free trade-第6部分
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to the Detriment of other men。
The parts then of a Monopoly are twaine。 The restraint of the
liberty of Commerce to some one or few: and the setting of the
price at the pleasure of the Monopolian to his private benefit;
and the prejudice of the publique。 Upon which two hinges every
Monopoly turneth。 And these two parts are respectively repugnant
to the two fundamental requisites of all good Lawes: to with;
Equity and Utility。 For it against Equity; that one member of a
Common…wealth should be more free; then another of equall ranke
and condition。 And what can be more contrary to Publique Utility;
then that some one or few persons; should sway the price of any
thing usefull to the Common…wealth to their owne enriching; and
the common losse of other men? And here it is to bee well
observed; that unlesse these two parts concurre in a Monopoly: it
cannot truely and properly be so called; nor ought it so to bee
accounted。 And therefore Althusius following Decianus; saith well
of that restraint of the common liberty; which we call Suit of
Mill: which compelleth men to use this or that Mill to grinde
corne; and none other: that it doth only Sapere Monopolium;
Savour of Monopoly: but that it is not truely and properly a
Monopoly。 For that case of Suit of Mill; unlesse there be a
greater tolle or recompence exacted for grinding; then at other
Milles; it falleth onely within the first part of a Monopoly; to
wit; of the restraint of the publicke liberty; but not within
compasse of the other part; the setting of the price。 but for
this restraint of the publique liberty of Commerce; it may be so
ordered by the wisedome of the State; that it may be both Lawfull
and Beneficiall to the Common…wealth。 Which assertion; because it
may seeme strange to some; I will make evident by good Authority
and Examples。 Peter Martyr that famous light of the Churches of
the Gospell; defendeth the restraint of Solomon; that none shold
buy Horses of Egypt without his licence; to be Lawfull。 And of
this kinde is the Preemption of Tinne here in England; granted by
His Majesties gracious letters Patents do somefew; with restraint
of all others: which I dare boldly affirme is not onely Lawfull;
but very Beneficiall also to this Commonwealth。 For thereby our
Thrice Noble Prince receiveth a good revenue; and the Tinne of
this Land is sold for many thousand pounds a yeare more in
Forrein parts; then otherwise it would; to the great increase of
the Common stocke of this Kingdome。 Also the Law of this Realme
alloweth; that if any man invent a new Art; beneficiall to the
Common wealth; he may have a Patent to use that Arte soley; with
restraint of all others for seven years: as well in recompence of
his industry; as for the incouragement of others; to study and
invent things profitable for the publique symbiosis。 The Statues
of the Kingdome restraine from the exercise of sundry Crafts; all
such as have not served an apprentishood unto the art which they
would exercise: to the ende that those artes might be brought to
better perfection; and the things made; might be good and
serviceable for those that buy and use them。
The restraint of the Publique Liberty; is sometimes exercised
by
Private Authority: sometimes by Publique。 Which distinction is
made by the Emperour Zeno。 Iubemus ne quis prosua authoritate;
vel sacro elicito rescripto; etc。 Monopolium audeat exercere。
The former; is practised when any one or more; have by their
owne private contracts; gotten any Commoditie or matter of
Commerce; wholly into their owne hands。 Of this kinde are the
examples above cited out of Aristotle。
The latter; is when by Publique Authority; the liberty of the
subject is restrained: which is done; sometimes by the
Prerogative of the King: sometimes by Act of Parliament。
The former; by dispensing with a generall Law in some point;
and applying the dispensation to some one or fewe; with restraint
of others。 The latter; by prohibiting all; but some one or few
persons to use the benefit of the Law in some point or other。
For dispensing with the Lawes; it is without question; that
the King hath power to dispence with a Penall Law; when it
prohibiteth that which is not Malum in se。 For the Parliament
having made a Statute with intent of the Publique good: yet the
same by reason of something not foreseen at the making of the
Law; may prove very prejudiciall in the Execution。 And then the
Malum prohibitum; as the Lawyers speake; may be dispenced with by
the King。 Thus the Parliament having prohibited the exportation
of white Clothes undre'st above the price of four pound the
Cloth: the observation of that Statute was found by experience to
be very prejudiciall to the Trade; and free vent of the Cloth in
forreine parts。 Whereupon Q。 Elizabeth; granted a Speciall
Licence to the Fellowship of the Merchant Adventurers; to
transport all sorts of white Clothes undre'st; with a Non
obstante to that Statute。 And although all other men stood lyable
to the Statute stil; and were restrained; yet the Utility that
hereby arose to the Common…wealth; did farre exceed the restraint
of the Publique Liberty。 For within few yeares after the granting
of this Licence; the vent of Cloth in forreine parts increased to
twice as much; as formerly it was during the strict observation
of the Statute。 Other like dispensations of Statutes; I might
instance: as that of the 28 H。8。 concerning the retailing of
Gasgoigne Wines at two pence a quart: which is dispenced with; by
a licence to the Company of the Vintners: but these may suffice
for every mans understanding of this kinde of restraint。
For Prohibition by Act of Parliament: such is the Act whereby
all the subjects of this Realme; excepting such as are of the
Corporation of the Muscovy Company; are forbidden to trade into
any part of Russia。 Also that of 3 Jacob concerning Artizan
Skinnes; whereby all but the Company; are forbidden to buy and
retail some sorts of Skinnes。 In these and the like; the
Parliament maketh restraint of the Common liberty of Commerce;
and the same restraint is againe released; not unto all; but to
some persons or Corporations by Speciall exception and proviso of
the Act of Parliament。
The latter kind of restraint by Publique Authority; is when
that which seemeth by the Lawe to be free to all is by some
Patent or Proclamation of the Prince; prohibited to all; saving
some certaine Corporations; or persons specially excepted and
authorized in the same Patent or Proclamation。 Of this kind are
generally reputed all Corporations of Merchants; which are not
confirmed by Act of Parliament。 Which are generally reputed to
carry with them a restraint to others; of that liberty; which the
Law doth seeme to offer to all in point of Commerce。 Whence it is
that so many pleade the Freedome of subjects; and presse; or
rather oppresse that plea of equity; hat it is equall that all
subjects should bee a like free to be Merchants in all Trades。 To
whom I answere; that first there is no good Equality in it;
because it is against the Publique Utility that all should bee
Merchants at their pleasure。 For that's not equall; that may
seeme profitable to one; and bee hurtful to many。 Atque ipso
utilitas iusti prop matter & aequi; as Horace speaketh。 And yet
what point of equity is broken; when the freedome of Societies is
so carried; that it is open to all men upon equall termes; that
is to say; either by service or purchase? Otherwise it were very
unequall; that one man should serve for his freedome; or buy the
same: and another man should have it for nothing。 If this point
were well thought upon; I prosume the Gracious Grants and
priviledges of His Majestie; conferred upon Societies; would not
seeme so much a restraint of the Common liberty; as a prudent
ordering and accommodating thereof unto the Publique Utility。 For
it hath ever beene a Policy of this State; to reduce the Trades
of Merchants of this Kingdome into Corporations and Societies;
for the advancement of Trade; by the benefit of order and
government: well foreseeing that there cannot be any greater Bane
to a Well…governed Common…wealth; then Ill…governed and
disorderly Trade。 Whereof I shall have fitter occasion to speake
in the next Chapter; when I come to treat of the Incoveniences of
the want of government in Trade。 So that in this case the
generall rule must be this; that such a restraint of the Publique
Liberty; as is before mentioned; is alwayes to be allowed; when
the same is recompenced with a Publique Utility。 According to
that of Tacitus; Omne magnum exemplum habet is se aliquid iniqui;
quod utilitate publica contra singulos compensatur。 Also the
liberty that the Law seemeth to give the subjects in Trade; is to
be understood; of imployment Within the Kingdome; not Without the
Kingdome。 For what liberty can a Nationall Law; give to a Forrein
Trade under a Forreine Jurisdiction; when the liberty or
restraint thereof dependeth upon those Forreine Princes and
States where that Trade is tollerated? Therfore the Law may give
the subject Liberty Within the Land; but it is the King that must
enable men to trade Without the Land。 For all the Trade of the
Merchants of this Kingdome into Forreine Countries; is grounded
upon the Amity of the King; and the Treaties of Peace contracted
by the King; with the Kings and Rulers of those forreine parts;
at his owne charge; and by His owne Authoritie; without the
assistance of His Parliament。 And therefore it holdeth good
conguity; that the King by His like Authority; may have the
disposing and ordering of such His contracts at his owne
pleasure。
The second part of Monopoly remaineth; of the setting of the
price at the pleasure of the Monopolist; to his private gaine;
and the publique losse。 This Gothofredus calleth the forme of a
Monopoly。 And in truth it is the very Soule and Accomplishment
thereof。 And he or they that have this power over the price of
the thing they negotiate; may well be said according to the
notation of Mon