第 11 节
作者:
小秋 更新:2021-02-20 18:19 字数:9322
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 least: which if it might seeme good to
the High Wisdome of His Majestie; to restraine; or at least to
give a tolleration of the Virginia and Barmudo's only: there
might be a great deale of Pietie and Policy shewed in this
Remedy。 For in the one respect; it would tend to a great
enriching of that plantation; which so happily succeedeth through
Gods blessing: and in the other it would advantage the King and
the Kingdome; in the redresse of the disorder of the Spanish
Trade; and in bringing in Treasure in stead of that Toye; more
then the Rent that is now raised to His Majestie for the same。
The Superfluity of other Commodities may bee restrained by
lawes Vestiary and Sumptuary; according to the example of Germany
& other our Neighbor Countries。
The Speciall Remote Cause of our want of Money; I noted to
bee the want of our East India Stocke in the Common…wealth。 the
Remedy whereof; is in the Princely Power and Gratious Favour of
His Majestie to apply at His pleasure to this Languishing body。
And if HIs Sacred Majestie will vouchsafe to apply His Gratious
Mouth; to this Mount: His waking Eye; to this Eye: His powerfull
Hand to this Hand: then surely this fainted Body will receive
Breath and Life; from the powerfull influence of so Great a
Majestie; and revive also the many other fainting Trades; that
are fallen in it。 The Forreine Remote Causes; I observed to be
the Warres in Christendome; or the Trades maintained with ready
Money Out of Christendome。 The former; either cause the
Exportation of Money; as do the Warres of Christians: or hinder
the Importation thereof; as doe the Warres of Pirats。 A Remedy in
the former of these I know none; besides that blessed disposition
in His Majesty to spare no Cost to make Peace: which hath made
His Fame shine as farre as the Sunne shineth; and shall last as
long as the Sunne and Moone endureth: and as sure as the Lord is
faithfull; will be remembred on His Posterity for ever: Besides
this I say; I know none; but Patience and Prayer: that God would
avert the heavy Judgments at this day on the Christian world; and
give us grace to cnsider Our peace; in this Our day thereof。 A
Remedy in the latter; may be either by reducing of the stragling
trade of His Majesties subjects into the Dominions of the King of
Spaine; into Government; whereby they also might goe in Fleetes;
as other governed Companies doe; and the better defend themselves
against so Common and Cruel an enimy: or else by seeking
restitution of our wrongs in this kinde; where it may be had: so
farre as it may concurre with the Honour of the Kng; to whose
Great and Princes judgement; I submit the same。
The Remedy for the Exportation of Money out of Christendome
by the Trades before mentioned; dependeth much on the good
Conclusion hoped for; betweene the Dutch and our Nation。 Whereby
not only the Indian Commodities; which in those Trades are the
principall; may be bought much better cheape; and consequently
spare a great deale of the Treasure now issued out for the same:
but also; the Native Commodities of either Country; and as much
as may bee of every Country; may be brought into Trade and Traine
with the Indians; and advanced in their use and price: that so at
last in stead of Money for Wares; we may give Wares for Wares
according to the Law and nature of Commerce。 And this good
conclusion betweene the Dutch and Us; is the rather to bee
wished; and the more to be hastened; because the subtilty of the
Indians is great; intaking advantage of this unhappy Faction; or
rather Fraction; that is fallen betwixt us。 For those that have
travelled the Indies; and observed those people can tell; that
the Indians doe ascribe so much to the light of their
understanding; that they doe account the rest of the world blinde
in Comparison of them。 Only they vouchsafe to the people of
Europe this honour; to call them One Eyed Men。 Which aslo
Masseius taketh notice of; in his History of the Indies; that
those people dare beyond modesty thus to brag; Chineses duos
habere oculos; Europeaos unum; & quod hominum est reliquum;
caecutire。 That the Chineses have two Eies; the Europeans one;
and all the rest of the people of the world are blinde。 And
indeed they doe approove themselves to be Quicke…sighted enough:
for they are the Antipodes of Christians; and are in scituation
farthest remote from them; and yet can finde the Meanes; to pry
into the mines and Treasrue of the Christian world。 And therefore
I say; it is high time that the Dutch and We lest Darting at one
another; and so joine together; that as with one Hand; and one
Heart; and if they will needs have it so; with that one Eie; we
may collect and contract our sharpest sence & fight into it; that
as it is said; some Monoculists; by the sharpnesse of the sence
drawne to one Eie; see better with that; then both:we may at last
put this remedy in practise; that we seem no longer blind men; to
those Indian people。 But herein on both parts; are we humbly to
impore His Majesties Regall Intercession; that these differences;
betwixt the Dutch and Us; may no longer Hang in Suspence; but at
last be drawne to that happy and hopefull Period wee have so long
looked & longed for。 That so the Majesty of the King; arising
like the Glory of the Sun…rising upon this our Horizon; may
dispell and disperse all the tempestuous Mists and Fogges; that
have obscured the same; and lend such a glorious Light and Life
unto this Orbe of ours; that They & We; like lovers and friends
fallen at oddes; may be redintegrated; renewed; and reunited; in
unfaigned Amitie and Unity; tha the name of Hostilitie betwixt
Them and Us; be never hereafter told in Gath; nor publish't in
the Streets of Ashcalon: And that the Publike complaints as well
of their Owne people; as Ours; may no longer come under the view
and censure of the world。
Another Remedy of this kinde; may bee His Majesties gratious
protection of the Persian Trade now so happily set on foote: that
so neither the Envy of any; at Home; nor the Power or Policy of
any abroad; supplant us in the same。 Whereby the Cloth and Tinne;
and other the Native Commodities of this Kingdome; may be brought
into Use and Commerce amongst the Persians also。 Which through
Gods blessing; and his Majesties Royall Assistance; may be a
means to draw the whole Trade of the Persian silke into this
Kingdom; and make it the Magazin thereof; for the supply of other
Nations: to the weakning of the Turkes power; the increase of
Trade in this Common…wealth; and with it His Majesties Customes;
the Navigation; and employment of the poore: to the Great Honour
of the King; and enriching of all His Kingdomes。
And so much for the Remedies about the matter of Trade in
Money; the Merchandize followeth。 Which I considered Jointly or
Apart。 The things that hindred the whole Trade; I noted to be
Deficient; as the want of Money; or the East India Stocke; which
have their Remedy before: or Efficient; as Usury and Litigious
Suits of law; to the Remedies whereof we now proceede。 The Remedy
for Usury; may be plenty of Money。 For then; men will have no
such cause to take Money at interest; as when Money is scant。 For
as it is the scarcitie of Money that maketh the high rates of
interest: so the plentie of Money will make the rates Low; better
then any Statute for that purpose。 For although in the
Netherlands; it is lawfull for a man to take twenty in the
hundred if he can get it (wherein it seemes the Author of the
Tract against Usuary was misinformed) yet there; commonly money
is let at 6 and 7 in the hundred; by reason of the plenty of
Money。
Or there is another Remedy for Usury; in giving liberty to
the subjects if so it may seeme good to His Majesties High
Wisedome) to buy and sell; and to transport Billes of debt from
man to man: according to the Custome of Germany and the Low
Countries。 Which is found to be an excellent meanes to supply
mens wants in cours