A friend to Cæsar, or, An humble proposition for the more regular, speedy, and easie payment of his Majesties treasure, granted, or to be granted by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for the carrying on of his Majesties expences, whether ordinary or extraordinary, both in time of peace and in time of war and also the causes of those many debts which the crown is so heavily clogged with, and sound propositions for the cure thereof / by a person of honour.

POSTSCRIPT.

ALthough I have in the former Discourse propounded the Payment of his Majesties Aids, whether ordinary or extraordinary, whether by Land-Taxes, Excize, Hearth-Money, &c. to be made to the Subject by Assignations from the respective Treasurers, upon the Collectors of the re∣spective Townships, yet if it shall be thought too much Charge or Trouble to the Subject to receive their Debts by these Assignations, from the Hands of so many Collectors, thus distributed and distinguished, I shall humbly offer, that the Money or Treasure collected in each Township, may be paid and deposited into the Hands of one or more Men, to be intrusted to receive the whole Collection of each Parish, and if it be still thought too great Trouble to the Subject to receive it from him or them, then that the Treasure Collected in that Parish (as also in all Parishes in that Division) be paid over and deposited into the Hands of one two or more of that Division, as the total Sum assessed upon or arising from that Division. And if yet it shall not be thought fit to burthen the Subject with so much Trouble and Charge as may attend the Receipt thereof from the respective Trustees of each Divi∣sion, that then the whole Sum Collected in that Division (as also in all the Divisions of that Hundred) be paid and deposited into the Hands of two or more able and responsible Men of that Hundred. And further if the Treasure Collected in that Hundred, be not thought fit to be paid by those Intrusted therewith, to those that shall bring or present Assignations from the respective Treasurers, for all or any part thereof, that then the Money Collected in that Hundred (and in all Hundreds of that County) be it more or less, be paid over to one two or more Commissioners to be nomi∣nated and appointed by the several Acts of Parliament, as receivers of the same for the whole County, to be by them paid to the Subject, according to such Assignations as he or they shall from time to time receive from the respective Treasurers for the same.

This I am sure, (if none of the rest) will both ease the Charge, and fa∣cilitate the Trouble of the Subject, and yet preserve his Majesties Reve∣nue intire, and abundantly Satisfy the Parliament, whether what they have given to his Majesty be sufficient for that end, for which it was given, or not.

If it be said that this Remedy is full as bad (if not worse) than the Disease, in regard his Majesty and the Parliament must by this Proposi∣tion be at the Charge of so many Commissioners for the Receipt and Payment of his Treasure, as there be Counties in the Nation, or Hundreds in each County of the Nation; and that this Charge and Expence will amount to as much if not more than if the whole Aid were remitted into his Exche∣quer, and paid thence according to the present setled and regular Way of the Nation.

I answer, No such Matter, for indeed the whole Charge cannot rational∣ly be supposed to be the Moyety of his Majesties Charge, into and out of the Exchequer, as I could easily demonstrate to all unbyassed Men. But to wave that dispute, I shall further say that though by this Proposition I do design the ease of the Subject as to Charge and Trouble in Collecting his Assignations, yet I conceive it Just and Reasonable that the whole Charge of Collecting and Paying it from the respective Parishes to the Commissi∣oners for each Division, and from them to Commissioners of each Hun∣dred, and from them to the Commissioners of each County, and from them to the Creditors that shall present their Assignations, may and ought in eve∣ry part thereof, to be born by the Subject that receives the Treasure, and no part thereof paid or born by his Majesty, in regard what is done by his Majesty or his Parliament in this Particular, is so done for the Subjects ease and benefit, and not his Majesties, and in regard all Creditors have either by Interest-Money or the Profit of their Goods Sold, or both Inclu∣ded in the same Assignation, sufficient Gains to bear that and a greater Loss, and are also inabled to Receive their Money Assigned them without all or any of that Charge, that now attends him or them, by Fees, Gratuities, or otherwise, before he or they can procure it paid in other Offices or Pla∣ces, and also that he or they do and shall come into it, in a far shorter time, than otherwise he or they could obtain it, either by staying for it till there comes Money in the respective Offices to pay them, or by carrying his or their Bills, Debentures, Orders, or Warrants, and entering them as so much Money lent unto his Majesty, to be paid with Interest in course. All which considered and laid together, is I am sure a far greater Profit and Advan∣tage to the Subject, than the premised Charge and Loss can possibly be, and will easily satisfy them that the Charge of Lodging their Debts after this manner for them, whether in Counties or Hundreds, ought to be born by themselves, and no part thereof by his Majesty. And I am confident that if the Parliament should think fit to declare in their respective Acts, what, and how much the Charge shall be to the Subject in the Receipt of his Assignations, either to the Justices Clarkes, the Collectors of each Di∣vision or Hundred, or to the Commissioners of each County and their Clarks, as they have formerly done in Acts of Parliament, for Land Taxes to men of the same or the like Trusts, that the Subject would be so far from Dis∣content or Dissatisfaction therein, that it would incourage him to deal with his Majesties Commissioners in the future for all Goods, Ships or other things

whatsoever with more Confidence and Chearfulness, and at easier Rates, by far than formerly they did. For suppose an Assignation be given for one thousand Pounds, and that the Charge attending its Receipt, be by the Par∣liament, declared to be three pence upon the Pound, to be distributed to several Instruments, the whole Charge of the Receipt of his 1000 l. is but 12 l. 10 s. 00. And what Creditor to his Majesties Service would grutch to give 12 l. 10 s. (which is but 25 s out of a hundred Pounds) as necessa∣ry Fees spent out of the whole thousand Pounds Debt from his Majesty, to save his own Pains and Labour, that hath not only the profit of the Price of his Goods sold, but also Interest-Money allowed him for the whole 1000 l. inclusively, in his Assignation till his Money be paid. But admit the worst, to wit, that the Charge of the Receipt of his 1000 l were much more (as something it must needs be by Travel, Exchange, &c.) yet (as was said before) is not this Burthen lighter upon the Shoulders of 20000 Men or more in the whole Nation, than to be laid upon, and born by his Majesties single Person, especially considering (as was said) that the profit will bear much more loss, and yet leave them sufficient Gainers by his Majesties Ser∣vice, and that at present, they are at far greater loss of Time and Ex∣pence out of their principal Debt, before they can compass it to them∣selves. But suppose his Majesty and his Parliament should approve of this Proposition, in any of the Notions held forth in this Postscript: how should those Creditors to whom his Majesty is indebted, either by voluntary Loans, Anticipations, Advance-Money upon Farms or Contracts, Orders in Course or otherwise, be paid their respective Debts, &c? Where Con∣tracts are made, and Farms lett, it is both Just and Honourable that the Farmers should enjoy the Benefit of their Contracts, upon which they did lend or advance their Money during the whole term of their Contract unexpired. The same also might be said in the Case of Anticipations up∣on any part of his Majesties Revenue, where Tallies are struck upon them till the Tallies be fully paid; but for voluntary Loans, Orders in Course, and other occasional Debts, the sooner they were paid off by Assignati∣ons upon his Majesties Aids thus setled and deposited in each County or Hundred the better, in order to take off that eating Charge of Interest-Mo∣ney, that devours too great a Part thereof.

What if after all this Care taken, it shall appear that the present Aids setled upon his Majesty, are not enough or sufficient to bear about his An∣nual Expences in ordinary, and much less to pay off his Debts, and how shall his Majesty carry on his Service, &c. by propounding to his Parlia∣ment his necessity of further Aids from his People, and having it granted to him, when all the care taken that can be to improve the present Aides given him to the highest of Frugality, and found too little?

Were it not better for his Majesty to proceed in the present way of Loans, Anticipations, Farms, Payments in Course, &c. than to depend upon the Love or Bounty of his Parliament and People, especially considering how ready and willing the City of London, the Goldsmiths now called Bankers, and other his Majesties Subjects, are to supply his Necessities upon all emer∣gent Occasions, out of their Zeal and Affection to and for his Majesties Service, &c. Why should his Majesty be directed to a standing Pool to quench his Thirst, that hath a River to drink in? What Zeal or Affection, either do those that lend or advance Treasure, shew to his Majesty more

than I can have from a Common Usurer in my Necessity, if I can but give him such Security as he likes for the Payment of his Principal with Interest, Do I look upon him as a man that loves me, who notwithstanding all his fair Pretences to me, will not lend me 5000 l to relieve me, unless I will mortgage to him my Estate for the Security of his 500 l with Interest? Cer∣tainly as this is no Love to a private Man in his Necessity from an Usurer, so it is much less to a Prince in his. And as this is no safe way for a private Man to take that hath a Father, Brother or Friend that is willing, able, and ready to furnish his Wants without Interest or Mortgaging his Estate, &c. so is a most destructive way to his Majesty, who hath his Parliament, and his People, not only able and willing, but also bound in Duty as his Loyal and Loving Subjects, to give him sufficient Aid and Relief, if they find (as by the way proposed they easily may) that what they have already setled upon him is not enough. But how shall the Parliament prevent the Loan of Money at Interest, Anticipations by Goldsmiths, or any other men, if after all that is or may hereafter be setled upon him, his Majesty shall yet desire to borrow their Money.

It would savour of too much boldness for any private man (and much more for my self) to hint any thing in this Particular to the Wisdom of the Parliament: They know better than any Man can direct them what to do in this Point, though yet I must needs say, that even in my own time, I have known it looked upon as a Criminal Act for any Man what∣soever to compound his Majesties Debts, to strike Tallies upon his Reve∣nue with Interest included to pay them, or to advance Money upon Interest, to supply his Majesties Occasions upon any Account whatsoever, and do much fear that till some such Course be taken with those that grow upon his Majesties Necessity by Anticipations, Loans, Farms, Advance Mo∣ney, or any other way whatsoever, with Interest allowed them for their Money; his Majesty shall (as I have formerly said) never be out of Debt, let the Parliament give him what they please.

How shall his Majesty have a clear and regular Accompt in his Exche∣quer, of the full proceed of his Hearth-Money, Excize, and other his set∣led, or to be setled Revenues in the way proposed?

But the Certificates, Lists, and Duplicates, of all Treasure Collected and Paid to the Commissioners of each Hundred or County, and by the Assig∣nations made by the respective Treasurers to the said Commissioners, and by the Compter-Check of those Assignations, all which will either by them∣selves, or compared together, Ballance the Accompts of all Treasurers re∣spectively, and give the Auditor of those Accompts sufficient Grounds for his Allowance of the same, if paid according to the Direction of the seve∣ral Acts of Parliament in the usual Form, and by the common Voucher of their Offices respectively, and not otherwise.

Who shall give the Treasurers their respective Charges? The several Acts of Parliament where the Treasure is ascertained by a Land Tax, and in default thereof, as in the Case of Excize and Hearth-Money, the Certi∣ficates of each Township in every Parish, the Certificates of each Parish in all Divisions, the Certificates of all Divisions in every Hundred, the Certificates of all Hundreds in every County, and the Certificates of all Counties in the whole Kingdom: This I am sure will give them, and each of them a full Charge.

But are not the Treasurers notwithstanding this, left in a Capacity of diverting his Majesties Treasure to wrong Persons, and for wrong and pre∣tended Services?

Not at all, if the Acts of Parliament be their Rule and Guide for their Assignations, and the Contra-rotulator or Clerk of these Assignations be faithful to his Trust.

How shall the Townships of every Parish, the Parishes of every Divisi∣on, the Divisions of every Hundred, the Hundreds of every County, the Counties of the whole Kingdom, and every individual Person concerned in the Collection or Payment of all or any of his Majesties Aides, or any part thereof, whether Land-Taxes, Hearth Money, or Excize, be acquit∣ted of their respective payments.

You might have spared your Enquiry if you had observed what was said in the seventh Article of this Proposition, yet to satisfy your Curiosity, I shall further say, that they either are or may be acquitted by the Receipts of the respective Collectors of every Township, Parish, Division, Hundred or County in the whole Nation, to be nominated or appointed either by the Acts of Parliament, or by Warrant from the Deputy-Lieutenant, Justices of the Peace, or others authorized by the said Acts to appoint Assessors, and Collectors for the same.

Will not the Way proposed be a great Burthen to the respective Trea∣surers in making their Assignations, and the Comptroler in keeping Check upon them more than their proper Duty is at present, and will not this be∣get his Majesty into a farther Charge than at present he is at for their so doing?

As to the Treasurers, their Labour will not be near so much as what they now do or ought to do in their Receipt and Payment of all Monies proper to their Places and Trusts, a great part whereof they are by this means totally cased in, and freed from. And for the Assignations themselves they have nothing to do therein, but to sit up a Blank-printed Assignation of one and the same Form and Substance, varying only in the Date, the Sum Assign∣ed, the Place, County, Hundred, &c. The Names of the Commissioners that are to pay it, and of the Parties that are to receive it; As to the Compt∣ercheck, it is at present, his proper Duty to check the Treasurers Accompts of all Payments whatsoever, and in this Way he will be eased of much of that Labour, that now lies upon him, if he perform his Duty as he ought, so that his Majesty may rather abate much of what is already allowed, than give more in a way of Augmentation.

How shall the Treasurers of the Navy, Army, Houshold, or other men Intrusted for Payment of his Majesties Treasure by Assignations, be direct∣ed where and upon whom to place and make their Assignments, without interfering each with other?

By the Acts of Parliament, Assigning such and so many Counties to each Treasurer, as shall drown the Sum estimated to be the full Expence of each Office for one Year.

If his Majesties Revenues should be paid by Assignations after this man∣ner, from the respective Treasurers, how or where shall his Majesty be sup∣plied with Treasure sufficient for his privy Purse, Intelligence with For∣raign Princes, and other extraordinary Expences Suitable to the Dignity of his Person?

By and from the Customes, Excize, and Imposts laid, and to be laid up∣on

all Native and Forraign Commodities Exported and Imported, the Re∣venue whereof is not at all within the Ken, Compass or Prospect of this Proposition, but left wholy as it now is to be improved and imployed by his Majesty, for those and other Services, without Reference to the Way Proposed for the Collection and Payment of his other Aides and Land-Tax∣es, that concern the Nation in General.

In what particulars doth the Way Proposed, tend to the Advantage of his Majesty, or his Successors.

I love not Repetitions, yea have had them here and there scatteringly delivered through the whole Discourse past, yet in the regard this is the Hing upon which the Design of this Proposition doth turn, and the only Ground of my present undertaking; I shall (contrary to my Desire, and the Practice of those that know what they say or write) gratifie you with a particular enumeration of some few of those many Advantages of no small Consideration that may accrue to his Majesty by this Proposition.

1. First, In his Honour, it being much below the Dignity of a Prince, that hath a Rich, Loyal, and Loving People to his Subjects, willing and ready upon all emergencies to supply his Wants, to seek the Aid and As∣sistance of private Persons, that never Act without Designs of Profit and Gain to themselves, in all their pretended Services for him, and without which they will not supply him.

For his Majesty to have Advice and to Prosecute this Way when he was under the Inhumane Usage of the late Usurpation was no wonder; Force hath no Choice; But for his Majesty to be advised to the same Courses now, when he is Crowned King of England, by those that I dare say are his Faithful and Loyal Servants and Subjects, and to prosecute that Advice, when the Persons and Purses of the whole Nation are at his Devotion and Service, is much to his Dishonour. The Long Parliament in the late un∣happy War, that first brought up the Payment of Orders in Course in this Nation, were not able to carry on the War without such a way, in re∣gard of the Peoples Disaffection to them, and that the greatest part of the Nation was then under the Power of the Kings Army; but this is no Rule, or Coppy for his Majesties Friends or Servants to walk in, or write by, un∣less they could make it appear that his Majesty is at present in the same Di∣lemma. When the War ceased, Payments in Course, ceased of Course. And why they should be continued to his Majesties great Dammage, and Dishonor in this happy time of Peace, I cannot understand,

If he hath not enough, in Gods Name let him have more, yea much more than enough, rather than one Penny too little; there is no Loyal Subject that will not say AMEN to this Prayer, only let not the Usurer, Farmer, &c. Eat out and Devour his Revenues, under the notion of high Services, and I know not what other Pretences.

2. In his Revenue of Excize, Hearth-Money, and all Land-Taxes, which by this Means may be improved to the utmost Pitch of what they are, be it more or less.

3. In the Charge of Collecting the said Revenues, which at present costs his Majesty, as allowed by the Acts of Parliament, for two Millions of Trea∣sure 33333 l. 06 s. 08 d. all and every Part thereof being by the way Pro∣posed to be paid by the Subject that hath the Benefit of his Assignations.

4. In the Fees allowed to all Officers and their Clerks in the Exchequer for the Receipt of his Majesties Revenue.

By the like Fees Paid and Allowed to the same Officers, and their Instru∣ments for the payment of his Majesties Treasure, either to private Persons; or to the respective Treasurers of the Navy, Army, Houshold, in their respective Offices to be paid by them to private Men for his Majesties Use and Services.

6. In all Fees and Allowances made and given by the Auditors to all or any of these Treasurers upon their Accompts as Money disbursed, as paid by them for Portage, Water-Carriage, Baggs, Wax, or any other Charge whatsoever in the Receipt of his Majesties Treasure, Assigned to them in their several Offices and Trusts.

7. In having by this means a Bank of Treasure in all those Countries that lie near London, ready upon all Commands to supply present Occasions; All Assignations being by this Proposition in the first place to be charged and given to, and upon all Counties remote from London, whether in England or Wales.

8. Hereby his Majesty shall have Treasure ready to pay off all Fleets or Ships so soon as they are safely gotten to their Moarings, to prevent that devouring Charge or Monster of paying Victuals and Wages for twelve or thirteen Months before mentioned.

9. It enabling his Majesties Commissioner in all Offices whatsoever to Contract and Purchase for his Majesties Use and Service, all and all sorts of Provisions, far better in their kind, and by at least eight or ten per Cent. cheaper in their Price, than they can possibly do in the way of Payment now Practised.

10. By cutting off all Interest-Money now paid to the Goldsmiths or o∣ther men for Moneys taken up by way of Anticipation, before his Majesties Revenue can possibly be Collected and paid into his Majesties Exche∣quer.

11. By the like saving of all Interest now paid and allowed upon all Or∣ders Payable in Course either for Goods sold, or Moneys lent upon that way of Payment.

12. By preventing the present Dammage sustained by Farms and Contracts, upon all or any of his Majesties Aides, wherein the profit to the Contractor is at least one fourth, if not one third Part of what he undertakes for, be∣sides the Oppression of the Subject.

13. By preventing all capability of Diversion of his Majesties Treasure in all or any part thereof from the Services to which it was designed by the Parliament, when it was first granted to his Majesty, especially in the case of War, or any other extraordinary Service, where the Tax laid is a Land Tax, and refers to the Nation in General, and not to particular Persons, so and so qualified as the Excize and Hearth-Mony do.

14. By capacitating the Victualler of his Majesties Navy, to make his Pro∣vision of Victuals in all Sea-Ports and Harbours where any of his Majesties Fleets or Ships shall lye, or may touch or come, such as Dover, Harwich, New∣castle, Plymouth, Dartmouth, &c. by taking up his Bills of Imprest, and giving him Assignations upon those Towns, Cities, or Counties, most con∣tiguous to those Parts, or Harbours whereby his Majesties Ships shall or may be dispatched to Sea, and not lie in Harbour full manned, sometimes two Months together before he can get Victuals to send them forth to Sea.

15. In full and seasonable Supplies of the Magazeens of all his Majesties In-Stores and Out-Stores, in all and every of his Majesties Yards and Store-houses at Chatham, Deptford, Woolwich, and Portsmouth; the want where∣of, doth at present Rob one Yard to Supply another, after the Provision taken thence was laid in there at excessive Rates and Prizes, and after the Ex∣pence of Land, and Water-Carriage, Cranage, Portage, Labourers Wages, &c. to Lodge them for his Majesties Service in that Yard, which (as before I hinted) is no small Devourer of his Majesties Treasure, and consequently a begetter of his Debts, besides the Disservice that is done to his Majesty, when the Service in that Yard shall call for the Use of the same Provisions.

In short the Way Proposed, will (if I mistake not) be effectual in a short time, not only to bring his Majesty out of Debt, but also to prevent his being in Debt for the Future, by cutting off all Eating Charges upon his Majesties Treasure whatsoever, if the Aides already setled upon him, be found upon their full Improvement, to be sufficient to carry on his Servi∣ces with Honour, and if not, yet to satisfie the Parliament so as to Give and Grant him such further Aides, as may and will do it Effectually, without any Application to private Men, by the present forenamed Contrivances, and Practices, which are so far from answering the End Proposed by them, that they are the Foundations of those great Debts that are Incumbent up∣on him, and never will, nor indeed can free him from them, but plunge and involve him deeper and deeper in them, the longer they are continued by him.