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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。
Lastly； for Landlords and Creditors； their losse is easie to
be prevented by Proviso； that the Contracts made before the
raising of the Monies shall be paide at the value the Money went
at； when the Contracts were made： according to the disposition of
the Civill Law in this case： Valor monetae considerandus &
inspiciendus est a tempore contractus； non autem a tempore
solutionis。
The raising also of the Coine； would raise the price of
Plate： whereby either there would bee lesse superfluity that way；
or else more old Plate； which perhaps in some mens hands is kept
up for Treasure； would be brought out； to be molten into Coine。
The Mediate or Remote Causes of the want of Money； I observed
to bee either Domestique or Forreine。 The Domestique； Generall or
Speciall。 The Generall； the great Excesse of the Kingdome； in
consuming the Commodities of forreine Countries in such
abundance； to our own losse。 And amongst those； the great excesse
in Tobacco is none of the