the thing they negotiate； may well be said according to the
notation of Monopoly； from ｛Greek word omitted｝ and ｛Greek word
omitted｝； to converse alone。 For in so doing； they so live； as
none can live by them； in respect of their singular gaine in this
kinde： Contrary to that honest Poverbiall rule of the Dutch； that
men must Leuen ende laeten Leuen： So live as other men may Live
by them。 But here I cannot but discharge all those Corporations
of this Kingdome； of this part of Monopoly； which afford to every
particular trader thereof； the managing of his owne stocke； in
buying and selling as hee can； without any combination with
others。 In which it is an impossible as unusual； for any to have
command of the rice of their Commodities： because there is such a
multitude of Traders of them； and every man is at liberty to buy
or sell； without any rule by any generall order； or meanes to
hold one price。 But the greatest suspition of Monopoly in
Corporations； is in such as Trade； in Joint Stockes。 Whereof if
there be any that tradeth in a Joint Stocke； and hath the Sole
buying or selling of any Commodity； and buy and sell the same
Jointly； as by one person or common factor； such is guilty of
Monopoly。
For particular men； they may also commit Monopolizing： either
by procuring Patents by misinformation of the State； for the Sole
Importing or Exporting； buying or selling at their owne prises；
to the restraint of the Common Liberty； and the Publique Utility
of the Kingdome： or else when some one or few； without any
Authority； doe joine together to engrosse and buy in a Commodity；
and sell it out againe at their owne price。 Of the former kinde；
are those Catalogue of crying Monopolies； which his Majestie in
His high Wisdome and Grace damned in His Princely Proclamation of
the tenth of July last； in the XIX year of His Majesties most
happy Reigne over this Kingdome： Many of which were abused in the
Practice； from which they appeared to be in the Institution。 And
here a pretty question occurreth。 When a Patent is granted to a
certaine person or persons； so as hee or they have power to
licence others to exercise some kinde of Commerce solely； and
consequently with command of the price： that question is； who is
then the Monopolian； whether the Patentees； or their Assignes？ In
this case I suppose； that both the one and the other commit
Monopoly。 For first； the Patentees make their price at their
pleasure upon their Assignes； and they againe upon the Subjects。
So that here is Mnnopoly upon Monopoly： like your Salt upon Salt；
Interest upon Interest； or the Decompositum in Grammer。
In the latter； some sorts of Trades…men in London； are said
to offend。 Which being matters of Generall note； and willing to
avoid offence； I will passe by such particulars。 And this shall
suffice for the Definition and Distribution of Monopoly。
Cap。 IIII。
Of want of Government in Trade。
Such is the Forme of Trade considered in the Strict Use or
Abuse of Government； by way of Monopoly。 It now remaineth briefly
to shew the Too Loose Use thereof； by Ungoverned Trade。
It is a Maxime in the Mathematiques； that Rectum est Index
sui & obliqui。 And the want of Government； cannot better be
demonstrated；then by the benefit of Government it selfe。 For
thereby the Common…wealth hath beene much advantaged； both in the
encrease of the native Commodities of the Kingdome； and the
advancement of their use and price in Forreine parts： and also in
keeping the forreine wares at a moderate rate within this
Kingdome。 This will be yet more perspicuous； if we cast our eye
first upon the several Societies of Merchants which trade under
Government： and then on those which trade without Government。 For
Contraria juxta se posita； magis elucescunt。
In the first place therefore consider we that Ancient and
heretofore famous fellowship of the Merchants…Adventurers of
England。 Hath it not by their politique rule and order； eaten out
the Societie of the Hans…townes of Germanie and the Merchants of
the Entercourse of the Low Countries； in those trades； which a
long time they enjoyed in this land？ And whereas those of the
Hans； vented in Germany； only a matter of sixe thousand of our
Clothes yeerely and at low prices： and held this Realme as it
were beholding unto them for their shipping： yea upon some
discontent for denying of them priviledges； durst offer some
hostilitie in the time of Edward the fourth。 Whereas the
Merchants…Adventurers by their Charters； granted from time to
time by the Princes of this Realme； and favoured by Parliaments
successively； by their orderly mannaging of their trade； have
supplanted the trade of the Hanses in Germany： and brought the
said Six thousand vented by them in Germany； unto Thirtie
thousand Clothes yeerely & at great prises。 And it is worthy to
be remembred to their Honour； that service which the
Merchants…Adventurers did to the State in Anno 88 when they
supplied the Navie Royall with a whole ships lading of Powder and
Shot from Hamburgh： which came luckily even in articulo temporis；
when there was a very great want thereof。 These also have from
time to time employed and bred up many worthy Masters of ships
and Mariners； and built many Tall； warlike and Serviceable
shippes： which as they themselves also； are at all times ready to
doe service to the King & State upon all occasions。 None of all
which they had ever beene able to have done as particular men； in
a loose； distracted； and disorderly trade。
Great benefit also hath arisen from the East…land Company：
who have wonne like ground of the Hanses of the Baltique Sea： and
doe employ in that trade a great number of proper Shippes and
Men。
The Levant Company likewise by their trade under Government；
hath built a great strength of warlike； Tall & Lusty Shipping；
which they employ in that trade： and by their industry have wonne
from the Italians the trade of the Levant： the Commodities
whereof were before brought into this Realme by Argosies to the
encrease of forreine shipping； and at deare rates： and is now
reduced to the Natives of this Kingdome； to the encrease of
Shipping； and the benefit of the Publike。 Which without
Government and good order； had been impossible for them to have
done。
The French Company also； though but lately reduced to Order；
have reformed many abuses in that trade； in maintaining the
Native Commodities of this Kingdome in much better estimation；
and in keeping the Forreine at moderate prices： and in employing
greater shipping； then at any time before。 Which were impossible
for them to effect Singly； without Societie。
Lastly； for the East…India Company； whereof I am prevented to
say what I might； by two severall discourses published in print；
the one by that worthy and rarely qualified Gentleman Sir Dudley
Digges Knight； the other by that discreete Merchant Mr。 Thomas
Mun： yet this I say； that this Great and Noble Societie by the
benefite of Government； hath set on foot a bery mightie Trade；
farre beyond any other Company of this Kingdome： and accordingly
hath excelled in greatnesse of shipping； and making Mariners of
land…men； beyond the example of any other Corporation： & had not
Envie thought that Trade too great a Treasure for this Kingdome
doubtlesse they had in Encrease of trade； excelled all the
Companies of Merchants in this Common…wealth。
But here the ordinary objection encountereth me； that in
Germany； Spaine； France； Italie； and the Netherlands； there are
no such Companies； nor restrains of Merchants； as here in
England： and yet that those Countries thrive better in their
trades； than we in ours。 I answer； that if it be granted； that
they have no such Companies nor restraints of any； and that they
thrive better in their trades then we； yet it will not follow；
that this their better thriving is because every man is at
libertie to be a Merchant at his pleasure。 This is the fallacy
which the Logicians call ｛Greek phrase omitted｝； Non causa pro
causa。 For if that were the cause； why then should not our
Spanish Trade； that hath no Company nor restraint； prosper better
then the other Trades which are Governed in Companies； whereas to
speak as the truth is； This Trade & These Merchants； are the most
miserable of all the other Trades and Tradesmen of this Kingdome；
and all through want of Government： thorough whose sides the
Common…wealth suffereth； and hath already lost many Millions in
value of the wealth of the Weale…publique； as I shall shew anone。
But to the Assumption； I deny that the Merchants of those
forreine Countries； trade without Government。 For Germany hath
ancietly had one Society； or Corporation of Merchants inall their
Sea…townes； called the Society； or Corporation of the Hans before
noted： as their houses of Staple yet standing at Bridges in
Flanders； Antwerpe in Brabant； Novogrode in Russia； Bergen in
Norway； and the Steelyard in London can witnes。 Which Trade of
theirs flourished； as long as it continued under Government： but
having lost their Priviledes； partly by their owne Stragling； and
partly being overtop't by the flourishing of the
Merchants…Adventurers Trade； their Trade is now almost quite
fallen to the ground。
For Spaine and Portugall： all men know that their Sea Trade
is little； saving to the East and West Indies。 And those Trades
are carried with Government； and farre more restraint then ours。
For France； there are not （that I know） any Companies of
Merchants for forreine parts。 Which I take to be the cause； why
those Merchants shipping； is of so small burthen； and of as
little sufficiency for service。 Which is an effect of a stragling
ungoverned Trade。
For Italy； that consiseth of so many severall Jurisdictions；
that it were impossible to make a generall Corporation for any
one kinde of Sea…Trade。 For example； were it not in vaine for
Genoa to make a Corporation & Orders for Trade； whilest Florence
held a contrary course？ It were certainly all one； as to have a
Company of Merchants for Spa