按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the raw products which they obtained from England and the northern
states to their establishment at Bruges （founded in 1252）； and
exchanged them there for Belgian cloths and other manufactures； and
for Oriental products and manufactures which came from Italy； which
latter they carried back to all the countries bordering on the
northern seas。
A third factory of theirs； at Novgorod in Russia （established
in 1272）； supplied them with furs； flax； hemp； and other raw
products in exchange for manufactures。 A fourth factory； at Bergen
in Norway （also founded in 1272）； was occupied principally with
fisheries and trade in train oil and fish products。（7*）
The experience of all nations in all times teaches us that
nations； so long as they remain in a state of barbarism； derive
enormous benefit from free and unrestricted trade； by which they
can dispose of the products of the chase and those of their
pastures； forests； and agriculture in short； raw products of
every kind； obtaining in exchange better clothing materials；
machines； and utensils； as well as the precious metals the great
medium of exchange and hence that at first they regard free trade
with approval。 But experience also shows that those very nations；
the farther advances that they make for themselves in culture and
in industry； regard such a system of trade with a less favourable
eye； and that at last they come to regard it as injurious and as a
hindrance to their further progress。 Such was the case with the
trade between England and the Hansards。 A century had scarcely
elapsed from the foundation of the factory of the 'Steelyard' when
Edward III conceived the opinion that a nation might do something
more useful and beneficial than to export raw wool and import
woollen cloth。 He therefore endeavoured to attract Flemish weavers
into England by granting them all kinds of privileges； and as soon
as a considerable number of them had got to work； he issued a
prohibition against wearing any articles made of foreign cloth。（8*）
The wise measures of this king were seconded in the most
marvellous manner by the foolish policy pursued by the rulers of
other countries a coincidence which has not unfrequently to be
noted in commercial history。 If the earlier rulers of Flanders and
Brabant did everything in their power to raise their native
industry to a flourishing condition； the later ones did everything
that was calculated to make the commercial and manufacturing
classes discontented and to incite them to emigration。（9*）
In the year 1413 the English woollen industry had already made
such progress that Hume could write respecting that period； 'Great
jealousy prevailed at this time against foreign merchants； and a
number of restrictions were imposed on their trade； as； for
instance； that they were required to lay out in the purchase of
goods produced in England the whole value which they realized from
articles which they imported into it。（10*）
Under Edward IV this jealousy of foreign traders rose to such
a pitch that the importation of foreign cloth； and of many other
articles； was absolutely prohibited。（11*）
Notwithstanding that the king was afterwards compelled by the
Hansards to remove this prohibition； and to reinstate them in their
ancient privileges； the English woollen manufacture appears to have
been greatly promoted by it； as is noted by Hume in treating of the
reign of Henry VII； who came to the throne half a century later
than Edward IV。
'The progress made in industry and the arts imposed limits； in
a much more effective way than the rigour of laws could do； to the
pernicious habit of the nobility of maintaining a great number of
servants。 Instead of vying with one another in the number and
valour of their retainers； the nobility were animated by another
kind of rivalry more in accordance with the spirit of civilisation；
inasmuch as they now sought to excel one another in the beauty of
their houses； the elegance of their equipages； and the costliness
of their furniture。 As the people could no longer loiter about in
pernicious idleness； in the service of their chieftains and
patrons； they became compelled； by learning some kind of handiwork；
to make themselves useful to the community。 Laws were again enacted
to prevent the export of the precious metals； both coined and
uncoined； but as these were well known to be inoperative； the
obligation was again imposed on foreign merchants to lay out the
whole proceeds of goods imported by them； in articles of English
manufacture。'（12*）
In the time of Henry VIII the prices of all articles of food
had considerably risen； owing to the great number of foreign
manufacturers in London； a sure sign of the great benefit which the
home agricultural industry derived from the development of home
manufacturing industry。
The king； however； totally misjudging the causes and the
operation of this phenomenon； gave ear to the unjust complaints of
the English against the foreign manufacturers； whom the former
perceived to have always excelled themselves in skill； industry；
and frugality。 An order of the Privy Council decreed the expulsion
of 15；000 Belgian artificers； 'because they had made all provisions
dearer； and had exposed the nation to the risk of a famine。' In
order to strike at the root of this evil； laws were enacted to
limit personal expenditure； to regulate the style of dress； the
prices of provisions； and the rate of wages。 This policy naturally
was warmly approved by the Hansards； who acted towards this king in
the same spirit of good…will which they had previously Displayed
towards all those former kings of England whose policy had favoured
their interests； and which in our days the English display towards
the kings of Portugal they placed their ships of war at his
disposition。 During this king's whole reign the trade of the
Hansards with England was very active。 They possessed both ships
and capital； and knew； not less cleverly than the English do in our
days； how to acquire influence over peoples and governments who did
not thoroughly understand their own interests。 Only their arguments
rested on quite a different basis from those of the trade
monopolists of our day。 The Hansards based their claim to supply
all countries with manufactures on actual treaties and on
immemorial possession of the trade； whilst the English in our day
base a similar claim on a mere theory； which has for its author one
of their own Custom…house officials。 The latter demand in the name
of a pretended science；