Note 31 — Chapter XII · On Contracts.

The Dutch in order to secure to themselves the monopoly of the spice-trade have frequently destroyed all the productions of the spice islands beyond what was necessary for their own supply. By the just policy of the laws of England, "combinations among victuallers or artificers, to raise the price of provisions, or any commodities, or the rate of labour, are in many cases severely punished by particular statutes; and, in general, by statute 2 and 3 Edwd. VI. c. 15, with the forfeiture of 10 l., or twenty days imprisonment with an allowance of only bread and water, for the first offence; 20 l. or the pillory for the second; and 40 l. for the third, or else the pillory, loss of one ear, and perpetual infamy. In the same manner, by a constitution of the Emperor Zeno, all monopolies and combinations to keep up the price of merchandise, provisions, or workmanship, were prohibited, upon pain of forfeiture of goods and perpetual banishment."—Blackst. Com. b. iv. c. 12. p. 159.—Also the 39 Geo. III. c. 81, enacted, that every person combining with others to advance their wages, or decrease the quantity of work, or any way to affect or controul those who carried on any manufacture or trade in the conduct and management thereof, might be convicted before one justice of the peace, and might be committed to the common gaol for any time not exceeding three calendar months, or be kept to hard labour in the house of correction for two months.—Christian's notes to Blackstone on the same place.