobacco for so much as concerneth the importation thereof in liew of Treasure; will be much diminished by the late limitation of a quantity of Spanish Tobacco lately established; to the end that the Plantation of Virginia and the Bermodaes may be advanced thereby; and it is to be wished that the moneys to bee employed in Spanish Tobacco were likewise made over by exchange; and delivered to the Merchants adventurers and others; to be bestowed upon the Commodities of the Realme to make benefite of our owne; for if such forraine Commodities; shal vanish away in smoake; or be consumed and brought (as it were) unto doung; and surmount the price of the Commodities; or fruits of the land: Certes; that land is unprofitable in every mans judgement。 For lands (being the Naturall riches so much desired of all men) are much disimprooved by the want of money and the selling of our native Commodities is too good cheape in regard of the price of forraine Commodities; This beeing an evident token of the poverty of a Commonwealth; which (like an unweildy Elephantike Body) hath a slowe motion; and therefore more dangerous and subject to destruction; which by the want of money; is made visible and sensible。      The returnes lately had from the East…Indies; wil in part asswage the same; if Merchants in the dispersing of those Commodities; will procure importation of money and Bullion; as (no doubt) they will doe。 And this will further bee increased; when the Hollanders and our Merchants shall be at an end of their present controversies; which by his Majesties high wisedome; will soone be determined。      Touching the warres of Christendome; for so much as concerneth the want of moneys: I have already shewed how the same is also comprised in the reformation of the abuse of exchange; procuring thereby moneys; which are Nerui Bellorum。 But to take upon mee to discourse of warres; might make me subject to Apelles his reprehension; Ne sutor ultra Crepidam。 Onely I hope that the famous example of Augustus Caesar the Emperour may be remembered; who perceiving the forces of the great Pirate Crocataes to increase daily by the concourse of many nations; whilest hee was in Spaine; caused a Proclamation to be made; that whosoever should bring him the head of the said Pirate; he would reward him with 20 thousand crownes; whereupon the said Pirate was brought in danger of the humors of the saide nations; whose suspected inconstancy and lucre bred a resolution in him; to offer his own head to the obedience of justice; and demanding the said 20 thousand crownes; had the same payed unto him; whereby all his associates were overcome and dispersed。 In like manner did Sixtus Quintus deale with the Banditi in Italy; and made them to cut one anothers throats。 This Policy of reward draweth as forcibly as the Adamant or Loade…stone; which caused the Spanaiard to say; Dadiuas quebrantan Pennas; Gifts doe breake stony Rockes。      From the Precedent causes of