第 5 节
作者:
尘小春 更新:2021-02-21 10:14 字数:9321
64。 Soulx; now they give us the same at 75 Soulx; which Crowne was then worth 6 shillings; 6 pence Starlin; and their quart d'eseu now paied for 16 Soulx and above; was then but 15 Soulx; for which we gave here (accompting 4 to the Crowne of Silver) 69 pence and thereabouts; and now 72 pence and above。 And besides that; more of our native Commodities were vented with better profit; according to th'exchange; for the Rule is; that the lesse of Starlin money wee doe reckon in exchange with them; the more is the Gayne of our Commodities。 The like may be applyed for the Trade of Corints; which is now provided by other means。 But the limitations to restraine all men from importing them; then onely those of the Levant company; maketh no free Trade of this Commodity; nor other the like。 The immoderate Use of that weede Tobacco hath beene so effectuall in debarring us from Spanish Realls to be (as formerly) imported to a great value yearely: but the wisedome of the State hath so qualified the same; that our Merchants trading in Spaine doe now sell Perpetuanoes; Bayes; Sayes; and other our home Commodities to benefite; which before were sold to losse; to have moneys to buy this Tobacco; that the Spaniard did say; Todo te pagara in humo; All shall be paid with smoake。 The fourth cause of the want of Money in England; is (as the said Author saith) The great want of our East India stocke here at home; which he termeth the especiall Remote Cause; whereas most men would have expected that the ready moneys sent in Realls of Plate to make the employment of the said Trade; would rather have beene mentioned。 My meaning is that to become a Trapez untia Flatterer。 For AEsops Moral; That the Lyon could not be healed without the Apes Liver: that is; Princes can not be safe without the destruction of flatters: remaineth still fresh in memory; but in favour of truth and Policy; I am resolved to deliver my plaine and sincere opinion; concerning the said Trade; which began with us in England immediately after the great Jubile yeare; 1600。 In the Discourse made of the Trade from England into the East Indies be truely collected; no doubt the said Trade may be found very profitable hereafter; albeit it hath beene very difficult in the beginning; according to the Proverb; Omut principium grave; especially when the Controversies betweene us and the Hollanders shall be determined; and their agreements established。 For if Pepper doe but cost two pence halfe…penny the pound in the Indies; and that tenne shillings imployed therein will require but 35 shillings for all charges whatsoever; to deliver it in London; where it is usually sold for above 20 pence: It followeth by consequence; that there must be a very great gaine; which will increase; when the said parties shall be united in true Love; and buy the said Commodities better cheape; and so proportionably for all other Spices; drugges; silkes; indicoe's and Callecoes。 Againe; if one hundreth thousand pounds in money exported may import the value of 500 thousand pounds Starlin in wares of Commodities: albeit England do not spend above 120 thousand pounds; and 380 thousand pounds in exported unto divers forraine parts; and there sold for ready for ready money with great advantage。 And lastly; if the very Commodities of the Realme exported into the East Indies; will buy so much as England useth of their Commodities; and the employment is made for forraine Coyne or Realls of 8 procured from other places;what man of understanding can justly finde fault with that Trade? If treatise were imported thereby unto us; as their finall end; as the Discourse saith; but that other Trades do divert the same? For when the said Indian Commodities are sent from England into Turkie; Ligorne; Genoway; the Low Countries; Marselleis and other places; and are sold for ready money: The same is imployed againe upon Gorints; Wines; Cotton…Wooll and Yearne; Galles and divers other Commodities; wherewith the Ships beeing reladen: yet a great proportion remaineth to be brought over in moneys; which are diverted from us; by the course of exchange in undervaluing our moneys; as hath beene declared。 The losse whreof is greater to this kingdome; than all the moneys employed yearely for the East Indies; cometh unto; which without due consideration; seemeth to bee impossible。 So that wee may very well affirme; that by this Trade the Treasure of the Realme can greatly be increased unto us the use of forraine Commodities at reasonable rates。 And therefore is the same by all meanes to be continued; the rather for that the Hollanders have declared 5 especiall Reasons for the continance of their East Indie Trade; which are not to be neglected; but are to bee pondered by all Politians and Statesmen。 1。 Because the Right; Power; and freedome of the Traffique and Trade belongeth unto them (iure gentium) aswell as to any nation of the world; which the Spaniards did call in question。 2。 For the revenge of any injuries done to the Hollander; may bee recompenced in those Countries; which was heretofore without breach of Truce。 3。 For the maintenance of their Marriners and Shipping; of which two; they abound above all nations。 4。 For the increase of Customes and meanes raised by the Buying of these commodities; their Countrey being a Storehouse for all wares and merchandizes。 5。 Because that by the continuance of the said Trade (although it should proove unprofitable:) They maintaine a certaine peace and assurance in the course of their government which consisteth thereby。 This Trade of the Hollanders for the East Indies began upon the Embargoes made in Spain of their goods and interruption of their Trade; wherein they did associate themselves with the Germanes to disperse and vent their said India commodities better and speedier。 To this Argument appertaineth; the consideration of the Trades out of Christendome; maintained for the most part with ready moneys。 As for Turkie and Persia; wherein the abundance of Silver and Gold come into Europe; since the West Indies were discovered; is to be noted; which hath made every thing dearer according to the increase of money; which like unto an Ocean; dividing the Course into several branches in divers Countries; hath caused a great alteration。 But England doth not participate by the Course of Traffique a proportionable Competent share of the said aboundance of moneys; as other nations doe: albeit not many yeares since; we had more moneys then in times past; before the saide discovery of the West Indies: But we must now measure things according to the said abundance; which is much diminished by the continuall exportation of moneys for the East Indies from all places of Traffique。 The fifth Cause of the Want of Money in England; hee saith; are the Warres of Christendome; causing exportation of moneys; and the Pirates hindering importation of money。 The latter is meerely a Prevention or Robbing of our moneys; which are supposed; might be brought in。 But if Pirates did not take some of our moneys; it followeth not; that the same should come unto us in specie。 For experience; by the example of the Spanish Merchants; diverting the Realls of 8 from us (for Gaine to be made in forraine parts:) prooveth unto us the contrary。 Gayne beeing alwaies the Scope of Merchants: and to proove that this Gayne; is made Really onely by the abuse of exchange (which otherwise would be but Imaginary); wee have already declared。 Now touching the exportation of monyes by the wares of Christians; where he declareth an urgent instance: That the Riecks Doller; is raised (two markes Lubish making the said Doller:) to twenty markes Lubish in many places of Germany; whereby abundance of money is drawen unto the Mintes of those Countries; from all the Mines and Parts of Christendome: herein he is much mistaken; for when moneys are inhaunced; they never are carried to the Mintes for to be converted into other Coyne。 But they remaine currant; betweene man and man; running like a Poste…horse; every man fearing to receive a losse by the fal。 Neither maketh this any rule for merchants in places of Trade; otherwise then that they may take knowledge of the publike valuation thereof; to sell their Commodities accordingly; by rating the price of exchange; upon their former observation; which being neglected or done in part; causeth the undervaluation of our monyes in exchange。 And this is the immediate Cause by him first alleaged and treated of; wherein the Commodities are no more Active; then Tenderdon Steeple in Kent; was the Cause of the decay of Dover haven。 To make this to appeare; let us note; that this Rieckx Doller being the maine and most usuall Coyne in Germany; Eastland; the United and Reconciled Countries under both Governments; and many other places; was valued at 2 marks Lubish; every marke being 16 shillings Lubish; or 16 Stivers; for the yeare 1575; the saide Doller was still coyned in the Empire for 32 Stivers。 And was so currant by Valuation in the Low Countries; wherby the said shilling Lubish and the Stiver Flemish were al one; but the wars in the Low Countries hath bin the cause of the inhauncing of this Doller; which was brought to 35 Stivers; and the yeare 1586;