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Nation。 For they wisely consider； that their interest is involved
in the Publique： where； in our Nation； men commonly preferre
their Particular； to the Common good。
And thus having and answering the objections against
Corporations； of Merchants and Governed Trades； and shewed the
many and manifold benefits arising to the Common…wealth thereby：
It is now easie to shew the Injury and Incovenience to this
Common…wealth by the want of Government in Trade。 Those that
Trade without Order and Government； are like unto men； that makes
Holes in the bottome of that Ship； wherein themselves are
Passengers。 For want of Government in Trade； openeth a gap and
letteth in all sorts of unskilfull and disorderly persons： and
these not only sinke themselves and others with them； but also
marre the Merchandize of the land； both in estimation and
goodnesse： then which there can bee nothing in Trade more
rejudiciall to the Publique Utility。 And to make good these
particulars； I take this for a ground： Nemonascitur artifex。
Which as it is true in the occupaitons of Artizans： so is it much
more true in the Trades of Merchants： wherein there is so great
variety of difficult points to bee learned； before a man can
learne his Stucke； as the Dutch…men speak； or be his Crafts
master。 And how can the Merchant； that hath no skill in his
Commodity； looke to it； that the Maker performe his part？ Or how
can a falsified Commodity； hold his estimation and use？ The ill
experience whereof； is not more remarqueable in any of His
Majesties subjects； then in those that trade into the Dominions
of the King of Spaine； without Order or Government in Trade。 For
at the beginning of His Majesties most happy Raigne over this
Kingdome； this Trade by His Majesties Princely favour； was made a
Corporation and Society of Merchants； and flourished under
Government。 And then thenew Draperies； and other the Native
Commodities of the Kingdome were maintained in their estimation
and goodnesse at Home and Abroad： But soone after by the clamour
of some who preferred their owne liberty； to the utility of the
publique； and by some misinformation given the Parliament of that
time； this Company after it had flourished two years； was
dissolved； and ever since exposed to confusion and disorder in
Trade； and is become a receptacle and Rendes…vous for every
Shopkeeper； Stragler； and Unskilful person： and may serve for a
lively representation of the hopes that may be expected； by such
a loose trade； as many now a daies so much desire； not rightly
conceiving or considering the benefits of Government； nor the
Inconveniencies that doe perpetually accompany trade in the want
thereof。 Which in the Effects will be more perspicious； to which
in their Order we now proceede。
Cap。 V。
Of the Effects of the former Causes as they concerne the King
Such were the Causes considered in the Matter and Forme of
trade。 The Effects follow： which doe either concerne the King or
the Common…wealth。
Such as are the Causes； such also must needs be the Effects
arising from the same： and those doe either respect the King in
point of Honour； or in point of Revenue： and both in the Matter
and Forme of Trade。
In point of Honour； there is a relation to the King from the
Matter of Trade； considered Generally； or Specially。
Generally； in the general neglect of all trades； by temerous；
rash； and litigious suites of law： whereby the Peace of the
Kingdome is disturbed； the Justice thereof abused； and in both
the King dishonoured。
Or Specially in some speciall Commerce of this Kingdome；
abused by the Kings Subjects； or Strangers。 By the Kings
Subjects； in the Drapery of the Kingdome； when His Majesties
Seale of Armes； which； as I said； shall be dishonoured by false
Cloth and other Manufactures； that are unworthily honoured
therewith： and whereby； those that buy the same both within and
without the Land； are perswaded the same is good and true； when
the same is utterly false： which is a great indignity offered to
the King。
By Strangers； in the East India Action； and the matter of
Fishing。 In the East India Action certainely the Kings Honour is
interessed； not onely to protect his subjects against the
Injuries done them by the Dutch in the East Indies； but also to
maintaine the Glory and Revowne； of His Sacred Fame； which hath
heretofore beene Illustrious even unto the Heathen： which some
have dared to doe what they could to obscure。 The Fishing hath
aslo reference to the Kings Honour： for it is a Royalty of the
Crowne； which the King in Honour cannot but protect。
There is also an Effect that extendeth it selfe to the Kings
Honour in the Forme of Trade； as it is too strict； or too loose。
Too strict； in respect of Monopolies； wherein the Prerogative of
the King is abused； and therein His Honour also； by those that
thereby seeke to priviledge and Patronize things unlawfull。
Too loose； in the disorderly Trade of the subjects out of
Government。 For those Strangers that have not beene in our
Countrey； nor seene the Order of His Majesties Government； must
needes Ex Ungue Leonem； guesse at the Soveraigne by the Subject：
And like to Archimedes who drew the whole pourtraiture of
Hercules body； by his footstep onley found in Mount Olympus；
proportion the Royall and Regall Government of His Majestie at
home； by the deportment of his subjects abroad。 And as the
Orderly Trade of Merchants is an Honour to the King； when the
same is contained within the listes of Government； so the
contrary cannot choose but produce a quite contrary effect。
In point of Revenue the Kings treasure is diminished； in the
Mater also and Forme of Trade。 In the Matter of Trade； either in
the Generall course of Trade； or in some Particulars。 In the
Generall； the great want of money； and decay of Trade throughout
all callings and conditions of men； must needes cause a great
diminution of His Majesties Revenue； both in His Customes and
Supplies。 For the Customes； those perpetually rise and fall with
Trade： And for Supplies； the subjects being impoverished through
want of Money and decay of Trade； are disabled to doe that
service to His Majestie； which otherwise they would be willing；
and heretofore have beene able to performe； in flourishing times
of Trade。 And if our experience hereof had beene in the ｛Greek
word omitted｝ and not in the ｛Greek word omitted｝； in the
Contemplation only； and not in Action： we had been much more
happy in this Kingdom and Nation。
In the particular course of Trade； it shall content me to
instance onely the East India Action； and the Fishing； before
referred to the Kings Honour； here to his Revenue。 By the East
India Action there is a very great losse to the King in His
Customes； by the losse of all the Customes which that Trade would
have produced in all this time： and of the Encrease also of
Trade； which that employment had brought with it； which would
have yeelded to His Majesty a great Increase of Customes
answerable to the same。 Of both which if we had not beene
deprived； certainly His Majesties Ferme of His Customes had
yeelded Many Thousand pounds a yeare； more then now they have
done。
By the Fishing； the Customes and Tolles which are undoubtedly
due to His Majesty for the Strangers Fishing upon our Coasts；
together with the encrease of Trade； and consequently of Customes
thereby also； wold amount to so great a value； that I cannot
wonder enough； that the same hath beene neglected all this while。
And lastly in the Forme of Trade； the Kings Revenue is
mightily diminished； when by the disorder of Trade； the very
course of Trade inverted； and therein the Kings Customes and
Subsidies also。
Cap。 VI。
Of the Effects of the former Causes as they concerne the
Common…wealth。
From the King； come to the Kingdome。 Wherein there are also
manifold Effects of the precedent Causes； both in the Matter and
Forme of Trade。
And although in the very same things； wherein the Honour and
Revenue of the King are invested； the Wealth of the Common…wealth
is also interessed； yet the same may otherwise be distinguished；
that so they may be made the more perspicuous and cleere to every
mans judgement。
The Effects then that arise out of the Matter of Trade and
fall upon the Kingdome； may be saide to be either Active or
Passive。 Active； when they are done by our Selves： Passive； when
they are done to us by others。 Active； in the use of Law； either
Too much； or Too little。 Too much； in Suits of Law； whereby one
subject vexeth another： which make this peaceable Kingdome seeme
to bee at Warre within it selfe。 For whilest men are thus at
Deadly feude in Law； by the losse of their Times； and Trades； and
States； the thrift of the Commonwealth must needes be neglected。
Too little； In the Non…execution of Lawes； which tend either to
the enlargement of Clothing； or the restraint of the Excesse of
the Kingdome。 theformer is； either in respect of the Ill searchng
and Sealing of Cloth； or in the Transportation of t