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VIctuals and Munition for War, are so precious in a Common-Wealth, that either it seemeth necessary to restrain the Exportation altogether, or (if the Plenty permits it) to require the return thereof in so much Treasure; which appeareth to be reasonable and without difficulty, because
Spain and other Countries do willingly part with their Mony for such Wares, although in other occasions of Trade they straightly prohibit the Exportation thereof: All which I grant to be true; yet notwithstanding, we must consider that all the Ways and Means which (in course of Trade) force Treasure into the Kingdom, do not therefore make it ours; for this can be done only by a Lawful Gain, and this Gain is no way to be accom∣plished but by the Over-ballance of our Trade, and this Over-ballance is made less by re∣strictions: * 1.1Therefore such Restrictions do hinder the Increase of our Treasure. The Argument is plain, and needs no other Rea∣sons to strengthen it, except any Man be so vain to think that Restrictions would not cause the less Wares to be exported. But if this likewise should be granted, yet to enjoyn the Merchant to bring in Mony for Victuals and Munition carried out, will not cause us to have one Peny the more in the King∣dom at the Years end; For whatsoever is forced in one way, must out again in ano∣ther way: because only so much will remain and abide with us, as is Gained and Incor∣porated into the Estate of the Kingdom by the Over-ballance of the Trade.
This may be made plain by an example taken from an Englishman, who had occa∣sion to buy and consume the Wares of divers of Strangers for the Value of one thousand Pounds, he sold them to the said Strangers, and presently forced all the Mony from them, there remained only four hundred Pounds to the said Englishman, for Over-ballance of the Wares bought and sold; so the rest which he had received was returned back from whence he forced it. And this shall suffice to shew, that whatsoever courses we take to force Mony into the Kingdom, yet so much only will remain with us as we shall gain by the Ballance of our Trade.
Some re∣strictions hinder Trade.