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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

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