首页 >出版文学> The Maintenance of Free Trade>第2章
  FortheRuleisinfallible,Thatwhentheexchangedothanswerthetruevalueofourmoneysaccordingtotheirintrinsickeweightandfineness,andtheirextrinsickevaluation:
  Theyareneverexported,becausetheGayneisansweredbyexchange,whichistheCauseofTransportation。Thiscausebeingprevented,makeththeeffecttocease;andthisisengraffedineveryman'sjudgement,accordingtotheMaximaoftennotedheretofore,SublataCausa,Tollitureffectiu。
  SothatexchangestillhaththecommandandstrikeththeStroake,insomuchthatalbeitthepricethereofrisethandfalleth,accordingtoPlentyorScarcityofmoney:yetmoneysareoverruledthereby。ForisyouinhauncetheCoyne,theexchangedothcontrolleitandriseaccordingly。Andifyouundervaluethesame,Theexchangeinlikemannerdothfallinprice。WhereinnotetheoperationofexchangebothhereandbeyondtheSeas,inplaceswhereexchangesrunneuponthepoundof20shillingsStarlin。IftheinhauncingofCoynebebeyondtheSeas,andtheexchangebenotmadeaccordingly:Thenourmoneysarecarriedout。IftheinhauncingofCoyneweremadehere:Econtra,moneyswouldbeeimported。ButthemerchantStranger,whoobserveththeruleofexchange,and(willnotbeover-takenasweeare;)willover-rulethesameipsofacto,andgiveyousomuchlessinexchange,asweshallinhaunceourCoinebyvaluation,orimbasethesamebyAllay。InlikemannerifyouCrydownemoneysbeyondtheSeas,Th'exchangewillalterinpriceaccordingly:andifyouCrydownmoneyshere,orundervaluethembyname,Th'exchangeoughttoRuleandtomakethedenominationaccordinglyinprice,andstillremainethPredominantovermoneysandcommodities。ForevenasCommoditiesbeingtheBodyofTrafficke,drawuntothemmoneys,andthereinmayseemetobeActive;yetmoney(beingtherightjudgeorRulewhichgivethorimposedapriceuntoCommodities:)istheThingActive,andCommoditiesbecomethethingPassive:Evenso,althoughmoneyistheSubjectwhereuponexchangesaremade:yetstillth'exchangeismadetoRulemoneys;
  Totheend,thatthevaluethereofshouldbeeansweredbythePublikeMeasureofexchange;TopreventallabusesandinconveniencesarisingbythepriceofCommodities,andthevaluationofmoneysinexchange:whichmoneysareeitherReallorimaginary,accordingtotheCustomeoftheplaceofexchangebythedeviceofBankers。
  ThiswasSeriouslyobservedintheyeere1576bydiversmosthonourableandGraveCounselloursofState,Namely,SirNickolasBacon,LordKeeperofthegreatSeale;SirWilliamBurghleyLordTreasurourofEngland,ThomasEarleofSussex,FrancisEarleofBedford,SirFrancisKnowles,SirJamesCroft,andMasterSecretarieWalshingham,withtheassistanceofotherworthypersonsofexperience,namelySirThomasChamberlain,SirThomasGreshamKnight,MasterPeterOsborne,MasterJamesAltham,MasterThomasRivet,andMasterRichardMartin,MasteroftheMints:fortheyfoundthatthefollowinginconvenienceswerepractised,byBankersorexchangersfortheirPrivategaineandbenefite,fortheadvancingofsomeCommon-weales,andthedestructionofotherCommon-weales。
  TolaytheirmoneywithGaineinanyplaceoftheworld,whereexchangelyeth。
  ToGaineandwaxeRich,andnevermeddlewithanyPrincesCommodity;or,TobuyanyPrincesCommoditywiththeSubjectsmoney,andnotonepennieoftheirowne。
  TounderstandwhethermoneyemployedonexchangeorCommoditiesismoreprofit。
  ToliveandincreaseuponeveryPrincesSubject,whichtakeupmoneys。
  TowindeouteveryPrincesTreasureoutofhisRealme,whoseSubjectsbringinmoreWares,thentheycarryout。
  TomaketheStapleofmoneyRunne,wheretheRichPrincewillhaveit。
  TounfurnishthepoorePrinceofhisprovisionofmoneyinWarres。
  Tofurnishtheirneedofmoney,thattarrythesellingoftheirWaresorCommodities。
  TotakeupmoneytoengrosseanyCommodity,ortoincorporateanyTrade。
  TohidetheircarryingawayofanyPrincesmoney。
  TofetchawayanyPrincesfinemoney,withthebasermoneyofotherPrinces。
  TotakeupPrincesbasemoney,andturneitintofine,andpaythepartywithhisowne。
  TogetallMerchantsmoneyintotheirhandsandgainethereby,andpayingthem,withtheirowne。
  TomakethatRealmegaineofallotherRealmes:whoseSubjectslivemost,bytheirowneCommodities,andsellyeerelytheover-plusintotheworld,andbothoccupiethatincreaseyeerely,andalsotheiroldstoreofTreasureuponexchange。
  ToundoeRealmesandPrinces,thatlookenottotheirCommon-wealth,whentheMerchantswealthinsuchandthegreathousesofoneCountrie,conspiretogether;sotoruleth'xchange,thatwhentheywillbeDeliverers,theywillreceiveinanotherplaceabovetheStandardoftheMinteofthePrincesmoneydilivered:andwhentheywillbeTakers;theywillpaythesameinanotherplace,undertheStandardofthePrincesmoneytakenup。
  Togetreadymoneytobuyanythingthatisofferedcheape,andtoraisethepriceofWares。
  Togetapart,andsometimesallhisGaines,thatemployethmoneytakenupbyexchanges,inWares,andsomakeotherstravellfortheirGaine。
  TokeepePrincesfromhavinganyCustomes,Subsidies,orTaxesupontheirmoney,astheyemployitnot。
  TovaluejustlyanyWarestheycarryintoanycountry,bysettingthematavalue,asthemoneythatboughtthem,wasthenatbyexchangeintheCountrie,whithertheybeecarried。
  Bythepremisseswemaysee,ofwhatimportancetheoperationofexchangeis,whereintheendeavoursofSirThomasGresham,thinkingtoruleth'exchangeofEnglandbyplentyofmoneyprovethfruitlesse,andmighthavebeenedonewithmorefacilitiebydirection,asshallbemademanifest。
  ThiswasthecausethattheFrenchKingLewystheninth,andPhilipthefaire,didConfiscatetheBankersGoods,andsodidPhilipdeValois,whoinditedthemasCoozenersoftheCommon-
  wealth;foritwasfound,thatinashorttime(with24,thousandpounds)theyhadgottenfoureandtwentiehundredthousandpounds。ThekingdomeofEnglandwouldhavebeenemoresensibleofthelikelosse,ifthehostiledepredationsheretoforemade,hadnotsuppliedthesame,nothwithstandingthattheCoffersofQueeneElizabethofblessedmemory,werestoredwithsevenhundredthousandpoundsStarlin,beforetheWarreswiththeEarleofTyroneinIreland,whereinmorethandoublethatSummehathbeenespent,asIfoundbytheaccompts。Forthisdisordredcouseofexchange(asIhavesaid)isliketothecrueltyofthePlanetSaturne,whichmakethhisSphericallcoursein30yeerswithgreatoperation,anditisnotmanyyeereslesse,sinceIhaveobservedthisinconvenienceforthegoodoftheRealme,albeitEnvyhathcrossedthesame,byignorantmendenyingPrinciples,andbyothermeanesherenottobementioned。
  ThesecondcauseofthewantofMoneysinEngland,is(saiththesaidAuthor)theSuperfluityofPlategenerallyinprivatmenshands。Herehehathomitted,toNotethegreatquantitieofSilverconsumedinthemakingofSilverThread,Spangles,Purles,Oaes,andthelike,whichuponlateexaminationoftheRightHonourableHenryVizcountMandevilleLordPresident,arefoundtoamount80thousandpoundsandupwardsyeerely;whereasthePlatemadeinLondon,isonlybut50or60thousandpoundsworth,whichremainethasastandingTreasure,whenth'otherisworneandconsumed,leavingbutsomeparttobemoltenagaine:andifthePlatewereconvertedintomoneys,withoutalldoubt,itwouldmoreeasilybeTransported,havinghisweightandfineness,andaffording12inthe100。Gaineabovetheexchangeintwomonethsandlessetime。
  Anexchangehereof,weehaveyetfreshinmemorie,duringtheRaigneoftheFrenchKingCharlestheninth,whoaftertheMassacreofParis,findingtheTreasureoftheRealmeexhausted,nadhisSubjectswealthtoconsistmoreofPlatethenofreadyMoney,wasadvisedbysome,thatundercolouroftheSupressingofPride,itweregoodtoprescribeeveryman,whatstoreofPlateheshouldkeepe,accordingtohisdegree&qualitie,&theresttobeturnedintomoneys:otherswereofopinion,thatitwouldntoonlybreedadiscontentuntohisSubjects,butalsoaderogatinanddishonourtotheKingsReputationwithforraineNations:Seeing,ThattheStateofaPrince,dothasmuchconsistbyreputation,asbystrength,ThereforelikegoodPolitians,advisedtheKingsomewhattoimbasehismoneyundertheStandardofthePlate,whichwouldcausethelesseexportation,andthePlate(ofcourse)tobeeturnedintomoney:andthiswasdoneaccordingly,andhadalsothesameeffect,savingthatwheretheythoughtmoney,wouldnotbeTransported;theyfoundthemselvesdeceived,forthecourseofexchangewasnotlookedinto,which,notbeingansweredaccordingtothetruevaluesofthemoneys,madeaGainebytheundervaluationoftheminexchange,andsolongastheGaineremained,itwascontinuallyTransported,wherebyatlastthePlateoftheRealme(turnedintomoney)waslost;aswellashelosthismoneybeforethattime:andsoitcametopasseinEngland,duringtheRaigneofKingHenrytheeight,whoGrantedseveralLettersPatents,orAuthoritiestodiversofhisNoblestomakebasemoneysoftheirownePlate,whichdidfalloutotbethegreaterprejudicetotheCommon-
  wealth,andtohimselfebutapresentshiftforthetime。
  ConcerningtheGoldandSilverthread,IhaveheretoforeendevouredtohavetheManufacturethereofinEngland,uponplentyofmoneyandSilvertobeeprocuredfromforrainepartsbymeanesofth'exchange。ButfindingoflatesuchunreasonableConsumptionofsilverthereinspentaftertherefiningthereof,andtheuncertaintyingoodnnessebytheWier-drawers:itpleasedhisMajestiewiththeadviceofhismostHonourableprivyCouncell,toforbidthesamelatelybyProclamation,andtoadmittheforrainesilverThreadtocomein;wherebyourSilverisnotonlypreserved,butthequantityalsoisincreased,becauseafterthewearingagoodpart,remainethinburntSilve,whereastheSilkelaceisconsumedtonothing。AndsuchistheGaineofSilverbeyondtheSeas(inregardoftheloweexchangebyBills,undervaluingourmoneys,)thatPurles&Oaeses(insomesortpreparedhere)havebeen(bywayofMerchandise)Transportedofpurposetomeltthesamedownethere,forthemakingofmoneys,asIhaveseenebydiversCertificatesfromDortinHolland。
  ThethirdCauseoftheWantofMoneysinEngland,istheConsumptionofforraineCommodities,whichIhavealwayescalled,TheoverballancingofthoseCommodities,withthenativeCommoditiesoftheKingdome,inPrice,andnotsomuchinthequantitie。Andthecomparisonhereofis,principallytobemadeintheTradeofcloth,andtheReturneofit,madebyForraineCommodities,AtSilkes,Linnencloth,Cambrickes,Lawne,andotherthelikeCommoditiesbroughtinbytheMerchantsAdventurourswhichhavetheMaineTrade,andbuytheseCommoditis(proportionably)dearerthentheysellourhomeCommodities;
  whichIhaveproved,bymanyreasonstoproceed,bytheabuseofexchange,accordingtowhich,theyarebothwaiessoldandbought。Isthereanymanofjudgement,whoseethnot,ThatthisoverballancingdothexpellourmoneysoutoftheRealme,andwhichare(ineffect)asitweregiventobootetootherNationstoCountervailethisinequalitie?LetthemconsideroftheReasonsfollowing。
  First,moneysbeingundervaluedinexchange,causeththepriceofourhomeCommoditiestobeabated,andtobeesoldbettercheapeinforraineparts,&isalsothecausethatourmoneysarecontinuallyTransported。
  Secondly,themoneysbeingTransported,takethawaythelivelycourseofTraffiqueofoursaidCommodities,andcausethyoungmerchantstoRunnebyexchangesuponBillstomaintainetheirTrade,payinggreatInterestformoney,whichtheycannottakeupatUseupontheirsingleBond,astheycandoebyaBillofexchange,withoutSureties。
  ThiscauseththesaidyoungMerchantsandotherstomakerashSalesoftheirCommoditiesbeyondtheSeas,topaytheirBillsofexchanges,wherebytheyoverthrowtheMarketsofothers,andmakethemtoSellgoodcheape。
  Soonthecontrary,theCoynesbeingover-valuedinexchange,andalsoinhauncedbeyondtheSeas,causeththepriceofforraineCommoditiestobeincreasedmorethenourhomecommodities,andourMerchantsarecompelledofcourse,tomakeReturnethereby。Fortheycannotimportthoseovervaluedmoneys,buttotheirexceedinggreatlosse;andbyexchange,theyfindefewTakers,unlesseitbeouryoungMerchants,whichdoeconsumetheirEstatesbyexchanges&Rechanges:ForoftheThreeEssentialPartsofTraffique,wehavebuttheuseofone,whichisthebuyingofforraineCommoditiestomakeReturneshomewards,anddothincreasetheconsumptionofthesaidWares。
  MoneysremainingherebyplentifullbeyondtheSeas,theratherforthattheymakeBillsobligatory,serveasreadyMoney,whichtheyTransferreandsetoverbetweenemanandmanforthepaimentofMoneysorWares;causeththerealivelycourseofTrade,wherebytheirCommoditiesareadvancedinprice&sale,neitheraretheycompelledtoselthem,butattheirprice,becausetheyfindemoneyatinterestat5and6inthehundred。
  Thismoneyismadedailymoreplentifull,byourSpanishMerchants,whichdoediverttheReallsofSpaine,asbeforehathbeenedeclared:henceitproceedeth,thatourhomeCommodities,aremanytimessoldbetercheapebeyondtheSeasthenhere;foralthoughMerchantsdoelosethereby,theymakeaccounttogainemore,bythelowexchange,deliveringtheirmoneysthere,ortakingofthemupherebyexchange,topaytheirBillsofexchangeatanundervalue:insomuch,thatmanyMerchantshavingnocommoditiesthere,maytakeupmoneyhere,andsendingoverthesameinspecie,willpaytherewiththeirBillofexchange,andGaine(bydexteritieofwit)15inthehundrethinlessethantwomonethstime。ThuswhenGaineispractisedbyexchange,theCommoditiesoftheRealmearelessvented,andthemoneysareexported,whichcauseththelesseemploymentheretobemadeuponourCommodities:Evenastheimportationofmoneysbeinghindered(bytheinhauncingoftheCoynesbeyondtheSeas:)compellethourMerchantstomakethegreateremploymentuponforreineCommoditiesatdeereRates。
  FortheCommoditiesbeyondtheSeas,areinthehandsofthemthatmakesaleofthem,uponacertaineprice(asitwere)
  attheirpleasure,havingPlentyofMoney,atacheapeRateatinterest,whereasalsotheyhavenomantoundersellthem,hereandthere,asourMerchantsdoeourCommodities,which(withoutallcomparison:)arefarremuchfalleninprice,thentheforraineCommoditiesnowsomewhatabatedinprice。
  ConcerningotherCommoditiesimported,AsWines,Raisons,Corints,Tobacco,andSpicesoftheEastIndies:Letusbriefelyobserve,thattheWinesofFrancemightbeboughtbettercheap,ifthemoneyoftheRealmewerenotundervaluedinexchange;forwherasheretoforetheygaveusinpaymenttheirFrenchCrowneofGoldfor64。Soulx,nowtheygiveusthesameat75Soulx,whichCrownewasthenworth6shillings,6penceStarlin,andtheirquartd'eseunowpaiedfor16Soulxandabove,wasthenbut15
  Soulx,forwhichwegavehere(accompting4totheCrowneofSilver)69penceandthereabouts,andnow72penceandabove。
  Andbesidesthat,moreofournativeCommoditieswereventedwithbetterprofit,accordingtoth'exchange;fortheRuleis,thatthelesseofStarlinmoneyweedoereckoninexchangewiththem,themoreistheGayneofourCommodities。ThelikemaybeapplyedfortheTradeofCorints,whichisnowprovidedbyothermeans。Butthelimitationstorestraineallmenfromimportingthem,thenonelythoseoftheLevantcompany,makethnofreeTradeofthisCommodity,norotherthelike。
  TheimmoderateUseofthatweedeTobaccohathbeenesoeffectuallindebarringusfromSpanishReallstobe(asformerly)importedtoagreatvalueyearely:butthewisedomeoftheStatehathsoqualifiedthesame,thatourMerchantstradinginSpainedoenowsellPerpetuanoes,Bayes,Sayes,andotherourhomeCommoditiestobenefite,whichbeforeweresoldtolosse,tohavemoneystobuythisTobacco,thattheSpaniarddidsay,Todotepagarainhumo,Allshallbepaidwithsmoake。
  ThefourthcauseofthewantofMoneyinEngland,is(asthesaidAuthorsaith)ThegreatwantofourEastIndiastockehereathome,whichhetermeththeespeciallRemoteCause;whereasmostmenwouldhaveexpectedthatthereadymoneyssentinReallsofPlatetomaketheemploymentofthesaidTrade,wouldratherhavebeenementioned。MymeaningisthattobecomeaTrapezuntiaFlatterer。ForAEsopsMoral,ThattheLyoncouldnotbehealedwithouttheApesLiver:thatis,Princescannotbesafewithoutthedestructionofflatters:remainethstillfreshinmemory;butinfavouroftruthandPolicy,Iamresolvedtodelivermyplaineandsincereopinion,concerningthesaidTrade,whichbeganwithusinEnglandimmediatelyafterthegreatJubileyeare,1600。
  IntheDiscoursemadeoftheTradefromEnglandintotheEastIndiesbetruelycollected,nodoubtthesaidTrademaybefoundveryprofitablehereafter,albeitithathbeeneverydifficultinthebeginning,accordingtotheProverb,Omutprincipiumgrave;especiallywhentheControversiesbetweeneusandtheHollandersshallbedetermined,andtheiragreementsestablished。
  ForifPepperdoebutcosttwopencehalfe-pennythepoundintheIndies,andthattenneshillingsimployedthereinwillrequirebut35shillingsforallchargeswhatsoever,todeliveritinLondon;whereitisusuallysoldforabove20pence:Itfollowethbyconsequence,thattheremustbeaverygreatgaine,whichwillincrease,whenthesaidpartiesshallbeunitedintrueLove,andbuythesaidCommoditiesbettercheape;andsoproportionablyforallotherSpices,drugges,silkes,indicoe'sandCallecoes。
  Againe,ifonehundreththousandpoundsinmoneyexportedmayimportthevalueof500thousandpoundsStarlininwaresofCommodities:albeitEnglanddonotspendabove120thousandpounds,and380thousandpoundsinexporteduntodiversforraineparts,andtheresoldforreadyforreadymoneywithgreatadvantage。
  Andlastly,iftheveryCommoditiesoftheRealmeexportedintotheEastIndies,willbuysomuchasEnglandusethoftheirCommodities,andtheemploymentismadeforforraineCoyneorReallsof8procuredfromotherplaces,whatmanofunderstandingcanjustlyfindefaultwiththatTrade?Iftreatisewereimportedtherebyuntous,astheirfinallend,astheDiscoursesaith,butthatotherTradesdodivertthesame?ForwhenthesaidIndianCommoditiesaresentfromEnglandintoTurkie,Ligorne,Genoway,theLowCountries,Marselleisandotherplaces,andaresoldforreadymoney:ThesameisimployedagaineuponGorints,Wines,Cotton-WoollandYearne,GallesanddiversotherCommodities,wherewiththeShipsbeeingreladen:yetagreatproportionremainethtobebroughtoverinmoneys,whicharedivertedfromus,bythecourseofexchangeinundervaluingourmoneys,ashathbeenedeclared。Thelossewhreofisgreatertothiskingdome,thanallthemoneysemployedyearelyfortheEastIndies,comethunto,whichwithoutdueconsideration,seemethtobeeimpossible。
  Sothatweemayverywellaffirme,thatbythisTradetheTreasureoftheRealmecangreatlybeincreaseduntoustheuseofforraineCommoditiesatreasonablerates。Andthereforeisthesamebyallmeanestobecontinued,theratherforthattheHollandershavedeclared5especiallReasonsforthecontinanceoftheirEastIndieTrade,whicharenottobeneglected,butaretobeeponderedbyallPolitiansandStatesmen。
  1。BecausetheRight,Power,andfreedomeoftheTraffiqueandTradebelongethuntothem(iuregentium)aswellastoanynationoftheworld;whichtheSpaniardsdidcallinquestion。
  2。FortherevengeofanyinjuriesdonetotheHollander,maybeerecompencedinthoseCountries;whichwasheretoforewithoutbreachofTruce。
  3。ForthemaintenanceoftheirMarrinersandShipping,ofwhichtwo,theyaboundaboveallnations。
  4。FortheincreaseofCustomesandmeanesraisedbytheBuyingofthesecommodities,theirCountreybeingaStorehouseforallwaresandmerchandizes。
  5。BecausethatbythecontinuanceofthesaidTrade(althoughitshouldprooveunprofitable:)Theymaintaineacertainepeaceandassuranceinthecourseoftheirgovernmentwhichconsisteththereby。