cosmography, treating of the world in whole. joints; with chorography, shredding it into countries; and with topography, mincing it into particular places. Thus, taking these sciences in their general latitude, he hath finished the round circle or golden ring of the arts; only he keeps a place for the diamond to be set in: I mean for that predominant profession of law, physic, divinity, or state policy, which he intends for his principal calling hereafter. Is THE GOOD MERCHANT S one who, by his trading, claspeth the islands to the continent, and one country to another; an excellent gardener, who makes England bear wine, and oil, and spices; yea, herein goes beyond nature in causing that omnis fert omnia tellus. He wrongs neither himself, nor the commonwealth, nor private chapmen which buy commodities of him. As for his behavior towards the commonwealth, it far surpasses my skill to give any rules thereof: only this I know, that to export things of necessity, and to bring in foreign needless toys, makes a rich merchant, and a poor kingdom; for the State loseth her radical moisture, and gets little better than sweat in exchange, except the necessaries which are exported be exceeding plentiful,—which then, though necessary in their own nature, become superfluous through their abundance. We will content ourselves to give some general advertisements concerning his behavior towards his chapmen; whom he useth well in the quantity, quality, and price of the commodities he sells them. He wrongs not the buyer in number, weight, or measure. These are the landmarks of all trading, which must not be removed; for such cozenage were worse than open felony. First, because they rob a man of his purse, and never bid him stand. Secondly, because highway thieves defy, but these pretend justice. Thirdly, as much as lies in their power, they endeavor to make God accessary to their cozenage, deceiving by pretending his weights. For God is the principal clerk of the market: "all the weights of the bag are his work." Prov. xvi. 11. He never warrants any ware for good but what is so indeed. Otherwise he is a thief, and may be a murderer, if selling such things as are applied inwardly. Besides, in such a case, he counts himself guilty if he selleth such wares as are bad, though without his knowledge, if avouching them for good; because he may, professeth, and is bound to be master in his own mystery, and therefore in conscience must recompense the buyer's loss, except he gives him an item to buy it at his own adven ture. He either tells the faults in his ware, or abates proportionably in the price he demands; for then the low value shows the viciousness of it. Yet, commonly, when merchants depart with their commodities, we hear (as in funeral orations) all the virtues but none of the faults thereof. He never demands out of distance of the price he intends to take: if not always within the touch, yet within the reach of what he means to sell for. Now, we must know there be four several prices of vendible things. First, the price of the market, which ebbs and flows according to the plenty or scarcity of coin, commodities, and chapmen. Secondly, the price of friendship, which perchance is more giving than selling, and therefore not so proper at this time. Thirdly, the price of fancy, as twenty pounds or more for a dog or hawk, when no such inherent worth can naturally be in them, but by the buyer's and seller's fancy reflecting on them. Yet I believe the money may be lawfully taken. First, because the seller sometimes on those terms is as loath to forego it as the buyer is willing to have it; and I know no standard herein whereby men's affec tions may be measured. Secondly, it being a matter of pleasure, and men able and willing, let them pay for it: volenti non fit injuria. Lastly, there is the price of cozenage, which our merchant from his heart detests and abhors. He makes not advantage of his chapman's ignorance, chiefly if referring himself to his honesty; where the seller's conscience is all the buyer's skill, who makes him both seller and judge, so that he doth not so much ask as order what he must pay. When one told old Bishop Latimer that the cutler had cozened him in making him pay twopence for a knife not (in those days) worth a penny, -"No," quoth Latimer, "he cozened not me, but his own conscience." On the other side, St. Augustine tells us of a seller who out of ignorance asked for a book far less than it was worth, and the buyer (conceive himself to be the man if you please) of his own accord gave him the full value thereof. He makes not the buyer pay the shot for his prodigality; as when the merchant, through his own ignorance or ill husbandry, hath bought dear, he will not bring in his unnecessary expenses on the buyer's score; and in such a case he is bound to sell cheaper than he bought. Selling by retail, he may justify the taking of greater gain; because of his care, pains, and cost of fetching those wares from the fountain, and in parcelling and dividing them. Yet, because retailers trade commonly with those who have least skill what they buy, and commonly sell to the poorer sort of people, they must be careful not to grate on their necessity. But how long shall I be retailing out rules to this merchant? It would employ a casuist an apprenticeship of years: take our Saviour's wholesale rule, "Whatsoever ye would have men do unto you, do you unto them; for this is the Law and the Prophets." IS THE GOOD YEOMAN. S a gentleman in ore, whom the next age may see refined; and is the wax capable of a gentle impression, when the prince shall stamp it. Wise Solon (who accounted Tellus the Athenian the most happy man for living privately on his own lands) would surely have pronounced the English yeomanry a fortunate condition, living in the temperate zone, betwixt greatness and want,-an estate of people almost peculiar to England. France and Italy are like a die which hath no points between cinq and ace, nobility and peasantry. Their walls, though high, must needs be hollow, wanting |