A Treatise of Commerce 9780231876568

Table of contents :
Bibliographical Note
Dedication
A Treatise of Commerce. Text
A copie of a Letter from her Maiestie in Answer of a letter from the Emperour in high Dutch, whereof the Mandate maketh mention, but differing from the contents of this Copie
Attestation of the citie of Antwerp on the Companie of the Merchants Adventurersbehalfe

Citation preview

THE

FACSIMILE SERIES V :

TEXT

SOCIETY

ECONOMICS

VOLUME 2 JOHN WHEELER A TREATISE OF COMMERCE

JOHN

WHEELER

A T R E A T I S E OF C O M M E R C E Reproduced from the London Edition of 1601

WITH

A

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL

NOTE

BY

GEORGE BURTON

PUBLISHED

THE

FACSIMILE

HOTCHKISS

FOR

TEXT

SOCIETY

BY

COLUMBIA NEW

UNIVERSITY

YORK.

:

M

CM

PRESS

XXXI

Printed in t h e United States of A m e r i c a by T h e National Process C o m p a n y , N e w Y o r k

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL

NOTE

A Treatise of Commerce by John Wheeler was published in 1 6 0 1 , as a defense of the Society of Merchants Adventurers of England, which was then the strongest of the "regulated" trading companies. Two editions of the Treatise were printed; one in Middelburgh, Zeeland, the foreign headquarters of the company, the other in London. The present reprint is from a copy of the London edition in the Seligman Library of Columbia University. The Middelburgh edition was doubtless the earlier by a few months. The author signed his dedication on June 6, 1 6 0 1 , at Middelburgh. A copy of the book was entered with the Stationers Company of London for printing there by John Harison on August fourteenth. That this was a printed copy of the Middelburgh edition seems evident from the fact that the entry in the Stationers' Register contains the same typographical error ("commodies" for "commodities") that appears on the title page of the Middelburgh edition. There are also indications that the format of the London edition was modeled upon that of the Middelburgh edition, although a smaller size of type was used. Both editions are fine examples of printing, for their time. The Middelburgh edition is perhaps the handsomer of the two. Richard Schilders, the Dutchman who printed it, had worked as a journey-

man in England before setting up his press in Middelburgh, and some of the most famous English books of the period bear his imprint. The larger size of type, of course, gave him an advantage. His edition contains 184 printed pages. Of these only 178 are numbered ; the title-page and epistle dedicatory at the beginning and the page of errata at the end have no page numbers. The London edition, printed by John Harison, has 126 pages, and the page numbering begins with the title page. The smaller type may not have been chosen simply for economy. The rules of the Stationers Company limited large-type editions to 1500 copies, whereas small-type editions might run to 3000. If more copies were desired, the type had to be reset and an entirely new edition printed. This meant waste of time as well as expense. That the London edition was more numerous than the Middelburgh edition is suggested by the fact that more copies of it have survived. Only three copies of the Middelburgh edition are listed in the Short Title Catalog (by Pollard and Redgrave); of these, one is in the British Museum Library, one in the Harmsworth Library and one in the Henry E . Huntington Library. Seven specimens of the London edition are known; two in the British Museum Library, two in the Bodleian Library, one in the Cambridge University Library, one in the Henry E. Huntington Library, and one in the Seligman Library.

The variants in the two editions seem, at first glance, to be numerous, but upon closer study they resolve themselves almost entirely into mere variations in spelling, of no great significance. Nowhere are there clear evidences that the author made any revisions between the two printings. Possibly he did not even see the London edition through the press. H e appends a list of "faultes escaped in printing" to the Middelburgh edition but no page of errata appears in the London edition, although the typographical errors in this also are quite frequent.* Elizabethan spelling is notoriously variable and the variants in the two editions represent the practice of the two printers, Schilders and Hanson. Harison is distinctly nearer to modern practice. This may be due to the fact that Schilders had gained his knowledge of English printing some twenty years earlier and perhaps had not kept closely in touch with the development of English orthography since that time. Harison, in the London edition, uses fewer doubled letters, fewer superfluous "e's" at the end of words and fewer capitals. H e shows a tendency to replace the ending "ie" by "y." In the Middelburgh edition we find ¿woo, fitt, woord, manie, rowe, witt, and withall; the corresponding forms in the London edition are two, fit, word, many, row, wit, and withal. However, Harison is by no means consistent in this ttTwo important errata should be n o t e d : p. s7, 1. 20, the w o r d omitted f r o m the phrase, " i t sufficeth f o r a l " ( M i d d e l b u r g h edition " i t suffiseth not f o r a l l " ) ; p. I I I , 1. 31, the w o r d of is inserted phrase, " K i n d of u s a g e " ( M i d d e l b u r g h edition reads, " K i n d e u s a g e . " are undoubtedly errors o f the L o n d o n printer.

not is reads, in the These

practice. H e shows merely a tendency toward simpler spelling, rather than a settled policy. Occasionally he drops a final " e " or undoubles a letter (e.g., els for else, fal for fall, maner for manner) where modern usage has retained the longer forms. Both printers spell certain words in several different ways, sometimes on the same page, for no discoverable reason except caprice or the exigencies of spacing out a line. Both use the circumflex accent to indicate the omission of an " m " or " n " whenever it suits their convenience. This habit leads to some curious contrasts. For example on page 8 of the London edition the word ordinances appears twice; the second time it is spelt ordinaces. In the corresponding passage in the Middelbufgh edition it first appears as ordinaces and then as ordinances. The Treatise of Commerce is the only published work of John Wheeler. Little is known with certainty about him except that he was Secretary of the Merchants Adventurers and in 1608 compiled the Laws and Ordinances of the Company in permanent form. A ponderous manuscript volume containing his compilation, with additions by later hands, is one of the treasures of the British Museum. It was reprinted in 1902 by Dr. W. E . Lingelbach.* This John Wheeler, Secretary of the Merchants Adventurers, was in all probability, John Wheeler, the Elder, of Great Yarmouth, who was born about * " T h e M e r c h a n t A d v e n t u r e r s of E n g l a n d , their L a w s and O r d i n a n c e s , " e d i t e d by W . E . L i n g e l b a c h ( i n the S e r i e s of T r a n s l a t i o n s a n d R e p r i n t s issued by the D e p a r t m e n t o f H i s t o r y , U n i v e r s i t y o f P e n n s y l v a n i a ) 1 9 0 2 .

1553, or slightly earlier, and who died about 1610. Shortly after the publication of the Treatise of

Com-

merce he was elected to Parliament as one of the burgesses of the Port of Great Yarmouth and retained his seat until his death. W h e e l e r ' s Treatise

of Commerce

has been ex-

tensively quoted by economic historians, but has never before been reprinted in its entirety. H o w e v e r , a carefully edited reprint of the M i d d e l b u r g h edition with historical introduction by the writer of this bibliographical note was recently published by the N e w Y o r k University Press. GEORGE BURTON NEW

YORK

UNIVERSITY

May, 1931

HOTCHKISS

A

T R E A T I S E OF C

O

M

M

E

R

C

E

*

Wherein are fhewed tlie Commodities arifng by a. well ordered and ruled, Tradejuch as that ofthe Sccietie ofMerchants Aduenturers isproved to be :

Writt-cn principally for the better information of thoic who doubt of the Neceilàrineiîè of the faid focietie in the State of the Reahne o f E n d a n d . CI

^ I o h n W H r i l.ER,Secretòriet» thcjaidSocictie,

'Printed at London by lohn Hariiòn,

i ¿o i.

T o the Right Honourable SirRoB E R T C E C I L L

Knight,principallSecretary

to hcrMaie(iic,&c.

fHofe which heretofore (Right Honorable) hme written ofante matter, and had opinion,that the publi\ filing thereof might doe good unto . others, h.iue ufed to Dedicate their Labours tofome one, or other, un\der whofe countenance, and proteBicn the fame might go foorth,& bee the better lyked, and receyued of all men: which is the caufe that I haue made bolde to infcribe this Treatife, fuchasit is, unto your Honour, upon hope offauourable allowance, and Patronage, which linjlantlie crane, and entreat, and withall, that in the readinge thereof,your Honour would uouchfafe to remember, that it concerneth thofe men, and that olde and ancientlie renoumed CompanieofM. E R C H A N T E S A D V E N T V R E R S , which wasfo well ejleemedof and highliefauoured byyour tate right Honorable Father, of woorthie memone, unto whom as God hath appointed your Honour to be aSucceffour in manie excellent thinges of this life, whether wee regardethe Honourableplaces, whereuntoyou are called in the Gouernement ofthe State,or the uertues,and qualities fitfor fo waightie a calling, wherewithyou are endewed, So it may pleafeyour Honour to take unto you this Succef A x

fort

The Epiitle Dedicatorie. fion alfo, to witte, the },lav tfull obfervancie, and Promptitude.,which the fatd Compante aireayesfkemd tmardes your pad right Honourable Fathersferuice, dnd which they dfojtandereadie anddefirous toprefent&performeunto your Honour to their bejlpower, arid abilitie. I am not ignorant alfo, that it isthemaner of writers > tofill up the great efl parte of their Prefaces with thepraifes, and comendations of thofe , to whom? thy Dedicate their Tran dies ¡and fur die this R eivardfeemeth to bee deaf unto true Vertue, that the Memorie thereoffbouldbee conJeerated to Pofieritie, which can not beperformed by ante Monument better , then by Bookes. And'albeit ¡without all Glofwge, or counterfeyting, I haue heere in uerie deed ii largefielde ofyour Honoursprayfes offered unto mee, yet becaufe my fimplicitie not onehe abhorreth all Adulation, but withall all kinde of Fawninge, or flatteringjpeeche, and that your Honours fmgular Modefiie , is wonte ¡not to abide ante thinge lejje, then euen the modejlejl commendations , I will let pajfe thefame, and come unto the han¿linge of the enfuingTreatife, which with my felfe J humbly recommend untoyour Honcurs goodfauour, andfo befeech the Almightie to bleffe^and keepeyour Honour. Middelburgh thefisih ofJune 1601.

Your Honors with his ieruice at commandemcnt,

loan

WHEELS*.

A T R E A T I S E OF C O M M E R C E . Wherein are fhewedthe Commodities ariilngby a well ordered and ruled Trade,liich as that of the focietie of M E R C H A N T S A D V E N T V R E U S is prooued to be: Written for the better information ofthofe, who doubt of the neceflarineiTe of the iaid Societie intheStateoftheRealmeof En gland,By/«/;» VVheeler£>z c re t ar i c tothefaide Societie. t 'ita c'iuUis inStcittatc

eft, Sonettu in Imperii, gr

Comment»,

Comntercio rentes mari^montihufcjue difcrett mifeittur, yt quodvfi]«am nafcitur,itf>uii emaei affn.it-'

I H e r e b e t w o points about the which the I Royal office & adminillration of a Prjace is wholy emploied,to wir,about the goucrnm e n t o f t h e p e r f o n s o f m e n : next of thing? conuenientandfic for the mntntenanccot humanefociecie: vvhciin principally the ci* uillife conlilteth&hath her being: And thereforethe Prince tiiat loneth the Policie,and rulech by fage and good couniel!, iato conilitute and appoint certaine La ves, and ordinarie Rules,bothin tke one and the other of the abouefaid points, and fpecially in the fail as the chiefeti, which is conuerfant and occupied about the infticutian of the pcrfons of men inpietic.ciuill conutrfation in maners and fafhion oflife, and finally in the mutuali dutie of equitie& charitieonetowards another : of the which my purpofe is not to intreat.but fomewhat ofthat other point,namely ,thcGoucrnmenr o^ thmgs conuenkpt and fit for the maintenance of H u m a n e So* A 3 ciec'te :

6

A T'reatife

of

Commerce.

cietie: wherevnt«mcns'a6tions and afte, that riieditches&lowp!acesroundabout,beingcontinoa!!y fulloffait and filthy oaze, for wantofafrefh Riueror current to deanfethe fame, bredfuch fienchandnoyfomc faucuirs, that the Engliih vfed to a wholcfome 3nd fwecte aire mi their owne country,were troubled with gricuousAgues,and other fore difcafes,& for their health fake,were forced to leiue ti e faid towne,about theycarc ofout Lord 1444. At whidi time Antwerp being but a poore and firnple Towne, ftanding in Brabant,maiSe great f;te to the Companie to repaire thither, which they finally vpon offer of verie large and beneficial!. Priuiledges,obtained. In whichtowne ofAntwerp, and the town of Bergeu opZoot»Y\kzW\{c in Brabar, the Copany euer fince hath for the moft par: c6tinued,fauethat(asaforefaid)in

16

rjl*- of.

A Treatife

ifCommerce.

the time o f k i n g Htnrie the feuenth,they were vpon ocCafion remoued to Calice for a time,till that by the earncii interceffion of the L a d y Margaret DuchefTe of Sauoy, they repaired againe into the L o w Countries, firit toMiddelburgh, then afterwards to Antwerp, where they were ioyfully and honorably receiucd, and entertained by the Magitfrate andchicfcifcit'izensof t h e T o w n e , camming forth in tolemne procefTion to ineetc and welcomethe fa id Merchants,as by the Recordsofthofetimesfiifficiemly 3ppeareth. Anoheerc by way ; it is not much from our purpofe.to infert feme what

wtrfat the Com- of the (late of Antwerp, stthe firit comming thither of the f.tniesfr-ftctm- Companic,wherinamanfiiallfccthatwhichisalmolUncremngtUther. ¿ ¡ ^ l e : Ththp lurnamed the Good, Duke ofBurgundie, and of Brabant,&c. gaue Priuiledgcs to the Compauie, vnder the name of the Englifh Natiotf, by which name the faid C o m pany euerfince hath beene moil commonly knowne in the low Countries, which happened in the yeate 1 4 4 6 . Which Priuiledgesthe towne of Antwerp confirmed the fixtofAugultinthe aboue.faid yeare, giuing to thembefides a large houfe,v hich is now called the old Burfe, and afterwards by exchage^nother more goodly,fpacious & fumptuous houfe called the Court ofLier which the Companie enioyed ¡ill the (aid town was yeelded vp to the D u k e of Parma.in the yeare 1 5 8 5 , A t t h e abouefaidfirfl Concordate,and conclufion of Priuilcdges with the towne of Antwerp, or not Ion* before, there were not in all the T o w n e aboue foure Merchants, and thofealfo no aduenturersto the fea, the reft of the Inhnbitacs o r T o w n f m e n were but mcdne people,and neither able, nor ikilfullto vfe the feat or trade of Merchandife, but did let out the beftoftheirhoufestoEngii£h-men,.anHothetGrangers for chambers,and pack-houfes, contenting themfelues with iome corner fortheir profits fake .• but v\ ithin few yeare.s the concourfe.and refortof forreigne Merchintsto that T o w n e was fo great,that houfe roome waxed fcant, rents / ere raifed,T©lles,axcifes,& all other duties to the Prince & T o w n e wonderfully encreafed, and the Antwerp men themfelues, w h o in feyv yeares before were but meano artificers, or liued

ATrentife of Commerce.

17

b y h u s b a n d r i e , and keeping ofcattell ( w h e r e o f o w e g a t e o f that citie to this day beareth the n a m e J a n d had but fixe fhips belonging to their T o w n e , and thofe for the Riueronely, Dt CttVtm. that ncuer went to fea, b e g a n to g r o w exceeding rich, f o that fome fell to the trade of M e r c h a n d i f e , and others e m p t i e d their fubitance in building, the their old rotten houfes couered with thatch,were pulled downe,their wafte ground, wheteof there v\ai ftore within the T o w n e , wasturned into goodly buildings.andfaire ftreetes,& their (Tuppingencreated accordingly: thus profpered not only thofe of A n t w e r p , but a l l o t h e r T o w n e s a n d p l ices thereabouts, f o t l u t i n our m c m o r i e t h it now liue, the faid T o w n e was growne t o fuch w c a K h j f t r e n g t h & b e a u t i e . a s n e u e r n o n c the like in fo fhort a time,and no maruel,for w i t h i n t h e c o m p a i T e o f f i f t i e y e e r r s an houfe t h i t was worth but fourtie Dallers a yearc, g r c w e to b e worth three hundred D j l l e n a yeere.atid an houfe that was let out for fixtie Dallers, came after wards to be letfor fo!!te hundred Dallers, yea f o m e houfes in A n t w e r p e w e r e ' ' let for 60a. fonie for 800. Dallers a yeare rent: beiides their Hauens for fhips to c o m e and lade and difcharge within the T o w n e : theirpublikc ftacely buildings, and edifices,erefted partly for o r n a m e n t , and partly for the cafe a n d a c c o m m o dating of the M e r c h a n t , were fo cottly and fumptuous,as he that hath not i e e n e a n d marked them well, would not b e leeue i t : to fay nothing of the fortification of the T o w n e , which is fuch,that the charges thereof would trouble the richeft Prince in F u r o r p e ; but as the P o e t /„«f che great wealth it grew vnto in v e n e i h o t t time, whereof C

the

ATreatife of Commerce. the faid Engliili Merchants with their gainful! and benefici« alhradc v e r e a great caule, and rueanes, which principally made them to be fo much regarded and efleemed in the faid T o w n e , and by the Princes and Gouernours thereof from time to time , as well appeareth,among other proofes,by this Sltiianm ii. lì. one recorded by Sleiàttn, and remcmbred by ionie that yet bro Comm.nt.t- liue.The Emperour (harles the fift would haue brought the riorum. Inquifitiòn into the Towne of Antwerp, inthc yeare 1550. whereabouts there was iruchad.->,andgreat qudlion,and neirherby the futc ofthe 7'owne, nor by any intercefiion, orrequeli of their friends,could the faid Emperour bediuer. ted from his purpole : ar the latf it was fliewed him, that if the o gInquifition were brought in,he wold driue the Englifh M erf»r the M. M. chantsout of that Citie,and out ofthe whole low Countries Mienturers alfo,the confequence whereofwhen he had wel confidered, he changed hismind, and fothe Citte of Antwerp wasfaued from the Inquifition, whichtheyfo much feared, and by no futeormeanes befides were able to put from them; of fuch ettimation and account were the Merchants Aduenturers with that mightie and prudent Emperour, and of fuch credit and reckoning haue they beene from time to time at home with clcuen Kings and Q j e e n e s ofthis Realme ot England, aod abroad with the Cities of 'Bridget in Flanders, Antwerpe, and Bergen op den zjoom io Brabant, Aftddciboxrgh and Zierkz.ee in Zeiand, Amfterdam and Donin H •ihnd.Vtrech the chiefe Citie ofa Prouioce ofthat name,& with the Dukes Earles,Lords,anciRulcrs ofthe abouefaid CitiesSi Prouinccs,lying within che low Countries,ancient fne.ds and confederates with the Crowne of England. And io Germanie with the T o w n e s of Hambrvugb a.id Starle, and the Earles of Eifl-friejland lìnee the yeare 1564. till this Hay, at which timethey obtained Priutledges ofthe Lady d m t Counteffe ofOldenburgh,and her fonnes Edgard and /0/hr,wherein they cnllt'ie Company ofMerchants Aduenturers,^/;/*«» ilUm & celeb>-*tam paffim Anglu orurn Mercetorum Societatem. In all whichplacesa 'd countries the forefaid Company haue io demeaned themfelues/hat thereby they haue reaped great loue,

A Treatife ofCommerce.

tp

loue,credite,fame,and commendation, and haue leftbehind them a longing for themagaineinthofe places, wherethey once re fided or held their Marts,& procured a defire of them in many places,where they neuer w e r e : which appeareth b y the honourable ceftimonie giueo of the Company by the a bouefaid Towne$,and forreigne princes abroad, and is otherwife well known&tothofe, w h o know any thing o f t h e doings of our Neighbours.And lately, when through the malicious and injurious working of a few ofthe Hanfc Townes,inftigated & holpen forward by the King of Spaines minitters, a part of the laid Company was put from the T o w n e ofStade inthcyeare 1 5 9 7 . and were forced to retire out o f the E m pire, the T o w n e s of the vnited l o w Countreys, eleuen or twelue in number of the bert fituate,each itriumg to be preferred,like fo many Riuals or Competitors,offered thefelues in mott friendly andheartie fort,and inuited thefaid C o m p a . nie to refide withthem,vpon promifes offuch fauour and priuiledge as ought neuer to be for gotten: but hereof poflibly enough. L c t v s n o w l o o k e i n t o the Eftate.PoIicie, a n d g o uernement of the f a i d C o m p a n i e , whereby w e (ball plaincly fee the cauiesand reafonsof the lour, eiiimation, and eredice which it hath purchafed abroad, a n d f o the f o o n e r b e r leene that, which hath aboue beene fet do wne,and affirmed.

Ofthe State and Gouernement of the Companie of Merchants Aduenturers, and of fuch benefites as growe to the Realme by the maintenance thereH e C o m p a n y of the Merchants Aduenturers confilieth of a great number of wealthie, and well experimented M e r chants, dwelling in diuerfe great Cities, Maritime T o wnes, and othet parts of the Rcalme,to w i r , L o n d o n , Y o r k e , N o r w i c h , C a Exceller,

20

ATreatife of Commerce.

Excet?r,Ipivvitch,Ncwcaltle,Hull,&c. T h e f c m e n ofolde timj-linkcd and bound themfeluestogether i i i C o m p a n k for the exertifeof Merchandifeandiea-t'are, tradingin Cloth, Kerfie,and all other, aswcll Eng]il"has forreigne C o m m o dities vendible abroad, by the which they brought vnro the places where they traded, much wealth, benefite, and commoditie, znd for that caufe haue obtainedmany vcrie excellent and lingular priuiledgei.rightsjiurifdi&i'ins, exemptions and immunities, all v\hicluhofe of the aforefaid Fellov\fhip equally enioy after a well ordered maner and forme,and according to the ordinances, lawes,and cuitomesdeuifedand agreed vpon by common confentofall the Merchant», ftec of the faid Fellovviliip^wellirrgin the abouenamed Townes and places of the l a n d : the parts and places which they trade vnro,are t h e T o w n e s and portslying betweene the iiuers of

Sommt in France,and the Scawe in the Germane feaj not into all at once, or ar each mans pleafure, but into one, or t w o T o w n s at the molt within the abouefaid bounds,which they commonly call the Mart T o w ne, or T o w n e s ; forthat there onely they ftapled the commodities,which they brought out c f E n g ! a n d , & p n t t h e lame to fale.and bought fuch forreigne commodities,as the land wanted,and were brought from far by Merchants of diuerfe Nations and countries flocking thither,as to a Faire,or market to buy & fell. And albeit through the troubles and alteration oftimes, the Merchants Aduenturers haue beene forced to change and leaue their olde inarte Townes,and feeke new {as hath beene partly touched beforejyet whereloeuer they feated themfelues,thither pre»fMMutn- f c n l l y repaired other Strangers, leauing likewife the places tmtrs tj athto whence the Englifh Merchants were departed,andplanting mhfani diucrt themfelues where they reficled: fo that as long as the C o m airad»' panycontinued their Mart, cr Staple in a place,folong grew and profperedthatplacc; but when theyforfookeit,the welfare and good ellate thereof feemed wichall todepatt, and forlake ir.as in olde time hath beene feene in Uruigts, and in our time in f o m e others.and bo inaruell: for diligent inquiry being made in the yeare 15 5 0 . by the comandcmcnt of the Empe-

ji Trt.itife ofCommerce.

11

Empcrour Qi&rlts the fifth, what benefice or comtnoditie came to his iiate o f t h e low Countries,by the haunt and comm c r c e o f E n g l i f h Merchants: it was found, thacinthcCkie o f A n t w e r p a i u n e , v. here the Compar.ie of Merchants A d Hcaturers was at time refiiiing,were at leaii twenty thoufand perionsfed and maintained for the moif part by the trade of the Merchants Aduenturers: befides thirtie thoufatid fathers ir\.ether places of the low Countries like wife maintained and fedpartly by the faid trade, partly b y endraping of cloth,and working in wool,and other commodities brought out ofEng'.and.Tn confirmation whereof, I haue heard ancient Merchants fay, That at the time when the aboucfaid Companie was entirely refident atAntwerpe, a little before the trouble« which fell out in the yeares 6 5 . and ue muneths together and might not be permitted to land them a: Anttrcrpe, were at length forced to depart with the famevnto the townc oiEmb&cn,in Eaftfnfeland,where they obteined priuiledges and contra&ed for a free C o m m e r c e with the two yong Earles EgdanH and Itbn, and the -Lady Ann? Ccuntefie of 01¿enburgbe then Mother Anno 1 5 ^ . whoneitfierfeared nor found any conragion in the Engliih and their Commodities, and by this meanes brake the violence of the aforefaid D u t cbcITes intention,ereding their trade in the abouc faid t o * n , a n d l c a u i n g v ^ w r t w / f and the Low Countries .whereupon King Pbi/ip and his miniftcrs grieued fore that they could not haue. their will o f h e r M a i e l h e , and her Highnefle fubic&es, and that they muiiforgoefo profitable a Milch-cow e as the Englifh Trade wasvnto the L o w e Co'untties: an Edidt or Proclamation w as let foorth in the Moneth o f M a y e o f t h e aTrohibition oftt'.l boufaid y eere, That no perfon in the faide Lowe Countries ^ ¿ u j h i ' L t n i o u I d h a u e ' o r v f e a n y T r a d c w i t h t h c Englidiat Embden, v£hj>'. y buy any Cloth or Engliih Woollen Coramoditie ofthem, or carry them any wares vpon patne ofconfifcation ofthe fame,' then the which dealing what could be more insurious or e nemy-likeintimeofopen warres? But herein the faid King notonely fhotat the State of England, but with all bee endaminaged other Nations,and particularly tboi'e o f t h e E m pire, as thoughnoGountrieMcrchantescug'nt to trade any where,but in his Countries, and when, and where, and with whom it pleafedhim, thereby to hold all the whole tradc of Merchandife in his Netheilads alone> forbidding vpon paine oflofle of goods the ImperiallMerchanteSjas well as others, from occupying, buyingjarfelling within the limitesofthe EmpirejasihoiighhchadbccnEmperour himfelfc.and more then

A Treatife of Commerce.

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thenEmperour.-In which point hcc tbuchcdvery nearethe top and height of the Emperiall C r o w n e and Dignitie, in that being but Duke ofEurgundte,&. tfcatin rciprdt but a Cubic ¿t ofthe Empire,he tooke vpen him peremptorily,to command, rertraine,forbid,and iniurioufly to breake the old, and ancient freedom 1 !,and liberties of:hc Empire freely y eelded, and f< > long religioi lly maintained and kept, as well toward a!!tneiubicdh,astowardcs all the friendes and Allies of the fame.amongft which friends the Englifh haue been continually not theleaft, orlall,as fetchingtheiroriginallcut o f t h e i aid holy Empire. A t length when the king ofSpainc,for all the inlligation of the Nctheilanders and popifh minillers, faw that hee could not prcuatfe, and were at a ftand, hee and they were glad ahd fiyr.c to come to a prcuifionall agreement,and to accept offuch priuiiedges and liberties, as the f3id Netherlander* enioyed in England in the laiiyecrc of Q^/W it h the M M . Aduenturer» in the M a r t - T o w n s f o r E n g l i f h c o m m o d i t y , & the M . M . A d u e n t u r e « frô b u y i n g o f forreigne wares at theftrâgers hands, as m u c h a s l y e t h in the laid N o r e m b e r g h T r a d e r s . L a f t i y , w h e r e a s it was fayd b y t h e m that if the M . M . Aduenrurcrs w e r e not o f a n c n u i o u s difpofition,they w o u l d b e c o n t e n t ,

A Treatife ofCommerce. 53 atrdwifli that their Countreymen and brethren fliould rather gaine then itraHgers : The M. M. Aduenturert are here in wrongfully charged,for they can be very well contenuto fee their Countreymen,much more their brethren to thriue, and gaine,but whé asfuchgainefreaching aliò butto a few) is much more hurtfull to the Common weale of England, and to.the generali bodie ofthe Company of M.M. Aduenturers.then beneficiali to the faid few perlons,traders to Norenberghe ,and other places out of the Mirte tow tics, there is noreaion.but that it ought to be forbidden, and cut off; for fuchpriuateandvnwontcdtrade betweenEngliih artd.Englifhjn the Marte townes, and fuchftraglingby free,and vnfree Englifli vied in Germanie, and the townesof the Lowe Countries out ofthe Marte townes, is fo vnfeemely, vnmerchantlike,and farre differing from the ancient, laudable,and right Enalifh maner ofthe M M. AduenturersourPredeceffoursin formertimes,8iis fooffenfiuetoallforreignc States, and people,as nothing can be more : and hath been v. ell feen and perceiucd ìnthe Hamburghers^Zi Earlc Edgard of Etr.bde,who were much difpleafed with thc.diibrdreo trade at Nerenberghe and elfewhere: faying that they had giuen the Aduencurers leaue to trade with allkinde offorreigners in their cities, but had no meaning, that theircitie» Ouuild bee vied as through Faircs3by trading from thence into ot hot? partes of the Empirc,thereby to hinder the repaireofforn igne M, M. to the faid Cities : the faid E^tle went furthfif, & compelled fuch Englifhmen as traded to Norenberghe, to pay Tole, nr>t only for fuch clothes,kerfyes fc Eng'ifh wares as they fhixi'.d tvanfport & carry from Embden, but alio for fuch forre ign« wares as they brought from other partes vnto n the great preiuHice ofthe Statc,& ofthe M.M.Aduenturcr,who by Priuiledgc were before free of aH Tolles, & (x.éiiom whatfoeuer c ither inwards or outwards, 8c fure1 y it may bee prefumed,that the Hattfes deriuedthat their felle fl iiuidc rof the Companie o/M M.Aduenturers, in charging themwkh Monopeli/r, from none other head nor ground then frona ihis difordred trade vfed between a fewe vnbridled and pnu?re G l Englfo

54

ATreatìfe ófCommerce.

EnghiTi andEnglifh within the Marte-towaes, and without the Mar'ce-townes into the parts ofGervnànie,whereby they ihew an exorbitant,and vnfatiaB'e defire.and grcedines o f game, as not content with a reafonable trade in the Martetovvnc,butinchrothing as it were, vponthe whole trade of thofe parrs,and of other men which c inno: chocfe,buc be a great ey-fore.and offence to all fcrrcigne, and ilrange Merchants. N o w,although Thope by this time it fufiicicntly appearcth, that the goiierncd and well-ordered trade of the M . M . Aduenfurers Coirpanie,ii farre to be preferred before a difpcifcd.ftragling.nnd promifcucu- trade, fo that it ueedeth no further proofcor demonftration, yet becaufe fome men hold this to he againft the libertie o f the fubieéì > & think that the Aducnttirers by their orders, reilraineorlimite the Cloth market at home,it flial be neceflarie for thefe mens f3tisfaèlian alio, to fay fomething further o f thismaiter.Firft, it istruethat Bonum quo commumui ^oma'tus-.zx\à it were to b e wifhed.tha: there v\ ere enough fur euery nun, but that v.ill neuerbe:furthermorc h c l o o f e t h a p i i c e o f h i s libertie well, that being retrained o f a little, fareth better in that eftate, then if lie were left to hit owne greedy appetite: for we haue feene by experiece,that many men in ourtime leaping from their fhopsand retayling,wherein tkey were brought vp,and gathering great wealth,& taking vpon them to be M M.and dealers beyond the feas,haue in feweyeresgrowne poore.cr fo decayed inflate that they might well haue wifhed, that they had neuerlcft their former trade,& vocation,but fuffered others quietly to enioy their priuiledge,and difgefted the loife o f a litle Iciap ofTibercy,hurtful! to themfelues & rightly bellowed vpon others for fuchferuires,deferts,& confideràtions,as no other fubieit need toenuy them for the fame, or to be agrceued thereat,except they wil chalege the Prince o f partiality, or not to haue a due care of thefubi«&,or faythat the preferment or exemption, which one ma hath more,and before another in t h e C o m m o n wealth,is againft the libertie o f the fubiert!ng thiiherout o f t h i s R e a l m e , the ""'"Ajw«'. trade was vtcerlyfpoilcd,in!omuchthatmaiiy o f t h e t n w e n c a b o u t t h e t o w n c with cloth vpon their armes, and meafures in their hands,and fold the fame by the esfrfine,a meafure of that C o u n t i e y , t o t h e great i m b a f i n g o f t h a t excellent C o m m o d k i e , t h e d i f c r c d i t e o f o u r N a t i o n , a n d the final! impouerifhing, a n d v n d o i n g o f m a n y o f t h e laid iiraglers, which being made k n o w h e to her Maieiiie, and her Highnes light H o n o u r a b l e priuie C o u n f e l l , order was taken at the next Parliament, that the T o w n ? of jVar/wfliould b e c o m p r i s e d within the Charter of rbe uenienccs, & gr ieuaces which to Grangers are incident & comon in flrange p]aces,& thereby arc made fubie& to in my exa&ions, new tolles, & excefliue payments 8c charges tor one catifeorother, & confequcntly as foone impouerifhed & iuen from their trade by the forreign Merchants,or after they haue made theforreignM.M. acquainted with the trade, are eaten out by them: which alio would happen to the M.M.Aduenturers,ifthe M.M. Aduenturers ifthey were not lo vnited, and held together by their good gouernmec,& bv their politike,& merchantlike orders. Here it may be obieghttr3nfport Cloth, the more^vould be fold,& theprices would be the higher:Tothis 1 haue fufficicntly anlwered before &prooued the contrary by experience fetched from the twenty ninth yeere of het Maiefiiesreigne,whenas all.bothEnglifh and Grangers,that would,were by letters Patterns direfted from herHighnefl'c to the Lord Treafurers, enabled to buye andtranfport E n g lifh c l o t h e for that the Charter of the chic ofLondon fhoul d not bee in the way,or an hindrance hereunto (by reafon that vnfree men are thereby retrained from buying and. felling within the faidcitie, and that the ordinaric Market-place at that time for Cloth was in Blackwell-hallJ the figne of the George at tfeftmittfler in the Kings-ftreet was appointed a market-place,for fuch Clothiers to relortvnto as would take the libertie ofthe aforefaid Letters patentes.but what folowed thereof? I could neueryetlearne, that one Wayne load of Cloth was vnloaded at the faide place, neither that the Steelyard Merchants norany of her Maicflics fubiedts (o e r abled as aforefaid,did euer take benefit by the fame for fourtic clothcsjone man yet liuing only exceptid.who fince fas I

A Treatife ofCommerce.

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heard J hath often p r o t e l i e d , t h a t i n b u y i n g l o o . C l o t h e s , h e l o f t a g o o d f u m m c o f his principal], and no maruaile, f e e i n g t h e f e w h o had ferued and had b e e n e b r o u g h t v p in the trade o f a Marchant A d u e n t u r e r m a n y y e e r s t o g e t h e r , could hardl y m a k e o n e o f o n e , f u c h w a s the l o n g f o m e n e s o f R c t u r n e , a n d t h e b a d n c s o f t h e t i m c a t t h a t i o t t a n t , through the C o n iundtioa*>f m a n y difficulties not here inferted, befides thofe w h i c h haue b e e n e aboue t o u c h e d . S o that nor the w a n t o f b u y e r s was the caufe o f t h e complaint o f w a n t o f w o r k e / a n d trade at that t i m e , but rather the a b o u e f a i d caufes. For it is Tcry w e l l k n o w u e , t h a t the C o m p a n y o f M . M . Aduenturers j s f u f f i c i c n t a n d able e n o u g h , and ouerraany to b u y v p , and v e n t all that C l o t h , and thofe fortes o f wool! en corn m o d itie, m a d e and e n d r a p e d within the R e a l m e . w h e r e w i t h they v f u ®!ly deale.and which arc vendible in the C o u n t r i e s , w h i t h e r they trade b e y o n d the feas:for they arc not f o f e w e as 3 500. 3* 00 perfonsin number enhabiting L o n d o n , & fundry C i u e s and °f tl "C* m f*>v en~ partes o f t h e realmc.efpecially the t o w n e s that lye conueniently for the fea,ot w h i c h a very great m a n y vfe not the trade f a r t h a t it fufficeth for al.but are conitrained t o g e t theirliuing b y f o m e other meanes: and to the the end that thofe w h i c h are tradersmay b e equally and indifferently cared and foricd for^and that the wealthie or richer fort with their great purfes m a y not engrolTe the w h o l e C o m m o d i t i e into their o w n e hands,and f o f o m e haue all, and f o m e neuer a whit, there is a Stint,and reafonable proportion allotted, a s d f e t b y an ancient o r d e r & manner, w h a t q u a n t i s e cither at o n c e , or b y the y e r e euery man may {hip out or tranfport, w h i c h he is not t o g o e b e y o n d n o r e x c e e d : w h i c h w h o l e flint and proportion, i f i t w e r e {hipped ortranfported out o f t h e l a o d e , w o u l d am o u n t v n t o y erely the d o u b l e quatitie o f al the cloth o f t h o f e forts m a d e in the R e a l m e , w h i c h t h c M e r c h a n t s Aduenturers deale m , w h e r b y it iseuident that thisrimting is not a reftraint o r limitation o f t h e C l o t h marked (as f o m e o f late h a u e m i f c o n c e i u e d ) but rather an oeconomicall, and difcreetpartitio n , o r appropor ioning a m o n g the members,and B r e t h t e r o f the C o m p a n y , o f t h e commodities, and b e n e f i t s o f t h e f a m e ; H fo

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fothatthe wea!:hierlbrtare not forgottc",but withaiarekept from cngtoiTing the whole trade, contrarie to the vfe and ma'ierofa well ordered C o m m o n wealth,or family, wherein all are prouided for,and not fome ftarued for wanr,whileft 0thers 3re f.vollen vp to the eyes with fat and plentie: For it is merryinHall,wherebcarAtwJggeall, accordingto that olde right English Prouerbeofour-Ancelloiirs, who full well vnderflood what belonged to good houfe keeping, and pra£Hfed the fame better then in thefe our dayes is vied, the more the pittie.

That the Navigation ofthe Regime, is maintained andadnanced by the Companie of the M,M. Adventurers. I N C E the cre as

w e l l as they did with the Hollanders, otherwifc their trade might b e well accounted for P a r t u l i t i e , rather then N e u t r a l i s e ; promifing further,that the faid Hwfes ihould difcharge their goods,buy .fell, and make returne in the forfaid Hauens, without any paimentatall o f T o l l I m p o r t , L i c e n f e , or other charge whatfoeuer; and further,ihould b e affured, and w a r ranted by the A r c h d u k c f r o m a l l d a m m a g e or loflé. T h e f e E m b a f l a d o r s a l f o f e e m e d t o b e m u c h grieued f o r the iniurie,which they faid the Q u e e n e o f E n g l a n d did vnto the Hanfes,'\n taking from them their f o ancient Priuiledges, for therecouerie w h e r e o f t h e y offered allpofllbleaflrftance,and to receiue them vnder the K i n g s proteéHon:moreouer,to furn i f h them w i t h f h i p s , munition, m o n e y , and fouldiors at all times,as need fhuld require-.offering them befides free trade and traffike in Spaine & Portingall, f o that they feparated & dirtingiufhed their fhips fro thole o f the kings rebellious f u b i e & s by f o m e marke-or toke.n,as they fhould thinK b e r t . L a f t ly they f h e w e d , that the K i n g had giuen order to the A r c h duke tsflbert,to fend a notable EmbaiTage to the E m p e r e u r to p r o c u r e t h e f e t t i n g f o r t h o f t h c M a n d a t o r D e c r e e a g r e e d v p o at Amburgb 15 8 2.againft the M o n o p o l i f h E n g l i f h trade (as they pleafed to cal it)thereby to e f f e f t the r e r t u u t i o o f t h e

I 1

Ihttfes

»/* toyvnes, and of the many waves fought for the friendly appointment, in fo much that fi:c H*nft cownfs.at the laft holden Afletnbly at Rtg*n/b*uihe i againe complained on this behalfe. end wee considering the maniiett neceffitie o f f h e caule, laid the fame a frtih in deliberation,and confutation with the Ele&ours, Princes, and States which then appeared,and with theCounfcllours, Ambafladours,ind Deputies of the Prince* which appeare d not perfonally at the faid AiTembly And for as much, as it was found to be againft all right and reafon.that the Hartfes fhold befpoiiedin the Realme of England of all their luff ride, hereditarie agreement and Priuifedgcs gotten,as aforefaide with their greatf oft and charges, and tlutton the *ther iide the M.M,Aduenturer* with their CoQuenticles, C o m p i l e Cvntri&»sfH»t andtraine,withoutany * permiffionof vs as presently raignJt inre Gentium jng Romaine Emperour and fupreme head o f t h e holy £ m u ^ pj r e } yea > t f,at which is more, contrarietoall/omier receffes, ( i « ' l m r « T and Mandates, fhould def*8* intrude themfelues a n d g o e Ha^ftratu ex through with their trade, to the notablc loflc and damage of ItnertU Urum all the States ofthis Empire great and fmatl^nd to the bring» tempo, e cunA j n g j n o f a dearth in Cloth and Wooll, & by their MopopoT Z Z & Z i t f ' F a < a i f * c s (which according to the confHtutionsofvs and act)itmuu the Holy Empire defcrue great punifhmew) to goe about to w e a k e n i n g ouerthrow the ancient and honeil trade o f M c r chandifcvfcU among the laudable D u t c h N a t i o n : without making

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making mention in this place of the outrage, Corce and violence,which the aforrfiid Engliih had committed,with manifold tobberics,& fpoilingsat fea.to the dangerous conlequence and prciudiccdftbe iutifdi&iort,& fuperiority which pertainethandbelongerhtovsandtheholy Empire in the f a m e : therefore in the forefaid aifembiy of the Empire,it was withone vovce and coofcnt concluded and refolued ofvs by theEle&ors,princes&Statesrcquired ; tbatiffobe(notwtthftanding all the great p a i n « & charges hithettoinraine befto wed) at our new inftance & requifition with deduction o f all the circumftances thereto neceifary,the Q u e e n e o f E n g land would not let the H*nfc townes iaioy their Priuiledges free,certaine,and whole,as heretofore ofold they had them, and would not aifofuflferthe C o m m e r c e , & trade Open, and rnmolcfied, that then wee ihould indeed affifl the Htmft 10 wnes,as the faitbfoll fubie&es of vs, a nd the holy Empire, and fliould caufc the aboue-memioned Mandate agreed Vpon at j4*Jler»ugheirefumeth,toafcr3>e vnto her felfibme intereft herein.&to draw the fame into confequence.as though by our fieff tring of the publishing ofthe fatd Mandates,the in trufionofthe afbrefa«nopoliih,whkh thcmi'elues bothiiiEng!a.fltonesnoftraremotis partiumftttdijs, fiflifque delationibus adratiovis norma & aquitatis, ttctuftitupenderibus examinaretur. And in letters at the f a m e time written to the Princes o f G e r m a n i e and fent b y the faid M.Wroth,&'M.StepbenLefure,towit, to the Adminifirator ofSaxonie to the Palfgraue vpon the Rhine,the Elector o f M e n t ^ i i diuers otherSjher Maieftie writeth in thefe w o r d s : O 2

Eedem

io8 ATreatifi tfCommerce. Eodem porrbEdiflo nomulla w prifcam quandamfubiitorum no. flroru Socictattm (quam Advent ur¿riorum vocanf)obietta cctn* memorantur, atque ex ijfdetnprofcr ipttonis velutiJ'ententia infertw^cjUA&eX imprri] fimbusdifcedere,atqueab omni wtraeofdem emendt at vctidendtvfu abflinere iubentur, qua quidemrei admirations digna viietur,maxinte cum lit cris noflris ad Imp era tore menfe Nouebri, An. ¡S9f.d Comnijs que Ratifbont 94. habebantrr datis adfmgula h diflc hoc repeat a abund'c re/ponfum, acfirmiffimureru msmen'is fatisfattufi/erit}quo fane credcndum nobis erat fafarea Maiefl.biemiumpenefdetitio interpofto rattombm dnobis allatis acquieuifle.£h*ijfet,&iuj}itia,cr regit noftr