TO THE HONNORABLE THE COMMONS OF THE realm OF ENGLAND, Assembled in PARLIAMENT. EXPLANATION. Concerning certain expedients by which the State of England may reap notable advantage.  
BALTAZAR GERBIER KNIGHT.  
M. DC. XLVI.   

TO THE HONNORABLE The Commons of the realm of ENGLAND assembled in PARLIAMENT.  
EXPLANATION. Concerning certain expedients by which the State of England may reap notable advantages.  
HUMBLY showeth  
THAT the State may get a present stock of two hundred thousand pounds, and a yearly constant revenue of THREE hundred thousand pounds, and procure to the people notable advantages and suerty in Estate, Vocation, Trafic and Credit; by the speedy erecting of a protocol Office, BENCHES OF loan, bench OF PAYMENT, and public sail OFFICES, &c. At the example of others, where they have been erected with general applause.  
THE first, (Which is the protocol Office) was first thought on in the first year of the reign of King Henry the IV. of France, first put in practice in Picardy and Vermandois; where unconsionnable persons had accustomed themselves to conceal mortgages, Transactions, dovaries, and other Acts; which by all purchasers were deceived in their bargains, many good families and peaceable persons put to great vexations, long and chargeable processes, which did often prove the undoing of honourable and honest families, widows and Orphans besides other mischievous accidents.  
The general States of the united Provinces did at that good example establish the said Office in their juridictions, and did erect the same in the most sure, regular, complete method, as the time than did permit; did since by the continuance of able States men, reduce the same in the best and readiest form as could be thought on; and so sure for all true Proprietaries and purchasers, as it proved an impossibility for any unconssionable persons to use any deceat in their mortgages, Transactions, dovaries, sail or Gifts, as they were want to do, by concealing (as aforesaid) their deeds, and by passing them in several places, and by unknown persons; Nor was it since possible for parties to be overtaken by any error, nor by shortness of time, for that the truth of all proprietaries rights and Estates in possessions of Lands and Houses was known at an instant, without their cost; yet with their consent, otherways not: for that no persons are permitted to view the Records, but with a ticket subscribed by the Proprietary, which he gives to the party that is minded to purchase (or to put forth his money on a mortgage) only to view the records, when he is fully agreed on Conditions with the said party.  
THE Purchasser (as said) being himself the discoverer of the State of the case, with ease and safety freeth himself of all disputes, quarrels, and processes: which discovery is with the least discredit possible to proprietaries; when it was otherways by the recourse had to common rolls; besides that all Acts were but confusedly (as in a Cahos) put into the said Common rolls, which is to serve only as for a journal.  
The Records of this protocol Office (Which is a particular Record) are in number answerable to the Parishes in the City and town wherein the Office is erected.  
THE Records are great Books of the largest paper, consisting of 300 leaves and no more, to shun confusion; every leaf bearing in chief the name of the Proprietary of Lands and Houses, in such order as the Houses stand in the City or town.  
THE leaf bearing the right validity, worth of the pocession, and any mortgages thereon, dowaries, Gifts or any act soever.  
THE Enroulment is immediately after the signing and sealing of deeds; and after the entering of such acts in the Common rolls.  
IF any Propietary, heir, or Purchasser obmits the enrolments of his Succession, Gift, Saile, Transport, mortgage (or any other) his right is void, and forfeited to the State.  
THIS public security is a bate to all purchasers, and to all persons desirous to put forth a stock of money, and to secure them against all frauds and encumbrances.  
THE Records are kept in a secure place from fire, and others accidents.  
THEIR Keepers are paid by yearly Stipends, proportionnable to the number of Books in their managing.  
THE Record Keepers are under the general Diteory of an eminent Officer of the State.  
AT the first erection of the said protocol Office, 
H●w t● first sto● money accrues t● the Stat● a Proto● Office.  all men were bound to proceed to the enroulement of Acts, within the first six weeks thereof: which brought in a present great Stock of money, proceeding from the rights of enrolments.  
THE Keepers of the Records are accountable (of the rights received for the enrolments of Acts) to their general Director.  
THE said rights for all Records of Deeds, Successions in Dessendent Assendent or Colaterall Line, Gifts, sail, mortgage, or any condition soever are paid by both parties.  
THE General Director is accountable to the State of the rights received for the said enrolments.  
THE rights are in Holland two and half per cent.  
IT is humbly conceived that as the said Office of particular PROTOCOL or Record, 
Rights Enroul●●ments.  would prove of as great benefit to the Subjects, of the State of England, as it doth to the Subjects of other States, that it would be of particular use to the State for a porportionnable equality in the assessments of subsidies and FIFTHIENS. 
Cōcerni● Assessem● of Subsi● and Fift●   
THAT the rights of enrolments (though the State should put them but at one per cent paid between the two parties) would produce a vast stock of money to the State, 
how the revenev● the State would b● raised by Protoco● Office.  and a perpetual constant revenue; by reason of the often change of Proprietaries, and enrolments of Acts; at least often change of Proprietaries, of Houses, and the continual acts for mortgages.  
Which present stock and yearly revenue as it would accrue from those that are able, so with the more applause, 
Revene● acrewin● from the● that are a● and the a●vantage● they rec● tehreby.  that as aforesaid Proprietaries and purchasers are secured in their rights and purchases; and are thereby freed of all such cost and encumbrances as they otherways are subject unto.  
IT is likewise humbly conceived, that the State can augment that stock and yearly revenue to a large proportion by erecting throughout the kingdom (for the great benefit of the Subject) BENCHES OF loan, public sail OFFICES, and A BENCH OF PAYMENT: which is demonstrated first, by BENCHES OF loan, as followeth, Viz.  
THE erecting of BENCHES OF loan 
〈◊〉 time ● Ben●● of ●●newe●e ●●blisht, 〈◊〉 the ●●nds ●●eof.  begun some two hundred years and above in the Kingdom of Naples, and throughout all Itally; and at their example were established in other parts of most trafic, to serve for relief of all Negosiants, tradesmen and all needy persons, of what quality and condition soever: And to free them (and all well gouverned States) of the most pernicious practice of Jewish Benches of Loane, afterwards disguised by the name of Lombard's, which prouved to be as Cancors in any Common-weal●h for that they did extort of the needy (by a redoublement of Interest upon interest) first, three score & above in the hundred, for the bare Loane; and over and above intolerable fees, for enroulment, and releasement of goods; which in conclusion raised to such a height, as that Proprietaries did find themselves at last deprived of their main stock: besides that for the most part for want of timly releassement, they lost their goods on pretence of forfeiture; and no such thing in practice (as in the BENCHES OF loan) to restore to the owners of the goods any surplus made of the goods when sold.  
IT being likewise found that those Jewish-lombards', did export all the wealth they had gotten during the many years they had practised their unconssionnable and most pernicious usury.  
IT mouved good and wise statesmen to forbid the practice of Lombard's, and to banish the Lombard-keepers for ever: Yet that the public might be supplied, they settled in their place such BENCHES OF loan as could stand with Conscience, and could be maintained by the undertakers: allowed them to take the ordinary use according to Statute, and for satisfying the Charges; as for House Rent, Store-Roomes, Stipends of officers, and all necessaries belonging to the said Benches.  
THIS establishment being found most just and Fit, 
Bench ●ane ●yed by ●emi● mem● of the 〈◊〉  was recommended to the perpetual Survey, and Protection, of two eminent persons of Church, and State, and hath continued so ever since, without any interruption, nor any fault found in the Administration.  
Like Benches of loan have been established throughout all the Land of Liege, and the juridictions of the Prince Elector of Collen, in Lorraine, Brabant, Flanders, Arthois, Haynault, and throughout all the juridictions of the general States of the united Provinces.  
KING HENRY the IV of France, and his Son King Lovys the XIII, (on Remonstrances of horridde abuses committed in that kingdom by Jewish Brokers and Lombards) have often denounced their pleasure by Proclamations for the utter abolishing of that pernicious practice, and instead of it to have BENCHES OF loan established: Yet could not their just and Pious intention take effect, though their Edicts have been enacted in the Parliament of Paris, and the Chamber of Edict: so powerful the Leagues and Combinations of brokers hath hitherto prouved against that course; only the establishment of a BENCH OF loan hath overcome in favour of all merchants of wines, 
Bench o● Loane b● gun in France.  and Fish, whereby the owners receive ready money from the said Benches of Loane, and so are at an instant dispatched, and provided with money to further their affairs. Which hath been the main scope in all States, by the erecting of BENCHES OF loan, producing in all parts the readiest and the most easiest relief to all needy persons. So the general strengtning, and increase of trading, and a main remeddy to prevent the sudden breaking of many good and honest merchants; 
The sudden brea●●ing of M●●chants p●●●vented.  which hath been found of forcible experience in the juridiction of the general States of the united Provinces, where there is not a City nor town, but is provided with a BENCH OF loan; So are all market-towns, and Sea Ports of traffic, where all merchants and tradesmen are on a sudden relieved with money on all such commodities as they are desirous to have ready money upon, or such commodities as for a time will not well yield their price (When by the not putting them off they would remain unprovided of such moneys as they need to satisfy Creditors and bills of exchange which are drawn on them, and which otherways would constrain them to break, though, they have their storehouses and Shops well stored.) The husbandman is likewise by the said Benches enabled to keep his Plowgh, 
The rele●● of Husba●●●men.  and to pay his landlord, when otherways for want of sail of a full quantity of his grains (on fit and ordinary market days) he is often constrained to sell his cattle, and to let the ploughing and mannuring of his Land cease; which to prevent as well as other inconveniencies incident to the inhabitants of great Cities, towns, and seaports, the magistrates have been so careful off, 
Magistra● of Tow● Administrators 〈◊〉 Benches 〈◊〉 Loane.  as that they have taken to their particular task, the Administration of divers of the said Benches; as at Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Middelbourgh, Flishing, and at other seaports; and put the Benches of the other towns, and market-towns, to men confided by the State, to which the said men are accountable, for they take all such Bench●s in farm.  
And as the State cannot be defrauded of its rights (the Administration of the said Benches being (as said) put in the hands of honest able men so the State puts to profit in those BENCHES OF loan (kept by the magistrate) all such Stock of money, 
●●w the ●●te puts ●profit a 〈◊〉 of ●uney.  as the State thinks fit to employ.  
And thus, 
●erall ●antages ● Bench 〈◊〉 Loane.  as the State of England can (on the true experience of the general good which the said establishment of BENCHES OF loan doth produce in other parts) procure to the Subjects like advantages, and enable them the more to contribute to the public occasions of the State,) strenckten trading in all parts of the realm, and invite all foreigners to come to the seaports with their merchandise (since by the ready course of a bench OF loan, the said foreigners may be soon dispatch, and speedily provide themselves with such commodities as the Port and country doth afford) so the said State (being disposed to put a Stock to the erecting, establishing, and administering of BENCHES OF loan in the main Cities, and Ports of the kingdom,) will make an incredible great gain, and in a most just and Laudable course.  
And it is thus understood, that the State will raise (Without any presure of the Subject) to a great and ample proportion that Stock, which will accrue from the rights of a protocol OFFICE, which is the first expedient before mentionned.  
AND if the State should think fit to employ to the Keeping of BENCHES OF loan part of the Stock, which will accrue from a bench OF PAYMENT, and likewise of that of the rights of public sail OFFICES: The State will find (as it is humbly conceived) great facility therein, and that the making use of a Stock, which the bench OF PAYMENT will produce is grounded on Equity; and without any presure at all to the Subject, which is demonstrated, first concerning a bench OF PAYMENT, as followeth, Viz.  

●acerning ●ench of ●ment.  A bench OF PAYMENT is Kept by the magistrates of towns (as so it is requisite for the public security) at the example of the BENCHES OF PAYMENT in Itally and in the Nederland Provinces under the State general; It's the public Cash of all Negotiants, who (to free themselves of the continual receit, and payment of moneys, which takes so much of their time as proves too prejudicial in their affairs) keep in Banco (as they call it) a constant stock, without any charge or cost to them, thereon to make their Assignations, and to raise their Credit by a public fame, of the considerable stock by them Kept therein.  
Experience manifests, that in the said Bench (Which is the receptacle of a great Tresor,) remains continually a vast ussesse stock of money; of which the Aministrators of the Bench do (Without any difficulty) put to gain a great part, and that they can do it without difficulty, experience hath manifested the same divers times, that though they put forth great part of that Stock which layeth useless in the Cash-yet doth the said Cash remain so well provided, as that the Negotiants are readdily served, when they call for their monny: This hath often been made apparent, when Negotiants had been misinformed by ill grounded brutes (raised by malicious and ignorant persons) concerning the point of Trust, in the Administrators of the Bench, that they resolved to put it to a trial, by drawing at one time ●may thousands of pouns out of the Bench.  
For instance that in jully 1645, Negotiants did draw in one day out of the Bench of Amsterdam, four hundred thousand pound sterlingh, and that they were immediately after as prompt to redouble their stock in the said Bench, being confirmed that they might repose on its infallibility; of which they had no more cause to doubt than on the first day of its erection, which was at the example of other like Benches, who never failed.  
And so it is certain that a great gain is made by putting as said to profitable use, part of that great stock which lieth ussesse therein: which will (as is humbly conceived) prouve so with a bench OF PAYMENT in London, in case the present time prouves not absolutely contrary to its erection; which must have its foundation on a general disposition in all Negotiants to a vigorous Trading, and to embrace all what may be advantageous unto them.  
Which consideration (though in season) could not oblige the Proponant to pass in silence the use which the State may make by the erecting of a bench OF PAYMENT, since it is likewise fit to be annexed to the aforesaid establishment, tending to the main relief and advantage of the Subject, and wherein the interest of the State is likewise concerned, as it is humbly conceived to be interessed in the erecting of a public sail OFFICE, on the grounds and method following, Viz.  
THE great abuses which have been in public outcries and sail of goods; 
●ncerning ●aile ●ice.  in divers places (sold by Officers in Combination with Brokers) who divide the profits of goods sold at under rats, when distress constrained the Proprietaries to part from them at such price as those Officers and Brokers would put on the said goods, proved such an intolerable grievance to the need, (When their goods so sold, the monny made thereof, the charge deducted, did but serve to satisfy their Creditors in part, and the Sergeants, when not a bed left to the poor distressed to lay on.) That it mouved good States men to think on a course to free the needy from the said grievance, and to remouve from the Parish corners the pitiful and lamentable spectacle of goods sold by distress. The course they choose was as following, Viz.  
THEY made choice of trusty able men, to make Masters of public outcry Offices, in every City and town, and appointed fit Houses, to serve for the public sail of movables: did order that the said Masters of sail Office should afford to all buyers 3 months-time for the payment of such sums of money for the movables baught at the said outcry; that the buyer might prouve a more liberal Chapman; and that consequently the goods might be sold at the best rate, to the benefit of the owner. Ordered the said Master to advance to the party, whole goods were sold, all such sums as they had yielded in their said sail; and that he should make it his work (for a set consideration) to get his rembourssement, which hath proved a great advantage and relief to all needy persons, and furtherance for the clearing and settling the Estates of all Mortuary houses, heirs, and Executors.  
The state's general of the Nederland Provinces have on the said sail Office the twentieth penny, and do allow to the Master of the Office the like proportion, for which the needy are relieved, and become gainers, since otherways their goods would be sold for half their value; by reason of the combination of Brokers, and that except the term of 3 months be allotted to the buyers of goods they are not mouved to offer freely for them.  
Out of this said Office the State (as aforesaid) will increase its revenue, and by employing likewise part of what it may render to the Stock for the BENCHES OF loan; It will augment its revenue to the proportion as aforesaid.  
Considered first, what the protocol Office will render throughout the whole kingdom, both in ready monny and yearly revenue, though the State should direct but one per cent, to be received for the rights of enroulements, which should be but the half of the rights taken by the general States of the united Provinces.  
Secondly, what the use of money put into the BENCHES OF loan throughout the whole kingdom would come unto, the use being no more than according unto Statute, as before said.  
Thirdly, what the twentieth penny of all public sail OFFICES throughout the kingdom would yield.  
Fourthtly, what the Stock, which should be put to profit of that which will lay useless in a bench OF PAYMENT will produce.  
Which (as it is humbly conceived) will not be said of the nature of Taxations, less to prove pressures to the Subject, since (as before said) they produce notable advantages, as first, Viz.  
THE protocol Office secures all Proprietaries, freeth them of charges, of Processes, Disputes, Quarrels 
The benc● of the Pr●●positions ●  and encumbrances.  
The BENCH OF loan; releefes all needy persons (Whereof the most poorest are to a certain some to be assisted Gratis) strencktneth and increaseth Trade, and extripated all intolerable usury.  
The bench OF PAYMENT accommodates all negotiants.  
The public sail Office releefes and fits all needy persons that are constrained to sell their goods.  
On all which the State will receive (When pleased to command) all such further satisfaction as may be requisite, besides the service, dutiful attendance an application of those that are versed in the said Expedients.