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CHAP. LXXII.
Of Merchandizing.
MErchandizing being the most subtile searcher af∣ter hidden gain, the most Covetous Devourer of her detected Prey, is never happy in Enjoyment, but alway most miserably Tormented with the desire of more. And yet it is not a little profitable to the Com∣monwealth, and usefully conducing to Contracts of friendship between Forraine Princes, and not a little advantageous to private Life; and as some have thought, absolutely necessary. So that Pliny relates it to have been invented for the support of Living. And therefore many famous and wise men have not dis∣dain'd to follow it. Of which number, as Plutarch testifies, were Thales, Solon, Hippocrates. But whatso∣ever Arts and Sciences we follow, some we admit for Pleasure, some we esteem for the Exercise, some we follow for Virtue and Honesties-sake, some for their Truth and Justice we admire: but Arts, how gainful, how pleasant, how necessary, how laborious soever, are not therefore to be presently accompted Laudable and Honest. Thus the Trades of Merchandizing, Usury, Money-changing, Bankers, are both necessary, pro∣fitable, and laborious; and yet they are accompted il∣liberal, srdid, and base ways of getting, because they are not Arts, but laborious Cheats that are bought and sold; which is the Office and Trade not of a
Page 238
clear-spirited, well-meaning, ingenuous, just good man; but of a crafty, close, deceitful knavish dealer. For all Merchants buy in one place, that they may sell dearer in another, and he is accompted the wisest that can gain most; among whom, Lying, Imposing, Chea∣ting and Perjury is most frequent; neither is there any way of attaining Profit which they think disdainful. Nay, they affirm it to be Lawful to Cheat their Chap∣men half their just price: neither is it to be doubted, but that seeing the whole course of their Lives is fit∣ted to follow after Gain, and to seek Riches, that they are forc'd many times for Lucres-sake to do many ugly and dishonest Actions: For no men grow Rich without Deceit, as saith St. Austin.
—And far beyond the value raises
The Wares he striveth to put off with Praises.
And as another Poet hath it,
The Merchant only worthy Stygian Lake,
Vpholdeth Perjury for Lucres sake.
One buyes, another sells; one carries, another brings; this man is Creditor, another Debtor; one pays, ano∣ther receives, another casts up the Accompts; but all of 'um guilty of Perjury, Cheating, and Deceit; ha∣zarding Soul, Body, and Estate, in hopes of Gain: re∣specting neither Kindred, Friends, nor Allies, but only for profits sake: and thus all of 'um all their Life∣long run after Gain and Riches, as if Rest and the Comforts of Living were no where else to be found.
The painful Merchant to the Indies runs,
And proudly thorough Fire, and Surges Shuns.
Page 239
What Cheats Merchants put upon the World, in Wool, Linnen, Silk, Cloth, Purple, Gems, Spices, Wax, Oyl, Wine, Corn, Horses, and many other Creatures, and indeed in all sorts of Commodities, there is no person who is ignorant: who sees not, who feels not, that is not altogether stupid and insensible? But these are small matters, there are far greater behind. These are they who importing hurtful Commodities, which either for wantonness or rarity being coveted by Wo∣men, though they are of no use to humane Life, but only for the support of Luxury, Pride, for Sport, Effe∣minacy and wanton Pleasure, bring from the utmost ends of the Earth all Allurements to Wickedness. Kingdomes and whole Provinces every Year they emp∣ty of great sums of Money; they corrupt Native Good Manners, by introducing Forraine Vices; and quite Abolishing wholesome Paternal Customes, al∣ways inquisitive after new Inventions, fill the Land with most depraved Fashions. Thefe are they who in Guilds and Companies, contrary to Right and Law, set up Monopolies, trying, endeavouring, searching out all wayes and devices to rake to themselves the Wealth of the People; by vertue of their large Stocks, out-buying others, preventing others, deter•ing others; by holding up, or enhauncing Prizes, they themselves engrossing all, which they retail again at their own Rates and Pleasures: many times having borrow'd great Sums of Money, they break Faith and Promi∣ses, flye their Country, and seldome or never returning, undo their Creditors; who oft-times thereupon des∣pair and Hang themselves. These are they who pry∣ing into the Secrets of Princes, the Councels of City-Senates, and laden with the news of their own Country, reveal all to the Enemy many times for considerable Rewards, lye in wait for the Princes Life; there being nothing which for love of Money they
Page 240
will not enterprise, endeavour, do or suffer. All the whole mystery of their Calling consists in Lying, dark Sentences, Siftings, Shiftings, Treachery, Cheating and Deceipt. This was the reason that the Carthaginians provided distinct Residences for Merchants, because they should not live in Common with their Citizens. The way was open for them to the Market; but where their Ships rode, and to the more secret parts of their City, they allow'd them not so much as to cast an Eye. The Grecians did not receive 'um within their Cities; but that their Inhabitants might be free from the suspicion of danger, they always kept their Mar∣kets for Merchandise in the Suburbs. Most other Nations forbid the Access of Merchants, as being the great depravers of all Good Manners. The Epidauri∣ans, as Plutarch Witnesses, when they saw their Citi∣zens corrupted by Commercing with the Illyrians, fear∣ing the Contagion growing from strangers, and a change of Government with the change of Manners, Elected every Year one grave and circumspect Person out of their whole City, whom they sent to Buy for the rest of the Citizens whatever Commodities of the Illyrians they stood in need of. Plato very much blames Merchandizing, as the chiefest corruption of Good Customs, and therefore would have it Ordain'd in a well-constituted Commonwealth, that the wanton Exuberancies of Forraign Countries should not be im∣ported into such a one, and that no Citizen should be permitted to Travel under the Age of Forty Years; and that all Forreigners should be sent home, knowing that there was nothing which sooner caus'd the Peo∣ple to forget and hate the frugality of their Ancestors, and their old Country-Customes, then the Contagion of Novelty brought in by Strangers, which generally makes Cities most wicked, filling 'um full of all sorts of Fornications, Adulteries, Luxury and Lust. Such
Page 241
are Leiden and Antwerp, at this time Cities of the great∣est Trade of any in these Parts: And Aristotle exhorts Magistrates to take all diligent care of keeping their Cities from being corrupted by the mixture of For∣rainers. For though Merchants may be necessary, they ought not to be receiv'd into the number of Citizens, and therefore to be detested, because they live altoge∣ther by Lying; and besides that, disturb the Markets, cause Tumults and private Discord. Therefore among many Common-wealths there was an ancient Law, That no Merchant should be a Magistrate, or be ad∣mitted into the Senate or Council. Beyond all this, Merchandizing is palpably condemned by the Opinions of most Divines, and by the Canonical Decrees, (as St. Gregory, Chrysostome, Austin, Cassiodorus, and Leon testifie) and by all true Christians utterly forbid. For as St. Chrysostome saith, A Merchant cannot please God; And therefore, saith he, let no Christian be a Merchant; or if he will be so, let him be thrown out of the Church. St. Austin also saith, That it is impossible for Souldiers and Merchants truly to Repent.
Of Merchandizing.
MErchandizing being the most subtile searcher af∣ter hidden gain, the most Covetous Devourer of her detected Prey, is never happy in Enjoyment, but alway most miserably Tormented with the desire of more. And yet it is not a little profitable to the Com∣monwealth, and usefully conducing to Contracts of friendship between Forraine Princes, and not a little advantageous to private Life; and as some have thought, absolutely necessary. So that Pliny relates it to have been invented for the support of Living. And therefore many famous and wise men have not dis∣dain'd to follow it. Of which number, as Plutarch testifies, were Thales, Solon, Hippocrates. But whatso∣ever Arts and Sciences we follow, some we admit for Pleasure, some we esteem for the Exercise, some we follow for Virtue and Honesties-sake, some for their Truth and Justice we admire: but Arts, how gainful, how pleasant, how necessary, how laborious soever, are not therefore to be presently accompted Laudable and Honest. Thus the Trades of Merchandizing, Usury, Money-changing, Bankers, are both necessary, pro∣fitable, and laborious; and yet they are accompted il∣liberal, srdid, and base ways of getting, because they are not Arts, but laborious Cheats that are bought and sold; which is the Office and Trade not of a
Page 238
clear-spirited, well-meaning, ingenuous, just good man; but of a crafty, close, deceitful knavish dealer. For all Merchants buy in one place, that they may sell dearer in another, and he is accompted the wisest that can gain most; among whom, Lying, Imposing, Chea∣ting and Perjury is most frequent; neither is there any way of attaining Profit which they think disdainful. Nay, they affirm it to be Lawful to Cheat their Chap∣men half their just price: neither is it to be doubted, but that seeing the whole course of their Lives is fit∣ted to follow after Gain, and to seek Riches, that they are forc'd many times for Lucres-sake to do many ugly and dishonest Actions: For no men grow Rich without Deceit, as saith St. Austin.
—And far beyond the value raises
The Wares he striveth to put off with Praises.
And as another Poet hath it,
The Merchant only worthy Stygian Lake,
Vpholdeth Perjury for Lucres sake.
One buyes, another sells; one carries, another brings; this man is Creditor, another Debtor; one pays, ano∣ther receives, another casts up the Accompts; but all of 'um guilty of Perjury, Cheating, and Deceit; ha∣zarding Soul, Body, and Estate, in hopes of Gain: re∣specting neither Kindred, Friends, nor Allies, but only for profits sake: and thus all of 'um all their Life∣long run after Gain and Riches, as if Rest and the Comforts of Living were no where else to be found.
The painful Merchant to the Indies runs,
And proudly thorough Fire, and Surges Shuns.
Page 239
What Cheats Merchants put upon the World, in Wool, Linnen, Silk, Cloth, Purple, Gems, Spices, Wax, Oyl, Wine, Corn, Horses, and many other Creatures, and indeed in all sorts of Commodities, there is no person who is ignorant: who sees not, who feels not, that is not altogether stupid and insensible? But these are small matters, there are far greater behind. These are they who importing hurtful Commodities, which either for wantonness or rarity being coveted by Wo∣men, though they are of no use to humane Life, but only for the support of Luxury, Pride, for Sport, Effe∣minacy and wanton Pleasure, bring from the utmost ends of the Earth all Allurements to Wickedness. Kingdomes and whole Provinces every Year they emp∣ty of great sums of Money; they corrupt Native Good Manners, by introducing Forraine Vices; and quite Abolishing wholesome Paternal Customes, al∣ways inquisitive after new Inventions, fill the Land with most depraved Fashions. Thefe are they who in Guilds and Companies, contrary to Right and Law, set up Monopolies, trying, endeavouring, searching out all wayes and devices to rake to themselves the Wealth of the People; by vertue of their large Stocks, out-buying others, preventing others, deter•ing others; by holding up, or enhauncing Prizes, they themselves engrossing all, which they retail again at their own Rates and Pleasures: many times having borrow'd great Sums of Money, they break Faith and Promi∣ses, flye their Country, and seldome or never returning, undo their Creditors; who oft-times thereupon des∣pair and Hang themselves. These are they who pry∣ing into the Secrets of Princes, the Councels of City-Senates, and laden with the news of their own Country, reveal all to the Enemy many times for considerable Rewards, lye in wait for the Princes Life; there being nothing which for love of Money they
Page 240
will not enterprise, endeavour, do or suffer. All the whole mystery of their Calling consists in Lying, dark Sentences, Siftings, Shiftings, Treachery, Cheating and Deceipt. This was the reason that the Carthaginians provided distinct Residences for Merchants, because they should not live in Common with their Citizens. The way was open for them to the Market; but where their Ships rode, and to the more secret parts of their City, they allow'd them not so much as to cast an Eye. The Grecians did not receive 'um within their Cities; but that their Inhabitants might be free from the suspicion of danger, they always kept their Mar∣kets for Merchandise in the Suburbs. Most other Nations forbid the Access of Merchants, as being the great depravers of all Good Manners. The Epidauri∣ans, as Plutarch Witnesses, when they saw their Citi∣zens corrupted by Commercing with the Illyrians, fear∣ing the Contagion growing from strangers, and a change of Government with the change of Manners, Elected every Year one grave and circumspect Person out of their whole City, whom they sent to Buy for the rest of the Citizens whatever Commodities of the Illyrians they stood in need of. Plato very much blames Merchandizing, as the chiefest corruption of Good Customs, and therefore would have it Ordain'd in a well-constituted Commonwealth, that the wanton Exuberancies of Forraign Countries should not be im∣ported into such a one, and that no Citizen should be permitted to Travel under the Age of Forty Years; and that all Forreigners should be sent home, knowing that there was nothing which sooner caus'd the Peo∣ple to forget and hate the frugality of their Ancestors, and their old Country-Customes, then the Contagion of Novelty brought in by Strangers, which generally makes Cities most wicked, filling 'um full of all sorts of Fornications, Adulteries, Luxury and Lust. Such
Page 241
are Leiden and Antwerp, at this time Cities of the great∣est Trade of any in these Parts: And Aristotle exhorts Magistrates to take all diligent care of keeping their Cities from being corrupted by the mixture of For∣rainers. For though Merchants may be necessary, they ought not to be receiv'd into the number of Citizens, and therefore to be detested, because they live altoge∣ther by Lying; and besides that, disturb the Markets, cause Tumults and private Discord. Therefore among many Common-wealths there was an ancient Law, That no Merchant should be a Magistrate, or be ad∣mitted into the Senate or Council. Beyond all this, Merchandizing is palpably condemned by the Opinions of most Divines, and by the Canonical Decrees, (as St. Gregory, Chrysostome, Austin, Cassiodorus, and Leon testifie) and by all true Christians utterly forbid. For as St. Chrysostome saith, A Merchant cannot please God; And therefore, saith he, let no Christian be a Merchant; or if he will be so, let him be thrown out of the Church. St. Austin also saith, That it is impossible for Souldiers and Merchants truly to Repent.