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
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
see the workers make all fine Silver and everie sort of this Manufacture to bee according to the rules settled by your Honors Many other things I could enlarge my self in concerning this Trade but shall respite them for the present and humbly submit my self and all that I have here said to your Honor 's grave consideration Signed THO VIOLET Decemb. 18. 1650. WHereas the Gold-Wier-drawers and Refiners of London have presented to the Honorable Council for Trade the draught of a Corporation as it is desired by them it is utterly destructive to the Common-wealth and I do most humbly desire the Honorable Council for Trade to take notice that som of the Gold-Wier-drawers of London in the behalf of themselvs and divers other Wier-drawers of London did Petition the late King for a Corporation in March 1634. and in April 1635. confessing the many abuses practised in the managing of the same Trade which were then under no government did desire in their Petition that by his Majestie 's gracious care they might bee reduced into Government and made a Corporation and that they might have one or two Refiners such as the Wier-drawers should deem fit to bee added to their Corporation and excluding all the rest of the Refiners that were Hous-keepers or Free-men and onely themselvs might solely have the Order and Government of the Trade and the Regulation of the said Manufacture And in consideration of this the Wier-drawers offered the late King for his favor in that behalf to paie to him and his successors one thousand pounds per Annum and 2 d. the Ounce for everie Ounce of such Bullion and Forrain Species as they should use in their said Manufacture over and above the currant price of the Merchants And about the same time the Companie of Gold-smiths beeing at the late King's Council-Table did there charge several abuses and high misdemeanors upon som of the Refiners of London and other persons as will appear by the Council-Table-Books and by the Records and Journal Books at Goldsmith's Hall if one could com to the sight of them for it cannot bee imagined the Companie of Gold-smiths would give so high a charge as they did against som of the Refiners and som Gold-smiths but they have the Charge recorded in their Books which I humbly desire the Council of Trade may have a Copie of that so they might see the abuses in the Trade of Refining and Wier-drawing and who were the offendors and no question but the same abuses are practised still if there were an examination and power given to the Surveior of Gold and Silver-Thread to finde them out The truth is that upon the complaint of the Gold-smith's Companie at the Council Table of the several abuses in the Trade of Refining and Wier-drawing the Wier-drawers conceiving the late King and his Counsel would put down the wearing and working of Gold and Silver-Wier and Thread and punish the offendors in Star-Chamber and knowing what would move and bee most taken in Court I saie the Wier-drawers voluntarily and of their own accord did com and petition and made friends that their Trade should bee continued And this Model was laid to have a Monopoly to som Wier-drawers and Finers as aforesaid and in the pursuance of this project of the Wier-drawers they had many meetings with Sir Ralph Freeman Sir Ralph Whitfield and Master Nathanaël Tompkins and divers others where the whole drift was to exclude all the Refiners but one or two from their trades And in consideration thereof that they would for this great grace and favor their own words paie two pence the Ounce and one thousand pounds a year to the late King It is as true that upon complaint of som of the Gold-smiths several Refiners and Gold-smiths were proceeded against in the Exchequer and Star-Chamber for melting down the currant Silver Coins of the Nation for buying Gold and Silver above the price of the Mint and for refining of Silver contrarie to a Statute made in Henrie the seventh's time and it is as true that I Thomas Violet was informed against in the Star-Chamber and Exchequer for all these offences and beeing to bee examined upon Interrogatories against my self both at the Council Table and Star-Chamber and before Master Atturnie Noie and Master Atturnie Banks I did refuse to bee examined upon Interrogatories such as Master Atturnie General had exhibited against mee in Star-Chamber for I knew if I had denied them the Atturnie General could prove them on mee by som Gold-smiths and others that had voluntarily confessed against mee that I had transported Gold and that I had melted the currant heavie Silver of this Nation and that I had sold Silver and Gold above the price of the Mint Whereupon that most Honorable Gentleman Sir John Coke Secretarie of State after that I had oftentimes been examined at the Council-Table and at the Star-Chamber Office and for refusing to answer to their questions had suffered close imprisonment for above 20 weeks beeing close prisoner to several Messengers viz. Measie Stockdal and Barker for all that time to the loss of my Trade which was then greater then any Gold-smith's in London I saie that great States-man had a noble care of mee and sent for mee shewed mee what was proved against mee and withal a Warrant that hee had signed by Order of the late King and his Privie Council for Master Atturnie General to bring mee to the Star-Chamber-Bar the next sitting of the Court and there to crave the Judgment of the Court against mee his Charge beeing taken against mee pro confesso Whereupon Secretarie Coke became a Petitioner to the late King that before hee delivered Master Atturnie the Warrant to proceed against mee hee might send once again for mee and hee told the late King that hee was of an opinion that when I saw my danger and how I was discovered by those that held mee fair in hand and were the men that did betraie mee I would bee so ingenuous to my self to keep mee from a ruine to confess the truth and all that I knew upon oath against those that had discovered mee and my so doing would bee much for the service of the State and to this effect when I spake with Secretarie Coke was his Discours to mee not giving mee a quarter of an hours time to return him my answer nor suffering mee to go out of his sight When I saw the Snare I blest the Fowler which was Sir John Coke who had traversed mee in France and intercepted my Letters though not written to mee by name knew a great part of my proceedings there about my Transporting Gold and hee had many Goldsmiths that hee sent for which confessed to him that weekly I had bought great quantities of Light English Gold of many Gold-smiths of London and I was to bee forced to give an accompt what I did with it And som other of my Factors that I had dealt with in France Sir John Coke
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
see the Town of Manchester and many people in Lancashire have grown rich onely by this Manufacture and set thousands of poor on work and if the Northern Factors that deal in this Manufacture were consulted withal they would present you waies to set our own people on work throughout this Nation and then wee should not need the Locrams and Dowlass your French Canvass which is all bought with readie monie And if you pleas to give encouragement to som Forrain Linnen Weavers onely for Cambrick and Holland to com and plant in this Nation and to have equal privilege as they give the English in Holland and Germanie you will have your Tiffanie Cambrick and Holland Weavers com over and teach this Nation these Manufactures And that which you now laie out the Treasure of this Nation beyond Seas in vast summes in buying these Manufactures for readie monie you shall emploie the poor keep in the stock of the Nation and export so much to Forrain parts as you shall spend here by managing all the Trade in this manner you would quickly double the stock of this Nation for if you make your Exportation more in value then your Importation all what is above is gotten to the State The like argument hold's for loss that if you Import more Forrain commodities then you do export Native the ballance must bee made up in monie And I have seen at Sir John Cooks the late King's Secretarie by whom I learned most of these Observations an accompt for many years yearly presented to Queen Elizabeth of the exact Importation and Exportation of Native and Forrain commodities at everie Port where Customs were paid so that the Lord Burlie saw as in a Prospective Glass the increas or decreas of the stock of this Kingdom And this accompt the Queen had yearly presented by him to her I praie God the Parlament would renue that Custom that so the State may know truly how the stock of the Nation stand's By that means they will know what commodities are commodious and what prejudicial and so laie a great Custom and Excise on that they finde superfluous and lighten and abate upon all our English commodities where our poor have a livelihood by the Manufacture 20. If you make a free Trade you will besides all the former advantages add one more that is highly considerable to the Common-wealth in general and to the Merchants in particular as everie ingenious Merchant must bee forc't to confess for whereas now wee give all the credit in Spain and Portugal and many other Countries and have none of their Merchants stocks here or not considerable whereby when an Imbargo cometh the loss falleth not onely upon the Merchant but the Nation in general for it fall's upon the Usurer the Clothier the Woollman and the work-man and so by consequence on the Gentrie for the breaking of one great Merchant make 's the loss fall on ten several Callings and peradventure two hundred several Families So that it is not the Merchant that suffer's but the Nation in general For I have seen a Merchant after his breaking grow rich again and I have seen som of that Merchant's Creditors receiv such losses by the Merchant's breaking that they and their Families have for ever been ruined and this is no strange sight to see in London Therefore if you make a free Trade you will have great stocks of Forrainers lie here in our Harbors and on our Shores that if any Imbargo com as now at Lisborn wee should have had as much and more of the Portugal's goods in our hands to have made our loss good as they had seized All men know that have ever been at Amsterdam what vast summes the Portugals have there and if wee had free Trade wee should have all our Ports full of their goods by which means our Merchants could have made themselvs whole and it is highly for the securitie of this Nation to have as much Forrain commodities in our Ports as wee send to any place that so upon any oppression of our Merchants wee may have to make it good at home And this if Trade were free and Merchants Strangers paid no more Customs then the Natives and had libertie to retransport such commodities as they could not vent here after they had tried the Market you would ever have their stocks here to make good any Imbargo laid on our Merchants beyond the Sea a business of the highest advantage to this Nation and greatest securitie of Trade that can bee and if what I do with all humilitie propound had been don fourteen years ago when I first moved this business it had prevented the sad loss our Merchants have susteined at Lisborn for if the Portugals had more goods here then our Merchants there it would have made good for the Merchants of both Nations for an Imbargo had never been made at Lisborn and so Trade would have gon on freely 21. Thus I have with all clearness according to the best of my judgement humbly presented you that which cost mee many years pains and here laid down at your feet besides I have the advice and approbation of the ablest and sufficientest Merchants in London who by long experience in Amsterdam Legorn Genoa and other Forrain parts know this to bee true what is here set down and to bee most advantageous to the State in bringing in of a Nurserie of able rich Merchants of all Nations to contribute to the publick taxes besides you will draw all the benefits before recited to this Nation The consideration for the speedie putting it in practice is now most humbly presented to your care which will oblige this Common wealth to bless God for you and after ages to have you in honorable remembrance as the first Founders of laying a foundation of a free Trade By which means the Dutch from a small and contemptible beginning have held war against the most Potent Prince of Christendom and after fourscore years war compell'd him to give them their own conditions have made themselvs rich and Potent in the East and West Indies and their Amsterdam the Mart of Christendom Let us by their examples invite all Merchant Strangers giving them the same privileges as they have there Our Ports are far better and safer for all the Trade of the world then theirs by this means you will contract the wealth of the world you will increas in shipping Manufacture and all the precious things of this world you will make all our Sea Ports as it was said of Tyre and Sidon and you will justly bee called the Restorers of the English Nation to the splendor of the ancient Romane Common wealth 22. Concerning the management of the Custom I humbly conceiv as they are now carried on is not to the best improvementt of the State in point of the Revenue nor safetie to the Common-wealth for in the several Sea-Ports of this Nation and in the Custom-hous at London none ought to bee emploied in Offices
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
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
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 Parlaments decrying all light and clipped English Silver which mischiefs had been prevented if there had been put into the Ordinance to require all people upon the exchanging of clipt English Monie to cut it in two pâ—ices p. 70 71 80. Twentie Millions of Monie coined in the Tower of London within this twentie five years as will appear by the Mint-Book and almost all transported p. 71. No great Action in a Common-wealth can bee don without Monie therefore to prevent the growth of this mischief of transporting Treasure is the work of everie faithful lover of his Countrie p. 72. An old Dear-stealer is the best Keeper of a Park Yet before I had my pardon I paid to the late King two thousand pounds in Gold to his privie purs p. 79. Great mischiefs formerly don to the Armie in Ireland by paying their Armie with light and cours peices of eight which was delivered to them at twentie in the hundred more then any Souldier could make to make any returns to their wives and children and this was don for the profit of som Goldsmiths in England p. 80. â—everal Orders of Parlament for the discoverie of the Transporters of Gold and Silver and the Committee of the Navie the Commissioners of the Customs and the Officers of the Mint's Certificate for the speedie dispatch in Sept. 1647. and nothing don in it yet the Mint ever since at a stand and almost no Monie hath been coined for above three years not so much as within this twelve years hath been coined within the compass of fourteen daies It were worth inquirie to have them publickly known that retard the Act against transporting Gold it doth highly concern the safetie of the Nation to have it looked after for there is more in it then vulgarly can bee imagined p. 82 83 84 85 87. There is another caus of great consumption of the Treasure of this Nation by importing French and Flanders Laces to the value of many score of thousand pounds which of late is stolen in without paying of Customs beeing subtilly packed in Commodities of great bulk p. 88 89 90. Against the excessive waste of Gold in guilding of Coaches and Carroches p. 90 91. Concerning the Manufacture of Gold and Silver Threed p. 91 92 93 94 95 96 97. For the regulation of the Manufacture of Gold and Silver Threed to have a sworn Officer that is no trader in this Manufacture to bee Surveyer and Sealer The draft of the Corporation of Gold-wier-drawers presented to the Honorable Council for Trade by som of the Wier-drawers p. 98. The Gold-wier-drawers offered the late King and his Successors one thousand pounds a year and two pence an ounce for to have a Corporation p. 98. The Companie of Goldsmiths complained at the Council-Table in 1634. of several abuses in the Trade of Refining and Wier-drawing and transporting of Gold Vpon their complaint I Thomas Violet and several other Goldsmiths and Fines were brought into the Star-chamber p. 99. My great obligation to Sir John Cook the late Ring 's Secretarie for procuring my Pardon p. 100 101. I imported more Silver then I transported Gold pag. 102 103. I was commanded by the late King to have the viewing and surveying all Gold and Silver Threed and the Grant cost mee neer fifteen hundred pounds Never so good Gold and Silver Threed made as while I had the Office proved by many people that are Artists p. 103. The Refiners had that good fortune they got all off the Star-chamber without a sentence by their wit which was to out-bid the Wier-drawers p. 103 104. A Copie of Sir John Bank ' s Certificate to the late King concerning the Wier-drawer's Corporation verie fit for the State to tie up the Trade to such Rules as is there desired to avoid the consumption of Treasure 104 105 106. The Refiners of London served the Wier drawers as the Merchant-Adventurers served the Cloth-workers in King James ' s time out-bribed or out-bid them and so got the Monopoly of beeing the King's Agents they onely to furnish the Silver p. 106 107. The Wier-drawer's Petition in Parlament against the Finer's Monopoly p. 108. The Refiner's craftie Petition read the 24 of November 1640. as if they were enforced to bee the King's Agents when it was their desire and thereupon som of them had their pardon from the late King And becaus they gave six pence the ounce to the late King or see it secured there was two pence the ounce allowed to them more for their gilt Wier and a pennie an ounce for the Silver Wier then it was offered to furnish the Wier-drawers at the Golden Fleece and this is known to bee true that these Agents were allowed many hundred pounds a year more in the price of their Silver then the Wier-drawers could have bought it for had they had a free market 108 109. That upon trial of above one hundred Assaies of Gold and Silver Threed Spangles and Wier by Master Jackson Assaie-master of Goldsmith's-Hall these Manufactures were found to bee cours under sterling and adulterated and that was a principal ground the late King and his Council would not trust the Wier-drawers nor Finers with a Corporation but with a Regulation for it was the sens of the whole Council-Table To give them a Corporation and to leav it to themselvs to manage was to give them a Licens to deceiv the Common-wealth with Autoritie p. 110 111. The Erecting of my Office of Sealer and Surveyor of Gold and Silver Threed and to warrant it all good that was sealed with the Seal of the Office Without that assurance the Common-wealth had no benefit by the sealing p. 111 112. The rude carriage of som of the Wier-drawers and others trading in the Manufacture at the Council for Trade If they cannot carrie themselvs civilly before such a great Assemblie what clamors shall the Surveyor have when hee doth his dutie in seeing them make good work p. 112. That all Gold and Silver-Threed should bee made with five ounces Troy Silver to one pound Venice of Thread and if any were made under to deface or burn it then you would have your Silver-Lace last six times as long as it doth p. 113. The Fee of four pence the pound weigh in Thread allowed to mee Thoma Violet was earned with a great dea of attendance charge and hazard for I was to see all the Manufactur made good to the Common-wealth thâ— had the Seal of my Office p. 113 11â— Several people whom I did question fâ—â— making fals Gold and Silver-Threeâ— and Wier and for putting Copper iâ— to Silver Lace and selling it for goâ—â— Silver p. 114 115 I humbly desire that Sir Robert Harlov may deliver my Grant for my Officâ— to the Council for Trade and hee beeing the Chair-man appointed by thâ— Parlament to examine the business and that hee would bee pleased to certifie to the Honorable Council of Trade what hee found upon Examination concerning my Grant that