An essay on the coin and commerce of the kingdom trade and treasure (which are twins) being the only supporters thereof next to religion and justice.

POSTSCRIPT.

I.

HAD it not been for the Diversions of Law, and some in∣tervening Accidents, this Essay or Collection had come sooner out, to save some Pains that have been taken, to regula•••• the Coin and Commerce of the Kingdom.

And indeed, if our Commerce be not regulated, together with our Coin, and both supported by pure Religion, and undefiled Ju∣stice, we may stamp our New Coin with this Superscription, Se∣c••••ius Bellum Pace Dubia, as the Dutch coin'd some Money with the same Motto, when the Treaty of Peace at Breda was bro∣ken off.

For the French, having still by them the true Ways and Means to gain the Over-balance of Trade, in time of Peace, and the most excellent Execution of Justice, (without which, there is little Martial-policy, and in vain is there any Society, and Commerce,) they, being very wise (like the Tyrians) will heap up Silver like the Dust, and Gold like the Mire in the Streets, whilst we cast away care, and live like the — People that dwell at Sechem.

But (nothing hurting the English Nature more than much quiet and peace) if we carry on that vigorous War against France (which his Majesty hath begun) with Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance, we may smite their Power in the Sea, and they shall be devoured by Fire.

II.

IN the the Votes of the House of Commons, Martis 12 Die Martij 1694. I find the following Resolutions of the Committee, which, it seems, were not agreed to by the whole House.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, That ten hun∣dred Thousand Pounds is a sufficient Summ, to make good the Deficien∣cy of the present clipt Coin of this Kingdom.

But our Silver is turn'd so much into Mixed-Metal,* 1.1 and Dross-Money; that, if Six Millions be necessary to circulate, One Mil∣lion, (with all Submission) I think it will not be enough to make good the deficiency that will be be found, for carrying on the Com∣merce

of the Kingdom. Wherefore (for the present) until we can bring in more Bullion, by the over balance of Trade, some other Metal should, with an E••gi••e, so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be Milled, that the Charge should prevent all practice of false Play.

III.

To the third, fourth, fifth and sixth Resolution, That the Crown and Half Crown, hereafter to be Coth'd, shall be of the present Weight and Fineness— That the Crown piece should go for Five Shillings Six-pence, &c.—That the present Mill'd Crown piece go for Five Shil∣lings Six-pence, &c. I humbly answer:

1. That it would be for the Honour of the King, (and there∣in for the Interest of the Country,) to have all the Money new Min∣ted, and Mill'd, with his Majesty's Image, and Superscription; which Honour his Majesty most highly merits; forasmuch as his Pater∣nal Care for the Commonwealth of the Kingdom, hath (against his own present Interest, and in such a time of War) ecommend∣ed to his Parliament the Balance of Trade; which is the principal Means to bring in Bullion and Plate.

2. That, to carry on our Commerce with the more ease, we should (I humbly think, as in the time of Edward 3) Coin our Money for conveniency.

And, it would be (with submission) for the greater conveni∣ency, and the easier, and better keeping of all Accompts, that our Crown-piece should pass but for a Crown; and that our new Coin should be (as near as possible, respecting the charge of Coinage) as much in Money, as in Mass. For we may (if we are not want∣ing to our selves, and to the good Nature of our Nation) keep it from Exportation, and the Melting-Pot, by the over-balance of Trade; which is also the best Means to maintain a Vigorou, War.

IV.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That it be Penal on all such Persons on whom Clippings are found.

But that may sometimes fall hard on some innocent People,* 1.2 for lately one Mr. Jarvis, a Tobacconist on Cock Hill, having sound out a Thief that stole some Tobacco from him, the said Thief, or some other Body for him, convey'd a parcel of Clippings in∣to

his House; for which his Wife was committed to Newgate, and was put to great Trouble, and Charge, before the could be dis∣charged from thence.

V.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That it be Penal on such Persons as shall Import any Clipt, or Counterfet Money.

I believe we have had as many Guinea's, and as much Clipt,* 1.3 Mix'd, and Dross Money Imported upon us, as doth now circu∣late in the Nation. And to prevent such Importation for the fu∣ture, the one half, upon discovery thereof, should go to the In∣former, and the other to the King: For when an Act is just and good, they that inform in favour thereof, should not lose any Cre∣dit by scandalous Titles, or Opinion, but should receive all En∣couragement imaginable. When Rome was in a rising condition, those that Informed in her favour, were looked on as Men of Ho∣nour; but as she went to ruin, and was exposed by the Soldiers, (who should preserve her) to the Sale of who gave most, the Informers were looked upon to be only famous for Infamy, as they are now in other declining Countries.

VI.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That it be Penal on any Person to Export English Bullion; and the proof to lie on the Exporter.

I was extreamly glad when I read this Resolution; for it will, by some kind of necessity, put us upon gaining the over balance of Trade; which is the only thing (next to Religion and Justice) which we want to gain the Empire of the Ʋniverse, as well as that of the Ocean

Religion in Britain hath hitherto been, for the most part,* 1.4 main∣tained by immediate Influence from Heaven.

And the way of Justice and Gentleness, hath had more Force in Britain than Arms.

Under the wise Government of Aurelius the Emperour, mount∣ing into the British Throne, crowned Lucius, first of all Kings, with the Royal Title of a Christian.

And he was not so much a Vassal, as a Friend, and Ally to the Romans: And, perceiving the Empire to be past Noon, and their Lieutenants to comply with the Christians, began to provide for

future Generations; and, according to the Two grand Defects of Religion, and Justice, applyed himself to the establishment of both.

Which Act of Lucius, so advanced him in the Opinion of Wri∣ters, that they knew not when they had said enough of him.

Whereas before, Britain was become a Glut of Wickedness, and a Burden that God would endure no longer.

The Kingdoms of Christendom, now in being, had their rising from the fall of Rome; and Vortigern (a Native of this Isle), first established here a free Kingdom, four hundred and fifty Years after Christ, and so left it to the Saxons. So England hath a great Precedency, in respect of the Antiquity of the Kingdom, which (as Beda observes) was always a Monarch in a Heptarchy.

So it hath the Precedency likewise in respect of the Antiquity of the Christian Religion.

Joseph of Arimathea planted the Christian Religion, immediate∣ly after the Passion of Christ, in this Realm.

And Aristobulus (one of them mentioned by St. Paul,* 1.5 Rom. 6.) was Episc. Britannorum; and likewise Simon Zelotes; yea, St. Pe∣ter, and St. Paul himself, as Theodoretus doth testifie.

The first Christian King in Europe, was Lucius Surius.

And the first that ever advanced the Papacy of Rome, was the Emperour Constantine, born at York.

Edward the Third, King of England, was (Anno 1338) crea∣ted by the Emperour, Vicarius Perpetuus Imperii. And William the Third, King of England, may be the greatest Emperour that e∣ver was, if we are not wanting to him, when he is not to us.

This Kingdom is held of God alone,* 1.6 acknowledging no Su∣periour.

It was long before the Son of God was enwombed; and whilst, as yet, Providence seem'd to close only with the Jewish Nation, and to hover over it, as a choice pick'd Place from all the Earth, that, with a gracious Eye, surveying the forsaken condition of all other Nations, it glanced on this Island. Both Thoughts and Words reflected on Isles,* 1.7 Isles of the Gentiles, Isles afar off; as if amongst them the Lord of all the Earth had found out some place, that should be to him, as the Gem of the Ring of this terrestrial Globe.

And if the ways of future Providence may be looked upon as a Gloss of those Prophecies, we must confess, that this Island was conceiv'd in the Womb thereof, long before it was manifested to the World.

No sooner was the Scepter departed from Judah, but both it, and the Law-giver, came hither, as if we were the only White that was in God's Aim.

VII

And shall we, after all this (for the sake of Self-interest) be any ways wanting to Albion, which God hath so highly honoured, and so bountifully bless'd above all the Kingdoms in the World?

No, sure; for there is nothing expected from our Gratitude to∣wards God, and our Duty towards the Nation, but what the Ho∣nourable Representatives thereof may make practicable, by means of their principal Commitees of Religion, Grievances, Trade, and Justice; and the Power they have of sending for Persons, Papers and Records.

VIII.

And since they are as deeply engaged, as they are highly concern∣ed to regulate the Coin of the Kingdom, and to turn our Dross into Silver again, I hope they will raise no small Fund, or Sum of Money for it,* 1.8 out of the Causes, and Effects of Extravagancy, and Covetousness. I mean, such Extravagancies, for the most part, as promote excessive and consumptive Importations.

And such Covetousness as makes (against the Laws of God, and the World) Twelve, and sometimes Twenty per Cent, of Money, by Interest, Procuration, Continuation, &c.* 1.9 And there are a great many concern'd in this Craft, that should refund a great deal for the present Occasion.

IX.

And, if our Trade and Justice be regulated together with our Coin, and Religion honestly and 〈…〉〈…〉, our King's

most excellent Majesty may use a greater Style of Soveraignty than this of King Edgar, wherewith (and with a few other Words) I conclude:

Ego Edgarus Anglorum 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, omnicumque Regum Insularumque Oceani Britannici circumjacentium, cunctarumque Nationum quae infra eam includuntur, Imperator, ac Dominus.

And now (I think, from what hath been said, or rather shewn) it may be seen a little, how much God and Nature have done for us, more than we endeavour to do for our selves. And I wish that any part of this Enterprize may answer the Ends for which the whole was design'd, with all Sincerity and Good∣will.

For else I would have robb'd and stollen from the Autho∣rities I have acknowledged, transmigrated their Dispensat••••i••s into the Wrong Appropriation, and, made those Doctors Opinions pass for my own, who am the most unfit Person to prescribe any thing for the Distempers of State, in a Corrupted Time.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Answ.
• * 1.2

  Answ.
• * 1.3

  Answ.
• * 1.4

  Hist. Disc.
• * 1.5

  Dorotheus.
• * 1.6

  Cottoni Post∣huma, p. 87. Hist. Disc. p. 3.
• * 1.7

  Isa 42.4.31.3.60.4.66.19.
• * 1.8

  In a printed Paper, entitu∣led, Reasons for not laying any farther Impositions upon Coals, there is this Particular: Which, in things of Choice and Luxury, may be tolerable; but, in Cases of Necessity, must be extream grievous, especially to many Trades-men.
• * 1.9

  It is the O∣pinion of some others, as well as my own, That all Masters of English Ships should be Taxed abroad, together with the Factors; for they are come now to act in half Commissions, &c. with the Factors. And, to speak with all Modesty, they gain above 12 per Cent. more than the Merchants do, by more advantageous Trading.