MAY it please this Honour­able Assembly, to take in­to their consideration, the great mischiefes and incon­veniences that have hapned unto this Kingdome, and most especially since the first yeer of his Ma­jesties Reigne, by the exporting of Gold and Silver into Forreigne parts, to the ine­stimable damage of the Common-wealth, by the great abuses of many Gold-Smiths and others, in culling and sorting the heavie cur­rent Coines of this Kingdome, to the end to transport or melt down the same; and in buying and selling Gold and Silver above the price of the Mint; by which meanes they fore-stall the Mint, and with the Gold and [Page 2] Silver thus bought, for the most part furnish Merchants and others to transport the same, being either the species and peeces of For­reinge Gold and Silver, or the current Coins of Gold and Silver of this Kingdome.

Which Offences being of a high and tran­scendent nature, and such as by the Judge­ment of Parliament, 5 Richard 2. chap. 2. tend to the ruine and destruction of the Common-wealth; for which causes all for­mer ages have been very carefull to prevent these mischiefes.

And neverthelesse the covetousnesse of many men hath been such, that notwith­standing all these Laws and severall procee­dings, and Sentences had and given against them in an extraordinary way in the Court of Star-chamber; They have of late yeeres transported so much Gold out of the King­dome, that as it is credibly conceived by those that pay and receive great summes of money, there is not the tenth part of the [Page 3] Gold left, that was in the Stock of this King­dome in the beginning of his now Majesties Reigne, so that our new and old Gold is ten times more plentifull in France and in Flan­ders than it is with us in England, to the un­speakable losse of this Kingdome.

That in the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh yeer of his now Majesties Reigne, His Ma­jestie being informed, and taking notice of the plenty of English Gold and Coines cur­rent in France, and of the abuses and disor­ders above mentioned, befalling the Coyne and Bullion of the Kingdome, and taking the same into serious consideration, by the advice of His Privie Councell directed, that the transporters of Gold or Silver, the mel­ters down of the current Silver Coynes of this Kingdome, the buyers and sellers of Gold and Silver at above the price of the Mint, their Agents Instruments and Assistants, should with all diligence be found and severely punished, ac­cording [Page 4] to the Laws: which care of His (and those that endevored therein) neverthe­lesse for some time tooke no effect: and not­withstanding it was generally conceived and understood (as the truth was) that great quantities of Gold were weekly carried in­to France; yet were the Instruments used therein so few and secret, and the wayes and means for the transporting the same so cunningly and closely contrived, that the same could not either by the intercepting of Letters, or by the Merchants or Factors Books of accompts, or the Books of the Gold-Smiths (as formerly it had been in the case of the Dutchmen, about the yeer 1618.) be found out or discerned, for the Letters were for the most part written in Cyphers and Characters, and subscribed and signed by strange and unknown names, and yet well known to the Factors and Correspondents; and for the contents of the Letters, they made mention of Needles, Blades, Gloves, [Page 5] Ribbon, roles of Tobacco, and such like things to be sent over, and meant by those names: and for the accompts, the same was entred in the accompts kept of Exchangers, so that no man upon perusall of such Books, could finde any other thing mentioned but Bills of Exchange: others kept double accompts; and such as had been lesse warie and close, presently upon the first report of the first that was questioned touching transporta­tion, cancelled and defaced all such Books as could any wayes manifest their dealings in the same; and though divers Merchants Books of accompts were seized on, by or­der from the Lords of the Privie-Councell, and under Examination in the Hands of S ^t. John Bankes His Majesties then Attorney Generall, M ^r. Diconson and M ^r. Trumball then Clerkes of his Majesties Councell, and divers others, yet nothing could be proved by their Bookes.

Now His Majestie and the Lords finding [Page 6] that the abuses and offences above mentio­ned, were acted by, and passed through so many hands, and grown to such a height that the same could not be reformed without ex­emplarie punishment, and considering the discovery and prosecution of all offences of this nature so secretly and cunningly contri­ved as aforesaid, would very hardly (if at all) be discovered and found out with any diligence of such as were not acquainted with the said contrivances:

Hereupon this Declarant, being by some detected before the Lords of His Majesties Privie Councell, to be a transporter of Gold and Silver, and therefore suffered a long im­prisonment (with perill of his life, and losse of much of his estate, abroade and here) was by His Majestie and divers Lords of the said Councell commanded and enjoyned to at­tend and prosecute in this businesse of tran­sportation of Gold, for the service of His Ma­jestie and the Common-wealth, for which [Page 7] he was to receive his enlargement, with pro­mise of his Pardon.

And further, to more encourage him therein, a promise in his Majesties name was declared by the then Lord Keeper Coven­try, M ^r. Secretary Cooke, and other officers of State, that this Declarant, besides his enlarge­ment and pardon, should aswell have satis­faction of such money as he should expend in the discovery and prosecution of Delin­quents for the foresaid offences, as also to re­ceive a reward for his time taken and spent in this service, out of the Fines of such De­linquents as should by other testimonies then of this Declarant be proved to be offenders: Upon which Commands and Promises of the Kings Majesty, and to preserve and keep him­selfe from the evills then depending on him, he undertooke this service, as S ^r. John Banks now chiefe Justice of his Majesties Court of Common Pleas, S ^r. John Cooke, besides divers others of honour and quality, very well know.

And thereupon this Declarant attending his Majesties said Attorney aswell with such names as this Declarant had presented tou­ching the premises, as with such as some o­thers had named for transporters; soon after, his Majesties said Attorney, 22 June 11 ^o. Car. filed a Bill in the Star-chamber against divers persons that had offended touching the pre­mises and after, the 30 ^th of the said June, ano­ther Information was exhibited against other offenders in the Star-chamber.

That both these Informations were pro­secuted in the Star-chamber, and brought to sentence by the great care and diligence of his Majesties said Attorney, as this Remon­strant humbly conceiveth; but so as all the endeavours and labours of making the disco­very, and finding out the witnesses, and bring­ing them from France and other places, and the charges thereof, rested wholly upon this Declarant, and all other necessary Fees for Counsell and other attendances was disbur­sed [Page 9] by this Remonstrant, for no other per­son disbursed one penny in or about the said service; in the prosecution of which service, and to bring fourteene offenders to be cen­sured in the Star-chamber, besides three which were Pardoned by His Majesty; it cost the Declarant above 2000 ^l. above six yeers since disbursed, there having been ex­amined in Court above one hundred Wit­nesses, found and brought up at this Decla­rants proper cost and charges as aforesaid, and about three yeers time spent in the dai­ly attendance of that service.

Both these Informations, by the continuall attendance charge and industry of this De­clarant, and the great and due care of his Majesties then Attorney, were (notwith­standing many difficulties, in respect of some witnesses to bee found and brought out of France,) made fit and brought to hearing in the Star-chamber, within the space of about a yeere and a halfe, viz. in Hillary [Page 10] Terme in the twelfth yeere of His now Ma­jesties Reigne; and there were found guilty, and censured by the Lords, such persons and such Fines set upon them as follow, viz.

The totall of the said Fines amount to the summe of 24100 ^l.

S ^r. John Wollaston Knight, and William Gibs Esquire, both Aldermen of the City of London, being informed against in this In­formation, [Page 11] by his Majesties then Attorney Generall; procured his Majesties gracious Pardon, and so were discharged.

Many others there were that were De­linquents, and charged by the said Bill, be­sides those who were sentenced, some whereof were taken off by order of the Lords, as charged only with selling Silver a­bove the price of the Mint, and Peter Foun­taine who was informed against for transpor­ting of Gold, procured his pardon upon payment of 1100 ^l.

After all these proceedings at this Decla­rants cost and expences, the Delinquents being fined at 24100 ^l. this Declarant being informed that there was way made by the Merchants to some of the Lords to have these Fines mitigated, and them installed in a manner to nothing, (divers Merchants and others informing the Lords, that it was no prejudice to the Common-wealth to transport Gold and Silver) hereupon this [Page 12] Declarant attended the Lord Keeper Coven­try and M ^r. Secretary Coze. and they ac­quainted His Majestie therewith, and told His Majesty, that if the Fines were mitiga­ted, it would but in effect give license to transport Gold and Silver, and desired His Majesty to signifie His pleasure to the Lords, that the offenders should be cōmitted to the Fleet if they would not pay their Fines, and not goe at liberty as they did: Whereupon His Majesty was pleased to send a Message to the Lords in Star-chamber by the Earle of Holland, that His Majesties pleasure was, that the transporters of Gold should pay their Fines imposed on them by the Lords in Star-chamber, or else the Warden of the Fleet to take them into custodie; and that there should be no mitigation of their Fines, for that would but encourage the transpor­tations of Gold and Silver, by which means no treasure would be left in the Kingdome: notwithstanding which expresse Command [Page 13] from His Majestie, (though this mitigation was forborne for a while) yet shortly after the said offenders managed their businesse in that manner, that they got themselves off the 24100 ^l. for 1720 ^l. and 1100 ^l. more M ^r. Fountaine paid; in all 2820 ^l. onely John Parrat his Fine, who was a chiefe In­strument in the discovery of these offen­ders, remained on him still without mitiga­tion at all.

By which the transporting of Gold and Silver hath rather been sleighted and licensed then hindred, it having cost this Declarant more in the prosecution than was payd in by the said mitigation; the effect of which mi­tigation in manner aforesaid, hath been, that many of those who transported Gold before the filing of these two Bills, have since fol­lowed it more than ever, as this Declarant beleeveth, knowing they can get more in a moneth by transporting of Gold into France and Flanders, than they shall pay according [Page 14] to like mitigation to get off, were it pro­ved against them.

In the time of this imployment (by His Majesties Command) the Declarant did re­ceive divers interruptions in the prosecution of the transporting of Gold and Silver, and was imprisoned and detained close prisoner for many dayes, by one Mesy and Stockdale Messengers, by warrant signed under M ^r. Secretary Windebanks hand, onely for pro­ceeding against transporters of Gold and Silver.

And some others, in doing their duties in seizing Gold and Silver water-borne, accor­ding to severall Statutes, have been sued and imprisoned to their great oppressions, contra­ry to the Lawes of this Kingdome.

That soon after these two Bills already censured in the Star-chamber, at this Decla­rants cost, his Majesties then Attorney S ^r. John Bankes filed a third Bill against tran­sporters of Gold and Silver, and for melting [Page 15] downe the heavy current silver Coynes of this Kingdome; but by reason of the great charge and disbursments to bring the two former Bills to sentence, the Declarant was unable to proceede any further till he could receive satisfaction from his Majesty, accor­ding to His promise to this Declarant, for the moneys he had disbursed in that service, which this Declarant did from time to time sue for.

First expecting the same out of the said Fines according to the said Declaration, un­till such time as the same was reduced to the small mitigation, as aforesaid, and that all disposed to his Majesties service: whereup­on this Declarant was inforced to Petition his Majesty for satisfaction according to His Promise formerly made to this De­clarant, as aforesaid; which Petition His Ma­jesty 10 ^th March 1638. referred to the now Bishop of London then Lord Treasurer, the Lord Cottington, and S ^r. John Coke, principall [Page 16] Secretary, who calling unto them S ^r. John Banks his Majesties then Attorney Generall, were to consider thereof, and make report to His Majesty in their opinions what satisfacti­on they thought fit to be allowed for his service; but their Lordships, though often therein attended by this Declarant, and mo­ved therein by S ^r. John Coke (who had prin­cipall charge from His Majesty touching this service) to take the said Petition into their considerations; yet nothing was therein done by their Lordships, to his great damage and discouragement to proceede further in this service, that so much concerned the Common-wealth, and all trade; and there­upon the Declarant being disabled thus, all proceedings upon the third Bill ceased.

That besides the fourteene offenders sen­tenced in Star-chamber & pardoned, as afore­said, there are many other Merchants, Gold­smiths and others, that have transported Gold and Silver out of the Kingdome, that [Page 17] have sold Gold and Silver at above the price of the Mint, that have furnished much light gold, English and Forraigne, and great quan­tities of Gold and Silver to Merchants and others to transport, that have culled and melted downe the weightiest current Silver Coines, as shillings, sixpences and half crowns, all which offences are against the common Lawes of the Kingdome, and severall Pro­clamations, as may appeare by what shall be hereafter declared: which Laws for the discovery and prosecution appoint, that such as prosecute and bring to discovery any of the aforesaid offences, are to have a moyitie of what they can prove to be transported, as what they seize, and to be water-borne to transport: And the wisedome and poli­cie of State hath, upon free and generall Par­dons at Parliaments, exempted it out of the free pardon, thereby the more to terrifie and restraine men from venturing in that kind, to transport gold or silver, or to melt [Page 18] down the current silver coynes of the King­dome.

That divers Gold-smiths of London are become Exchangers of Bullion of gold and silver, and buy it of Merchants and others, pretending to carry it to the Mint; but in­deed they are the greatest instruments for transporting that are, and, in a manner, they are only those who furnish transporters with English and forreigne gold, Spanish money, Rix-dollers, Pistollets, Cardacues; culling and melting down the current silver coynes of this Realme for plate and silver thread: and no doubt, when a true representation of the abuses of such Gold-smiths, Finers, and Wyre-drawers, as hath been formerly, and is daily practised by many of them, shall be made appeare; this Declarant doubteth not but this high Court will think fit to take the same into consideration, and provide some meanes to restraine them from doing the Common-wealth that damage as formerly hath been done.

That some of the Gold-smiths make it their use and practice to buy light English gold of shop-keepers and others, which by the Laws of this Kingdome, wanting beyond remedy, ought to be bought as Bullion, and upon the sale, ought to be defaced, and new­coyned in the Mint: But they take another way; for they sell all this gold to transport, though it want 4. 5. or 6 graines above the allowance, and that a 20 ^s, peece will not make 19 ^s. to be coyned in the Mint; yet the Gold-smiths will not abate above 2 ^d. or 3 ^d. and sometimes but 1 ^d. in the peece, let the gold want what it will; by which meanes they out-give the Mint: And the gold which the Gold-smiths buy of the Subjects, think­ing it is to carry to the Mint to be new­coyned to passe in current payment, they put it into a dead Sea, never to be made use of in our Common-wealth: For weekly French and English have bought up this gold, let it be as light as it will, at 19 ^s, 9 ^d. 19 ^s, 10 ^d. [Page 20] and 19 ^s, 11 ^d. and so after that rate for all other gold, to the value of many hundred thousand pounds; for by the Gold-smiths rule, the Mint is alwayes last served, as being the worst Chapman, and giving least for it; for after all hands are full, both for transpor­ters, Plate-workers, Finers, and Wyre-draw­ers; then that, which they cannot vent other­wise, commeth into the Mint; which the Officers of the Mint know very well: and if gold and silver never came into the Gold­smiths hands, (which Merchants sell to them, beleeving they carry it all to be coyned) far more gold and silver would come into the Mint, than now doth.

For, many thousand of dollers and Spa­nish money they furnish yearely Merchants with, that trade for Norway and Denmarke and other parts, to transport silver for those parts, to the great weakning of the stock of this Kingdome, and hindrance of the sale of our wollen commodities, which (before that [Page 21] pernitious way was found out) those Coun­tries vented much of. Besides the hindrance of the sale of our commodities, the King is hindred of his Custome; for the Merchants drive a trade inward and outward, and so pay the King no custome: For instance; Ham­brough-Merchants bring great quantities of Rix-dollers from Hambrough and other parts of Germany, and pay no Custome, because the State hath ever made gold and silver free to be imported without Custome, which the Merchants usually sell to the Gold-smiths, and the Gold-smiths for the most part sell to the Merchants that trade in Norway and Denmarke: which dollers are closely packed in some part of the ship, and so no Custome paid, either for bringing in the silver, or send­ing it out; and no commodities, in a man­ner, other than silver, are transported into those parts by the said Merchants, consi­dering the quantity of their returne; For what they want in goods exported from [Page 22] hence, they must make up in money: If great returnes of commodities from Norway and Denmarke, and few commodities exported from hence, the Ballance must be made up with silver; for no Nation will give us com­modities; but there must be a ballance for goods imported, by goods exported, or by treasure.

That from the yeare 1621. many Gold­smiths and Casheers of London culled the weighty shillings and six-pences, to make in­to plate, silver-wyre, and to other manufa­ctures: for most of that time, we having warres with Spaine, little or no silver came from thence; so likewise hath little or no silver from France in that time: and no silver could be brought out of Holland, by reason it went so high by Plachart; for Starling-silver passed in Holland for 4 ^d per ounce higher than it made in our Mint, sterling being in Holland at 5 ^s. 4 ^d. per ounce; so that no silver could be imported from Holland to supply our mint: [Page 23] which the Gold-smiths and others percei­ving, presently fell a culling the silver mo­neyes current: and the money being coy­ned in the mint at 5 ^s. 2 ^d. the Goldsmiths, Finers, and Wyre-drawers did raise it up to 5 ^s. 3 ^d. per ounce, and melted down all the weighty shillings and sixpences and lest none to passe betwixt man and man, but light mo­neies and clipped; and did exceed the rate of the mint, by giving for Starling 5 ^s. 3 ^d. per ounce, and 5 ^s. 3 ^d. ½. per ounce, and sometimes more: by which meanes there was no silver brought into the mint for ten years, to speak of, (but the silver which came from Wales) to the great damage of the Subject, and be­nefit of themselves: this will appeare by the mint-books. And if some stricter Lawes be not made than are yet in force, if silver should not come from Spaine, the Gold­smiths and Casheers would presently fall to their old way of culling of the current silver­moneys againe. All these severall offences [Page 24] are humbly presented to this high Court to take into their just considerations, that the said offenders may be found out, and some strict Law made to deterre others from pra­ctising the like for the future.

And this Remonstrant humbly sheweth, that in the prosecution of this service, which so much concerneth the Common wealth, he hath expended 2000 ^l. as before he hath de­clared.

His humble prayer is, that if this honour­able House shall command him to proceede in this service for the Common-wealth, that out of the Fines of the Delinquents, which shall be proved to be offenders, he may be reimbursed the said severall summes he hath formerly laid out, and damage for his for­bearance for his service formerly done about the transporters, and such other summes as he shall expend in the prosecution of this service to bring up witnesses and other necessary ex­pences, out of the Fines of such as he shall [Page 25] bring and prove to bee Delinquents.

In projects, as the Wine, Salt, Soape, To­bacco, and many of the like nature, where private men cozen the Common-wealth; yet all these offences this Declarant humbly con­ceiveth, put together, are not of so prejudici­all consequence to the Common-wealth as the transporting of Gold and Silver, the cul­ling and melting downe the current Silver money of this Kingdome, the selling of Silver and Gold above the price of the Mint: for in Projects one man cozeneth another, but the stock remaineth in the Kingdome; but for a man to act any of these foresaid offences, tendeth to the destruction of trade, robbing the Kingdome of the treasure: And to keep the Mint from coyning, is as to let the water out of the Cysterne, and yet to let none in, and then the same will quickly be drawne dry.

It is to be feared, that the industry of ma­ny ages cannot replenish the Kingdome with [Page 26] so much Gold as hath been transported out of it since the first yeere of His Majesties Reigne; for it is an infallible rule, that where Gold and silver is over-valued, thither will it be transported by merchants and o­thers, for it continually resorts where it is most made of; and if you seeke to raise it here, the remedy is worse than the disease, for then you take from the Gentry, and all setled Revenuers, as much of their meanes as you raise the current money; for if Gold should be raised in England, for example, the 20 ^s. to 26 ^s. as it is in France; either higher or lower; you should buy no more at your market for 26 ^s. than you could before for your 20. and contrariwise, if your 20 ^s. were but 14 ^s. you should buy as much for your fourteene shillings, as when it passed at 20. so that whensoever money is raised, the losse falleth most upon the Nobility and Gentry and certain Revenuers, who lose so much out of their inheritance, which they have let out in lease, as mony raised.

The Declarant humbly conceiveth, the easiest way to fill the Kingdome with Gold, which it wanteth, is, according to the pat­terne of the Statutes of 14 Ed. 3. cap. 21. in case of transporting of woolls, To enjoyne the Merchants Adventurers, Turkey-mer­chants, and exporters of Corne, Fish, or any manner of amunition, or the like; and Mer­chants that deale in other commodities of the Kingdome with other Countries, to bring into this Realme a proportion of gold upon the returne of the Merchandize: by which meanes the Common-wealth in time may recover this great mischief under which it suffers; and if not speedily stopped, there will not be left Coyne to maintaine Trade.

All merchants that trade for Spain, know, that when the West-India fleete commeth not into Spaine, the trade for that yeere is lost; and no money, no trade. If this be an infallible rule for Spaine, which suffers so much for the forbearance of bringing in of [Page 28] treasure for one yeare, and is supplied the next out of the Indies, and till their Fleet come home, no dealing with Merchants; This Declarant doth humbly present, how much more it doth concerne this Kingdome, which hath no West-Indies to supply the Treasure transported, to provide and care­fully keepe in the Kingdomes stock, which once transported, cannot be drawne back, but upon unreasonable tearmes; which will impoverish all the Gentry to an inestimable value; and as long as it remaineth out of the Kingdome, all trading and commerce de­cayeth, the subjects are unable to pay Subsi­dies and other duties, and it is one of the greatest mischiefes that can befall the Com­mon-wealth.

And at this present in France, the native Merchants there match us with such a point of policy, that it would be hard for our mer­chants to be master of; for since the raising of our 20 ^s peece to 26 ^s there, this Declarant [Page 29] humbly desireth it may be taken into consi­deration, how they have advanced the price of their commodities according to their ad­vanced moneys, to the full summe of 6 ^s in the pound more then they were before: and as for Wines of the growth of France, they are so deare, that they cost the Merchants there above 30 in the hundred, more then they did before Gold was raised; and yet our cloth and other commodities are little raised there: by which means most of the Wines, and Linnen, both cut-work and black bone­lace, and other such like commodities in France, are imported into this Kingdome, on­ly in returne of Gold transported for France: The like those of Flanders have filled Eng­land with Thred, cut-works and Flanders-laces, both Silke and Thred, and many o­ther unnecessary commodities, which for the most part are stollen in without paying of custome, and draines the Kingdome of its money both in City and County, most of [Page 30] the said commodities being bought in France and Flanders, with the Gold transported out of this Kingdome, to the value of many hundred thousand pounds; most of the com­modities which have been returned from France and Flanders for our Gold, being utterly useles in a thriving Common-wealth. And to give a stop to these mischiefs, will re­quire great & sound deliberation, for coyne is the treasure of the Kingdome and pub­lique measure of all commerce, and the vitall spirits of all trade in the Kingdome, and therefore ought tenderly to be preserved.

It is recorded, that one of the greatest workes Queene Elizabeth did for this King­dome, was the reducing of the moneys, when they were embased, to Sterling: and doubt­lesse it is as great a benefit to settle a Law for the bringing in of gold for exportation of some commodities, to replenish that losse which the Common-wealth hath received by exportation thereof.

All men know that no great designe can be done without money, in Common-wealth or Kingdome: which made the French King lately, when the warres were between Spaine and them, to set such a rate upon Gold, that they drained all Christendome of gold; and it is beleeved, they doe esteeme (having most of the gold of Christendome in their King­dome) the possession of it to be as good a strength as any amunition they can have; for it makes them capable of any great acti­on. All Merchants, and others, that have been at Paris, know, what great summes are taken up there, and in other places of France, by the King, of Bankers and others, for his warres; which is raised with that expedition and ease as is incredible, but to those that know it; and most of the payments paid in gold, which is a great benefit saving convoy, one waggon of Gold being as much in value as fifteen in Silver, which, as that Kingdomes businesse stands, saves much in the portage; [Page 32] and if they had not drawn in our gold, they could not have done those great businesses as they have done; and they found it to be true, that it was one great point of putting the Kingdome into a posture of defence, by filling it full of treasure: the consideration of it, this Remonstrant humbly leaves to this House.

Now that generall Lawes and Statutes from time to time have provided against transporting of gold, or melting down the current coyne, and buying silver and gold at above the price of the Mint, appeareth by Statutes 9 Ed. 3. both forbidding the trans­porting of the gold of the Kingdome, and the melting down the current silver coynes, by Gold-smiths or others, into plate.

Stat. 14. Rich. 2. cap. 12 Commissions made through the Realme, for to enquire of such as had conveyed the money of England out of the Kingdome, to the prejudice and damage of the King and Realme.

Stat. 17. Ric. 2. cap. 1. There shall be no melting of the current money to make any thing, by Gold-smiths or others, upon paine of forfeiture.

2 Hen. 4. cap. 4. No person to transport gold or silver, either in coyne or bullion, upon paine of forfeiting as much as they might.

4 Hen. 4. cap. 10. No Gold-smith or o­ther person to melt downe the current silver coynes of the Kingdome, upon paine of for­feiting foure times the value.

9 Hen. 5. cap. 1. All Statutes heretofore made touching the good and lawfull govern­ment of Gold and Silver, and not repealed, to be in force.

2 Hen. 6. cap. 6. Upon a grievous com­plaint made in Parliament, that great summes of Gold and Silver were transported into Flanders and Burdeaux out of this Kingdome, it was ordered and enacted, that no Gold or Silver should bee transported out of the Realm.

And because it is supposed, that the money of Gold is transported by Merchants-aliens, It is ordained, that the Merchants-aliens shall finde securitie with sureties in the Chancery, that they shall not transport gold or moneys out of the Kingdome, upon paine of forfeit­ing the sum or the value; and if any doe contrary, and that duly proved, and he so doing be gone over Sea, then his pledges shall pay the King his said forfeiture; where­of he that the same espied, and thereof gave notice to the Treasurer or the Kings Coun­cell, shall have the fourth part.

2 Hen. 6. cap. 12. To the intent that more mony be brought into the Mint, It is ordain­ed, that neither the Master of the Mint, nor Changer for the time being, neither sell nor cause to be sold, nor alien to no other use, but apply the same wholly to coyne, accor­ding to the tenure of the Indenture made betwixt the King, and Master of the Mint.

4 Hen. 7. cap. 13. Item, Where in a Parlia­ment begun and holden at Westminster the 16 of January, the 17 of Ed. 4. No person to carry Gold or Silver either in Bullion or coyn, nor Jewels of gold, but such persons as be dispensed with by the Statute of Hen. 4. upon paine of felonie, to be heard and deter­mined as other felonie is; the which Statute to endure from the feast of Easter the 18 of Ed. 4. unto the end of seven yeares next en­suing: Since the which 7 yeares expired, the Gold and Silver coyne of this Realme hath and daily is conveyed into Flanders, Normandy, Britany, Ireland, and other parts beyond the Seas, as well by Merchants-stran­gers as by Denisons, to the great impoverish­ing of the Realme, and greater is like to be, without remedy thereof hastily provided. The King our Soveraigne Lord, the premises considered, by the advice of his Lords Spi­rituall and Temporall, and the prayers of the Commons in the said Parliament assem­bled, [Page 36] and by the authority of the same, have ordained and enacted and established, That the said Statute made in the 16 yeare of Ed. 4. be and stand a Statute good and effe­ctuall, with all the premises in the same ob­served and kept and put in due execution, from the feast of the Purification of our Lady, which shall be in the yeare of our Lord 1489. to endure to the end of 20 years next ensuing.

1 Hen. 8. cap. 13. An Act made, that who­soever shall carry any gold or silver or jewels out of the Realme, shall forfeit double the value, the one halfe to him that shall seize it, or therefore sue by action of debt at the Common Law. This Act to endure to the next Parliament.

5 and 6 Ed 6. cap. 19. An act touching the exchange of gold and silver, that whoso­ever gives more for gold and silver then it is or shall be declared by the Kings Proclama­tion, shall suffer imprisonment by the space [Page 37] of one yeer, and make fine at the Kings plea­sure, the one moity to His Majesty, the o­ther moity to be to the party that seizeth the same, or will sue for it by Bill, Plaint, or Information or otherwise.

1. A Proclamation against giving for light Gold more then is current, 21 ^o July, 17 ^o Jaci.

2. A Proclamation against melting En­glish money, 18 ^o Maii. 9 ^o Jaci.

3. A Proclamation against buying and selling Gold and Silver, at higher prices then the Mint, 14 ^o Maii. 10 ^o Jaci.

4. A Proclamation against transporting of Gold, 23 ^o Maii. 10 ^o Jaci.

5. A Proclamation against profit for Gold and Silver, and melting English money for Plate; Waste in Gold and Silver, 4 ^o Febi. 19 ^o Jaci.

6. A Proclamation against transporting Gold and Silver, and melting down the cur­rent coynes of the kingdom, 25 ^o Maii. 3 ^o Cari.

From all which Statutes and provisions it may be gathered, that the current money and Bullion of the kingdome, is the Subjects, only to use between man and man, but not to a­buse: for no man by the Law can buy or sell them by way of Merchandize at higher rates than they are Proclamed; if he do, he is finable by the Law: he that washeth, clippeth or les­seneth the current coins, commits treason: He that exports the treasure of the kingdom, ei­ther in Bull on or current Coyn, being taken, loseth them: he that melts downe the cur­rent Gold or Silver of the kingdom for plate or other manufactures, commits a forfeiture; and transporting of Treasure hath formerly been made felony, as by the severall Statutes and Lawes to this purpose appeareth.

By these and divers other Lawes and Sta­tutes, His Majesties predecessors have en­devoured the retention and preservation of the Coine and Treasures within this King­dome, but could hitherto never effect it.

And of late, the easie escape of Delin­quents for these offences, which have been taken, hath given the boldnesse to offenders to goe on: and Time, the truest Schoole­master, hath taught all ages to know, that lit­tle penalties could yet never interpose be­twixt the Merchant and his profit.