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第3章

free trade-第3章

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would have faigned; though to an evill purpose。

    The Romanes were wont to weepe; at the sight of Caesars blood

kept in an handkercher。 Caesars subjects blood is kept; not in

handkerchiefes but in sheetes; written within and without; the

memory whereof maketh the people mourne。 The cry thereof is gone

up: the King will remember it; the King of Kings will avenge it。

    Constantinus the Great; the father of Constantius; was wont

often to protest; that he made more account of one Christian then

of all his Coffers filled with treasure。 And the Comfort of this

Nation is; to bee the subjects of such a Sovertainge; who as

constantly as ever did Constantinus; hath againe and againe

profest; Not to account himselfe more rich or happie; then in the

prosperitie of his subjects。

    Thus much of the Domestique remote causes of the want of

money in England: the forreine causes follow。 Which are either in

respect of the warres in christendome; or the Trades out of

Christendome。 The warres in Christendome are forreine remote

causes of the want of money; either by causing the exportation;

as the warres of Christians: or hindering the importation

thereof; as the warres of Pirates。 I will take the warres of

Germanie for an urgent instance of the former: which have raised

the Riecksdaller from two Markes Lubish; to twentie markes

Lubish; in many place of Germany: whereby abundance of money is

drawne unto the Mintes of those Countries; from all the other

Mines and parts of Christendome。

    And for the latter; I will instance the warres of the Pirats

of Argier and Tunis; which hath robbed this Common…wealth of an

infinite value: the crueltie whereof many feele with griefe;

others heare with pittie; but the grivance remaine's。 Needs must

Christendome; and in it England; feele the want of money; when

either it is violently intercepted by Turkish Pirats; the Enimies

of God and man; or the instruments surprised; as men; ships; and

merchandize; which are the channels to convey it to us。 And

heathenish policie it is; or hellish rather; put upon the Princes

and people of Christendome by the Grand Seignour; to hold with

them an outward forme to amitie; and in the meane time by his

vassals; use a cunning and covert hostilitie。

    The other forreine remote cause of the want of money; are the

Trades maintained out of Christendome to Turky; Persia and the

East Indies。 Which trades are maintained for the most part with

ready money; yet in a different manner from the trades of

Christendome within it selfe。 For although the trades within

Christendome are diven with ready monies; yet those monies are

still contained and continued within the bounds of Christendome。

There is indeede a fluxus and refluxus; a flood and ebbe of the

monies of Christendome traded within it selfe: for sometimes

there is more in one part of Christendome; sometimes there is

lesse in another; as one countrey wanteth; and another aboundeth:

It commeth and goeth; and whirleth about the Circle of

Christendome; but is still contained with the compasse thereof。

but the money that is traded out of Christendome into the parts

aforesaid; is continually issued out and never returneth againe。

It is true; those trades tend to an admirable encrease of the

stocke of Christendome in wares: which if they were purchased

with the wares of Christendome; according to the true nature of

Commerce; the benefit were farre more excellent。 For Commercium

is quasi Commutatio mercium; a change of wares for wares; not

money for wares。 And it is Libera commeandi facultas; abiis qui

merces ultro citroque conuehunt。

    Or if the Common…wealth of Christendome were like to that of

Utopia; where gold and silver are of lesse esteem then Iron; it

were a brave exchange to lose money to get wares。 For the riches

of former ages did not consist re pecuniaria but pecuaria。 Whence

pecunia; as Plinie affirmeth; was so called a pecude; quia pecus

suit pecuniae fundamentum; & antiquitus pecunia pecudis effigie

signabatur。 But when Immooveable and Immutable things came also

to be in Commerce amongst men; as well as those things which were

mooveable and fit for change; then came money in use; as the rule

and square whereby things might receive estimation & value。

Therefore the Civilians affirme that Numus est {Greek phrase

omitted} dictus; quod instiutum sit Civile。 According to that of

Aristotle。 {Greek phrase omitted} Numus non est a natura sed a

lege。 And thence it is that money in our tongue is derived of

moneta; quasi numi nota。

    Or if there were a necessitie to Christendome; to use those

forreine wares: or that the meanes whereby they are to be

procured; were without the losse of treasure: or lastly that the

same tended to the encrease of the treasure thereof theexchage

were excellent。 But first there isno such necessitie: for that's

necessarie to doe a thing without which it cannot be done: And

that's necessarie to the being of a Common…wealth; without which

it cannot subsist。 But thankes to God; Christendome is richly

furnished within it selfe; with all things fit for life and

maintenance: whether we respect vitall use; as foode and raiment:

or physicall; as vegetables and mineral: or politicall; as gold;

silver; and infinite varietie of merchandize。 Nor are those wares

procured without the losse of treasure; no nor with lesse

treasure。 For as those wares have cost lesse in price; since some

late discoveries; so are they encreased in their quantities; by

the ample trade of all parts of Christendome thither; more then

before: and then who knowth not that a lesse quantitie deare; and

a greater quantitie cheape; is all one in respect of the value。

Nor is the treasure lessened by changing the course of trade into

those parts。 For the new trades found out; are furnished with a

new supply of money; and the old nevertheless issue out as much

treasure as before: by reason that the same are enlarged and

become now as great; apart; as heretofore they were; together;

when the new trades were included in the old。 So that now so much

more of the treasure of Christendome is wasted; as those old and

new trades are encreased; which is to an infinite value。

    Not lastly; is the treasure of Christendome encreased by

those forreine trades; for the more the stock of Christendome is

thereby encreased in wares; the more it decreaseth in treasure:

which the parts of Christendome must needs feele by Sympathy and

compassion。

    And this; that prudent and politique Emperour Charles the

fifth perceived in his time; who upon a question betwixt the

Spaniards and Portugalles about this matter; the Emperour used

words to this effect: You Portugalles for a suretie; are Enemies

to all Christendome; for you carry nothing out of it but coine;

which is hurt to all Countries。



Cap。 II。



The Causes of the decay of Trade; in the Merchandize of England



    Such are the causes of the matter of trade considered in the

want of money; themerchandize followeth。 Merchandize is that

naturall matter of Commerce; whereby men busie themselves in

buying and selling; chopping and changing; to the encrease of

Artes; and enriching of Common…wealths: according to that of the

Poet {Greek phrase omitted}; Bona lis mortalibus haec est。

    And to the end there should be a Commerce amongst men; it

hath pleased God to invite as it were; one Countrey to traffique

with another; by the variety of things which the one hath; and

the other hath not: that so that which is wanting to the one;

might be supplied by the other; that all might have sufficient。

    Which thing the very windes and seas proclaime; in giving

passage to all nations: the windes blowing sometimes towards one

Country; sometimes toward another; that so by this divine

justice; every one might be supplyed in things necessary for life

and maintenance。

    And this; Seneca thought to be a principall benefit of

nature; Quod & vento gentes locis disipatas miscuit; & sua omnia

in regiones ita descripsit; ut necessarium mortalibus esset inter

ipsos Commercium。 Nat

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