第 13 节
作者:
尘小春 更新:2021-02-21 10:15 字数:9322
This is to be done only by his Majesties Proclamation according to the Statutes of exchanges; prohibiting that after three moneths next ensuing the same; no man shall make any exchanges by Bills or otherwise; for moneys to bee paied in forraine parts; or to be recharged towards this Realme under the true Par; or value for value of our moneys; and the moneys of other Countries in weight and finenesse; but at the said Rate; or above the same; as Merchants can agree; but never under the said Rate: which shall be declared in a paire of Tables publikely to be seene upon the Royall Exchanges in London; according to the said Proclamation; and the said Table shall be altered in price; as occasions shall be ministred beyond the Seas; in the generall Respective places of exchanges; either by their inhauncing of moneys by valuation; or by imbasing of the same by Allay; which by a vigilant eye may be observed; and will be a cause to make othr Nations more constant in the course of their moneys。 And this will be executed more or course; then by Authority; becuase Gaine doth beare sway and command with most men。 The facilitie hereof putteth me in minde of the Geometricall Axiom or Maxime; observed in commedation of the invention of round Wheeles; Circulus tangit Planum; unico puncta; as a reason to draw and carry Loads with a small strength; whereas if they had been made square; or any other Poly…angle and proportion: Forty horses would not so easily draw them; being laden; as two doth now; both with speed and ease。 Unto which this Remedie may bee aptly compared; which (in a manner) comprehendeth all the other Remedies。 For the Merchant Stranger; being here the Deliverer of money generally: will easily bee induced to make the most of his owne; receiving by exchange more for the same beyond the Seas; and the English Merchant being the Taker of the said moneys; will not bee so injurious to the State; as to give lesse beyond the Seas; then the value of the money of the Realme in exchange; contrarie to the said Proclamation: and if hee would; the Deliverer will not let thim have it。 Besides that the Takers occasions are enforced by necesssitie; and he can be no loser; for by this directio; he will sell his Commodities beyond the Seas accordingly。 English Merchants being the Deliverers of money beyond the Seas; and the price of exchange altering there accordingly; will have the like consideration; and the Merchant Stranger will provoke him thereunto。 And if there be no Takers; the English Merchant may bring over the money in specie; wherein he shall become a Gayner。 This course is agreeable to Justice and the Law of Nations; and will not hinder th'exchange to rise and fall as formerly; but keepe all in due order; with those considerations; Cautions and preventions as shall be set downe to prevent all inconveniences; proceeding by the inhauncing of money; which fall generally upon all men; in the indearing of things; and particularly upon Land… lords and Creditours in their Rents and Contracts; and especially upon the Kings Majesties Lands。 Now before we come to answer some objections made against this Remedie; let us examine what Time the old observer; and experience the best Schoole…master of mans life; have manifestly touching the Raising of moneys in forraine parts; and within the Realme; it being one of the 34 defective remedies before declared。 It is recorded in an ancient booke; that the inhauncing of the Coynes beyond the Seas; was the cause that King Henry the sixt of England; did raise the ounce of Starlin Silver from 20 pence to 30 pence: and King Edward the fourth from 30 pence to 40 pence。 And after him King Henry the eight; after many sendings to forraine Princes about Minte affairs and exchanges; (preceiving the price of money continually to rise beyond the Seas:) caused in the 18 yeere of his Raigne; The Angell Noble to be valued from 6 shillings 8 pence; unto seven shillings and four pence; and presently after to 7 shillings 6 pence; whereby every ounce of Starlin Silver was worth 45 pence: and yet there was nothing effected thereby; the money still altering beyond the Seas; whereupon Cardinal Wolsey had to alter the Valuation of money from time to time; as he should see cause。 Afterwards the said King in the 22 yeere of his Raigne; perceiving that divers Nations brought abunance of forraine Commodities into his Realme; and received money for it; which money they ever delivered to other Merchants by exchange; and never employed the same on the Commodities of the Realme; whereby his Majestie was hindered in his Customes; and the Commodities of the Realme were not uttered; to the great hinderance of his Subjects: as is there alleaged: His Majestie caused a Proclamation to be made; according to the aforesaid Statute; made in the time of King Richard the Second; That no person should make any exchange contrary to the true meaning of the said Act and Statute; upon paine to be taken the Kings mortall enemy; and to forfeite all that hee might forfeite; which tooke effect but for a short time; and no other was to bee expected; it not beeing of that moment; nor the principall meane to doe it。 After this followed the imbasing of Moneys and then all the price of forraine Commodities did rise immoderately; which made the native Commodities to rise at the Farmors and Tenants hands; and thereupon Gentlemen did raise the rents of their lands; and tooke farmes to themselves; and made inclosures of grounds; and the price of every thing beeing deare; was made dearer through plenty of money and Bullion comming from the West Indies; as is already noted; and by these meanes; was the Office of the Kings Royall exchanges neglected; because upon the Base money no exchange was made; and other nations counterfeited the same; and filled the kindome with it; and so carried out the good Staple wares of the Realme for it。 This raising of money was augmented afterwards by Queene Elizabeth of blessed memory; in the highest degree; by one full third part; from 45 pence the ounce; unto 60 pence or 5 shillings Starlin Standard: But the exportation did never ceasse; because the course of exchange for money did runne alwaies under the value of the money; still affoording a gaine betweene the said exchange and money; which caused the said exportation。 And so will it bee stil; if this be not prevented by Direction in a paire of Tbles; much like unto the Tables kept at Dover in the time of King Edward the third; to receive the passengers money; and by exchange in specie for it beyond the Seas; which made them to leave their moneys within the Realme; and this course of exchange so directed; is the onely meane and way to restore Englands wealth by importation of money and Bullion; advancing the price of our native Commodities; and to prevent the Transporation of our moneys: and all other Remedies are Defective; as experience will proove and demonstrate; if good things can bee favoured。 The Statue of employment must also bee observed; to make the Remedy more compleate with a Register also; to record the Moneys which forraine Marriners doe receive for fraight comming from Norway and other places; which are above one hundred voyages in one yeare; as also many other Ships; bringing corne into the Northerne and Westerne parts of the Realme; and exporting money for it。 The Turke; Persian; and Russian have herein beene more Politicke then we; keeping the price of their exchanges high much above the Valuation of their moneys。 So that they have no Trade by exchange; nor moneys; but onely for Commodities; whereby they prevent the over…balancing of forrain Commodities with theirs; as also the exportation of their moneys: albeit the use of our Commodities in those countreys; is very great。 The Objections made by some against this Sole Remedy may easily be answered; for they are grounded upon Suppositions against assured experience。 1。 Some make doubt; that the price of exchange being risen; there will be no takers of money; and then the deliverer is more thrust upon the exportation of moneys。 2。 Others say; that those merchants; which have sold their Cloth beyond the Seas shall receive a losse in the making over of their money from thence。 3。 Others say; that they shall not be able to vent their Cloth; according to the high exchange; expecially now that the same is out of request; and would have the matter of reformation deferred untill an other time。 The first objection is answered before; That the taker is ruled by the deliverer; who will not give his money by exchange under the true value according to the Proclaimation to be made; and the deliverer being the Merchant stranger here; will sooner be thrust upon the Statute of employment; for by the exportation of money; he shall have no gaine; whereas some of the discreeter sort would not have that Statute too stricktly pressed upon the Stranger; because the Trade should not bee driven into their hands。 To the second; the Proclamation limiting a time for execution; giveth Merchants ability to recover their moneys; or to sell their billes of debt for money; or to buy Commodities for them; as the manner is。 To the third; experience maketh a full answer