MUST RUSTICUS.  
THE Exportation of One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Pounds in Gold, into the Gulf of Holland, in One Month and Eight Days last passed, as appears by our Bills of Entry; with a fair Surmise, that a greater quantity hath been Claudestinely Shipped off, as likewise a large quantity of Silver, being joined to the difficulty, that the Woollen-Manufacturers of this Kingdom, for a considerable time, last passed, hath been under, in getting Silver for Gold, and that without some speedy supply of Silver Coin in Shillings and Six-pences, this noble Commerce which Providence hath happily blessed us with, must inevitably sink; will be a fair Justification of this Rural Address. When so violent a Draught is upon us in Silver and Gold, we can expect no supply from Foreign Importation, nor will a total stop to the Exportation relief, when Silver and Gold is as well taken in at Cadiz as here, to supply the Occasions of those Trades which drain our Treasure. When St. Paul preached down the Temple of Diana, the Silversmiths exerted their whole Strength to support their Profit, and as now left no Stone unturned to Maintain their Ground. Even reprinted Dr. Lock's Republican Position, that Authority had no power in altering the value of our Silver. What (in great Submission) I offer at, is an immediate Advance of our Silver Coin, and a Security to it when Coined. The Ounce of Silver which from Ozlwright the Saxon King continued for many Hundred Years at Twenty-pences; was advanced to Thirty-pences in the Second Year of King Henry the 6th; it was advanced to Forty-pences by King Edward the 4th; to Forty Five-pences and Forty Eightpences in the Reign of King Henry the 8th; and to Sixty-pences by King Edward the 6th. The Ground upon which these Advances were made, could be no other, than the keeping an Equality with Foreign Standards with whom we Traded. And by this Rule (which was strenuously urged) at the last new Coinage of our Silver, our Standard ought to be advanced to Sixty Five-pences, to equal the Rixdollars of Germany and Holland, and the Crown piece of France. This being undeniable matter of Fact, his Majesty's Proclamation in adjusting this important Affair, in an Equality with Foreign Standards, and giving that Advantage to those of his own Subjects, that brought Plate to be Coined into Shillings and Sixpences, it would immediately advance a Stock of Silver Coin, and be a relief to Trade, allowing the advance to our Silver Coin now standing, (which I take to be much less than reported by some) unto a limited time, that it might be new Stamped; which advantage being strictly limited to his Majesty's Natural Born Subjects it could not be looked upon with an ill Eye, altho' an easy Profit; by this expedient, according to our nice Politicians, we shall have as much for our Crown as it Weighs, and it will be some small security against its being melted down. And as I have been here Labouring for this conveniency to Negotiate this noble Fabric of ours. I am now to fix this Treasure of our Silver Coin by an expedient which is much more Advantageous to our Woollen-Manufactury. And in order to this, I must beg leave to recite the Restrictions under which the Flourishing Trade of Queen Elizabeth was carried on. All Interest of Money was stopped by her Brother King Edward the 6th, which turned Drones into Bees. The Wear of Silks was stopped by her Sister Qneen Mary, by all Persons under the degree of Quality, and if any Servant wore any Silk, if the Master did not put her forth of her Service in Fourteen Days, or did retain her again, he forfeited One Hundred Pounds. By a Law made in the Fifth Year of Queen Elizabeth, no Foreign Fabric could be sold otherwise than for ready Mony. And in the Thirteen Year of Queen Elizabeth, it was Enacted, that every Person above the Age of Seven Years, shall wear upon the Sabbath and Holiday, a Knit Cap. made of the Wool of this Kingdom, under the Penalty of Ten Groats for every Day not wearing it, except Maids, Ladies, etc. What I now, in great Submission, propose, is the Revival of this last Act, in changing the Name of Cap to Hat; in the making of which, we are now come to great Perfection, and there can be no more decent Distinction or becoming Dress to our Women. This Hat will be like the Stern of a Ship, guide all other Habits of the Body, and introduce the wear of the Fine-Flaxen-Linnens of Germany, Flanders and Holland Lace, etc. which are the Natural Effects of our Woollen-Manufacture, and stop the wear of Muslings; to purchase which, our Silver is now issued out, and what I farther propose, is, a strict Injunction of the wear of the Woollen-Manufacture of this Kingdom by all Servants for their upper Garments, with a Penalty upon the Master if the said Act was not complied with; as was the Case of Silk in the Reign of Queen Mary. In the most Flourishing Reigns of this Kingdom, as Edward the 3d, Edward the 4th, Henry the 7th, Edward the 6th, and Queen Elizabeth; we were under Sumptuary Laws and a total stop put to the Cotton Commodities of India; and Precedents are safe rules to waik by. And as this Distinction will tend to the Encouragement of our own Products, and be a means to keep the Balance of Trade upon our side, and secure our Silver Coin, it will likewise be an inducement to Virtue and Good Manners, and Servants will not think themselves above their proper Employments.  
In Kersey Joan her Pot did Scour,  
Dressed in calico, she looked demure;  
Despised that Work, she got it done,  
By Wife well stuffed of Thrasher John.  Sic cesinit mus Rusticus & redit in rurem.