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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。 Nature by the benefit of the wind； hath so
mixed people； dispersed in divers places； and so distributed her
gifts in divers Countries； that there should be a necessity of
Commerce amongst men。 Which agreeth with that of Aristotle； Est
translatio rerum omnium caepta ab initio； ab eo quod est secudum
naturam； cum homines haberent plura quam sufficerent； partim
etiam pauciora； negotiatione suppleri id quod natura deest； quo
commode omnibus sufficiat。
And that we doe not goe out of the Christian world for an
example hereof； let us consider the state of the Netherlands； in
what a miserable case those people were； if they received not
supply from all other Nations。 They have nothing of their owne；
and yet they seeme to possesse all things in the supply they
receive from all the world。
And surely if any Kingdome under the Sunne can subsist of it
selfe； none hath more cause to blesse God； then this Iland of
ours； which Almighty God hath richly adorn'd with variety of
allthings necessary for mans life and welfare。 As with Corne； and
our Wine： Cattle； Wooll； Cloth； Tynne； Iron； Lead； Saffran； Waxe；
Hoppes； Hydes； Tallow； Flaxe； Fowle； Fish； and many othres：
whereby； thanks bee to God； the people of this Land； have not
onely sufficient for their owne mainenance； but doe abundantly
supply the wants of all other Nations。
Now the Trade and Commerce of this Kingdome within it selfe；
and with Forreine Nations； consisting of so many rich
Commodities； let us consider them all joyntly； and then some
principall of them apart。
Jointly considered； the causes of the decay of Trade in them；
may be said either to be Deficient or Efficient。 Deficient；
either in the generall want of money in the Kingdome； or the
particular want of the East India stocke。 I shewed before； what
were the causes of the want of money： & that the disaster upon
the East India Trade is a remote cause thereof： but these are
both causes of the decay of trade。 For money is the vitall spirit
of trade； and if the spirits faile； needs must the body faint。
And as the body of trade seemeth to be dead without the life of
money： so doe also the members of the Common…wealth； without
their means of trade。 We say； that an Artizan or workeman； cannot
worke without tooles or instruments： no more can a Merchant trade
without money or meanes。 And in the want of so great a stocke； as
is that of the East India Company； the Body of this Common…wealth
hath lost the use of many of it principall members； by whose
industry； art； and action the Commerce thereof might wonderfully
have been encrea'st。 The losse whereof； to him that is not
wilfully blinde； is apparently sensible in the Drapery of the
kingdome； whereby the poore are set on worke： and in all the
other trades of the kingdome； whereby the subjects are employed：
and hath begot that great and generall dampe and deadnesse in all
the trades of the kingdome； which we unhappily feele at this day。
The Efficient causes of the decay of trade jointly
considered； are either Usuary； or unnecessary suits in law。 In
the former I am prevented； and my labour spared； by him that
wrote a little treatise against usury： which it seeme's for
modesty he refuseth to owe： though I could wish； that those that
deserve of the publique were knowne to the publique： least they
be served as sometimes Batillus served Virgil； and so be forc'd
too late to proclaime； Hos ego versiculos feci； tulit alter
Honores。
I have a word onely to adde to his Usury； that it is not an
Usury of ten in the hundred only； that wringeth this
Common…wealth； but an extorsion also of 20…30…40； nay of Cento
per Cento per Anno； as the Italians speake； given and taken on
pledges and pawnes； and that on poore peoples labours； in London
especially： which is a biting Usury indeed； and a fearefull
crying sinne before God。
Unnecessary suites of Law are also Efficient causes of the
decay of trade。 Wherein certainely this Kingdome exceedeth all
o