6. Where the price of things alters (as it often doth almost in all ⟨p. 262⟩things) no other Rule can be given but the common and market-price. There are some things which are fixedly certain, as coin; there I have no latitude at all; I may not put off a piece of money for more than its value, though a person out of ignorance would take it for more; There are some commodities which in ordinary plenty being of an ordinary goodness, have an usual price; here I have but little latitude, viz. that of the market; In the rising and falling of commodities, I have a greater latitude, but usually in these cases the Market sets some kind of price; unless I be the sole Master of a commodity, and here the latitude is the greatest, and my own reason and moderation must limit me: And if any ask why I make the Market the Rule, seeing this seems to be as if I should say, let every man get as much as he can, for so men in the Market do; I answer, The Market is usually more reasonable than the particular appetites of men; and though every man be apt to get as much as he can, yet men generally have an appetite to sell, as well as to sell dear, and that checks this, and men are brought to moderation, because they are unwilling to lose custom; so that he that governs himself by the Market-prizes, not catching at particular advantages, seems to me to follow the safest Rule.
6. Where the price of things alters (as it often doth almost in all ⟨p. 262⟩things) no other Rule can bee given but the common and market-price. There are some things which are fixedly certain, as coyn; there I have no latitude at all; I may not put off a peece of mony for more than its value, though a person out of ignorance would take it for more; There are some commodities which in ordinary plenty being of an ordinary goodness, have an usual price; here I have but little latitude, viz. that of the market; In the rising and falling of commodities, I have a greater latitude, but usually in these cases the Market sets some kinde of price; unless I be the sole Master of a commodity, and here the latitude is the greatest, and my own reason and moderation must limit mee: And if any ask why I make the Market the Rule, seeing this seems to be as if I should say, let every man get as much as hee can, for so men in the Market do; I answer, The Market is usually more reasonable than the particular appetites of men; and though every man be apt to get as much as hee can, yet men generally have an appetite to sell, as well as to sell dear, and that checks this, and men are brought to moderation, because they are unwilling to lose custome; so that hee that governs himself by the Market-prizes, not catching at particular advantages, seems to mee to follow the safest Rule.
