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