shall bee in the year of our Lord 1489. to endure to the end of twentie years next ensuing 1 Hen. 8. cap. 13. An Act made That whosoëver shall carrie any Gold or Silver or Jewels out of the Realm shall forfeit double the value the one half to him that shall seiz it or therefore sue by action of debt at the Common Law This Act to endure to the next Parlament 5 6 Edw. 6. cap. 16. An Act touching the exchange of Gold and Silver that whosoëver give 's more for Gold and Silver then it is or shall bee declared by the King's Proclamation shall suffer imprisonment by the space of one year and make fine at the King's pleasure the one moitie to his Majestie the other moitie to bee to the partie that seizeth the same or will sue for it by Bill Plaint or information or otherwise 1. A Proclamation against giving for light Gold more then is currant 21 Julie 17 Jac. 2. A Proclamation against melting English monie 18 Maii 9 Jac. 3. A Proclamation against buying and selling Gold and Silver at higher prices then the Mint 14 Maii 1 Jac. 4. A Proclamation against transporting of Gold 23 Maii 1º Jac. 5. A Proclamation against profit for Gold and Silver and melting English monie for Plate Waste in Gold and Silver 4 Feb. 19 Jac. 6. A Proclamation against transporting Gold and Silver and melting down the currant Coins of the Nation 25 Maii 3 Car. From all which Statutes and Provisions it may bee gathered that the currant Monie and Bullion of the Nation is the Subjects onely to use between man and man but not to abuse for no man by the Law can buie or sell them by waie of Merchandize at higher rates then they are Proelaimed if hee do hee is finable by the Law hee that washeth clippeth or lesseneth the currant Coins commit's treason Hee that export's the Treasure of the Nation either in Bullion or currant Coin beeing taken loseth them hee that melt's down the currant Gold or Silver of the Nation for Plate or other Manufactures commit's a forfeiture and transporting of treasure hath formerly been made Felonie as by the several Statutes and Laws to this purpose appeareth By these and divers other Laws and Statutes our Prededecessors have endeavored the retention and preservation of the Coin and Treasures within this Nation but could hitherto never effect it Nor will these mischiefs ever bee stopped till there bee Commissions by Act of Parlament according to former presidents when the Nation was defrauded of their Treasure as now it is strictly to enquire of the offendors and bring them to Justice For of late the easie easie of Delinquents for these offences hath given the boldness to offendors to go on and Time the truest School-master hath taught all ages to know that little penalties could yet never interpose betwixt the Merchant and his profit Whereas the Parlament by their Ordinance 6 of Sept. 1647. did descrie all Clipped Filed or diminished Monie by means whereof great quantities were sold to som Goldsmiths who have made it a Trade to deal with Receivers of Publick Cashes Grasiers and several other persons and in stead of melting of these Monies down som Gold-smiths have issued these Monies out again in paiment whereas at the Tower these Clipped Monies would make but five shillings the Ounce Troie these men have vented out these Clipped Monies to divers ill-affected people at five shillings six pence and five shillings eight pence and six shillings the Ounce who have dispersed the said Clipped Monies so bought from Gold-smiths up and down the Nation again to the great enriching of themselvs and defrauding of the good people of this Nation by buying up this Clipped Monie since the Ordinance 1647. at the least twentie times over and venting it for currant again which had been helped if there had been but six words put into the Ordinance which was to have required all persons exchanging any Clipt or uncurrant English monie with any Gold-smith or others upon forfeiture of double the value to see it cut in two pieces or so defaced that it should not bee passable after I humbly present this defect of that Ordinance that it may bee looked after and amended and I humbly desire that the Act against transporting Treasure now committed may bee enacted with such vigor that the Common-wealth may have the real benefit and the offendors brought to exemplarie Justice There hath been twentie Millions of Monie coined within this twentie five years as will appear by the Mint-Books and almost all of it transported out of the Nation the Gold all gon the currant Silver culled out the weightiest melted and transported and that Silver-Monies which remain's is but little and all culled Gold is made as pretious in this Common-wealth as Diamonds What inconveniences will arise by the indirect dealing of private men in this particular to the Common-wealth I shall humbly leav it to you to consider In the Year 1643. It was humbly offered to this Parlament to have the offendors discovered and to bring them to Justice and this mischief stopped but by the great Interest of the offendors that had then power in this Nation the Proposition was slighted and these mischiefs ever since daily practised to the unspeakable damage of this Common-wealth for it is far easier to keep the Treasure in the Nation by making strict Laws against Transportation then when it is gon to bring it back as too late experience will make this Common-wealth feel But you have the power to call these offendors to a strict accompt if you pass the Act fully to enable all people to make their discoveries How and in what manner other Nations do punish these offendors you have alreadie presented out of their Placarts This evil is grown to such an hight that both our own Laws put in the strictest execution and the Customs and Laws of other Countries added to them for this particular with the greatest diligence of expert men to make the search for what is past and to prevent these mischiefs for the time to com will bee little enough and to make this discoverie is a service of more Importance to the Common-wealth then at first sight can bee apprehended This is a certain rule No great action in any Common-wealth or State can bee don but by Monie which all ages have held to bee the sinews of War and Garland of Peace and what occasions we have to use it both for commerce and safetie is humbly left to you to consider and in all well-regulated States it hath ever been accompted a great service to discover the offendors and abuses practised upon the Treasure of their Nation and to prevent the growth of these mischiefs is the work of everie faithful lover of his Countrie And hee or they that shall bee against the discoverie of these offences and offendors may amongst judicious men bee justly suspected to bee Parties themselvs And though som
the Master Warden and Controller for the time beeing make due paiment thereof as hath been formerly accustomed and that no attachment sequestration nor other pretence whatsoëver shall caus a stop to bee made upon any Gold or Silver brought into the Mint for or by reason of any Malignancie or Delinquencie whatsoëver by any person so having Treasure in the Mint But that the Warden Master and Controller for the time beeing shall make speedie paiment as heretofore hath been accustomed to the partie that brought it to the Mint or his assigns notwithstanding any Warrant or Command the Act making all such to bee void if any should presume to do it This is desired by som Merchants that know the Spaniard will not trust his Treasure to bee liable to Imbargoes for the Delinquencie of his Factor if it should so chance that hee bee charged to bee a Malignant If you pass this Act and give the Merchants good Convoie you will have your Mint go again and you will get the Fishing Trade you will have the Staples for Corn Flax Hemp Timber Iron Salt Wines and all other commodities of the East and West Indies brought into your Harbors and by a free Trade this Nation will never have a dearth of Corn for it would be grainar'd up in everie Sea-Port-Town for a Market as it doth in Amsterdam that wee should ever bee first served and at home and at our own doors whereas there hath been these last three years transported many hundred thousand pounds for Corn bought up at high prices beyond Seas 14. That you would bee pleased to take into your consideration the Customs of our English Cloth and Woollen Manufacturies of all sorts and so lessen the Customs and duties that wee may bee able to undersel and beat out all those that have set up our Manufacture beyond Seas And that you would procure an Act to make Transportation of Wooll and Fuller's Earth Felonie and in consideration of what you abate of Manufacturies of England that you may if you pleas rais upon such superfluous commodities in your Customs and Excise as shall bee Imported from beyond the Seas of Forrain commodities to the value of what you abate of Native commodities and this was the constant practice of the great and wise Lord Treasurer Burlie and his son as I have seen by several Manuscripts 15. I humbly present that all encouragement and little duties bee laid upon Raw Silk of all sorts Imported into this Nation Flax Goat's hair Cotton Wooll Grogran Yarn and that such as will set up Looms or any other Engins may receiv all encouragement and if they bee strangers that they may bee Ordered to take our English poor to teach them their Manufacturies By which means in a small time you will bring a rich Manufacture into the Nation and not onely bee able to furnish your selvs with all such wrought Silks of all sorts as you spend in this Nation but bee able to furnish Neighbor Countries as Germanie Flanders Holland and other Forrain parts which have not yet this Manufacturie If you pleas to caus them to bee transported with little duties the poor will finde a great advantage by it thousands beeing set on work in this Manufacturie and the State get by it for if the Merchant that bring 's here raw or throne Silk doth transport it within a twelvmoneth the State doth repaie them back one half of their Custom and when that Silk is Transported and Manufactured beyond the Seas most commonly those Silks are brought back wrought and the Custom and Excise stoln for it is most easie to steal the Custom of Silks wrought by reason of the little bulk But a Bail of raw Silk can hardly be stoln by reason of the bulk and by this means the State is deceived of their due for if the said Silk were emploied and Manufactured here all the Custom would remain and the Fxcise would bee duly paid and it will bee undertaken to make here as good commodities of all sorts of wearing Silks and better and truer then beyond Seas for there com's much fals black into this Countrie to the great prejudice of those that wear them and those men that have an opinion that nothing of this kinde can bee made good in their own Countrie when they shall see the contratie daily practised they will bee constrained by their own reasons to alter their imaginations when they shall see thousands of Families emploied som as Throwsters Silk-Diers weaving at the Loom by twisting of the said Silk and also the working of all other necessaries that do depend thereupon for of sixteen shillings which the small pound of sixteen ounces cost the first pennie when it is wrought in black Plush or other Silks it will yeeld at the least thirtie four and thirtie five shillings per pound so that full one half of all Silk Manufactured in this Nation doth turn wholly to the benefit of the poor for Manufactures a thing of high concernment to hee speedily put in execution The like or greater improvement may bee made of Flax Goat's hair Cotton Wooll and Grogran Yarn if the undertakers may receiv encouragement to bring som men from beyond Seas to settle these new Arts and Manufactures amongst us and so in a short time wee may prohibit the Importation of all wrought Silks from beyond Seas and make here what wee spend and also get to that perfection to furnish most part of Christendom with Silk Manufactures wee having the Trade that can afford our raw Silk to the Loom as cheap and cheaper then most part of Christendom bringing it immediately by Sea from Persia which is the Fountain of raw Silk 16. That you would bee pleased to make the late King's Hous at Greenwich a Store-hous for som commodities that shall bee Imported and lie there for a Market as Corn Wine Fish Salt Wainscot Clap-boards Fur Timber of all sorts Iron Flax Hemp Pitch Tar Cordage Hops Madder and all other commodities of great bulk and what proportion com's in there more then London or the Nation will spend the Merchants to have free libertie to transport them back to any Forrain part Custom free onely paying the State Ware-hous room and such other moderate fees for Officers that keep accompts as shall bee settled by the State Your keeping this Staple will ever avoid a dearth of Corn for the Citie of London and have all commodities at the best hand 17. If these Merchant Strangers such as abide here with their Families were all Naturalized som men saie they would buie up all our Land and in time supplant the Nation Truly the contrarie hath been seen and known for those that are here Merchant Strangers but especially the Dutch that have all turned into English what wealth they have gotten hath all been bestowed on the English Nation As first Sir Peter Vanlore Sir Thomas Curtel Sir Moses Trian Lucas Lucey Vandeput Fortrees Lamot Francis Sion Jacob Oils De Boise Ganes
hath don such great things for if your Treasure all bee exhausted how shall they bee paid And these tenets at the best smell of a Presbyterian if not of a Jesuitical design And I do most humbly desire the Council of War would resent it it concern's the safetie and well-beeing of the Armie the keeping of treasure within the Nation for they and the Armie are like a ship at sea which must bee well-provided with Anchors and Cables and Victuals monie is to them all this nay everie thing And for those that have maliciously opposed the Act for prohibiting transporting of Gold and Silver I make no question to finde a time to call them to an accompt For others that desire to have the question truly stated I will with all willingness and humilitie present what former ages have don and this present time require's First I humbly present to you that the treasure of England is but like a quantitie of water in a Cistern wee have no springs of treasure as in Spain everie year to bee supplied from the West Indies and therefore it concern's us to keep in our treasure for beeing once transported it cannot bee drawn back but by inhancing of monie to the ruine of all the owners of Land and settled Revenues for so much as you rais monie you take from all Landlords To this is replied wee may bring monie from Holland and several other parts of Christendom freely and therefore it ought to bee as free here in England and it is no prejudice to the Common-wealth and this is the opinion of some Gentlemen that I believ love the Common-wealth and speak not out of a design to prejudice either the Nation or Armie for these men I humbly offer these reasons to consider 2. In Holland when it was made a new State the Placarts and Edicts shew which I caused to bee Translated What severe penalties they put upon transporting of monie And made it Banishment Confiscation of goods Imprisonment and Corporal punishments they knew Monie was the principal Ammunition of their Nation for having that they could want neither Men Victual nor Arms and this they did at the beginning of their Wars which is now our condition and wee ought to follow this rule But now in Holland by long continuance of Trade great thrift and abundance of shipping they are no other then a Bank or Ware-Hous they have little lands or houses to invest their stocks in but must put it into commodities and monie And since by God's blessing upon their industrie they have in a Spot of Ground contracted the wealth of Christendom And so abounding in Monies and not knowing how to invest it let it bee granted that they let monie bee exported freely this make's nothing that wee should do so now for the reasons following 3. In England by the Statute any man may transport Corn freely when it is at four shillings a Bushel becaus of the abundance that so the Farmer may paie his Landlord and keep his Hous and paie Laborers for the clearing of his Ground and Threshing it in the Barn Doth the Law allow any man to carrie Corn when it is 10 or 12 s. a Bushel out of the Nation by that means you may starv the poor and any that should do it deserveth the highest punishment my Argument upon this follow 's viz. 4. Let us attein so much before-hand in stock of monie as the Hollanders have bee in so flourishing a condition of Trade as they are hee master of all the subtilties of the Banks and Exchanges in Christendom as they are which they make that use of as they do of their Sluces for water so they let in and out all the Treasure of Christendom to their own advantage then I saie with all chearfulness transport Monie as they do and freely and as you do transport Corn when it is at four shillings a Bushel but till you have that plentie of Monie to paie your Fleet to paie your Armies to maintein Trade and Commerce and all these in a plentiful manner keep your Laws in force follow the Offendors with severe and sharp punishments as you do when there is a death of Corn punish the transporters of Corn with the severest punishments as Murtherers and Destroiers of the poor And this is a certain Maxim that That Common-wealth that hath Monie plentifully can command all things 5. I shall leav it to the capacitie of any reasonable man that see 's you may receiv one thousand pounds in a paiment and not twentie shillings in Gold you shall receiv one hundred pounds in Silver and not fiftie pounds of it but clipped and lighter then the Standard as it com's out out of Tower all our weightie Monie beeing melted into Ingots and sent beyond Seas you shall have fiftie thousand pounds in a paiment in Holland all of English half Crowns and this is known to all men that know France and Forrain parts that our Gold is fortie times more plentiful in France Flanders and Holland then here 6. You have som Goldsmiths that have constantly bought the clipped English monie many times over of several people and put it away again and so make the Cheat run round like a Hors in the Mill and cozen the whole Nation you shall not receiv in many Towns of this Nation not in five hundred pounds paiment two hundred pounds of good Monies such as the Gentrie or Merchants can paie away again in London And if hee bee forced by reason of his occasion to paie Monie in London hee must sell it in London to the Goldsmiths at above twentie pound in the hundred loss And som Goldsmiths so buying it sell it to the Grasiers Receivers of Publick Cash or som one or other that the Gentleman is sure to have it paid him the next Quarter in the Countrie And if these Cheats must bee spoken for countenanced and by som publickly warranted there shall never pass a Law to have the Offendors punished The draught of this Act of Parlament was drawn by Order of the Council of State and several times debated upon a Petition of the Citie of London the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint the Officers of the Customs the Committee of the Navie and yet nothing don in it to the unspeakable hazard and damage of the Common-wealth I do humbly beseech you consider the great summes of Monie the Navie take's up everie year and the Armies with both their appurtenances and these it is true waste not the treasure of the Nation by transportation but it remain's constantly amongst us and without these necessarie supports the splendor and safetie of the Common-wealth would bee undermined which is the heartie desire of som of the Presbyterian partie But those that are versed in the managing of these great Affairs know you must constantly provide the Sea-man's paie with the Victuals and Soldier 's paie besides the Train of Artillerie and an hundred other necessaries incident to a Fleet and Armie
Mint I denie it not and my answer to them is An old Dear-stealer is the best keeper of a Park And though I had the late King's pardon I had it not but it cost mee dear I paid at one time to his Privie Purs two thousand twentie shillings Pieces in Gold and I am out at this daie by his command in making the discoverie of such as transported Gold nineteen hundred threescore pounds both which summes I have been out of Purs fifteen years I would not have the greatest offendor that is a Gold-smith by my consent paie so great a summe And this is my answer to them to that objection I would have them by my example leav off so destructive a Trade to the Common-wealth as furnishing the transporters with Gold and Silver culling and melting down the currant Coin If I had not been convinced in my conscience that it was bad I would have followed that trade still I had as good an Estate as most of the Gold-smiths to do it I had as good credit and I left my trade as fairly for I challenge all or any man in London that can saie I did not paie all men readie monie to everie pennie and farthing I ought when I gave over my trade and the best Alderman of London can do no more It is incident to all men to err happie is hee that repent's but to persist against the light of a man's conscience is don by the strong instigation of the Devil I do humbly present further that there have great mischiefs happened to this Nation and their Armie in Ireland since this Parlament by the indirect dealing of som Merchants and Gold-smiths in London who contracted with som of the adventurers for Ireland to sell them Rials of Eight and Forrain Coins giving them som small time but the poor Soldiers that received these monies in Ireland lost above twentie pounds in the hundred by the monies so paid them for first the Gold-smiths culled out all the weightiest and delivered none but light and clipped and then the coursness of the Silver which was Bead-monie and adulterated in the West Indies in the Mints somtimes six pence somtimes more upon everie piece of Eight as is well known to som Gold-smiths and Merchants so that by the baseness of the Allaie and want of Weight there hath been at the least twentie pounds in the hundred loss to the soldiers if hee would make any return of it to his wife or children in England as many of them found by sad experience The Gold-smiths are the general Cashiers for som of the principal Merchants in the Citie and this rule the Goldsmiths observ when they receiv monies to take none that is bad or clipped but let any man send to them to receiv monies they shall have great quantities of clipped monie mixed in their monies they receiv and som of it constantly will escape the teller's eies which clipped monies the Gold-smiths buie of several people for Bullion but never Coin it the rest that they cannot put off here in London they have their Agents to vent it to Grasiers and other people in the Countrie all over the Nation by which means in many Towns and Cities of this Nation they are so pestred with clipped monie that there is little els stirring in paiment to the unspeakable damage of the receiver who cannot paie it in London but sell it to the Gold-smiths somtimes at twentie five and thirtie in the hundred abated which is by the Gold-smiths returned down into the Countrie next week after So that this abuse is like an Hors in a Mill it turn's round and is a cheat put upon all people of the Nation and without a strict Act of Parlament against it will not bee prevented All these abuses aforesaid are so high and transcendent that the offendors ought to bee used as men usually use Wolvs and Foxes for if private murther bee so penal much more is publick murther now Monie is the Life Bloud and Soul of the Common-wealth without it no great action can bee undertaken for the service of the Nation and those that transport it or adulterate it in weight may well bee esteemed as the greatest enemies to the Common-wealth Therefore I humbly praie that you would bee pleased to give all encouragement to all people both in the Sea-Ports of this Nation and in the Citie of London for the discoverie of the transporting of Gold and Silver and such as cull out the heavie Silver Coin of the Nation and such as have bought Gold and Silver above the price of the mint to transport for as the affairs now of this nation stand you cannot have a greater dis-service don to the Common-wealth and you will finde the Commissioners and Officers of the Customs certifie to the Commissioners of the Navie in Sept. 1647. their desires in their fourth Article that a greater allowance should bee given to such as discover the transporters of Gold or Silver then by the Statutes in that Case is provided and the Statute in 1 Henrie 8. cap. 13. give 's double the value the one half to him that shall seiz it or therefore sue by action of Debt at the Common Law and by this draught of the Act there is but one moitie of what shall bee proved to have been transported given to the prosecutor What Forrain Nations do you have here the presidents of France Holland Flanders and what former ages here in this Nation have don you have in 14 Rich. 2. cap. 12. by Act of Parlament Commissions made through the Realm to enquire from the beginning of his Reign which was for fourteen years of such as had conveied the Monie of England out of the Nation to the damage of the Realm and unless you make the like Commissions the Common-wealth will bee brought to extreme povertie Here are annexed two Certificates of the Officers of the Mint and Commissioners and Officers for the Customs grounded upon an Order of Parlament and an Order of the Commissioners of the Navie viz. Die Mercurii 1 Sept. 1647. ORdered by the Commons in Parlament assembled That it bee referred to the Committee of the Navie to consider of and take som effectual cours to prevent the transportation of Bullion out of the Kingdom and speedily to report what they have don herein to the Hous H. Elsyng Cler. Parl. Committee of the Navie 2 Sept. 1647. THe Commissioners and Officers of the Customs with Master Watkins the head-Searcher are desired to consider of som cours to bee taken to prevent the transportation of Bullion out of the Nation according to an Order of the Hous of Commons hereunto annexed and to certifie the same to the Committee Giles Green THe Commissioners and Officers for the Customs having together with the Head Searcher in the Port of London in pursuance of the directions of this Honorable Committee above mentioned perused sundrie Statutes yet in force relating as well to the restraint of the Exportation
have it examined I shall leav Master Elconhead to the world to judg of him to give mee a Charge of Treason and then by that means to get my Estate for a quarter of the pretended summe hee compounded for when I was close prisoner in the Tower and could not make my defence and then M. Edward Elconhead the 28 of Julie 1649. to denie before the Committee of Essex that hee ever charged mee with a Conspiracie against the Parlament though it bee attested by the Committees of Essex Warrant as aforesaid and that Honorable Gentleman Sir Will. Rowe told then to M. Elconhead before the Committee that if hee could not prove my conspiracie against the Parlament hee had don mee Tho. Violet wrong and the Committee of Essex wrong for it was onely upon M. Elconhead's Information to the Committee of Essex that the Committee certified any thing against mee to the Parlament and wished M. Elconhead to bring the Acquitance of the Committee for what monie hee had paid for this Extent and hee said the Ordinance of Parlament for giving my Estate away which I had in that Countie beeing an Extent on the Manors of Battel and Paton-Hall was made on the Committee's Information to the Parlament against mee and their information was onely grounded on M. Elconhead to the Committee and if hee could not prove his Charge the Sequestration would ceas and what monie M. Elconhead could prove hee paid to the use of the Countie should bee paid him back for if Master Elconhead failed in the foundation all that was don on that Charge against mee would ceas and I ought to bee restored to the possession of my Lands in the Countie but as yet I could not get the Committee of Essex to restore mee to my possession Master Elconhead desiring further time of the Committee therefore I am an humble suitor to bee relieved in Parlament Here followeth the Copie of the late King's Letter To Our Trustie and Well-beloved Our Lord Major and Aldermen of Our Citie of London and all other our well affected Subjects of the Citie It is Superscribed Charls Rex And beneath By His Majestie 's Command George Digbie TRustie and Well-beloved Wee greet you well When Wee remember the many Acts of Grace and Favor Wee and Our Roial Predecessors have conferred upon that Our Citie of London and the manie Examples of eminent Dutie and Loialtie for which that Citie hath been likwise famous Wee are willing to believ notwithstanding the great defection Wee have found in that place that all men are not so far degenerated from their affection to Us and to the Peace of the Kingdom as to desire a continuance of the miseries they now feel and therefore beeing informed that there is a desire in som principal Persons of that Citie to present a Petition to Us which may tend to the procuring a good understanding between Us and that Our Citie whereby the Peace of the whole Kingdom may bee procured Wee have thought fit to let you know That Wee are readie to receiv any such Petition and the Persons who shall bee appointed to present the same to Us shall have a safe conduct And you shall assure all Our good subjects of that Our Citie whose hearts are touched with any sens of dutie to Us or of Love to the Religion and Laws established in the quiet and peaceable fruition whereof they and their Ancestors have enjoied so great Happiness That Wee have neither passed any Act nor made any Profession or Protestation for the Maintenance and Defence of the true Protestant Religion and the Liberties of the Subject which Wee will not most strictly and religiously observ and for the which Wee will not bee alwaies readie to give them any securitie that can bee desired And of these Our Gracious Letters Wee exspect a speedie Answer from you And so Wee bid you farewell Given at Our Court at Oxford in the nineteenth year of Our Reign 26 Decemb. 1643. Two Letters fo Master Read's sent to M. Theophilus Rilie Scout-master of the Citie of London from Oxford SIR I Wrote to you formerly but never had any answer I assure you faithfully I have not been wanting to do what you desired as you may perceiv by the effects and if you have not your desire blame your self but give mee leav to tell you that if you neglect the opportunitie now offered to you it may bee you shall never have the like again for I have made those whom you have given just occasion to bee your worst friends to bee your best and the onely instruments to procure what here is sent you and bee you confident shee shall still bee so provided you do your part consider I beseech you what a gap is opened by bringing in of the Scots for the destruction of this Kingdom if there bee not a Peace which I praie God Almightie to send speedily you must exspect Armies of Strangers from several places who are now preparing who certainly at their coing in will over-run the whole Kingdom and when it is past remedie you will see your own errors and therefore to prevent more miserie then I am able to express to this deplorable Kingdom and the effusion of the bloud of Millions of men women and children which must inevitably bee this Summer apply your selvs in an humble and submissive waie to his Majestie whom I know you will finde readie with arms out-stretched to receiv you to favor and mercie and grant you favors even beyond your exspectation Defer no time for God's sake and what you will do do it speedily I saie again do it speedily for reasons I may not write The direction of the Letter by the same hand that it is written within is for the Man in the Moon without date Sir I Assure you I have not been wanting to further your good desires and if it bee not your own faults I make no doubt but things will have an happie issue for I finde those that are most concerned in it forward enough Reflect now upon the miserie of the times and upon the groans and sufferings of those you see not which yet have been nothing to what they will bee if not speedily prevented by a Peace which to obtain I beseech you let it not onely bee your own care but the care of all those you love or have power with otherwise bee confident of a general ruine which certainly will bee inevitable both to your selvs and posteritie and therefore take it into your serious consideration and let not causless jealousies hinder you to apply your selvs in an humble and submissive manner to his Majestie who I am sure will yet look upon you with a gracious eie lose no time for the longer you delaie it may prove the more difficult no doubt This last Letter I Tho. Violet delivered from Read to Master Rilie in November 1643. UPon the bringing up to London of the aforesaid Letter of the late King I
the Nation I beeing required to attend the Committee of the Council of State about the Act now presented to the Parlament I did see and vvas privie upon vvhat grave consideration everie branch of the Act now depending before the Honorable Committee vvas framed and put down by the Committee of the Council of State before ever it vvas recommended to the Parlament And I do humbly desire for the service of the Common-wealth if any alteration bee made in the Act those that drew the draft of the Act may bee required to attend the Committee to give their reasons for the whole Act or any part of it for upon the effectual passing of this Act much doth depend for the safetie of this Nation and it is of an higher concernment to the Nation then I can express and I humbly conceiv there ought to bee no respect of private interest where the safetie of the Nation is so highly concerned I humbly desire the Honorable Committee that the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint may bee taken into your serious considerations there beeing verie few men in the Nation can speak so much upon their own experience of these abuses concerning the Treasure of the Nation as these Gentlemen the Officers of the Mint have certified which ever since their Certificate hath been found in everie part to bee true The Mint standing still and neglected the Treasure that hath been Imported was never brought into the Mint but Exported out again by which means for the private gain of a few men the Nation is ruined and impoverished and a Trade Inwards and Outwards driven without paying of Custom and the Stock of Treasure of the Nation almost all Exported in these times now there is so much occasion for monie to the admiration and astonishment of many lovers of the Common-wealth that truly understand the secrets and mysteries of Trade And what mischiefs these doings will in the end bring upon this Common-wealth is deeply apprehended by many wise men and can have no stop but by a vigorous Act to bring the Offendors to Exemplarie Justice vvhose Fines and Compositions throughout the Nation will amount to many scores of thousands of pounds to the States for the paiment of publick debts if Commissions of enquiries according to former presidents bee granted by Act of Parlament throughout the Nation to enquire for the last ten years of these abuses If in declaring what hath passed at the Committee and of other Transactions bee not usual I shall and do humbly desire to have my pardon for if my silence might not have endangered the Common-wealth this that I have said should never have com to publick view for I know how to keep secrets as well as som other men I have read of one that was born dumb and so continued for many years seeing one coming to kill his Father cried out God save my Father and so gave timely warning for his Father to prevent the danger A happie speaking of the Childe for the Father Truly I count the Obligation to my Countrie above the Obligation to my Father I have seen this danger many years coming upon the Nation Though I am but young and ignorant in other business I am sure there are but few if any in the Nation that have had those waies and means to finde out and discover these mischiefs which I have I know and apprehend more then I vvill or can express The great mischiefs Transporting Gold and Silver bring 's on this Nation I apprehend The condition of your Armie which must bee burthensom if they have not monie to paie for Quartering I apprehend the danger and damage The necessitie of Trades-men and Handie-Crafts men will bee put to for want of emploiment upon the scarcitie of monie making all Trade to decaie I apprehend The sad condition of poor people vvho will bee enforced for vvant to part with their clothes their bedding their dishes they eat their meat in I apprehend The danger the want and povertie of the poor will bring upon this State if there bee not waies found out to bring Monie into the Nation I do verie sadly and seriously apprehend the inconveniences And therefore I crie God save the Common-wealth God put it into the hearts of the Parlament to see to keep that little monie wee have yet left and to finde out and punish those that have cheated and robbed the Common-wealth of their Treasure and to studie vvaies how to bring in monie into the Nation for if this bee not don speedily in all probabilitie greater inconveniences then I dare write will com on the Common-wealth Much more I could saie but if these Reasons before recited nor the Certificates of the Officers of the Customs and the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint several reasons of som Aldermen of the Citie of London for the stopping of the Transporting of Gold Silver and the Citie of London's Petition to the Parlament presenting the great inconveniences Transporting Treasure hath brought upon this Citie of London and the Nation I humbly saie if all these will not prevail I have don For if I should write a Volume as big as Speed's Chronicle I cannot give more clear satisfaction of the necessitie of passing this Act. If God hath decreed this Nation shall bee cousened of all it's Treasure and the Offendors not questioned nor diligent enquirie made after it and such means as our Ancestors and other Nations having far less occasion for monie then wee have do daily practise to prevent these mischiefs and discover the Offendors I shall with all humilitie submit to God's Providence and rest satisfied I have clearly discharged my dutie to my Countrie in declaring this business to the Common-wealth that so they may know the true reasons of the scarcitie of Gold and Silver in the Nation and the damage they sustein by the want thereof and how the Mint com's to bee obstructed that almost no Monie hath been Coined for these three last years For som men that have clamored at mee for first engaging to discover the Transporters of Gold and Silver in the year 1635. in the late King's time I shall desire them to consider that I was first complained of by the Gold-smiths themselvs beeing at the Council-Table 1634. for buying up of Light Gold and Transporting of it into France as Mr Perin the Gold-smith in Cheapside told mee the same daie that som Gold-smiths complained of mee at the Council-Table I going then up to White-Hall to see what the Gold-smiths did and upon their complaint I was committed close prisoner for twentie weeks and yet for all that death would have been more welcom to mee then to have discovered the Merchants at that time and this Doctor Amies Master Turner and Master White all of London and now living know But when I found the Merchants joined against mee that were Transporters of Gold themselvs I was willing to make my peace though it cost mee dear and not
should well and faithfully execute their places in guarding all things prohibited exportation and importation and that no officer of the Customs should trade as a Merchant Those Laws were made upon great consideration and highly for the service of the State Pr. 22. p. 24. Several heads of a Model for a Court of Merchants in London to determine their differences upon Accompts and Merchandizing as it is in France and other Countries where all Merchants that are honest men finde the great benefit com's to them by giving a speedie dispatch of their business My humble request is That the principal Merchants in London may bee spoke withal and their humble desires granted to them concerning this business Pr. 22. p. 25 26 27 28. A Petition to have the East-India and Persia Companie bring in the Books of Invoices of all the Gold and Silver sent by them into India and Persia for thirtie years this is no new thing for in Parlament in 1620. they were ordered to bring in their accompts for 1601 to July 1620. They had shipped for India five hundred fortie eight thousand and ninetie pounds sterling in Spanish monie and som Flemish and Germane Dolars which Accompt was presented ub Parlament at that time The Reasons wherefore I move to have this business examined is becaus wee have now no Courtiers to bribe nor I hope no other will dare to take any Bribes if I knew them I would not fear to name them When this business is throughly examined the East India Companie will bee found verie faultie and as the affairs of the Common-wealth doe stand ought to have a quick and strict Examination in Parlament p. 29 30 31 32 33. An humble request to the Council of State to have the Act pass against transporting Gold and Silver and six several Reasons for the doing thereof for the honor and safetie of the Nation p. 35. The Treasure of England like a quantitie of water in a Cistern wee have no spring of Treasure in the thousand proportion as Spain hath p. 35. In Holland when they first made it a free State the Edicts which I have translated shew what severe penalties were put on Transporters of Gold or Silver p. 36. In England any man may transport Corn freely when it is at four shillings a bushel but not when it is twelv shillings Let us get as much in stock of monie as the Dutch and have as little Lands as they then wee might make monie a Merchandize p. 36 37. Against the Goldsmiths buying clipped English monie and putting it awaie again to Grasiers or others p 38. The great summes of monie the Navie and Armie take up and the dangerous consequence to the whole Common-wealth not to call the Transporters of Treasure to a strict accompt to terrifie others for the future and by their Fines to make som reparation to the State p. 38 39. The names of such Goldsmiths and Merchants that were sentenced in Star-chamber for melting down the heavie currant Coin of this Nation and for transporting Gold and Silver beeing fined in the Court of Star-chamber the 25 Jan. 12 Caro. and the 17 Febr. 12 Caro. at twentie four thousand and one hundred pounds p. 46. Against several great abuses practised by several Goldsmiths in gathering up several sorts of forreign Gold and Silver and English Gold for several people who buie it up of them to transport and culling and melting down the currant Silver Coin of the Nation for to transport or to sell it to such as make Gold and Silver Wier and Threed p. 47 48 49. The great mischiefs that will com to all setled Revenues if Gold and Silver bee raised p. 49. The deadness of Trade in Spain when the West-India Fleet doth not bring in Silver that year the Fleet com's not to Spain no trading in Spain p. 50. The design of our dear Brethren of Scotland to circumvent this Nation both of all their Gold Monie and Moveables in buying up most of the plundred Goods in London and other parts of the Nation not paying half the value and in monopolizing the Coals that served London and other parts of this Nation into their own hands and then raising the price at four times as much as they were sold for before all the time of the restraint of bringing coals from Newcastle till Newcastle was reduced to the Parlament p. 51 52. The Scots when they were in the North of England as far as their Armie came dated their Letter from Durham Cumberland Ferribrig Newcastle in Scotland I hope the Officers of our Armie in requital may date all their Letters from Edinburg in England p. 52. Several Laws and Ordinances for regulating the Mints and Monies and concerning the exchanges and Exchangers of Monie Refiners Goldsmiths and others in the united Provinces Anno 1586. p. 53 54 55 56 57. The policie of this Nation hath alwaies aimed at and intended the increas and augmentation of Monie especially that of Silver and this by divers Statutes and Laws p 57 58. For the new Act against transporting of Gold and Silver and recommended by the Council of State and twice read in the Hous it is drawn from the example and president of the 18 Eliz. cap. 9. against transporting Leather and Tallow and raw Hides and the late Ordinance 1647. against transporting Fuller's-Earth and the claus that incourageth the Instruments to discover the offences are drawn by the president 18 Eliz cap. 9. and other Ordinances and Edicts of other States that give like exemptions and incouragement to such as though guiltie themselvs in the second degree and the claus touching Commissions and Examination of Witnesses for discoverie and to commit them in case of refusal to bee examined is don 13 Elizab. cap. 7. p. 58 59 60. An Ordinance for the general regulating of the Mint at Brussels the 18 March 1633. p. 60 61 62 63 64. An Ordinance for the regulating the Mint at Brussels the last daie of Maie 1644. p. 65 66. A Declaration of the King of France for regulating the new price set upon light and clipt Species of Monie likewise for the observation of the prizes of Gold and Silver imploied for the Goldsmith's work It is also expresly forbidden to melt the Monie and to transport it or any other materials of Gold and Silver out of the said Kingdom Printed at Paris 30 Octob. 1640. p. 66 67. What general Laws and Statutes in England from time to time have provided against transporting Gold or melting down the currant Coin and buying Gold and Silver at above the price of the Mint and Commissions made throughout England to inquire of such as transported Monie 14 Ric. 2. cap. 12. p. 67 68 69 70. The easie escape of the Transporters of Gold and Silver hath incouraged the Merchants and others to transport the Treasure Little penaltie cannot hinder the Merchant from his profit p. 70. The several abuses and cheats of som Goldsmiths and others taking advantage of
the work-men and work-women thousands I shall with all humilitie tell you what Forrain Nations do to Regulate their Monie and Bullion these Manufactures and unless you have the like rule here I humbly conceiv it will be impossible to restore the Mint to keep the Gold-smiths within compass or the Wier-drawers in any rule for many of them have got to licentious height and pride having got great Estates by culling Monie selling Gold and Silver to transport buying of clipped Monie and paying it away again and twentie other tricks that they are so proud they know not whether they stand on their heels or their head but the Act against transporting these when it com's forth will regulate them all I saie if you will have these abuses rectified as in France Flanders Spain Germanie and other Countries I humbly conceiv you must erect a Council for Monies and Bullion for in France I have seen great Volumes of Arguments of the Government and Management of Monie and Bullion and the due Regulation is of mightie importance as your affairs now stand and in all Forrain Countries the States that are Kings or Common-wealths have a particular care and make the mysteries of managing their treasure matter of the greatest state and policie and Gold and Silver either in Coin or Bullion the late Kings Queens in England did ever appropriate the especial management of them to themselvs as beeing a business of State And though now by the blessing of God wee are a free State and the Nation a free Nation I humbly conceiv not so free that the Bullion and Coin of the Common-wealth should bee Manufactured and wasted without any accompt and without any regard for the bringing in Forrain Bullion for the proportion is spent here in the making Gold and Silver-Thread without offering the State an Excise fit for to bee imposed on so superfluous a commoditie when these Wier-drawers voluntarily offered the late King one thousand pound a year and two pence an Ounce and the Refiners did give the late King six pence the Ounce and this to bee don in a King's time in a time when the Common-wealth had no Armies to paie which six pence the Ounce almost all of it was given by the late King to a couple of Courtiers the Earl of Holland two thousand pounds a year the Countess of Roxborough twelv hundred pounds a year If the Wier-drawers would paie the Arrears they owe to the State and submit to a Regulation for the present and binde themselvs to work good Silver well covered with five Ounces Silver to a pound Venice seal all the Gold and Silver-Thread as formerly and paie the duties shall bee imposed on them by the State for Excise and keep an accompt of all the Silver Manufactured by a Comptroler there might bee som hopes that this Manufacture might bee regulated if they will not I humbly conceiv if the Parlament pass the Act against Transporting Gold and Silver and have a Council for Monies according as it is in other Countries it will regulate the abuses of this Trade and all others that trade in Gold and Silver If the State had had a Council for Monies eight years ago as they have in Forrain Countries I believe Cheapside-Cross would have yielded them more Monies then it made the State I do humbly desire that it may bee examined how many fodder of Lead was made of the Cross for all the figures were Lead and who bought it and what they paid a fodder and the total summe in monie was paid for it Then I do humbly desire to have the partie or parties that bought the Lead of the Cross examined upon Oath whether they did ever fine or refine the Lead and parted the Gold from the Lead by blowing it down in an Almondfurnace and then refining it on attest and what Gold they extracted out of it to give a just accompt of the pound weights and Ounces of Gold hee or they refined and extracted out of the Lead of Cheapside-Cross Then that all men would bee pleased to take notice of the long continuance of Cheapside-Cross since it was made and in how many King 's and Queen's Reigns it was guilt the Citie-Books I believ will shew this verie Cross with the Leaden figures And then that they take notice that the Rain and Weather decaie's not the Gold for it will sink into the Lead and though it change color and tarnish with the Weather yet the Bodie of Gold is in the Lead And all men know the superstition of former times did not care what Gold they laid on Popish Reliques and I believ the Citie-Books will shew many thousand pounds laid out in Gold for guilding Cheapside-Cross upon several occasions I do humbly conceiv that when the Cross was sold it was sold by the State onely for Lead and the State had no more for it but for Lead and if any did refine and part that Lead and converted the Gold to their own use that all that Gold which was sold for two pence the pound weight the State ought to have an accompt for it and my desire to them that bought it is that they would give the just value of all the Gold they extracted out of Cheapside-Cross to the poor maimed soldiers towards their relief and maintenance they having never paid the State for it The taking away of Crosses and Superstition and plucking of them down I thank God for but withal I would not that the State should sell Gold at two pence the pound weight to any person upon what pretence of service or well-deserving soëver for after that rate the Parlament may have servants too many for their profit and in managing business in this manner the whole Common-wealth suffer's and som private persons get mightie Estates to the great damage of the Common-wealth in general I humbly saie what is the Common-wealth's ought to bee sold at the best advantage and improvement for the publick and and not for private respects sold at an under value upon any pretence to any private person whatsoëver I know for speaking this truth I shall have envie but my comfort is it will bee by or from none but interested parties and all those that are not vvill thank mee for speaking truth The Parlament heretofore made many Provisional Acts som onely to continue to the next Sessions of Parlament which was somtimes three five seven ten fifteen years before a Parlament vvas called and no remedie could bee had out of Parlament if that these Acts were found prejudicial to the State till the next Sessions of Parlament Now by the blessing of God on this Nation these inconveniences are remedied for the Parlament sit's alwaies so that if the Parlament pass any Act vvhich they shall finde upon just grounds either to add to it or take from it they have it in their own power to alter it upon the trial if a Law should pass vvhich vvere not for the general good of