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of the seales aforesaid； set to any manner of false or defective
Cloth。
For indeed the Searcher being a sworne Officer； ought to be
as witnes without exception betwixt man and man： that when a man
seeth the Searchers seale set upon the Cloth； it should serve as
a true Certificat of the true making thereof。 It is a great
impiety before God and Man； to be a false witnesse in any case：
but these Searchers are false witnesse ipso facto； when they doe
testifie to the world by their seales； that those Clothes are
good and true； which indeede are utterly false。 And which
aggravateth the matter yet more； that the Kings Seale of Armes；
which is testis omni exceptione major； should also be set to
Clothes thus falsely searched and sealed； whereby not only the
Kings subjects； but the strangers also in forreine parts are
deceived； is a very grosse and grievous abuse。
Amongst other abuses of this kinde； one precedent come's to
my minde； of ten Clothes bought not long since by a Merchant； of
a Clothier of Wiltshire。 Which Clothes were all Sealed by the
Searchers of that place； for good & true； according to the
Statute。 but being tried by the Merchant Buyer； and afterwards by
the Sworne measurer of the Citie of London； were found so
defective in length； breadth and waight； that where these ten
Clothes cost but 60 lib。 or thereabouts； the faults in these ten
Clothes came to neere 20 lib which ws one third part of the value
of the Cloth。 And it being a notable comtempt of the law； the
Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privie Councell were
informed thereof； who were pleased to send down a Messenger into
that County； and fetch't up both the Clothier and Searchers； who
worthily under…went the Condigne Censure of the Lords。
Under the Merchant also the Cloth…trade suffereth both at
Home and Abroad。 At Home； by Exporting the Materials； either of
Woolles or Wool…sels from the Sea…coasts of England； and the
Kingdome of Ireland： or by Over…lading the Cloth…trade； either
with any generall or speciall charge。
The latter I cannot pretermit： for as the chiefe waight of
the Cloth…trade lyeth on the Merchants…Adventures； so also is the
burthen of charge most felt under that trade。 For the Impositions
and Imprest money by them laid upon the Cloth； for defraying the
charge of their Government； and payment of their Debts； hath
driven many good Merchants out of the trade； and given the
Clothiers occasion to complaine of want of Buyers； and thrust the
trade it selfe more and more into the Strangers hands。
And abroad； by the unfit place of Residence； which the
Merchants…Adventurers are fallen upon in Holland。 Whither they
goe with great perill of Shippe and Goods： And where they come
farre short of that they hoped for； and of that quicke and ample
vent of their Cloth they found in Zeeland。 The Agitation of which
remoove； is vehemently suspected to have moved the Merchants of
Holland； to procure Priviledges of the States Generall to
Incorporate themselves； and keep Courts； to confront the
Merchants…Adventurers； which they never did before： To have
drawne the Taring of Cloth into Holland； where the Buyers are in
some sort； Judges & Parties； which before was in the Mart…towne；
where the Seller was present： And lastly to have hastned the
great Imposition in Holland。 All which are matters of moment； and
concerne the Cloth…trade very much； and whereof the English
Factors there residing doe generally complaine： Yet These I
rather instance then urge： leaving the further Overture thereof
to their own relation。
Now the forreine causes of the decay of the Drapery of
England： are either generall； as the warres in Germany： or
speciall as the great Imposition lately laide upon our Cloth in
Holland。
By the former； the Course of Trade is stopt and hindered；
that Merchants cannot passe without perill from place to place：
and the monies become so variable； that when a Merchant hath sold
his Cloth； and hopeth to have gained something thereby； by that
time that the terme for payment is expired； he receiveth lesse in
value then the Clothes cost； by the raising and rising of the
monies。
By the latter； the Merchants of the Netherlands are
discouraged； wherby many of them have given over their trades；
which heretofore they followed in ample manner； unto Muscovy； the
East…Countries and other places； in our English Clothes bought of
the Merchants…Adventurers from time to time。
Cap。 III。
Of governed Trade； and therein of Monopoly。
Hitherto the Matter of Trade hath beene considered in Money
and Merchandize： the Forme followeth； and that either in respect
of Government； or want of Government in trade。 Government is a
representation of the Majestie and Authoritie of the King。 The
subject that is honoured with Government； is invested with part
of the Kings Honour。 The Trades of this Kingdome which by His
Majesties especiall Grace and Favour are reduced under Order and
Government into Corporations； Companies； and Societies； doe
certainly much Advance and Advantage the Commerce of this
Common…wealth； and farre excell the trades of any other forreine
Merchants in their ungoverned trades。
But as the Use of Government is excellent for the restraint
of unskilfull and disorderly trade： so the Abuse thereof is as
inconvient； if at any time the same be too strict； and come
within the compasse of a Monopoly。 And because the name and
nature of Monopoly； is more talk't of； then well understood of
many； and some thinke that the reducing of trade into Order and
Government； is a kinde of Monopolizing and restraint of trade： I
have thought it not unseasonable to bestow some specaill paines
in the diligent investigation thereof。 Not that I would have the
trade of the Kingdome； so circumscribed or appropriated to any；
that others of His Majesties subjects should be deprived of the
libertie thereof； but that upon equall and reasonable termes；
trading under Order and Government； without that ill tincture of
Monopoly； the Kings high way of trade should be opened unto all。
The name therefor of Monopoly in our English tongue； is
derived； as the learned know； of the Greeke word ｛Greek word
omitted｝： whence also the Latine word Monopolium is borrowed。
Some derive it of ｛Greek word omitted｝ Solus； & ｛Greek word
omitted｝ Versor； to converse alone。 Others of ｛Greek word
omitted｝ Solus； and； ｛Greek word omitted｝ Civitas； quasi unica
negotiatio in Civitate。 But all these agree in one meaning of the
word； that is Singularis Negotiatio； a diverting of Commerce from
the naturall course and use thereof； into the hands of some few；
to their benefite； and others projudice。 I also find many
definition of Monopolies： and a g reat question among the
Civilans； whether a Monopoly may bee exercised of one alone； and
whether it consist aswell in Locatio Conductio； as they speak； as
in Emptio Venditio。 Which last is out of question with all。 And
of the former I find an instance in Artistotle of Thales Milesius
his Monopoly： who by his knowledge in Astrolog