Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	dear_a	foreign_a	great_a	76	3	2.1081	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90881	The key of wealth or, A new vvay, for improving of trade : lawfull, easie, safe and effectuall : shewing how a few tradesmen agreeing together, may both double their stocks, and the increase thereof, without 1. Paying any interest. 2. Great difficulty or hazard. 3. Advance of money. 4. Staying for materialls. 5. Prejudice to any trade, or person. 6. Incurring any other inconvenience. In such sort, as both they and all others (though never so poore) who are in a way of trading, may 1. multiply their returnes. 2. Deale onely for ready pay. 3. Much under-sell others. 4. Put the whole nation upon this practice. 5. Gain notwithstanding more then ordinary. 6. Desist when they please without damage. And so, as the same shall tend much to 1. Enrich the people of this land. 2. Disperse the money hoarded up. ... 23. Incorporate the whole strength of England. 24. Take away advantages of opposition. All which in this treatise in conceived by judicious men to be fully proved, doubts resolved, and objections either answered or prevented.	Potter, William.	1650 (1650)	Wing P3034; Thomason E1067_2; ESTC R210385	101,225	101

the same Author affirmeth a principall meanes to occasion the importing of Bullion by making the price of our English Commodities to rise beyond the Seas And yet further let it be remembred to this purpose what I have already demonstrated viz. That it is a meer absurdity to imagine that an increase of money should occasion an encrease in the price of commodities fully proportionable to such increase of money because in this case such increased Stocke of monies would go no further in the price of commodity then the former smal stock did and consequently would not encrease the sate thereof therefore would not at all encrease the price thereof And as to the price of English Commodities beyond the Seas it is clear that they are deer or cheap in Forreign parts according to the rIches or poverty of the people of this Land for if the people of England be very poor so as not being able to bestow upon themselves the tenth part perhaps of those Commodities which the fruits of our native soil would affoard and which if their Trading and by consequence their riches were multiplyed proportionably they would gladly spend amongst themselves in a Comfortable subsistance in this case the overplus of Commodities are sent to other Nations which doth occasion such plenty of English commodities in other parts as the price thereof beyond the seas must needs fall accordingly Whereas if through the expences of the people of this Land there were little of our own commodities to be spared for Transportation it must needs be acknowledged that the scarcity of our Commodities beyond-sea would make them dear in Forreign parts and by consequence would be as means to occasion the importing of Bullion as followes from what I have already proved to that effect In which respect whether commodities grow deerer or cheaper here in England then now they are it will be no more considerable then whether we agree to measure our cloths and stuffs by the yard or by the ell in ease we can but procure wands enough of an ell long to measure them by Seeing therefore that something to the same purpose which I here propose hath bin and still is practised by Merchants in Forreign parts to the great improvement of their Trade and would as this Author testifies tend as much to the benefit of this Nation as I am confident all judicious men must needs acknowledge And considering that this Enterprise may according to what I have proposed be both begun and carryed on by a very smal number of men agreeing together I hope the people of this Land and chiefely the Merchants of London whom it most concernes will not shew themselves more negligent of the meanes of their own necessary preservation then all other people in the world besides when it is well known that as things now stand in England we are in as much need of using our utmost endeavours for husbanding matters to the best advantage for increase of Trade as ever any people were And if for the stirring up of this endeavour amongst the people of this Nation God shall make use of these my poor labours I shall think my self happy in being so far forth serviceable to the publique Howsoever having now discovered that which I am certain would tend effectually to the introducing of all those particulars declared in the Title-page and cleared the several consequences thereof so as it doth manifestly appear that there wants nothing but the meer consent of men whereby to invest themselves with the full accomplishment of those considerable advantages which to all lovers of their Country yea of themselves cannot choose but be in referrence to riches and in great measure to peace the most desireable and important amongst all things that are earthly in regard especially of the state of affaires in this Nation at present I could judge it no other then my duty to lay down the same to publique view leaving the issue wholely to God the Author of all goodnesse unto whom alone all glory as in duty be ascribed for these and all other the tenders and proffers which he makes of any favours Benefits or blessings conducing to the inward or outward weale of Mankind To the Honourable COUNCELL for Advancing and regulating of TRADE HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN I Cannot but acknowledge it worthy serious consideration that the same providence which hath thus far carryed on my weak endeavours should at the very time of publishing thereof put it into the hearts of the Parliament by an Act for Advancing and regulating the Trade of this Common-Wealth to Authorize Commissioners in order thereunto that amongst other things they might advise how new waies may be found out for the better venting of Commodities and report the same accordingly And for that a great part of this Treatise was printed divers moneths before the coming forth of the aforesaid Act when there was no Authority under the Parliament to whom I could properly address my self for the furtherance thereof I thought no meanes more effectual to make way for the promoting of these my endeavours then to dedicate the same to the Parliament and present divers members thereof with several of the title-pages wherein the effect of the whole treatise is comprised to the intent that if they thought it convenient they might be instrumental for the advancement of Trade and the procuring of some Act in order thereunto unto whom therefore I acknowledge my self in this particular much obliged Yet I must confesse that if I had not intended this work chiefely fotr he satisfaction of the vulgar and confuting if possible all gainsayers endeavouring the proofe of those things which otherwise I should have thought evident enough of themselves but had prepared the same meerly for the perusal of such as doubtlesse are better acquainted with the grounds and principles of traffick then I my self much of this pains might have bin spared and the particulars said down with greater brevity But being sensible that this Treatise as it is at present is scarce ripe for publique view in respect of some impertinences besides divers remarkeable escaps through negligence of the printer both in words and sentences which I must needs say might have bin by a more retired and deliberate revisall in great measure prevented and the whole matter better digested had not my proceedings therein been by much other publique imployment interrupted Yet considering the necessity of a speedy promoting some such effectual course as this in regard of the languishing estate of Trade in this Land and especially seeing God by his good providence doth now make inquiry after things of this nature even from Authority I have resolved in relation to my duty rather to let it thus escape in this rough draught then meerly for concealing mine own private imperfections either to omit or defer the first or least opportunity of doing good to the publique My onely request therefore of this Honourable Councel is that ye would vouchsafe so far forth

Interest by this meanes will come to little or nothing it must needs follow that such money-mongers will be prevented and consequently that in this respect also this cause will tend much to disperse the money hoarded up Thirdy To Import Bullion from Beyond-Sea That is to cause Silver Gold and Forreigne coine in either to be brought from beyond-Sea and coyned in the Tower of London to the great encrease of money and consequently trade and riches amongst us For as I shall shew hereafter by meanes of this enterprise it shall come to passe that Forreign Commodities will be cheaper here in England then in the places from whence they are brought I say cheaper by which I meane when the Forreign Coine that such Commodities do post our Merchants beyond-Sea is of greater value weight and finenesse considered then the price in English coyn which those Forreign Commodities will yield here whereby such Forreign Coine or Bullion being brought hither would yield more in English money being coined at the Tower then such Forreign Commoditie it selfe so as they who should returne such coine or Bullion without laying it out in such commodity would gain more then by the return of such commoditie Now from hence it must needs follow that Merchants would use all meanes possible to Import Bullion rather then any such Commodity Therefore if by means of this enterprise it shall come to passe that Forreign Commodities will be cheaper here in England then in the places from whence they are brought as I shall prove in its place it cannot be denyed that this enterprise doth tend much to cause bullion to be imported from beyond-Sea which was the thing to be proved Obj. But if English Commoditys fall in price as well as Forreign Merchants would sell our English Commodities at so much the lower rate beyond-Sea which would by the same reason occasion monies to be exported Ans Though English commodities should here fall in price never so much if Forreign commoditys fall here also it doth not follow that Merchants could affoard to sell our English Commodities ever the cheaper beyond-sea For suppose both Forreign and domestick Commodities were but the twentieth part of the rate here as in other places yet if in this case Merchants should sell our Commodities beyond-sea at neer the twentieth part of the rate as formerly then seeing beyond-sea they must pay as much as ever for their Forreign commoditys and sel them here but at the twentieth part of the rate as formerly they would lose about nineteen parts of twenty by the whole return Whereas on the other side if they gain 20 s. for 12. d. by the Commodities exported then though by the cheapenesse of Forreign Commodities here they lose 18 s 6 d. per l. by Importing of them yet they gain 50. per 100. by the whole return and would in this case gain no lesse then 20 s. for 12 d. if they should return the Forreign coin it self without buying any such commodity It is clear then that though domestick as well as Forreign commodities do fall in price here in England yet Merchants cannot affoard to sell our English commodities ever the cheaper beyond-sea so long as Forreign commodities continues beyond-sea at the same rate as formerly because by paying dearer beyond-sea for those Forreign commodities then they sell them for here they sustain a losse which they must make up with some profit upon the whole return by selling our English Commodities there as deer as ever And for the further clearing of this mystery take one more instance suppose they lose tenpounds in the hundred by the Commodities imported then though they gain thirty in the hundred by the Commodities exported yet by the whole return they gain clear but twenty pounds in the hundred whereas I say again if they could return the Forreign coin or Bullion they would save the said losse of ten pounds in the hundred and consequently gain a thirty in the hundred by the whole return If it be objected again that in this case men would Import no other commodity but Bullion because it would be most profitable to them I answer this Nation doth scarce stand in need of any Forreign Commoditie except Sugar yet if our Merchants cannot procure their return in Bullion they must return other Commodities whether they will or no for other States using their best endeavor to prevent the exporting of Bullion Merchants cannot with safety make frequently their returns therein If it be questioned whether these Bills serving in the place of money would not occasion that money being in this respect of lesse necessity would be exported I answer that money I confesse in this case would not be so necessary nay if we had not one dram of money or Bullion in the Land yet having a sufficient quantity of these Bills amongst us I do not see what considerable inconvenience could follow in any respect whatsoever for whether a Nation have any Silven amongst them or no yet if they can Trade as well without it what need they care for their estates in Vendible Commodities and consequently their Credit is of as reall value as if it were in money If it be replyed that money would be necessary for the retale of commodities payment of Souldiers and such like I answer this might for a need as I have already in effect intimated be done by these Bills without money yet rather then want money for such an occasion I will not say we might coin Farthings and half-pence that should be worth in sine copper about the value they are taken for But we might purchase Bullion with some of our commodities a law being made that Merchants shall make at least the twelsth part of their returnes in Bullion which would inrich the Nation more then such slight and Tall Commodities as are usually returned at deer rates in stead of those many and excellent Merchandises that this Nation yields But I answer again that though in this case money would not be so necessary as formerly yet that would be no motive at all unto the exporting of our coin for it is well known that particular persons in their dealings in a way of Trade do not looke so much at what is most necessary for the Common-wealth as what is most Profitable for themselves now certain I am that as the multiplying of these Bills amongst us according to what is already proved would in one respect make the importing of Bullion more profitable then any other commodity so it is clear that upon no consideration whatsoever it can make the exporting of coine more profitable to them then otherwise it would be If it be said that it may make money and Bills so plentiful here as in other countries where money is scarce men will give higher rates for it and consequently it will be exported to those parts I answer the scarcity of money in those other parts cannot proceed from our plenty of Bills in England Secondly they

being as is already proved distributed amongst men for their more comfortable subsistence in this case if plenty of commodity which is the effect of a quick trade were not consistent with cheapnesse in the price thereof though the contrary be most manifest yet to have a plentifull share of outward comforts though deare is an advantage above that of injoying a lesse proportion thereof though never so cheap as much every whit as the end is more excellent then that means which without such end serveth to no purpose at all therefore nothing can be materially objected against an encrease of Trade Lastly and chiefly it is to be observed that in any place where both Intestine and Forreigne commodity enough is to be had for money an encrease of Trade doth not at all occasion an encrease in the price of such commodity For though trade in any place do increase never so fast yet tradesmen cannot make the price of commodity to rise except trading not being now so dead as whereby to discourage men from bringing in much ware they can order matters so as it may not be brought in fast enough to supply the present Market for otherwise if one Tradesman will not sell his commodity at a reasonable rate another glad of the opportunity would suddainly furnish the Market and to make his returnes the quicker sell it as cheap as he can afford that is as I shall prove in the next Section nuch cheaper then in case trading were dead he could Hence as there is a quicker Trade in London then in any other City in England So this occasioning more commodity to be brought to London then otherwise there would doth prevent such excessive dearnesse thereof in that place which otherwise could not choose but follow upon such quicknesse of Trading And there is no doubt but that if any Nation through the abundant expences of the people by means of their riches do become unto the rest of the world as London is to England the Chief Seat of Trade the reason for bringing in commodity to that place more then to any other part of the world is the same for that of bringing in more commodity to London then to any other place in England Because whensoever in any Land there is but sale for commodity before there should want commodity in that place to supply the Market as fast as need requires all the Merchants inhabiting here on earth would chearfully entertain the opportunity to post it thither in great proportions whereby I say the dearnesse of such commodity in that place would be prevented so as there remaining no other imaginable scruple against an increase of Trade I conclude that the thing to be discovered in this place doth sufficiently appear viz. How the aforesaid means for inriching a poor peeple is fully cleared from all scruples and objections LIB I. SECT VII Shewing That where commodity enough is to be had for money quickness of Trading doth occasion a considerable fall in the price of commodities and deadnesse of Trading the contrary BY what hath been already said which yet in the conclusion to this Section shall be more fully cleared it doth appear that where commodity enough is to be had for money men are forced to sell the same at as low a rate I mean as small a profit in the pound as with reference to the quicknesse of their returns they can afford so as the main Question is Whether if Trade be extraordinary quick Commodities being sold as cheap as they can well be afforded they will not thereby fall to a far lower rate and yet tradesmen gain much more per annum then otherwise In order to the solution of which doubt let it be considered that if when by reason of extreme deadnesse of trading the Whole-sale-man cannot live in case he have not 2. s. 6. d. per l. profit upon each return he of whom the Whole-sale-man procures his ware nor yet the Retayler to whom he sells it under 5. s. each that is in all 12. s. 6. d. amongst them all three Yet if their Trade were ten times as quick they might all gain twice as much in the year upon the fist part of that profit that is upon 2. s. 6. d. in the pound amongst them which coming short of 12. s. 6. d. by ten shillings commodities might hereby be afforded at ten shillings in the pound that is one half part cheaper then otherwise But besides if trading be suppose ten times as quick as formerly and that hereupon commodities of all sorts should be sold at half the rate as formerly Tradesmen in this case would not only gain twice as much per annum but out of that doubled profit maintain their Families at half that rate as formerly And consequently might still afford to sell their commodities at a far lesse profit which lesse profit of all the severall sorts of tradesmen put together as before is observed would make commodities yet considerably cheaper so as men might maintain their families still at lesse charge consequently live by the lesse profit and so untill that which cannot now be afforded under twenty shillings might be sold at twelve pence And further we have here onely reckoned the price of commodities as they might be afforded by abating the profit only of three severall sorts of Tradesmen thereupon and that but in the half of the proportion as is correspondent to the quicknesse of their trading and we find it very considerable But for Merchants or such as traffick with other Nations it is to be observed that they buy their ware of those Tradesmen who usually procure it of such handicrafts men as make it fit for sale who have their materialls possibly of the Farmers or some other waies out of the cattell or fruits of the earth so as each commodity goeth through two or three hands before it come to the Merchant Again the Merchant having exchanged it beyond Sea for some forreign commodity usually sells the same to the Whole-sale-man or at least to a Shop-keeper in some chief City that many times sells it or the most part of it to the Countrey Mercer or some other retailing tradesmen and they in great part to the Pedler before it be sold out to each one for his private use Now if we take out of the price of forreign commodities â…˜ parts of the profit of all those Tradesmen that prepare domestick commodities for the Merchant and also â…˜ parts of the profit that the Merchant doth gain by exchange of domestick for forreigne commodities and â…˜ parts of the profit of all those tradesmen that hand this forreigne commodity from one to another untill it be sold to each man for his private use assuredly the commodity it self might in this case be afforded for little more then a fifth part of what otherwise it could and yet men having now one with another ten times more trading then formerly gain twice as much per annum as formerly and

must give such higher rates either in money in commoditie or in exchange by Bills of exchange if in money then they lose more Bullion then they gain by the bargain if in Commodities that is no otherwise but to sell their commodities so much the cheaper upon condition they may have their returnes made them in mony and not otherwise and why if money be scarce here may not we in England take the same course much rather then any other Nation having in our own hands all Commodities that are meerly necessary for mans subsistance And thirdly if in exchange by Bills of exchange if I say in this they give a higer rate for our coine then formerly it will be the occasion of importing their coine hither and not of exporting ours to other parts As to instance if any Nation do give for any sum in English coin a sum of greater value in their own coin it followes that they who having such sum in Forreign coin due to them should receive it by exchange in English coin they should thereby receive a sum of lesse value then that which was due unto them in Forreign coin and therefore aiming at their own profit would indeavor to import such Forreign coin hither and not to receive it by such exchange in English coin By all this then you see it is not with money as it is with commodity that the scarcer and by consequence the deerer it is in any place the more like it is to be sent into that place but the contrary If it should be yet further objected that such increase of Bills amongst us may occasion Forreign Nations to enhance their own coin and by consequence to undervalue ours whereby it should follow that a Merchant having an hundred pounds due to him here in English coine cannot get so much in value returned beyond-sea in Foorreign coin so as if he could export his 100 l. English coin it would yield him more beyond-sea then by Bill of exchange he can get there paid him in Forreign coin I answer the encreasing of these Bills amongst us here in England can be no motive to other Nations to enhance their money they being every whit as like to do this whether we take any such course of trading with these Bills or no which yet if they should it would do us so much the more prejudice by how much the greater a damage it will be to this Nation to have their moneys exported when they have no other meanes to maintain Trade amongst them Yet in a word and so to passe from this why may not we Inhance our monis in order to exchanges abroad though not to rents and debts amongst our selves as well as other Nations doe theirs and why should not we be as carefull of our own preservation as the very Persians Turkes c by applying our selves to the use of some effectuall meanes whereby the price of our exchanges may be so high as to occasion that no Merchants shall return their moneys by exchange without great losse so as then having no Trade amongst us by exchange for moneys with other Nations but meerly by Importing of moneys or commodities and that of moneys being by meanes of this enterprise made most profitable of the two this undertaking shall in this respect tend to much the more to the importing of Bullion from beyond-sea according to what was here to be proved 4. To raise Banks of money in divers places That is when this Enterprise shall be practised not onely in London but in most of the chief Cities and Townes in England if those of this Engagement shall thinke fit to cause any considerable summes of money payable to them to be paid in to the said Office there to lie in Banke for exchange of those Bills when need requires it must needs occasion the raising of so many Bankes as there are of such Offices Yet because the greatest Bankes of money whatsoever could affoard no one advantage but what will follow in as full a measure from the use of these Bills alone though no such Bankes were raised as appears by the particulars in the Title-page and because Bankes being in money are lyable to hazard through the unfaithfulnes of Officers intrusted therein and divers other waies whereby thousands are in danger of ruin at once to any one of which hazards this enterprise is no waies incident I shall not put any stresse upon this but refer it to the consideration of others 5. To settle a secure and known credit That is both as safe and publique as that of the Chamber of London Banke of Amsterdam or any which on earth can be established as is demonstrated Lib. 3. Sect. 4. The great advantage whereof is the Argument of the whole Treatise 6. To make such Credit current That is to passe by Bills from hand to hand in the place of money which I say may as easily be effected here as Bills of far lesse credit in other parts of the world are made Passable there these being such as will yield the money they are taken for in hand if the possessor of them hath a mind to sell them as is evidently cleared in Lib. 2. Sect. 5. Lib. 3. Sect. 3. 5 6. 7. 7. To extend such credit to any degree needfull That is to multiply the number of the aforesaid Bills so as to equalize in value mens estates in Commoditie if that were needfull Lib. 2. Sect. 3. And by consequence to make mens trading one hundred times greater then formerly as is demonstrated Lib. 1. Sect. 4. and Lib. 2. Sect. 3. 8. To quicken the revolution of money and credit That an encrease of money not hoarded up or that which goes for such doth occasion an encrease of Trade that such encrease of Trade doth quicken the current of such money or whatsoever is taken in stead thereof by incouraging men through such quick returnes of Commodity to lay out in such commodity all they receive with the utmost speed possible whereby the same money resting no where must needs occasion a quick current thereof is sufficiently demonstrated in Lib. 1. Sect. 3.4 9. To diminish the Interest for monies To diminish it I say so as to make it suddainly fall to very little and at last to nothing For who will put in security to borrow money upon Interest when he may upon like security have such Bills as will passe in the place of money lent him gratis that in such a way as whereby to be brought into a capacity of multiplying his trading to the utmost degree possible This advantage will be of great concernment in many respects as passing from one particular to another I have partly already noted and shall further note where occasion is offered 10. To make Commodity supply the place of money Commoditie supplies the place of money two waies either when by reason of an extraordinary quicknesse of trading it is as they say every mans money and becomes so Vendible

to make a common practice of stealing goods which in regard they must speedily sell them before they could meet with a chapman that would give them any thing worth the labour of carriage could not choose but be in great danger to be apprehended especially I say if they continue this practice Hence then it followes that this enterprise tendeth to remove all opportunities of advantage from high-way-thieves by that course of life That is to prevent high-way-thieves which was the thing to be proved 21. To multiply Ships for defence at Sea It is a rule that the more Trading doth encrease in any place the more Ships multiply in that place especially if Interest fall to little or nothing For by this meanes men may procure money as well to build ships as to improve Land or Build houses at a low rate now the more ships any Nation hath the more strong they are at Sea Therefore this enterprise tends to multiply ships for defence at Sea And whether to this purpose it might not be meet there were an Act against imploying any Ships but our own I submit to consideration 22. To multiply meanes for defence at Land A people being generally exceeding rich and in a thriving way of Trade the charge of maintaining a considerable Army with full and due pay is in comparison of a Burden but as a Fly upon the Back of a Camell Now this full and due pay is in such sort the sinewes of Warre that as it is very hard keeping souldiers together without it so there is no great fear of wanting souldiers where such pay is to be had Hence it is clear that riches is the principall meanes of a peoples defence and consequently that this course tendeth to multiply meanes for defence at Land as doth more fully appear upon a due consideration of the particulars following concerning taking away advantages of opposition 23. To incorporate the whole strength of England By both incouraging and necessitating the generality of men throughout the Land to joine in this engagement it will follow that the most considerable part of the whole Nation will be incorporated into this one secrety or company which as matters may be ordered will tend so to resolve all their Interests into one as men will not be in capacity though they would to side with parties so as there will lie a kind of necessity upon them for their meet subsistance to stick together as one man for their mutuall defence therefore this enterprise at lest as it may be ordered shall tend to Incorporate the whole strength of England Neither can this be accompted a thing of small concernment 24. To take away advantages of opposition When a people are very poor the maintaining of a smal Army is accompted a great burden And that together with the want of imployment and other meanes of subsistance doth exceedingly encrease mens discontent and vexations of mind which do much dispose men to turbulency and commotion especially having most of them little other businesse or hopes any other waies then by fishing n troubled waters as they say to preserve themselves from perishing for want of maintenance Whereas if men had generally as much Trading as they were able to manage it must needs multiply such a heape of businesses upon them as wereby to take off their minds from assisting such as would pursue advantates of publique ●isturbance 2. Men having generally little or nothing except a miserable life to lose they care not how often the Land wherein they live be exposed to Plunderings and publique confusion Whereas if the generality of them had great estates in the same Land like several Merchants that had great adventures in the same bottome with a thriving Trade and much imployment whereby to divert and delight their thoughts though the profits pleasure and necessary occasions thereof they would be so far from promoting as they would be deeply ingaged to endeavour the preventing of all occasions that might conduce to the stirring up of new troubles as tending to deprive them of that which most men accompt their chiefest happinesse viz. the riches and pleasures of this life 3. That all Vagabondes and idle Runnagadoes should be not onely reduced to some order and discipline but also put in some way of imployment is no doubt one excellent quallification of a wel-governed Common-wealth as being a principall meanes to prevent occasions of publique disturbance But how this can be effected with neer that advantages to the Vndertakers or without prejudice to such poor as are willing to take pains for a lively-hood in any place where trade is so dead as it will not affoard sufficient imployment even for such poor who are of civil behaviour and good quality How I say this can be done except by some meanes that must tend to quicken our decayed Trade is beyond my present apprehension For certain Iam that if there be not sale for any considerable part of the ware that might be wrought even by such poor who are willing to take pains therein Then to set others upon the worke and find no other meanes to vend the same is but to take the means of lively-hood out of the hands of those that best deserve it Yet except some way be found whereby such idle persons as aforesaid may be reduced to Order and imployment it cannot I say be expected but the Common-Wealth should be Subject to much disturbance thereby For as it is the want of Lively-hoode that multiplies Mens discontents and vexations so it is the want of imployment that not onely deprives them of Lively-hood but increases the number as by Swarmes of Roagnes and Cut-Throates in the High-Waies and other places Who not being Engaged in imployment but being wholely at their own dispose are in their VVandering Progresse ready pressed upon all occasions for any mischevious design that may tend to disturbe the peace of a Common-wealth 4. Money is of that nature as the multiplycation thereof amongst a people doth not onely incourage an enemy in hopes of surprizing considerable sums thereof so much the more easily but being seized on tendeth both to maintain the enemies VVarre and to diminish the meanes of their own defence And therefore to inrich a people with such money as will do the enemy no more pleasure though it were taken then so much waste-paper nor yet the losse of it be any damage at all unto those from whom it is taken is a very great advantage and doth discourage an Enemy from attempting designes upon such a people But that in reference to those Bills matrers might easily be ordered so as to effect this I could evidently shew if it were not too large to be at present insisted on All these things considered I conclude that this enterprise tendeth much and in many respects to take away advantages of opposion which was the thing here to be proved And thus in briefe to avoid repetitions are all the perticulars in the title-page fully

demonstrated and most of them in a far greater measure then was therein exqressed The Conclusion to the whole Treatise HAving thus discovered as much as for the present I conceive needful in relation to this enterprise with the consequences thereof and how all the perticulars in the Title-page are made good by this undertaking and most of them to a far greater extent then is there expressed it was my intention here to have put a period to my labours in order to this work for the present But meeting in the very close thereof with a booke called consuetudo vel lex Mercatoria or the Antient law Merchant wherein the Author takes speciall notice of the way of Trading used in Flanders already by me mentioned which is by accepting of the Bills of particular persons in stead of money which he calls Bills Obligatory it being as in page 71 line 19. He affirmeth the most usual way of buying and selling Commodities beyond the seas viz. At Amserdam Middleburrow Hamburrow and other places I cannot but desire it may be observed how exceedingly he being a Merchant not only commends in severall places of his book this way of Trading but also doth plead for the use of the like practice here in England as that which tends to many great and considerable advantages chiefely to the benefit of Merchants in order to the encrease of their Trade For to use his own words in page 73 line 1. If saith he this Man viz. one who should accept of these Bills for Ware in stead of money will not ride out as they say the time of the payment of the said Bills he may go to another man and buy other commoditys therewith as if it were with ready money the time onely considered nay more if he will have ready money for these Bills he may sell them to other Merchants that are monyed men and abating for the Interest for the time and commonly one moneth over according to the rate as they can agree and as money is plentifull they shall have money at all times to imploy in Commodities or to deliver by exchange or to pay debts withall or to carry home in specie or for any other purpose at their pleasure which saith he is Commodious for many young Merchants having small stockes as also for all men upon all occasions for it is properly as money paid by assignation whereby great matters are compassed in the Trade of Merchandize the Commodities are sooner vended in all places the Custome and imposition of Princes do encrease the poor and Mechanicall people are set on worke men are better assured in their payments the counterfeiting of Bills and differences are prevented the more Commodities are sold the lesse ready money is transported and life is infused into traffick and trade for the generall good And herein saith he we see and may observe that things which be indeed and things which are not indeed but taken to be Indeed may produce all one effect and every man is inabled with his own meanes and credit to augment Commerce By many such arguments in diverse parts of his Treatise he laboureth to press the use of this practise here in England to which purpose see page 48. begining at line 53. page 71. line 49. page 73. line 43. I find in this Author likewise many other things concerning exchange of money by Bills of exchange as in Page 277. line 24. and page 275. 276 277 278 279. enterest for monies page 223 and 224 Pawning of goods page 227 228 229. all tending to confirm the truth of what I have asserted in these particulars Neither do I find any thing at all by him affirmed that doth seem in the least measure to contradict what I have here purposed save in this that he takes the Vulgar opinion concerning plenty of money that it makes things deer for granted without distinguishing of circumstances or considering where when or how it may become the occasion of encreasing the plenty of Commodity and inabling men by their quick returnes to take lesse profit in the pound and by consequence to sell there ware cheaper then formerly Now I Confesse it must needs be granted as I have already observed that where an encrease of money doth not occasion a proportionable increase in the plenty of commodity it doth tend to cause an encrease in the price thereof Yet the same Author in two severall places where he saith that plenty of money makes things deer viz in page 45. line 5. and page 177. line 7. doth also acknowledge that plenty of commodity makes them cheape Now by his own confession increase of money doth encrease Trading which yet would be to no purpose if it did not encrease mens Stocks and estates in commodity that is if it did not increase the plenty of commodity in a Land and besides it is already proved that it is a rule amongst Trades-men to proportion their Stockes in commodity according to the quicknesse or slownesse of Trading so that plenty of commoditie in any Land where Commodity enough is to be had for money or the best credit must needs be the effect of a quick Trade which is occasioned by plenty of money This if he had duely weighed and had withall considered that scarcity of money is the meanes whereby obstructing the sale of Commodity men through their slow returnes are forced for their meer subsistance to take a more then ordinary Profit in the pound to the raising of the price of their Wares the rather for that scarcity of money causing a high rate of Interest doth inforce Trades-men to advance their gaines per l. proportionably as this Author himself urgeth in divers places viz. page 177. line 43. and Page 2●2 line 50. These things I say if he had considered he would without question have fully agreed unto what I have formerly observed to this purpose besides that this Enterprise being ordered so as I have proposed tendeth to put some men into a capacity of thriving by underselling others which of it self alone must needes be a most effectual meanes to occasion a considerable fall in the price of Commodities Yet if his bare affirmation without any argument wherein he appears to be meerly swayed by the vulgar opinion and the seeming probability of the thing not diving seriously into the matter do bear more weight in the eye of any mans reason then those arguments which I have aleaged to the contrary let such men take it for granted that Commodities would by meanes of this Enterprise rise in price And yet nothing can be inferred from thence to prove any damage considerable to be incident to this undertaking For though as I have already observed Commodity were now ten times deerer then formerly yet if a people have ten times as much money or money worth to purchase the same the advantage in this case must needs be as great as the inconvenience especially such deernesse of commodity being as