held a contrary course？ It were certainly all one； as to have a
Company of Merchants for Spaine at London； and the West…parts
left loose to Trade without Order or Government； which were a
meere mockery。 But the Trade in many parts of Italy； being
carried by Families； and every Family being as it were one
Person； there is a kind of Government in their Trades； and the
same performed with merveilous credite； policie； and judgement。
The Lowe Countries； by that Union which is of the several
Townes and Provinces unto the States Generall （which
neverthelesse is as much； and endureth as long； as every severall
Province and Towne listeth；） have of late yeares erected their
East India Company； and the like for Guiny； and are in hand with
the like for the West Indies。 Also the Cloth…buyers； the
principall Merchants of Holland； have lately obtained Octroy so
termed； which is Priviledges and Immunities of the States； to
assemble themselves； and to keepe Courts； and make Orders for
their Trade； and principally to confront & oppose the
Merchants…Adventurers Trade； upon some differences； lately fallen
out betwixt those Cloth…buyers and the said Company about the
residence before noted。 For their other Trades of Germany；
Poland； England； Grance and Spaine； they rather with then finde
it possible； to joine the severall Townes in one Rule and Order。
And who so converseth with that Nation； shal finde that they very
much complaine of the disorders of their Trades； for want of that
kinde of Government； which many of them take notice of here in
England： and some of them of late have desired instructions from
hence in that behalfe。 Besides all this； these people as they are
borne and bred in an United Country； so doth their nature and
disposition encline much to an Union and Communion in Trade。
Insomuch as oftentimes they are able to worke their feates by
Confederacy and Combination； against an Incorporation in our
Nation。 For they wisely consider； that their interest is involved
in the Publique： where； in our Nation； men commonly preferre
their Particular； to the Common good。
And thus having and answering the objections against
Corporations； of Merchants and Governed Trades； and shewed the
many and manifold benefits arising to the Common…wealth thereby：
It is now easie to shew the Injury and Incovenience to this
Common…wealth by the want of Government in Trade。 Those that
Trade without Order and Government； are like unto men； that makes
Holes in the bottome of that Ship； wherein themselves are
Passengers。 For want of Government in Trade； openeth a gap and
letteth in all sorts of unskilfull and disorderly persons： and
these not only sinke themselves and others with them； but also
marre the Merchandize of the land； both in estimation and
goodnesse： then which there can bee nothing in Trade more
rejudiciall to the Publique Utility。 And to make good these
particulars； I take this for a ground： Nemonascitur artifex。
Which as it is true in the occupaitons of Artizans： so is it much
more true in the Trades of Merchants： wherein there is so great
variety of difficult points to bee learned； before a man can
learne his Stucke； as the Dutch…men speak； or be his Crafts
master。 And how can the Merchant； that hath no skill in his
Commodity； looke to it； that the Maker performe his part？ Or how
can a falsified Commodity； hold his estimation and use？ The ill
experience whereof； is not more remarqueable in any of His
Majesties subjects； then in those that trade into the Dominions
of the King of Spaine； without Order or Government in Trade。 For
at the beginning of His Majesties most happy Raigne over this
Kingdome； this Trade by His Majesties Princely favour； was made a
Corporation and Society of Merchants； and flourished under
Government。 And then thenew Draperies； and other the Native
Commodities of the Kingdome were maintained in their estimation
and goodnesse at Home and Abroad： But soone after by the clamour
of some who preferred their owne liberty； to the utility of the
publique； and by some misinformation given the Parliament of that
time； this Company after it had flourished two years； was
dissolved； and ever since exposed to confusion and disorder in
Trade； and is become a receptacle and Rendes…vous for every
Shopkeeper； Stragler； and Unskilful person： and may serve for a
lively representation of the hopes that may be expected； by such
a loose trade； as many now a daies so much desire； not rightly
conceiving or considering the benefits of Government； nor the
Inconveniencies that doe perpetually accompany trade in the want
thereof。 Which in the Effects will be more perspicious； to which
in their Order we now proceede。
Cap。 V。
Of the Effects of the former Causes as they concerne the King
Such were the Causes considered in the Matter and Forme of
trade。 The Effects follow： which doe either concerne the King or
the Common…wealth。
Such as are the Causes； such also must needs be the Effects
arising from the same： and those doe either respect the King in
point of Honour； or in point of Revenue： and both in the Matter
and Forme of Trade。
In point of Honour； there is a relation to the King from the
Matter of Trade； considered Generally； or Specially。
Generally； in the general neglect of all trades； by temerous；
rash； and litigious suites of law： whereby the Peace of the
Kingdome is disturbed； the Justice thereof abused； and in both
the King dishonoured。
Or Specially in some speciall Commerce of this Kingdome；
abused by the Kings Subjects； or Strangers。 By the Kings
Subjects； in the Drapery of the Kingdome； when His Majesties
Seale of Armes； which； as I said； shall be dishonoured by false
Cloth and other Manufactures； that are unworthily honoured
therewith： and whereby； those that buy the same both within and
without the Land； are perswaded the same is good and true； when
the same is utterly false： which is a great indignity offered to
the King。
By Strangers； in the East India Action； and the matter of
Fishing。 In the East India Action certainely the Kings Honour is
interessed； not onely to protect his subjects against the
Injuries done them by the Dutch in the East Indies； but also to
maintaine the Glory and Revowne； of His Sacred Fame； which hath
heretofore beene Illustrious even unto the Heathen： which some
have dared to doe what they could to obscure。 The Fishing hath
aslo reference to the Kings Honour： for it is a Royalty of the
Crowne； which the King in Honour cannot but protect。
There is also an Effect that extendeth it selfe to the Kings
Honour in the Forme of Trade； as it is too strict； or too loose。
Too strict； in respect of Monopolies； wherein the Prerogative of
the King is abused； and therein His Honour also； by those that
thereby seeke to priviledge and Patronize things unlawfull。
Too loose； in the disorderly Trade of the subjects out of
Government。 For those Strangers that have not beene in our
Countrey； nor seene the Order of His Majesties Government； must
needes Ex Ungue Leonem； guesse at the Soveraigne by the Subject：
And like to Archimedes who drew the whole pourtraiture of
Hercules body； by his footstep onley found in Mount Olympus；
proportion the Royall and Regall Government of His Majestie at
home； by the deportment of his subjects abroad。 And as the
Orderly Trade of Merchants is an Honour to the King； when the
same is contained within the listes of Government； so the
contrary cannot choose but produce a quite contrary effect。
In point of Revenue the Kings treasure is diminished； in the
Mater also and Forme of Trade。 In the Matter of Trade； either in
the Generall course of Trade； or in some Particulars。 In the
Generall； the great want of money； and decay of Trade throughout
all callings and conditions of men； must needes cause a great
diminution of His Majesties Revenue； both in His Customes and
Supplies。 For the Customes； those perpetually rise and fall with
Trade： And for Supplies； the subjects being impoverished through
want of Money and decay of Trade； are disabled to doe that
service to His Majestie； which otherwise they would be willing；
and heretofore have beene able to performe； in flourishing times
of Trade。 And if our experience hereof had beene in the ｛Greek
word omitted｝ and not in the ｛Greek word omitted｝； in the
Contemplation only； and not in Action： we had been much more
happy in this Kingdom and Nation。
In the particular course of Trade； it shall content me to
instance onely the East India Action； and the Fishing； before
referred to the Kings Honour； here to his Revenue。 By the East
India Action there is a very great losse to the King in His
Customes； by the losse of all the Customes which that Trade would
have produced in all this time： and of the Encrease also of
Trade； which that employment had brought with it； which would
have yeelded to His Majesty a great Increase of Customes
answerable to the same。 Of both which if we had not beene
deprived； certainly His Majesties Ferme of His Customes had
yeelded Many Thousand pounds a yeare； more then now they have
done。
By the Fishing； the Customes and Tolles which are undoubtedly
due to His Majesty for the Strangers Fishing upon our Coasts；
together with the encrease of Trade； and consequently of Customes
thereby also； wold amount to so great a value； that I cannot
wonder enough； that the same hath beene neglected all this while。
And lastly in the Forme of Trade； the Kings Revenue is
mightily diminished； when by the disorder of Trade； the very
course of Trade inverted； and therein the Kings Customes and
Subsidies also。
Cap。 VI。
Of the Effects of the former Causes as they concerne the
Common…wealth。
From the King； come to the Kingdome。 Wherein there are also
manifold Effects of the precedent Causes； both in the Matter and
Forme of Trade。
And although in the very same things； wherein the Honour and
Revenue of the King are invested； the Wealth of the Common…wealth
is also interessed； yet the s