THE ADVANCEMENT OF MERCHANDIZE OR CERTAIN PROPOSITIONS For the Improvment of the Trade of this Common-wealth humbly presented to the Right Honorable the Council of State AND ALSO Against the Transporting of GOLD and SILVER By THO. VIOLET of London Goldsmith SPQA LONDON Printed by William Du-Gard Printer to the Council of State Anno Dom. 1651. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE JOHN BRADSHAW LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL of STATE My Lord WHEN first I attended your Lordship about preparing of an Act against the Transporting of Gold your Lordship was pleased to take notice of mee and that you had heard of my Imprisonment in the Tower you commanded mee to use my uttermost endeavors to serv the Common-wealth that so I might give a clear testimonie both to your Lordship and the State of my good affection to the present Government and by that means the State might bee induced to consider my condition and that my business might bee examined in Parlament and I have Justice by restoring mee to my Estate again In humble pursuance of your Honor's commands I did print several Placarts and Ordinances of France Holland and Flanders concerning the regulating of their Monie Bullion and Mints and breviated the Laws and Proclamations heretofore made in England against Transporting of Treasure And made several arguments upon the whole matter how highly it did concern this Common-wealth speedily to give a stop to the Transporters of Gold and Silver and several other abuses practised upon the Coin and Bullion of this Common-wealth And I did humbly present one of the Books to your Honor and had your Honor's approbation for the speedie passing of the Act which your Honor and the Right Honorable the Council of State had recommended to the Parlament but as yet through the industrie of som guiltie men this Law which so highly concern's the safetie and welfare of the Nation is not passed the Parlament And if it were dispatched it would restore your Mint to it 's flourishing condition by removing all obstructions in the Mint And then the settling the valuation of all Coins in Christendom and the Parr of the Exchange between us and them in any part of Christendom I would see should bee finished and the mysteries of Exchange opened to the high advantage of the Merchants of this Nation who are now generally ignorant of this mysterie and are as far to seek of these Sciences as two hundred year ago the passage to the West Indies was to Christendom The reason is in England wee have none but our own Monie run's in currant paiment our Merchants are generally ignorant of the true value and fineness of Forrain Coins and what proportion all Forrain Coins hold between us and them and the just weights and fineness all Forrain Coins ought to hold and beeing all weightie according to their just standerd what they will make the Merchant to coin them into our Monie within the Tower of London and this is the Parr I humbly intend and petition your Honor for the speedie dispatch These things are no secrets to the Dutch Merchants and other Merchant-Strangers here and that make's them so out-wit the Merchants of our Nation upon the Exchanges of Monie to any part of Christendom My Lord I humbly again address my self to your Lordship with som prime Observations for Trade which may highly concern the Common-wealth and it hath been no small comfort to mee that both your Honor and many other Honorable Gentlemen of the Council of State upon the reading of them in Manuscript do approv of what I have don in this particular and that you will speedily put it in practice for the good of this Nation My Lord I have obeyed your commands for the putting in an Index to what I have said that so you may contract what is by mee humbly desired The whole drift of what is desired is the equal inriching of the Nation in general the repairing and inhabiting all our Sea-Port-Towns and Harbors the bringing in a Nurserie of rich Merchants into our Land the increas of Manufacturie the increas of Shipping the setting of all our poor awork the making England the Mistress and Empross of the Sea in beeing a Bulwark and Protection to her Friends by spreading out her arms to give shelter in all weathers both for Merchant-men and Men of War in all her Havens and Harbors both to shelter them from storms and to furnish them with all manner of Ammunition Victuals and Merchandize for all parts of the world and to bee the Magazin for the world for all wealth and Trade For as the World is Ring so England is the Diamond of that Ring and the wealth strength and valor of this Nation was never so well known to all our neighbors as under the government of a Common-wealth as it is now settled and a few years will shew to the world This I say to bee true so visibly that the poorest Commoner in this Nation will finde there is as much difference between the situation of England and Holland to bring and contract the Trade of the world as there is in proportion difference between an ounce Troie and a pound weight Troie for they in Holland have not six points of the Compass to have winde to go in and out and all dangerous Seas and in som of them as at the Texel fortie sail of ships are cast away in a year But behold England hang's in the Sea like an Oriental Pearl at a fair Ladie 's ear no winde can blow at any point of the Compass but ships may both go in and com out of her Harbors And I believ a Free Trade will treble the Importation and Exportation of goods into all the Sea-Ports of this Nation besides the emploiment of the shipping of the Nation And as wee are a shield and protection to our friends by putting in execution these Observations you will reduce the rebellious Sea-men of our own Nation have an accompt of their wives and children in what service they are and where against the State and by this means if not out of obedience and love to the present Government yet out of an affection to their wives and children and to save their estates you shall have them return to their obedience for when their wives are sequestred in England it will bee a greater Load-stone then your Men of War you send out to reduce them and this business require's a diligent and able man to give the State an Accompt from time to time and if it bee effectually followed will bring home most of our Sea-men to their obedience a business of the highest consequence both to reduce them with the least change of bloud and monie Then the examination of the carriage of several Companies for the private enriching of a few is humbly presented to the Council of State and the Council for Trade that so the abuses for the times past may bee found out and punished and such Rules and Regulations for
to give a clear testimonie of the falsness of that malicious charge against mee I was willing to obey the commands of som of the Council of State and did with all humilitie present to my Lord President and som of the Council of State most of these Propositions for their private use and they were honorably pleased to accept of my endeavors and gave mee their approbation of them as a great service offered by mee to the Common-wealth wherein I did deserv all encouragement and that the State would see to put many of them in execution which noble favor of theirs far beyond my imagination and desert hath everlastingly obliged mee to their service to studie alwaies to advance the interest and prosperitie of the present Government of this Common-wealth as it is now settled without King or Lords to the uttermost of my power and to the last drop of bloud I have against any person or persons whomsoëver that endeavor the damage or undermining of the present Government Now my request is to all the worthie Merchants of this Nation that som of them would bee pleased to take this argument into their hands and what I have said undigestedly and without a method they with a more learned pen would perfect for the service of the Nation in general Most of these Papers are transmitted down to the Honorable Council of Trade by an order of the Council of State and referred to their judicious consideration And the true reason of my printing of them is that som more learned pen might finish what I have roughly begun and whosoëver doth it would do a great service to the Common-wealth And for the Merchant-strangers that live and inhabit in any part of this Nation my request to them all is That they would consider of what I have here presented in their behalfs and that they would all contribute their advice and reasons for the perfecting of what is by mee humbly propounded and so to carrie themselvs in all their actions that no just exceptions may bee laid to their charge of beeing prejudicial Instruments either to the present Government or that any of their dealings should bee disadvantageous to the prosperitie and commerce of this Nation but that they in humble requital of the Parlament's Protection which they all enjoie equally with the Natives of this Nation would bee pleased to studie all waies and means for the setting of such Manufactures here as they know is made beyond Seas for employing our shipping for contributing their humble advice in repairing our Havens and Harbors for dreining of our Lands for employing of our poor for setting up the Fishing Trade for making our Sea-Port-Towns their store-houses of Corn and for laying a foundation of bringing in their rich commodities from all parts of the world into our Ports and Harbors of England wee having far better and securer Harbors then our Neighbors And for their enabling them to do this that they would humbly propound to the Parlament and Council of Trade the best means and waies they conceiv all these things may don whereof one of the principal waies is to have free Ports in this Nation to Import and Transport all Forrain goods Custom-free that is not spent in this Nation and for their settling of a bank in London and settling of a cours of Bils of Exchange in several Sea-Port-Towns of this Nation and for the settling of a Court of Merchants in London to determine all differences amongst Merchants If they would studie these things and all others they know which would conduce to the profit and honor of this Common-wealth and would shew themselves openly that they are publick spirited men they would Petition the Parlament and Council of Trade in these particulars and when they are required by those in Autoritie would contribute their best reasons and advices clearly without any by-ends justly and according to the great experience many of them have by their knowledg of business of trade in other Countries This would bee a great service to the Nation in general and it is no more then I think is their dutie to do and I humbly conceiv the State exspect's from them they should do And that all Merchants would present unto the State what new Customs and Imposts have been laid on the English Nation in Forrain parts more then was formerly laid that so if our Merchants cannot procure a redress themselvs beyond seas the State upon the Merchant's Petition might by their Letters or other waies to Forrain States take notice of it and see our Merchants to have right and this is usual in Holland upon the least obstruction of trade or intrenching upon the Merchants the States General make it matter of state and either by force or by treatie remove the obstruction as all men know that are acquainted with their proceedings between the King of Denmark and them for Customs in the Sound and the Portingals and them in the East and West-Indies and in their other transactions with other Princes and States their principal care is to take off the obstructions of Trade I praie God all just and fair-dealing Merchants with us may have the like and greater countenance and protection from the State then their Merchants have in Holland And whereas the Merchant-strangers in London have exacted on them several fees more then is conceived to bee by Law that these Merchant-strangers would petition the State that the Citie of London bee required to bring in forthwith the tables of fees for Package Scavage and all other duties they can by Law justly and anciently demand of the Merchant-strangers And that a certain rule may bee set up up in Printed tables in the Custom-Houses what fees shall bee taken for the future And that such Officers that have formerly exacted more monie of the Merchants then their just fees may bee compelled to restore the monie back to the Merchants And if the State reliev Merchant-strangers here it will bee a great Load-stone to other States and Nations to do all right to our Merchants beyond Seas But for those men either English or strangers I will not honor them with the name of Merchants that are Transporters of Wool Fuller's Earth Horses Gold and Silver or any other prohibited goods to the weakning and impoverishing of this Nation and all such as have culled and melted down the heavie Monie of this Nation into Ingots and sold it to such as have Transported it or to such as have made Gold and silver Wier and silver Thread and such as have couzened the Common-wealth by buying up the light and clipped English silver Coin and vented it again to Graziers or publick Cashiers or any other persons to the great deceit and damage of the Common-wealth I shall leav them all to the Law with this memento to them That as Justice is leaden-footed yet shee hath iron hands and though slow yet shee is sure and all ages have held men that do these things as Moths and Cankers
in a Common-wealth But for your just Merchant hec is the Beautie and Ornament of the Common-wealth a great pillar in any Nation where they remain and that State or Common-wealth that doth not love and protect them must at long running bring themselvs to povertie For mee to speak of the worth and dignitie of fair-dealing-Merchants in all ages is to hold a Candle to the Sun onely my praier to God shall bee that their numbers may bee encreased in this Nation and all encouragement given them by the State that they may have good Convoie to guard their ships both outwards and inwards from Pirats and Rovers and if it bee the chance of any Merchant-men to meet with Pirats that God would strengthen their sea-men and give them valiant and loial hearts to fight for their Countrie and their Merchant's ships and goods and after their deliverance from Pirats God's protection go along with them all and bring them everie one to his desired Port and at the end of our daies bring us all to the blessed Harbor of the Kingdom of Heaven and this shall bee the praier of Your assured Friend to serv you THO. VIOLET THE ADVANCEMENT OF MERCHANDIZE To the Right Honorable the Council of State viz. John Bradshaw Lord President Earl of Denbigh Earl of Salisbury Lord Howard Thomas Lord Grey of Groby Lord Ch. Justice Roll Lord Ch. Justice St John Lord Ch. Baron Wilde Thomas Lord Fairfax Lord General Cromwel Philip Lord Lisle Sir Henry Mildmay Sir William Armyne Sir William Constable Sir Peter Wentworth Sir Gilbert Pickering Sir William Masham Sir Arthur Hesilrige Sir James Harrington Sir Henry Vane Jun. â— t Gen. Ludlow Lo. Com r Whitelock Lo. Com r Lisle Colonel Stapley Colonel Morley Colonel Purefoy Colonel Jones Isac Pennington Ald. Henry Martin Esq Philip Skippon Esq Wil. Heveningham Esq Rob. Wallop Esq Jo Hutchinson Esq Denis Bond Esq Valentine Wanton Esq Tho Scot Esq Cornel. Holland Esq Tho. Chaloner Esq Mr Robinson Mr Gourdon Thomas Violet a true Lover of his Countrie most humbly present's these following PROPOSITIONS SEveral Reasons for the admitting all Merchants to have equal privileges so far as agreeth with the Pattern and Policie of Amsterdam Legorn and Genoa who have gotten themselvs to the hight greatness of trade And therefore hold in all Common-wealths that are seated as by the blessing of God this is one in the midst of the Seas beeing adorned and beautified with more safe and fair Harbors for shipping then any of our Neighbors whatsoever And there ought to bee an especial eie had upon the paths and steps of our neighbors to see by what waies and means they have got to this greatness of Trade and to keep a good observation of these times and to give all encouragement to the Dutch and Forain Nations to com and plant in our Ports and Harbors They having many of them an earnest desire not to bee so penned up as they are and therefore many Families are lately removed to Breme and Hambrough out of Amsterdam As was presented to the Council of Trade by a worthy Member of the Council of State with his Recommendations to the Council of Trade to take all Informaltions concerning free Ports or Landing places for Forain commodities Imported without paying of Custom if again exported in what manner the same is best to bee effected in pursuance whereof for the advance of Trade I have according to directions of som of the Council of State treated with the principal Merchants in this Citie and I do humbly present these few Heads unto your Honors consideration for the benefit of Trade and the Nation in General 1. That Genoa Legorn and Amsterdam have raised their greatness onely by giving Merchants Strangers equal privileges with their Natives and in levying Imal duties upon goods And if not spent in their Ports freely to export them to any part of the world by which means they have been made the Ware-houses and Shops for all the Merchandizes in the world 2. By the same means also they grow in Amsterdam mightie in Shipping and Sea-men for they know the benefit that onely the bringing of goods thither though never spent in the Countrie make's them for there is not the thousand part of the goods spent in Amsterdam that is brought thither but shipped again all over the world And they have this advantage that all the Commodities of the world are there to bee had which is a benefit to them that spend the Commodities to have the Market at their own doors for they can have it cheaper then to go abroad for it And the wealth that is gotten by Shipping Ware-housroom and imploiment of thousands of laboring people in lading and unlading Merchandize is and hath been one of the fairest flowers in the Garland of Amsterdam Genoa and Legorn And by the blessing of God and the Parlaments countenance of such Merchants and others that shall put to their helping hands and their industries the Sea-Ports of this Nation will participate in a large proportion with them and put the inhabitants of our Sea-Ports in a flourishing condition wee may see it by experience when our Composition Trade was at Dover what that Town made the State a year for half Customs and how the rents of houses were raised how all the Townsmen grew rich and Merchants set the poor awork and also the great imploiment of our Shipping and Navigation and no Town in England lived more happily make it but a free Port you will restore it again to its former condition whereas now their poor do so infinitely increas on them that many perish for want of means and all the houses in the Town not worth the third penny rent they were ten yeers ago for at the time the Customs made fifty thousand pounds every year now not four thousand pound per annum 3. I pray your Honors observ where great Customs are laid there either in Kingdom or Common-wealth the Trade decayeth and at last fal's to nothing 't is true they may bee present benefits and have been made use of by evil Councellors both in this Age and formerly both in this Nation and others But I pray observ those remedies have ever been wors then the diseases and in som places it hath cost som of the Inventors their lives others their estates and all of them at long running repentance and those Kingdoms Nations or Common-wealths that have soonest recovered out of them have been the easiest cure of their distempers and commotions Whereas in such Kingdoms Nations or Common-wealths where such oppressions have long continued when the remedie com's to bee workt and wrought it work 's so violently as it break 's all the old frame of Government in pieces or els weaken's it in that manner that it corn's not to its first strength again in som Ages and this I humbly conceiv is like shortly to bee the fate of a great Kingdom I mean France The inventions for
the future may bee made as shall bee most conducing to the benefit of the Common-wealth in general without any private regard to private persons My Lord this argument which I have undertaken concern's the corrupt interest of many men who will storm to see these things laid open to the world and I shall bee sure to bee stung with the venom of som of their tongues Therefore I am an humble suitor to your Honor and the Council of State for your Honor's protection and countenance of these my weak endevors for the service of this Nation which noble favor shall for ever oblige mee to praie for your Honor's happiness and prosperitie God continue your Honor in all prosperitie in this world and in the world to com and this shall bee the praier of Your Honor 's humble and obliged Servant THO. VIOLET TO THE HONORABLE THE COUNCIL OF TRADE This Book with my most humble service Honorable Gentlemen THese Papers are most of them recommended to your care by order of the Council of State to take them into your consideration Indeed many of them were drawn by mee about five years ago in the Tower afore I ever thought of a Council of Trade But seeing it is the hap of these unpolished Papers to bee recommended to your care I am verie glad of it and most humbly give the Council of State thanks for recommending them to your judicious examination making no question of their sowing in a fertile ground seeing som of these Propositions are already com to the perfections of Acts of Parlament May it pleas your Honors I am no other then the day-laboring man I have brought you Marble from the Mine felled you Trees and brought them to you and at your feet laie them all to bee hewn and squared by your judicious and profound Wisdoms You are the Master-workmen who are now to take your Instruments to hew square them for the building of the trade of this Common-wealth And I shall presume to wait on you those daies you sit to see how your Building goe's forward and when that you give a dispatch of the Materials in these Propositions it shall not repent mee of what I have don And I shall with all humilitie and chearfulness furnish you with som other Propositions for the service of this Common-wealth To so great and grave Judgments I know multiplicitie of words need not the great God of Heaven and Earth bee in the midst of your Counsels and bee Counsellor to you all and put that into your hearts that you may bee enabled for so great a work as the State hath laid on you and to bee careful of the maintenance of the Trade that concern's the poor of this Nation in general that they may have a livelihood as well as the rich And thus much in all humilitie let mee tell you if ever any men in this Nation had need to make use of Christ's rule of beeing as innocent as Doves and as wise as Serpents it is your Honors in this emploiment you have for regulating of Trade The infinite subtilties frauds and abuses in several Trades are so many that the hundredth part of the cheats used to get monie cannot bee imagined by any other persons but your selvs that daily hear the abuses practised on many Manufactures made in this Nation And som men by these cheats have gotten wealth and dignitie for in London formerly many times they chose Aldermen most an end for their wealth not for their wit or honestie and that hath made such a hole in the Chamber of London's Treasure the poor Orphans portions when such Kites as got their Estates indirectly came to bee Magistrates Other Trades there are whose povertie beeing pestered with more multitudes in the Trade then it will bear make 's many people in several Trades fall a making the Manufacture indirectly falsly and slightly to the great abuse of the Nation and all the wearers and this more particularly I know is don in the making of Gold and Silver-Thread as was justified to your Honors by hundreds of the women-spinners in London upon their Petition against the Wheel-spinners and their humble desires to your Honors for a Regulation for the future So that what between the covetousness of the rich and the necessitie of the poor all the abuses in Trade is committed and these weeds will everie daie increas in the Garden of this Common-wealth if the Parlament make not strict and sharp Laws against these offences and offendors that make the Manufactures of the Nation slight and base And not onely to make Laws but appoint such persons as shall see those Laws put in execution that Justice bee don and these men would bee the pruning knives to rectifie the Garden of Trade and till it bee don the abuses in Trade and Manufacture will not bee prevented I have humbly and plainly told you what I think is to bee don for the best improvement of the Trade of this Nation and leav what I have said to your Honor 's grave consideration and shall ever praie for the prosperitie of your Honors Signed By your Honor 's humble Servant THO. VIOLET TO MY HONORED FRIENDS the Merchants Natives of this Nation of England and the Merchant-Strangers living and inhabiting in any part of the Dominions of the Common-wealth of England GENTLEMEN MAny of these Papers were drawn by mee in my solitude in the Tower and I never intended them for publick view but for my private use afterwards Providence ordering it so I was commanded by som of the Council of State to give them my attendance and humble advice about removing the obstruction of the Mint and to attend som honorable Gentlemen who were to draw a table of the just value of all the Coins in Christendom and to settle their true values according to the Standard of the Mint in the Tower of London and what those Coins will make in our Mint beeing full weight a great part of that work is already don and a model drawn for the taking away the obstructions of the Mint in the Tower of London and when the Parlament and Council of State pleas to command it will bee perfectly finished having this opportunitie with somof the Council of State I was commanded by som of them to draw them such Observations concerning Trade as I did conceiv might bee for the benefit of the Common-wealth the increas of Trade and the increas of Shipping And though I knew my own insufficiencie for so weightie a business and that there were many hundred in London more able to do this then my self yet considering that now God had put into my hands an opportunitie that I might present my self to the Council of State and to the Nation in general that I was not such a man as som maliciously had charged mee to bee which was that I was a Malignant and one dis-affected to the present Government as it is now settled without King and Lords I saie
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
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
same rule followed which was in 14 Rich. 2. cap. 12. where Commissions by Act of Parlament were granted throughout the Realm to enquire of such as had conveyed the Monie of England out of the Nation in doing whereof great summes throughout the Nation will com to the State and the offendors will remember the Proverb sweet meat must have sower sauce when they shall bee enforced to paie back to the State that which they have defrauded them of and will prevent them and all others hereafter for to take the boldness to get themselvs fortunes by any of the aforesaid indirect courses which so highly tend to the damage of this Common-wealth By these deceits Commerce is spoiled Traffick decaieth those things that are needful for man's preservation grow dear the handiecraft's work ceaseth the work-men betake themselves to som other places and the Commonaltie to speak all in a word is brought to povertie as is gravely observed by the Master General and Council of the Mint in Flanders 2d October 1647. in their Declaration clearly demonstrating that the careful and punctual keeping of the Placart of the Mint is verie necessarie and withall profitable to all persons of what state qualitie or condition soëver shewing that if the Placart bee not observed but that monie should bee paid out above the true value through these disorders they shall never bee able to keep their treasure within their Countrie And in their Declaration shewing most judicially the great mischiefs that befal a Nation by enhauncing and raising their Monie beeing no real cure for the Common-wealth but utterly destructive to all sorts of people even from the Prince to the poor Laborer to any Free State or Common-wealth to all Merchandize and Commodities all which considerations although verie potent yet do not oftentimes com into the mindes and comprehensions not onely of the common people but also of those to whom the emploiment of Publick Office have given more judgment and credit in managing of affairs themselvs and who dare to spread it abroad that there is no harm nor evil in enhauncing the Coin above its true value and worth becaus they can put it away at the same price as they receiv it not taking notice by the waie that raising and augmenting the price of the Monie doth or must by consequence augment and encreas the price of all Merchandizes and Provisions proportionable whereby of necessitie it must follow that if the Monies bee augmented and hightned the Landlords and Creditors receiv so much less the Merchandize Victuals and all other Wares grow presently dearer the publick treasure either Excise or Customs are abated by so much as you enhaunce or lessen your Monies for it is not the Denomination of an high price of Gold or Silver set's the value but it must have weight and fineness proportionable to what you call it or els you go upon a wrong ground As for example in Scotland they call Thirteen pence half pennie a Mark and Twentie pence they call Twentie shillings this denomination of a great value give 's not the intrinsical value I caused these men following to bee fined in the Star-Chamber for transporting Gold and Silver and culling and melting down the heavie Coin of the Nation The 25th of Jan. 12th Car. Charls Frank 4000l Robert Ellis 4000l Isaac Romeer 3000l Jacob Delew 1000l Roger Fletcher 1000l Richard Cockram 1000l John Parrat 1000l The 17th of Febr. 12th Car. Peter Hern 2000l John Terrie 2000l Timothie Eman 2000l Isaac Brames 1000l Henrie Futter 500l Henrie Sweeting 500l John Perrin 100l The Total of the said Fines amount to the summe of 24100l. Sir John Wollaston Knight and William Gibs Esquire both Aldermen of the Citie of London beeing informed against in this Information by the late King 's then Atturnie General procured the late King's Pardon and so were discharged And Peter Fountain who was informed against for transporting of Gold procured his Pardon upon paiment of 1100l. And all these I did bring to a Trial all at my own charge That besides the fourteen offendors sentenced in the Star-Chamber and pardoned as aforesaid there are many other Merchants Gold-smiths and others that have transported Gold and Silver out of the Nation that have sold Gold and Silver at above the price of the Mint that have furnished much light Gold English and Forrain and great quantities of Gold and Silver to Merchants and others to transport that have culled and melted down the weightiest currant silver Coins as shillings six pences half crowns all which offences are against the common Laws of the Nation And the Wisdom and Policie of State hath upon free and general pardons at Parlaments exempted it out of the free pardon thereby the more to terrifie and restrain men from venturing in that kinde to transport Gold or Silver or to melt down the currant Silver Coins of the Nation That divers Gold-smiths of London are becom Exchangers of Bullion of Gold and Silver and buy it of Merchants and others pretending to carrie it to the Mint but indeed they are the greatest Instruments for transporting that are and in a manner they are onely those who furnish transporters with English and Forrain Gold Spanish monie Rix-dolars Pistollers Cardacues culling and melting down the currant Silver Coins of this Realm for Plate and Silver-Thread and no doubt when a true representation of the abuses of such Gold-smiths Finers Wier drawers as hath been formerly and is daily practised by many of them shall bee made appear I doubt not but the Parlament will think fit to take the same into consideration and provide som means to restrain them from doing the Common-wealth that damage as formerly hath been don That som of the Goldsmiths make it their use and practice to by light English Gold of shop-keepers and others which by the Laws of this Nation wanting beyond remedie ought to bee bought as Bullion and upon the sale ought to bee defaced and new coined in the Mint But they take another waie for they sell all this Gold to transport though it want four five or six grains above the allowance and that a Twentie shilling piece will not make nineteen shillings to bee coined in the Mint yet the Gold-smiths will not abate above two pence or three pence and somtimes but one pennie in the piece let the Gold want what it will by which means they out-give the Mint And the Gold which the Gold-smiths buie of the Subjects thinking it is to carrie to the Mint to bee new coined to pass in currant paiment they put it into a dead Sea never to bee made use of in our Common wealth For weekly French and English have bought up this Gold let it bee as light as it will at higher prices then the Mint are allowed to give by their Indenture to the value of many hundred thousand pounds for by the Gold-smith's rule the Mint is alwaies last served as beeing the worst Chap man and giving
without it were looked after and a strict Law made against it to discover the offendors there would not bee any Gold or Silver left in the Nation And this hath proved too true for many millions of Gold and Silver have since been transported to the unspeakable damage of the Common-wealth And upon seizure of several great quantities of Gold and Silver by M. Watkins chief Searcher of the Port of London which was shipped to bee transported the Order of the Parlament the 1 of Septemb. 1647. was made to the Committee of the Navie to see to prevent it After all these Certificates made by the Officers of the Mint and Customs and the Committee of the Navie for the speedie putting so good a work in execution all which I have hereafter set down The Council of State was pleased to make a Committee of themselvs and after many great and serious consultations drew up the draught of an Act of Parlament with their desire to the Parlament to have it pass with all expedition for the service of the Common-wealth There are others more unhappie which saie Now the Steed is stoln shut the stable door Now there is no more Gold left to transport to what purpose doth the Parlament make an Act against transporting Gold this should have been don before for how can wee maintain Commerce paie Taxes when our English Gold is fortie times more plentiful beyond the Seas then it is in England and almost all the Silver Coin of the Nation transported and scarce any left but clipped and light monie And som people are so impudent to believ that there are som Members of Parlament guiltie of transporting monie or els this Act should not have stuck so long upon their hands Others there are that have transported monie and committed manie abuses upon the Coins of the Nation that hope they shall have their pardon for what is past though they have transported almost all the Gold and Silver of the Nation that now if they would they can offend no more and they have don the Common-wealth that damage that a Million of monie cannot give them satisfaction These I humbly conceiv ought to bee made to restore their unjust gain which will deter any others hereafter from doing the like And there are that saie Look how almost all men have sped that have certified against transporting monie or lookt to stop the same Hath not Sir Robert Harlow and M. Cogan been put out of their places in the Mint Hath not M. Watkins M. Tomes Sir Thomas Daws and M. Hollowaie been put out of their places in the Custom-Hous Were not you Thomas Violet imprisoned in the Tower four years becaus you should not tell the truth and let the Common-wealth know for all that time most of their monie and treasure was sending out of the Nation I shall add somthing more to this I have observed what the State hath gotten by putting out these men and I found First That upon the putting forth of the old Officers of the Mint in M. Swallow's place who was the Clerk of the Irons and Surveier of the Melting-Hous for the Mint a place of great skill and trust there is a now a Clerk put in to execute that place that can neither write nor read and other Officers put into the places of the old ones in the Mint that were utterly ignorant of managing the mysteries of that Office And one of the greatest obstructions of the Mint comâ—s through the ignorance of the Officers and their want of correspondence and acquaintance with such as usually have brought Monie from beyond the Seas The old Officers of the Mint were Masters in this Mysterie which is not so soon learned as men think And for son of those that have been turned out of their places out of the Custom-Hous now the Act is passed for the Council of Trade there will quickly bee presented the practices of som of the Officers of the Customs and Petitions for a redress of many abuses practised by som of them and a Review Petitioned for to know upon what grounds many of the old Officers were turned out of their places beeing never charged with any offence but onely forced out to make waie for others to com into their places som of the old Officers of the Customs beeing turned out of their places onely becaus of their activitie in stopping the Gold and Silver of the Nation from beeing transported and this is M. Edward Watkins his case and others put into his Office that seize's Gold and Silver before it is forfeited and when the Merchant recover's it again by Law the Searcher that made the seizure take's the King's Bench and so the Merchant may go seek his monie to the great damage of the Merchant But according to the former presidents all Officers of the Customs were to put in securitie for the just performance of their trust to the State and no Officer was to receiv the Customs and Monies of the Common-wealth in any Port of this Nation nor to make any seizure before hee had put in securitie to the Lord Treasurer to make a true accompt of what monies and goods came to their hands which I having more then probable reasons do believ the Collectors and other Officers of the Ports have not don to the great damage of the Common-wealth and prejudice of the Merchants if seizures bee unjustly made and the Merchants recover their Goods or Monies by a Verdict at Law and after all their charge and hazard not to have all their Goods and Monies again This discoverie I have put in for the service of the Common-wealth it beeing a caus judged in the Checquer this last Term that for the future such abuses of the new Officers of the Customs might bee prevented I have to som men replied this Act it hath been delaied by the Parlament onely by the multitude of other business though I must confess there are verie few businesses of the Common-wealth can take place before this but that all people should see when the Parlament's business was a little over how zealous in deeds not in words they would bee for to punish these great offendors and to make them paic back the unjust gain which monies should bee emploied for the Publick and so save the Nation Taxes That I was confident there was not any Member in the Parlament was guiltie of transporting monie or if there were they durst not bee seen to justifie so wicked an Act but would bee glad to sleep quiet in a whole skin and truly if I did know any of them I would not meddle with them unless the Act did positively enjoin mee to do it It hath been objected to mee by som Gold-smiths and others That I my self have been a transporter of monie and melter down of heavie Coin of the Nation and a furnisher of Gold and Silver to transport out of this Nation and a buier of Gold and Silver above the price of the
of Bullion as the regulation of Merchants-Strangers in their waie of Trade do humbly conceiv 1. That if the Statute of 2 Hen. 6. cap. 6. enjoining Merchants-Strangers to give securitie in Chancerie not to transport the Monie or Plate of the Realm And the Statute of 3 Hen. 7. cap. 8. enjoining them to emploie the monie they receiv in the Merchandize of this Nation 2. And that to the Statute of 5 Rich. 2. cap. 2. and 2 Hen. 4. cap. 5. The Parlament would bee pleased first to declare who shall bee reputed Aliens for that since the sitting of this Parlament the children of aliens born in this Kingdom are reputed free born subjects and do enjoie their privileges accordingly which in former times was not allowed till the third descent Secondly To declare by Ordinance that the Estate of him or them that shall Export Monie or Plate shall bee immediately sequestred 3. To impose a severe penaltie upon the Master of such Ship or Vessel upon which any Monie or Plate shall bee found above his ordinarie charges hee beeing privie thereunto 4. To allow to such as shall discover or finde out any Bullion or Plate endeavored to bee transported a greater share and proportion then by the Statutes in that case is yet provided 5. And to settle som waie of punishment for such as shall resist or abuse Officers sufficiently autorized in their endeavors this waie on the State 's behalf The said Commissioners and Officers do humbly conceiv That it would bee a good means to deter such who by all secret means do daily endeavor the Exportation of the Coin and Bullion of this Kingdom and much prevent the Exportation thereof All which nevertheless they humbly submit to the Wisdom of this Honorable Committee Tho. Daws Col. John Hollowaie Comptr. R. Carmarden Super. Vis Edw. Watkins Searcher W. Tooms Super. Vis Gen. Walter Boothbie Rich. Bateman Sam. Averie Christoph Pack Charls Lloid The Officers of the Mint in the Tower of London whose names are here under-written in pursuance of the directions of the Honorable Committee of the Navie in relation to their Order dated the third of December present do humbly conceiv and certifie as followeth THat to prevent great abuses practised upon the Coin and Bullion of the Nation which is transported out of the Nation as also to prevent the culling and melting down the currant Monie of the Nation and for the discovering of such as have offended to bee brought to Justice to deter others from acting the like abuses for the future do humbly conceiv That according to the President of the 14 Rich. 2. cap. 12. a Commission bee granted to make enquirie through the Realm of such as had conveied the Monies of England out of the Nation to make enquirie after all such as melt and cull out the heavie currant Monie contrarie to the Statute of the 4 Hen. 4. cap. 10. none to melt the currant Silver Coins of the Nation upon pain of forfeiture four times the value That 2 Hen. 6. cap. 12. It is ordeined that neither the Master-worker of the Mint nor the Changer for the time beeing neither sell or caus to bee sold nor alien to no other use but apply the same wholly to Coin according to the tenure of the Indenture of the Mint made between the King's Majestie and the Master of the Mint to declare by Ordinance That what Gold-smith or Changer shall buie Gold or Silver and convert it to any use to transport shall forfeit the value To declare by Ordinance that according to the 5 and 6 Edw. 6. cap. 19. an Act touching the Exchange of Gold and That whosoevër give 's more for Gold and Silver then it is or shall bee declared shall suffer imprisonment by the space of a year and make fine at the pleasure of the State The Mint cannot bee emploied nor the transporting of treasure stopped if som cours bee not speedily taken to discover these great abuses And alreadie almost all the Gold is transported out of the Nation and the Silver followeth it apace as is prudently insisted upon in the late Petition of the Citizens of London to both Houses of Parlament Wee humbly conceiv that the making of this discoverie throughout the Nation of such as have or shall transport Gold and Silver into parts beyond the Seas and of such as have or shall melt down the currant Gold and Silver Coins of the Nation or have or shall buie Gold and Silver at above the price of the Mint the practice of which abuses if not timely prevented is likely to bring speedie destruction to the Trade of this Kingdom which is presidented Anno 4 Rich. 2. c. 2. when the Nation found the same mischief as wee now suffer under by transporting of treasure And Anno 5 and 6 Edw. 6. cap. 19. by giving for Gold and Silver above the price of the Mint As it will bee a service of great importance to the Publick affairs and bring great advantage to the trade of this Nation so it will draw with it a verie great charge Which if Master Watkins will undertake hee will deserv highly to bee encouraged Nevertheless wee humbly submit the premises to the Wisdoms of this Honorable Committee John St John Warden Robert Hartlie Master Henrie Cogan Comptr. December 20. 1647. THese Gentlemen by reason of their places in the Custom-Hous and Mint within the Tower of London their long experience in Merchandize and Trade of this Nation I humbly conceiv their Certificates will leav a great Impression upon the Parlament and on the Honorable Committeee that are appointed to report this Act that what these Gentlemen have certified hath been don upon a great deal of consideration and upon great experience with all their best skill and judgment for the service of this Nation in this most weightie business it tending so highly to the safetie and welfare of the publick and the delaie of passing this Act in its full force and vigor will one daie bee found to bee highly destructive to this Nation and that the design hath been set on foot and prosecuted to hinder the Act from passing is don by som people that have made themselvs fortunes by these wicked practices and though they dare not speak against the Act yet they labor to stop it and delaie it or to procure the altering of it that it may bee uneffectual to give a stop to these mischiefs which I hope they shall never bee able to effect I would have these men to know Justice is slow but it is sure and I am assured they will bee discovered and brought to Justice when they least think of it forbearance will bee no paiment and this Act will bring their dark actions to light when it is passed the Hous Besides these former Certificates the Act now committed was drawn up by a Committee of the Council of State and I was required to attend the Right Honorable Sir James Harrington in Januarie
last beeing one of the Committee for taking away the obstructions of the Mint which I did accordingly and thereupon by Order of the Honorable Committee for removing of the obstruction of the Mint I was desired to send into Holland for several Coins of Forrain Gold and Silver and several Placarts and Weights and som of the said Gold and Silver I have delivered to Doctor Gurden to make Assaies of for the service of the State the remainder I have readie to deliver to any that will see mee paid upon the deliverie I having demanded monie of Doctor Gurden divers times who tell 's mee hee will procure monie but hath not as yet paid mee for what I delivered him and if I should not bee paid for the Gold and Silver I writ for from Holland the same price as by my friend I paid for it in the Bank in Holland there would bee a great loss redound to mee to Coin it here and lose the Exchange the Exchange from Holland when I writ for these Species running at about thirtie two shillings Flemish I do humbly desire the Honorable Committee for obstructions of the Mint to call to the old Clerks of the Mint for an accompt of what they have don about the Assaies made of Forrain Coins and I humbly desire you to consider how much it were for the service of the Nation both in point of honor profit and safetie to set your Mint on work Which upon the peril of my life if you pass the Act as it is recommended from the Council of State I will finde out waies to set your Mint presently a going or lose both my Estate and Life I would not make this proffer but that I am sure of it it is well known to all the Officers of the Mint I know as much of Mint-business as any of them here do and for the Gold-smiths I am sure they think I know too much and the Merchants have found it that I know what many did and do here and what their Factors did and do beyond Seas and to bee Master of this secret cost mee many an hundred pound besides many years time and pains and by my intelligence in the Sea-Ports of this Nation I have caused the transporters of monie to bee fined at four and twentie thousand one hundred pounds And now as I have laid this business they shall bee discovered all over this Nation If I should offer this and could do the like service in any other State I humbly conceiv I need not Petition twice but it would bee accepted at the first time and the delaie of passing this Act move's mee not at all for my own particular but for the Common-wealth I shall never forget Sir John Coke his rule to mee and hee was Secretarie of State to the late King That hee never knew a patient and a vigilant man lose his business if it were just for at one time or another that man will finde an opportunitie to do it and truly by observing this rule I have passed through great business and som of much difficultie for all which I humbly thank God and attribute it to his mercie THere is another caus of the great waste of the Treasure of the Nation which is the great quantitie of Flanders Laces and French Laces both in the Thread and in Silk which are imported into this Nation to the value of many scores of thousand pounds a year which Lace is stoln in without paying any Custom beeing subtilly packed in commodities of great Bulk But what the State lose's by the Custom is nothing in comparison to what it lose's in Stock for the returns of this Lace is for the most part sent over in Gold and Silver of the currant Coins of this Nation Neither is this mischief all the hurt that cometh to the Common-wealth for this Lace is made by them in France and Flanders that can afford it far cheaper then any of our poor can do here for generally it is made in Religious Houses in their Nunneries which Nuns generally bring into the Religious Houses their Dowries when they are admitted and as long they live they are well provided for all manner of necessaries to live verie handsomly both for their diet and apparel beeing left to their voluntarie choice after their religious Exercises is don to spend their time as they pleas Now many of them beeing excellent Needle-women spend their time in making Cut-works for their Altar-cloths Black Laces for Scarffs and Flanders Laces as they are called though many of them are made in France These the Nuns make and sell great quantities of them into England which monie is all returned into the use of the Monasteries these Nuns thinking they merit most that can get their Monasteries most monie by their labor And truly when I have been in companie of som fine Dames in London that profess much I have told them of their Laces and Gorgets that if they did know whom they made rich by such vanities they would laie by the fashion and give that monie they spent in Flanders Laces to the poor and not bee instruments of making Nuns and Monasteries rich beyond Seas and I have desired them to think how contrarie their work was to their Husbands their Husbands are destroying Bishop's Houses and Lands and Deans and Chapter 's Houses and Lands here in England beeing Reliques of Poperie and their Wives by buying up of the Nun's Laces in England with the Returns of that Monie which they produce here are a building Nunneries and Religious Houses in France and Flanders I humbly desire all the English Gentrie that are wearers of Lace both Men and Women to consider seriously what I saie it is of concernment I take God to witness I have heard French men and Dutch men saie to mee above twelv years ago that have dealt in Cut-work Laces and in Flanders Laces both black and white here in London that they did believ there was above five hundred thousand pounds in a year transported in Gold and Silver into France and Flanders onely in Return of Forrain Cut-works and Flanders Laces both Black and White and I believ in my conscience they spoke truth and to this daie there are extreme excesses in these vanities which as your affairs of the Common-wealth stand highly concern you to look to prevent it for I humbly desire you to consider the Nation fling's away so much stock in monie for Flanders Lace is of no use but to keep up pride and vanities Gold and Silver Lace make's somthing upon the Return one hundred pounds worth may make about fortie pounds when you have don wearing of it But for thread silk Laces that which cost one hundred thousand pound when they are worn out will not make the Common-wealth one pennie I do humbly desire you to consider of a strict Law against importing any Forrain Laces or selling them in London the forfeiture of the Laces is nothing becaus it will not
had gotten them upon their coming over at Rie and at Dover apprehended and they confessed they did receiv Light English Gold of mee and other Forrain Gold and Silver in France And all the papers that discovered any thing against mee hee shewed mee and told mee my danger When I saw it I was astonished not imagining that any man did know my proceedings in this business or that I was betraied by those that spoke mee fair and was as faultie as my self for if it were a crime in mee to buie this Light Gold it was as great an one in the Goldsmiths to sell it and if it were a crime in mee to transport Gold it was as great a crime in English men to bee my Factors and Partners though at Roan Calice Deep or Paris And when I found these were the men that abused mee to currie favor and to get their own discharge I besought God in my heart so to direct mee that I might overcom this Philistim and I was an humble sutor to Sir John Coke to make my peace with the late King upon any terms and that I might have the late King's pardon and in humble requital I would really discover to him what Transporters of Gold I knew and what Gold-smiths I knew had sold Gold and Silver above the price of the Mint and Culled and Melted down the currant Monie of this Nation and paie him two thousand pounds in Gold to his Privie Purs which I did accordingly paie into his Privie Purs and had my pardon under the Great Seal And I was forced before I could get my pardon to bring in all my Books and Accompts to Sir John Coke and by them I proved that I had Imported into this Nation more Silver in value then I had Exported Gold By which Accompts I made it clearly appear that the benefit and advantage was to bee made by understanding the weight and fineness of all Forrain Coins and what proportion their Silver hath to our Gold and our Silver to their Gold for this was the Accompt in France 1632 1633 1634. that all our English Gold whether Light or Weight for they went all at one price without weighing the twentie shillings piece passed in currant paiment in France for twentie six shillings and the Cardecu in France went then at 16 Sols as all men know which were then in France so that upon this accompt I made my reckoning 16 Sols in France is 19 d. ob English for everie Cardecu what will these Cardecues make mee in London beeing all full weight six pennie weight Troie at the least which in the Mint in the Tower of London would make 18 d. sterling By this accompt I found there was above twentie in the hundred got by transporting our English Gold and returning of heavie Cardecues which then at those times there was as much of them to bee had both at Calice Paris Roan and Deep amongst the Bankers as a man would desire Then for the most part the lightness of the Gold paid for the Portage and a man might make his return once everie moneth and I have don it somtimes in fourteen daies and got above twentie in the hundred When the late King saw my Accompts in this manner made up for many thousand pounds hee commended my ingenuitie but hee would share stakes with mee a little for hee commanded mee to bring him two thousand pounds in Gold and then I should have my pardon which I did verie willingly and humbly thanked him for his mercie to mee But that which pleased the late King and brought mee into his service was when I shewed him several processes attested out of France under publick Notarie's hands that som of those French men that dealt with mee for English Gold were sued in the Parlament of Paris for sending out of France the heavie Cardecues at an under-value and for bringing into France English Gold at a greater value Much about this time the refiners wier-drawer's business beeing under examination the late King finding by what I before had declared my skill in managing Mint-business and the Bullion of this Nation appointed mee to have the view and surveying of all the Manufacture of Gold and Silver-Wier and Thread and to confirm it to mee for three lives the Grant cost near fifteen hundred pounds to the Lord Treasurer Lord Cottington Master Secretarie Coke and others and I make no question to shew the justness of the Grant to the Honorable Council of Trade and what service it is to the Common-wealth to have mee restored to that office again which all the while I had it I caused the Manufacture all to bee justly made and according to the Standard and that there was never so good Gold and Silver Thread made in the Common-wealth before I had the Office nor since the Office was sequestred from mee and this I can prove by many people that are Artists in the Trade That a little before this time upon the information of som of the Companie of Gold-smiths to the late King and his Council a Commission did issue out to make inquirie of the deceits and abuses of the Refiners of Gold and Silver and in transporting Gold and Silver whereupon as I said before Sir John Wollaston Will. Gibs Walter Hill Henrie Patrickson Refiners Henrie Foot John Perin Timothie Eman Tho. Violet Gold-smiths were made Defendants in the Star-Chamber The Refiners had that good fortune they all got off without a sentence by their wit which was to out-bid the Wier-drawers for the Wier-drawers bid as appear's but one thousand pounds a year and two pence an Ounce and a few humble words viz. And the Corporation of Gold-Wier-drawers for your Majestie 's grace and goodness to them in continuing their Trades and reducing the same to Government humbly offer to paie to your Majestie your heirs and successors for ever one thousand pounds a year and two pence an Ounce in lieu of your Customs from Michaelmas next and for and towards their Provision and Importation of such Bullion as the Members of this Corporation shall use and this was in March 1634. and in April 1635. And thereupon Master Atturnie General had many treaties with the Wier-drawers and others and modelled the draught of a Certificate and truly I know not whether hee ever delivered it to the late King but the pithiness and brevitie of it will shew it must bee his and that this Certificate was made upon many arguments of all hands and treatie with all parties for Master Atturnie had drawn a Certificate fit for a King to look on containing so much matter in so few words and if the Honorable Council of Trade will bee pleased to consider of this Certificate they will finde a great part of the Regulation of the Trade settled in this Certificate if they pleas to consider of everie branch of it for it is all matter of State A Copie of Sir John Bank's Certificate to the late King hee beeing his
in this Manufacture som men that have deceived the Common-vvealth in making of slight Gold and Silver-Thread fear if a Regulation should bee settled by Parlament to have no Silver-thread spun either by the Hand or Spindle but such as is covered vvith a good Plate of Silver and five Ounces Troie at the least to the pound Venice that then they shall bee suffered to cousen no more and this is the true reason of their anger against any that stand's for a Regulation then they know their own guilt in so notorious defrauding the State in the Excise and how much monie they owe the State in Arrears vvithin this four years beeing above twentie thousand pounds vvhich is in the hands of fewer then thirtie men and they know if I bee commanded by the Parlament I will give a good accompt of this business I do humbly desire Sir Robert Harlow that my Grant might bee delivered to the Honorable Council for Trade and that hee would pleas to report vvhat hee found concerning it to your Honors and that if I cannot maintain my Grant for the surveying the Manufacture of Gold and Silver-Wier and Thread for the good of the Common-wealth and for the service of the wearer and honor of the Manufacture I shall with all humilitie laie my self at the Honorable Council for Trade's feet so to regulate my Grant as they in their great Wisdoms shall finde most advantageous to the Common-vvealth And I do humbly farther propound to the Council for Trade that they would bee pleased to take notice that there is an Ordinance of Parlament of the sixt of August 1646. for all Gold and Silver-Wier to paie four pence on the Ounce Troie at the disgrossing at the Bar and this Ordinance follow 's in these words viz. That four pence shall bee paid by waie of Excise for everie Ounce of Silver Troie weight and so for a greater or lesser quantitie proportionable of Silver and Gold that any Refiner Gold-smith or Gold-Wier drawer or other that shall prepare melt down or disgross for Wier the same to bee paid by everie Refiner Gold-smith Gold-Wier-drawer or other at the Bar where the same shall bee disgrossed And that all Gold and Silver to bee disgrossed for Wier as aforesaid bee brought to one certain place or places appointed or to bee appointed by the Commissioners of the Excise and not elswhere and that no Bars Benches Screws Engins or other Instruments for disgrossing of Silver bee used or allowed in any other place this is in the Book of Ordinances fol. 1114. That for almost four years this four pence the Ounce did not make to the State above one thousand pounds for all that time of near upon four years And during these four years the Refiners of London beeing named in the Act many of these Refiners durst not sell Guilt and Silver-Wier without taking and securing the dutie of four pence the Ounce to the State whereupon rather then they would run into contempt of this Act som of them gave over their trades and others of them lost their customers for many of the Wier-drawers drew and refined all their own Silver and never paid the State the duties reserved by the Ordinance and there remain's in the hands of som of the Gold-Wier-drawers Refiners above twentie thousand pounds contrarie and in contempt of this Ordinance of Parlament and which som of the said Wier-drawers and Refiners are in Arrears to the State The Wier-drawers and divers other Trades having with great advantage made the wearer paie four pence the Ounce Venice for Excise vvhen any bought it in Lace and this which I now put in writing is that the Gentrie may know what to paie for the future for upon a true accompt four pence an Ounce Troie in Silver-Wier is not above one pennie farthing upon everie Ounce Venice in Silver Thread So though the Wier-drawers made a great advantage of the Excise collecting far more from the Gentrie of this Nation then four pence the Ounce Troie yet they have not paid these Arrears to the State a business of great concernment now there is occasion for monie and require's a speedie examination That for this last year the Wier-drawers and Refiners did paie but one pennie the Ounce which pennie make's now fifteen hundred pounds a year so that four pence the Ounce would have been above six thousand pounds a year if the four pence had been justly gathered Now upon examination it may bee proved there was more Silver-Wier disgrossed and made into Thread and small Wier by the Refiners and Wier-drawers in everie of the years 1646 1647 1648 1649 then in this last year 1650 so that by this accompt there will clearly remain in the Refiner's and Master Wier-drawer's hands above twentie thousand pounds and the number of them is not above thirtie men which owe this monie for which summe they are tied by an Ordinance of Parlament and no discharge can bee given them of this debt but by an Act of Parlament for all that drew Silver at the Bar are upon the drawing of it bound to paie the State four pence the Ounce for vvhat they drew and no persons have any power to discharge this debt but the Parlament and if I bee required and impowered I make no question to give the State a good accompt of this debt I do most humbly desire the Honorable Council for Trade to take notice that by the eighth Article of their Commission they are to consider what Excise is fit to bee laid on all goods and commodities and so equally and evenly laie it that the State may not bee made uncapable to defraie publick charges Now I humbly desire the honble Council for Trade to take especial notice of this my humble Proposition which is that one pennie on the Ounce Troie upon all Gold and Silver-Wier disgrossed at the Bar and made into Gold and Silver Thread is no equal Excise in proportion to other commodities that are rated with Excises which are far more serviceable to the Common-wealth Besides the Gold-Wier-drawers before any Excise was thought of did offer unto the late King and his heirs for ever one thousand pounds a year and two pence the Ounce to have a Corporation as I shall make it appear But the deceits so grosly practised by many of them was so clearly proved that then at that time the State would not trust them with a Corporation as I have formerly declared Neither would the late King and his Council trust the Finers but under a Regulation by Commissioners though they saw paid the late King six pence the Ounce for all Gold and Silver disgrossed at the Bar upon sale of the Silver Now I saie after the Excise of one pennie the Ounce upon Silver and Guilt Wier when it is Manufactured into Thread it is not above ten shillings the hundred pounds Excise for som sorts and not above fifteen shillings in one hundred pounds worth upon any sort of Gold
serviceable to the Parlament of England then any Finer or Transporter of Gold hath or can bee that malitiously have charged mee to bee a Malignant for I will bring the State in fiftie thousand pounds if they will pass the Act against Transporting of Gold And I humbly conceiv no man ought to have his Estate taken from him and given away before hee bee convicted by Martial Law or the Common Law of the Land If those that have malitiously informed the Honorable Committee that examined mee at Gold-smiths Hall could have made good their Charge or have proved any thing to my prejudice they would have brought mee to my Trial in the compass of four years while I was prisoner in the Tower I could not have avoided a Trial or kept it off one daie and I know they left no stone unrolled for they sate many daies to have don mee a mischief and I have it from good hands that worthie Gentleman Doctor Doreslaws told them I had don nothing but what I could justifie having M. Theophilus Rilie's approbation and Warrant hee beeing a publick Officer of Trust and if any were in fault it was M. Theophilus Rilie who had abused his place and Trust if hee had don any thing beyond his Commission But the truth was they looked more to keep mee close prisoner in the Tower that so I should not discover them that sent away the Treasure of the Nation then any thing els for they knew if I were abroad I would have served the Parlament in that Discoverie To the Honorable Council for Trade I am an humble suitor for restoring mee to my Office for the Regulating the Manufacture of Gold and Silver-Thread the Regulation is now depending before them and with all my heart I humbly shall laie it at those grave Senator's feet to regulate mee and my fee as they shall see the Office just and necessarie and for the benefit of the Common-wealth and no further For the Goods Bonds and Accompts taken at several times from my mother while I was in the Tower J shall humbly desire any persons that did sequester them to let mee know of it whither they were carried and how disposed of and J shall bee bound to praie for them and if they bee inferior Officers or others that can tell mee they shall bee well rewarded by mee and God's blessing for as yet J cannot hear who hath them and my mother died in my close imprisonment in the Tower and though by the great favor of Master Henrie Martin one of the Right Honorable Council of State J had libertie to go and see my mother whilst J was prisoner in the Tower with two keepers yet when J came to her shee was so spent and her heart broke for my oppressions shee beeing threescore and seventeen years old that shee could not tell mee any thing of my business nor give mee the least notice in the world who had taken my Goods Bonds and Accompts away other then that shee was plundered several times and this old Master White the Warder of the Tower Master Axtel and Master Jackson keepers in the Tower know's to bee true who were with mee all the times J saw her For my Farm in the Custom-Hous for the late King's debt with all my aforesaid losses J do most humbly leav it to the Parlament for my satisfaction and J praie that the Committee of Shrop-shier may bee Ordered to restore mee my Bonds they seized of mine from my sister in London beeing three Bonds in two thousand pounds for the paying mee Tho. Violet one thousand pounds as aforesaid and that J may bee enabled by Order of Parlament to sue the said Bonds and any other Bonds or Debts J have due to mee and the parties owing mee any monie that I can justly prove due to mee may bee required by the Parlament to paie it to mee notwithstanding any Ordinance or Order of Parlament heretofore made and my humble suit is to the Parlament that the Committee of Essex bee Ordered to put mee into possession of the Manors of Battels Hall and Paton Hall they having forcibly driven Philip Cage out when hee was in possession for the use of mee Tho. Violet as appear's by their own Orders and that I may enjoie all the said Lands till the rent of sixteen hundred pounds bee paid mee for so much I am out of purs The truth is this envie of som of the Finers and som of the Wier-drawers came upon mee becaus I would not let the Wier-drawers cousen the late King of his dutie while I had the Office but to the uttermost of my power made them make all good Silver-Thread and to have five Ounces to the pound Venice and right Silver and I have heard som of the Wier-drawers confess that they had rather the State should chose fortie Officers to look after the Excise and Regulation of this Manufacture then one Violet And this though it bee a crime to them is a service to the State to have such an Officer which know's all the waies how they are cousened in their Excise in this Manufacture and to prevent it and had not my place of surveying of this Manufacture been but I had still enjoied it the State should have had twentie thousand pounds in their purs more then they have onely by the Excise on the commoditie of Gold and Silver-Wier and all this monie is lost through the ignorance of the Officers of Excise who know not how to manage the business for I know the State many times hath Officers put into such places through the interest and affection of friends that are utterly uncapable of such places they enjoie whereby the State is at great charges in fees and salaries to ignorant men But that is not the tenth part of the mischief the Common-wealth suffer's by their fees for through these men's ignorances the State is cousened of the duties that should support the Common-wealth as is notoriously visible in the Excise of Gold and Silver-Wier which at four pence the Ounce at the Bar which is laid on it by Ordinance aforesaid would have made the State six thousand pounds a year and by the ignorance and negligence of the Officers of Excise it hath made the State not three hundred pounds a year for almost four years which is not the twentie pennie of what ought to have been collected And if I had had my place I would have seen everie pennie the Wier-drawers then paid for Excise made twentie pence to the State And this the Refiners and Wier-drawers know to bee true and that make's som of them so unwilling that I should have my Office again they fear I should bee commanded by the State to use my uttermost endeavors for the collecting of those Arrears that are in the Wier-drawer's and Refiner's hands and to restrain them for the future many of them having bought Lands and grown rich with the monie they owe to the State which is fitter to
paie the Arrears of the Armie then to lie in their hands Now whereas the dispute is which can afford it cheapest the Wheels or the Hand-spinners I saie the best is best cheap the Hand-spinners work will make two shillings eight pence and three shillings the Ounce to the melting pot and last six times as long in Lace as som of the Wheel-work will do and when this Wheel-work return's to the melting pot it make's not one shilling six pence the Ounce nay som of it not twelv pence the Ounce the Silver beeing most of it galled and brushed off the Silk And this the Gold-smiths and Tailors know to bee true that within this ten years all the slight Wheel-work came up which make's not half so much to burn as it did formerly in Lace And whereas it is objected that som of the Hand-spinners work and spin Silver-Thread as slight as the Wheels which I believ cannot bee don but if it bee don they ought both Wheel-spinners and Hand-spinners to bee severely punished if they do not put into one pound Venice of Thread at least five Ounces Troie of Silver-plate and a sworn Officer that is no Trader in the Manufacture to Regulate the Trade for whatsoever they put less in Silver then five Ounces Troie to one pound Venice is a damage to the wearer and the wearer is cheated by paying for Silver when hee Silk for his monie by which means the Lace will not wear a quater so long as if the Silver were bound in with a strong plate of Silver for you may observ your slight Silver Laces one part where it com's to wearing that look's like Silk Laces the Silver beeing all stripped and galled off the Silk but make it with a strong plate you shall have the Silk wear away and the Silver remain I do humbly desire in the behalf of the poor Women-spinners and som of the working Wier-drawers of London that their printed Petition for a Regulation of the trade may bee considered And for the service of the Common-wealth that a rule may by your Honors bee set what fineness of Silver all the Gold and Silver emploied in the Wier-drawer's Trade shall bee made and that it bee all assaied at the Bar and that what person soever that shall sell Gold or Silver-Wier before it bee assaied and the duties paid which shall bee settled by your Honors and approved on by the Parlament shall for the first offence lose all the Silver so wrought to the State and the partie that shall discover it to have one tenth part for his service and for the second offence to lose his or their freedom and bee dismissed of his and their Trades for ever The like penalties for such as work Silver courser then the Standard and such as paie not the duties at the Bar reserved to the State and such as do not put five Ounces of Silver at the least upon everie Venice pound of Gold and Silver-Thread Then I humbly commend unto your Honors as an Excellent pattern for a Regulation the Copie of Sir John Bank's Certificate the late King's Atturnie General to the late King which if you tie the Wier-drawers and Refiners to that rule the Trade will bee maintained here to the Profit and Honor of the Nation And whereas it is objected that som of the Spinners by the Hand make as slight Gold and Silver-Thread as the Wheels Truly if they do they ought to bee punished any Hand-spinner that put 's less Silver in a pound Venice then five Ounces Troie of Silver for whether the slight Thread bee made by hte the Hand-spinners or Wheels is not so much to the point for which of them soever doth it cousen's the Common-wealth and therefore a sworn Officer to look to them both is for the service of the Common-wealth But if it bee left to the Refiners and Wier-drawers to melt up the Plate and heavie Coin of this Nation as they have don for this Manufacture the Trade so managed is a canker to the Common-wealth and will in time eat out the bowels of the stock of Monie of this Nation I my self when I was an Apprentice delivered to Alderman Gibs for my Master in little more then one above twentie thousand heavie shillings and six pences melted into Ingots and when I told his brother Richard Gibs within this two moneths that hee knew it to bee true for at that time hee was his brother's Apprentice hee replied it was not in Coin but in Ingots and that hee conceiv's might excuse his brother The truth is as this Trade is managed it is a great waste of the treasure of the Nation for this is the usual waie of it to furnish som of the Refiners and som of the Wier-drawers with Silver som of the Gold-smiths they are general Cashiers for many Merchants they receiv this monie for nothing then when they have it in their houses they cull it and melt down that which is the weightiest and melt it into Ingots which is bought up by som of the Refiners and som Wier-drawers and fined for Gold and Silver Lace and according as som of the Manufactures are made by the Wheels five parts of six are swept away and wasted and never return's to the melting pot and this is known and seen to many men And for this and other abuses practised on the Coin and Bullion of the Nation there is the draft of an Act of Parlament commended from the Council of State and twice read in the Hous which when it is past I shall with all humilitie give the State a true discoverie of all these abuses and prevent the like for the time to com which will bee a great service to the Nation Then that there may bee an accompt kept of all the Silver made in this Manufacture and such Merchants contraoted with that once in the compass of a year what is spent in this Manufacture may bee coined or at least so much as upon a calculation of the surveior of the Manufacture shall bee delivered to the State that hee conceiv's the Bullion and Treasure is wasted But for your Honors to settle the Trade of Refining of Gold and Silver and Wier-drawing in a Corporation as it is now desired by the Wier-drawers it were to make all the speed possible that that little Silver in Coin which is yet left in the Nation should bee culled and melted up for Gold and Silver Lace and leav it to their good discretions and honesties to manage the other parts of their Trade The poor Spinners and som work-men desire your Honors to the contrarie for as they have beaten them down in the prices that many of them are readie to starv so if the whole power of governing the Trade were left to sixteen of their wisdoms and discretions which is a Master and Wardens and Assistants then should the work-men and work-women's face bee ground and opprest These Master-work-men that desire this Corporation are not fortie and
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
suffer longer for ungrateful men When I was engaged in the late King's service I was ever faithful to all his just Commands and to the uttermost of my power did serv him in all lawful waies and beyond that I would never go Now with all humilitie I have humbly tendred my self to the Parlament for I think believ I speak as in the presence of God I living under their protection I am as much bound to serv them faithfully as ever I did the late King and I have this advantage in the change Kings die but the Parlament of England as it is now established never die's so that here I humbly fix and prostrate laie my self and all my endeavors to the uttermost of my power to improve the interest and service of the Parlament as it is now established without King or Lords against any person whomsoëver It may bee objected by som men that I have not don prudently in declaring so much for the service of the State as I have don before I knew my conditions what the State would do for mee for by these informations I have given light enough to have others to go on and laie the foundation of the Regulating of the Trade of this Nation and it may bee now don by others as well as by my self This in part I grant to bee true but my caus is not everie man's caus I was blasted by the devillish invention of som men and to the Citie of London Armie and the Parlament presented as a Malignant a Papist one dis-affected to the Parlament and present Government as it now established without King or Hous of Lords So that beeing under this cloud and hard opinion of the State and suffering so long time in the Tower as before J have said and my Estate still under Sequestation it did highly concern mee to take any opportunitie to remove this hard opinion off mee and that the Parlament might see from the bottom of my heart my seal in deeds and not in words to do them service J have with all humilitie-truly and plainly stated this business and J hope have laid the ground-work for the setting of other more learned heads on work for the perfecting what I have roughly begun and that the Common-wealth will receiv a great advantage by it and if the Parlament shall pleas to command mee to serv them in any of these particulars they shall not finde many men will do them service on the terms I shall and do with all humilitie offer them for I will willingly so I may have my Estate Offices restored again to mee or their value which have been taken from mee upon mis-information of som malitious people give the maimed soldiers that have fought in the Parlament's service since the death of the late King one half of my Estate I shall die possessed of and to the maimed Sea-men that are emploied in the State 's service since the death of the late King one quarter-part of my Estate which I shall die possessed of and the other quarter-part I will and do reserv to give to som friends so that three parts of four of what I have or shall have com's to those that have or shall have ventured their lives in the State 's service and I am and shall bee no more but a faithful Steward to improve my Estate to their advantage And for the true performance of this I will willingly give a perfect Accompt to the Master 's of Trinitie-Hous and of Saint Thomas Hospital in Southwark once everie year and give them a perfect Invoies of my Estate and where it remain's with securitie not to pass any of it away other then for my expences for my maintenance and to have the disposing of one intire quarter-part to som kindred or friends of mine at my death the other three parts to bee freely given to the relief of maimed soldiers and sea-men that have or shall bee emploied in the Parlament's service provided J may be restored to my Estate And this J do not as J am conscientious of any evil wittingly or willingly I ever acted against the State for J stand upon my innocence but J do it really that it may bee a pattern to som that have blasted mee to the State as a Malignant and a Delinquent they having no children and have got som scores of thousands of pounds by the Parlament's service that they in humble thankfulness to God for his mercie would bestow a good part on the poor and for the future bee ashamed of scandalizing mee when the reality of my words and deeds disprove them to the whole world for Malignants make not such free will-offerings to the poor maimed soldiers and maimed sea-men that have and shall lose their limbs in the defence of their Countrie and Liberties as it is now settled without King or Lords and though it may not bee above a mite in comparison to the State J cannot possibly express my real intentions in the Parlament's service more then by these my words and deeds And J will upon the peril of my life bring the Parlament in fiftie thousand pounds by the Fines and Compositions of the Transporters of Gold and Silver and such as have practised many abuses on the Coins and Bullion of the Nation within the compass of one year besides what summes hereafter if Commissions according to former presidents bee granted and if the Parlament pleas to pass the Act as it is now drawn against Transporters of Gold which Act was recommended by the Council of State to the Parlament and hath been twice read in the Parlament Hous and committed and when it passe's the Hous the Mint in the Tower of London will again flourish a business of the greatest honor profit and safetie to the Nation in general that can bee as your affairs now stand What is here said is with all humilitie presented to the Parlament for the service of the Common-wealth by a faithful lover of his Countrie beeing desired to state my Reasons by som in Autoritie for passing the aforesaid Act I humbly conceiv if it were made stricter then it is it were far better for the Common-wealth For Transporting Treasure heretofore hath been made Felonie when the Common-wealth I humbly conceiv had not so much occasion to see to keep their Treasure in the Nation and the Mint going as now they have Signed THOMAS VIOLET London Feb. 12. 1651. An Index of the principal matters conteined in these PROPOSITIONS LEgorn Genoa and Amsterdam have raised themselvs to their Greatness onely by giving Merchant-strangers equal privileges with their Natives Prop. 1. pag. 1. The great Wealth that hath been gotten in Amsterdam in bringing of Merchandizes thither though exported back Custom-free And the like advantagious Trade at Dover upon the Composition Trade now brought to povertie for the want of free Trade Pr. 2. p. 3. The dangerous effects of great Customs either in Kingdom or Common-wealth Pr. 3. p. 3 4. Spain
so the Honorable Council for Trade may do that which they shall finde upon my Grant most advantagious for the Service of the Common-wealth that so the Wearers of the Manufacture of Gold and Silver Lace may not bee cozened p. 115. An Ordinance of the sixth of Aug. 1646. for laying four pence upon the ounce Troy upon all Gold and Silver-Wier p. 116. That there is twentie thousand pounds in the hands of som of the Gold-wier-drawers and Refiners which they owe in arrears to the Parlament the Excize not making for almost four year above one thousand pounds which if I had had my Office I would have collected six thousand pounds a year which is four and twentie thousand pounds and all this monie due to the Parlament lie's in the hands not of above thirtie persons p. 116 117. The Gold-wier-drawers before any Excize was thought upon did offer the late King and his Heirs for ever two pence the ounce Troy and a thousand pounds a year to have a Corporation but the deceits so grosly practised by many of them were so clearly proved that this State would not trust them with a Corporation nor the Finers but under a Regulation by Commissioners all men of great qualitie in the Common-wealth p. 118. There is now for a time collected of the Wier-Drawers and Refiners at the Bar but one pennie the Ounce which upon account of Excize is not above fifteen shillings in an hundred pounds of Gold and Silver-Thread when it is manufactured Other Commodities which are for use of the Nation and not superfluous paie's five pounds in the hundred Excize p. 118. If the Council for Trade pleas to take into consideration Master Atturnie General Banks ' s Certificate for regulating the Manufacture of Gold and Silver-Thread this State will make six thousand pounds a year of the Excize if the Rules desired in the Silver-Spinner's last printed Petition to the Council for Trade bee also taken into consideration and my humble Propositions to the Council for Trade p. 94. 95 96 97. bee taken into consideration the Manufacture shall all bee made right both for the fineness of the Silver and the just covering of the Thread with a good Plate at least five ounces the pound Venice by which means the poor working Wier-drawers and the Silver-Spinners will have a comfortable livelihood and the Common-wealth served with good Silver-Lace Thread and Wier which heretofore they have been grosly cozened in by reason of the slight making of them p. 118 119. I challenge any Wier-drawer Finer or Silk-man in London to produce one pound weight of bad or slight Silver-Thread I ever sealed at the Office or that any man could ever fasten one pennie on mee or other reward for conniving at any man that did not work good Silver and I am sure I and my Servants sealed above a million of Scanes of Gold and Silver and if they could have found mee faultie in that particular they would have gon to the Parlament with a full crie But though they sought and sought carefully yet they could not finde one ounce p. 119 120. While I had the Office of Surveyor and Sealer for the Manufacture of Gold and Silver-Thread I did discharge my trust faithfully in seeing the Common-wealth should not bee cozened for which som of them clamored most lewdly against mee about the Citie of London p. 121. The several mischievous designs of Refiners and Wier-drawers against mee as the Widow Simmonds wife of one Joseph Simmonds set on by the combination of the Wier-drawers in vexatious Suits when I had their Acquittances and onely mis-laid them upon my troubles in my Sequestration which was brought upon mee by the malicious charge of som of the Refiners of London p. 122 123. 124. An accompt of what hath been taken from mee by Sequestration p. 124 125 126 127 128. Tho. Conningâ—bie of Hartfordshire Esquire and Christopher Hatton of London Gentleman Witnesses of Philip Cage Esq his Declaration p. 129 130. An Order of the Committee of Essex for Master Edward Elconhead touching Thomas Violet ' s Lands in Essex p. 130. An Acknowledgment of Mistris Mordant concerning Tho. Violet ' s Bonds and Extents on the Manors of Batels and Paten-Hall in Essex p. 131 132. An Order of the Committee of Essex touching Master Elconhead ' s bringing in the caus of my Sequestration in Essex p. 132. Master Elconhead never paid any Monie to the Countie of Essex for the use of the Countie as I could hear of for the composition of my Lands in Essex p. 133 134. The late King's Letter to the Citie of London p. 135 136. Two Letters of M. Read ' s sent to M. Theophilus Rilie Seout-master of the Citie of London from Oxford p. 136 137 M. Theophilus Rilie Scout-master of the Citie of London did daily then emploie Intelligencers into the King's Quarters by Order of the Parlament and the Citie of London as hee told mee Thomas Violet p. 138 I had a Pass to go to Oxford as appear's by the Journal-Books p. 138 The reason wherefore I was willing to go to Oxford was that I might have licens from the late King to discover the Transporters of Gold and Silver which about a moneth before I went to Oxford hee sent mee a Letter to command mee not to proceed in the said Discoverie The Copie of the King's Letter to mee Thomas Violet 19 Novemb. 1643. The reason why bee would not suffer mee to make that Discoverie hee told mee it would make him good store of Monie when hee came to London p. 139 140 141. I do now offer the State to bring them fiftie thousand pounds within the compass of one year if they will pass the Act against the Transportation of Gold and Silver as it is now presented by the Council of State p. 141. For the Honorable the Council for Trade I humbly present if they settle the Trade for refining Gold and Silver and Wier-drawing in a Corporation as it is now desired by the Wier-drawers it were to make all the speed possible that that little Silver in Coin which is yet left should bee culled and melted down for Gold and Silver Lace p. 148. A Council for Monie were verie necessarie p. 148 149. Concerning the buying Cheapside-Cross p. 150 151. The great mischiefs Transportation of Gold and Silver bring 's on this Nation p. 153 154. It may bee objected that I have not don prudently in declaring so much for the service of the State before I knew my conditions what the State would do for mee The reasons which did induce mee to do it p. 155 156. If I may have my estate restored to mee again which hath been sequestred upon the mis-informations of som malicious people I will give the maimed Souldiers which have served the Parlament since the death of the late King half of my Estate I shall die possessed of and to the maimed Sea-men emploied in the State 's Service one quarter-part and for the true performance of this I will give a perfect accompt to the Masters of Trinitie-Hous and the Masters of Thomas Hospital in Southwark once everie year upon conditions by once recited p. 156 157. FINIS