My late father, a man of decidedly clear judgement, based though it was only on his natural gifts and his own experience, said to me once that he had wished to set a plan in motion leading to the designation of a place in our cities where those who were in need of anything could go and have their requirements registered by a duly appointed official; for example 'I want to sell some pearls'; or 'I want to buy some pearls.' 'So-and-so wants to make up a group to travel to Paris'; 'So-and-so wants a servant with the following qualifications'; 'So-and-so seeks an employer'; 'So-and-so wants a workman'; each stating his wishes according to his needs.

It does seem that this means of mutual advertising would bring no slight advantage to our public dealings; for at every turn there are bargains seeking each other but, because they cannot find each other, men are left in extreme want.

--from Essay 35, "Something lacking in our civil administrations," on page 251 of the Penguin Paperback translation of The Complete Essays by M. A. Screech. Written somewhere in the 1570s, I think.