Revenue of the King are invested； the Wealth of the Common…wealth
is also interessed； yet the same may otherwise be distinguished；
that so they may be made the more perspicuous and cleere to every
mans judgement。
The Effects then that arise out of the Matter of Trade and
fall upon the Kingdome； may be saide to be either Active or
Passive。 Active； when they are done by our Selves： Passive； when
they are done to us by others。 Active； in the use of Law； either
Too much； or Too little。 Too much； in Suits of Law； whereby one
subject vexeth another： which make this peaceable Kingdome seeme
to bee at Warre within it selfe。 For whilest men are thus at
Deadly feude in Law； by the losse of their Times； and Trades； and
States； the thrift of the Commonwealth must needes be neglected。
Too little； In the Non…execution of Lawes； which tend either to
the enlargement of Clothing； or the restraint of the Excesse of
the Kingdome。 theformer is； either in respect of the Ill searchng
and Sealing of Cloth； or in the Transportation of the Materials
of our Cloth before mentioned。 In the former of these； the
Merchants Adventurers can give you an account of Ten thousand
pounds a year at least losse to this Common…wealth； by the Tare
or abatements upon the Cloth in forreine parts； for the false
making and sealing thereof： Besides the other Effects of the
decay of the Drapery it selfe； and other Trades depending
thereon； the losse whereof is unvaluable。 In the latter； every
man is sensible of the losse to the Common…wealth； in robbing it
of the Materials： whereby not onely our Draperies are Impaired；
but the Forreine also are thereby much Improved。
Also the want of restraint of the Excesse of the Kingdome； in
Usuary and Prodigality： the one being a Viper in a Kingdome that
gnaweth through the bowels thereof： the other a Canker that
fretteth and wasteth the stocke； in spending the forreine wares；
more then it venteth of our owne： both and either doe produce
intollerable effects in a wel ordered Kingdome and Common…wealth。
Or Passive； in the ill Effects that fall upon the Kingdome；
in things done to us by others。 And that either by Friends or
Foes。 the former is done by Imposition； or Usurpation。 By
Imposition； in the Merchants Adventurers Trade in Holland： where
there is lately taxed upon a Pack Cloth 9 Gilders； and upon a
long Cloth 18 Gilders； and upon a fine Cloth 14 Gilders； which is
18； 36 and 48 shillings of our money。 And yet neverthelesse they
free their own Countrey Cloth of all manner of charge； nay； they
give encouragement to the makers thereof by many Priviledged and
Immunities： whereby it is more then manifest that they do what in
them lyeth； to Plant their owne Draperies； and to supplant ours；
to the infinit disadvantage of this Kingdome。
By Usurpation； those Friends of ours； deprive us of our East
India Trade and Fishing； which here again occurre； and offer
themselves for this purpose also。 By the former； the
Common…wealth hath not onley been dispossest all this while of so
great a stock； as is that of the East India Company； but of the
employment and excrease of Trade also； that thereby in all this
time would have accrewed unto this Kingdome。 And it is to be
feared； that their policy is not onely to derpive the Company of
their Stocke； but the Kingdome also of the Trade： which they
thinke too great and glorious a Fortune for this Common…welath to
enjoy； and the onley hope of their's。 And hence it is that the
Restituion is so hard to be had； because they think by detaining
it； and spinning out the time； they shall in time weary and weare
us out of that Trade： And so in the meane while； by Plowing up
htose Indian Seas and Soyle with our Heifers； they may at last
Reape all the Harvest； and possesse and dispossesse at their owne
pleasure； to the wonderfull enriching of their Common…wealth； and
the impoverishing of ours。
By the latter； to wit； their Fishing upon our Coasts； the
Common…wealth looseth that which they gaine： which is merveilous
increase of Trade； of Shippes； and Marriners。 Whereby their
Navigation is mightily Strengthened； their Marriners multiplyed；
and their Trade encreased： Of all which this Common…wealth is
deprived； and their's enriched。
By Foes also this Common…wealth is lamentably Passive； in the
cruelty done by Turkish Pirats upon Men and Shippes； and Goods。
The griefe is lamentable； the losse intollerable。
Lastly； there are ill Effects that fal upon the Common…wealth
in the Forme of Trade： and that in respect of Monopolies； or
Ungoverned Trade。 Byt the former； this Common…wealth is deprived
of that true liberty of Trade； which belongeth to all the
subjects： when the Commodity of some few； is preferred to the
publique good。
By the latter； which is most remarquable in the Trade of His
Majesties subjects into the Domminos of the King of Spaine； and
the Mediterrean Sea； the Trade of this Kingdome consisting in
Bayes； Perpetuanoes； Kersies； Waxe； Tinne； Lead； and other the
Native Commodities of this Kingdome； is betrayed into the hands；
both of those with whom we are in Amitie； and others that are
with us in Enmity。 The one taketh advantage of our
unmerchant…like courses for lacke of Order： The other； of our
Shippes sent foorth stragling for lacke of Fleets： and both
through want of Government in Trade。 Whereby the Perpetuanoes and
other new Draperies have by little and little bin made worse and
worse； so that now they are become quite out of use； the Trade
lost； the Traders ruinated； the Manufactures by other Nations
supplied； the Navigation hindered； by the losse of many worthy
men； and Serviceable Shippes： In all which； the Decay of Trade is
exceeding Great； the Common…wealth's losse Infinite。
Cap。 VII。
Of the Remedy for all the former Causes of decay of Trade。
Having shewed the many and manifold Causes of the decay of
Trade in the Matter and Forme thereof： It remaineth now to
present the Remedy。 Which according to the precedent Method； I
will apply unto all the particulers in their order。 Onely the
Remedies for the Effects； I shall present in the Causes： for the
Causes being removed； the Effects must needs cease； according to
the common Maxime in Philosophy； Sublata causa tollitur effectus。
In my former distribution I considered the Causes of the
decay of Trade； in the Matter and Forme thereof： and in the
Matter I insisted on Money and Merchandize。 The Causes of the
want of money； I shewed some to be Immediat； some Mediat or
remote。 the Immediat Causes； I noted to be such； as either hinder
the Importation； or such as cause the Exportation； and both in
the Under…valuation of His Majesties Coine。 The Remedy offer's it
selfe； which is double。 First； how it may be got： and next how it
may be kept。 The former may be done two wayes： By Raising of the
Kings Coine； and by making current Forreine Coines at equall
value。 The latter； also may be done two wayes： By another manner
of Execution of the Statute for Employments then heretofore：
wherein there is some reason not to expresse my selfe as I might：
And by His Majesties Princely and Prudent Negotiation； with the
Princes of our Neighbour Countries； the States of the united
Provinces especially； to keepe a more constant course in the
values of their Coines。 Neither of which can be done by the Par
of Exchange； which is now again in agitation； and hath taken more
then twenty yeeres to bring it to perfection。 Wherein； absit
invidia verbo； that I say； there is neither Parity； nor
Purity。For it is not the rate of Exchanges； but the value of
monies； here lowe； elsewhere high； which cause their Exportation：
nor doe the Exchanges； but the plenty or scarcity of monies cause
their values。 Or if I should grant that to be the cause which is
not： yet it doth not follow； that because the Stranger； like
enough； would be a deliverer heere of money at a high rate； that
therefore the English must take it。 And then the consequence will
be ill： for if the rate be such as the Taker like not； then the
Deliverer is yet more thrust upon the exportation。 But this I
leave to those to whom this project is committed； with this； that
this opinion seemes to be ciusden farinae； with another of his；
in his Canker of Englands Commonwealth； in these words： 〃And it
were to be wished； that our Cloth were sold at so deare a rate；
and according to the price of forreine Commodities； that thereby
other nations would take upon them to make our Clothes
themselves： which might easily bee remedied； by selling our
woolles the dearer； whereof they must make them。〃 Which seemes to
have in it much more Dutch then English； to deprive this Kingdome
of so Royall a Manufacture； whereby so many thousands of poore
families； ae maintained in the same： as if hee would cure one
Canker with another； contrary to our Saviours Argument； that
Satan cannot cast out Satan。 But I returne to mine owne Station：
and therein to answer the objections that doe occurre the raising
of Money： which are wont to be principally； either the continuall
Raising of it； to follow the Rising of forreine Coine； or else
the inevitable losse that thereby will fall； Generally upon all
men in the endearing of all things； and Particularly upon
Landlords and Creditors； in their rents and contracts。
For the continuall Raising of the Coine； that will be
needlesse； if the meanes be sufficient for executing the Statute
for employments； whereby the Money may be kept within the land
when we have it。 And for the dearnesse of things； which the
Raising of Money bringeth with it； that will be abundantly
recompensed unto all in the plenty of Money； and quickning of
Trade in every mans hand。 And that which is equall to all； when
hee that buye's deare shall sell deare； cannot bee said to be
injurius unto any。 And it is much better for the Kingdome； to
have things deare with plenty of Money； whereby men may live in
their severall callings： then to have things cheape with want of
Money； which now makes every man complaine。
La