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Abuse of Government； by way of Monopoly。 It now remaineth briefly
to shew the Too Loose Use thereof； by Ungoverned Trade。
It is a Maxime in the Mathematiques； that Rectum est Index
sui & obliqui。 And the want of Government； cannot better be
demonstrated；then by the benefit of Government it selfe。 For
thereby the Common…wealth hath beene much advantaged； both in the
encrease of the native Commodities of the Kingdome； and the
advancement of their use and price in Forreine parts： and also in
keeping the forreine wares at a moderate rate within this
Kingdome。 This will be yet more perspicuous； if we cast our eye
first upon the several Societies of Merchants which trade under
Government： and then on those which trade without Government。 For
Contraria juxta se posita； magis elucescunt。
In the first place therefore consider we that Ancient and
heretofore famous fellowship of the Merchants…Adventurers of
England。 Hath it not by their politique rule and order； eaten out
the Societie of the Hans…townes of Germanie and the Merchants of
the Entercourse of the Low Countries； in those trades； which a
long time they enjoyed in this land？ And whereas those of the
Hans； vented in Germany； only a matter of sixe thousand of our
Clothes yeerely and at low prices： and held this Realme as it
were beholding unto them for their shipping： yea upon some
discontent for denying of them priviledges； durst offer some
hostilitie in the time of Edward the fourth。 Whereas the
Merchants…Adventurers by their Charters； granted from time to
time by the Princes of this Realme； and favoured by Parliaments
successively； by their orderly mannaging of their trade； have
supplanted the trade of the Hanses in Germany： and brought the
said Six thousand vented by them in Germany； unto Thirtie
thousand Clothes yeerely & at great prises。 And it is worthy to
be remembred to their Honour； that service which the
Merchants…Adventurers did to the State in Anno 88 when they
supplied the Navie Royall with a whole ships lading of Powder and
Shot from Hamburgh： which came luckily even in articulo temporis；
when there was a very great want thereof。 These also have from
time to time employed and bred up many worthy Masters of ships
and Mariners； and built many Tall； warlike and Serviceable
shippes： which as they themselves also； are at all times ready to
doe service to the King & State upon all occasions。 None of all
which they had ever beene able to have done as particular men； in
a loose； distracted； and disorderly trade。
Great benefit also hath arisen from the East…land Company：
who have wonne like ground of the Hanses of the Baltique Sea： and
doe employ in that trade a great number of proper Shippes and
Men。
The Levant Company likewise by their trade under Government；
hath built a great strength of warlike； Tall & Lusty Shipping；
which they employ in that trade： and by their industry have wonne
from the Italians the trade of the Levant： the Commodities
whereof were before brought into this Realme by Argosies to the
encrease of forreine shipping； and at deare rates： and is now
reduced to the Natives of this Kingdome； to the encrease of
Shipping； and the benefit of the Publike。 Which without
Government and good order； had been impossible for them to have
done。
The French Company also； though but lately reduced to Order；
have reformed many abuses in that trade； in maintaining the
Native Commodities of this Kingdome in much better estimation；
and in keeping the Forreine at moderate prices： and in employing
greater shipping； then at any time before。 Which were impossible
for them to effect Singly； without Societie。
Lastly； for the East…India Company； whereof I am prevented to
say what I might； by two severall discourses published in print；
the one by that worthy and rarely qualified Gentleman Sir Dudley
Digges Knight； the other by that discreete Merchant Mr。 Thomas
Mun： yet this I say； that this Great and Noble Societie by the
benefite of Government； hath set on foot a bery mightie Trade；
farre beyond any other Company of this Kingdome： and accordingly
hath excelled in greatnesse of shipping； and making Mariners of
land…men； beyond the example of any other Corporation： & had not
Envie thought that Trade too great a Treasure for this Kingdome
doubtlesse they had in Encrease of trade； excelled all the
Companies of Merchants in this Common…wealth。
But here the ordinary objection encountereth me； that in
Germany； Spaine； France； Italie； and the Netherlands； there are
no such Companies； nor restrains of Merchants； as here in
England： and yet that those Countries thrive better in their
trades； than we in ours。 I answer； that if it be granted； that
they have no such Companies nor restraints of any； and that they
thrive better in their trades then we； yet it will not follow；
that this their better thriving is because every man is at
libertie to be a Merchant at his pleasure。 This is the fallacy
which the Logicians call ｛Greek phrase omitted｝； Non causa pro
causa。 For if that were the cause； why then should not our
Spanish Trade； that hath no Company nor restraint； prosper better
then the other Trades which are Governed in Companies； whereas to
speak as the truth is； This Trade & These Merchants； are the most
miserable of all the other Trades and Tradesmen of this Kingdome；
and all through want of Government： thorough whose sides the
Common…wealth suffereth； and hath already lost many Millions in
value of the wealth of the Weale…publique； as I shall shew anone。
But to the Assumption； I deny that the Merchants of those
forreine Countries； trade without Government。 For Germany hath
ancietly had one Society； or Corporation of Merchants inall their
Sea…townes； called the Society； or Corporation of the Hans before
noted： as their houses of Staple yet standing at Bridges in
Flanders； Antwerpe in Brabant； Novogrode in Russia； Bergen in
Norway； and the Steelyard in London can witnes。 Which Trade of
theirs flourished； as long as it continued under Government： but
having lost their Priviledes； partly by their owne Stragling； and
partly being overtop't by the flourishing of the
Merchants…Adventurers Trade； their Trade is now almost quite
fallen to the ground。
For Spaine and Portugall： all men know that their Sea Trade
is little； saving to the East and West Indies。 And those Trades
are carried with Government； and farre more restraint then ours。
For France； there are not （that I know） any Companies of
Merchants for forreine parts。 Which I take to be the cause； why
those Merchants shipping； is of so small burthen； and of as
little sufficiency for service。 Which is an effect of a stragling
ungoverned Trade。
For Italy； that consiseth of so many severall Jurisdictions；
that it were impossible to make a generall Corporation for any
one kinde of Sea…Trade。 For example； were it not in vaine for
Genoa to make a Corporation & Orders for Trade； whilest Florence
held a contrary course？ It were certainly all one； as to have a
Company of Merchants for Spaine at London； and the West…parts
left loose to Trade without Order or Government； which were a
meere mockery。 But the Trade in many parts of Italy； being
carried by Families； and every Family being as it were one
Person； there is a kind of Government in their Trades； and the
same performed with merveilous credite； policie； and judgement。
The Lowe Countries； by that Union which is of the several
Townes and Provinces unto the States Generall （which
neverthelesse is as much； and endureth as long； as every severall
Province and Towne listeth；） have of late yeares erected their
East India Company； and the like for Guiny； and are in hand with
the like for the West Indies。 Also the Cloth…buyers； the
principall Merchants of Holland； have lately obtained Octroy so
termed； which is Priviledges and Immunities of the States； to
assemble themselves； and to keepe Courts； and make Orders for
their Trade； and principally to confront & oppose the
Merchants…Adventurers Trade； upon some differences； lately fallen
out betwixt those Cloth…buyers and the said Company about the
residence before noted。 For their other Trades of Germany；
Poland； England； Grance and Spaine； they rather with then finde
it possible； to joine the severall Townes in one Rule and Order。
And who so converseth with that Nation； shal finde that they very
much complaine of the disorders of their Trades； for want of that
kinde of Government； which many of them take notice of here in
England： and some of them of late have desired instructions from
hence in that behalfe。 Besides all this； these people as they are
borne and bred in an United Country； so doth their nature and
disposition encline much to an Union and Communion in Trade。
Insomuch as oftentimes they are able to worke their feates by
Confederacy and Combination； against an Incorporation in our
Nation。 For they wisely consider； that their interest is involved
in the Publique： where； in our Nation； men commonly preferre
their Particular； to t