An essay on the coin and commerce of the kingdom trade and treasure (which are twins) being the only supporters thereof next to religion and justice.

XIII.

And as these Mongers, and Monopolizers of Money; so those of Merchandize should be likewise taxed towards the re-coining the Cash of the Kingdom; I mean in an extraordinary manner.

For,* 1.1 as Mr. Roger Coke saith, Monopolies are the most wicked, tyrannical, and injurious Usurpations over other Men, and the greatest violations of the Law of Nature of any other; and are so much worse than Robbery, by how much the quality of them is worse, and the extent farther.

Nor are these Monopolies less impolitick,* 1.2 than they are injuri∣ous; for the greatest benefit which any Country or Kingdom en∣joys, is by the imployment of the Inhabitants, which being re∣strain'd to a few, the residue become a Burden to that Country to maintain them, and those also become dangerous to that Country for want of Imployment. From whence it follows, that they must either seek unlawfull means to subsist, or flee into other Countries to get subsistance there, which is as much a benefit to those Countries, as it is a loss to this.

The Prerogative of the East-India,* 1.3 and Royal African Company extend to two thirds of the Circumference of the Globe of the Earth.

And,* 1.4 not to take Notice how far the export of our Woollen Manufactures have been restrain'd in other Countries of England, the County of Suffolk (before the African Company was incorpo∣rated) vended yearly 25000 Clothes to Africa; but, about two Years after, the Clothiers in Suffolk, as they did before, endeavo∣red to have vented their Clothes in the African Trade, but they were not permitted, and the Company would take off but 500, and those at scarce half the Prizes they were sold at before.

The Companies returns into England from Africk are princi∣pally Gold Dust,* 1.5 which is so much less, as the restraint by the Com∣pany is more.

And they rais'd the Price of Elephants Teeth so high, that the Dutch could bring them in cheaper, and so work the Manufactures of them cheaper than the poor English could work them, and this being a Manufacture of Holland, the Dutch by the Act of Naviga∣tion may import them to the great prejudice of the English Arti∣ficers. And whither this be not a grievance, is submitted to Judg∣ment.

But see what another Coke saith of Monopolists, Propounders and Projectors in the third part of his Institutes pa. 181. Ca. 85.

A Monopoly (saith he) is an Institution, or allowance by the King, by his Grant, Commission, or otherwise, to any Person, or Persons, Bo∣dies Politick, or Corporate, of, or for the sole buying, selling, making, working or using of any thing, whereby others are restrain'd from the Freedom they had before, and hindered in their lawfull Trade.

For the Word Monopoly, dicitur 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. solo, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. vendere. — But the Law of the Realm in this point is grounded upon the Law of God, which saith, Thou shalt not take the nether or upper Milstone to pledge, for thou takest a Man's Life to pledge. Whereby it appeareth, that a Man's Trade is accounted his Life, because it maintaineth his Life: And therefore the Mo∣nopolist, that taketh away a Man's Trade, taketh away his Life, and is so much the more odious, because he is Vir sanguinis: Against these Inventers, and Propounders of evil things, the Ho∣ly Ghost hath spoken, Rom. 1.30. Inventores Malorum, &c. digni sunt Morte.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Reflections on the East-India and Royal A∣frican Compa∣ny, &c. P. 1.
• * 1.2

  P. 2.
• * 1.3

  P. 9.
• * 1.4

  P. 10.16
• * 1.5

  P. 11.