The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

4. A reasonable compensation doth not consist in an indivisible point, but hath a certain latitude which likewise is to be determined by the common intercourse and practice of mankind. Suppose ten in the hundred be the usual gain made of such a commodity, eleven the highest, nine the lowest, the latitude is betwixt nine and eleven.

4. A reasonable compensation doth not consist in an indivisible point, but hath a certain latitude which likewise is to bee determined by the common intercourse and practice of mankind. Suppose ten in the hundred be the usual gain made of such a commodity, eleven the highest, nine the lowest, the latitude is betwixt nine and eleven.

5. Every man engaged in a way of commerce, is presumed to understand, unless the contrary be evident. So that keeping within the latitude of a lawful gain, I may use my skill against another man in driving a bargain. But if his want of skill be evident (that is) sufficiently known to me, I must use him as I would do a child, or other unskilful person, that is, fairly.

5. Every man engaged in a way of commerce, is presumed to understand, unless the contrary bee evident. So that keeping within the latitude of a lawful gain, I may use my skill against another man in driving a bargain. But if his want of skill be evident (that is) sufficiently known to mee, I must use him as I would do a childe, or other unskilful person, that is, fairly.

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.