The Maintenance of Free Trade [0]
The Maintenance of Free Trade
by Gerard de Malynes
1622
The Maintenance of Free Trade, According to the Three Essentiall Parts of Traffique; Namely Commodities, Moneys and Exchange of Moneys, by Bills of Exchanges for other Countries. Or answer to a Treatise of Free Trade, or the meanes to make Trade floushish, lately Published.
Contraria iuxta se Pofita magis Elucescunt.
by Gerard Malynes Merchant.
London, Printed by I.L. for William Shefford, and are to be sold at his shop, at the entring in of Popes head Allie out of Lumbard Street, 1622.
To The Most High and Mighty Monarch, James, by the grace of God, King of great Britaine, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc.
Traffique, (Most Dread and gracious Soueraigne) by Nature Admirable; and by Art Amiable; being the Sole peacible Instrument, to inrich Kingdomes and Commonweales: may properly be called, The Praeheminent Studie of Princes; the rather, because the Sacred wisdome hath approued this Axiom: That a King is miserable (how rich soever he be:) if he Raignes over a poore people; and that, that Kingdome is not able to subsist (how Rich and Potent soever the people be:) if the King bee not able to maintaine his Estate. Both which, (being Relatives) are depending upon Traffique and Trade, which is performed under Three Simples or Essentiall parts, namely, Commodities, Moneys, and Exchange for Moneys by Bills. Whereupon having lately perused a Treatise intituled Free Trade, or, The meanes to make Trade flourish; wherein the Author, either ignorantly or willfully, hath omitted to handle The Predominant Part of Trade, namely, the Mystery of Exchange: which is the Publike measure between us and other Nations, according to which, all our Commodities are bought and sold in forraine parts: his only Scape being, to have the Money of the Kingdome inhaunced in price, and the forraine Coynes made Currant within the Realme at high Rates. (whereby great inconveniences will follow:) I could not but bee moved, both by my faithfull alleagence due unto your Majestie, and the observant duty owing by mee, to the Publike good:) To make an answere to the materiall points of the saide Treatise, by comparing things by contraries for the better illustration; the rather for that it was published in Articulo temporis, when your Majesties vigilant Princely Care, had been pleased to referre the Consideration of this important businesse of State, to the Learned, Lord Vizcount Maundevile, Lord President of your Majesties most Honourable Privy Councell, and other persons of knowledge and experience: amongst whom (although unworthy) my selfe was called, and our opinions were certified unto your Highnesse. For the Consideration of this weighty matter of great Consequence, is absolutely to be submitted unto your High Wisedome and Transcendent judgement, by means whereof (according to the saying of Epictetus the Philosopher, Hoc est Maxime iudicis, Aptare Vniuersalia singularibus,) All Causes both Ecclesiasticall and Civill, are observed, discerned and applyed to their proper and determinate ends. Your Majestie therefore, may bee pleased to vouchsafe (with a gracious aspect) the reading of this small Treatise, which (like unto the little fish, mentioned by Plutarch, swimming before the great Whale, giving notice of dangerous shallow places;) shall be amply explained in a Volume (almost imprinted:) intituled Lex Mercatoria, or the Ancient Lawe Merchant, which (in all humility:) is to bee presented unto your most Sacred Majesty; wherein in the dangerous Rockes, (to be avoyded in the Course of Traffique, and the means thereunto conducing:) are manifested for the preservation and augmentation of the wealth of your Highnesse Realms and Dominions, to bee effected by the Rule of iustice grounded upon AEquality and Aequity according to ius gentium, which is chiefly maintained by the Lawe Merchant. The knowledge whereof, is of such moment, that all other Temporall Lawes (without it) are not complete, but imperfect. Worthy of commendation, are those offices,