The want of mony coming by the consumption of forraine Commodities, may properly be tearmed overballancing of Commodities, which are more worne and used, because of the quantity of them, imported: proceeding also of the abuse of exchange, as the efficient Cause thereof, as aforesaid.
The excessive Use of Tobacco for so much as concerneth the importation thereof in liew of Treasure, will be much diminished by the late limitation of a quantity of Spanish Tobacco lately established; to the end that the Plantation of Virginia and the Bermodaes may be advanced thereby; and it is to be wished that the moneys to bee employed in Spanish Tobacco were likewise made over by exchange, and delivered to the Merchants adventurers and others, to be bestowed upon the Commodities of the Realme to make benefite of our owne; for if such forraine Commodities, shal vanish away in smoake, or be consumed and brought (as it were)unto doung, and surmount the price of the Commodities, or fruits of the land: Certes, that land is unprofitable in every mans judgement. For lands (being the Naturall riches so much desired of all men) are much disimprooved by the want of money and the selling of our native Commodities is too good cheape in regard of the price of forraine Commodities; This beeing an evident token of the poverty of a Commonwealth, which (like an unweildy Elephantike Body) hath a slowe motion, and therefore more dangerous and subject to destruction, which by the want of money, is made visible and sensible.
The returnes lately had from the East-Indies, wil in part asswage the same, if Merchants in the dispersing of those Commodities, will procure importation of money and Bullion, as (no doubt) they will doe. And this will further bee increased, when the Hollanders and our Merchants shall be at an end of their present controversies, which by his Majesties high wisedome, will soone be determined.
Touching the warres of Christendome, for so much as concerneth the want of moneys: I have already shewed how the same is also comprised in the reformation of the abuse of exchange, procuring thereby moneys, which are Nerui Bellorum. But to take upon mee to discourse of warres, might make me subject to Apelles his reprehension, Ne sutor ultra Crepidam. Onely I hope that the famous example of Augustus Caesar the Emperour may be remembered, who perceiving the forces of the great Pirate Crocataes to increase daily by the concourse of many nations, whilest hee was in Spaine, caused a Proclamation to be made, that whosoever should bring him the head of the said Pirate, he would reward him with 20 thousand crownes; whereupon the said Pirate was brought in danger of the humors of the saide nations, whose suspected inconstancy and lucre bred a resolution in him, to offer his own head to the obedience of justice, and demanding the said 20thousand crownes, had the same payed unto him, whereby all his associates were overcome and dispersed. In like manner did Sixtus Quintus deale with the Banditi in Italy, and made them to cut one anothers throats. This Policy of reward draweth as forcibly as the Adamant or Loade-stone, which caused the Spanaiard to say, Dadiuas quebrantan Pennas, Gifts doe breake stony Rockes.
From the Precedent causes of the want of money in England, come we to the causes of the decay of Trade in order, whereof this is the efficient Cause, whereunto the onely Remedy hath beene declared already.
Usury Politike, is made the next cause of the decay of Trade, which must be remedied by the Plentyof money to be procured as aforesaide, wherein that laudable Custome of the transformating or setting over of billes of debt from man to man is to be remembred, which by his Majesties Praerogative Royall or by Act of Parliament might be established; for thereby great matters are effected as it were with ready money. But our law requireth a more preciseness in the execution thereof, then in Germany and the Low Countries, it not being Choses in Action, as the Lawyers speake. But the necessarines hereof, is so urgent, that no man is like to contradict the same; for wee doe finde by experience, that things which are indeede, and things which are not indeede, but taken to be indeed (as this is for payment of moneys) may produce all one effect. And for the biting Usury before mentioned, there will be stocke found to erect pawne-houses, by meanes as shall be more amply hereafter declared; and here is to be wished, that the City of London, and every principall towne of a Shiere or the most part of them, would take upon them to take money casually at the hand of such as will deliver the same upon the adventure of their or other mens lives.
As at Venice, where a man for the summe of three or foure hundreth pounds once given (as in like manner at Amsterdam) shall be sure to have one hundreth pounds a yeare, during his life;wherby a great Stocke might be raised for the generall good of all parties, and especially to set the poore people on worke, and to take their manufactures of them to be sold with a reasonable gaine: for experience hath taught in all places, where the like is used, that the City becommeth alwayes a Gayner by the decease of the parties that doe deliver money in this nature. But it is convenient to prescribe certaine rules hereupon in the making of all manufactures, which commonly is best effected by Corporations.
