FOLIO 13.

Wee expresly forbid everie one, of what condition or [Page 67] qualitie soëver, to transport out of Our Kingdom, any Gold and Silver Coined or Uncoined, nor any other Gold­smith's work, upon penaltie of forfeiting the Materials and Merchandizes, and other things wherein they shall bee found to bee packt up in; besides the penaltie of fiftie pounds, and bodily punishment.

Now that general Laws and Statutes in England from time to time, have provided against transporting of Gold, or melting down the currant Coin, and buying Silver and Gold at above the price of the Mint, appeareth by these following, viz.

Stat. 9. Edw. 3. Both forbidding the transporting of the Gold of the Nation, and the melting down the currant Silver Coins, by Gold smiths or others into Plate.

Stat. 14 Rich 2. cap. 12. Commissions made through the Realm, for to enquire of such as had conveied the Monie of England out of the Nation, to the prejudice and damage of the King and Realm.

Stat. 17 Rich. 2. cap. 1. There shall bee no melting of the currant Monie to make any thing by Gold-smiths or others, upon pain of forfeiture.

2 Hen. 4. cap. 4. No person to transport Gold or Silver, either in Coin or Bullion, upon pain of forfeiting as much as they might.

4 Hen. 4. cap. 10. No Gold-smith or other person to melt down the currant Silver Coins of the Nation, upon pain of forfeiting four times the value.

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 All Statutes heretofore made touching the good and lawful government of Gold and Silver, and not repealed, to bee in force.

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

And becaus it is supposed, that the monie of Gold is transported by Merchants-aliens, It is ordeined, that the [Page 68] Merchants-aliens shall finde securitie with sureties in the Chancerie, that they shall not transport Gold or Monies out of the Kingdom, upon pain of forfeiting the summe or the value; and if any do contrary, and that duly proved, and hee so doing bee gon over Sea, then his pledges shall paie his said forfeiture; whereof hee that the same espied, and thereof gave notice to the Treasurer or the State's Council, shall have the fourth part.

2 Hen 6. ca. 12. To the intent that more monie bee brought into the Mint, It is ordeined, That neither the Master of the Mint, nor Changer for the time beeing, neither sell nor caus to bee sold, nor alien to no other use, but apply the same wholly to Coin, according to the tenure of the In­denture made betwixt the State, and Master of the Mint.

4 Hen. 7. cap. 13. Item, Where in a Parlament begun and holden at Westminster the 16 of Januarie, the 17 of Edw. 4. No person to carrie Gold or Silver either in Bullion or Coin, nor Jewels of Gold, but such persons as bee dispensed with by the Statute of Hen. 4. upon pain of Felonie, to bee heard and determined as other Felonie is; the which Statute to endure from the Feast of Easter, the 18 of Edw. 4. unto the end of seven years next ensuing: Since the which seven years expired, the Gold and Silver Coin of this Realm hath, and daily is conveied into Flanders, Normandie, Britanie, Ireland, and other parts beyond the Seas, as well by Mer­chants-Strangers, as by Denisons, to the great impoverish­ing of the Realm, and greater is like to bee, without re­medie thereof bee hastily provided. The King our Sove­reign Lord, the premises considered, by the advice of his Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Praiers of the Com­mons in the said Parlament assembled, and by the Autori­tie of the same, have ordeined, and enacted, and established, That the said Statute made in the sixteenth year of Edw. the fourth, bee, and stand a statute good and effectual, with all the premises in the same observed and kept, and put in due execution, from the Feast of the Purification of our [Page 69] die, which shall bee in the year of our Lord 1489. to en­dure to the end of twentie years next ensuing.

1 Hen. 8. cap. 13. An Act made, That whosoëver shall car­rie any Gold, or Silver, or Jewels out of the Realm, shall forfeit double the value, the one half to him that shall seiz it, or therefore sue by action of debt at the Common Law. This Act to endure to the next Parlament.

5 & 6 Edw. 6. cap. 16. An Act touching the exchange of Gold and Silver, that whosoëver give's more for Gold and Silver then it is or shall bee declared by the King's Procla­mation, shall suffer imprisonment by the space of one year, and make fine at the King's pleasure, the one moitie to his Majestie, the other moitie to bee to the partie that seizeth the same, or will sue for it by Bill, Plaint, or information, or otherwise.

1. A Proclamation against giving for light Gold more then is currant, 21 Julie, 17 Jac.

2. A Proclamation against melting English monie, 18 Maii, 9 Jac.

3. A Proclamation against buying and selling Gold and Silver, at higher prices then the Mint, 14 Maii, 1 Jac.

4. A Proclamation against transporting of Gold, 23 Maii, 1 ^o Jac.

5. A Proclamation against profit for Gold and Silver, and melting English monie for Plate; Waste in Gold and Sil­ver, 4 Feb. 19 Jac.

6. A Proclamation against transporting Gold and Sil­ver, and melting down the currant Coins of the Nation, 25 Maii, 3 Car.

From all which Statutes and Provisions, it may bee ga­thered, that the currant Monie and Bullion of the Nation, is the Subjects, onely to use between man and man, but not to abuse: for no man by the Law, can buie or sell them by waie of Merchandize at higher rates then they are Pro­elaimed; if hee do, hee is finable by the Law: hee that wash­eth, clippeth, or lesseneth the currant Coins, commit's treason. [Page 70] Hee that export's the Treasure of the Nation, either in Bulli­on, or currant Coin, beeing taken, loseth them: hee that melt's down the currant Gold or Silver of the Nation for Plate or other Manufactures, commit's a forfeiture; and transporting of treasure hath formerly been made Felonie, as by the several Statutes and Laws to this purpose appea­reth.

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

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

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

Whereas the Parlament, by their Ordinance 6 of Sept. 1647. did descrie all Clipped, Filed, or diminished Monie (by means whereof great quantities were sold to som Gold­smiths) who have made it a Trade to deal with Receivers of Publick Cashes, Grasiers, and several other persons (and in stead of melting of these Monies down) som Gold-smiths have issued these Monies out again in paiment, whereas at the Tower these Clipped Monies would make but five shil­lings the Ounce Troie, these men have vented out these Clipped Monies to divers ill-affected people at five shillings six pence, and five shillings eight pence, and six shillings the Ounce, who have dispersed the said Clipped Monies so bought from Gold-smiths, up and down the Nation again, to the great enriching of themselvs, and defrauding of the good people of this Nation, by buying up this Clipped Mo­nie [Page 71] since the Ordinance 1647. at the least twentie times over, and venting it for currant again, which had been helped, if there had been but six words put into the Ordinance, which was, to have required all persons exchanging any Clipt, or uncurrant English monie with any Gold-smith or others, upon forfeiture of double the value, to see it cut in two pieces, or so defaced, that it should not bee passable after. I humbly present this defect of that Ordinance, that it may bee looked after and amended; and I humbly desire, that the Act against transporting Treasure now committed, may bee enacted with such vigor, that the Common-wealth may have the real benefit, and the offendors brought to exemplarie Justice.

There hath been twentie Millions of Monie coined within this twentie five years, as will appear by the Mint-Books, and almost all of it transported out of the Nation, the Gold all gon, the currant Silver culled out, the weightiest melted and transported: and that Silver-Monies which remain's is but little, and all culled Gold is made as pretious in this Common-wealth as Diamonds. What incon­veniences will arise by the indirect dealing of private men in this particular to the Common-wealth, I shall humbly leav it to you to consider.

In the Year 1643. It was humbly offered to this Parla­ment, to have the offendors discovered, and to bring them to Justice, and this mischief stopped; but, by the great Interest of the offendors, that had then power in this Na­tion, the Proposition was slighted, and these mischiefs ever since daily practised, to the unspeakable damage of this Common-wealth: for it is far easier to keep the Trea­sure in the Nation, by making strict Laws against Trans­portation, then when it is gon to bring it back, as too late experience will make this Common-wealth feel. But you have the power to call these offendors to a strict accompt, if you pass the Act fully to enable all people to make their discoveries. How, and in what manner other Nations do punish these offendors, you have alreadie presented out of their Placarts. [Page 72] This evil is grown to such an hight, that both our own Laws put in the strictest execution, and the Customs and Laws of other Countries added to them for this particular, with the greatest diligence of expert men, to make the search for what is past, and to prevent these mis­chiefs for the time to com, will bee little enough: and to make this discoverie is a service of more Importance to the Common-wealth, then at first sight can bee apprehended.

This is a certain rule, No great action in any Common­wealth or State, can bee don but by Monie, which all ages have held to bee the sinews of War, and Garland of Peace; and what occasions we have to use it both for commerce and safetie, is humbly left to you to consider, and in all well-regulated States it hath ever been accompted a great service to discover the offendors and abuses practised upon the Treasure of their Nation; and to prevent the growth of these mischiefs, is the work of everie faithful lover of his Countrie; And hee or they that shall bee against the discoverie of these offences and offendors, may amongst judicious men bee justly suspected to bee Parties themselvs.

And though som Merchants and other Interested per­sons may, for their own interest, either for their profit, or fear of punishment for what they have don, speak them­selvs, or get others to oppose the Act against Transporting Treasure to pass the Hous, or procure it to bee so altered, as it shall not bee effectual to give a full cure to the Com­mon-wealth of the great inconveniences it is now under, by several abuses practised upon Coin 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 bee don till this Act pass; and if it were more stricter, it would bee more benefici­al to the Common-wealth, especially in these times, when you have so many occasions of Monie, by bringing in presently verie great summes of Monie to the State by the punishment of the offendors.

You have here, with all humilitie, set down to you, the waies and [Page 73] means whereby your neighbor Countries use to prevent these mischiefs, and to punish the offendors for what is past, with several old Sta­tutes of this Nation: out of which 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 Coined in ten daies, more Monie in the Tower of London, then hath been Coined neer upon this three last years. Now if you suffer treasure to go out of the Nation everie daie for want of a Law, to give all people power to discover and examine the offendors, in a short time you will not have any Monie left in the Common­wealth. For experience in all ages sheweth, that little and slight penalties can never stop som Merchants from their profit: so they get to their private, they care not what mis­chiefs the Common-wealth suffer's: For a Common-wealth without plentie of Monie, look's like a great Hous unfurnisht; and bare Walls is no handsom sight; and you will finde there will not bee Monie left to paie your just Taxes, Customs and Excise, and to maintain Trade and Commerce, if you clear not the obstruction of the Mint, and take not som effectual cours to set it on work. And this Act is but a preparation and ground work to caus your Mint to go; and till it 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; and 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 leav it to you to consider the inconveni­ence.

The Gold-smiths when they were before the Honorable Committee, by their Counsellor M ^r Recorder, and M ^r Vin­stanly, beeing demanded by the Committee, what they could saie why an Act should not pass for discoverie of such as had Transported the Coin and Bullion of the [Page 74] Nation? did by their Counsel, and by Sir John Wollaston, Alderman Viner, and the rest, declare their willingness to have the offendors brought to punishment: The like they did for all such as culled, or melted down the currant Coin of this Nation for their own private profit, or such as bought up the light Clipped English Monie, descried by an Ordinance of Par­lament the sixt of Sept. 1647. and did not deface it, but con­trarie to this Ordinance, did vent it again into several parts of the Nation, and paie it away to the deceit of all the peo­ple of the Nation. Upon this answer to the Committee, it put's mee in minde of a custom, which is usual in all men's houses; If Glasses bee broke, or any other mischief don, No bodie did it: But upon a Commission of enquirie, many times it is found to bee Som. body. But to the question that was asked the Gold-smith. by the Honorable Committee, concerning 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 buie Silver, but somtime the Market was at 5 s. 1 d. 5 s. 2d. and 5s. [...]d. and Sir John Wollaston said, That hee, 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, hee did appeal to his Brethren, Alderman Viner, & 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, First, Sterling-Silver will make but 5 s. in the Mint; and it is delivered out of the Mint, after it is Coined, at 5 s, 2 d the Ounce. If the Gold-smiths give 5 s. 5 d. for this Sterling Silver, how can any bee brought into the Mint? nay, how is all the heavie Monie culled and melted down, and none left to pass but light and clipped? And this is the true ground why many Gold-smiths are Cashiers to Merchants, and keep servants to receiv men's Monies, without any reward, onely that they might cull, and weigh out the heavie 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 in is well weighed and considered. But that which is their usual Trade, now discovered to bee so highly destructive to the Nation, ought to bee 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 and Silver, above the price of the Mint.

They see it, that it is the Law of the Land, in the 5 and 6 Ed. 6. cap. 13. It is the daily practice of France, Holland, Flanders, as appear's hereby their Laws. Clothing is the Sta­ple of the Land, and ought most to bee cherished; yet the law propound's for the regulating of the weight, the length, and breadth. Brick-makers, Wood-mongers, Meal-men. and divers other Trades, are restrained and regulated, and yet all these Trades receiv protection and countenance in their orderly working of their Manufactures, from the Common-wealth.

There are people which believ, That if there had been a real intention to give a stop to the transporting of Monie, it had been don before; though for my part I am not of that opinion. There was (saie they) notice of it nine years ago, 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 mee at large presented to the Parlament, and the same mischiefs foretold, which are now com to pass; that without it were looked after, and a strict Law made against it, to discover the offendors, there would not bee any Gold or Silver left in the Nation. And this hath proved too true; for many millions of Gold and Silver have since been transported, to the unspeakable da­mage of the Common-wealth.

And upon seizure of several great quantities of Gold and Silver, by M. Watkins, chief Searcher of the Port of London, which was shipped to bee transported; the Order of the [Page 76] Parlament, the 1 of Septemb. 1647. was made to the Committee of the Navie, to see to prevent it.

After all these Certificates made by the Officers of the Mint and Customs, and the Committee of the Navie, for the speedie putting so good a work in execution, (all which, I have hereafter set down.) The Council of State was pleased to make a Committee of themselvs; and after ma­ny great and serious consultations, drew up the draught of an Act of Parlament, with their desire to the Parlament to have it pass with all expedition, for the service of the Com­mon-wealth.

There are others, more unhappie, which saie, Now the Steed is stoln, shut the stable door: Now there is no more Gold left to transport, to what purpose doth the Parlament make an Act against transporting Gold? this should have been don before; for how can wee maintain Commerce, paie Taxes, when our English Gold is fortie times more plentiful beyond the Seas, then it is in England, and almost all the Silver Coin of the Nation transported, and scarce any left, but clipped, and light monie.

And som people are so impudent to believ, that there are som Members of Parlament guiltie of transporting monie, or els this Act should not have stuck so long upon their hands.

Others there are, that have transported monie, and com­mitted manie abuses upon the Coins of the Nation, that hope they shall have their pardon for what is past, though they have transported almost all the Gold and Silver of the Nation, that now if they would, they can offend no more; and they have don the Common-wealth that damage, that a Million of monie cannot give them satisfaction. These I humbly conceiv, ought to bee made to restore their unjust gain, which will deter any others hereafter from doing the like.

And there are that saie, Look how almost all men have sped, that have certified against transporting monie, or lookt to stop the same. [Page 77] Hath not Sir Robert Harlow, and M. Cogan been put out of their places in the Mint? Hath not M. Watkins, M. Tomes, Sir Thomas Daws, and M. Hollowaie been put out of their places in the Custom-Hous? Were not you Thomas Violet imprisoned in the Tower four years, becaus you should not tell the truth, and let the Common-wealth know for all that time, most of their monie and treasure was send­ing out of the Nation?

I shall add somthing more to this. I have observed what the State hath gotten by putting out these men; and I found, First, That upon the putting forth of the old Officers of the Mint, in M. Swallow's place, who was the Clerk of the Irons, and Surveier of the Melting-Hous for the Mint; a place of great skill and trust, there is a now a Clerk put in, to execute that place, that can neither write nor read; and other Officers put into the places of the old ones in the Mint, that were utterly ignorant of managing the mysteries of that Office. And one of the greatest obstru­ctions of the Mint, com [...]s through the ignorance of the Officers, and their want of correspondence and acquain­tance with such as usually have brought Monie from beyond the Seas.

The old Officers of the Mint, were Masters in this My­sterie, which is not so soon learned as men think. And for son of those that have been turned out of their places out of the Custom-Hous, now the Act is passed for the Coun­cil of Trade, there will quickly bee presented the practices of som of the Officers of the Customs, and Pe­titions for a redress of many abuses practised by som of them, and a Review Petitioned for, to know upon what grounds many of the old Officers were turned out of their places, beeing never charged with any offence, but onely forced out to make waie for others to com into their places; som of the old Officers of the Customs beeing turned out of their places, onely becaus of their activitie in stopping the Gold and Silver of the Nation from beeing transported; [Page 78] and this is M. Edward Watkins his case, and others put into his Office, that seize's Gold and Silver before it is forfeited, and when the Merchant recover's it again by Law, the Sear­cher that made the seizure, take's the King's Bench, and so the Merchant may go seek his monie, to the great damage of the Merchant.

But according to the former presidents, all Officers of the Customs were to put in securitie for the just perfor­mance of their trust to the State, and no Officer was to receiv the Customs, and Monies of the Common-wealth in any Port of this Nation; nor to make any seizure before hee had put in securitie to the Lord Treasurer, to make a true ac­compt of what monies and goods came to their hands, which I (having more then probable reasons) do believ the Collectors, and other Officers of the Ports, have not don, to the great damage of the Common-wealth, and prejudice of the Merchants, if seizures bee unjustly made, and the Mer­chants recover their Goods or Monies by a Verdict at Law, and after all their charge and hazard, not to have all their Goods and Monies again. This discoverie I have put in for the service of the Common-wealth, it beeing a caus judged in the Checquer this last Term, that for the future such abuses of the new Officers of the Customs might bee prevented.

I have to som men replied this Act; it hath been delaied by the Parlament, onely by the multitude of other business, though I must confess there are verie few businesses of the Common-wealth can take place before this, but that all people should see when the Parlament's business was a lit­tle over, how zealous in deeds, & not in words, they would bee, for to punish these great offendors, and to make them paic back the unjust gain; which monies should bee em­ploied for the Publick, and so save the Nation Taxes: That I was confident there was not any Member in the Parla­ment was guiltie of transporting monie; or if there were, they durst not bee seen to justifie so wicked an Act, but [Page 79] would bee glad to sleep quiet in a whole skin; and truly if I did know any of them, I would not meddle with them, unless the Act did positively enjoin mee to do it.

It hath been objected to mee, by som Gold-smiths, and others; That I my self have been a transporter of monie, and melter down of heavie Coin of the Nation, and a furnisher of Gold and Silver to transport out of this Nation, and a buier of Gold and Silver above the price of the Mint. I denie it not, and my an­swer to them is, An old Dear-stealer is the best keeper of a Park. And though I had the late King's pardon, I had it not but it cost mee dear; I paid at one time to his Privie Purs, two thousand twentie shillings Pieces in Gold, and I am out at this daie by his command, in making the discoverie of such as transported Gold, nineteen hundred & threescore pounds; both which summes, I have been out of Purs fifteen years: I would not have the greatest offendor (that is a Gold-smith) by my consent, paie so great a summe. And this is my answer to them, to that objection.

I would have them by my example leav off so destru­ctive a Trade to the Common-wealth, as furnishing the transporters with Gold and Silver, culling and melting down the currant Coin. If I had not been convinced in my conscience, that it was bad, I would have followed that trade still. I had as good an Estate, as most of the Gold-smiths to do it. I had as good credit, and I left my trade as fairly; for I challenge all, or any man in London, that can saie I did not paie all men readie monie to everie pennie and farthing I ought, when I gave over my trade; and the best Alderman of London can do no more. It is incident to all men to err; happie is hee that repent's; but to persist against the light of a man's conscience, is don by the strong instigation of the Devil.

I do humbly present further, that there have great mis­chiefs happened to this Nation and their Armie in Ireland since this Parlament, by the indirect dealing of som Mer­chants and Gold-smiths in London, who contracted with [Page 80] som of the adventurers for Ireland, to sell them Rials of Eight and Forrain Coins, giving them som small time; but the poor Soldiers that received these monies in Ireland, lost above twentie pounds in the hundred by the monies so paid them; for first, the Gold-smiths culled out all the weighti­est, and delivered none but light and clipped; and then the coursness of the Silver, which was Bead-monie, and adulterated in the West- Indies in the Mints, somtimes six pence, somtimes more upon everie piece of Eight, as is well known to som Gold-smiths and Merchants, so that by the baseness of the Allaie, and want of Weight there hath been at the least twentie pounds in the hundred loss to the soldiers, if hee would make any return of it to his wife or children in England, as many of them found by sad expe­rience.

The Gold-smiths are the general Cashiers, for som of the principal Merchants in the Citie; and this rule the Gold­smiths observ; when they receiv monies, to take none that is bad or clipped, (but let any man send to them to receiv monies, they shall have great quantities of clipped monie mixed in their monies they receiv, and som of it constant­ly will escape the teller's eies) which clipped monies the Gold-smiths buie of several people for Bullion, but never Coin it; the rest that they cannot put off here in London, they have their Agents to vent it to Grasiers and other peo­ple in the Countrie all over the Nation; by which means in many Towns and Cities of this Nation, they are so pe­stred with clipped monie, that there is little els stirring in paiment, to the unspeakable damage of the receiver, who cannot paie it in London, but sell it to the Gold-smiths, som­times at twentie five, and thirtie in the hundred abated: which is by the Gold-smiths returned down into the Coun­trie next week after; So that this abuse is like an Hors in a Mill, it turn's round, and is a cheat put upon all people of the Nation, and without a strict Act of Parlament against it, will not bee prevented.

All these abuses aforesaid, are so high and transcendent, that the offendors ought to bee used as men usually use Wolvs and Foxes; for if private murther bee so penal, much more is publick murther: now Monie is the Life, Bloud, and Soul of the Common-wealth, without it no great action can bee undertaken, for the service of the Nati­on; and those that transport it, or adulterate it in weight, may well bee esteemed as the greatest enemies to the Com­mon-wealth. Therefore I humbly praie, that you would bee pleased to give all encouragement to all people, both in the Sea-Ports of this Nation, and in the Citie of London, for the discoverie of the transporting of Gold and Silver, and such as cull out the heavie Silver Coin of the Nation, and such as have bought Gold and Silver above the price of the mint, to transport; for as the affairs now of this nation stand, you cannot have a greater dis-service don to the Common­wealth; and you will finde the Commissioners and Offi­cers of the Customs certifie to the Commissioners of the Navie in Sept. 1647. their desires in their fourth Article, that a greater allowance should bee given to such as disco­ver the transporters of Gold or Silver, then by the Statutes in that Case is provided; and the Statute in 1 Henrie 8. cap. 13. give's double the value, the one half to him that shall seiz it, or therefore sue by action of Debt at the Com­mon Law; and by this draught of the Act, there is but one moitie of what shall bee proved to have been transpor­ted, given to the prosecutor.

What Forrain Nations do, you have here the presidents of France, Holland, Flanders; and what former ages here in this Nation have don, you have in 14 Rich. 2. cap. 12. by Act of Parlament Commissions made through the Realm, to enquire from the beginning of his Reign, which was for fourteen years, of such as had conveied the Monie of England out of the Nation, to the damage of the Realm; and unless you make the like Commissions, the Com­mon-wealth will bee brought to extreme povertie.

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

THese Gentlemen by reason of their places in the Cu­stom-Hous, and Mint within the Tower of London, & [Page 86] their long experience in Merchandize and Trade of this Nation; I humbly conceiv their Certificates will leav a great Impression upon the Parlament, and on the Hono­rable Committeee that are appointed to report this Act, that what these Gentlemen have certified, hath been don upon a great deal of consideration, and upon great experience, with all their best skill and judgment for the service of this Nation in this most weightie business, it tending so highly to the safetie and welfare of the publick, and the delaie of passing this Act in its full force and vigor will one daie bee found to bee highly destructive to this Nation, and that the design hath been set on foot, and prosecuted to hinder the Act from passing, is don by som people that have made themselvs fortunes by these wicked practices; and though they dare not speak against the Act, yet they labor to stop it and delaie it, or to procure the altering of it, that it may bee uneffectual, to give a stop to these mischiefs which I hope they shall never bee able to effect; I would have these men to know, Justice is slow, but it is sure, and I am assured they will bee discovered and brought to Justice when they least think of it; forbearance will bee no paiment: and this Act will bring their dark actions to light when it is passed the Hous. Besides these former Certificates, the Act now com­mitted was drawn up by a Committee of the Council of State, and I was required to attend the Right Honorable Sir James Harrington in Januarie last, beeing one of the Com­mittee for taking away the obstructions of the Mint, which I did accordingly, and thereupon by Order of the Honora­ble Committee, for removing of the obstruction of the Mint, I was desired to send into Holland for several Coins of Forrain Gold and Silver, and several Placarts and Weights, and som of the said Gold and Silver, I have de­livered to Doctor Gurden to make Assaies of, for the service of the State, the remainder I have readie to deliver to any that will see mee paid upon the deliverie; I having deman­ded monie of Doctor Gurden divers times, who tell's mee, [Page 87] 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 [Page 88] 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 Altar­cloths, 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 [Page 89] 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 [Page 90] 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 bee discovered, once in one thousand times. But I hum­bly conceiv, it must bee made Felonie for any to import Flanders, French, or Forrain Laces, or Cut-works, and loss of any Shop-keeper's Estate that shall knowingly sell any Forrain 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 monie; And if the Gentrie will wear Laces, let them on God's name put our own poor on work, and not Forrainers; and by this means, you will give relief to many poor Gentle­women, which through the calamities of the War, are almost starved, and they are ashamed to beg, and they would bee glad to make Lace, if any would emploie them.

THere is also a great and excessive waste of the Gold of this Nation, in the vanitie of guilding of Caroches, which is com to that extravagancie, that if a Bainian of the Fast- Indies, or a Chinoes of China, or any other strange Nati­on should com to Hide-Park, in an after-noon, hee would report in his own Countrie such stories, as your Jesuits report of Perue, and Mexico, upon 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 Gentrie's wealth of this Nation; That they were drawn through the streets of this Citie of London, in Caroches covered over with beaten Gold.

But I shall tell you what a French Merchant said to mee this Summer in Hide-Park, as wee were talking of the great quantities of English Gold, which hath been trans­ported into France and Flanders, and other Forrain parts; [Page 91] Saith the French Merchant to mee, I have heard you often com­plain of all the English Gold, beeing transported beyond the Seas, and now wee are again speaking of it, I will demonstrate to you pre­sently, that all is not gon, for you see how many guilded Caroches here are; then laughing, hee told mee, you see Sir, how you are mistaken, all your Gold is not gon; 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 Caroches, and to make you fine things, but wee in France have the kernel of your Gold, and thus much I grant you. But wee in France, and Holland, and Flanders, have not all, wee are more conscionable, good Monsieur Violet. I was forced to bite my lip, for I could not denie but that hee spake truth.

THere is another great waste 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 som things may bee said for it, and som things against it; I shall impartially put down som things which I know in this business; for I had the principal care of regulating that Manufacture of Gold and Silver-Wier and Thread, for five years together in the late King's time, and paid him about four thousand pounds yearly for it; besides I was enjoin­ed 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 cours­ness of much of the Silver, and in the slight making of it.

If the Manufacture of the Gold and Silver-Thread, was brought in from beyond the Seas, then would the State have the Custom, there beeing a great Impost and Custom laid on it, which would bee a considerable Revenue to the Common-wealth. The Common-wealth in the stock of their treasure would bee augmented; for all Gold and Silver-Thread make's a Return to the melting pot, and so increase's the stock of monie in the Nation; besides, that is an advantageous Trade, which for the Returns of our [Page 92] Commodities and Manufactures of England, bring's us Re­turns in Silver.

There is replied to this, the setting so many thousands of poor people on work, which will starv, 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 bee considered on. But then if they will have leav to make it here, it should bee don with such restraints and limitations, as the treasure of the Nation should not bee wasted or impaired, the currant monie of the Nation should not bee culled out to make Gold and Silver-Thread, as many hundreds of thousand pounds have been since the making of this Manufacture, which was but begun to bee a Trade in London, within less then fortie years; also there should bee a restriction of the number of the workers, not to encreas as they have don, and the Wier-drawers should bee a distinct Corporation, and Officers appointed to look after their due and Orderly working, and an accompt kept for the State, of what Sil­ver and Gold is spent everie year in the Manufacture, and the Companie of Gold-Wier-drawers enjoined to bring in the value in Bullion from beyond the Seas, as they waste in this Manufacture; for without doing of this, the trade is wholly destructive to the Common-wealth, and there can bee no just plea to allow their trade to continue.

I humbly conceiv the Common-wealth is not in a con­dition to suffer fiftie thousand pounds a year in Silver, to bee 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 bee bound not to work Silver with a Core of Copper, and sell it for good Silver, (for which cheat I have caused som of them to stand in the Pillorie, when I had the managing of that Manufacture) and also that the Wier-drawers bee bound, not to make any Spangles, Wier, or Thread, under sterling, which hereto­fore [Page 93] hath been their daily practice, and I believ is continued still. Therefore ought by a sworn Officer to bee regulated, and that Officer to bee no Trader in the Manufacture.

M. Jackson the Assaie-Master of Gold smith's Hall, by di­rection of the Lords of the Council, made many score of As­saies of Gold and Silver-Spangles, Lace, Wier, and Thread, found and taken in Silk-men's shops, which were adulte­rated, and under the Standard; and this Manufacture will never bee justly made, if there bee not a government set­tled by a Corporation, and then the Trade might bee so managed by their contracting for Bullion from beyond the Seas, that they may get a great Manufacture here. But I humbly desire that Trade may bee driven with Forrain Sil­ver; Imported, and not with the Stock, or Coin of the Nation.

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 [Page 99] 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 [Page 100] 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 [Page 101] 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 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 [Page 103] 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 [Page 104] 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.

Whereupon the Refiners, as Sir John Wollaston, Master Alderman Gibs, and others, seeing the Wier-drawers go about to exclude them of their Trade, and to get a Corpo­ration upon the terms aforesaid; they (I saie) did serv the Wier-drawers, as the Merchant-Adventurers served the Cloth-workers, out-bid them; for they to have their par­dons, and to bee freed of the complaints of the Gold-smiths in the Star-Chamber, and to have the Trade onely in their own hands, that none but the Refiners of London might bee his Majestie's Agents in the new waie of Regulation, for the furnishing, and preparing, fining, refining, and sel­ling Gold and Silver-Wier, to bee used and emploied in the Manufactures. First, they did covenant with the late King, to bring all the Gold and Silver by them prepared for the Manufactures, to an Hous called the Golden Fleece in Little Britain, or to such other place as the late King's Commissi­oners should appoint; there to sell and utter the same, and not elswhere. That all Silver so provided, should bee assaied before the same was put to sale, by such as the late King should appoint in that behalf; not to sell the Gold and Silver so provided, but to persons by the late King's Commissioners allowed to work and use the same, and to none other, unless to known Gold-smiths, for the augmen­tation and amendment of Plate, or to, or for the use of the Mint; and not sell the same to persons allowed, unless they would paie the duties limited to the late King, viz. for [Page 107] everie Ounce of Silver guilt, six pence; and for everie Ounce of Gold, six pence; So that upon the finishing of this agree­ment between the late King and the Refiners, the Wier­drawers which would have excluded the Refiners from their Corporation, are by these Articles debarred their Trade; and both Gold-smiths, and Wier-drawers, or any other but these Agents, were debarred to prepare any Silver for any of the Manufactures of Wier-drawers; and becaus they came off so freely, and bid the late King roundly six pence the Ounce on all the Wier, the late King was pleased to gratifie them with a Courtly title, calling them his well­beloved subjects, the Refiners of London, his Agents; and to requite them, settled such a price certain for fine Silver, and refine Silver, and such a price certain for ordinary guilt, and rich guilt, and no person should presume to have or make any of these Materials, but to give these the late King's Agents their own price, and none to sell, but these Refiners, lately created the late King's Agents.

Whereupon Captain Williams, the late King's Father's Gold-smith, in the behalf of the Companie of Gold-smiths, hee beeing one of the late King's Commissioners, often­times did desire, that the Gold-smiths might bee heard a­gainst the Monopoly of the Refiners; and hee beeing a rich man, worth at least fiftie thousand pounds, did offer in the behalf of the Companie of Gold-smiths, to give any securitie to the late King; that if the Trade were left open to a free Market for all the Gold-smiths as formerly, the Gold-smiths would sell all the Silver to the Wier-draw­ers of London, in everie Ounce of guilt Silver-Wier, two pence, and in Silver-Wier one pennie cheaper, then the late King's Agents made them paie.

The like Propositions was made by Henrie Footer Gold­smith, then a man of great credit, and by William Simmonds Wier-drawer of London, and divers others, for a free Trade, that they might not bee restrained to buie their Silver of the Refiners of London onely, but to bee at libertie as former­ly [Page 108] to buie their Silver where they will, and to refine their own Silver.

But these offers after many disputes, the Refiners opposed, and then said it was their Trade, and none should fine and prepare Gold and Silver for any Manufactures used by the Gold-Wier-drawers, but themselvs, the late King's Agents, which was, as I take it, onely to eight Refiners of London.

The Wier-drawers seeing themselvs over powered by these the late King's Agents, a little before the Parlament, and at the beginning of this Parlament, complained and clamored at the Regulation; when, if the Refiners had left the Market open for all men equally to prepare his own Sil­ver, paying the late King the duties, it is well known the Wier-drawers could never have hindered the sealing and surveying of the Manufacture of Gold and Silver-Thread; for by that waie, the Manufacture was warranted to the Common-wealth: and if it had been continued, it would have avoided and prevented the many abuses since, in ma­king slight and cours Silver-Thread, and Spangles, and Wi­er. And if I had had the managing of my Office, as I had formerly, the State should have had twentie thousand pounds in their Coffers for Excise, more then they have received within these four years, due to them upon four pence the Ounce Excise; which monie is in the hands of som of the Wier-drawers and Refiners.

Now when this busines came to bee examined in Parla­ment, these Agents that would not before part with their Title, would not let the Gold-smiths have a free Market to prepare Silver for Gold and Silver-wier; would not suffer the Wier-drawers to prepare their own Silver, they offe­ring to paie the late King's duties in the Office. I saie, these Agents finding som of the Members in Parlament to resent a restraint in Trade to a few Refiners, and knowing none but themselvs guiltie of the offence, cunningly put in a Pe­tition into the Parlament, the twentie fourth of November 1640. as though the prices allowed to them to sell their [Page 109] Silver, and they onely to bee the Agents to sell, was for­ceably put upon them, and against their wils; and if they should not have furnished the Silver at the place appointed, and bee readie alwaies at fit and convenient times to sell and utter the same to the persons so allowed, desiring to buie the same at the rates limited by their Indenture, but should fail therein for the space of eight daies. Then upon proof thereof before six of the Commissioners, whereof one should bee of his Majestie's Privie Council, & upon their Certificate his Majestie might give libertie to others to do the same; the consequence whereof would have been to deprive the Refiners of their Trade.

This shew's clearly, if this Agencie had not been for their profit, and to make an advantage, the Refiners might have forfeited their Agencie everie eight daies. But they kept it up for their own profit; for if they had laid it down, the Companie of Gold-smiths, and the Wier-drawers, would have had a free Market, and the duties still reserved to the late King, would have been paid by the Wier-draw­ers and Gold-smiths as was offered. And whereas they are so injurious to saie, that they were fettered with the late King's Covenants and Agents, I knew the time when they said otherwise, and when som of them were most humble Petitioners to the late King for his mercie, which hee gave, at my Intercession freely, to som of them, and his pardon under the Great Seal of England; and that courtesie I did for them freely, without one pennie reward. In re­quital to saie they were fettered with his Agencie; truly it was such a fetter, that I upon my own knowledg do know both the Silk-men of London, the Wier-drawers of London, and the Gold-smiths of London, did oppose the restraining of the Trade of selling Gold and Silver-wier onely to the Refiners, and desired to have a free Market; and som of them did offer to sell it two pence in the Ounce in guilt-wi­er, and one pennie the Ounce in Silver-wier cheaper then the late King's Agents, and to put in good securitie to per­form [Page 110] the same to the Nation, and to paie the late King's du­ties, which at six pence the Ounce in Wier, is not above two pence the Ounce in Venice Gold and Silver-Thread.

This I can saie, what the Finers called a Fetter, would have been an Ornament, if the Wier-drawers had not complai­ned of them in Parlament, both for their title of the late King's Agents, and the many hundred pounds a year they received for their Silver, more then it was offered to bee sold to the Wier-drawers at, by the persons before named; and this I know to bee true.

That upon many daies examination of the whole busi­ness, by Master Atturnie General, and all the rest of the late King's Council at Law, and before the Lords of the Coun­cil, it was unanimously upon many great and grave dis­putes carried, that the intrusting of the Regulation of this Manufacture of Gold and Silver-wier, and Thread, was not to bee don by waie of Corporation, neither to the Refi­ners, nor Wier-drawers of London; and the principal rea­sons were.

1. That upon a trial of above one hundred several assaies of Gold & Silver bought up in several Silk-men's, and Wier­drawer's shops, both of Spangles, plated wier, Gold and Silver-Thread, and made by Master Jackson the Assaie-Ma­ster of Gold-smith's Hall; the Gold and Silver-Thread, Spangles, & Wier, were found to bee made cours and adul­terated, and under the sterling; and I had all these Assaies attested under Master Jakson's hand, the Assaie-Master of Gold-smith's Hall; and for his pains in making these As­saies, I had order from the Lords of the Council, to paie Master Jackson five pounds, which I did accordingly, and I delivered the Reports of these Assaies to the Lords of the Council; and Master Jackson the Assaie-Master of Gold­smith's Hall, cannot denie this to bee true.

2. It was proved that the Manufacture of Gold and Sil­ver-Thread, was slightly made, and not so substantial and serviceable as the Gold and Silver-Thread which was Im­ported [Page 111] from Venice, and other Forrain parts; all of the Gold and Silver-Thread coming from Venice, holding two parts Silver, or within a verie little, as six Ounces Silver to three Ounces Silk.

3. Thereupon a rule was set by the Lords of the Coun­cil upon many debates, that no Gold and Silver-Thread should bee made under five Ounces Silver, to three Ounces Silk at the least; and for Needle Gold-Thread, according to the standard of Venice, six Ounces Silver to three Ounces Silk.

4. That all the Gold and Silver-Thread Imported from beyond Seas, beeing of so strong a plate, was made up in scanes, that so the buier might but turn it in his hand, and see it was all perfectly good; a great advantage to the Manu­facture, to have it all justly made for the fineness of the stan­dard, and to have such a bodie of Silver on the Silk, as it was serviceable to the Common-wealth; and when it was worn out, almost all returned into the melting pot for Bullion; and upon this reason the slight stuff was prohi­bited, viz. that it was almost all wasted, and not a tenth part returned to the melting pot, to the waste of the treasure of the Nation, above fiftie thousand pounds in a year.

5. The Lords of the Council after many debates with the King's Council, and they with the Silk-men and Wier­drawers, set this rule for all the Manufactures of Gold and Silver-Thread, That it should all bee made up in scanes, of about an Ounce weight, according to the commendable waie of Venice, which make's this Manufacture so justly both for the weight and fineness, that in one hundred Ca­ses of Venice Gold-Thread, there is not one six pence diffe­rence, but according to the seals or burns, it passe's all the world over. A gallant thing to manage a Manufacture so exactly, and to keep up the reputation of it.

The late King and his Council appointed mee a Seal, which was the Rose and Crown, to seal all Gold and Silver-Thread in scanes, at one end of the scane, and to warrant it [Page 112] to bee good Silver to the Nation, with a Prohibition to any to presume to counterfeit that Seal: The other end of the scane of Silver-Thread, the work-man was to put to his seal; by which waie, the Nation had the Gold and Silver-Thread warranted to them, and if any Gold or Silver-thread were sealed with the seal of the Office, and had the work­man's seal to it; which seal of the work-mans, was put in a Table in the Office for any man to see, by which means if any man should have counterfeited the Office-seal, and the Thread was found courser or worser then the standard, and not to have five Ounces to one pound Venice, the partie of­fending was to bee punished; and if any Clerk of mine should have sealed any cours Silver with the seal of the Of­fice, then I Thomas Violet was to make it good to the Com­mon-wealth, or any partie grieved, what they were dam­nified; and to warrant this Manufacture right, both for to have five Ounces Silver on a pound Venice, and that to bee good Silver. I had no more then four pence the pound weight Venice for my pains and hazard, which was little more then one farthing an Ounce; and if any person did complain, then I Tho. Violet was to make all the damage good to the partie or parties grieved; and out of this fee I was to paie Clerk's wages and other Officers for their atten­dance in sealing the Thread, and for wax for sealing.

Besides, it is no small trouble to have daily conversation with people of such several humors, and som of them of such uncivil and cours behavior, that the Honorable Coun­cil for Trade have had more patience to hear their speeches one to another at the board, then I believ they ever had with any people that came before them; then they must needs bee clamorous when the Officer doth his dutie to see they make all good work; and this place I Thomas Violet was required to execute. And I have the Grant of this Of­fice under the Great Seal of England for two lives; and though I was commanded to deliver my Patent to the Ho­norable Gentleman Sir Robert Harlow, who was then Ma­ster [Page 113] of the Mint, and Chair-man for this business, but as yet hee hath not made any report concerning this business. I stand upon my Grant as a good Patent, and for the benefit of the Common-wealth; for the fee was not 10 s. in 100 pounds for all Gold and Silver Manufactured in Silver­thread, Silver-spangles, Oes, and Purl, and Wier, and for that fee I was to run the hazard to make all the Manufacture good to this Nation, that was bought in the Office, or had the seal appointed by the State put to the thread; and I shall humbly appeal to all the wearers of Gold and Silver-Lace in this Nation, whether they would not bee glad to paie ten shillings in the hundred pounds now, to have their Gold and Silver-thread, and wier warranted to them to bee good Silver, and the Silk truly covered with a substantial Bodie of Silver, and to the Thread everie pound Venice to weigh at the least five Ounces of Silver, by which order and rule, their Silver-Lace would last six times as long as it doth, and never lose the color; and when they had don wearing it, it would yield above one third pennie it cost to the melting pot, whereas now upon som Silver-Lace that is made in London, when it is worn out, that Silver that cost ten pounds, will not yield twentie shillings to the melting pot; and this is known by slight Wheel-work, and slight Laces; a great deal of difference upon the return to the melting pot, of rich Lace made by the Hand spin­ners, and slight Wheel-work made by your Wheel-men; and this can bee proved by many Trades-men, as Tailors and Silk-men, and Silver-spinners, who are best able to judg the Manufacture, that the Gold and Silver-Thread, and Wier, was never so well made in England, before nor since, as during all the time I had the regulating of the Ma­nufacture; and it did concern mee to look to have it well made, or els I might have been undon, for I was to make it all good. It was not to receiv a fee, and never to look how the Manufacture was made; but my fee was to bee earned with a great deal of attendance, and charge, and [Page 114] hazard, and my constant searching to see the Manufacture was vvell made.

The Wier-drawers and Silk-men knew I would spare none of them that made bad ware; for I caused Gares to stand in the Pillorie, that made Gold and Silver-Thread vvith a Core of Copper; I caused slight vvork to bee unspun a­gain, that was not covered vvith five Ounces Silver to one pound Venice; and this I did to Archer that was the Clerk of the Commission, though hee brought mee a Letter from a Privie Counsellor, to deliver the Silver-Thread without defacing; yet I valued the keeping my trust, before a Lord's Letter, and hee was no mean man in power then.

I questioned Master Bradbourn the Queen's Silk-man, for putting in Copper into an Honorable Ladie's Silver-Lace, and selling it her for good Silver; and a second time for putting Copper into my Lord Carlile's Suit and Cloak, and selling it to him for good Silver; and if the Queen had not sent to mee, and laid her commands on mee not to proceed farther, I had made him an example. Many other Silk­men sold Silver-Thread with a Core of Copper, and som sold Copper for Silver, vvhich as long as I had the Trust, I vvould not spare any man.

I seized on fiftie pounds of Silver-Lace, mixed with Copper, in Master Alderman Garrawaie's custodie, when hee was Lord Major of London, and brought it away from him against his will, as Sir George Sands knoweth, and the vvorld know's hee had spirit enough: and upon that sei­zure, I found twentie men had an hand in it, for it was sent to Russia, and there the Emperor's Council seized it, and laid Master Sands in prison, Sir George Sand's brother, who had brought the adulterate Silver-Lace into the Coun­trie. And upon examination and proof, that Master Sands was cousened by buying this Silver-Thread for good Silver in London, it was sent over to the Russia Companie to have the offendors found out, vvhere upon examination before the Commissioners, twentie men run away.

By these good waies, I so ordered the Regulation of the Manufactures during the time of the Regulation, that the stuff was made all good Silver, and five Ounces to one pound Venice; and if any did work in Corners, that which was with a Cote of Copper, or against the rule, my Instru­ments were sure to finde them out one time or another. And for doing of this service, I had Warrants directed to several people for to discover the offendors; and becaus I was true to my trust, I would not suffer the Common-vvealth to bee cousened 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 [Page 116] 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 [Page 117] 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 [Page 118] publick charges. Now I humbly desire the Hon ^ble 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 and Silver. Thread, when it is Manufactured. And other sorts of goods that are for use, and not superfluous, paie's five pounds in the hundred.

Now if the State pleas to laie six pence on the Ounce for all Gold and Silver-Wier, that is disgrossed at the Bar, it is not above three pounds in one hundred for som sorts of Gold and Silver-Thread, and four pounds ten shillings in the hundred pounds Excise for the heaviest; when it Ma­nufactured, and it is a superfluous commoditie, that if any will wear it, they ought to paie so much Excise as other commodities doth; and if the rules desired in the Silver­spinner's last printed Petition to your Honors, with som few other Observations on Master Atturnie General Bankes [Page 119] his Certificate, for the Regulating the Manufacture, the State will make six thousand pounds a year of it, and the Manufacture all made right, both for the fineness of the Sil­ver, and the just covering of the Thread, with a good plate, and to settle a comfortable livelihood for the labor of all the poor working Wier-drawers, and Silver-spinners, that have a right to the Trade by service or seven years usage; and the supernumerarie Master-Wier-drawers, and Work-men, to bee excluded the Trade, that have not served for it, or not wholly followed it for seven years.

I humbly desire your Honors to take notice by the Ordi­nance of Parlament, that laie's four pence upon all Silver disgrossed at the Bar, dated the sixt of August 1646. all Gold and Silver-Thread was to bee made up in scanes, and to bee sealed without any fee: and this no doubt was moved to bee put in by som people who knew verie well, if there were no fee allowed, there could bee no service don; and that which hath made the Citie of London so full of slight Silver-Thread, is the neglecting the surveying of it: For how could any Sealer give his attendance, warrant the Sil­ver to the Nation, and to any Merchants, to bee good Sil­ver, both according to the Standard of the Silver, and that it contain's in one pound Venice, five Ounces of Silver; (and without this warrant to the buier, what good doth the sealing of it?) While I had the surveying of this Ma­nufacture, which was above four years, I warranted it all to the Common-wealth; and I challenge any Wier-draw­er, or Finer, or Silk-man in London, to produce one pound of bad or slight Silver, I ever sealed at the Office, or that any man could ever fasten one pennie on mee, or other reward, for conniving at any man that did not work good Silver.

It is well known, I did alwaies stand to reliev the poor work-men, and work-women, while I had the Office, a­gainst their oppressing work-masters, in causing their work­masters not to deliver them bad Silver, or such as would not work by reason of the not refining of it well, and made [Page 120] the Refiners change it, though it were good according to the Standard, yet not beeing well drietested, it would bring the poor work-men a great deal of trouble and loss, by reason of the Quick-Silver.

That I was strict to see all men work good Silver, and to caus those that did not to bee punished, I confess it ot bee true, and it did concern mee to do it, for els I had brought a scandal on the Manufacture, and my Office, and I might have been undon in warranting the commoditie to bee all right that was sealed in the Office. And if the Wier-draw­ers could have proved but any Gold and Silver-Thread, with all their vigilant search throughout the Citie, that had been sealed, that was cours Silver, or held not five Ounces to everie pound Venice, it had gon in to the Parla­ment with a full crie: but though they sought, and sought carefully, to finde it out, that either I or my servants had sealed any bad Silver, they could not finde one Ounce; though I am sure I and my servants in the time I had the Office, sealed above one Million of Scanes of Gold and Silver; and it was a great mercie of God to mee, the Wier­drawers vvith all the tricks they used, could get no cours or slight Silver-Thread to produce to the Parlament. But mis­sing their mark in that design, they with som Refiners, whose tongues I have found more sharp then a two-edg­ed sword, with the greatest industrie, subtilly spit out the poison of Asps, which naturally grow's in som of their mouths, or els so much untruth could not bee invented as they bestowed upon mee; the poison of their mouths and tongues beeing to mee as venomous as the Aqua-Fortis they make: For in the beginning of this Parlament, som of them cast about the Citie of London, and to people that ne­ver knew mee, as if I had been the worst man living.

And though the Finers and Wierdrawers of London both Petitioned the late King for their Trade, as I said before, and each striving which of them should set their trade in such a waie that might bring them in the most for their particular [Page 121] profit; vvhen they had moulded all their Regulation, then I was nominated Surveyor and Sealer of all the Manufactu­rie by the late King, which I did discharge faithfully, in see­ing they should not cousen the Common-vvealth; for my doing thereof, som of them clamored most lewdly against mee about the Citie of London. And som which I know did use these unworthie vvaies to defame and slander mee, are now discovered, and held themselvs unworthie men, and in as much contempt with the Citie of London, as they put upon their neighbors. It is not their removing out of the Citie of London, can make their cursed remembrance bee forgot: These restless spirits have left no stone unmoved to do mee a mischief, and to present mee as a Malignant, and dis-affected to this Common-wealth.

Truly I will declare to all the world, I ever loved and honored the late King with all my heart, as long as hee bad breath in his bodie, and would have don him any just service; and nothing beyond that I would have don, and I am confident no gallant man will condemn mee for speaking this truth. Now hee is dead, I am free with the same faith and humble dutie, and somthing more, by reason my afflictions hath got mee som more experience, I will constantly serv this Par­lament and the Common wealth of England, as it is now settled without King or Lords, to the last drop of bloud in my bodie, against any person that oppose's them, and will do the Parlament all just ser­vice for the Common-wealth.

And I thank God I never by any was desired farther; and if I should, I would bid any that ask's mee to do it, do it themselvs. Yet these Moles, som of the Refiners, and som of the Wier-drawers, vvould introduce to som of my friends, that I am a dangerous Instrument for som of the State; so that these men's tongues are like saws, with cross teeth, (if I bee of the King's side, I shall bee blasted, when the King is dead; if I serv the State, I shall not scape them) but if they had rested with words, I should better have born their malice: But this last Michaëlmas Term, they fell on mee with deeds, took mee upon an Execution at the suit [Page 122] of one Widow Simonds, wife of one Joseph Simonds, when I never vvarranted any Atturnie to appear for mee, and I had a Releas of the said Joseph Simonds for to withdraw all Acti­ons; and thereupon I delivered him an Ingot of Silver which was seized on by the late King's Commissioners, by order of the Lords of the Council, and this was don eleven years ago. I never owed this woman or her husband one pennie, and I make no question but I shall have reparation, and to finde out the confederacie against mee.

This Joseph Simonds brought the same Action against Sir John Wollaston, Alderman Gibs, Sir William Becher, Master Alderman Harison, and divers others, and they all non-suit­ed him several times; and if I had known the declaration against mee, I would have pleaded and gotten off as well as others; but I was in the Countie of Darbie-shire, and ne­ver knew of it till there was Judgment entred upon a Nihil Dicit, and a Writ of Inquirie of Damages, when I had the said Joseph Simond's Releas attested by five witnesses, and I found this Releas by a strange accident after I had lost this Acquitance, about ten years, the tenth of this present Januarie; this I put down openly, that as I was affronted publickly on the Exchange, by beeing arrested there, upon an unjust Action all men should know I cannot bee arrested for a just Debt.

Beyond Seas it is not permitted to a Sergeant to arrest any man on the Exchange, and it were verie fit it should bee so here in London; for many Merchants are crazie commodities, and their reputation's not to bee touched, lest they fall in pie­ces. I speak not for my self, for I owe not one hundred pounds in the world, that any bodie can justly ask mee, though I have had taken from mee by Order of Commit­tees above eight thousand four hundred pounds, and I have left off trading this ten years: But I know there is a great necessitie at this time for Merchants not to bee arrested on the Exchange, for the humor of many English Usurers and som others is, that if they finde a man sinking, everie man enter's his Action, and pul's somtimes a good Estate in pie­ces; whereas they should do as they do in Holland, if their debtors have losses at sea, or by fire, or bad debts, they plaie the good Samaritan, binde up their wounds, and instead of adding affliction to their debtor, comfort him, and by this careful usage, many a score of men beyond seas have recovered their Estates, and been gallant Merchants again; whereas here they fling them into prisons, and ruine them. But for such Merchants or others, that break out of knave­rie, to cousen men by their Composition, as too many do, or such as have Diced or Whored away their Estates, and then break in other men's debts, I desire from my heart, and humbly praie, a Law may bee made to make it Felonie in any that hath, or shall do it; I am credibly told it is so in France, and other Forrain parts.

But that which was the Master-piece of all the Refiner's plots to destroie mee, was, when by the subtiltie of two of them they put mee into the Tower for three years and eleven months, and did engage great and honorable men a­gainst mee, for what som of them knew themselvs long before I did, and I did nothing but by warrant of publick Officers. By which fals information, they caused mee to bee sequestred of my Estate, and damnified, and plunde­red to the value of eight thousand pounds, and kept close [Page 124] prisoner in a room in the Tower for nine hundred twentie eight daies, and never could bee heard to make my just de­fence; and had not God sent Sir Thomas Fairfax his Armie to London, I had never got out of the Tower, but been bu­ried there alive.

For the true Examination of all the transaction of that business, I am an humble suitor to the Parlament to have Justice, and that the truth of this business might bee found out, and that it may bee referred to the Honorable Com­mittee of Examinations, and then it will bee found this design was to blast and undo mee, and by that means, to prevent mee that I should not tell the State what I knew to bee true, and should never com to bee heard in what I could serv the State; for as they had laid the design for my life and good name, it was one hundred to one, that ever I escaped their mortal snare.

Upon Master Elconhead's several times attending the Com­mittee of Essex, and not proving his Charge against mee be­fore the Committee; according to these Orders I did Petition the Committee of Essex, that they would require the Te­nants of Battels and Paton. Hall, to forbear to paie Edward Elconhead any more rent, and to require Ed. Elconhead present­ly to bring into the Committee of Essex, all summes of mo­nie that hee had received by vertue of their Order or Orders, on the Manors of Battels and Paton-Hall, to bee deposited into the Committee's hands, till my caus was examined in Parlament; for Master Edward Elconhead finding I was in the displeasure of the Parlament, thought at once to give mee a paiment both for Master Waad's debt, and my life; and there­fore M. Elconhead charge's mee with a Conspiracie against the Parlament before the Committee of Essex, as appear's under the Committee's hands by the two aforesaid Warrants; then Master Elconhead compound's with the Committee of Essex for three hundred pounds, that which I had all Ma­ster Waad's Lands under Extent, worth one thousand pounds Land a year, to paie mee one thousand pounds due to mee in 1643. which Lands of Master James Waad, upon color of this Sequestration of the Committee of Essex, Master El­conhead ever since hold's in his hands, and keep's Master Waad's Creditors without their Monie; and though Master Waad hath a great Estate, more then will paie his debts, if it were well managed, to live like a Gentleman, yet Master Waad is kept in prison in great want, and Master Elconhead receiv's his Estate without any Accompt. And I had three several Bonds in two thousand pounds as aforesaid, for se­curing my monie. Now if I had forfeited my Estate to the use of the Countie of Essex, the Committee for the Coun­tie of Essex were not good husbands for the Countie, to let Master Elconhead have one thousand pounds good Estate for three hundred pounds; for they had Lands tied for it in their own Countie of Essex, of above three hundred pounds a year value. But the truth is, I have enquired whether [Page 134] ever any monie was paid into the use of the Countie by Ma­ster Edward Elconhead of this three hundred pounds, and I cannot finde any paid for the use of the Countie. I hum­bly desire the Committee for the Accompts of the Com­mon-wealth, would take notice of it, and have it exa­mined. I shall leav Master Elconhead to the world, to judg of him, to give mee a Charge of Treason, and then by that means to get my Estate for a quarter of the pretended summe hee compounded for, when I was close prisoner in the Tower, and could not make my defence; and then M. Edward Elconhead the 28 of Julie 1649. to denie before the Committee of Essex that hee ever charged mee with a Con­spiracie against the Parlament, though it bee attested by the Committees of Essex Warrant as aforesaid; and that Hono­rable Gentleman Sir Will. Rowe, told then to M. Elconhead before the Committee, that if hee could not prove my con­spiracie against the Parlament, hee had don mee Tho. Violet wrong, and the Committee of Essex wrong; for it was onely upon M. Elconhead's Information to the Committee of Essex, that the Committee certified any thing against mee to the Parlament, and wished M. Elconhead to bring the Acquitance of the Committee, for what monie hee had paid for this Extent, and hee said the Ordinance of Parla­ment for giving my Estate away, which I had in that Coun­tie, beeing an Extent on the Manors of Battel and Paton-Hall, was made on the Committee's Information to the Parlament against mee, and their information was onely grounded on M. Elconhead to the Committee; and if hee could not prove his Charge, the Sequestration would ceas, and what monie M. Elconhead could prove hee paid to the use of the Countie, should bee paid him back; for if Ma­ster Elconhead failed in the foundation, all that was don on that Charge against mee would ceas, and I ought to bee restored to the possession of my Lands in the Countie, but as yet I could not get the Committee of Essex to restore mee to my possession, Master Elconhead desiring further [Page 135] time of the Committee; therefore I am an humble suitor to bee relieved in Parlament.

UPon the bringing up to London of the aforesaid Letter of the late King, I Thomas Violet was examined before an Honorable Committee at Gold-smith's Hall the third of Januarie 1643. where I made the Honorable Committee acquainted, that the later of Master Read's Letters I delive­red to Master Theophilus Rilie Scout-Master of the Citie of London, who was autorised by Ordinance of both Houses of Parlament, and by Act of the Common-Council of the Citie of London, to hold Intelligence in any of the King's Quarters; and that the said Theophilus Rilie did daily emploie Intelligencers into the King's Quarters by Order of the Ci­tie of London, and by autoritie of the Parlament, as hee told mee Tho. Violet; and that the said Theophilus Rilie, by virtue of his place, did procure my Pass from the then Parlament to go to Oxford, the twentie fift daie of December, 1643. as appear's by the Journal-Books in the Hous of Commons; and my Lord General Essex did give mee a Pass to go to Oxford in Exchange for Master Haslerig, then prisoner in Bea­ver Castle, and this Warrant of my Lord General's, Sir Ar­thur Haslerig procured mee by means of Master Rilie, I bee­ing prisoner, committed by the Parlament for my Twentie part; both which Warrants were procured for mee Tho. Violet by Theophilus Rilie Scout-Master of the Citie of London, and I Tho. Violet did before the Honorable Committee plead Justification for my doing what I did, having the Warrant and Approbation of the Common-wealth's Scout-master for what I had don.

And I then told the Honorable Committee that I con­ceived my Warrant from Master Rilie for what I did, was as sufficient as if I had had Master Elsing's Warrant: for M. Rilie was as hee told mee approved on by Order of Lords & Commons, and I knew by the consent of the Common-Council of the Citie of London, to bee Scout-master for the Citie; and if hee were a man unfit for such a trust & power, it was the fault in those that chose him, and not in mee w ^ch [Page 139] was not to question his power, abilities, or trust, but to act according to his directions, as long as hee had the Of­fice of Scout-Master.

Moreover I told the Honorable Committee, that before I went to Oxford, I desired Sir David Watkins Knight, to make the Committee of both Nations, who sate then at Darbie-Hous, acquainted with what I had don with Master Rilie the Scout-master of the Citie of London, that so I might do nothing but by the approbation of the Committee of both Kingdoms; and Sir David Watkins did make som of them acquainted with what I had don with Master Rilie, and I had their approbation to go to Oxford for the late King's Letter, and my Lord General's Pass as aforesaid.

Moreover I declared to the Honorable Committeee at Gold-smith's Hall, that there was not then at the time of my bringing up of the late King's Letter, (beeing the 2 ^d of Januarie 1643.) any Ordinance or Order to forbid mee or any other person to bring up a Letter of Peace from the late King as ever I then heard of; and that by God's Law, where there is no Law, there can bee no Transgression; and my bring­ing then the late King's Letter up to London, before a Law made to shew mee my rule to walk by, I humbly concei­ved could bee no offence.

And the reason wherefore I was willing to go to Oxford, for the late King's Letter, was, becaus I was told that som in London had procured the late King to send mee his Com­mands, that I should not discover the Transporters of Gold & Silver to the Parlament, which I offered then the Parla­ment to do. And if I had not then been by the subtiltie of som Finers, and som Transporters of Gold, having in­censed the Honorable Committee against mee, (& cast mee into the Tower) but had been emploied by the Parlament to make the Discoverie of the Transporters of Treasure, I saie, that all the Gold and Silver that since hath been Trans­ported (which hath been a greater mischief to the Nation then can bee expressed) had never been sent away; and by [Page 140] the fines of the offendors, would have com to the State a great and considerable summe to paie publick debts, and such a Regulation settled by the Parlament, that none should have presumed to have Transported Gold or Silver for the future.

And to get the late King to take off his Commands which hee sent mee by the aforesaid Letter, and to give mee leav to Discover the Transporters of Gold & Silver, was the onely reason that I went to Oxford: When I came to Oxford [Page 141] I besought the late King to give mee leav to make the Disco­verie to the Parlament against the Transportes of Gold, but hee would not, and told mee hee reserved that business for himself, for it would make him good store of monie when hee came to London. Then I praied him to give mee leav to paie my Twentie part to the Parlament, and that it should bee no damage to mee, in regard the late King owed mee one thousand nine hundred sixtie eight pounds for what I had laid out in discovering the Transporters of Gold, which hee readily consented to do, and bid mee paie all Taxes laid on mee, and that should not prejudice my debt hee ow­ed mee, nor his favor to mee, and that hee would see mee paid as soon hee was able.

I do humbly desire the Committee of Essex and Shrop­shier, and all others that have my Estate, to take notice that everie one that is committed to the Tower by the Parla­ment, is not guiltie of a Conspiracie against the Parlament. Col. Monk hee was committed to the Tower, and cleared, and at this daie a most gallant man in the Northern Armie; Sir Tho. Bendish in the Tower, and cleared, and now Em­bassador at Constantinople; and many Honorable Members of this Parlament have been committed upon displeasure of the Parlament, and yet restored to sit in Parlament again; I am sure of it I am, and can bee more serviceable to the Par­lament of England, then any Finer or Transporter of Gold hath, or can bee, that malitiously have charged mee to bee a Malignant, for I will bring the State in fiftie thousand pounds, if they will pass the Act against Transporting of Gold. And I humbly conceiv, no man ought to have his Estate taken from him, and given away, before hee bee convicted by Martial Law, or the Common Law of the Land. If those that have malitiously informed the Honorable Committee that examined mee at Gold-smiths Hall, could have made good their Charge, or have proved any thing to my prejudice, they would have brought mee to my Trial in the compass of four years, while I was pri­soner [Page 142] in the Tower; I could not have avoided a Trial, or kept it off one daie, and I know they left no stone unrol­led, for they sate many daies to have don mee a mis­chief, and I have it from good hands; that worthie Gen­tleman Doctor Doreslaws told them, I had don nothing but what I could justifie, having M. Theophilus Rilie's approba­tion and Warrant, hee beeing a publick Officer of Trust; and if any were in fault, it was M. Theophilus Rilie, who had abused his place and Trust, if hee had don any thing be­yond his Commission. But the truth was, they looked more to keep mee close prisoner in the Tower, (that so I should not discover them that sent away the Treasure of the Nation) then any thing els; for they knew if I were abroad, I would have served the Parlament in that Discoverie.

To the Honorable Council for Trade I am an humble suitor, for restoring mee to my Office for the Regulating the Manufacture of Gold and Silver-Thread, the Regulati­on is now depending before them, and with all my heart I humbly shall laie it at those grave Senator's feet, to regu­late mee and my fee, as they shall see the Office just and ne­cessarie, and for the benefit of the Common-wealth, and no further.

For the Goods, Bonds, and Accompts taken at several times from my mother while I was in the Tower, J shall humbly desire any persons that did sequester them, to let mee know of it, whither they were carried, and how dis­posed of, and J shall bee bound to praie for them; and if they bee inferior Officers, or others, that can tell mee, they shall bee well rewarded by mee and God's blessing; for as yet J cannot hear who hath them, and my mother died in my close imprisonment in the Tower; and though by the great favor of Master Henrie Martin one of the Right Hono­rable Council of State, J had libertie to go and see my mo­ther whilst J was prisoner in the Tower, with two keep­ers, yet when J came to her, shee was so spent, and her heart broke for my oppressions, shee beeing threescore and [Page 143] seventeen years old, that shee could not tell mee any thing of my business, nor give mee the least notice in the world who had taken my Goods, Bonds, and Accompts away, other then that shee was plundered several times; and this old Master White the Warder of the Tower, Master Axtel, and Master Jackson, keepers in the Tower, know's to bee true, who were with mee all the times J saw her.

For my Farm in the Custom-Hous, & for the late King's debt, with all my aforesaid losses, J do most humbly leav it to the Parlament, for my satisfaction; and J praie that the Committee of Shrop-shier may bee Ordered to restore mee my Bonds they seized of mine from my sister in Lon­don, beeing three Bonds in two thousand pounds for the paying mee Tho. Violet one thousand pounds as aforesaid; and that J may bee enabled by Order of Parlament to sue the said Bonds, and any other Bonds or Debts J have due to mee; and the parties owing mee any monie that I can justly prove due to mee, may bee required by the Parlament to paie it to mee, notwithstanding any Ordinance or Order of Parlament heretofore made; and my humble suit is to the Parlament, that the Committee of Essex bee Ordered to put mee into possession of the Manors of Battels. Hall, and Paton. Hall, they having forcibly driven Philip Cage out, when hee was in possession for the use of mee Tho. Violet, as appear's by their own Orders, and that I may enjoie all the said Lands till the rent of sixteen hundred pounds bee paid mee, for so much I am out of purs.

The truth is, this envie of som of the Finers, and som of the Wier-drawers, came upon mee becaus I would not let the Wier-drawers cousen the late King of his dutie while I had the Office, but to the uttermost of my power made them make all good Silver-Thread, and to have five Oun­ces to the pound Venice, and right Silver; and I have heard som of the Wier-drawers confess, that they had rather the State should chose fortie Officers to look after the Excise, [Page 144] and Regulation of this Manufacture, then one Violet. And this, though it bee a crime to them, is a service to the State, to have such an Officer, which know's all the waies how they are cousened in their Excise in this Manufacture, and to prevent it: and had not my place of surveying of this Manufacture been but I had still en­joied it, the State should have had twentie thousand pounds in their purs more then they have, onely by the Excise on the commoditie of Gold and Silver-Wier; and all this mo­nie is lost through the ignorance of the Officers of Excise, who know not how to manage the business; for I know the State many times hath Officers put into such places through the interest and affection of friends, that are utter­ly uncapable of such places they enjoie; whereby the State is at great charges in fees and salaries to ignorant men. But that is not the tenth part of the mischief the Common­wealth suffer's by their fees; for through these men's igno­rances, the State is cousened of the duties that should support the Common-wealth, as is notoriously visible in the Ex­cise of Gold and Silver-Wier, which at four pence the Ounce at the Bar, which is laid on it by Ordinance aforesaid, would have made the State six thousand pounds a year: and by the ignorance and negligence of the Offi­cers of Excise, it hath made the State not three hundred pounds a year for almost four years, which is not the twentie pennie of what ought to have been collected. And if I had had my place, I would have seen everie pennie the Wier-drawers then paid for Excise, made twentie pence to the State.

And this the Refiners and Wier-drawers know to bee true, and that make's som of them so unwilling that I should have my Office again; they fear I should bee com­manded by the State to use my uttermost endeavors for the collecting of those Arrears that are in the Wier-drawer's and Refiner's hands, and to restrain them for the future, many of them having bought Lands and grown rich with [Page 145] the monie they owe to the State, which is fitter to paie the Arrears of the Armie, then to lie in their hands.

Now whereas the dispute is, which can afford it chea­pest, the Wheels or the Hand-spinners, I saie, the best is best cheap; the Hand-spinners, work will make two shil­lings eight pence, and three shillings the Ounce to the mel­ting pot, and last six times as long in Lace, as som of the Wheel-work will do; and when this Wheel-work re­turn's to the melting pot, it make's not one shilling six pence the Ounce, nay, som of it not twelv pence the Ounce, the Silver beeing most of it galled and brushed off the Silk. And this the Gold-smiths and Tailors know to bee true, that within this ten years all the slight Wheel­work 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 Hand­spinners, 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 Women­spinners, 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, [Page 146] that a rule may by your Honors bee set, what fine­ness of Silver all the Gold and Silver emploied in the Wier­drawer'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 Common­wealth,

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 [Page 147] 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 [Page 148] to settle the Trade of Refining of Gold and Silver, and Wi­er-drawing, in a Corporation, as it is now desired by the Wier-drawers, it were to make all the speed possible, that that little Silver in Coin which is yet left in the Nation, should bee culled and melted up for Gold and Silver Lace, and leav it to their good discretions and honesties, to ma­nage the other parts of their Trade. The poor Spinners and som work-men, desire your Honors to the contrarie; for as they have beaten them down in the prices, that many of them are readie to starv, so if the whole power of go­verning the Trade were left to sixteen of their wisdoms and discretions, which is a Master, and Wardens, and Assist­ants, then should the work-men and work-women's face bee ground and opprest. These Master-work-men that desire this Corporation, are not fortie, and the work-men and work-women thousands; I shall with all humilitie tell you what Forrain Nations do to Regulate their Monie and Bullion, & these Manufactures: and unless you have the like rule here, I humbly conceiv it will be impossible to restore the Mint, to keep the Gold-smiths within com­pass, or the Wier-drawers in any rule; for many of them have got to licentious height and pride, having got great Estates by culling Monie, selling Gold and Silver to trans­port, buying of clipped Monie, and paying it away again, and twentie other tricks, that they are so proud, they know not whether they stand on their heels or their head; but the Act against transporting these, when it com's forth, will regulate them all.

I saie, if you will have these abuses rectified as in France, Flanders, Spain, Germanie, and other Countries, I humbly conceiv, you must erect a Council for Monies and Bulli­on; for in France I have seen great Volumes of Arguments of the Government and Management of Monie and Bulli­on, and the due Regulation is of mightie importance as your affairs now stand; and in all Forrain Countries, the States, that are Kings, or Common-wealths, have a par­ticular [Page 149] care, and make the mysteries of managing their trea­sure, matter of the greatest state and policie; and Gold and Silver, either in Coin or Bullion, the late Kings & Queens in England, did ever appropriate the especial management of them to themselvs, as beeing a business of State.

And though now by the blessing of God, wee are a free State, and the Nation a free Nation, I humbly conceiv, not so free, that the Bullion and Coin of the Common­wealth should bee Manufactured and wasted without any accompt, and without any regard for the bringing in For­rain Bullion for the proportion is spent here, in the making Gold and Silver-Thread, without offering the State an Ex­cise fit for to bee imposed on so superfluous a commoditie; when these Wier-drawers voluntarily offered the late King one thousand pound a year, and two pence an Ounce, and the Refiners did give the late King six pence the Ounce; and this to bee don in a King's time, in a time when the Com­mon-wealth had no Armies to paie; which six pence the Ounce, almost all of it was given by the late King to a couple of Courtiers, the Earl of Holland two thousand pounds a year, the Countess of Roxborough twelv hundred pounds a year. If the Wier-drawers would paie the Ar­rears they owe to the State, and submit to a Regulation for the present, and binde themselvs to work good Silver, well covered with five Ounces Silver to a pound Venice, seal all the Gold and Silver-Thread as formerly, and paie the duties shall bee imposed on them by the State for Excise, and keep an accompt of all the Silver Manufactured by a Comptroler, there might bee som hopes that this Manufacture might bee regulated: if they will not, I humbly conceiv, if the Par­lament pass the Act against Transporting Gold and Silver, and have a Council for Monies, according as it is in other Countries, it will regulate the abuses of this Trade, and all others that trade in Gold and Silver.

If the State had had a Council for Monies eight years ago, as they have in Forrain Countries, I believe Cheapside-Cross [Page 150] would have yielded them more Monies then it made the State: I do humbly desire that it may bee examined, how many fodder of Lead was made of the Cross; for all the figures were Lead, and who bought it, and what they paid a fodder, and the total summe in monie was paid for it.

Then I do humbly desire to have the partie or parties that bought the Lead of the Cross examined upon Oath, whe­ther they did ever fine or refine the Lead, and parted the Gold from the Lead, by blowing it down in an Almond­furnace, and then refining it on attest; and what Gold they extracted out of it, to give a just accompt of the pound weights and Ounces of Gold, hee or they refined and ex­tracted out of the Lead of Cheapside-Cross.

Then that all men would bee pleased to take notice of the long continuance of Cheapside-Cross, since it was made, and in how many King's and Queen's Reigns it was guilt, the Citie-Books I believ will shew, this verie Cross with the Leaden figures.

And then that they take notice that the Rain and Wea­ther decaie's not the Gold, for it will sink into the Lead; and though it change color, and tarnish with the Wea­ther, yet the Bodie of Gold is in the Lead. And all men know the superstition of former times did not care what Gold they laid on Popish Reliques; and I believ the Citie-Books will shew many thousand pounds laid out in Gold for guilding Cheapside-Cross upon several occasions.

I do humbly conceiv that when the Cross was sold, it was sold by the State onely for Lead, and the State had no more for it but for Lead; and if any did refine, and part that Lead, and converted the Gold to their own use, (that all that Gold w ^ch was sold for two pence the pound weight, the State ought to have an accompt for it) and my desire to them that bought it, is, that they would give the just value of all the Gold they extracted out of Cheapside-Cross, to the poor maimed soldiers, towards their relief and mainte­nance, [Page 151] they having never paid the State for it.

The taking away of Crosses, and Superstition, and pluck­ing of them down, I thank God for; but withal, I would not that the State should sell Gold at two pence the pound weight to any person, upon what pretence of service or well-deserving soëver; for after that rate the Parlament may have servants too many for their profit, and in mana­ging business in this manner, the whole Common-wealth suffer's, and som private persons get mightie Estates, to the great damage of the Common-wealth in general. I hum­bly saie, what is the Common-wealth's, ought to bee sold at the best advantage and improvement for the publick, and and not for private respects, sold at an under value, upon any pretence to any private person whatsoëver. I know for speaking this truth. I shall have envie, but my comfort is, it will bee by or from none but interested parties; and all those that are not, vvill thank mee for speaking truth.

The Parlament heretofore made many Provisional Acts, som onely to continue to the next Sessions of Parlament, which was somtimes three, five, seven, ten, fifteen years be­fore a Parlament vvas called, and no remedie could bee had out of Parlament, if that these Acts were found prejudi­cial to the State till the next Sessions of Parlament. Now by the blessing of God on this Nation, these inconveni­ences are remedied, for the Parlament sit's alwaies; so that if the Parlament pass any Act, vvhich they shall finde upon just grounds either to add to it, or take from it, they have it in their own power to alter it upon the trial, if a Law should pass vvhich vvere not for the general good of the Nation.

I beeing required to attend the Committee of the Coun­cil of State, about the Act now presented to the Parlament, I did see, and vvas privie upon vvhat grave consideration everie branch of the Act now depending before the Hono­rable Committee, vvas framed and put down by the Com­mittee of the Council of State, before ever it vvas recom­mended [Page 152] to the Parlament. And I do humbly desire for the service of the Common-wealth, if any alteration bee made in the Act, those that drew the draft of the Act, may bee required to attend the Committee to give their reasons for the whole Act, or any part of it; for upon the effectual passing of this Act, much doth depend for the safetie of this Nation, and it is of an higher concernment to the Na­tion, then I can express; and I humbly conceiv, there ought to bee no respect of private interest, where the safe­tie of the Nation is so highly concerned.

I humbly desire the Honorable Committee, that the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint may bee taken into your serious considerations, there beeing verie few men in the Nation, can speak so much upon their own experi­ence of these abuses concerning the Treasure of the Nation, as these Gentlemen, the Officers of the Mint have certified, which ever since their Certificate, hath been found in eve­rie part to bee true.

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

And what mischiefs these doings will in the end bring upon this Common-wealth, is deeply apprehended by ma­ny wise men, and can have no stop but by a vigorous Act to bring the Offendors to Exemplarie Justice, vvhose Fines and Compositions, throughout the Nation, will a­mount to many scores of thousands of pounds to the States, for the paiment of publick debts, if Commissi­ons of enquiries according to former presidents bee grant­ed [Page 153] by Act of Parlament throughout the Nation, to enquire for the last ten years of these abuses.

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

I have read of one that was born dumb, and so conti­nued for many years; seeing one coming to kill his Father, cried out, God save my Father, and so gave timely warning for his Father to prevent the danger. A happie speaking of the Childe for the Father. Truly I count the Obligation to my Countrie, above the Obligation to my Father.

I have seen this danger many years coming upon the Na­tion. Though I am but young, and ignorant in other bu­siness, I am sure there are but few, if any in the Nation, that have had those waies and means to finde out, and discover these mischiefs, which I have. I know and apprehend more then I vvill or can express.

The great mischiefs Transporting Gold and Silver bring's on this Nation, I apprehend.

The condition of your Armie, which must bee burthen­som, if they have not monie to paie for Quartering, I ap­prehend the danger and damage.

The necessitie of Trades-men, and Handie-Crafts men will bee put to for want of emploiment, upon the scarcitie of monie, making all Trade to decaie, I apprehend.

The sad condition of poor people, vvho will bee enfor­ced for vvant to part with their clothes, their bedding, their dishes they eat their meat in, I apprehend.

The danger the want and povertie of the poor will bring upon this State, if there bee not waies found out to bring Monie into the Nation, I do verie sadly and seriously ap­prehend the inconveniences.

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

God put it into the hearts of the Parlament, to see to keep that little monie wee have yet left; and to finde out and punish those that have cheated, and robbed the Com­mon-wealth of their Treasure, and to studie vvaies how to bring in monie into the Nation; for if this bee not don speedily, in all probabilitie, greater inconveniences then I dare write, will com on the Common-wealth.

Much more I could saie, but if these Reasons before re­cited, nor the Certificates of the Officers of the Customs, and the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint, & several reasons of som Aldermen of the Citie of London, for the stopping of the Transporting of Gold & Silver, and the Citie of London's Petition to the Parlament, presenting the great inconveni­ences Transporting Treasure hath brought upon this Citie of London, and the Nation; I humbly saie, if all these will not prevail, I have don: For if I should write a Volume as big as Speed's Chronicle, I cannot give more clear satisfa­ction of the necessitie of passing this Act.

If God hath decreed this Nation shall bee cousened of all it's Treasure, and the Offendors not questioned, nor dili­gent enquirie made after it, and such means as our Ance­stors and other Nations (having far less occasion for monie then wee have) do daily practise; to prevent these mis­chiefs, and discover the Offendors, I shall with all humili­tie submit to God's Providence, and rest satisfied.

I have clearly discharged my dutie to my Countrie, in declaring this business to the Common-wealth, that so they may know the true reasons of the scarcitie of Gold and Sil­ver in the Nation, and the damage they sustein by the want thereof, and how the Mint com's to bee obstructed, that almost no Monie hath been Coined for these three last years.

For som men that have clamored at mee for first enga­ging to discover the Transporters of Gold and Silver in the [Page 155] year 1635. in the late King's time, I shall desire them to consider, that I was first complained of by the Gold-smiths themselvs, beeing at the Council-Table, 1634. for buying up of Light Gold, and Transporting of it into France, as M ^r Perin the Gold-smith in Cheapside told mee the same daie that som Gold-smiths complained of mee at the Council-Table; I going then up to White-Hall, to see what the Gold-smiths did, and upon their complaint, I was com­mitted close prisoner for twentie weeks; and yet for all that, death would have been more welcom to mee then to have discovered the Merchants at that time, and this Do­ctor Amies, Master Turner, and Master White, all of Lon­don, and now living, know. But when I found the Merchants joined against mee, that were Transporters of Gold themselvs, I was willing to make my peace, though it cost mee dear, and not suffer longer for ungrateful men.

When I was engaged in the late King's service, I was ever faithful to all his just Commands, and to the utter­most of my power did serv him in all lawful waies, and beyond that I would never go.

Now with all humilitie I have humbly tendred my self to the Parlament, for I think & believ, & I speak as in the pre­sence of God, I living under their protection, I am as much bound to serv them faithfully, as ever I did the late King; and I have this advantage in the change, Kings die, but the Parlament of England, as it is now established, never die's: so that here I humbly fix and prostrate, laie my self, and all my endeavors to the uttermost of my power to im­prove the interest and service of the Parlament, as it is now established, without King or Lords, against any person whomsoëver.

It may bee objected by som men, that I have not don pru­dently in declaring so much for the service of the State, as I have don, before I knew my conditions, what the State [Page 156] would do for mee; for by these informations, I have given light enough to have others to go on, and laie the foundation of the Regulating of the Trade of this Nati­on, and it may bee now don by others as well as by my self. This in part I grant to bee true; but my caus, is not everie man's caus; I was blasted by the devillish in­vention of som men, and to the Citie of London, Ar­mie, and the Parlament, presented as a Malignant, a Papist, one dis-affected to the Parlament and present Govern­ment, as it now established, without King, or Hous of Lords: So that beeing under this cloud, and hard opinion of the State, and suffering so long time in the Tower, as before J have said, and my Estate still under Seque­station, it did highly concern mee to take any opportu­nitie to remove this hard opinion off mee, and that the Parlament might see from the bottom of my heart my seal in deeds, and not in words, to do them service.

J have with all humilitie-truly and plainly stated this business, and J hope have laid the ground-work for the setting of other more learned heads on work, for the per­fecting what I have roughly begun; and that the Com­mon-wealth will receiv a great advantage by it: and if the Parlament shall pleas to command mee to serv them in any of these particulars, they shall not finde many men will do them service on the terms I shall, and do with all humilitie offer them; for I will willingly, so I may have my Estate, & Offices restored again to mee, or their value, which have been taken from mee, upon mis-infor­mation of som malitious people, give the maimed soldiers that have fought in the Parlament's service since the death of the late King, one half of my Estate I shall die pos­sessed of; and to the maimed Sea-men, that are emploied in the State's service, since the death of the late King, one quarter-part of my Estate, which I shall die possessed of; and the other quarter-part, I will, and do reserv to give to [Page 157] som friends; so that three parts of four of what I have, or shall have, com's to those that have, or shall have ven­tured their lives in the State's service; and I am, and shall bee no more but a faithful Steward to improve my E­state to their advantage. And for the true performance of this, I will willingly give a perfect Accompt to the Master's of Trinitie-Hous, and of Saint Thomas Hospi­tal in Southwark once everie year, and give them a perfect Invoies of my Estate, and where it remain's, with se­curitie not to pass any of it away, other then for my ex­pences for my maintenance; and to have the disposing of one intire quarter-part to som kindred or friends of mine, at my death; the other three parts to bee freely gi­ven to the relief of maimed soldiers and sea-men, that have or shall bee emploied in the Parlament's service, provi­ded J may be restored to my Estate.

And this J do not as J am conscientious of any evil wit­tingly or willingly, I ever acted against the State (for J stand upon my innocence) but J do it really, that it may bee a pattern to som that have blasted mee to the State as a Malignant, and a Delinquent, they having no children, and have got som scores of thousands of pounds by the Parlament's service; that they in humble thankfulness to God for his mercie, would bestow a good part on the poor, and for the future bee ashamed of scandalizing mee, when the reality of my words and deeds disprove them to the whole world; for Malig­nants make not such free will-offerings to the poor maim­ed soldiers, and maimed sea-men, that have, and shall lose their limbs in the defence of their Countrie and Li­berties, as it is now settled, without King, or Lords: and though it may not bee above a mite in comparison to the State, J cannot possibly express my real intentions in the Parlament's service, more then by these my words and deeds. And J will upon the peril of my life, bring the [Page 158] Parlament in fiftie thousand pounds by the Fines and Com­positions of the Transporters of Gold and Silver, and such as have practised many abuses on the Coins and Bullion of the Nation, within the compass of one year, besides what summes hereafter, if Commissions according to former presidents bee granted, and if the Parlament pleas to pass the Act as it is now drawn, against Transporters of Gold; which Act was recommended by the Council of State to the Parlament, and hath been twice read in the Parlament Hous, and committed; and when it passe's the Hous, the Mint in the Tower of London will again flourish, a busi­ness of the greatest honor, profit, and safetie to the Nation in general, that can bee, as your affairs now stand.

What is here said, is with all humilitie presented to the Parlament for the service of the Common-wealth, by a faithful lover of his Countrie; beeing desired to state my Reasons by som in Autoritie for passing the aforesaid Act, I humbly conceiv (if it were made stricter then it is) it were far better for the Com­mon-wealth: For Transporting Treasure heretofore hath been made Felonie, when the Common­wealth, I humbly conceiv, had not so much occasion to see to keep their Treasure in the Nation, and the Mint going, as now they have.