Liberty Alone

Following on from the previous quotation, the same letter goes on to discuss Queen Elizabeth’s actions in declaring patents given null and void at the request of the lower house:

But whereas great complaints were made in the lower house, relating to the engrossing practice:

(for it seems there were some, who, under the colour of publick good, but, in reality, to the great damage of the kingdom, had got the Queen’s letters patents, for the sole privilege and liberty of vending some sorts of wares)

Cato’s letter number 8 - Thomas Gordon

Engrossing was the practice of getting a legally enforced monopoly in order to extract higher prices from the customer.

Some things really don’t change.

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