From all which Statutes and provi­sions it may be gathered, that the cur­rant money and Bullion of the Nati­on, is the Subjects, onely to use be­tween man and man, but not to abuse: for no man by the Law can buy or sell them by way of Merchandize at high­er rates than they are Proclaimed; if he do, he is finable by the Law: he that washeth, clippeth or lesseneth the currant Coyns, commits Treason: He that exports the Treasure of the Nati­on, either in Bullion or currant Coyn, being taken, loseth them: he that melts down the currant Gold or Silver of the Nation for Plate or other Ma­nufactures, commits a forfeitute; and Transporting of Treasure hath former­ly been made Felony, as by the seve­rall Statutes and Laws to this purpose appeareth.

By these and divers other Laws and Statutes, our Predecessours have en­devoured the retention and preserva­tion of the Coyn and Treasures within this Nation, but could hitherto never effect it.

Nor will these mischiefs ever be stopped, till their be Commissions by Act of Parliament according to former presidents, when the Nation was de­frauded of their Treasure as now it is, strictly to enquire of the offendours, and bring them to Justice.

For of late, the easie escape of De­linquents for these offences, hath given the boldness to offendours to go on: and Time, the truest Schoolmaster, hath taught all ages to know, that lit­tle penalties could yet never interpose betwixt the Merchant and his profit.

Whereas this Parliament, by their Ordinance 6. of Sept. 1647. did decrie all Clipped, Fyled, or diminished Mo­ney (by means whereof great qunti­ties were sold to some Gold-Smiths) who have made it a Trade to deal with Receivers of Publick Cashes, Grasi­ers, and severall other Persons (and insted of melting of these Moneys down) some Gold-smiths have issued these Moneys out again in payment, whereas at the Tower these Clipped Moneys would make but five shillings the Ounce-Troy, these men have ven­ted out these Clipped Moneys to di­vers il-affected people at five shillings six pence, and five shillings eight [Page 47] pence, and six shillings the Ounce, who have dispersed the said Clipped Moneys so bought from Gold-smiths up and down the Nation again, to the great enriching of themselves, and defraud­ing of the good people of this Nation, by buying up this Clipped Money since the Ordinance 1647. at the least twenty times over, and venting it for currant again (which had been help­ed, if there had been but six words put into the Ordinance (which was, to have required all persons exchanging any Clipt or uncurrant English money with any Gold-smith or others, upon for­feiture of double the value, to see it cut in two peices, or so defaced, that it should not be passable after.) I hum­bly present this defect of that Ordi­nance, that it may be looked after and amended, and I humbly desire, that the Act against Transporting Treasure now committed, may be enacted with such vigour, that the Common-wealth may have the reall benefit, and the offenders brought to exemplarie Justice.

There hath been twenty Millions of Money Coyned within this twenty five years, as will appear by the Mint-Books, and almost all of it Transported out of the [Page 48] Nation, the Gold all gone, the currant silver culled out, the weightiest melted and transported: and that Silver-Mo­neys which remains, is but little, and all culled Gold is made as pretious in this Common-wealth as Diamonds. What inconveniences will arise by the indirect dealing of private men in this particular to the Common-wealth, I shall humbly leave it to you to consider.

In the year 1643. It was humbly offered to this Parliament, to have the offendours discovered, and to bring them to Justice, and this mischief stopped; but by the great Interest of the offendours, that had then power in this Nation, the Proposition was slight­ed, and these mischiefs ever since day­ly practised, to the unspeakable dam­mage of this Common-wealth: for it is far easier to keep the Treasure in the Nation by making strict Laws against Transportation, than when it is gon to bring it back, as too late experience will make this Common-wealth feel: but you have the power to call these offendours to a strict account, if you pass the Act fully to enable all people to make their discoveries, how, and i [...] what manner other Nations do punis [...] these offendours: you have already presented [Page 49] out of their Placcaets, This evil is grown to such a height, that both our own Laws put in the strictest execution, and the Customs and Laws of other Countries added to them for this particu­lar, with the greatest diligence of expert men, to make the search for what is past, and to prevent these mischiefs for the time to come, will be little enough: and to make this discovery is a service of more Importance to the Common-wealth, than at first sight can be apprehended.

This is a certain rule, no great acti­on in any Common-wealth or State can be done but by Money, which all ages have held to be the Sinews of War, and Garland of Peace; and what occasions we have to use it both for commerce and safety, is humbly left to you to consider; and in all well re­gulated States it hath ever been ac­counted a great service to discover the offendours and abuses practised upon the Treasure of their Nation: and to prevent the growth of these mischiefs is the work of every faithfull lover of his Countrey; And he or they that shall be against the discovery of these offences and offendours, may amongst judicious men be justly suspected to be Parties themselves.

And though some Merchants and other Interested Persons (may for their own Interest, either for their profit (or fear of Punishment for what they have done) speak themselves, or get others to oppose the Act against Transporting Treasure to pass the House, or procure it to be so altered, as it shall not be effectuall to give a full cure to the Common-wealth of the great inconveniences it is now under, by severall abuses practised upon Coyn and Bullion.

To give a cure to the Common-wealth of these great inconveniences, and also to take away the great ob­structions of your Mint, which will never be done till this Act pass; and if it were more stricter, it would be more beneficial to the Common-wealth, especially in these times, when you have so many occasions of Money, by bringing in presently very great sums of Money to the State by the punish­ment of the offendours.

You have here, with all humility, set down to you, the ways and means where­by your neighbour-Countreys use to pre­vent these mischiefs, and to punish the offendours for what is past, with several old Statutes of this Nation: out of which [Page 51] if you extract the quintessence, and make a sharp and vigorous Law, and require all your Officers and others to put it in full execution, you may in a short time cure this Common-wealth of these dangerous diseases, which if you let it go on, will prove a Gangrene.

I humbly beseech you to take no­tice, there hath been within seven years Coyned in ten days, more mo­ney in the Tower of London, than hath been Coyned near upon this three last years: now if you suffer Treasure to go out of the Nation every day for want of a Law, to give all people power to discover and examine the offendours, in a short time you will not have any money left in the Common-wealth; (for experience in all ages shew, that little and slight penalties can never stop some Merchants from their profit) so they get to their private, they care not what mischiefs the Common-wealth suffers: (for a Common-wealth without plenty of money, looks like a great House unfurnisht, and bare Walls is no handsome sight) and you will find there will not be money left to pay your just Taxes, Customs and Excise, and to main­tain Trade and commerce, if you clear not the obstruction of the Mint, and take [Page 52] some effectual course to set i [...] no work: & this Act is but a preparation and ground­work to cause your Mint to go: and till [...]t pass, you will never see your Mint flou­rish: for to allow any man to out-give the Mint for Bullion, is, to shut up the Mint, for all men will vent their Trea­sure, where they can have the greatest price, & not to make a way for the open­ing of the Mint at this time, especially when you have such occasions of Mo­nie.

I shall humbly leave it to you to consi­der the inconvenience;

The Gold-Smiths when they were before the Honourable Committee, by their Councellour M ^r. Recorder, and M ^r. Vinstanly, being demanded by the Commitee, what they could say why an Act should not pass for disco­very of such as had Transported the Coyn and Bullion of the Nation? did by their Councel, and by Sir John Wolla­ston, Alderman Viner, and the rest, de­clare their willingness to have the offen­dours brought to punishment: The like they did for all such as Culled, or mel­ted down the Currant coyn of this Na­tion for their own private profit, or such as bought up the light Clipped English Money, decryed by an Ordi­nance [Page 53] of Parliament the 6. of Sept. 1647. and did not deface it, but contrary to this Ordinance, did vent it again into several parts of the Na­tion, and pay it away to the deceit of all the people of the Nation. Upon this answer to the Committee, it puts me in mind of a custom, which is usu­all in all mens houses, If Glasses be broke, or any other mischief done, No-bo­dy did it: But upon a Commission of enquirie, many times it is found to be Some-body. But to the question that was asked, the Gold-Smiths by the Ho­nourable Committee, cōcerning buying Gold and Silver above the price of the Mint, they pleaded, The trade was an ancient Trade, that if they were re­strained to a Price, they, and their Fami­lies could not subsist, that they could not buy Silver, but some time the market was ot 5 ^s. 1 ^d. 5 ^s. 2 ^d. and 5 ^s. 3 ^d. and Sir John Wollaston said, That he, and divers others, had given 5 ^s. 4 ^d. nay, 5 ^s. 5 ^d, for Sterling-Silver for their trade, and for confirmation of the truth of this, he did appeal to his Bretheren, Alderman Viner, and Alderman Nowel, and the rest of the Gold-Smiths at the Committee, and none of them did denie it Now I shall humbly offer to your considerati­on; [Page 54] First Sterling-Silver will make but 5 ^s. in the Mint, and it is delivered out of the Mint, after it is Coyned, at 5 ^s. 2 ^d. the Ounce. If the Gold-Smiths give 5 ^s. 5 ^d. for this Sterling-Silver, how can any be brought into the Mint? nay, how is all the heavy Mo­ney Culled and melted down, and none left to pass but Light and Clip­ped? And this is the true ground why many Gold-Smiths are Cashers to Merchants, and keep servants to re­ceive mens Monies, without any re­ward, onely that they might cull, and weigh out the heavy silver, and Melt it or Transport it beyond the Seas, for their own private gain, to the high de­ceit of the Nation.

There is nothing in this Act doth restrain the due and orderly Trade of a Gold-Smith, when it is well weighed and considered. But that which is their usual Trade, now discovered to be so highly destructive to the Nation, ought to be restrained. The Bakers may as well Petition against all pillo­ries, or against my Lord Major, for weighing their Bread, as the Gold-Smiths justly except against the re­straining them, for giving for Gold & Silver, above the price of the Mint.

They see it, that it is the Law o [...] the Land, in the 5. and 6. Ed. 6. c. 13▪ It is the daily practise of France, Holland, Flanders, as appears here by their Laws. Clothing is the Staple of the Land, and ought most to be cherished; yet the Law propounds for the Regu­lating of the weight, the length, and breadth. Brick-makers, Woodmongers, Meal-men, and divers other Trades, are restrained and regulated, and yet all these Trades receive protection and countenance in their orderly working of their Manufactures, from the Com­mon-wealth.

There are people which believe, That if there had been a real intenti­on to give a stop to the Transporting of Money, it had been done before; though for my part, I am not of that o­pinion: There was (say they) notice of it nine years agoe when the Presbyterie had the power: And seven years ago, the grievances of the Transporting of Gold and Silver, with several other a­buses, was by me at large presented to the Parliament, and the same mischiefs foretold, which is now come to pass; that without it were looked after, and a strict Law made against it, to discover the Offendours, there would not be a­ny [Page 56] Gold or Silver left in the Nation. And this hath prooved too true, for many millions of Gold and Silver have since been Transported, to the un­speakable dammage of the Common-wealth.

And upon seizure of several great quantities of Gold and Silver, by M ^r. Watkins, chief Searcher of the Port of London, which was shipped to be trans­ported; the Order of the Parliament, the 1. of Septemb. 1647. was made to the Committee of the Navy, to see to prevent it.

After all these Certificates made by the Officers of the Mint and Customs, and the Committee of the Navy, for the speedy putting so good a work in execution, all which, I have hereafter set down.

The Councel of State was pleased to make a Committee of themselves; and after many great and serious con­sultations, drew up the draft of an Act of Parliament, with their desire to the Parliament to have it pass with all ex­pedition, for the Service of the Com­mon-wealth.

There are others, more unhappy, which say, Now the Steed is stoln, shut the stable door: Now there is no more [Page 57] Gold left to Transport, to what pur­pose doth the Parliament make an Act against Transporting Gold? this should have been done before, for how can we maintain Commerce, pay Taxes, when our English Gold is fourty times more plentifull beyond the Seas, than it is in England, and almost all the Sil­ver Coyn of the Nation Transported, and scarse any left, but Clipped, and light money.

And some people are so Impudent to believe, that there are some Mem­bers of Parliament guilty of trans­porting money, or else this Act should not have stuck so long upon their hands.

Others there are, that have Trans­ported money, and committed many abuses upon the Coyns of the Nation, that hope they shall have their par­dons for what is past, though they have Transported almost all the Gold and Silver of the Nation, that now if they would, they can offend no more; and they have done the Com­mon-wealth that dammage, that a Mil­lion of Money cannot give them satis­faction. These I humbly conceive, ought to be made restore their unjust gain, which will deter any others [Page 58] hereafter for doing the like.

And there are that say, Look how al­most all men have sped that have certi­fied against Transporting money, or look't to stop the same. Hath not Sir Robert Harlow, and M. Cogan been put out of their places in the Mint? Hath not M. Walkins, M. Tomes, Sir Thomas Daws, and M. Holloway been put out of their places in the Custom-house? Were not you Thomas Violet Impri­soned in the Tower four years, because you should not tell the truth, and let the Common-wealth know for all that time, most of their Money and Trea­sure was sending out of the Na­tion.

I shall add something more to this. I have observed what the State hath gotten by putting out these men; and I found, First, That upon the putting forth of the old Officers of the Mint, in M. Swallows place, who was the Clark of the Irons, and Surveyer of the Melting-house for the Mint; a place of great skill and trust, there is now a Clark put in, to execute that place, that can neither write nor read; and other Officers put into the places of the old ones in the Mint, that were ut­terly ignorant of the Mysteries of man­aging [Page 59] that Office: And one of the greatest Obstructions of the Mint, comes through the ignorance of the Officers, and their want of correspon­dence and acquaintance with such as usualy have brought money from be­yond the Seas.

The old Officers of the Mint, were masters in this Mystery, which is not so soon learned as men think. And for some of those that have been turned out of their places out of the Custom-house, if the Act were passed for the Committee of Trade, there would quickly be presented the practises of some of the Officers of the Customs, and Petitions for a redress of many a­busess practised by some of them, and a Review Petitioned for, to know up­on what grounds many of the old Offi­cers were turned out of their places, being never charged with any offence, but onely forced out to make way for others to come into their places; some of the old Officers of the Customs be­ing turned out of their places, onely because of their activity in stopping the Gold and Silver of the Nation for being Transported; and this is M. Edward Watkins his case, and others put into his Office, that seizes Gold [Page 60] and Silver before it is forseited, and when the Merchant recovers it again by Law, the Searcher that made the seizure takes the Kinsg-Bench, and so the Merchant may go seek his Money, to the great dammage of the Mer­chant.

But according to former Presidents, all Officers of the Customs, were to put in security for the just performance of their trust to the State, and no Offi­cer was to receive the Customs, and Moneys of the Common-wealth in any Port of this Nation; nor to make any seizure before he had put in security to the Lord Treasurer, to make a true Account of what moneys and goods comes to their hands, which I (having more thā probable reasons) do believe the Collectours, & other Officers of the Ports, have not done, to the great dammage of the Common-wealth, and prejudice of the Merchants. If seizures be unjustly made, and the Merchants recover their goods or moneys by a Verdict at Law, & after all their charge and hazzard; not to have their goods and moneys again. This discovery I have put in for the service of the Com­mon-wealth, it being a cause judged in the Checquer this last Tearm, that [Page 61] for the future such abuses of the new Officers of the Customs might be prevented.

I have to some men replied this Act; it hath been delayed by the Parliament, onely by the multitude of other business, though I must confess there are very few businesses of the Commonwealth can take place before this, but that all people should see when the Parliaments busines was a little over, how zealous in deeds (and not in words) they would be, for to punish these great Offendours, and to make them pay back the unjust gain, which moneys should be imployed for the publick, and so save the Nation Taxes: that I was confident there was not any Member in the Parlia­ment was guilty of Transporting money, or if there were, they durst not be seen to justifie so wicked an Act, but would be glad to be quiet in a whole skin; and truly If I did know any of them, I would not med­dle with them, without the Act did po­sitively injoyn me to do it.

It hath been objected to me, by some Gold-Smiths and others; That I my self have been a trāsporter of money, and melter down of heavy Coyn of the [Page 62] Nation, and a furnisher of Gold and Silver to transport out of this Nation, and a buyer of Gold and Silver above the price of the Mint. I deny it not, and my Answer to them is, An old Deer-stealer is the best keeper of a Park. And though I had the late Kings par­don, I had it not but it cost me dear; I paid at one time to his Pri­vy Purse, two thousand twenty shil­lings pieces in Gold, and I am out at this day by his command, in making the discovery of such as Trans­ported Gold, ninteen hundred and threescore pounds, both which sums, I have been out of Purse fifteen years: I would not have the greatest Offendour (that is a Gold-Smith) by my consent, pay so great a sum. And this is my Answer to them, to that objection.

I would have them by my exam­ple leave off so destructive a Trade to the Common-wealth, as furnishing the Transporters with Gold and Silver, Culling and melting down the currant Coyn. If I had not been convinced in my conscience, that it was bad, I would have followed that Trade still, I had as good an Estate, as most of the Gold-Smiths to do it. I had as [Page 63] good Credit, and I left my Trade as fairly, for I challenge all or any man in London, that can say I did not pay all men ready money to every penny and farthing I ought, when I gave over my Trade, and the best Alderman of London can do no more; It is inci­dent to all men to Erre, happy is he that repents, but to persist against the light of a mans Conscience, is done by the strong Instigation of the Divel.

I do humbly present further, that their hath great mischiefs happened to this Nation and their Army in Ireland since this Parliament, by the Indirect dealing of some Merchants and Gold-smiths in London, who contracted with some of the adventurers for Ireland, to sell them Rials of Eight and forraign Coyns, giving them some small time, but the poor Souldiers that received these moneys in Ireland, lost above twenty pound in the hundred by the moneys so paid them; for first the Gold-smiths culled out all the weighti­est, and delivered none but Light and Clipped, and than the coursness of the Silver which was Bead money, and adulterated in the West Indies in the Mints, sometimes sixpence, sometimes [Page 64] more upon every piece of Eight, as is well known to some Gold-smiths and Merchants, so that by the baseness of the Allay & want of Weight, their hath been at the least twenty pound in the hundered loss to the Souldiers: If he would make any return of it to his wife or children in England, as many of them found by sad experience.

The Gold-smiths are the general Cashiers for some of the Principal Merchants in the Citie, and this rule the Gold-smiths observe when they receive moneys, to take none that is Bad or Clipped (but let any man send to them to receive moneys, they shall have great quantities of Clipped mo­ney mixed in their moneys they re­ceive, and some of it constantly will escape the tellers eys) which Clipped moneys the Gold-smiths buy of seve­ral people for Bullion, but never Coyn it, the rest that they cannot put off here in London, they have their Agents vent it to Grasiers and other people in the Countrey all over the Nation, by which means in many Towns and Ci­ties of this Nation, they are so pestered with Clipped money, that their is little else stirring in payment, to the un-unspeakable dammage of the receiver, [Page 65] who cannot pay it in London, but sell it to the Gold-smiths, sometimes at twenty five and thirty in the hundered abated: which is by the Gold-smiths returned down into the Countrey next week after; So that this abuse is like a Horse in a Mill it turns round and is a cheat put upon all people of the Na­tion, and without a strict Act of Parlia­ment against it, will not be pre­vented.

All these abuses aforesaid, are so high and Transcendent (that the of­fendours ought to be used as men usually use Wolves and Foxes) for if private Murther be so penall) much more is publick Murther (now money is the Life, Bloud, and Soul of the Common-wealth, without it no great action can be undertaken) for the service of the Nation) and those that Transport it or adulterate it in Weight, may well be esteemed as the greatest enemies to the Common-wealth, therefore that you would be pleased to give all encouragement to all people, both in the Sea-ports of this Nation, and in the Citie of London, for the discovery of the Transporting of Gold and Silver, and such as cull out the heavy Silver Coyn of the Na­tion, [Page 64] [...] [Page 65] [...] [Page 66] and such as have bought Gold and Silver above the price of the Mint for to Transport: for as the affairs now of this Nation stand, you cannot have a greater disservice done to the Com­monwealth, and you will find the Commissioners and Officers of the Cu­stoms, certifie to the Commissioners of the Navy in Sept. 1647. their desires in their fourth Article, that a greater allowance should be given to such as discover the Transporters of Gold or Silver, than by the Statutes in that Case is provided, and the Statute in 1. Henry 8. cap. 13. gives double the value, the one half to him that shall seize it, or therefore Sue by action of Debt at the Common-Law, and by this draught of the Act, their is but one Moyetie of what shall be proved to have been Transported given to the Prosecutour.

What forraign Nations do, you have here the Presidents of France, Holland, Flanders, and what former ages here in this Nation have done, you have in 14. Rich. 2. cap. 12. by Act of Parliament Commissions made through the Realm, for to enquire from the beginning of his Reign, which was for fourteen years, of such as had con­veyed [Page 67] the money of England out of the Nation, to the dammage of the Realm: and without you make the like Com­missions, the Common-wealth will be brought to extream poverty.

Here are annexed two Certificates of the Officers of the Mint, and Com­missioners and Officers for the Customs, grounded upon an Order of Parlia­ment, and an Order of the Commissio­ners of the Navy, viz.

THese Gentlemen by reason of their places in the custom-house, and Mint within the Tower of London, and their long experience in Merchandize and Trade of this Nation; I humbly conceive their Certificates will leave a great Impression upon the Parliament, and on the Honourable Committee that are appointed to report this Act, that what these Gentlemen have certi­fied, hath been done upon a great deal of consideration, and upon great ex­perience, with all their best skill and judgement for the service of this Nation [Page 75] in this most weighty Business, it tending so highly to the safety and welfare of the publick (and the delay of passing this Act in its full force and vigour) will one day be found to be highly destructive to this Nation and that the design hath been set a foot, and prosecuted to hinder the Act for passing, is done by some people that have made themselves fortunes by these wicked practises, and though they dare not speak against the Act, yet they labour to stop it and delay it, or to procure the altering of it that it may be uneffectual, to give a stop [...] these mischiess which I hope they shall never be able to effect; I would have these men to know Justice is slow, but it is sure, and I am assured they will be discovered and brought to Justice when they least think of it, forbear­ance will be no payment, and this Act will bring their dark actions to light when it is passed the House: Besides these former Certificates, the Act now committed was drawn up by a Com­mittee of the Councell of State, and I was required to attend the Right Ho­nourable S ^t James Harrington in Ja­nuary last, being on of the Committee for taking away the obstructions of the [Page 76] Mint, which I did accordingly, and thereupon by Order of the Honourable Committee, for removing of the ob­structions of the Mint, I was desired to send into Holland for several Coyns of forraign Gold and Silver, and se­veral Placcaets and Weights, and some of the said Gold and Silver I have delivered to Doctour Gurden to make Assayes of, for the service of the State, the remainder I have ready to deliver to any, that will see me paid upon the delivery, I having demanded money of Doctour Gurden divers times, who [...]ls me, he will procure money, but hath not as yet paid me for what I de­livered him: and if I should not be 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, their would be a great loss re­dound to me to Coyn it here (and lose the Exchange; The Exchange from Holland, when I writ for these Species, running at about thirty two shillings Flemish.

I do humbly desire the Honourable Committee for obstructions of the Mint, to call to the old Clarks of the Mint for an acompt of what they have done about the Assayes made of [Page 77] forraign Coyns, and I humbly desire you to consider, how much it were for the service of the Nation, both in point of Honour, Profit, and safety to set your Mint on work.

Which upon the peril of my life, if you pass the Act as it is recommend­ed from the Councel of State, I will find out wayes to set your Mint pre­sently agoing, or lose both my Estate and Life: I would not make this pro­fer 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 to much: and the Merchants have found it, that I know what many did and do here, and what their Factours did and do beyond Seas, and to be Master of this secret, cost me many a 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 money to be Fined at four and twenty thousand one hun­dred pound, and now as I have laid this business, they shall be discovered all over this Nation, if I should offer this, and could do the like service in any other State, I humbly conceive [Page 78] I need not petition twice, but it would be accepted at the first time, and the delay of passing this Act moves me not at all for my own particular, but for the Common-wealth. I shall never forget Sir John Coke his rule to me, and hee was Secretarie of State to the late KING, That he never knew a patient, and a vigilant man lose his business, if it were just, for at one time or another, that man will find an opportunity to do it; and truly, by ob­serving this rule, I have passed through great business, and some, of much dif­ficulty; for all which I humbly thank God, and attribute it to his mercie.

There is another cause of great wast of the Treasure of the Nation, which is the great quantity 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 stole in without paying any Custom, being subtilly packed in Commodities of great Bulk.

But what the State loses by the Cu­stom, is nothing in Comparison, what it looses in stock: for the Returns of this Lace is for the most part sent over in Gold and Silver of the currant [Page 79] Coyns of this Nation.

Neither is this Mischief all the hurt that cometh to the Commō-wealth, for this Lace is made by them in France and Flanders, that can afford it far cheaper than any of our poor can do here; for generally it is made in Re­ligious houses, in their Nunneries, which Nuns generally bring in to the Religious houses their Dowries when they are admitted, and as long as they live, they are well provided for all manner of necessaries to live very handsomly, both for their dyet and apparrel, being left to their voluntarie choise after their Religious Exercises is done, to spend their time as they please.

Now many of them being 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 money, is all Returned into the use of the Monasteries, these Nuns thinking they merit most, that can get their Monasteries most money by their labour.

And truly when I have been in company of some 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 lay by the fashion, and give that money they spent in Flanders Laces to the poor, and not be instruments of making Nuns & Monasteries rich beyond Seas; and I have desired them to think how contrary their work was to their Hus­bands: their Husbands are destroying Bishops Houses and Lands, and Deans and Chapters houses, and Lands here in England, being Reliques of Popery, and their Wives by buying up of the Nuns Laces in England, with the Returns of that Money, which they produce here, are a building Nunneries, and Religious Houses in France and Flan­ders.

I humbly desire all the English Gen­try, that are wearers of Lace, both men and Women to consider seriously what I say: it is of concernment. I take God to witness, I have heard French-men, and Dutch-men say to me, above twelve years ago, that have dealt in Cut-work Laces, and in Flan­ders Laces, both black and white here [Page 81] in London, that they did believe there was above five hundred thousand pounds in a year Transported in Gold and Silver into France and Flanders, onely in Return of Forreign Cut-works, and Flanders Laces, both Black and white; and I believe in my conscience they spoke truth; and to this day there is extream 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 flings away so much stock in money; for Flanders Lace is of no use but to keep up pride and vanities; Gold and Silver Lace makes somthing upon the Return, one hundred pounds worth may make about fourty pounds when you have done wearing of it: But for thred and Silk Laces, that which cost one hundred thousand pound, when they are worn out, will not make the Common-wealth one penny.

I do humbly desire you to consider of a strict Law against importing any forreign Laces, or selling them in Lon­don; the forfeiture of the Laces is nothing, for that it will not be disco­vered, once in one thousand times. But [Page 82] I humbly conceive, it must be made Felonie for any to Import Flanders, French, or forreign Laces or Cut-works, and loss of any Shop-keepers Estate that shall knowingly sell any forreign Laces, either Flanders, or any o­ther.

By which means you will prevent the Transporting many hundred thou­sand pounds of Treasure in a year, and you will stop the Trade of making Nunneries Rich by our money: And if the Gentry will wear Laces, let them on Gods name put our own poor on work, and not forreigners; and by this means, you will give relief to many poor Gentelwomen, which through the calamities of the War are almost starved, and they are ashamed to beg, and they would be glad to make Lace, if any would employ them.

There is also a great and excessive waste of the Gold of this Nation, in the vanity of guilding of Charoches, which is come to that extravagancie, that if a Bainian of the East-Indies, or a Chinoes of China, or any other strange Nati­on should come to Hide-Park in an af­ter-noon, he would report in his own Countrey such stories, as your Jesuits reporteth of Perue, and Mexico, upon [Page 83] the first discoverie of the West-Indies; That there were towns that all the houses were covered over with Gold and Sil­ver: So would an Indian report the Gentry's Wealth of this Nation; That they were drawn through the streets of this Citie of London in Charoches co­vered over with beaten Gold.

But I shall tell you what a French-Merchant said to me this Sommer in Hide-Park, as we were talking of the great quantities of English Gold, which hath been Transported into France and Flanders, and other forreign parts; Saith the French-Merchant to me, I have heard you often complain of all the English Gold, being transported beyond the Seas, and now we are again speaking of it, I will demonstrate to you presently, that all is not gone, for you see how many guilded Charoches here are, then laugh­ing, he told me, you see Sir, how you are mistaken, all your Gold is not gone, but if you had said, almost all the English Gold is transported beyond the Seas, that I would have granted you, for you have the shell of the Gold to guild your Charoches, and to make you fine things, but we in France have the kernel of your Gold, and thus much I grant you. But we in France, and Holland, and Flan­ders [Page 82] [...] [Page 83] [...] [Page 84] have not all, we are more conscio­nable, good Monseur Violet. I was forced to bite my lip, for I could not deny but that he spake truth.

There is another great wast of Gold and Silver in this Common-wealth, and that is, the making of Gold and Silver Thread and Lace with­in this Nation: there are some things may be said for it, and some things against it; I shall impartially put down some things what I know in this business, for I had the principal care of regulating that Manufacture of Gold and Silver Wyer and Thread, for five years together in the late Kings time, and paid him about four thou­sand pounds yearly for it, and now it is under the regulation of the Commis­sioners of Excise, and I am confident doth not make the tenth penny to the State, as I paid to the late King; be­sides I was enjoyned to look to the just standard of the Silver, and to the substantial making of the Manufacture, which now is totally neglected, and the Common-wealth cheated in the courseness of much of the Silver, and in the sleight making of it.

If the Manufacture of the Gold and Silver Thread, was brought in from [Page 85] beyond the Seas, then would the State have the Custom, there being a great Impost and Custom laid on it, which would be a considerablederable Reve­nue to the Common-wealth. The Common-wealth in the stock of their Treasure would be augmented, for all Gold and Silver Thread makes a Re­turn to the melting pot, and so in­creases the stock of money in the Na­tion; besides, that is an advantagious Trade, which for the Returns of our Commodities and Manufactures of England brings us Returns in Silver.

There is replied to this, the setting so many thousands of poor people on work, which will starve if the Manufa­ctures of Gold and Silver Thread, were brought in from beyond the Seas, or if the State should prohibit the wear­ing of Gold and Silver Thread and Lace. Indeed this is of great consi­deration, and ought to be considered on. But then if they will have leave to make it here, it should be done with such restraints and limitations, as the Treasure of the Nation should not be wasted nor impared, the Currant money of the Nation should not be culled out to make Gold and Silver Thread, as many hundreds of thou­sand [Page 86] pounds have bin since the making of this manufacture, which was but begun to be a Trade in London within less than fourty years; also there should be a restriction of the number of the workers, not to increase as they have done, and the Wyer-drawers should be a distinct Corporation, and Officers appointed to look after their due and Orderly working, and an account kept for the State, of what Silver and Gold is spent every year in the Manufacture, and the Companie of Gold Wyre-drawers enjoyned to bring in the va­lue in Bullion from beyond the Seas, as they wast in this Manufacture; for without doing of this, the Trade is wholly destructive to the Common-wealth, and there can be no just plea, for to allow their Trade to conti­nue.

I humbly conceive the Common-wealth is not in a condition to suffer fifty thousand pounds a year in Silver, to be brushed and blown away out of Gold and Silver Lace: If those that work the Manufacture will not See to Import Silver from beyond the Seas, and be bound not to work Silver with a Core of Copper, and sell it for good Silver, for which cheat I have caused [Page 87] some of them to stand in the pillory, when I had the mannaging of that ma­nufacture; and also that the Wyre-drawers be bound, not to make any Spangles, Wyre or Thread, under ster­ling, which heretofore hath been their daily practise, and I believe is conti­nued still.

M. Jackson the Assay-master of Gold-smiths Hall, by direction of the Lords of the Councel, made many score of Assays of Gold and Silver Spangles, Lace, Wyre, and Thread found and taken in Silk-mens shops, which were adulterated, and under the Standard, and this Manufacture will never be justy made, if there be not a government setled by a Corporation, and then the Trade might be so man­naged by their contracting for Bullion from beyond the Seas, that they may get a great Manufacture here; but I humbly desire the Trade may be dri­ven with forreign Silver, imported, and not with the Stock, or Coyn of the Na­tion.

I do humbly declare unto you, that being required to attend the Commit­tee of the Councel of State, about the Act now presented to the Parliament, I did see, and was privie upon what [Page 88] grave consideration every branch of the Act now depending before the Honourable Committee, was framed and put down by the Committee of the Councel of State, before ever it was recommended to the Parliament; and I do humbly desire for the Service of the Common-wealth, if any altera­tions be made in the Act, those that drew the draught of the Act, may be required to attend the Committee to give their reasons for the whole Act, or any part of it; for upon the effectual passing of this Act, much doth depend for the safety of this Nation, and it is of a higher concernment to the Nation than I can express; and I humbly con­ceive, there ought to be no respect of private interest, where the safety of the Nation is so highly concerned.

I humbly desire the Honourable Committee, that the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint may be taken into your serious considerations, there being very few men in the Nati­on, can speak so much upon their own experience of these abuses concern­ing the Treasure of the Nation, as these Gentlemen, the Officers of the Mint have certified, which ever since their Certificate, hath been found in [Page 89] every part to be true.

The Mint standing still & neglect­ed, the Treasure that hath been Im­ported, was never brought into the Mint, but Exported out again; by which means for the private gain of a few men, the Nation is ruined and Im­poverished, and a Trade Inwards, and Outwards driven without paying of Custom, and the Stock of Treasure of the Nation almost all Exported in these times, now there is so much oc­casion for money, to the admiration and astonishment of many lovers of the Common-wealth, that truly un­derstand the secrets and Mysteries of Trade.

And what mischiefs these doings will in the end bring upon this Com­mon-wealth, is deeply apprehended by many wise men, and can have no stop but by a vigorous Act to bring the Offendours to Examplary Justice, whose Fines and Compositions, throughout the Nation, will amount to many scores of thousands of pounds to the State, for the payment of pub­lick debts, if Commissions of enquiries according to former presidents be granted by act of Paliament through­out the Nation, to enquire for the last [Page 90] ten years of these abuses.

If in declaring what hath passed at the Committee, and of other Trans­actions, be not usual, I shall, and do humbly desire to have my pardon, for if my silence might not have endan­gered the Common-wealth, this that I have said should never have come to publick view, for I know how to keep Secrets as well as some other men.

I have read of one that was born dumb, and so continued for many years, seeing one comming to kill his father, cryed out, Go [...] save my Father, and so gave timely warning for his Fa­ther to prevent the danger.

A happy speaking of the child for the father.

Truly I count the Obligation to my Countrey, above the Obligation to my Father.

I have seen this danger many years coming upon the Nation. Though I am but young, and Ignorant in other business, I am sure there are few, if any in the Nation, that have had those ways and means to find out, and dis­cover these mischiefs, as I have. I know and apprehend more, than I [Page 91] will or can express.

The great mischiefs Transporting Gold and Silver, brings on this Nati­on, I apprehend.

The condition of your Army, which must be burthensom, if they have not money to pay for their Quartering, I apprehend the danger and dam­mage.

The necessity of Trades-men, and Handy-Crafts men will be put to for want of imployment, upon the scar­city of money, making all Trade to decay, I apprehend.

The sad condition of poor people, who will be enforced for want, to part with their clothes, their bedding, their dishes they eat their meat in, I apprehend

The danger the want and poverty of the poor will bring upon this State, if there be not ways found out to bring in Money into the Nation, I do very sadly and seriously apprehend the inconveniences.

And therefore I cry, God save the Common-wealth.

God put it into the hearts of the Parliament, to see to keep that little money we have yet left; and to find [Page 92] out, and punish those that have cheated, and robbed the Common-wealth of their Treasure, and to stu­die ways how to bring in money into the Nation, for if this be not done speedily, in all probability, greater inconveniences than I dare write, will come on the Common-wealth.

Much more I could say, but if these Reasons before recited, nor the Cer­tificates of the Officers of the Customs, and the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint, and several Reasons of some Aldermen of the Citie of London, for the stopping of the Transporting of Gold and Silver, and the Citie of Lon­dons Petition to the Parliament, pre­senting the great inconveniences Transporting Treasure hath brought upon this Citie of London and the Na­tion; I humbly say, if all these will not prevail, I have do [...]e: For if I should write a Volume as big as S [...]ds Chronicle, I cannot give more clearer satisfaction of the necessitie of passing this Act.

If God hath decreed this Nation shall be couzned of all its Treasure, and the Offendours not questioned, nor diligent enquirie made after it, and [Page 93] such means as our Ancestors and o­ther Nations (having far less occasion for money than we have) do daily pra­ctise; to prevent these mischiefs, and discover the Offendours, I shall with all humilitie submit to Gods Provi­dence, and rest satisfied.

I have clearly discharged my duty to my Countrey, in declaring this busi­ness to the Common-wealth, that so they may know the true Reasons of the scarcity of Gold and Silver in the Nation, and the dammage they su­stain by the want thereof, and how the Mint comes to be obstructed, that almost no money hath been Coyned for these three last years.

What is here said, is with all hu­mility presented to the Parliament for the service of the Common-wealth, by a faithfull lover of his Countrey, being desired to state my Reasons by some in Authoritie for passing the aforesaid Act, I hum­bly obeyed it, and humbly con­ceive (if it were made stricter than it is) it were far better for the Com­mon-wealth: For Transporting Treasure heretofore hath been made Felonie, when the Common-wealth, [Page 94] I humbly conceive, had not so much occasion to see to keep their Treasure in the Nation, and their Mint going, as now they have.