A FRIEND TO CAESAR. OR AN HUMBLE PROPOSITION FOR The more regular, speedy, and easy Payment of his Majesty's Treasure, Granted, or to be Granted by the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, for the carrying on of his Majesty's Expenses, 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.  
LONDON. Printed for Robert Harford at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange, 1681   

THE PREFACE TO THE READER.  
YOu have here, Reader, presented to your View, one of the most useful Books this Age has seen. This woody, noisy Age, fruitful only in base, in treacherous, or vain Productions, and therefore sunk in the Esteem of wise and Good Men, has the Honour at last of Publishing this excellent Book, whose Merit is too great to be spoke in the narrow Limits I oblige myself to. The worthy Author has shown himself in the following Pages to be what the Title calls this Book, a Friend to Caesar. No cunning Gloser of the Court, no fawning Parasite, no supple insinuating Flatterer, but such a Friend as generously interposes to free the Sacred Crown of the British Empire from that Rust and Tervith that has so long obscured its Lustre. The Title of this Book promises no more, than what the Author admirably acquits himself of in the following Discourse. He has shown himself not only by his excellent Design and End to be a true English-Man, a brave, an honest, and a worthy Patriot: but also by his admirable Management of it, to be a Wise and Great Man, capable of the highest Reasonings, and the best Resolves. A fit and just disposure of the public Treasure, is a Point so necessary, and withal so nice, that as there is nothing more worthy the enquiry of such whose Station and Quality fits them for the Service of the State; so there is nothing that more requires to be proposed and settled by the steadiest Counsels, the greatest Deliberations, and the Wisest Cautions. You will find, Reader, lively Instances of the unhappiness of diverting the public Monies from the Ends to which they were appropriated. And every reflecting Mind will easily discern how Fatal such Miscarriages may prove: when the Peace of Nations shall be a Sacrifice to the by-Ends of private Persons: or when the Treachery of some, or the Neglect of others shall hazard the ruin of the general Repose, or Wreck of the public Safety. You will find how heavily the Crown is clogged with Debt. You will find many of the plain and obvious (though concealed or neglected,) Causes. And you will find such sound Propositions of Cure, as nothing less (I believe) than the collective Wisdom of the Nation can alter them to mend them. I persuade myself that no Man can bring any just Objection to the solid Reasonings, to the plain Demonstrations that this Author uses: If at least he Read with such an attention of Mind as the Subject requires, and comes but to it with an unprejudiced Judgement.  
I have often thought it a most deplorable thing, that the Splendour of the Imperial Crown of these Rich and Flourishing Nations, should be so long Darkened and Eclipsed by such a Cloud of Debts. And I have wondered as oft how it could possibly be so. So many Wise and Faithful Ministers of State, I thought, could never suffer their Master's Treasure to flow out of the proper Channel, and to be diverted to Ends, unworthy the Glory of the Royal Diadem, or unsuitable to the Honour of their own Fidelity and Loyalty. Howsoever it be, the King is unhappily engaged in very great straits and Difficulties by the pressing Burden of his Debts, and as this excellent Author has well dived into the Causes, and discovered the Moths and Rust that insensibly by unminded Steps secretly Cankered and Decayed the Treasure: So has he with all Candour offered such Means of Redress as he has upon the maturest Result of Judgement thought the best. The Legislative Power of the Nation is certainly the best Judge of this Gentleman's Opinion: and himself has with all becoming Humility, and due Submission, wholly laid these his Sentiments at the Footstool of that Sacred Power. 'Tis a sense of Duty that every true Englishman must always cherish in himself: and which for my own particular, is one of the only things I can Value in myself. God forbidden therefore that any thing I say in this Preface, should be extended to forestall the Judgement of a Parliament: for all whose Proceed as I have always the highest Veneration and Deference; So I would by no means be thought to intent this a Censure upon them, in case their Sentiments prove different from the Authors. No, but on the contrary I profess to regulate my little Reason by their strength of Wisdom, and reform the Errors of my Judgement, by the Truth of theirs. The occasion of my Writing this, was no more than an excess of Love and Zeal, I naturally have for my King and Country, which always taking new Fire at every hint that speaks any brave or generous Service to them, broke out into rapture at the reading of these Sheets. My Breast I found was too narrow for the Genius that inspired it, and no longer able to contain, at last it thus ran on. I could not forbear recommending a thing I liked so well, to the glad perusal of others: and the Bookseller would needs publish what I writ, I cannot but confessed an Honour to me; for by this Advantage something of me may remain to future Ages, whilst annexed to this inestimable Jewel, and this worthless Scribble, which otherwise perhaps had perished in the next Fire, or which is worse, been continued by the fate of wild's and Flecknots Works to case up Fruit, might now (had I the vanity to subscribe it) convey my Name and Memory to the utmost end of time. I could never end, Reader, did I give but way to all the Violence and Heat that agitates my Mind. What could not be said on this Glorious, this Loyal, this useful Theme! A Proposition for establishing and securing a lasting Glory to the English Crown and Nation, by delivering the Crown from the wretched wardship of its Debts, and by Protecting it from all future Invasions of that kind. This Glorious Deed once done, I should not doubt to see in a short time, the Royal English Lions rouse themselves to the Fear and Terror of all their insulting Neighbours. But I will not go too far: nor too long detain the Reader from the useful Sheets that follow. I will only beg the Readers Patience, and the Authors Pardon for adding the following Opinion of mine, to what the worthy Author speaks about Distress, where the Collectors do not presently pay in their Money when required. I conceive that not merely a Constable, but in the Country some Justices of the Peace, or in a Corporation the Major or other chief Magistrate should be present at the Distress of the Goods, of such as shall delay Payment of or any way's imbezel the public Monies, both for the greater solemnity of the thing, as being the public Money, and to prevent the Odium and Revenge that may attend a particular Person for doing it. That I may keep my Word with the Reader and no longer uncharitably detant him from the Book itself, I will but add my hearty Wishes and Prayers for the auspicious Progress and Event of this worthy Authors generous Design; and again ask his Pardon for thus presuming, and of the Reader for his Detention, conclude this Preface, and conduct you to the excellent Book itself.  
FAREWEL.   

A Catalogue of some new Books, Printed and Sold by Robert Harford, at the Angel in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange, 1681.  

THe Reformed Bishop: or XIX Articles tendered by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, a well wisher of the present Government of the Church of Scotland, (as it is settled by Law) in order to the further establishment thereof. Octavo, price bound, 2 s. 6 d.  
A Treatise of Taxes and Contributions, showing the Nature and Measures of Crown-Lands, Assessments, Customs, Poll Monies, Lotteries, Benevolence, Penalties, Monopolles', Offices, Tithes, raising of Coins, Harth-Money, Excise, etc. With several interspersed Discourses, and Digressions concerning Wars, the Church, Universities, Rents and Purchases, Usury and Exchange, Banks and Lombard's, Registers for Conveyances. Beggars, Insurance, Exportation of Money, Wool, Free Ports, Coins, Housing, Liberty of Conscience, etc. The same being frequently applied to the State and Affairs of Ireland, and is now thought seasonable for the present Affairs of England. Quarto, price stitched ● s.  
Humane Prudence, or the Act by which a Man may raise himself and Fortune to Grandeur, by A. B. Twelves, price bound 1 s.  
The Count of Gabalis, or Conferences about secret Sciences, rendered out of French into English, with an Advice to the Reader, by A. L. A. M. Twelv. price bound, 1 s.  
The Jesuits Catechism, according to St. Ignatius Loyola, for the Instructing and Strengthening of all those that are weak in that Faith. Wherein the Jmpiety of their Principles, Perniciousness of their Doctrines, and Iniquity of their Practices are declared. Quarto, price st. 1 s.  
The Politician Discovered, or Considerations of the late Pretensions that France Claims to England and Ireland; and her Designs and Plots in order thereunto, in two serious Discourses, by a true Protestant, and wellwisher of his Country. Qu. pr. st. 6 d.  
A Mathematical Compendium, or useful Practices in Arithmetic, Geometry, and Astronomy, Geography and Navigation, Embattelling, and Quartering of Armies, Fortification and Gunnery, Gauging and dialing, explaining the Logarithms, with new Indices; Nepairs Rods or Bones; making of Movements, and the Applications of Pendulums; with the Projection of the Sphere for an Universal Dyal, etc. By Sr. Ionas More Knight, late Surveyor General of his Majesty's Ordnance. The second Edition with large Editions. Twelves, price bound 3 s.  
The Church Papist (so called:) his Religion and Tenets fully discovered, in a serious Dispute, which long since happened between a (then) reputed Papist, and an open professed Romanist, whereby the common (and trite) Arguments of pretended Visibility, Succession, Vinversality, etc. of the Roman Church, travelling the Nation to amuse and stagger the Weak, and to seduce and pervert the unstable sort of People, are briefly Confuted. Whereunto is added, a short Discourse, proving Episcopacy to be of Divine Institution, Kingly Government of Gods setting up, and the Religion of the Church of England, to be the best in the World. By one of the Children of the late Captivity, Quarto, price 6 d.  
All the Letters, Memorials, and Considerations, concerning the offered Alliance of the Kings of England and France, to the High and Mighty Lords, the States of the united netherlands, according to the several times when they were delivered: With Considerations on the Alliance, and also Reflections on the said Considerations. Faithfully Translated from the Dutch Copies Printed at Haerler by Barent Jansen, Hoog Euys, 1680. Folio, price 6 d.  
The Privileges and Practice of Parliaments in England, Collected out of the Common Laws of this Land. Seen and allowed by the Learned in the Laws. Commended to the high Court of Parliament. Quarto. st. 6 d.  
The great Pressures and Grievances of the Protestants in France, and their Apology to the late Ordinances made against them; both out of the Edict of Nantes, and several other Fundamental Laws of France; and that these new Illegalities, and their Miseries are contrived by the Popish Bishops Arbitrary Power, Gathered and Digested by E. E. of Grays-Inn, sometimes undersecretary to the French King. Humbly Dedicated to his Majesty of Great Britain in Parliament.    

A FRIEND TO CAESAR, etc.  
IT appears by several Acts of Parliament, that the Nation hath frequently been charged with great Sums of Money, for the carrying on Wars, and for other the necessary Service of the Crown and Nation.  
Those Sums for Methods sake were by their several Acts distributed to the respective Counties, and Cities of the Nation, and afterwards subdivided by Commissioners appointed by the same Acts into Hundreds, Wapes, and Wapentakes in each County, and the whole Sum for one or three Months laid upon every distinct County apportioned to the respective Hundreds thereof, and the Proportion allotted to every Hundred, subdivided again by the Commissioners of each Hundred, into so many Parts as there are Divisions in that Hundred, more or less according to the greatness and smallness of the Divisions, and Warrants Issued out by the said Commissioners, to the Constables of each Division, to Collect the Sum required after an Assessment thereof made by the Inhabitants, or some of them, appointed thereunto by the Commissioners of each Hundred.  
This Money, laid upon each Division of each Hundred, is again subdivided into Parishes, and those Parishes into the respective Townships of each Parish, and at length stated by the Assessors, upon each individual Inhabitant of each Township, that hath any Estate Real or Personal, to render him or them liable to pay any part of what is laid upon that Division; And so the whole Treasure granted by the Acts (or aught to be) collected and paid by the Inhabitants of every Township, by all Townships in every Parish, by all Parishes in every Division, by all Divisions in every Hundred, by all Hundreds in every County, and by all Counties in the whole Kingdom. A way very suitable to the Prudence of the representative of the People, and much becoming the Justice of the High Court of Parliament.  
Yet if I may have Leave, without Offence, I would humbly demand,  
How it comes to pass, that notwithstanding so Many, so Great and Unparallelled Sums of Money as have been given and granted to his Majesty, since his happy return to his Crown, His Majesty should yet be said not only to have an Empty Exchequer, but also to be much in debt to several of his Subjects.  
In all Diseases of the Body Natural, we say to discover the Cause of the Distemper, is half a Cure, and to remove it, will totally restore the Patient. What is true in the Distemper of the Body Natural, is as equally true in the Distemper of the Body Politic; take away the Cause, and the Effect ceaseth. And however it is not easy (yea 'tis impossible) to Assign all the grounds and causes of his Majesty's unhappiness in this particular, after the expression of so much Love, Loyalty, and Affection from his Parliament and People, who almost (if not altogether) have at every Session, given him for these ten Years past, little or much to enable him to carry on his Affairs, without exposing himself to Debts, and other grieving Disadvantages to himself and his People, yet some of them that are too obvious (and the grand Causes among many others) shall be given in answer to this Inquiry, for the future prevention of so great a disservice, both to his Majesty and his People, who by reason thereof is always receiving, and yet hath not sufficient, and who are always giving, and yet are as far from their end in giving, as if they had given little or nothing.  
1. The first Reason or Cause that I shall mention may be in the Parliaments not giving or granting, what they do give or grant, till the Service for which it is given, be commenced or in some forwardness for its Expense, whereby his Majesty is oftentimes forced either to advance his Treasure upon the Credit of what they are about to give him, or for want thereof to purchase all or most Commodities requisite for his Service, at exorbitant Rates and Prizes, which renders it much more in Charge and Expense, than otherwise it would or ought to be.  
2. These Allowances given by the Parliament out of the Treasure, given his Majesty in their respective Acts to several Persons, though in itself, it be upon view, but of small or no consideration; to wit; one penny or two pence in the Pound, Yet if these pence or two pences be cast up, and put into a total Sum, to be defaulked from the whole Sum given, it will then appear that the want thereof is a great Detriment to his Majesty, and doth frustrate his Service (as to so much) beyond his expectation from the Sum given him. As for Example, suppose the Sum given to be two Millions (as of late it hath been and more) four pence in the Pound, distributed into pence and two pences to several persons, amounts in the whole, Two Millions to 33333 l. 06 s. 08 p. This 33333 l. 06 s. 08 p. if duly paid would answer his Majesty's expectation of two Millions of Treasure said to be given his Majesty, and the Parliaments intention in giving him so much, whereas this defaulkation in the Act itself, renders the Sum so much less than is promised, and his Majesty so much the more in debt for want of it, and the Subject liable to future Taxations for the same Money, which he hath already paid as part of the two Millions formerly granted.  
3. The Anticipation of his Majesty's Revenues, by Loans from the City of London, and other private Men or Places (before what is given him by his Parliament is or can be reckoned,) is a great cause of its expense, without that Providence which otherwise might be used, and consequently of leaving his Majesty under the burden of debt, as much (if not more) than he was before it was given him.  
4. The paying of Interest to all Venders of Goods or Commodities served into the Navy, for the carrying on his Majesty's Service there, is intolerably disadvantageous to his Majesty, and contracts upon him such, and so great Debts, that unless the Parliament be constantly giving, his Majesty must needs sink under the weight of them (for over and above the common and bare Interest allowed) these men knowing beforehand, what course they must steer, before they can compass their Money, will not part with their respective Commodities, without the inclusion of 20 per Cent. Profit for their Goods sold, for which upon receipt of Bills or Debentures for their Money, they immedlately carry them to the Exchequer, and enter them there as so much Money lent to his Majesty, at 7 or 8 per Cent. till they be paid, whereby it appears to me (I know not what it doth to other men) that his Majesty loseth 30 per Cent. of all Bills or Debentures so brought into his Exchequer, as Money lent for Goods sold into the Service, which must needs leave his Majesty as much in Debt at the end of the Year as he was at first.  
5. The Payment of those Moneys either lent or anticipated by Tallies, or brought into the Exchequer by Bills or Debentures in the new way, commonly called by COURSE, is the Ivy that eats out the Heart of his Majesty's Revenue; for though it be true that the Parliament have in their Wisdoms, made strict Prouisoes in several Acts, for the due payment thereof, without much Charge or Fees to the Vender or Buyer, yet it is also true that, let them do what they can to prevent the Mischiefs that may attend their Payment Irregularly or out of Course, yet (when they have done all) all that they have done, nor doth nor can signify any thing as to the freeing his Majesty from being in Debt, in regard what they build upon in this way, is that which cannot stand for want of a sure and solid Foundation to bear it upon.  
For whatever is or may be pretended unto by those Gentlemen that were the first contrivers of this way, as men interested to promote it, yet indeed the way itself is a Sandy Foundation, and so far from answering its end, to wit, the speedy payment of his Majesty's Debts, that it is totally destructive to him and the Nation, and the longer it is followed, the more he will find himself plunged into Debt; So that if he had not the People's Purses and Affections to supply him in a constant way of giving, he would never be able to extricate himself out of them. And to speak plainly, Payments in course, are at the best but corpse Payments, both in reference to his Majesty's Honour and Profit, and with reference to his People's satisfaction, except such as are interressed Persons, or usurious Abusers of his Majesty's Service. I shall take leave to expatiate a little upon this Head, because I know it to be the greatest Diana of these times, and is looked upon as the rarest Expedient that ever was found out for the Honour of his Majesty's Service.  
Suppose a Lord, or other Noble Man of this Nation, whose Revenue is 5000 Pound good Estate, to be also an adventurer to the East Indies, or Guinny, twenty thousand Pounds with hopes and design to improve his Fortune, who yet by reason thereof and other Expenses, incumbent upon him for the support of his Family, and maintenance of himself in that grandeur, that his Birth, Office at Court, or Nobility requireth, begets himself unwarily into Debt to several men 40000 l, which if paid, would almost ruin his Estate, and if not paid will grow more and more upon him every Year. Suppose also this Nobl-eMan, upon consideration of his present condition, should advise with his Steward or other Servants or Friends, what course to take to free himself from this great pressing Debt: It cannot be imagined that any faithful Steward or Friend will say, Sr. you have 5000 Pounds per Annum in good Revenue, settle it upon your Creditors for their security, that their Debts shall be paid them, but limit yourself to no time when, only engage your Income for the Principal, and pay them Interest, till you can pay them both Interest and Principal, and that they may be satisfied that you intent really and truly to pay them one time or other; give them order that all and every of them shall bring his and their Bills, Bonds, Book-Debts or what else soever he hath to show for his Debt to your Steward, and there enter their Claim upon Record with Promise, that he that comes first shall be first paid, and he that comes last, must be content to stay till the last but himself be paid, only both the first and last shall all be assured that let the Payment be when it will (ever or never) they shall all be paid in Course, and they shall all have Interest allowed them till it be paid, though never, or never so late first.  
Yet admit he or they should thus advise this Nobleman, can any rational Man think that this is a good way or proposition to disengage him from his Debts, or that it is a good Foundation laid to free him from them, and yet preserve his Estate, Honour, Adventure and all necessary Expenses entire? surely no; Considering that by this Advice his Revenue must be pawned to his Creditors, his Adventure will daily call upon him for more Issues, his Honour will require that he should still live at the same rate as formerly, and that the Interest of his 40000 pounds' Debt will be a constant eating Charge upon his Estate. Must not these Encumbrances needs leave him in a worse Condition as to his Debts the next, than he was this Year, if he resolves to take up or prosecute this Way or Advice.  
For the Interest of 40000 Pound for one Year is 2400 Pound, which is almost half as much as his whole Revenue can drown of his Debts for that Year, so that he pays but 2600 Pounds of his 40000 Pound Debt in one whole Year, and is left at loss how to equip and set to Sea his Ships the next Year, having all his Revenue in Lavender to his Creditors. If he doth not set them forth, he hazards the loss of his 20000 l Stock, if he doth, he must then advance Money upon the Credit of his whole Estate to do it withal, and this involves him into a greater Debt than he was in at first. If he cannot take up Money without great Disadvantage, than there is nothing left him but to hire his Ships, Man, Victual, and Store them with all Commodities fit for the Trade he drives, upon Trust or Ticket from such as will trust him or sell their Commodities to him at 6, 6, and 6 months' time, till his Ships return from Sea, at what time he hath Freight, Victual and Wages to pay to all his Seamen and Owners as a growing Debt upon him. Now I pray consider will any of those that trust him with their Goods at such Days of Payment (if they know his Condition) not include in the Price of their Goods, so much Profit as may bear the hazard and adventure of their Trust and Forbearance? surely they will. And by how much his Necessity may pinch him to make use of their Courtesy, by so much he may assure himself they will grow upon him in the Price, and Profit of their Commodities, and this runs him more and farther into debt than ever; for he that drives a Trade upon Ticket or Trust, either by advancing Money at Interest, or taking up Goods at Time, is and must needs be in a sad Condition as to his Trade.  
Unto which we may also add that if this Lord or Nobleman shall yet resolve to live at as high a rate as ever for the Maintenance of himself, his Lady and Family, and for the upholding his Reputation in Court and Country (Necessity being laid upon him so to do,) then certainly his Debt must and will increase upon him every Year, so long as he continues in this course, and sink him deeper and deeper into Debt, and all this (and more that might be said) upon the single Account of this Sandy Foundation or Advice given him by his Steward to enable him to creep out of Debt by degrees.  
I list not to make any Application of this Parallel to the Case in hand, an easy understanding will save me that labour, and though I know that Similes do not run upon four Feet, yet I shall take the boldness to tell my Reader, that as this Course is and must be greatly destructive and prejudicial to the private Estate, Honour and Reputation of this Lord or Nobleman, so it is infinitely much more in the case of the King, in regard no Comparison between a private Man and a Prince, will or can reach the sad Loss and Damage that must and will attend his Service, more than any private Man's whatsoever.  
6. The next begetter of his Majesty's great Debts, is the nonpayment of the Seamens Wages so soon as the respective Ships come into Harbour, and are safe at their Moaring after the Service is ended, the neglect or want whereof is the Ground and Cause of that devouring Charge that attends his Majesty's Service.  
What the Damage thereof is or may be, is not easily discerned by most Men, and little considered by those that do discern it, as being neither their Horse nor their Load; but that you may see a little into the mischief thereof, I shall crave Leave to hold it forth in the Example of a Ship of 200 Men, that by the Foot you may better guests at the Body of great Sea-Monsters.  
Suppose a Ship manned with 200 Men, and employed in his Majesty's Service for six Months past, to come into Harbour, and for want of Treasure to pay off, the Company lies at her Moaring, or in dry Dock one Month, full manned in Victuals and Wages; the Question before us is, what Damage this is to his Majesty for the growing Debt of Victuals and Wages for that Month.  
That we may the better see the Damage, we must inquire and know what is the Debt from his Majesty for the whole Company for their six months' Service past. Now the Debt for the Wages of 200 Men for one Month, (supposed at 30 Shillings Medium for one Man) comes to 300 Pounds, which for six Months is 1800 Pounds. This being stated, it appears that the Damage his Majesty sustains for the want of 1800 Pounds to pay off these 200 men is for one months' Wages 300 Pounds, unto which if you add for the Price of their Victuals for the same Month (at 20 Shillings medium) it amounts to 200 Pounds more, and is in the whole 500 Pounds, which is 200 Pounds more than one quarter part of the whole 1800 Pound Debt for six Months. Now how unreasonable a thing is it that his Majesty should for want of 1800 Pound present Money be smitten into Debt 500 Pound in one Month, and so in proportion into a greater or smaller Debt, for a longer or shorter time, whilst the said Ship lies unpaid? If the preceding Article of Anticipation be by the bare Interest of Money, such a loss to his Majesty, what Detriment is this at such a time when yet his Majesty hath no need of, nor Service for those men whom he both feeds and pays?  
Let those that can, cast it, for my part, though I can I will not, as ashamed to say what it is; and upon that account I must confess that I have sometimes stood amazed to think upon the Improvidence (I must not say Imprudence) of some employed in his Majesty's Service, that should take care to prevent this Mischief, not much inferior to the last mentioned; And I dare affirm that and if it be no better provided against in the future, than it hath been for time past, let the Parliament give what Treasure they please to his Majesty, to carry on his Service in time of War; this very particular shall swallow up a great part thereof, and leave his Majesty more in Debt at the end of every Voyage or Service, than can be recovered or paid without new Supplies from the Nation, for if 200 Men shall beget him 500 Pound in Debt for one Month, it is not difficult to say what the whole or greatest part of a Fleet manned with 30 or 40000 Men shall fleece from him for two or three Months together.  
It would be accounted an officious Act to discover what Debts his Majesty contracted in this particular, for and during the late War with the Dutch. And though it be not difficult to Collect it by the respective Sea Books of each Ship in the Fleets then set to Sea (discompting the time from each Ships coming to her Moaring, till the day she was paid off) yet indeed it is better to be concealed than made public, for if it were exactly cast up and known, it would astonish his Majesty to think how his Treasure hath been wasted, and his Debt increased without any Service done for it, being paid not so much for Wages earned, as Money cast away for want of Treasure to pay what they had already earned, before they came to their Moaring.  
7. Among other Causes of his Majesty's contracting great Debts upon him, it is none of the least to farm out his settled Revenues; Such as the Excize of Beer and Ale, Chimney-Money, etc. to such men as will contract for them, for this is the way to render these Collections one third part less than indeed they are, and consequently his Majesty so much the more in Debt. It cannot be denied but that all Undertakers or Farmers of his Majesty's Revenues, Fish for Profit to themselves, and were they not assured that in probability they might gain to themselves one third Part more than what they engaged to pay, they would never oblige themselves and their Estates to make good what they promise. We may add to this that all Advance-Money upon the Contract or Farm taken, lessens the Revenue so much the more, by how much the more ready Money they do advance before they enter upon their Contract, for it is not to be believed that these men would deposit so great Sums as they do, were it not as a Shooing-horn, the better and easier to draw the Contract (as a Shoe) on their Feet. And though here be no visible Loss of Interest Money to his Majesty by this Anticipation, as in the case of other Loans (yea rather a seeming visible Profit,) yet the invisible Loss included in the Contract itself, is more than the Profit of double Interest to the Farmer, and consequently more than the Loss of double Interest to his Majesty.  
Nor must I omit (though I know it a Digression from the Point in hand) that great reflection upon his Majesty's Honour that attends this way of Farming, for under pretence of his Majesties Grant or Commission, the respective Farmer's screw and tenter the Subject unto or beyond the Letter or Meaning of the Act of Parliament, yea contrary to Certificates produced from the Justices of the Peace, that they are freed from Payments by the Act itself, and thereby they render their Lives bitter to them, and their Estates exceeding Poor and Low. Hence comes Clamour, Discontentedness against the present Government, and the Cry of the Poor against their own trusties. I know that most of these Undertakers are Gentlemen of Quality in their respective Countries, where their Farm lies (though some also are Strangers to the Places, and live far remote) but I know withal that these Gentlemen do not Act in their own Persons, farther than to regulate or methodise their Profit upon the whole Farm, and when that is done, they let out their Farms to Subcontractors, if they can get any that will come up to their Price, so as to ascertain their designed Profit, and if they cannot so do, than they depute the Power of his Majesties grant to them, to Subcollectors for their Uses, who generally are men of small (if any) Reputation in the Countries or Places where they live, and who for the most part do employ such men under them as are much inferior to themselves, and altogether unfit to receive any Trust. And these are the men that rake and tear, that grieve and vex the Subject, which the first undertakers and sometimes their Subcontractors and Subcollectors are ashamed to appear in, though yet it be connived at both by the one and the other, to be done by these inferior Instruments, in order to the improvement of their Farm or Contract, the Profit whereof was the first Bait that enticed them to by't at his Majesty's Service, whatever might otherwise be pretended.  
Thus I have endeavoured to give you a few of the many Grounds and Causes of his Majesty's past and present great Debts, notwithstanding all that large and liberal Aid he hath and doth receive from his Subjects, by several Acts of Parliament.  
I could easily enlarge, and both tyre myself, and my Reader in specifying many more, which though happily they are or may not be such, and so great as those before mentioned, yet of themselves they are of great Concernment, and highly prejudicial to his Majesty's Service, by licking up (beyond all Bounds and Reason) his Majesty's Treasure, and hurrying him into Debt as I may say, over Shoes and Boots. Such are the Management of his Naval Affairs in the Victualling Office by Contract, too great Salaries to subordinate Instruments, want of seasonable Supplies of the Magazines in all his Majesties Yards and Storehouses, buying all sorts of Provisions at extreme Rates and Prizes when (and not before) Necessity enforceth their supply, payment of those Provisions in a long bow of time, furnishing the necessity of one Yard or Store-House with the Provisions of another Yard after they are laid in there, at exorbitant Rates and Charge, want of due Musters, and in Default thereof Payment, of dead Pays to Captains, Pursers, Imbezellments of Boteswaines, Gunners, and Pursers, the abuse of provant  sold to Seamen pressed into the Service, buying poor Seamens Tickets, compounding for Bills and Debentures, when there is Money in the Office to pay them, Diverting his Majesty's Treasure to private Uses. These and an hundred more, that with an easy Recollection might be ennumerated, are all tending much to the Disservice of his Majesty, the contracting of greater Debts than needs, the Discouragement of the Subject to serve his Majesty with Provisions, the Discontent of the whole Nation, and the Disappointment of the good Intentions of the Parliament, in laying so many and so great Burdens and Taxes upon the Subject, with design to preserve his Majesty from being in Debt. But in regard, all or the most part of these (and those I pass over with Silence) are such as are already in the Hands and Care of Subordinate Instruments, entrusted with their Regulation and Prevention, I shall rather choose in Silence to bury them, than by raking in them, to uncover the Nakedness of those whose Trust is to reform them. And shall proceed in what remains before me, as the Design of this whole Discourse, to wit (if it be possible) to propound such Expedients as (at least in my poor and weak Capacity) may have a Tendency to preserve his Majesty's Honour, and to redeem him from those needless growing Debts that now burden him, and in him the whole Nation. And yet to carry on his Majesty's Revenue, Service, and Expense, at as high a Rate of Honour and Value as now it is or can be supposed to be, by all those Contrivances and Practices before mentioned.  
The whole Charge and Expense of his Majesty may for Methods Sake be looked upon under the Notion of Ordinary or Extraordinary.  
I call such Ordinary as refer to his Person, his House, Guards, Buildings, Reparations, Privy-Purse, Intelligences, Negotiations with foreign Princes, Maintenance of his Navy in Harbour, his Garrisons, Fortifications, Building and Repairing of Ships, together with all other things, that are constant Charges upon him, and must be kept and maintained by him, and his Successors, as Kings of England.  
I call nothing Extraordinary, but open and Proclaimed War, with one or more Foreign Nations, or Association with Foreign Princes, whereby he is and must be forced to raise an Army, or set out Fleets of Ships to Sea, etc. For the Common Defence of the Nation, preservation of Peace, Trade, etc.  
The first of these is already provided for and settled, the Parliament having given his Majesty twelve hundred thousand Pounds a Year, to enable him to pay and bear all Charges and Expenses that may or do attend such things as are of a constant being; and must of Necessity be kept up and maintained for the preservation of the Nation in time of Peace, and the Honour of his Majesty's Person and Court. And I could hearty wish that if what is already settled upon him shall by experience be found too little, more might be added rather than his Majesty be exposed to follow the byways, and Devices of Biased Men, to advance Money for his Necessity, and thereby run himself into great Debts, not so easily Discharged as Made. It is a sad Story that the whole Nation of England (I might say three whole Nations) should not be sufficient for the Maintenance of one Man, according to the Nobleness of his Birth, the Dignity of his Office, and the Necessary Expenses that attend it, without such Precarious ways before mentioned, that render him (as a borrower) a Servant to the Lender, and yet after all leavs him in a worse Condition than he was at first.  
The last of these must be provided for, by Additional and Extraordinary Levyes upon the Nation, according to the Greatness, and Formidableness of the Enemy, the length of the War, etc. As it shall be made known by his Majesty to his Parliament, who are bound seasonably and speedily to supply what they in their Wisdoms find fitting, for the better carrying on of the War, both by Sea and by Land, for the Preservation of his Majesty, and the Honour and Safety of the Nation, etc. Now supposing the first already settled, and the last to be settled by the Parliament: the next Enquiry is how his Majesty may have and enjoy the full proceed of his Revenue already settled upon him for all ordinary Expenses, without Snips, Abatements, Defaulkations or other great Loss or Damage before it be collected, or after it is Collected before it is paid to him, or to his use, to such Persons as he shall Authorise to receive the same. And how his Parliament may for the future so settle a Revelive upon his Majesty, for all extraordinary Charges, etc. in case of War, and dispose the Collection, Receipt, Payment, and Expense thereof, and of every part thereof, that the Nation may not be abused, his Majesty Dishonoured, nor his Service Retarded, either for want of Treasure sufficient to bear the Charge, or want of Care and Fidelity, in the Payment of all Expenses the War may require.  
I put the Collection and Payment of all Treasure, whether for Ordinary Charges in time of Peace, or Extraordinary Expenses in time of War together, because the same way to be propounded for the Collection and Payment of all Treasure given or to be given his Majesty for ordinary Expenses is (or with little Variation may be) the way and measure of all Collections for extraordinary Expenses in time of War. For the Collection whereof I shall humbly Offer to Consideration these ensuing Propositions (viz.)  
1. That all Acts of Parliament already made, whereby his Majesty hath any Revenue from the Nation in General, such as Excize upon Ale and Beer, Hearth-Money, etc. and all future Acts to be made to Levy Money upon the general Body or Bulk of the Nation, for any Cause or Causes whatsoever, either Ordinary or Extraordinary, be declared by the Parliament to be Collected in manner and form following. That is to say, First by every Township in the whole Nation, according to the respective Proportions assessed upon them. Secondly, by every Parish containing such and so many Townships in that Parish. Thirdly, by every Division containing so many Parishes in that Division. Fourthly, by every Hundred containing so many Divisions as are in that Hundred. Fifthly, by every County containing so many Hundreds as are in that County. And lastly by the whole Nation, containing so many Counties as are in it. As for Cities and other Corporate Places, the way of Collection may be carried by Parishes in that City, Corporation, etc. according to the respective Revenues that may arise from each Parish. This is already practised as to all Land Taxes, and needs no Alteration or Amendment.  
2. Secondly, That two able and sufficient Men Inhabitants of each Township, be required by the Deputy Lieutenants, Justices of the Peace, or other Commissioners to Assess themselves and the rest of the Inhabitants of each Township, Parish or Division, in every Hundred, and enable to Collect what is so by them Assessed, proportionably to the whole Sum laid upon that Hundred or Division, and those Parishes and Townships within the same. This also is the Method of former Times, as to all Land-Taxes, and cannot be put in a better way.  
3. Thirdly, That this Money or Treasure, thus Collected, may remain, and be in all and every part thereof, in the Hands of the said Collectors, respectively, for and till such time as it be required from them by such Treasurers as shall be Empowered to receive and pay, or Assign it to be received and paid to such Men to whom the same or any part thereof shall appear to be due from his Majesty upon any account whatsoever, according to the respective Trust of the said Treasurers, and the due and ordinary Form of that Place and Office, wherein they are Entrusted as Treasurers, and not otherwise, whether they be Treasurers at War, or for the Army, the Navy, the Household or any other Treasurers whatsoever, legally warranted to receive and pay his Majesty's Treasure and Debts.  
More than this needs not be said or done, with Reference to the Colecting of all Aids whatsoever in all Townships, Parishes, Divisions, Hundreds and Counties of the whole Nation. And more than these, two able and sufficient Men, are needful to be appointed as Collectors thereof, in their respective Townships, who are best able to know and Determine how many Chimneys are in each House of that Township, and how many Alehouses or Brewers and Drawers of Ale and Beer, do inhabit therein, having the Acts of Parliament to direct them what to do for the one, and Instructors from the Justices or other Commissioners for the Hundred, what to Impose upon the other, either by the Strike of Malt spent, or by the Barrel of Ale drawn, etc.  
In this way propounded his Majesty shall be sure to have his full Revenue Collected, and deposited in good Hands ready to be paid to such as by his Authority, shall Assign the same or any part thereof, to all or any of his Creditors, to whom they shall give their Assignations free of all Charge to his Majesty, not only for Collecting, but also for paying of the same. For they do not more, nor so much as the Collectors for the Poor, or the Churchwardens of every Parish, do or aught to do. And by this way it will easily appear not only what the whole Sum of all and every Aid granted or to be granted to his Majesty, will or doth amount unto in every Township, Parish, Division, Hundred, and County of the whole Kingdom; but may also happily discover, that whereas his Majesty now loseth one fourth, if not the third Part of his Aids given him by Anticipations, Loans at Interest, Extraordinary Prizes for Provisions, Interest Money for Payments in Course, Fees to Collect, and Charges to Remit them after Collections, Fees upon Receipt and Payment of them, Contracts with Farmers and Undertakers, and twenty things more that I list not to mention. He shall now have not only all or the most part of those Expenses saved, and his Revenue settled and determined what it is, but also the same augmented some hundred thousand Pounds by the Year, every Year so long as it shall be continued.  
This may satisfy for the way of Collecting his Majesty's Treasure whether for Hearths or Excize, and in general of all other Aids whatsoever, that are or may be given him by his Parliament, and laid upon the Nation in General.  
As to the Payment of this Treasure, thus Collected and Lodged in the Subjects own Hands (which will much content them,) I shall further offer to Consideration these Propositions following, which I doubt not will content and please them much more, if due Care and Fidelity be had and used therein.  
1. First, That the Treasurers both of the Navy, Army, and Household or other Treasurers of his Majesty's Revenues respectively, be required and enabled by Act of Parliament to receive and Pay the same, as the Sole trusties thereof, for the Use and Service of his Majesty, and for no other Use or Service whatsoever.  
2. Secondly, That all Treasures, Aids and Collections so Vested in the said Treasurers, by the several Acts of Parliament, shall not be diverted or paid by them or any of them, to any other Use or Service, than for the Services proper and peculiar to their respective Trusts, whether in the Army, Navy, Household, etc. Or by any other Order or Warrant, than the ordinary Warrant of three or more of the Commissioners for the Treasury, three or more of the Commissioners of the Navy, etc. And that if they or any of them, shall presume to pay any part thereof, to any other Use than the Payment of his Majesty's due Debts, according to their several Trusts, by any other Order or Warrant, than the ordinary Warrant of that Office, whereof they are Treasurers, that they by the said Act, he or they shall be liable to such Punishment as his Majesty with his Parliament shall think fit to lay upon him or them, for his or their Breach of Trust in that behalf. And that the Auditors of their Accounts, respectively be required and empowered by the said Act or Acts of Parliament, not to give him or them any Allowance of any of his Majesty's Treasure so paid by any extrajudicial Warrant, or Order upon any Pretence whatsoever, upon all or any of their present or succeeding Accounts, upon pain of losing their Places, and suffering what other Punishment his Majesty and his Parliament shall think fit.  
3. Thirdly, That the Commissioners of each County nominated in the said Act or Acts, be empowered and required speedily to send up to the said Treasurers, under the Hands and Seals of six or more of them, a List or Certificate of what Sum or Sums of Money are Due and Payable to his Majesty by the said County, as their Part of the whole Sum granted for three or six Months, according to the several Acts for the same, and therein declare how the same is by them and their fellow-Commissioners, distributed into so many Hundreds as are in that County, and into so many Divisions as are in each Hundred, and into so many Parishes as are in each Division, and into so many Townships as are in each Parish. And to signify in the said Certificate the Names of the respective Collectors of every Township, together with the distinct Sums of Money charged upon them, and Collected by them, whether for the Hearth Money, Excize, or the Navy distinctly, whereby the said Treasurers may at one view, have and see not only the full Sum payable by every Hundred in the said County, but also by every Division in the said Hundred, every Parish in the said Division, and every Township in the said Parish for three Months, and where and in whose Hands the same and every part thereof is Lodged for his Majesty's Service.  
4. Fourthly, That the like Certificate or List be also sent up to the said Treasurors under Hands and Seals of two or more of the Commissioners of every City or Town Corporate, chargeable in the said Act or Acts, with any part of that Sum that is charged upon each County, as part or member thereof for three Months.  
5. Fifthly, That when the Treasurer of the Navy, or any other Treasurer hath received the aforesaid Lists, Certificate, or Duplicates of every County, Hundred, Division, Rape, Wapentake, City, and Town in the whole Kingdom, charged with all or any part of the Sum mentioned in the said Act or Acts, he or they the said Treasurers be further required, and by the said Acts Empowered to give public Notice at the common Office of the Navy or other Places, where their respective Trusts are to be executed, to all men that have or shall sell any Provisions, Commodities, Goods, or Wares to his Majesty, or others Authorized by him for his Use in the Navy, or any other Place, where his Service requires them, and are thereby become Creditors to his Majesty, for any Sum of Money whatsoever, that they and every of them shall forthwith bring to his, and their Offices respectively, all such Bills, Orders, Warrant, or Debentures Signed and Attested in the due form of the Office of the Navy, Army, Household, etc. by three or more of those that are or shall be Authorized to give Warrant for all Payments referring to their particular and respective Trusts, and there to put their Hands as for the Receipt of so much Money as shall justly appear to be due upon the same, after due Examination had thereof by the said Treasurers and their Deputies and Instruments, and after Defaulkation made of all Imprests formerly paid thereupon.  
6. Sixthly, That the said Treasurers be in like manner Empowered and Required by the said Acts to call for and take up all Bills of Impresses Signed and paid in the due form of their several Offices, to any Person or Persons that have or shall contract for any Provisions, referring to the Navy, Army, Household, etc. to be afterwards supplied and served into his Majesty's Stores for the present and future Service.  
7. Sevently, That the said Treasurers for the time being, respectively be required and by the said Acts Empowered upon Receipt and Delivery of all and every such Bills of Emptions or other ordinary Warrants, Debentures, etc. to give to the respective Parties from whom they do or shall receive the same, one or more Assignations under his or their Hands and Seals, upon one or more of the said Counties, Hundreds, Divisions, Parishes and Townships, most remote from London, of so much of his Majesty's Treasure vested in them by the said Acts, as shall Pay and Discharge each Man's Bill or Debenture, Order or Warrant, therein Charging, and in his Majesty's Name requiring all to whom the said Assignations shall come or concern, to pay the same to him or them, or their lawful Assigns upon sight thereof, if then due, or so soon as the same shall appear to be, and grow due, by and from the said Counties, Hundreds, Divisions, Parishes and Townships by Virtue of the said Act or Acts of Parliament.  
Which Assignation so Signed and Sealed as aforesaid, shall be (and by the said Acts shall be expressed to be) as good and sufficient Security to the respective Parties, for their several Debts due from his Majesty, as if they had still kept their Bills and Debentures for the same, and upon Payment thereof by the County, Hundred, Division, Parish, and Township, and the Collectors thereof respectively, upon whom it is charged or drawn, the like good and sufficient Security, and Discharge for and to the said County, Hundred, Division, Parish, and Township, and the respective Collectors, and all other men whatsoever concerned therein, as if they and every of them had paid the same according to former Custom, to the high Collector, Receiver General, or Farmers of his Majesty's Revenues.  
8. Eightly, That the said Treasurers be enabled by the said Acts (if the Parties shall desire it) to include in one and the same Assignation, as one entire Sum, all such Money as shall appear due, to or upon eight, ten, twelve or more Bills or Debentures, Orders or Warrants to 8. 19 12. or more men that shall amicably Consent and Agree among themselves, to employ one or more men for them all, to receive the Sum assigned from the respective Counties, Hundreds, Divisions, Parishes and Townships, provided that they and every of the said Treasurers do specify in the body of his and their Assignations each man's distinct Name, Bill and Sum of Money due to him in particular, though he chargeth the County, etc. but with one Total.  
9 Ninthly, That all Commissioners nominated in and by the said Acts for all and every County, be required to be Aiding and Assisting to all and every such Person or Persons, that shall present or produce to them or any of them, any Assignation upon that County, Hundred, Division, Parish, or Township within the same, by giving Warrants of Distress to all Constables and other Officers in case of Refusal or Delay of Payment thereof after the same shall appear due to his Majesty or his Assigns by the respective Acts of Parliament.  
10. Tenthly, That the controller of the Navy, etc. for the time being (or such other Person or Persons as his Majesty and the Parliament shall think fit to appoint) be Required and Empowered by virtue of the said Acts, to take and keep an exact Countercheck, or Book of Accounts, by way of Charge and Discharge, or Creditor and Debtor, of all Bills, Debentures, Orders and Warrants, that shall be taken up by the said Treasurers respectively, and of all Assignations thereupon given by them or any of them, to all or any of his Majesty's Subjects or Creditors, therein specifying the particular Sums of Money due to the respective Persons upon the said Bills, etc. and payable by the said Assignations, to them or their lawful Assigns, by and from the respective Counties, Hundreds, Divisions, Parishes, and Townships, as the same shall grow due to his Majesty, by Virtue of the said Acts, for Beer and Ale, Chimneys, or any other thing or way whatsoever. And that no Bill, Debenture, Order, or Warrant be taken in by them or any of them the said Treasurers, nor any Assignation be thereupon given by the said Treasurers or any of them without the Presence, Privity. Approbation, and Attestation of the said controller, or such other Person or Persons, as his Majesty and his Parliament, shall please to appoint in and by the said Acts.  
These things premised, I shall endeavour to vindicate this Proposition from some of those Objections that may be made against it, either as not Practicable at all, or if it be, yet with so much Disadvantage and Damage to his Majesty, that it will not become the Honour of his Majesty, nor the Wisdom of the Parliament to settle it after this manner.  
1. It may be said that all his Majesty's Treasure ought regularly to be brought into, and lodged in his Exchequer before it be Issued to any particular Service, etc.  
To which I Answer.  
That I am not at all against the way of the Exchequer, when the Service may admit of Formalities without Prejudice to its self (which ought in the first place to be regarded) but if the Aides and Revenues settled or to be settled upon his Majesty, whether Land Taxes, Hearth Money, Excize, or any other of the nature of these, referring to the Nation in General, cannot be Collected nor Paid into his Majesty's Exchequer, without the loss of much Time, and the expense of too much of the same Treasure, and that by this or any other way that may be found out, his Majesty shall not only expedite the Collection as to time, but also facilitate, if not totally annihilate the Charge and Loss that attends its Transmission into the Exchequer: I see no Reason, why we should so far dote upon a Formality (especially in time of War) as to expose his Majesty to so great and insufferable a Loss, only to keep up that Observance in strict Mode and Form.  
2. Nor indeed is the Treasure of Hearth Money, and Excize, paid at present into his Majesty's Exchequer, as by the Objection it is supposed it ought to be, but they are both farmed to several Undertakers, and the Money contracted for, is paid by them into the Exchequer, and no more. And what his Majesty gains by farming of them, is easy to be told. It is true, he saves the Charge of Collecting, and Remitting it into his Exchequer, by these Contracts, but it is as true that the Remedy is by so much worse than the Disease, by how much his Majesty's Loss, in and by these Contracts and Farms, is greater than the Charge of Collecting and Remitting the Treasure into his Exchequer. Whereas in the Way Proposed, his Majesty shall be at no Charge in Collecting, nor yet in Paying into or out of his Exchequer, what shall be Collected for his Service, and besides all this, the Insufferable Loss that now he undergoes by Farming, shall also be saved.  
3. Suppose it Convenient to Lodge all his Majesty's Treasure in his Exchequer, when it may be done without loss of Time, or Expense of Treasure, as the common Receptacle of his Majesty's whole Revenue, doth it therefore follow, that it may not be paid elsewhere, when both these Inconveniences that now attend it, may thereby be prevented; if it were paid into the Exchequer, must it not be paid from thence to satisfy his Majesty's Debts, to the same Men that this Proposition designs it for, and when it is Paid do not all Instruments employed in the Exchequer, discharge themselves of it in their Accounts, by those Bills and Debentures, Orders, and Warrants, that give them Power so to pay it.  
The Design of the Exchequer, is principally for the Accounts of his Majesty's Revenues, and not so much for the Receipt of the Treasure itself; Now if the Accounts of his Majesty's Treasure, may be made in his Exchequer, as regularly as if it had been brought thither in Specie, though it never came there (as all Farms, and Contracts for these Aides never did) then there can be nothing of Prejudice to his Majesty's Service in this Proposition, though by it the Treasure be designed to be paid where it is Collected, to wit, in York, Plymouth, Bristol, Yarmouth, and all other Places of the Nation: The Truth is, none but Men Interested in the Receipt of these Aides, will make this Objection, nor they neither, but as it refers to their private Profit, by being paid there, and no where else, and by themselves, and no other Men.  
4. Nor is the way propounded, altogether a Stranger to the Practice of late Times. There are many yet living, that do know, and can well remember that in the Years 1635. 36. 37. 38 and 39 all the Treasure that was then required and advanced by his then Majesty, from his Subjects, under the Name and Notion of Ship-Money, was by special Order from his Majesty and Council, Vested in the Hands, of the then Treasurer of the Navy, who was by special Order, Enabled to Receive and Pay the same, without ever being brought into the Exchequer, and Limited to Pay all and every Part thereof; to and for the Use and Debts of the Navy (as Ship-Money) and not otherwise, as Part of the ordinary Charge of the Navy, or any Ships thereof employed at Sea, in all or any of these Years. And upon this Account it was that his Majesty would not suffer it to be brought into his Exchequer, that it might not be diverted to any other Service, than the Service of Ship-Money, so called, that he might the better satisfy his Subjects, that what he did in Levying that Treasure from them, was in Order to their own Preservation, and not at all for any private Advantage to himself.  
5. Yea give me Leave to tell you, that at present his Majesty's Revenue of the Customs, and Imposts, though it lies so near Westminster, that it may without much loss of Time or Expense of Monies, be paid into his Majesty's Exchequer, yet (for the greatest Part thereof) it is not so Paid, nor doth it follow, that what part thereof is not Paid in there, must of Necessity be Issued thence, and from no other Place whatsoever, for the Use of his Majesty's Service; But the common Way is for all Goldsmith's, and others that do lend his Majesty any Money at Interest, to carry on his Services, before his own Revenue be Collected, to strike Tallies upon the Commissioners or Farmers of the Customs, etc. for their respective Loans, with Interest Included in those Tallies, and they do receive their Debts, not from the Exchequer, but from the Treasurer of the Customs, as the same shall grow due upon their Tallies. Now if this Course hath been, is, and may be Practised for the future, without Prejudice to his Majesty's Service, though the Revenues of the Customs be not Paid into his Majesty's Exchequer, I would humbly demand why the same Latitude may not be given and taken for the Payment of his Majesty's Revenues of Hearth-Mony, Excize or Land Taxes in any other place of the Nation, by Assignation, from the respective Treasurers, in whose Hands the same is Vested by Act of Parliament, which is to them as good a Warrant (if not a greater) than any Talley stricken in his Majesty's Exchequer, can be to the Commissioners of the Customs, especially considering that by this Means his Majesty shall save the Interest Money allowed the Goldsmiths or others, upon their respective Tallies, and also the charge of Collecting and Paying it into his Exchequer, and the Fees allowed upon its Receipt there, and Payment thence. And that the Subject shall reap the Benefit of the speedy Payment, without much Charge or Trouble.  
6. If it be said the Way propounded, must needs be very Chargeable, Hazardous and Troublesome to the Subject before he can possibly compass his Assignation, or the Money Payable thereby, etc.  
I Answer.  
1. That though I propound the Treasure to be Paid in the Country, and not out of the Exchequer, nor yet by the respective Treasurers that are now trusted to Receive and Pay the same, but by private Men that have the Money in their Hands, and to such as bring to them Assignations for it from the Treasurers, yet these Men that Receive it, are such Men as have Contracted Debts to themselves by Provisions, etc. Sold to his Majesty's Use, or for Service done him, and such as (before they had their Assignations for it) had Bills, Debentures, Orders, and Warrants for their respective Debts, in the ordinary Way of the Offices of the Navy, Army, Household, etc. And such as did by their Receipts to them acknowledge full Satisfaction of them, upon the Delivery of their premised Assignations, and being such and so qualified, what is the Difference between their Receiving their Money or Debts at York (if they be content there to take it) or at London, at a Goldsmith's Shop, upon a Ticket or Assignation from the same Man or Treasurer, especially considering that the first is settled (as I propound it to be) by Act of Parliament, and the last is a Design of the Treasurers and their Instruments (never practised till a few Years Past.) Is it not better and more easy for the Subject to take and Receive his Debt, where he knows it is already Lodged by Act of Parliament (though far distant from London) than to dance Attendance upon the Treasurer and his Instruments many Months before he can procure an Assignation to the Goldsmith, and when he hath it, to be as far from his Debt as he was before, unless, etc.  
2. But Secondly. The Novelty of this Proposition, doth not render it impracticable for the Subject, nor doth it follow, that because it was never experimented, nor so much as Propounded before, that it may not be propounded now, and practised hereafter, if upon due and serious Consideration had thereupon, it shall be found both Honourable and Highly Beneficial to his Majesty, the Parliament, and the Subject, to make Use of it.  
As to his Majesty, I dare boldly (yet humbly) Affirm that in the two settled Aides of Hearth-Money, and Excize, he shall save (what is now lost) some hundred thousand of Pounds by the Year, and could without much Difficulty make it appear by an Induction of Particulars, were it needful, and not too much reflecting upon Interested Men.  
As to the Parliament, the Way proposed will enable them to see what they have given to his Majesty by this or that Aid, and to determine upon View thereof, whether it be needful for them to grant him more, yea or not, which (as it is now carried) they are not able to do, for though they know they have given him the Excize upon Ale, the Hearth Money, and other Aids and Revenues, yet they neither do nor can know, what one, both, all, or any one of these Aids do mount unto in the Total by the Year, and for want thereof are necessitated to Act upon an Implicit Faith, in giving more when it may be what they have already given, is enough.  
As to the Subject, the way proposed is no more (nor indeed so much) as he voluntarily puts himself upon, in his Trading and Dealing with all Chapmen, in all parts of the Kingdom, to whom after he hath Sold and Trusted his Goods, he doth constantly once or twice every Year make his Application in his own Person, or by his Instruments, to Collect and Receive his Debts from them, wheresoever they Dwell, and oft times with ill Success, when the Debtor by ill Husbandry or other Cross, or Casualty, is become Poor and Insolvent (which yet in the way Proposed can never be supposed in his Majesty or the Parliament) yea we know that all Merchants that Trade for Ireland, Spain, France, the straits, Barbadoes, Virginia, New England, yea the East Indies do run great Hazards, and are at greater Trouble and Charge in procuring their Debts, than possibly are or can be Imagined to be, attending those that do or shall trust his Majesty in the Navy, Army, or Household, if this way of Assignations for their respective Debts were vigorously put into Practice, and they thereby assured, that upon Demand of their Money, due upon their respective Assignations, they should be duly and punctually paid without Snips, Fees, Gratuities, Delays, or other Abatements, or Charges whatsoever, other than their necessary Expenses, to Collect and Receive them.  
What better Security can they have or desire to have than the King, Lords and Commons? what quicker Payment, than from the Collectors of every Township, Parish, Division, Hundred or County? what greater Power than upon Denial or Delay to distrein the Parties Goods, and sell them before his Face, and that by Authority of the Parliament, and that not so much by himself, as the Constable or other Officer, upon the place required, and empowered by Act of Parliament so to do. Add to this that all or most Tradesmen in London, that shall or may serve his Majesty with Provisions for the Navy, Army, Household, etc. came first out of the several Counties of England and Wales, to be Apprentices there, and still have their respective Friends, Relations, and Acquaintance remaining there, by whose Insluence their Charge and Trouble may be much Facilitated. And I do not understand why those that either do or shall deal with his Majesty or his Commissioners for his Use, should not as equally be content to take their Debts or Assignations from private Men, where those Men have it for them, as from other private Men of the same place, to whom they have Sold, and voluntarily Trusted their Goods, &c, Especially considering that his Majesty not only hath it there, where it is assigned them, but also that his Majesty and his Parliament, have of purpose Lodged it there, that it might not be diverted from them to any Use or Purpose whatsoever.  
Moreover, if once the Subject finds the Benefit, Security, and Sweetness of this way of Payment, and be thereby encouraged to deal farther with his Majesty's Commissioners, or other Officers, as knowing by Experience their Assignations certain and punctual (as to Payment) than the said Commissioners and Officers may and shall make their Contracts at easier Rates, by at least 8 l. per Cent. in the Price, than now they either do or can do, (besides the unserviceableness of the Provision itself) for every Man is at present loath to deal with his Majesty's Officers, for any considerable quantity of Goods, unless they be pricked forward thereto by the profit of 20 per Cent. in the Price, more than they would willingly sell the same Commodity for to a private Man, if that Man be a good solvent and punctual Man as to his Payment, whereas if his Majesty's Payment were certain, they would then seek the Service of his Majesty. Officers and Commissioners should never want any Provision they desire to have, better for and at far easier Rates than now they can procure them, by reason of the uncertain Way of Payment, and these not be named Snips, Abatements, and Allowances (besides the length of time) that are and must be made before they can compass their Money.  
I shall further add that if it were true that the Subject should (by the way Proposed) be at as great a Charge and Trouble as his Majesty is now at in remitting his Treasure into his Exchequer (which yet cannot rationally be imagined) yet is it not better that 20000 Men or more should divide and bear the Charge and Loss among themselves, than that the whole Burden should lie upon one Man's Shoulder, or his Majesty's single Person, especially considering, (as we say) that the Medium will bear it (as to them) I mean that the Profit in the Price of their Provisions will bear it, and much more, whereas his Majesty loseth what he loseth, be it more or less, out of the quick Stock. I mean his settled Revenue.  
Let me further say, that it is safer and more rational (yea it is practical in all common Nuisances,) that some few Men in the Nation, should rather bear the Loss and Charge of that Nuisance, than that the whole Nation should suffer under it, as they do in the Case in Hand. For to speak plainly, it is not so much his Majesty that loseth what is lost (though that be a Truth in some Sense) as the People of the Nation that pay it, who indeed pay and lose it twice over. First out of their Purses and Estates, by paying it according to the Act, and Secondly in its not being employed upon the Service for which the Act requires it.  
In short, I am partly confident, and for the greatest part thereof could make it appear (were it not to avoid Offence) that his Majesty loseth the fourth, if not the third Part of all his Treasure given him by several Acts of Parliament, before it can arrive to a net Payment in the due Form of all Offices, and we know that the one fourth Part of two Millions, is in the whole 500000 l. Now whether it be safe for his Majesty or his Parliament to suffer so great a Damage to attend the Service upon which the Welfare of the whole Nation depends, if they can prevent it, I humbly submit to their more serious Consideration, and shall only say that by means of this Proposition, the Treasurer of the Navy, and all other Treasurers may be constantly furnished with Treasure sufficient, and more than enough to pay off all growing Debts upon his Majesty, whether by Interest or otherwise, and after a more especial manner, that devouring Monster of Seamens Wages before mentioned, so soon as the respective Fleets or Ships shall be safe at their Moaring, the want whereof in the late War with the Dutch, was a most intolerable Disservice to his Majesty.  
To conclude, I shall humbly leave it to the Wisdom of his Majesty, and his Parliament, to consider that the way proposed cuts off all Capability in the respective Treasurers of Diverting all or any part of his Majesty's Treasure, already or hereafter to be granted to him, to or for any other Use or Uses than the Payment of his Majesty's Debts, duly made in their respective Offices, to which it is assigned, which (if I mistake not) not other way as yet Proposed or Practised can prevent or disappoint. And if there were nothing else of Weight or Worth in this Proposition, that might invite its entertainment; Yet this itself duly considered, is enough to out-Ballance all Objections, that are or can be made against it. The Truth is, though I could frame as many Objections against the Way proposed, as most of those that shall set themselves to oppose it, yet I cannot see any of them, of that weight and consideration that some may think them to be, and truly if I did, I should readily relinquish all Thoughts upon it, as Idle and Vain, having no Design by it, either against any man's Person or Welfare, or for any private Profit or Preferment to myself, but entirely to serve his Majesty and my Country, as becometh a dutiful Subject in these Distracted Times which call aloud for every man's Help to preserve his Majesty from Debt and Dishonour, and his Subjects from all unnecessary Burdens. If his Majesty and Parliament shall not think fit to make use of it, I can as well content myself, as if they did, I shall acquiesce in their deep Wisdom, though yet I think I shall never live to see his Majesty freed from those Debts that are now upon him, and do and will grow more and greater, notwithstanding, all the forementioned Ways and Means now used to free him from them; Interest Money, and other Improvidences not fit to be named, though yet notoriously known, being as equally destructive to his Majesty's Revenues, as they are to a private Man's Estate, if not truly and carefully prevented.   

POSTSCRIPT.  
ALthough I have in the former Discourse propounded the Payment of his Majesty's Aids, whether ordinary or extraordinary, whether by Land-Taxes, Excize, Hearth-Money, etc. to be made to the Subject by Assignations from the respective Treasurers, upon the Collectors of the respective 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 entrusted 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 burden the Subject with so much Trouble and Charge as may attend the Receipt thereof from the respective trusties of each Division, 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 Entrusted 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 nominated 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 facilitate the Trouble of the Subject, and yet preserve his Majesty's Revenue entire, 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 Proposition 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 Expense will amount to as much if not more than if the whole Aid were remitted into his Exchequer, and paid thence according to the present settled and regular Way of the Nation.  
I answer, No such Matter, for indeed the whole Charge cannot rationally be supposed to be the Moiety of his Majesty's Charge, into and out of the Exchequer, as I could easily demonstrate to all  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 Commissioners for each Division, and from them to Commissioners of each Hundred, and from them to the Commissioners of each County, and from them to the Creditors that shall present their Assignations, may and aught in every 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 Included in the same Assignation, sufficient Gains to bear that and a greater Loss, and are also enabled 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 Places, 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 Advantage 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, aught 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 Justice's Clerks, the Collectors of each Division 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 Discontent or Dissatisfaction therein, that it would encourage him to deal with his Majesty's Commissioners in the future for all Goods, Ships or other things whatsoever with more Confidence and Cheerfulness, 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 Parliament, 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 Majesty's Service would grudge to give 12 l. 10 s. (which is but 25 s out of a hundred Pounds) as necessary 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, etc.) yet (as was said before) is not this Burden lighter upon the Shoulders of 20000 Men or more in the whole Nation, than to be laid upon, and born by his Majesty's single Person, especially considering (as was said) that the profit will bear much more loss, and yet leave them sufficient Gainers by his Majesty's Service, and that at present, they are at far greater loss of Time and Expense out of their principal Debt, before they can compass it to themselves. 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 Contracts are made, and Farms let, 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 upon any part of his Majesty's 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 Assignations upon his Majesty's Aids thus settled and deposited in each County or Hundred the better, in order to take off that eating Charge of Interest-Money, that devours too great a Part thereof.  
What if after all this Care taken, it shall appear that the present Aids settled upon his Majesty, are not enough or sufficient to bear about his Annual Expenses in ordinary, and much less to pay off his Debts, and how shall his Majesty carry on his Service, etc. by propounding to his Parliament 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, etc. 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 Majesty's Subjects, are to supply his Necessities upon all emergent Occasions, out of their Zeal and Affection to and for his Majesty's Service, etc. 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, show 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? Certainly 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, etc. 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 settled 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 settled 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 myself) 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 whatsoever to compound his Majesty's Debts, to strike Tallies upon his Revenue with Interest included to pay them, or to advance Money upon Interest, to supply his Majesty's Occasions upon any Account whatsoever, and do much fear that till some such Course be taken with those that grow upon his Majesty's Necessity by Anticipations, Loans, Farms, Advance Money, 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 Account in his Exchequer, of the full proceed of his Hearth-Money, Excize, and other his settled, or to be settled 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 Assignations made by the respective Treasurers to the said Commissioners, and by the Comptercheck of those Assignations, all which will either by themselves, or compared together, Balance the Accounts of all Treasurers respectively, and give the Auditor of those Accounts sufficient Grounds for his Allowance of the same, if paid according to the Direction of the several 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 Certificates 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 Majesty's Treasure to wrong Persons, and for wrong and pretended 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 Division, 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 Majesty's Aides, or any part thereof, whether Land-Taxes, Hearth Money, or Excize, be acquitted 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 Burden to the respective Treasurers in making their Assignations, and the comptroller in keeping Check upon them more than their proper Duty is at present, and will not this beget 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 aught to do in their Receipt and Payment of all moneys 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 Assigned, the Place, County, Hundred, etc. The Names of the Commissioners that are to pay it, and of the Parties that are to receive it; As to the Comptercheck, it is at present, his proper Duty to check the Treasurer's Accounts 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, Household, or other men Entrusted for Payment of his Majesty's Treasure by Assignations, be directed 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 Expense of each Office for one Year.  
If his Majesty's Revenues should be paid by Assignations after this manner, from the respective Treasurers, how or where shall his Majesty be supplied with Treasure sufficient for his privy Purse, Intelligence with Foreign Princes, and other extraordinary Expenses Suitable to the Dignity of his Person?  
By and from the Customs, Excize, and Imposts laid, and to be laid upon all Native and Foreign Commodities Exported and Imported, the Revenue whereof is not at all within the Ken, Compass or Prospect of this Proposition, but left wholly as it now is to be improved and employed 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-Taxes, 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 Hang 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) gratify 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 Assistance 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 Inhuman 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 unhappy 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 regard of the People's Disaffection to them, and that the greatest part of the Nation was then under the Power of the King's Army; but this is no Rule, or Copy for his Majesty's Friends or Servants to walk in, or write by, unless they could make it appear that his Majesty is at present in the same Dilemma. When the War ceased, Payments in Course, ceased of Course. And why they should be continued to his Majesty's great Damage, and Dishonour in this happy time of Peace, I cannot understand,  
If he hath not enough, in God's 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, etc. 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 Treasure 33333 l. 06 s. 08 d. all and every Part thereof being by the way Proposed 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 Majesty's Revenue.  
By the like Fees Paid and Allowed to the same Officers, and their Instruments for the payment of his Majesty's Treasure, either to private Persons; or to the respective Treasurers of the Navy, Army, Household, in their respective Offices to be paid by them to private Men for his Majesty's Use and Services.  
6. In all Fees and Allowances made and given by the Auditors to all or any of these Treasurers upon their Accounts as Money disbursed, as paid by them for Portage, Water-Carriage, Baggs, Wax, or any other Charge whatsoever in the Receipt of his Majesty's 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 Moaring, to prevent that devouring Charge or Monster of paying Victuals and Wages for twelve or thirteen Months before mentioned.  
9 It enabling his Majesty's Commissioner in all Offices whatsoever to Contract and Purchase for his Majesty's 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 other men for Moneys taken up by way of Anticipation, before his Majesty's Revenue can possibly be Collected and paid into his Majesty's Exchequer.  
11. By the like saving of all Interest now paid and allowed upon all Orders Payable in Course either for Goods sold, or Moneys lent upon that way of Payment.  
12. By preventing the present Damage sustained by Farms and Contracts, upon all or any of his Majesty's Aides, wherein the profit to the Contractor is at least one fourth, if not one third Part of what he undertakes for, besides the Oppression of the Subject.  
13. By preventing all capability of Diversion of his Majesty's 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 Majesty's Navy, to make his Provision of Victuals in all Seaports and Harbours where any of his Majesty's Fleets or Ships shall lie, or may touch or come, such as Dover, Harwich, Newcastle, Plymouth, Dartmouth, etc. by taking up his Bills of Impressed, and giving him Assignations upon those Towns, Cities, or Counties, most contiguous to those Parts, or Harbours whereby his Majesty's 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 Magazines of all his Majesty's In-Stores and Out-Stores, in all and every of his Majesty's Yards and Storehouses at Chatham, Deptford, Woolwich, and Portsmouth; the want whereof, 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 Expense of Land, and Water-Carriage, Cranage, Portage, Labourers Wages, etc. to Lodge them for his Majesty's Service in that Yard, which (as before I hinted) is no small Devourer of his Majesty's 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 Majesty's Treasure whatsoever, if the Aides already settled upon him, be found upon their full Improvement, to be sufficient to carry on his Services with Honour, and if not, yet to satisfy 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 upon 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.   
FINIS