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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； who can by Providence preserve the Treasure of Kings and Commonweales； worthier are those that both （by honest and lawfull meanes） can preserve and augment them： but worthiest of all immortall praise； are these； who can and doe （by easie； just； and Politike meanes） inrich Kingdomes and Common…weales； and thereby fill the Princes Coffers with standing Treasure； to serve all occasions in the two seasons； which Princes are to care for； （observed by the Emperour Iustinian；） namely the Time of Warre； when Armes are necessary； and the time of Peace； more fitting wholesome Lawes。 In the Theoricke Part of which Study； I have these forty yeares spent much time and charges at the pleasure of great personages： and albeit nothing did encounter mee but ingratitude； yet my constancy to spend the Remainder of my dayes therein； （in hope of Practise；） is as immoveable as the continuance of my daily prayers； to the Great Iehovah； to multiply your Majesties dayes as the dayes of heaven。 London the 25 of October； 1622 Your Majesties most Loyall Subject Gerard Malynes。
The Maintenance of Free Trade； According to the Three Essentiall parts of Traffique； namely； Commodities； Monyes； and Exchange of Monyes by billes of Exchanges； for other Countries。
Natural Mother wit； did teach man； before Arts or Sciences were invented； that of all things and in all humane actions： the Beginning； Progresse； Continuance and Termination or End is to bee observed； whereupon Politicians or Statesmen have noted； that the often comparing of a thing unto his Princple or Originall produceth the longer continuance； shewing （by digression） how the same is decayed and may bee reduced to the first integrity and goodnesse。 For there was never any thing by the wit of man so well devised； or so sure establihed； which in continuance of time hath not bin corrupted。 The consideration whereof is most requisite； in the reformation of the course of Traffique； as a matter eminent for the good and welfare of Commonweales； and especially for England。 Quia vita civilis is societate posita est； Socretas autem in imperio & commercio。 According to this rule； let us observe； that all the Traffique and Trade betweene us and forraine nations； is performed under three Simples； which are the essential Parts therefo； namely； Commodities； Monyes； and Exchange of money by Bills for forraine Parts； which may be aptly compared to the Body； Soule and Spirit of Traffique。 The First as the Body； upheld the world by Commutation and Bartring of commodities； untill money was devised to be coyned。 The Second； as the Souls in the Body； did infuse life to Traffique by means of Equality and Equity； preventing advantage betweene Buyers and Sellers。 The Third； as the Spirit and faculty of the soule （beeing seated every where） corroborateth the Vitall spirit of Traffique； directing and controlling （by just proportions） the prices and values of commodities and monyes。 Now even as monyes were invented to bee coyned of the purest mettals of silver and gold to bee the Square and Rule to set a price unto all commodities and other things whatsoever within the Realm