AN APPEAL TO CAESAR: WHEREIN GOLD And SILVER Is Proved to be the King's Majesties ROYAL COMMODITY. WHICH By the Laws of the Kingdom, no Person of what Degree soever, but the KING'S MAJESTY, and his Privy Council, can give Licence to Transport either Gold or Silver to any Person, after it is Landed in any part of the Kingdom of England. That this Great and Sacred Trust cannot be changed into the Hands of any Person, Persons, or Corporations whatsoever, without changing or diminishing the Sacred Power of his Majesty, it being against his Crown and Dignity. Humbly Presented to his Most Sacred MAJESTY, and his Most Honourable Privy Council, in opposition to some Merchants, who are Endeavouring, upon feigned Pretences, to dispossess his Majesty of this Royal Trust, and to have it Confirmed by Act of Parliament, to Transport at the Merchant's pleasure, Foreign Bullion and Coin freely, after it is Imported into the Kingdom, and make it a Free Merchandise for their private profit, to the Damage of the whole Kingdom in general.  
By THO. VIOLET of London, Goldsmith.  MATTH. 22. 21. Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Caesar's, &c. 
LONDON, Printed in the Year 1660.   

TO THE KING'S most Excellent Majesty: And to the LORDS of his MAJESTY'S most Honourable PRIVY COUNCIL. The Humble Petition of THO. VIOLET of London, Goldsmith.  
Most Dread Sovereign!  
I Your Majesty's most Humble, Loyal, and Dutiful Subject, humbly upon my Knees present this ensuing Narrative to Your Sacred Majesty, and to Your most honourable and prudent Council. I had not presumed to have meddled, with this cause and Argument, but that▪ I see with what eagerness some Merchants of London thought to steal one of the prime Flowers of your Majesty's Crown, (from your Sacred Majesty, and Your most honourable Privy Council) before the Rising of this blessed Parliament. True it is, Gold and Silver all over the World is a currant Merchandise, it answereth all things, and commandeth all things under the Sun.  
But so, that in all Kingdoms, Gold and Silver is a Kingly Merchandise, and only at the Kings Dispose and Will, and not at the dispose of the Merchants, to be transported at their pleasure. May it please Your Majesty, by Twenty Acts of Parliament, the Laws of this Kingdom of England in all Ages, hath invested it in the most Sacred Hands of the Kings of England, and their Privy Council, and none other (whomsoever, either Lords, Bishops, or Commons).  
The Reasons upon perusal of this Narrative, Your Majesty will find to have been done, upon most wise, just, and great consideration, both for the Honour, Strength, and Defence of the King's Sacred Person, His Crown, and Dignity, and Safety of the people.  
The Money, Bullion, Gold and Silver of this Kingdom in all Ages, (till these perilous headstrong Fanatic days) hath been counted the chief Strength of the Kingdom, the very Soul of the Militia, and the Sinews of War and Peace) in Your Majesty's most Sacred Hands, and in Your Privy Counsels, the Law of this Kingdom hath invested it, (and in none other of Your Majesty's Subjects of what condition soever,) and there let it safely remain to the end of this World.  
Your Majesty's most humble Subject, upon his bended Knees, prays Your Majesty to keep this Sacred Trust entire in Your Hand, and not to diminish the least tittle, or branch of it.  
O never suffer it to be at the will of the Merchant (lest Your Majesty, which God defend, giving some fawning spaniels this Authority, as they desire, out of Your Sacred Hands) You give an opportunity in a few years, that the breed of them may turn Mastiffs, and so they may have a power to fly in the Face of Your Sacred Majesty, as some of them did to Your Majesty's Royal Father of blessed memory, which God defend; Forewarned, Forearmed: I humbly think I deserved not to live, should I not say this.  
The Gold and Silver of the Nation, either Foreign Coin, or Ingot, or the currant Coin of the Kingdom, is the soul of the Militia, and so all wise men know it, that those that command the Gold and Silver of the Kingdom, either Coin, or Bullion, to have it free at their disposal, to be Judges of the conveniency and inconveniency, or to hinder, or give leave to transport Gold and Silver at their pleasure, is the great wheel of the State, a most Royal Prerogative inherent in Your Majesty, Your Heirs and Successors, (and none other whomsoever, but by Your Majesty's Licence, and cannot be parted with to any Persons, but by Your Majesty's most especial Grant;) your Majesty, and your Privy Council being by the Law the only proper Judges, to have liberty to send to your Friends the Gold and Silver of the Kingdom.  
Upon such just Reasons of State, as your Majesty, and Privy Council shall judge fit for the due relief of your Friends, and Allies, to offend your Enemy, and defend your Imperial Crown, and Dignity, and strengthen your Friends.  
As Queen ELIZABETH several times assisted HENRY the Great King of France, your Majesty's Royal Grandfather; and the States of Holland, with vast sums of Gold and Silver.  
The like Royal prerogative is in the Crown, upon Petition of the Merchants, setting forth their just Reasons, and at your pleasure your Majesty to give them leave to send Foreign Gold and Silver either to the Indies, or any part of Christendom; but so as your Majesty, as all your Royal Predecessors, and your Privy Council being in Commission by your Majesty for that service, are the only proper Judges of this business, and have the Lock and Key to dispense with the penal Statutes, to give leave to send so much Gold and Silver of Foreign Bullion, or the Coin of the Kingdom, as your Majesty shall please in your wisdom for to grant, and to what Prince, or Country, but not at the will of any other Person whomsoever.  
Your Petitioner humbly prays upon my Knees, for your Majesty's honour, for your Majesty's safety, for the safety and greatness of all your Lords and Gentry, for the safety of all your People, that your Majesty keep this Royal Trust entire, and the same always in your Majesty, and your most honourable Privy Counsels hands, as the Appell of your Eye. Gold and Silver is a Merchandise all over the World, true, but in Kingdoms it is a Kingly Merchandise, and not to be transported without the King's leave. What I hear say, I upon my Knees submit to your Sacred Majesty's consideration,  
Novemb. 28. 1660. (and shall pray, etc.)   

To the Right Honourable, the Lord High Chancellor of England, the Lord Steward of his MAJESTY'S Housh old, the Lord High Treasurer of England, the Lord Roberts, all of his MAJESTY'S most Honourable Privy Council, These humbly present.  
May it please your Lordships,  
I Humbly presume for to Acquaint your Lordships, that I understand some Merchants of London, are endeavouring to obtain an Act of Parliament, to make Gold and Silver a Merchandise, to transport freely at their will and pleasure, as it is at this day at Amsterdam, and several other Commonwealths in Christendom.  

If this do not satisfy your Lordships, I have it at large to show this mischief, but I hope I shall not need to say more to this business to stopit.  My Lords, I am none of the Council or Committee for Trade, and so it may be presumption in me to intermeddle, to say any thing in this business; but my Lords, a Slander by may see more in the Game than the Gamesters: I am no Lawyer, yet I humbly say, I know this point concerning the giving liberty to Merchants to transport money, and what the damage may be to his Majesty, to his Lords of the Council, and to the Kingdom in general, as well as many others that are in Commission for the Regulating of Trade.  
My Lords, I have been writing on this Argument above this month, and shall be ready to present to his Majesty, and his Privy Council (within this week) a Paper that shall unfold the many mischiefs and dangers the Merchants would expose the King and the Kingdom into, had they this Power in their hands: the Merchants should they obtain this their desire, and remove this Trust out of his Majesty and his Privy Counsels Hands, to be the only judges, to give leave to Merchants to transport Gold and Silver, would rob the King of one of his greatest Prerogatives, and Flowers of the Crown, which by twenty Acts of Parliament and Proclamations, is only invested in the King's Majesty, and his Privy Conncel; the granting the Merchants this Power, will bring an hundred inconveniences and mischiefs to the King, Nobility, and Gentry, as I have at large to show your Lordships and the Privy Council, and if I do not satisfy his Majesty, your Lordships, and all his Privy Council, of this that I say to be true, never let me have your Lordship's good opinion, that I am either an honest man, or one that loves the King's Safety, Honour, and Greatness, and the Honour of his Privy Council.  
And therefore my most Humble Suit is to your Lordship, (my Lord Chancellor) that if this business be called on at the Council of Trade, and your Lordship be present there this day, as I hear you intent to be purposely about this business, that your Lordship would be pleased, either to put off this business for to have it argued before the King's Majesty, or his Privy Council at Whitehall sometime next week, in the mean time I shall be ready to show to your Lordship and the Privy Council, that it concerns his Majesty next to the Militia, to continue and keep this great Trust in his Majesty's Sacred hands, and in the Power of his Privy Council, and no other person by the Law, can or aught to have the Privilege, to give leave to transport Gold and Silver at their pleasure, this being the soul of the Militia, they that have the money and the People's purses, have virtually the Command in all Commonwealths of the Government; let who will have the Title, the Bankers have the power; and this privilege is not where granted, but in Commonwealths, God defend England from the very name of a Commonwealth, for the Tragedies which were lately acted by some Merchants in England.  
When we had no King in this our Israel, they have rob the Kingdom of all the Gold, and so now would work iniquity by a Law; but by God's Assistance, I will dissect them, and lay the danger open to his Majesty, your Lordship, and the Kings most Honourable Privy Council, and stand or fall by your righteous Judgement, humbly praying for his Majesty's Safety, Honour and Service, that no further proceeding in this great business be argued, but before his Majesty, and his most prudent Privy Council, within less than a week I shall be ready with my Reasons for what I say, to show your Lordship, that so all the Lovers of the King might be satisfied of the Damage and Danger of removing this great Trust, out of his Majesties and his Privy Counsels Hands. So I humbly rest  
Novemb. 27. 1660. Your Lordship's Humble Servant THO. VIOLET.   

For the Right Honourable the LORD CHANCELLOR.  
May it please your Lordship to give Order, That no further proceed in this business be, but before, His Majesty and his Privy Council at Whitehall; and if His Majesty and Privy Council give judgement against what I say to be true, I will lose my life, when they hear this business examived.  
WHereas the Merchants of London are endeavouring to get an Act of Parliament, to have liberty to export Gold and Silver freely without the King's Majesties and his most Honourable Privy Councils leave, I humbly propound, for His Majesty's service and the safety, and honour of his Majesty, that these humble Proposals might be considered of before any further proceed on that business be made. That his Majesty and his honourable Privy Council be pleased to keep entire in their own hands the licensing of all Gold and Silver after it is imported into this Kingdom, to be exported or Coined, as they shall see just cause, for the safety of the Nation, and safety and honour of his Majesty and the Lords of his Council, and the safety and benefit of all his Majesty's Subjects of what condition soever; and being settled in the Crown so many hundred years by Acts of Parliament, as I shall prove it, this great and Sacred trust be no way altered, especially at this Juncture of time, this Kingdom being rob of almost all its Gold and a great part of the Silver Coin, for the private profit of particular persons, to the weakening of the Nation and the destruction of Trade▪ this Royal trust being one of the prime flowers of the Crown, and the very soul of the Militia, and it a right inherent only in the King and his Privy Council, and there only deposited for many hundreds of Years; whereby the King (only) by the Law can give leave and licence to transport Gold and Silver after it is imported into the Kingdom▪ and that if you ever suffer this Royal trust to be managed by the Merchant, and suffer all persons by Act of Parliament to be free to transport Gold or Silver, either in Coin or Bullion, after it is imported and landed in England.  
You take away one of the principal Prerogatives and flowers of the Crown, destroying his Majesty's Mint in the Tower of London, and lay a sad foundation to give some factious Merchants of this Kingdom a ground to make new disturbances, and leave the Nation weak and naked of all Gold and Silver.  
The granting the Merchants this power they desire, will bring a thousand mischiefs both on the King and Kingdom, which God defend. In all ages, till these Fanatic days, the Gold and Silver after it was landed in the Kingdom, was held the Blood and Sinews of War and Peace, the Militia and strength of the Kingdom.  
I shall humbly present unto you these following Reasons for keeping this power entire in your Majesty and Privy Council, and the King, Lords, and Commons cannot be safe to suffer any other person, upon any pretence whatsoever of the Crafty Merchant, to have the disposals at their will, and for their private lucre to have the power by Act of Parliament, to transport Gold or Silver either to the Indies, or other foreign Countries, or to any part of Christendom.  
Without your Majesty's licence and order to take an exact account of what quantity of Gold or Silver is transported, to what Country, the Ship, with the Ships masters name, either to the Indies, or any foreign Prince's Country in Christendom, or to any State, or Commonwealth; that so upon reasons of State, they may either inlarg his Licences to the Merchant, or straighten them according as the King and his Privy Council in their great wisdom shall think fit.  
Your Majesty and Privy Council ever having regard that the Kingdom have always such plenty of Gold and Silver as may be for the honour of the King, and safety of the people, and to maintain Trade and Commerce in the Kingdom, to pay Rents, Customs, Excise, and Subsidies, to be a strength and an honour to the Kingdom, and the King and his Privy Council to take the care to hinder Gold and Silver to be transported to the King's enemies.  
And of all and every part of these Heads and Branches, and real Prerogatives; in all Ages the King, and none but the King, and his Privy Council, by Acts of Parliament, are the only proper judges at their will, discretion and pleasure, for the safety of the Kingdom, and no other person whatsoever.  
Upon the several Reasons of the Merchants to his Majesty and his privy Council, and upon their petition and request the King can dispense with the penalty of the Law, and give the Merchant licence to transport only such quantities of Gold or Silver, either foreign Coin or Ingots, or the currant Coin of the Kingdom, either in Gold or Silver, as the King and his privy Council shall think fit, for to carry on the Merchant's trade in Christendom, and out of Christendom, to strengthen his Majesty's friends, and offend his foes; and this is an undoubted right of his Majesty's Crown, and cannot be dispensed with, or deposited into the Merchant's hands, or any other Subjects, either Lords spiritual or temporal, but to the dishonour of his Majesty and all the good people of the Kingdom, I do humbly prove it true for these Reasons following.  
If any person, of what degree soever, transport Gold or Silver without the King's licence, the Laws and Statutes heretofore hath made it Felony, both for Bishops, noblemans, or Commons, as I shall show by the St atutes hereafter following, afterwards a praemunire, and at this day forfeiture and imprisonment during the King's pleasure, viz. 9 Edward 3. 2 Henry 4, cap. 4, 2 Henry 6, cap. 6. 18. Edw. 4, 1 Henry 8. 5 and 6 of Edw. 6.  
When the King's Majesty hath War with any Prince, by the Law the King may prohibit the Merchant to export Corn, Arms, Ammunition to them, or any other Commodities: the Law provides the prohibiting the exportations of Wool, Fuller's earth, and Timber, as being destructive to the Nation.  
Gold and Silver by the Law is free for any man to import, at what place he please to land it, without paying any Duty or Custom, the reason whereof is, that the Merchant is obliged to Coin it, and upon the Coinage the King hath his duty paid, but once being landed, it cannot be transported but with leave from his Majesty, or the forfeiture being taken, and the party claiming the Gold and Silver so taken on shipboard, to be committed to prison without Bail, till the King or his privy Council please to discharge him: This is the Law, this the Custom, before these mad Fanatic days that we had no King in Israel.  
And this in all Ages was the practice both in your Exchequer and the Star chamber, for otherwise the Merchant, for his private profit would send all the Gold and Silver out of the Nation, and make the King's proclamation wait upon the Merchant's Exchange, as at this day it is with the Gold: The Merchants and some Goldsmiths have raised Gold above the King's proclamation: may it please your Majesty, we want a Star chamber to punish them. I humbly leave it to consideration, no Gold to be had under one shilling six pence in twenty shillings, more than silver; I humbly pray an Act might pass this present Parliament against this abuse of the Gold Coin, and several other abuses and cheats put on the Nobility and Gentry by the adulterating and undue making Gold and Silver Lace in London, whereby the wearers are daily cozened by course flight adulterate Gold and Silver, and by putting a slight body of Silver on a great thread of silk, to the damage of this Nation, above fifty thousand pound a year, as I will prove it to your Majesty and your Privy Council; and this is done for want of a Regulation of the Workmasters and Workmen in London that make Gold and Silver Lace, without an Essay, or Fineness, or proportion of Silver to Silk.  
I humbly desire your Lordships to consider what a loss the King will have in his Customs, to suffer Gold and Silver to be exported at the pleasure of the Merchant, and pay no Custom; here will be, for the profit of particular Merchants, a Trade driven both inwards and outwards, and the King have neither Excise nor Custom; for all the World knows, Gold and silver pays no duty inwards, it is free to be imported at the pleasure of the Merchant, when and how, and where he please, for the reasons abovesaid:  
And if you give the Merchant leave to transport the Gold and Silver freely he imports, what is the King the better by this Trade of the Merchants, either inwards or outwards? let this be granted to the Merchants, to send out Silver and Gold freely, for their private profit, and in a few years they will leave neither Gold nor Silver in the Nation.  
May it please your Majesty, It is profit that is some Merchant's guide, not honour, nor the safety of the Nation, and this is most apparent by some men's actions and demands, touching this great business; The King will lose in point of His Excise, and Customs, for if the Merchant invest his Silver and Gold in Merchandise, the King hath thereby His Excise and Customs: the King will lose in point of His Mintage; if no money be coined, no profit by coinage: this hath made the Mint, a great part of their Work-houses fall down: It is for the King's honour to have His Kingdoms full of Gold and Silver, for His, and the Subjects defence.  
And if this Fanatic project should take, the King loses one of the principal prerogatives of His Crown, and Dignity; for those that have the command of the people's purses, have the principal part of the Militia.  
This is a Commonwealth trick, but tends to the undoing of a King, in all Countries where the Merchants can set up a bank, and transport money freely, as at Amsterdam; have not these men the command of the Militia, they are the people's Princes, and virtually the Banckers have the power, riches, and strength of the Commonwealth, let who will have the Title, the Prince of Orange, and the Duke of Venice, etc. but the Banker, and the hogan mogan Merchants have the power.  
The reason is clear, they have got the people by the money, and leave them nothing but some Stivers, and base money to buy victuals; and indeed the people have nothing but a paper credit; in a Kingdom the Merchants will never put up a bank, lest the King should seize on it all, they will not allow a King to do that they practice.  
And I humbly say, it is not for the safety of the King, nor Lords, to let the Merchants have liberty to transport Silver or Gold at their pleasure, to foreign Banks, and Commonwealths, lest the Merchants in a year or two put the same trick on the King, and Kingdom, for all their current Silver, as at this day they have done for all the Gold of the Nation. Let the greatness of the Merchant be as a Handmaid to the King's greatness, and ever subordinate to the King.  
Or else a confederation of twenty Merchants and Goldsmiths, shall make the English shilling, in spite of the King's Proclamation, and against His Crown, and Dignity, and in despite of an Act of Parliament, to go for 13. d. every English shilling; twenty shillings, for twenty one shillings eight pence; let but the Merchants make Silver a Merchandise, as the Goldsmiths and Merchants have already done Gold.  
I beseech your Majesty to observe your Royal Father of blessed memory, never did by His Proclamation, or at his Mint in the Tower, raise the Gold coined at above twenty shillings a piece in payment. Doth not the Statute 5. and 6. of Edw. the sixth, make it forfeiture of the value, for any person whomsoever, to utter, or put off Gold or Silver money at above the King's Proclamation, and imprisonment during the King's pleasure? Do not above ten Proclamations say the same? this is the known Law. Yet at this day, by the confederation of some Merchants and Goldsmiths, in spite of this Law and Proclamations, for the Merchants and Goldsmiths private profit, the current Gold is not by any person to be had, a twenty shilling piece under 21. s. 4. d. 21. s. 6. d. 21. s. 8. d.  
Your Majesty shall receive a hundred thousand pounds in Silver, and not have a twenty shilling piece in Gold in a payment in the Exchequer. What is the reason the Merchants and Goldsmiths have made it a Merchandise? they have against your Majesty's Laws, to your weakening, and dishonour, and against your Majesty's Imperial Crown, and Dignity, rob You, and the Kingdom, of all the Gold; broke your Royal Statutes and Proclamations, beggared your Majesty's Mint.  
And these very men that have thus abused your Majesty, after all this licentiousness, are so bold to desire to steal one of the prime Flowers out of your Majesty's Crown.  
Which is by having an Act of Parliament, that they might freely, and at their will transport Gold and Silver, at their pleasure; they will (if they could get this great power into their hands) leave neither Gold nor Silver in the Nation, but light and clipped money, groats, ninepences, and thirteenpence-half-pennies; let this be but taken notice of, how the Merchants have rob your Royal Father, your Majesty, and the whole Kingdom, of the currant Gold of the Nation.  
And then I humbly leave it to your Majesty's wisdom to consider what a project this is, tending to the weakening of your Majesty, and Kingdom.  
These men that have transported the Gold and Silver of the Kingdom already, without your Majesty's leave, and against the Law, are grown monstrous rich many of them by transporting all the Gold of the Nation, and most of the Silver.  
And now their riches makes them so bold, thinking to bribe out all business, as formerly they did in the Rump Parliament; they would work iniquity by a Law, if your Sacred Majesty, or your privy Councillors should ever permit them, to the ruin and damage of the whole Kingdom, to gratify the greedy avarice of some Merchants, whose covetousness will never be satisfied; gain is their godliness, and not godliness their gain.  
May it please your Majesty, your Royal Grandfather, and Father, King JAMES and King CHARLES of blessed memory, gave a stop to this mischief of transporting Gold, by bringing some of the Merchants of London, that transported Gold and Silver into foreign parts, into the Star Chamber in the years 1619. Sir William Curtain, Sir Peter Vanlor, Mr. Delabar, Sir Moses Trian, and some twenty more were fined in the Star Chamber at near two hundred thousand pounds, and paid King JAMES into his Exchequer, for their composition, about one hundred thousand pounds; this sentence gave a stop to the transporters of Gold, and upon this sentence, shortly after the Mint flourished.  
Your Majesty's Royal Father, in the year 1635 King CHARLES of blessed memory, commanded me your Majesty's Humble and Loyal Subject, to discover all such as transported Gold or Silver without His leave. I have the King's Majesties Gracious Letter to me of thanks for my good and acceptable Service, under His Majesty's Royal Hand and Signet, for discovering the transporters of Gold and Silver, which Letter I have ready to produce to your Sacred Majesty. 
1648. On Francis Braudgen brought me your Mrajesties' Royal Fathers command to put a charge against the Transporters of Gold in the Exchequer. Notwithstanding his Majesty's former command to forbid me to discover the Transporters of Gold 1643. because his Majesty heard that some Members of Parliam. in 1648. was sending away their estates in Gold, he would have them discovered, and made known to the people how they rob them of their Treasure.  I caused the transporters of Gold at my own charge to be fined 24100 pounds, I caused upon command of his late Majesty to be filled in the Exchequer in 1648, as will appear on Record at this day, above a hundred several informations against the Transporters of Gold and Silver, at my charge many hundred pounds, I know the men and their instruments at this day as well as I know my right hand from my left. I caused an exception, to have all the Transporters of Gold excepted out of the general pardon granted by the Parliament in the year 1651, as will appear in the Act, I put in an exception to have had it excepted in his Majesty's general pardon 1660, but there was so many guilty persons that had transported Gold and Silver out of the Kingdom, that I could not get it put into the Bill to have these offences excepted, whereby your Majesty lost one hundred thousand pounds, had I got it excepted out of your Majesty's pardon, there was above an hundred Merchants and Goldsmiths that I have proof against, for transporting Gold and Silver, and robbing the Kingdom of Millions of money; if your Majesty please, I will give your Privy Council a perfect list of their Names who transported Gold & Silver, that should have paid your Majesty one hundred thousand pounds, and thank God they escaped so too; I have all the charge against them, and the informations in the Exchequer is now on Record, and informations filled, to the just value of six hundred and fifty thousand pounds.  
This business I acted, by command of his late Majesty of blessed memory, and did lay out of my Purse the sum of nineteen hundred and sixty pounds in discovery of the transporters of Gold in one thousand six hundred thirty six, and had not your Majesty pardoned the offenders, I would not for my share have taken twenty thousand pounds of them.  
I have it under your Majesty's Royal Father's hand and signet from Oxford, that he would pay me for my great good and acceptable service in discovering the transporters of Gold.  
This true account I humbly give your Majesty, to show there is no man in the Kingdom can discover the transporters of Gold so well as myself; I know them as well as the Beggar knows his Dish, and this is done by intelligence.  
I was for seven years commanded by his late Majesty to give a stop to the transporting of Gold and Silver, and I did effect it, as appears by your Royal Father's Letter, ready to be produced to your Majesty.  
Here followeth your Majesty's Royal Father's Letter verbatim, viz.  
Charles R.  
Trusty and Well-beloved, We Greet you well. Whereas We have formerly employed you for the Discovery of all such as Transported Gold and Silver Coin beyond the Seas, and all such likewise who contrary to the Laws, and for their own private gain, have melted down great quantities of Silver; Wherein We acknowledge you did Us good and acceptable service, for which (when God shall enable Us) We do hereby promise to give you full satisfaction. And for that We understand that you are pressed by Our Two Houses of Parliament to proceed in the said Discovery, We do hereby strictly Command you that you intermeddle no further therein, without Our special Direction, As you will answer the contrary at your peril. And for so doing, this shall be your sufficient Warrant. Given at Our Court at Oxford, the nineteenth day of November 1643. in the nineteenth year of Our Reign, etc.  
By His majesty's Command, GEORGE DIGBIE. To Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Thomas Violet Goldsmith in London.  
If your Majesty will be pleased at this time to command me to Catch these Moles that work under ground, the Transporters of Gold and Silver, and will Graciously Empower me with a Commission, and Warrants to do the same, I will undertake to set your Majesty's Mint on work again, and stop the Transporting of Gold and Silver.  
Vast sums of Money is Transported daily, both Gold and Silver, which, if not in time prevented by your Majesty, and your Majesty's Honourable, and Prudent Council, will weaken, and destroy your Majesty, and the Nobility, and the Commonalty in general, to make a few Merchants. If it be your Majesties, and the Lords of your Counsels pleasure, to empower me to do it, I will (by God's assistance) remove the obstructions of the Mint.  
May it please your Majesty, I shall humbly desire, before any further progress of this business be made, concerning the giving the Merchants leave to transport Gold or Silver. That by your Majesty's especial Command, a select Committee of Merchants may meet, with some of the Officers of your Majesty's Mint, and myself, and that we may be ordered to make a true Calculation of all Foreign Coins, both Gold and Silver, what every Coin will make, being its full weight, in the Tower of London, & that we send for over from beyond the Seas Placcarts, Edicts, and Proclamations, of Foreign Countries; And that a Jury of Artests be commanded upon Oath, to make a true Report how they find Gold and Silver over valued in other Countries, and report as near as they can the just and true Standard in Foreign Mints, what proportion they hold to the Mint of the Tower of London. When this is done, to consider of what ways and means they use to keep their Mints on work, that such ways as may be advantageous for setting your Majesty's Mint on work, may be observed to prevent former abuses. That the ways and means how these Differences, Standards, may be rectified beyond Seas, and all Standards reduced to a pair, and equality with England, and this Mystery unsoulded truly to your Majesty after the essay by fire and water.  
And so when this business, which is very weighty, is truly, and rightly stated by the Essay, Fineness, and Weight, and is strictly, and exactly stated to your Majesty, and your Privy Council, then may it please your Majesty, by, and with the advice of your Privy Council, such ways may be concluded on, as your Majesty in your great wisdom with advice of your Privy Council shall judge best for your service.  
They being truly informed both by your judicious Merchants, and the Warden, Master, and controller of the Mint, being assisted with a Jury of Arrest to make Essay upon Oath. By this way I humbly say, the whole truth of this business will be found out.  
The Law saith that Gold, and Silver, and Corn, and a man's House is every man's own, to have a propriety in it to make use of between party and party, but not to destroy the propriety, but he is finable by the Law: a man cannot lawfully burn his own House, burn his own Corn, Transport his own money, but it is finable; and this was used in the Star Chamber by the Attorney Banks, and the King's Council at Law, as an Argument against the Transporters of Gold, in the Twelfth year of King CHARLES in the Star Chamber, when I prosecuted the Transporters of Gold and Silver, by command of the late King CHARLES.  
I had disbursed in causing the Transporters of Gold and Silver to be fined in the Star Chamber 24200l. at my charge 1960l. and never as yet had penny for that service. This very sentence kept the Gold and Silver in the Nation, till the beginning of the late War 1643. For which Service your Royal Father gave me thanks as aforesaid, but as yet never had penny of Money for doing that Service.  
May it please your Majesty, whosoever goes about to take the prerogative out of your Majesties, and your Privy Counsels hands, of hindering the Transporting Gold and Silver without your Majesty's licence; I humbly say it is a Jesuitical, Fanatic design, under the specious pretence of Freedom of Trade, to rob your Majesty, and your Privy Council, of the privilege of keeping in the Treasure, and Wealth of this Kingdom, weakening your Majesty, and your Privy Council, and your Royal Prerogative, leaving the Wealth, and Treasure of this Kingdom, in Gold and Silver, to be guided by the covetous desire of some Merchants, many of them care not two pence for the safety of the Commonwealth, so they, and their private Families grow rich. I humbly say it is a presumptuous motion of some hot headed Merchants, that would by crafty and sly pretences rob your Majesty of that which is next to the Militia of the Kingdom, nay, it is the very soul of the Militia, Gold and Silver; get to be Master of that, any man may get Shipping, Arms, Money, and any thing to make a disturbance in the Kingdom.  
We lately see upon what sly pretences the Sword was wrung out of your Majesty's Royal Fathers Hands; he that cast his eye upon any of the Flowers of your Majesty's Imperial Crown, with intent to take them out either by fraud or force, let them fall as Corah, Dathan and Abiram, and let their end be like Achitophel's, who seek to rob your Royal Majesty of this your just Prerogative.  
And this I here humbly say, I will with my life maintain before your Majesty, and your Privy Council, and the Parliament or Committee of Trade: And these following Statutes, Laws and Proclamations are my Protection, and Warrant for what I humbly say.  
1. A Proclamation against giving for Gold, more than it is currant. 21. July. 17. Jacob.  
2. A Proclamation against melting, and culling heavy English Money. 18. May. 9 Jacob.  
3. A Proclamation against buying and selling Gold and Silver at higher Prizes than the Mint. 14. May. 1. Jacob.  
4. A Proclamation against Transporting of Gold. 23. May 1. Jacob.  
5. A Proclamation against Profit for Gold and Silver; And melting. English Money. And to prevent the abuses and waist, in making Gold and Silver Thread, and Laces. 4. Feb. 3. Caroli.  
6. A Proclamation against Transporting Gold and Silver, and melting down the Currant Silver Coins of the Nation, for Plate, or Gold, or Silver Thread. 15. May. 3. Carolus.  
May it please your Majesty, to observe with what care the wisdom of former Parliaments entrusted the Kings of England, and their Privy Council, to keep careful watch that the Gold and Silver once imported into this Nation, should be converted into Coin, for the Strength and Honour of the Kingdom; that those that did Transport Gold and Silver without the King's Licence, were Felons. And in the Trial in the Star. Chamber, 12. Caroli Primi, which I followed by Order of his late Majesty of blessed memory. The Atturney-General Banks, and the King's Council, read many Precedents, wherein the Transporters of Gold and Silver had judgement, and suffered execution of death, as Felons.  
Your Majesty will find transporting Gold or Silver without the King's licence to be Felony, and by several Acts of Parliament, 17 Edw. the 4. and the 4 Henry, cap. 13. And I humbly conceive the Kingdom is in as great scarcity of Gold and Silver now as it was then, for almost all the Gold and Silver is transported without the King's licence by the disturbance of the late War, and now some Merchants are grown so presumptuous, that they would have an Act of Parliament to make it to be at the will of the Merchants to transport what Gold or Silver freely they please without licence from the King, it were better for the Kingdom that these that go about to take this prerogative from the King, were blind, rather than the rest of the Kingdom should ever see that day these Merchants should have their will, Stat. 9 Edw. the 3. against the transporting of Gold or Silver without the King's licence, or the melting down the currant silver coin by Goldsmiths or others into plate Stat. 2. Hen. 4. cap. 4.  
No person ought to presume to transport Gold or Silver either in coin or bulion, upon pain of forfeiture of as much as they might, which I take to be lives and estates.  
2 Henry 6. cap. 6. Upon a grievous complaint made in Parliament, That great sums of gold and silver was transported without the King's licence out of this Kingdom, it was ordered and enacted, That no gold, or silver should be transported out of the Realm, and because it is supposed the gold and silver is transported by Merchant aliens, it is ordered, That the Mercheant aliens shall find security in the Chancery that they shall not transport the gold or silver moneys out of the Kingdom upon pain of forfeiture of the sum or value, and if any do contrary and that duly proved, his pledges shall pay the forfeiture, though the Merchant stranger be gone beyond the Seas: If this Law had been put in execution this last twenty years, the Kingdom had had millions of gold and silver, which it is now rob of, and the offenders are now grown so impudent to hope to get an Act of Parliament to rob the kingdom of all the gold and silver, as the greedy Merchant shall find and see his opportunity to send away what gold and silver they please, without the King's majesty or his privy Councils licence for the future.  
18 Edw. the 4. No person to carry gold or silver, or jewels out of the kingdom upon pain of Felony.  
1 Henry the 8. cap. 13. An Act made that whosoever shall carry any gold or silver out of the Realm without the King's licence, shall forfeit double the value.  
The 5th. and 6th. of Edward the 6th. cap. 16. An Act touching the exchange of gold or silver, that whosoever gave more for gold or silver, than it is or shall be declared by the King's Proclamation, shall suffer imprisonment for the space of a year, and make fine at the King's pleasure, the one moiety to his Majesty, and the other moiety to the Party, that shall seize the same, or will sue for it by the Bill of information; were the Goldsmiths of London sued on this Statute it would ruin most of them. Had not the Act of Oblivion pardoned them, but that gives them no licence or protection now at this day to act as they do, to sell gold for 21 and 22 shillings for a Twenty shilling piece. Till this be remedied and the rule for the price of gold set by your Majesty, the Mint will never coin gold to any considerable quantity.  
If this desire of the Merchants should go on, the Kingdom of England which in all Kings reigns abounded with gold and silver, and famous for their pound starlings, the true guide and measure of our moneys will be put to use the Rooking tricks of the Bankers of Amsterdam, and other Commonwealths.  
Feed the people with a paper credit and the Merchants have all the people's money; I beseech your Majesty to consider of this monstrous design and proposals of the Merchants, should by your Majesty be granted, which God defend, in whose hands your Majesty disposeth the Militia of the kingdom, even truly your Majesty would surrender the Militia of the kingdom into the Merchant's power.  
To send away all the treasure of the kingdom, by which means, they will so fetter and impoverish the people of the kingdom, that when your Majesty's loving Subjects would give you aid by consent of Parliament, they have no moneys to do it but at the Merchant's pleasure, who will be the only Judges of the price they shall pay by exchanging, and the quantity in coin they will please to let the people have.  
Should the Parliament now grant your Majesty a payment of a hundred thousand pounds in coined English gold, at twenty shillings the piece of gold, according to the Laws and Statutes and your royal Father's Proclamation, which forbids all either Foreigners or Natives whomsoever, to pay, give, or utter the currant coins of gold or silver at above the King's proclamation, upon pain of forfeiture and imprisonment during the King's pleasure. See the Statute law 5, 6, Edward 6. Yet for all your Majesty's laws and proclamations, your Majesty nor the Parliament shall not receive a hundred thousand pounds in gold or a hundred pound, but at the Merchant's price, viz. 21 shill. 4 pence, 21 shill. 6 pence, 21 shill. 8 pence, 22 shill. for a twenty shillings piece of gold. This is done in contempt of your Majesty and the law, because the Merchants have got all the coined gold into their hands, and transported it to foreign parts, and they will not let it come back again but at their pleasure and price make silver a free merchandise, the merchants will guide the prize and send it all away, to the destruction of your Majesty's Mint.  
The Merchants of London, had they this power they desire, would by tricks, either by Security or Exchange, get all the Gold and Silver into their hands.  
And then I tremble to think what will follow, if the Merchants be Masters of all the money: your Majesty's Fleet will lie at Chatham, at Portsmouth, etc. and no moneys to be raised, but at the will of their Bankers; Your people in Parliament shall grant your Majesty's Subsidies, and when it comes to be paid, they have no money but what is in the Merchant's Banks, or upon the Merchant's Security, they having gotten into their hands all the money.  
All the world knows, the whole stock of the money of the Kingdom, is to be disposed of by the credit of the City of London; the City of London gives the Rule to the Kingdom, and the Merchant of London for credit upon money rules the City, now if your Majesty should put this power into the Merchant's hands, to transport Gold and Silver at their pleasure, it would be a ready way to see the late Tragedies acted over again; and it is granted by all persons, that Gold and Silver commandeth all things; if your Majesty should part with this Royal Prerogative, I humbly desire your Majesty, upon my knees, to consider where you will lodge this great Jewel, which is the quintessence of the Mllitia: I humbly say many Merchants of London are recovered but lately out of the madness of a dangerous Rebellion, and wise men use to watch such as have been once frenzy afterwards in all their actions, lest being let go at their own pleasure they one time or another do either themselves or some others a mischief; this I now humbly say, is to preserve your Majesty's Greatness, Honour, and safety of your Majesty, and your most honourable Privy Council.  
I study not to please some Merchants, but to serve your Majesty in truly stating this business, I being formerly employed in this service by your Royal Father he would have believed me in this point, and concerning the regulating of Gold and Silver lace, and removing the obstructions of the Mint for seven years, I had the only care of this business by his Majesty's order, to prevent the transporting Gold or Silver.  
If your Majesty suffer the Merchants to obtain this their desire, all the payments of the Kingdom will be unfixed, and your Majesty's Subjects will have no money left but Groats, and some odd moneys, to buy Butter and Eggs; the Tenants must pay their Rents after the Barbarious way in SCOTLAND, in Bowls of Corn, and Cauldrons of Victuals, Coals, Horses, Cowes, and Sheep. Your Majesty's Privy Council, and your great Lords, and Gentry, must truck with their Tenants instead of a thousand pound Sterling, to be paid them in current Gold and Silver, according to 20. s. the pound Sterling for Gold, they must at this day pay 21. s. 6. d. if they will have a twenty shillings piece; is not this a wrong and dimunition to all the Lords in ENGLAND, seven pound ten shillings in the hundred, in all the Rents they are out of by Lease.  
But let Silver be made a free Merchandise, to Transport at their pleasure, without your Majesty's leave, farewell all Landlords payments in money (then, which God defend your Majesty should expose all the Nobility to be at the will of the Merchants, for to receive either their Rent in Money or Ware.) All payments in Silver will raise the price of your English shilling shall be set against your Majesty's Crown, and Dignity by the Merchant, as at this day, all the world know they have presumed without your Majesty's leave, and against your Laws, to send away all your Majesty's current Gold of the Nation, and to make it a Merchandise here in London, in contempt, despite, and affront of your Majesty, the Parliament, and your Majesty's Laws and Statutes, and now are so brazen Faced, that they look, and sue to have liberty to rob the King of this great privilege▪ I humbly hope the Merchant's bribeing days are past, they had once a time in the long Parliament to make their Gold and Silver break through all Barrs, all Laws; a Corporation of London, with a joint Purse, was such a Roman Ram, that it battered down all the Laws, and Statutes. I humbly hope this business, and the mischiefs that would follow, if they should obtain, their desire is so clearly stated, to be only in your Majesty, and your most Honourable Privy Council, that you will never part with it to any Corporation of Merchants, or others, but to keep it safe where the Law hath disposed it, it is a jewel the Law hath invested in the Crown, and cannot be valued, it is an inestimable Pearl, and Riches.  
That if the Merchants could by confederation pay down a Million of Money to your Majesty presently, to have it in their hands; Your Majesty would be a loser, Your Majesty would part with that which is Your Honour, Your Safety, Your Lords, and all Your People's safety, the Soul of the Militia.  
I pray God upon my Knees, your Majesty, and your Privy Council, would consider what is here said, and set a mark on these men that attempt under sly and feigned pretences, by subtlety and craft, to undermine your Majesty's Throne, Crown, and Dignity; these men that desire this to be in their Power, are like Water men, look one way, and Row another.  
These men many of them have designed in their heart the moddle of a Commonwealth, to be the fittest Government for this Kingdom; God hath delivered your Majesty from the Swordman, the Club man, and hath restored your Majesty to the Glory, and Greatness of your Royal Father, and your Predecessors, with the Hearts of all your good Subjects, and a large increase of the Revenues of your Crown, to the joy of all your Majesty's good Subjects.  
This Glory troubles some Mongrels of LONDON, that dare not bark, but are at this day cunning fawning Spaniels, that would by fawning cousin your Majesty of this Great, atd Royal Prerogative, which had they it, in seven years they may lay such a Foundation, that the Child unborn may rue it.  
I have read of a little Fish that sticking to a Ships side shall stop a great Ship under sail. The Merchants of a Kingdom or Commonwealth that are Bankers and have liberty to transport Gold and Silver at their pleasure, rule the Commonwealth both for War or Peace, and have virtually the sovereign power, being Masters of all the people's money. These Bankers can hang a Pad-lock on the Commonwealths Sword when they please: God defend your Majesty and your Lords from suffering them to do so in your Kingdom of England, for all the reasons before and after following.  
The Merchants of London have transported all the Gold and most of the Silver out of England, principally by the confederation and assistance of the Goldsmiths in Lumbardstreet, who are just in the nature of the Bankers at Amsterdam, and the Goldsmiths is your Merchants Jaccall as the Jaccall is to the Lion, they hunt for the Lion's prey. The Goldsmiths lay up Gold and Silver for the Merchants to transport, some Goldsmiths in Lumbardstreet, keeping at this day many great Merchants of London cashes, and some Noble men's cash by this credit of several men's moneys, the Goldsmiths in Lumbardstreet are in the nature of Bankers, and have a great stock of Treasure by them always of Gold, foreign coins, and Silver.  
And as these and the Merchants please to truck and and chaffer, set the price of the currant Gold of your Kingdom at above the price currant by Proclamation of your Royal Father, and above the price of your Mint, to the destruction of your Majesty's Mint, and against your Crown and Dignities; your Majesty's Mint is tied to a certain rule both for the weight and fineness of the Standard of your Majesty's Gold and Silver, and cannot by the Law exceed; now here is the mischief.  
The Goldsmiths they go between the Mint and the Merchants that transports Gold and Silver, and out-bids the Mint, 1. d. and sometimes 2. d. and more the Ounce in Silver, and five shillings the Ounce in Gold at this day, and so catch up all the Gold and Silver to transport, being Factors, and Purveyors to the Merchants that transports Gold and Silver.  
And by this confederation between the Merchants, and Goldsmiths, contrary to the Laws, and Proclamations of the Kingdom, they have cheated, and rob the Kingdom, and your Majesty's Mint in the Tower of London, and for these last fifteen Years have destroyed, and made desolate the same.  
Your Majesty's Mint in all times, by the Law, should have the pre-eminence, and first served.  
Your Majesty's Mint at this day is neglected, your Majesty's Laws despised, and your Majesty, and the Kingdom of England, Lords, Gentry, Commons, cheated, and rob of all your Gold, and almost all your Silver, to the weakening, and impoverishing of the Kingdom.  
This wickedness is done only for the enriching of a few particular Persons, Goldsmiths, and Merchants, to the destruction of the whole Kingdom, and if not timely prevented, to the ruin, and destruction, and decay of Trade. This was done when we had no KING in Israel, God forbidden your Majesty now should suffer it.  
If your Majesty by your justice do not make some of these Offenders an example, and timely prevent it, by the grave advice of your most Honourable Lords of the Council for the time to come, to prevent these abuses by a Law, or renewing the old Laws by your Majesty's Proclamation, making it loss of Estate for any Goldsmiths to sell any Merchant's Gold or Silver to transport, or to convert Gold or Silver into any other use than Plate, and Gold, and Silver Wyer, the Offender for ever after to lose his Freedom.  
And that no Merchant, or Goldsmith, shall give for Gold or Silver more than it shall be declared for by Proclamation, upon pain of forfeiture. And that all Goldsmiths that are Exchangers of Foreign Bullion, shall enter into security with the Officers of your Majesty's Mint, to your Majesty's use, to Coin the same, and to convert it to no other use. That no Merchant obtain a Licence from your Majesty, to transport Gold or Silver, nor the East- India Company, other, or more than they themselves cause upon their own proper account, to be truly imported, according to their Charter; and that all Warrants for transporting Gold or Silver be Registered, and the Goldsmiths to be tied to Coin all the Gold and Silver they shall hereafter buy, such Goldsmiths that will not to be debarred, the liberty to have power to exchange Foreign Gold and Silver, this being a Prerogative of the Crown, and never granted the Company of the Goldsmiths, as I can prove by the Law, that the Warden of your Majesty's Mint is your Majesty's Exchanger, and he may Licence any whom he please to buy Foreign Bullion, provided they put in security to Coin it in the Tower, and convert it to no other use but to coin upon the pain of forfeiture of his Bonds to your Majesty.  
May it please Your Majesty, my most humble prayer to Your Majesty, and Privy Council is, that at this juncture of time the late Lord Cottingtons' Rules & Observations may be made use of for bringing of Gold and Silver into the Kingdom, that State-man about the year 1630. made a most advantageous Contract with the King of Spain, for the bringing in Silver from Spain in English, bottoms and Landing the Silver at Dover, one third part to be Coined in Your Majesty's Royal Father's Mint in the Tower of London, and the other two parts by Your Majesty's Royal Father, and his Privy Counsels Licence to be transported at the will of the Importer, this Commission was granted under the Great Seal of Your Majesty's Royal Father, by the advice of his Privy Council, and above ten millions of Silver Coined upon that Contract, from the year 1630. to 1643. This Silver hath been almost all transported away for the private profit of the Merchant, and little currant Silver Coin left in the Kingdom, but light and eliped, and Counterfeit money in abundance. All the Gold sent away, to the destruction of the Kingdom, for the private profit of the Merchants. If Your Majesty please to inquire of Your Officers of the Mint they can certify this is the truth. And what a dangerous Project this was of some men, to go about to steal so Royal a Flower out of the Crown, such pilferers are Enemies to Your Majesty's Crown and Dignity, and aught to be watched as men newly recovered out of a Lunacy, kept from doing either themselves or others mischief.  
May it please Your Majesty, the King of Spain having peace with Holland, and France, will not have occasion to Export so much Money for Flanders, as He had when He had Wars with Them. Yet great Sums of Silver will daily be Exported to Flanders from Spain, to pay the Spanish Garrisons in Flanders, and the Trade from Spain to Antwerp, to pay the Bankers there, will daily cause great quantities of Silver to be Exported from Spain.  
I humbly desire, that upon Treaty with the Spanish Ambassador, the Lords of the Council would take order to Carry the King of Spain's Silver, as the Lord Cottington settled it; and that by the Law it should be made Felony, for any Person that did not Coin one full third part of all Silver that by agreement with the King of Spain should be coined, this Licence to be Canstantly allowed to any Person upon the King of Spain's Composition for Trade from Spain; And for all other Persons whomsoever, that Import Silver or Gold, to have it by Act of this Parliament, after the said Silver is Landed, that any Person that Transports Gold or Silver, it should be Confiscation of Ship and Goods, and Imprisonment during the King's pleasure. Besides, the Forfeiture of all Gold and Silver so put on Shipboard to Transport without Your Majesties, or your Privy Counsels Licence; And that all Goldsmiths, or others whomsoever, that Culleth and Melteth down the Currant heavy Silver Coins, for any Manufacture, or to Transport, it shall be Felony, and that without Mercy.  
If These Laws by this Parliament be Revived, and I your Majesty's Loyal Subject Impowered, and Commanded by your Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, to See to the due Execution of them; By the Blessing of God, I will in a few Years Replenish the Great want, and Scarcity of Gold and Silver, in the Kingdom again; And Remove the present Obstructions of the Mint.  
May it please your Majesty, It is the Execution of the Law quickens and gives life to the Law, when knowing persons shall be entrusted to see to the Execution.  
There are Laws and Proclamations against transporting gold, but no encouragement considerable for a man's time, all the Laws in the world will never reform this abuse, if some Trusty persons be not appointed to look in a particular manner, and make it their business, and a man cannot employ several people to do this service but at great charge, vigilance and diligent attendance to keep his watches, and intelligence in London, and the Ports; this mischief daily increases, because no knowing person is empowered and commanded to take care of this great business.  
Queen Elizabeth would not admit the East India Company, at her first granting them to be a Corporation, to transport the King of Spain's silver coin into the East Indies, though the Merchant pressed it very often; telling her Majesty that her Silver Coin and Stamp was not known in the East Indies, they thinking by that to get a Licence to send what Silver they pleased: This most prudent Queen, and her wise Privy Council replied, to the Merchants of the East-India Company, that for the very reason the Merchant alleged, to transport the King of Spain's silver to the East Indies; It was her fixed reason and resolution unalterable, she would not grant the East India Company leave to send the King of Spain's, or any foreign Prince's coin into India, but such Silver as was coined with her Effigies and Picture on the one side, and the Portcullis on the other side, of the just weight and fineness of the Spanish pieces of eight, and pieces of four Royals, and no other Silver should by her Merchants be sent to India.  
And this was her Majesty's prudent reason for the doing thereof, that because the Indians did not know her, nor see her greatness on her Silver, her Majesty gave the East India Company leave to transport Gold or Silver, but so as she would for the time to come give them a just occasion to reverence and honour her, and bow at her Effigies, declaring she would all the world over, where she gave her Merchant's leave to Trade, be known to be as great a Prince as the King of Spain: And that none should presume to send a greater quantity of Silver than she in her wisdom should judge fit, to the East Indies, as will appear by their Charter, both for the quantity, and with her Figure, Motto, and Portcullis upon the Silver: The Queen's Majesty declaring she held it as a special and chief Prerogative of her Crown and Dignity to put the Portcullis upon all the Silver the East India Company should send to the Indies: Nor would she admit the Merchants of the East India Company to send more Silver than she and her Privy Council did approve of; as appears in the Journal Books, the yearly Licences declaring she would have her Merchants in that point to be subordinate to her will, not her will to be ruled at the Merchant's pleasure.  
And so during all her prosperous Reign to her death, this great and prudent Queen ruled her Merchants, and not the Merchants her; this was according to the Law of England, the Queen would ever be known to be a Queen.  
This Narrative will appear to be true, by the Stamps, Weights, and Standard of this Silver that was coined in the Tower ready to be produced to your Majesty, and the most Honourable Privy Council, if your Majesty require the same; this course continued all Queen Elizabeth's Reign, and it would be for the honour and greatness of your Majesty, that all Silver transported to the Indies should be coined of the weight of Pieces of Eight, with your Majesty's Royal Effigies, and the Portcullis in the Tower of London, that so all the world over, the Nations might see your Royal stamp, and bow down, and do reverence; What an honour had it been to your Majesty's Grandfather and Father to have had sixty hundred thousand pounds transported in Silver to the Indies, with their stamp; which would have been done had Q. Elizabeth's honourable Rule been observed: I humbly desire it may be done hereafter, though your Majesty get nothing but fame, no profit. I dare undertake the East India Company shall have their silver coined in the Tower for 12 pence the pound weight, that is 60000 l. coined for one thousand pounds.  
The East India Company by money got this Royal Privilege laid down at the beginning of King James his Reign, to the great impairment and loss of his Imperial royal Crown and Dignity; and to the great loss of his Majesty in his Mintage and Coinage and the losing and diminution of your Royal Grandfather and Father of Blessed memory, in their Revenue at this day above an hundred thousand pounds in the total sum in the duty of coining, there being since King James his Reign by that Company above sixty hundred thousand pounds in Silver and Gold sent to the East Indies, were their Books of Entries examined, and their Books of Account to their several Factories in India; what they have sent yearly to every particular factory, and some Auditors appointed to make the inspection upon Oath.  
I humbly say, there would be found many hundred thousand pounds transported both of English Gold, and Silver, more than ever they had licence from the King to send to the great weakening, damage and decay of this Nation, they being a Company that heretofore used to bribe out all their abuses by one course or other.  
Had not your Majesty by your Royal pardon pardoned them, they should before this time have found the East India Company charged by me in the Exchequer with many hundred thousand pounds of English Gold and Silver, and of half Crowns and foreign Gold and Silver transported, against the Laws and Statutes of the Kingdom, let them have got off as well as they could.  
May it please your Majesty, That company pretends a debt your Royal Father should owe them for Silks and Pepper delivered unto one Burlemack, a Merchant, about the Year, 1630. upon your Royal Father's account, had not your Majesty in your great mercy pardoned this very Company of Merchants in your gracious and free Pardon, 1660. I could have chalked out the way to have peppered the East India Company, it had never been so peppered since it was a Company, they are pardoned for what is past, but they have no Privilege for the time to come.  
But if your Majesty command me to watch the East India Company that they for the future send no more gold or silver than they have licence for from your Majesty; I shall faithfully do it, and give a stop to these mischiefs they have formerly committed.  
If your Majesty command, I shall not fear the riches or greatness of the East India company, or Merchants of London, but I will tramel them and reduce them to the due obedience of your Majesty's commands, and the Law of the Kingdom.  
For the longer this business is not looked after, makes some Merchants think to get leave to weaken the Kingdom in general, and encroach upon your Majesty's sacred Prerogative to send what silver and gold they list away for the future, without any controller.  
May it please your Majesty, a Court in the nature of the Star chamber, would Frost-bite these Gentlemen, and make them pluck in their Horns, and submit to your Majesty's Laws, which will be for the good of the Nation in general, that these men may be kerbed, and not left to rob the Kingdom of all its Gold and Silver, as some Merchants have taken the boldness to do, when we had no King in this our Israel for this last seventeen years.  
Never Schoolboys played such tricks in the absence of their Schoolmasters, as some of the London-merchants have done: When the books of the Common council of London, copied out together with the East India Companies books, be throughly inspected, your Majesty and your honourable Privy Council will see incredible passages, fit for Your majesty to know, such as is for Your majesty's honour and safety for the future to prevent, viz.  
I most humbly pray your Majesty and your honourable Privy Council, to command true Copies of all the Acts of the Common Council of London, from one thousand six hundred and thirty eight, to one thousand six hundred and sixty, and the true copies of the East Indies Companies books of Envoys sent to their Factors, of all the Gold and Silver they sent yearly, the ships name, and by what Factor, and to what Factors in India and Persia, ever since one thousand six hundred and twenty, to one thousand six hundred and sixty: Not that I have the least thought that any of them should be punished for what is past, by reason of your Majesty's gracious pardon, but that an Eye might be kept over them to keep them from committing the same or the like offences again against your Majesty, your Crown, and Dignity.  
I humbly say, I am so charitable to them, that I had rather see them always upright in all their actions, than ever to hear that your Majesty should put your Royal self to that trouble to pardon them again; when they have offended, it is better, I humbly say, for the Merchants, that your Majesty take all course to keep some Merchants from falling; then to take them up after they are down, if they be watched that they shall have no opportunity to offend, it saves the labour of punishing any of them.  
Some Merchants I have heard say at the Council of Trade one thousand six hundred and fifty, that it is an old Heresy to hinder the transporting of gold and silver freely, and to retain it in the King's hands he only to give a licence to transpor: Sure I am it is a Fanatic opinion for the Merchants to labour to obtain it out of your Majesties and your privy Councils hands.  
Some Merchants are great magnifiers of Commonwealths, their Policies and Governments, those that are for an Amsterdam model both in the Church and Kingdom; but in our King's sacred hands this great Trust in all Ages hath happily continued, and no Merchant never durst ask such a request to have it at their own dispose; these Merchants covet more profit and gain than they do the King's Majesty's greatness, and that makes them so busy to get this Royal flower out of the Crown.  
May it please your Majesty, your standard of Gold and Silver is fixed to all your Subjects of all your Nations▪ the pound sterling is a fixed payment, and is the guide to all the Bankers in Christendom; for till they return their Bills of Exchange for England, no Banker or Merchant can tell certainly the true  value they shall receive for a hundred pounds delivered in their Banks, by Bills of Exchange to any place but only England, where these payments are fixed and paid according to the pound sterling, which is by shillings, pence, and halfpences, without any fraud or bankmonie, from the payment of one hundred pound, to the payment of one hundred thousand pounds, no man can be wronged of a penny, but it will exactly appear upon the casting up of the account. Commonwealths and Bankers go upon Merchant's subtleties, that is not for the Honour and Dignity of your Majesty, to make your money go high, when you are to pay your Armies and Fleets, and then presently to call it down in Kingdoms; Kings are Sacred, and cannot act such dirty tricks, as Commonwealths do.  
England's Tragedy from one thousand six hundred forty three, to one thousand six hundred and sixty, may serve as a warning to all good subjects, how to turn Kingdoms into Commonwealths, or to leave power of transporting Gold or Silver at the will and pleasure of the merchant. Merchants are like fire and water, Good Servants, but bad Masters; in their proper spheres good, but to get a head destructive to mankind; witness the late horrible Tragedies fomented and continued only by the pleasure and power of the Merchants and the wealth of London: The  Child dreads the fire. I lost twenty thousand pounds by the late Rebellion, which was hatched and kindled for the greatest part by those of London.  
They surfeited with Plenty, Riches, and Trade, the late Royal King Charles the first, by his late Royal Fleets, laid the Foundation of the Merchants of London's greatness and reputation all over the World, no Prince nor Commonwealth daring to injure the Merchants of London, but the King with the first wind had his Royal Fleets in their Harbours to demand reparation to the Merchant's content, else their harbours debarred Trade▪ The late glorious King got the envy of the Ship moneys; but never a penny of it in his Exchequer. The Merchants of London got the profit, advantage, and security by Trading safely, and the Seas scoured from Pirates: How unthankfully the Merchants required his Majesty, was shown in this late Rebellion. I speak not this that any should be punished, but that they might be prevented for the future to do the same things again, as they did this last seventeen years.  
In King James and King Charles their reigns, those good Kings was got into the City of London's debt, and to come out of it they did part with their Lands at half the value. When Masters borrow Money of their Servants, it makes them generally overvalue themselves and slight their Masters. I hope in a few years his Majesty will be in that condition to lend the City of London money, upon their Charter, the like to the East India Company and other Companies to have their Lands bound. This was King Henry the sevenths' way, he would always have his Exchequer full of money, finding it to be the greatest security to prevent all mischief, to have the King richer than his people.  
In the year one thousand six hundred forty seven, your Royal Father being informed that many Members of Parliament, and factious Citizens was transporting and packing away their estates in Gold beyond the Seas, which these had in abundance cozened the Kingdom of, your Royal Father commanded me by one Mr. Francis Brogdou, of London Gentleman, on whom his Majesty constantly employed to go between him and his loyal Subjects, than Prisoners in the Tower: This Mr. Francis Brogden brought me his Majesties, your Royal Father's pleasure, that I should labour in the pretended  to obtain a commission to discover the transporters of Gold and Silver, but so that if I obtained it, I should use my diligence to discover the Parliament-men, and their factious Merchants of London, to make them odious to the Kingdom that transported Gold and Silver out of the Nation: I used my endeavour to make them public to the World, for several years, to get this Commission to pass by the pretended Act of Parliament, and it is well known to many of the then Parliament, Sir James Harrington, Fleetwood, and several others; but was particularly opposed by both the Ashes, Allen, Harvey, Sir Henry Vane, Strickland, and many others of the Parliament, and by swarms of Sectaries of the City of London: which men had transported the Gold and Silver out of the Nation; and therefore to be sure to have them within compass of the Law, I caused a Gentleman to file in the Exchequer a hundred informations against the transporters of Gold and silver, and to let them remain on record, till your Majesty's Royal Father did come to London (this was about one thousand six hundred and forty eight) at that time being the hopes and prayers of all good men. But God had decreed it otherwise, by taking your Royal Father out of this World, the World especially, this unthankful Nation, not being worthy of him; so all things rested till your Majesty's happy arrival in May 29. 1660.  
Concerning the transporting of Gold and silver, though your Majesty hath pardoned the transporters of Gold till 29. May 1661. I humbly say, your Majesty hath declared that for the future you will have all men conformable to your Laws, without respect of persons, if this rule be strictly observed, your Majesty will never put this great business of transporting Gold and Silver to be at the Merchants will and pleasure, lest the same tumults and troubles be played over again by some Fanatic Merchants, as they have done within twenty years; your Majesty may as safely put a Sword into a Madmans' hand, or a Knife into a Child's, as trust the Merchants to transport Gold or Silver without your Majesty's licence, after it is once landed.   

TO THE KING'S most Excellent Majesty: And to the most Honourable the LORDS of his MAJESTY'S most Honourable PRIVY COUNCIL. The Humble Petition of THO. VIOLET of London, Goldsmith.  

Most Dread Sovereign!  
I Your Majesty's most Humble and Loyal Subject for your Majesty's service humbly pray, that the East- India and Persia Company, bring in their Charter, whereby your Majesty and your Privy Council will inform yourselves, by the Charter your Royal Father and Grandfather passed with what privilege they have granted them, & upon what conditions and restrictions.  
2. That your Majesty and your Privy Council would be pleased to require an account of the East- India and Persia-Companie, of all the sums of money, Gold or Silver, either Foreign or English, which they have sent into India and Persia, ever since July 1620. this is no new thing, for they did in 1620. give an account, and made it by their Books appear, that from the Original and first foundation of their Trade, in Anno 1601, to July 1620. they had shipped away for India only, 548090l. sterling in Spanish moneys, and some Flemish and German Dollars, which account was presented in Parliament at that time.  
3. Your Petitioner desires your Majesty to take notice, that if the State in Parliament were then so careful in times of peace, and the Trade of the Nation flourishing, to call the East- India Company to an account for twenty years, and to cause them to make their accounts plainly to appear by their Books for twenty years; surely, I humbly conceive, your Majesties and your Privy Council will expect for the service of the Kingdom, to have an exact account of all the Treasure the East- India and Persia Company have exported; and to have them to Produce a just account, what quantities of Gold or Silver they have bought in Holland, and in other Foreign places, immediately upon their proper account; and what quantity of English melted Silver in Bars, they have bought of Gold▪ smiths in London; what quantities of Gold in Bars, they bought of the Guinie and Barbary Companies, what quantities of English coined Gold they have sent into the East- Indieses, and to Persia; what quantities of Cardques, Rixdollars, Rials of Spain, or any other Foreign Silver, they have bought up in London, of Merchants, Goldsmiths, or others, which without the East- India Company so buying, would have been brought into the Mint and coined, to the great augmentation of the stock of this Nation. And that they be required to give your Majesty, and your Privy Council, an Account of what quantity of Spanish pistolets, Dutch Riders, Hungarian Ducats, Gold Gilders, Gold Albertus of Flanders, Italian Pistolets, Turkey Sultels, and all other Foreign Gold and Silver, they have bought up in London, of Goldsmiths, Merchants, Natives, and Strangers, which have not been members of their Company, and transported to India and Persia, since 1620. All which, I am sure they have perfect Accounts of. And that the aforesaid Company be required to send your Majesty, and your Privy Council, in all the Warrants and Licences for their doing of the same, and for a true discovery of the premises.  
4. That your Majesty, and your Privy Council, would require the Books of Envoys, of the same Lading of every ship, of all the Gold and Silver, in Bars, or Coin, that bath been sent to the East- Indies and Persia, since 1620. for by them your Majesty and your Privy Council shall see what Gold and Silver each ship carried, and the Ships, Factors, and Master's names, and to what factory in Persia or India, and the several years, and so your Majesty and your Privy Council will quickly see the just quantity to a penny what they have transported, and in what sort of Coin, either English Gold or Silver, or Foreign Gold or Silver, for these forty years; the giving your Majesty and your Privy Council a true account thereof, will be of great concernment to the Kingdom in many respects.  
5. That your Majesty and your Privy Council would appoint a Committee to view over the Journal Books: for out of them there will be gathered businesses of great concernment to the Nation; and if some able Book-Keepers be appointed with me, to take out what I shall observe in them, it will tend highly to the service of your Majesty and give a stop to great mischiefs that is daily practised on the Kingdom.  
6. If your Majesty and your Privy Council please to inform yourselves by this way, your Majesty and your Privy Council will see clearly many other secrets, upon perusal of these Books, than I will speak of, and so your Majesty and your Privy Council will be able to rectify and settle the Trade in a flourishing condition, that it may be beneficial to the Kingdom, and all the Adventurers, whereas heretofore, and now as it is managed, none getteth by it, but the Committees of the said Companies, and the Companies Factors and their Officers. The Adventurers having been blinded ever since it was a Company, and led by the nose by their servants, or else how could their Factors and servants be so rich, and the company's stock so poor.  
7. May it please your Majesty and your Privy Council, I humbly conceive, upon the Examination of all the premises, When that the Books of the Company are examined, it will be found that the East- India Company hath sent away the Kingdom's Coin, both in Gold and Silver, many hundred thousand pounds more than ever they had warrant for to do; from your Majesty's Grandfather or Father, though your Majesty and your Privy Council hath forgiven it, yet It ought to be prevented for the future this mischief; which your Petitioner most humbly prays for your Majesties and your Privy Counsels service, also That your Majesty and your most honourable Privy Council command a true Transcript under the hand of the Town-Clerk of the City of London; to be transmitted to your Majesty and your Privy Council, of all the Acts, and Orders of the Common Council from the year 1638. to the 25. March 1660. It is true, your Majesty by your gracious pardon hath pardoned all offences, but for the future there will be great use made of their Orders, to know by what degrees, and steps the late confusions got to a head, and poisoned that great body of your City of London; I humbly say, your Majesty and your most honourable Privy Council will make great use of the sight of them, to prevent any the like disturbance again and to nip them in the bud (this will be for the general good and quiet of the whole Kingdom) for as London pipes, so the greatest part of the Kingdom dances, especially all Cities and corporations, keep the spring head clear from being disturbed, the streams will run always clear, they have your Majesty's most gracious pardon for what is past, but that gives them no privilege to act the like things again, eitherby fraud, feigned pretences, or by force.  
The East- India Company formerly having made it their common practice by giving great sums of money for Bribes, to have liberty to oppress the good people of the Nation, and to have Licence with Authority to deceive the Kingdom; all which abuses, I pray God, by the wisdom of your Majesty, and your most honourable Privy Council, may be carefully found out, and such Order and Regulation made for the future for all Traders, as may be most for the prosperity of this Kingdom in general, without any regard to particular Interest, when it shall be found destructive to the Kingdom, and your dutiful and loyal Subject shall pray for your Majesty's long and prosperous Reign over us.  
Novemb. 28. 1660. Signed, Tho. Violet.   

I charged the East-India Company before the Council of Trade, 1650. with robbing the Nation of many hundred thousand pounds of Gold and Silver, more than they had Licence to send; and several other Misdemeanours. Thereupon the Council of Trade made these Orders.  
Die Mercurii Sept. 11. 1650. At the Council for Trade at Whitehall.  
Ordered,  
THat the East- India Company be desired to produce their Original Charter before this Council.  
Ordered,  
THat the East- India Company be desired to bring into this Council, what Licences they formerly have had granted them for the Transporting of Bullion, or Coin, since the year 1620.  
Ordered,  
THat the East- India Company be entreated likewise to produce the direct and true. Accounts of all the several sums of Bullion and Coin, in any specie to the full, that hath been yearly transported by them, since the year 1620.  
Ex. Ben. Worsly, Secret.  
But these Orders were never obeyed, but some of the Rump Parliament was bribed, and no Reformation, I only got the Envy for making this Discovery, I humbly hope the East- India Companies time of bribing out all Business is expired, now in your Majesty's blessed Reign; Truth shall prevail, especially such as are for your Majesty's Honour, and Safety.   

I shall humbly show your Majesty the damage the Kingdom suffered by sending all the Silver to the East- Indies in Spanish money, before it was coined with King james's, and King Charle's Face, and the Percullisses, as it was coined in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, and humbly recommend it to your Majesty, and your Privy Council, to have all Silver so coined before it goes to the Indies.  
It is for the Greatness, and Honour of the King, to have the Silver, his Merchant's Trade with, first coined with the Percullises, and His Effigies and Motto, all over the World; For the King's greatness is the Merchant's security, and protection, and to be made of the weight of pieces of Eight, and of the same Standard, as it was in the Queen's time; the King loses in point of Coinage by not Coining, the Silver is sent to the East- Indieses, as Queen Elizabeth did, the East India Company had paid to the King's Grandfather, and Father of blessed memory, a hundred thousand pounds, which would have been clear profit since King James, in his Majesty's Exchequer, and all his Officers for Coining paid, if Queen Elizabeth's Rule had been observed, to Coin all the Silver sent beyond Seas. If the East- India Company Books be looked over, they have sent above sixty hundred thousand pounds in Silver to the East- Indieses, since the first of King James in Spanish Silver, more money by fare then is at this day in England. I humbly recommend it for your Majesty's Honour and Profit that your Majesty for the future may coin all Silver, or Gold, that so the Indian Princes may see your Effigies, and bow at the sight thereof; As Queen Elizabeth made the Merchants to do, or else they should not send her Silver. The true safety and protection of the Merchant is, that they are Subjects of such a great King, that can cause Justice and Right to be done to His Merchants, as far as the Seas ebbs and flows round about the World, it is truly for the Merchant's security if they would consider rightly of all things, and love the King's Honour, as well as their own Profit.   

MAY it please your Sacred Majesty, I here humbly give your Majesty, and your Privy Council an account concerning my staying the Ships Samson, Salvador, and St. George, 15. Decemb. 1652. The day the Judges had resolved in the Admiralty to clear these Ships, their Silver and Lading, there being three hundred thousand pounds in them. I saw about that time Don Asonso Decardenis the Spanish Ambassador Extraordinary, come to the Rump Parliament, and owned their power, as a free State and Parliament. I heard that many in Amsterdam was playing the same pranks there with the Prince of Orange, as the Londoners had played with Your Majesty's Royal Father, and your Majesty, I saw the Face of all things look very sadly, both in France, Holland and Spain, the Royal party being banished from home, put to great extremities abroad, and almost insufferable wants: At which time I had advice from one of Dover that the three hundred thousand pounds in Silver in the aforesaid Ships, part of it appertained to Amsterdam Merchants, and other parts to Spaniards, and some to Hamburgers; and I had the Copies of the Original Commission under the Great Seal of Holland, to the Wit, and de Ruter, the Vice Admirals of Holland, to require them to guard all Ships coming from Spain to Ostend, or Dunkirk, from the English, the Dutch and Parliament being at War; and this was done upon the Petition of the Merchants of Amsterdam, to the high and mighty Lords the States, to guard the Ships from the English; which Commission, and Petition at this day remains in the Admiralty. I cast about how I might first divide the pretended Council of State, in Decemb. 1652. amongst themselves, about this Silver, in the aforesaid Ships, and set them to stay it, which I knew would engage the Rump Parliament in a foreign War, and so though the King's Party were oppressed at home, the Rump might waste their Soldiers, and have more hands about their Ears then they were ware of, and in time be beaten out of breath, and so the Royal Party might rise again. I divided the Council so as there was ten for sending me to the Tower, and clearing the Silver, and twelve for the staying the Silver, and giving me thanks. I made some of my secret Friends acquainted with this design, they approved thereof; and so having promised secretly one to another, for it concerned my life. I told them from time to time how I laid my design, till at last I engaged Cromwell to take up the Silver from aboard the Ships, Samson, Salvador, and St. George, and that he would dissolve the Parliament; the same night that he dissolved the long Parliament, he could not sleep for it about the 15. April 1652. Cromwell sent Mr Sadler the Town-Clerk of LONDON, and Coll▪ Bingham to me, to come presently to him at the Cockpit, to give him the Copies of all the Bills of these Ships Lading, and the value of the Silver, which I did; and after he had them, Cromwell could not sleep till he had the Silver in Bark steads custody in the Tower. I found him to be forward in it, to get the Silver into his possession in the Tower, being 29. April 1653. Oliver Cromwell sent a guard of Soldiers to seize on the Silver aboard these Ships, the Samson, Salvador, and St. George, the 20. day of April 1652. Bradshaw tore his Hair before me, and a Friend of mine, Bradshaw telling him that Cromwell had undone them all by forcing the Parliament, and that now he saw apparently he was an undone man.  
Bradshaw storming at me Tho. Violet, saying, I was the fatallest man that ever was to the Council and Parliament for staying this Silver, and that had I not set the Council and Parliament to stay this Silver, till that every man's claim was particularly proved, the Silver had been all Transported, and Cromwell never durst have dissolved the Parliament, had he not got the Silver in these Ships, being three hundred thousand pounds into his hands.  
All which I did premeditately to set them, and the Council, Parliament, and altogether by the Ears, to divide and weaken their Counsels. And I made several persons acquainted with my design, who are well known to your Majesty, both for their Service and Fidelity, if I be required I will name them. Before ever I undertook this Business, I had their advices, and approbation under secrecy, for it had cost us all our lives had it been known, I had given the Parliament this vomit to undo them.  
This I can prove to be the truth, and Sir James Harrington, Frances Allen, and Tho. Scot used to say, it was Violet destroyed the Parliament, and not Cromwell; for had I not stayed the Silver Cromwell durst not have forced the Parliament. But whereas Doctor Walker, and some others have declared to some Merchants, and others of London, I stayed the Spaniards Silver, and would not consent to the discharge; I was so far from hindering the Spaniards of their right, that I Petitioned Cromwell and his Council to discharge the Spaniards Silver. But Doctor Walker opposed me in it, as appears by Doctor Walkers Certificate to Cromwell's Council.  
Mr. Jessop Clerk of the Parliament delivered it to me upon condition I should return it to him when I had done with it, I humbly pray your Majesty's most Honourable Council to take the pains to peruse it, and they will see only Doctor Walker stayed all the Spaniards silver, I stayed the Dutch silver.  
At last when Oliver Cromwell saw his Error, in taking on himself the government in his single person, and in looking after the silver mines in Hispaniola, and seizing upon the silver, as I had set him to do, he cursed me often times bitterly; Mr. Beck of Westminster, being Oliver Cromwel's Solicitor, and Master Francis Bacon the Master of his Request: I used them to solicit my business to Cromwell, for to get satisfaction for my estate unjustly taken away, but they both told me, he would never do nothing for me, for he hated my name and remembrance; and that whensoever they moved him of my name concerning any business, he would be in a rage; Mr. Beck, and Mr. Bacon several times have asked me whether I could imagine the reason? I told them No, I wondered at it.  
But indeed I know the reason, he did see I had set him on those things which he was not able to master, and though I put on it the face of innocency I knew from the first hour that Cromwell took the 278250 l. into his custody, that he would destroy the Parliament, and divide and subdivide among themselves, till all ended in confusion: I thought it my duty to give your Majesty, this true Account and can prove it as aforesaid, and several other services, your Petitioner hath done for your Majesty, where in every on he ventured his life for your Majesty's service, and never had farthing either of the Parliament or Cromwell, but expended his own money for several years, to the value of fifteen hundred pounds. And twenty thousand pounds taken from me by the Parliament as aforesaid. There are many of the then Honourable Prisoners in the Tower can tell your Majesty, how active I was always in your Majesty's Father's service in the Tower: I humbly refer myself to this following Certificate for the loss of my Estate.   

THese are to Certify, whom it may concern; That I William Dugard of London, Clerk, have known Thomas Violet of London Goldsmith many years; and have been privy to his Applications to the Parliament, for restoring him to his estate, taken from him by the Parliament in 1643. for his bringing up a Letter of Peace to the City of London, from Oxford, from his late Majesty CHARLES the I. of blessed Memory; And I have seen Mr. Violets Original Petitions, Accounts, and Demands of the Long Parliament, for satisfaction for his Estate, in Lands, Houses, Offices, Bonds, Debts, Goods, to the value of above eleven thousand pounds; so much hath been confessed to me by several of the Committee of Parliament, that Examined the said Tho. Violets sufferings, that they found it fully proved Mr. Violet's Losses to be above the sum of eleven thousand pounds, besides his Imprisonment and forbearance. And I have heard several Parliament men confess, that Mr. Violet was unjustly oppressed, contrary to God's Law and man's, for being sequestered for bringing up the King's Letter for Peace; and several Members of Parliament, upon my Solicitation promised him from time to time satisfaction, but abused him by delays, making him for many years lose both time, and expend much money in waiting on them to my knowledge; but never received farthing from them.  
I do further testify, upon the Perusal of Mr. Violets Papers, and the Confession of several of his Neighbours, who knew him before the Year 1643. that I do esteem his Losses to be far above eleven thousand pounds since 1643. besides his Imprisonment, and loss of his Calling, to his damage at this time above twenty thousand pounds. In witness whereof I have here to subscribed my Hand.  
WILL. DUGARD. 

The same is in Effect certified by several other Gentlemen, whose Names are subscribed, viz.  
ALEXANDER HOLT of London, Goldsmith.  
WILLIAM BOURNE of London, Brewer.  
PAUL SMITH of London Gentlemen.  
ROBERT EMERY of London Gentlemen.   

Witnesses.  
Josiah Smith.  
Paul Edward's.  
John Wegewood.  
Henry Goldston.  
William Barnes  
Knight ey Freeman.     

A true Copy of Doctor Walkers report concerning the Silver Ships the 14th of April 1654. To OLIVER CROMWEL'S Council.  
May it please your Honours,  
IN the business concerning the Ships and Silver goods in the three Ships in the Samson, Salvador, and S. George upon attending your Lordships, with Mr. Violet, several particular were proposed, and I was directed by your Honours summarily, to state them, and to give my humble opinion upon every of them.  
The particulars were,  
1. Concerning the Silver in these three Ships, which was the bulk of the whole matter upon which I argued, when I procured the Onus probandi to be cast on the other side.  
Mr. Violet divided it thus, that there was one Boschard a Hamburger, and one Stephen de Balderos, and one Lewis Fardinandes Hagelo, and one Losa Berona; and one Mexico Herera, and one Michael Severino Lozenso de Eucle●; and one Thomas Sauches, de Urise Anthonio de Puntho Spaniards, and one Dony Martin Native of Galloway in Ireland, that laid particular claims every of them, to some parcels of the Silver laden for their accounts all whom (as Mr. Violet Stated it) came along in the said Ships and have attended their claims here ever since upon the place, in making their proofs and solicit; for bringing it on to a hearing for their particulars and are as Mr. Violet states it, by their long attendance and spending in diet and otherwise reduced to such extremity as they for want are ready to starve.  
For these Mr. Violet, hath proposed that his Highness and your Lordships would direct that their claims would come on to a present hearing; that so what was found to be justly and really theirs might be adjudged them: not only for their present relief, but for the vindicating (as Mr. Violet terms it) the justice of the Nation, and preventing any Imbargoes abroad for want of justice here.  
Now for this my Lords being as I conceive, rather the prudential part then the legal, I must not take upon me to give any opinion in it, but submit it wholly to your Lordships to consider the prudence of it, whether you will hold it fit that these particulars shall come on before the rest of the claims; for the other Silver in the said Ships and so to handle by pieces, or whether to have all the Silver directed by trial and hearing altogether.  
For the rest being the great bulks of the Silver, Mr. Violet proposed that pleas should be put in, to be a ground for Commissioners to be procured to go into Spain and Flanders to examine witnesses there; against the several claimers, and their claims supposing that in respect the Laws of Spain prohibit the carrying out of Silver under great penalties, the claymors would not dare to own it in Spain, if Commissioners for his Highness, should be sent over thither and that much discoveries would there be made, and witnesses be found in Spain if active persons be employed and sent over thither.  
Mr. Violet proposed that there would be this farther use made of it, by procrastinating the businesses, and gaining of so long time as for Commissions to go into Spain, and be executed there and returned.  
As to the last of these it is evident, that it must of necessity gain time, and delay the hearing.  
But whether upon the main matter, it will produce any thing or countervail the charge, which must needs issue out of purse and cannot but be vast in exceuting so many Commissions by the Magistrates of Spain, and employing such as must necessarily, be sent over to look after it, I have often told Mr. Violet, that I much doubt and must submit it to your Lordships, not daring of myself to venture upon it; without a special warrant, for several reasons.  
1. For that we yet know of never a particular witness by name to examine when we came thither.  
2. And for that it will be uncertain whether after so great acharg spent to make inquiry there, any positive witnesses would be there or not.  
3. If any there shall be found it will be uncertain whether upon the clay mors cross interogatories they may not say more against us, then upon ours for us, being there in a Country where the claymors will in all likelihood find more means, friends and opportunities, than those that shall be sent over from hence against them.  
4. For that the claymors have already upon their own Commissions, owned their claims in Spain, and examined witnesses by the Magistrates publicly there upon; and therefore no doubt, but they may again publicly avow them at ours, if any new Commissions go from hence for his Highness: as well as they did upon their own claims when Commissions issued to Spain, for them which they have procured to be there sped and returned back again hither into Court.  
And therefore what your Lordships proposed to me as first in expedient, that is, to endeavour that publication for the claimors might so pass, that liberty might be given to see their proofs, and yet if occasion were to plead and examine witnesses notwithstanding, which Albeit, the rule be that contrary matter may not be examined upon after publication and sight of the witnesses; yet in those cases of the Silver in the said three Ships, I have since I waited upon your Lordships, upon debates with the adverse Proctors and Counsels publicly in Court procured such a Salvo by their consents to be entered and publication is so past that now the despositions and proofs for the claimors may be perused, and yet liberty to plead and examine for his Highness (if there be occasion) notwithstanding; but there being so many Commissions returned for the claimors, and the depositions so extreme long, It will ask a good time to puruse and consider them.  
As to the rest of the goods in those Ships, not being Silver, many of them, being much decayed and perished by so long lying, and some of them having been heard already and for what remains, I see no reason at all to put off the hearing of them any longer; for that the main charge suspicions and grounds were against the Silver: and had not (as I humbly conceive) any such reflex upon the Tobaccoes, Hides, and other goods; & besides such special provisions may be made (as hath also been already done in what hath been heard) that they may have no manner of consequence at all, as to any of the Silver.  
And as to the Ships themselves, viz. The Samson, Salvador, and St. George, for as much as the public Agent for Hamborough hath often pressed it, that they might be permitted to come to hearing, & for that by this long lying, one of the said Ships hath been already sunk in the River; and that if the said Ships should be continued much longer without repairing and employment, it is publicly (and hath been often) affirmed in Court, that they will decay, perish and come to nothing. 
Truly Doctor Walker, if either you or O. Cromwell had known upon what grounds or reasons I stayed this silver, you (as O. Cromwel's Fiscal or Judge Advocate) would have paid me as you did the Kentish men for declaring for the King. I was forewarned of trusting of you by several of the King's friends, who remembered how you served your Master Bishop Williams in the Star-chamber. Indeed you told me Cromwell nor the Parliament would never give me any thing, and seeing they would be advised by me & give me nothing, after they had rokbed me of all my estate they could finger, I was resolved to give them that advice to be revenged of them, that if they took it, it should destroy both the Parliament and Cromwell. God it was that encouraged me and blinded them, that they should ever trust a man's advice that they had ruined. They should have remembered that advice, Trust not a pretended reconciled adversary; especially keeping him from his estate, as they did me to this day to my damage Twenty thousand pounds. Sir Henry Vane junior having a better nose than the rest, ever said I was not to be trusted, telling Bradshaw I had several times made my application to him, but he would have nothing to do with me: and when I stayed the Silver, Vane moved to send me to the Tower; for (said he at the Council) this Villain will set us against all the world at once, to bring in the King of Scots; I wonder the Council claps him not up. Thereupon it was put to the question: whereof 10 of them were for laying me in prison, and 12 for giving me thanks; all those that were of the then Council of State knows this to be true, That I made a fraction between Bradshaw and Vane. Cromwell and Bradshaw with the rest of their party about the staying the Silver, but Vane, Strickland and Nevil were for letting of it go. This Silver which I stayed was the only cause of blowing up the Long Parliament, which I knew at that time an Army of 40000 men could not have done.  I do humbly conceive submitting it nevertheless to your Lordships that for the avoiding of further perishing of the said Snips, and other lading (not being Silver) and for avoiding claimour and scandal in delay of justice, The said Ships, and remainder of the lading (except the Silver) may if your Lordships please, be permitted to come to a hearing and judgement.  
As for Mr. Violet himself, I can only say that by several Orders of the former Council of State; he was directed to solicit and look after this business of the Silver Ships, and that he hath often attended and spoken in Court, and many times repaired to me, and consulted about it; and that it hath appeared to me (and may also to your Lordships by perusing what he hath printed) he hath spent much time about it, and I verily believe hath drawn much envy upon himself, and run some hazard and danger and spent his own moneys in going up and down to make his inquiries. But I cannot determine what the produce or effect thereof will be, or amount unto until some particular and positive proofs be brought in to prove the Silver, or at least some part thereof really and truly to belong to some Hollanders, specifying their names, and the parcels, and discovering the fraud, in colouring it in other feigned names.  
For as I have humbly declared unto your Lordships, for as much as the Onus probandi is by Law cast upon the claimors. The result is, that for so much as the claimors shall not positively and certainly make special and particular proofs of: there the judgement will be for confilcation in default of their proof, in respect of the Onus Probandi so cast.  
But for so much as the claimors shall make, & have made positive particular & concludent proofs, of their real property. There I humbly conceive unless more proofs be brought in, then yet are, or that Mr. Violet can bring in certain and particular proofs, to encounter the other that in references and arguments will be of no more force, than the casting of the Onus probandi alone will do of itself, so that I dare not take upon me to give any opinion, But must leave the consideration of Mr. Violet and his service to your Lordships.  
All which I humbly Submit Walter Walker. April 14. 1654..   

By Command from King CHARLES the First, of blessed Memory, as appears by Warrant under his Royal Hand and Seal, I caused these men following to be fined in the Star-Chamber, for transporting Gold and Silver, and culling and melting down the heavy Coin of the Nation.  
The 25th. of jan. 12. Car. The 17th. of Febr. 12 Car. Charles Frank 4000 l. Peter Hern 2000 l. Robert Ellis 4000 l. John Tere 2000 l. Isaac Romeer 3000 l. Timothy Eman 2000 l. Jacob Delew 1000 l. Isaac Brames 1000 l. Roger Fletcher 1000 l. Henry Futter 500 l. Richard Cockram 1000 l. Henry Sweeting 500 l. John Parrot 1000 l. John Perrin 100 l. The Total of the said Fines amount to the sum of 23100 l.  
This Sentence awed the Transporters of Gold, till these Troubles, they durst not transport Gold or Silver, for fear I should meet with them.  
Sir John Wollaston Knight, and William Gibs Esquire, both Aldermen of the City of London, being informed against in this Information, by the then Atturney-General, procured a Pardon from your Majesty's Royal Father, and so were discharged. These two villains betrayed your Royal Father. 1643. As aforesaid.  
And Mr. Peter Fountain, who was informed against for Transporting of Gold by me, procured his Pardon upon payment of 1100 l. to the Lord of St. Albans, than Master Jermyn. And all these I did bring to a Trial, at my own charge.  
That besides the fourteen offenders sentenced in the Star-Chamber, and pardoned, as aforesaid, there are many other Merchants, Goldsmiths, and others, that have transported Gold and Silver out of the Nation.   

Die Mercurii 1 Sept. 1647.  
ORdered by the Commons in Parliament Assembled, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy to consider of, and take some effectual course to prevent the Transportation of Bullion out of the Kingdom: and speedily to report what they have done herein, to the House.  
H. Elsing. Cler. Parl,   

May it please your Majesty, to peruse your Royal Father's letter, which I have printed in this book, folio 14, wherein his late Majesty of glorious memory, commands me that I should not discover the transpotters of Gold and Silver to the Parliament, without his Majesty's especial licence. His Majesty knew the fines and composition of the offenders would bring the Parliament in great sums of money, which they would then employ against him, being then upon the point to call the Scotch then to invade the Kingdom of England, destroy his Majesty, and the Royal party.  
At the same time I had in the Parliament my Patent under examination in the House of Commons, for an Office I have for two lives, under your Royal Father's great Seal of England, for the essaying and sealing all Gold and Silver Wire, and Silver, and Gold third, and to warrant the same to the Wearers, that it be good Silver, and a due proportion of Silver to Silk. This Patent was commanded by Sir Robert Harlow, being Chair man to a Committee, to be brought into the House and referred to a Committee, who after several days hearing referred all parties to the Law, concerning the regulation of Gold and Silver wire.  
And I justified my Patent to be for the good of the Kingdom in general, and that it saved fifty thousand pounds a year by my said office, and by my regulation and tying the workmen to work good Silver, and a due proportion of Silver to Silk; and this I humbly say at this day to be true, as I will prove it at the Council for Trade.  
There was a Committee appointed, and Pim, Hamden, Whittaker, Corbet, etc. to article with me for to discover the transporters of Gold and Silver, and if I would do that, and raise the Parliament moneys by the fines of the offenders, than I was by their procurement that the committee of Parliament should report the legalty and justice of my aforesaid Patent and Office; and it should have been confirmed by Parliament, but first I was to raise the Parliament forty thousand pounds by the fines of the transporters of Gold.  
This agreement was made between the Committee of Parliament and me, in the Court of Wards, about the 10th. of November 1643. and I prepared to make my discovery accordingly. But then, may it please your Majesty, comes your Majesty's Father's Letter, of blessed memory, and commands me not to do this service for the Parliament at my peril, as I have it to show under his Majesty's hand and Seal. Thereupon presently I obeyed his Sacred Letter, and chose Poverty and Loyalty before Riches, and to be a Rebel for my Loyalty I have been most Barbarously used.  
I told the Committee, that upon enquiry after the business, I found the French and Dutch Merchants, and strangers, that had transported the Gold and silver out of the Nation; were removed from Dover, and I could not for the present do them that service I had promised them.  
Whereupon Whittaker and Corbet took that but for a flame, and said, I was your Majesty's Royal Father's Spy, a Cavalier, and a Malignant, and moved the House against me▪ and they sent me to the Kings-bench; and there I remained a Prisoner, till I made an exchange for Mr. Heslerig, than Prisoner at Beaver Castle 1643. in December.  
In January after his late Majesty had exchanged me, presently he commands me to bring up the Letter aforesaid, from his late Majesty to the Citizens of London, which I did, and the barbarous abuses which I received from City and Parliament, for bringing the same up, I have humbly declared.  
My humble request unto your Majesty is, that you would be pleased to observe, all my suffering is only for my loyalty to your Majesty's Royal Father, would I have obeyed the Parliament, and discovered the Transporters of Gold at that time, 1643. I had enjoyed all my estate, and been settled in the Office which I have for two Lives for the regulating Gold and Silver Thread and Wire.  
And all this damage I suffered for obeying your Majesty's Royal Fathers command, to my damage at this day above twenty thousand pounds: My most humble Petition to your Majesty is, That seeing I was oppressed and traduced by the tyranny of Sir Henry Vane junior, Sir Arthur Haselrig, and Mr. St. John, they being the principal Actors that ruined me, that I may have by your Majesty's goodness, bounty, and mercy, allotted out of Sir Arthur Haselrigs, and Sir Henry Vanes estates such satisfaction and reparation as your Majesty in your Royal wisdom shall think fit and just for my support, after so sad an oppression for my loyalty to your Royal Father, the petition to the Parliament, and my charge against Vane, St. John, Haslerig, was put into the Parliament before your Majesty's gracious Letter from Breda, the Lords in Parliament ordered me to respite my Petition to them, until your Majesty's happy arrival into England, and ever since I watched my opportunity to show what I have done and suffered for your Royal Father, and what I can and will do for Your Majesty's Royal service, if you please to command me, I am at your service, as far as my life and estate will go.   

MAY it please your Majesty, in the year 1636. your Majesty's Royal Father gave Alderman Wollaston, and Alderman Gibbs his Gracious pardon, Sir Henry Mildmay, and the Company of Goldsmiths, charged Alderman Wollaston for buying the Kings stolen Plate, and Alderman Gibbs, for refining and melting of Silver contrary to the Laws, as will appear in the Records of the Councel-Table, about March 1635. Had not his Royal Majesty of blessed memory pardoned the then Lord Major Wollaston, the Law had hanged him before ever he had come to have been Lord Major of London; and then he should have prevented this Wollaston from being such a Traitor to his Majesty, the Proverb saith, Save a Thief from the gallows and he will hang thee: This Wollaston proved a bloody enemy to the King to his dying day, and Gibbs as bad as he, but is yet living.  
For as soon as ever I delivered his Majesty's Message unto my Lord Major, he sent for his fellow Traitor Alderman Gibbs, and they presently concluded to make Sir Henry Vane junior, Sir Arthur Haslerig, Mr Sollici or St. John, and Francis Allen, acquainted with the King's Letter, and ordered presently to apprehend me, Sir Basil Brook, and Mr. Rily to seize upon our Estates and sequester us: And so presently I was that night apprehended, and for four years so used, that never any man that brought up a Letter from any King of England to London, for a Peace, was so barbarously and cruelly used, that Evening the aforesaid persons and some others examined me they carried me to Goldsmith's Hall, they sent for Sir Basil Brock, and Mr. Rily, and St. John the King's Solicitor caused all our Pockets to be searched, and found their Letters in Sir Basil brock's and Rilies, but none in mine, and as Sir Basil Brook presented him with the King's Letter, which I brought up from Oxford; St. John asked Sir Basil Brook for another Letter, which the King's Majesty had sent up, the day before I went to Oxford to press Rily and his party, to act their business as soon as they could, with a Letter from my Lord George Digby, which the Officers found about Sir Basil Brook. Touching this business when they had these Letters, St. john's, Vane, Haselrig, Mr. Allen, Lord Major Wollaston, and Alderman Gibbs, and several others, made themselves very merry with them. There was Mr. Jackson the Essay-Master of Goldsmith's Hall, a very honest man, and one that saved my life at that time, in discovering to me what was confessed by Rily, that he had not discovered any thing, and that the aforesaid Committee were resolved to face me down Rilie had confessed all, and so would have me to discover, and I should have mercy.  
They found in Mr. Rilies pockets Reads two Letters aforesaid, and threatened him to have him racked, if he would not discover the bottom of the business, and who they were in the City, that plotted to oppose the Scots coming in.  
But there was an Oath of Secrecy amongst them all, and Rilie knew them all, but I was not privy to the number that was but only to act with Sir Basil Brook, Read, and at Oxford with his Majesty, the Queen's Majesty, the Duchess of Buckingham▪ and Lord Digby, and to bring the King's Letter from Oxford.  
Had Rily but confessed those Gentlemen in London that weet privy with him in this business he had made many score of men in the City of London, lose their Lives and Estates.  
And had the Lord Major Wollaston concealed the business twenty four hours, it had been out of his power to have stopped this design for peace: His late Majesty of blessed memory told me at Oxford, That Rily had sent him down by one that came purposely to Read from London, a List of above two hundred of the principal men that had engaged in this business, every man upon an Oath of secrecy: The late King commanded me to tell Mr. Rilie Scoutmaster-general of the City, that he should follow his former Directions, which was to be careful whom he imparted this business to, and to treat with them severally, and not together, for all their security depended thereon, that it did concern all our Lives and Estates to be circumspect: We had former Precedents to make us wary, Tomkins and Challenor and others, and though he was careful of all his Subjects, yet of those that were most forward to serve him, he was most tender that they should venture themselves, telling me he did know more of this design than I did, by God's blessing it will take saith his Majesty, I have laid it so with Mr Rily, that I am assured of a happy success, go thy way, I will make thee a man, and tell my Lord Major, and Mr. Rilie, I will make them famous for ever. Rily was by all parties trusted to carry on this design, and had not the sins of the Nation prevented us of such a mercy (for it was not God's time) for our deliverance, there was never in all these troubles a design for putting an end to the War without bloodshed, so laid and contrived as Sir Basil Brook, Col. Read, Mr. Rily, had laid every man his part severally; and so secretly, that though the principal men in the City were engaged in the business to make the City of London to declare for the King, and to oppose the Scots invading of England, and the City's Declaration which they intended to publish; I brought it to his Majesty myself 1643. and received my Orders and Directions thereupon myself from his Majesty, and the Queens most excellent Majesty, the Duchess of Buckingham, and the Lord Georgs Digby his Majesty's Secretary and Coll. Read, were only privy to this business; to my knowledge, at the Court, and no other.   

Two Letters of Col. Read's, sent to Mr. Theophilus Rily, Scout-master of the City of London, from Oxford, to encourage the Common-Councel of the City of London, to Petition his late Majesty for Peace; and to consider the sad Effects that would follow, upon the Scots invading- England. Jan. 1643.  

SIR!  
I Wrote to you formerly, but never had any Answer, I assure you faithfully I have not been wanting to do what you desired (as you may perceiv by the effects) & if you have not your desire, blame yourself, and give me leave to tell you, that if you neglect the opportunity now offered to you, it may be you shall never have the like again; for I have made those whom you have given just occasion to be your worst friends, to be your best, and the only instruments to procure what here is sent you, and be you confident she shall still be so, provided you do your part; 
The Queen's most Excellent Majesty, in my hearing, (I being sent down to Oxford, by order of Rilie and some others, to bring up his Majesty's Letter Decemb. 1643.) did most earnestly intercede for the City of London. The King thereupon replied, that he had there the best and worst subjects of any King in Christendom; and hereupon the Queen replied, Violet it shall be my care to see the Gentlemen that come from the City with a Petition to the King shall be well accommodated, and have a most Gracious Answer to all their just demands▪ God bless them, & God increase their number, and thereupon the Queen's Majesty wept, and the King drew his handkerchief out of his pocket, and the tears stood in the King's eyes, which made both Read and I fall a weeping, and thereupon the Queen commanded Col. Read to lift up the Hang, to see no body stood behind the Hang to hear what she said, which Read did, and when the Queen see no body behind the Hang; Ah Violet said she the King and I am in a most sad condition, we have Traitors about us, that watch all our Words and Actions, we speak nothing, nor do nothing, but it is seat up to the Parliament, and they interpret it in the worst Sense: The Queen's Majesty at that time was very ill, and looked very carefully, and was nothing but Skin and Bones. God be thanked for the blessed change that is here at this day, the King's Majesty her Son, in the Throne of his Royal Father, and King of the hearts of his People; these two Papers was found in Rilies pockets, and was printed by Order of Parliament, and Col. Read charged to be a Jesuit, I am sure of it these Papers makes him a true Prophet, I saved Reads life in getting him exchanged of the General Essex by a wrong name.  consider I beseech you, what a gap is opened by bringing in of the Scots, for the destruction of this Kingdom, if there be not a Peace (which I pray God Almighty to send speedily) you must expect Armies of Strangers from several Places, who are now preparing, who certainly at their coming in will overrun the whole Kingdom, and when it is past remedy, you will see your own Errors, and therefore to prevent more misery than I am able to express to this deplorable Kingdom, and the effusion of the blood of thousands of men, women, and children, which must inevitably be this Summer; apply yourselves in an humble and submissive way to his Majesty, whom I know you will find ready with Arms outstretched to receive you to favour and mercy, and grant you favours, even beyond your expectation. Defer no time (for God's sake) and what you will do, do it speedily; I say again, do it speedily, for reasons, I may not write.  
Oxford Dec. 10. 1560   

Col. Read's Paper to Mr. Rilie, Scoutmaster of the City of LONDON.  
SIR!  
I Assure you that I have not been wanting to further your good desires, and if it be not your own faults, I make no doubt but things will have an happy issue; for I find those that are most concerned in it, forward enough. Reflect now upon the misery of the times, and upon the groans and sufferings of those you see not, which yet have been nothing to what they will be, if not speedily prevented by a Peace; which to obtain I beseech you, let it not only be your own care, but the care of all those you love, or have power with, otherwise be confident of a general ruin, which certainly will be inevitable both to yourselves and posterity; and therefore take it into your serious consideration, and let no causeless jealousies hinder you to apply yourselves in an humble and submissive manner to his Majesty, who I am sure will yet look upon you with a gracious eye; lose no time, for the longer you delay, it may prove the more difficult, no doubt.   

This last Letter I Tho. Violet delivered from Read at Oxford, to Mr. Rilie in London Decemb. 20. 1640.  
This Coll. Read I got exchanged by a wrong name, for a private Soldier, at the entreaty of Sir Basil Brook, who told me I should do a very good service for his Majesty, and the Queen's Majesty, to get Read to be discharged, but that must be done by a wrong name, or else said Sir Basil Brook the Parliament would never admit of his exchange; I did effect it, and sent this Coll. Read to the King at Oxford, upon condition he would return to Mr. Rilie the Scout-master of London, how he found his Majesty inclined to receive a Petition from the City of London for peace, that they would declare themselves for a peace, and Petition his Majesty for a cessation of Arms; and an accommodation between the late King of Glorious memory. And I Tho. Violet was sent down to Oxford Decemb. 29 1643 to bring up his Majesty's Gracious Letter, the Copy of the City of London▪ desire, being sent to his late Majesty, wherein they desired upon the Copy I brought to Oxford, to have his Majesty directed his Letter to the Militia of London, but his late Majesty would not own the Militia, to treat with them as the Militia of the City, because his Majesty told me at Oxford they were not empowered by his Commission, and he would not own them: I told his late Majesty, and the Lord Digbie, it was contrary to my instructions which I received from Mr. Rilie, to alter the superscription of His Majesty's Letter, but seeing His Majesty would not but direct his Letter, To our Lord Mayor, and Aldermen of our City of London, and all other our well affected Subjects of that our City. I would venture my life to bring up this Letter to London, and going according to my instructions I received from his Majesty, to acquaint Wollaston then Lord Mayor of London, and Alderman Gibbs, they caused me some few hours after I was gone from them, to be apprehended upon a Charge of High Treason.    

MAy it please your Majesty to peruse this ensuing Narrative, viz. in Sept. 1657. I being sick sent to Bradshaw to write to the pretended Protector Cromwell, that if he would not pay me the eleven thousand pounds he promised me, to pay me some considerable sum for my support. Bradshaw at that time wrote to Cromwell very earnestly to pay me a considerable sum in part, using this as his argument, and telling Mr Beck (Cromwel's Solicitor) Mr Tho. Hewet, and Mr Yates my Chirurgeon (who were all three by when Bradshaw wrote to the pretended Protector about me) Bradshaw said, Remember my service to my Lord Protector, and desire him in my name to pay Violet a considerable part of his money for his support, according to his quality; my Lord Protector knows not Violet so well as I do: If the man should go to Charles Stuart, he would do us more mischief than a hundred thousand pounds would do us good: there are some Kings would give an hundred thousand pounds for to have such an Engine for their turn, and they knew him as well as I do. This message was sent to Cromwell from Bradshaw by Mr Beck the Protectors Solicitor; Mr Hewet, Mr Yates, and these Gentlemen are all in London to justify this to be true.  
Mr Beck upon this message moved Mr Francis Bacon▪ the master of the Request, to move Cromwell the Protector effectually about me, and he would also move him; which they did, and they both told me when my name was but mentioned for my money I petitioned for, Cromwell was so incensed against me, that he bestowed all the bad words in the world, and said, that he took me to be a dangerous person, and an Arrant Villain against him; and, in a word (saith Mr Bacon and Mr Beck) he takes thee to be an Arrant Knave. They often asked me if I could imagine the reason that the Protector, and some of his Council, was so bitter against me, that they never heard man have a worse character than Cromwell did give me, and some of his Council that were intimate with him, as Thurloe, etc. I replied, I received good for evil, the Protectors payment to me is not currant to revile me for venturing my life in his service, and laying out of my purse 1500l. to get him 278250l. so much money Baxter paid him clear for the silver I stayed him in the ships Samson, Salvador and St George, as will appear by an Ordinance of Parliament for Baxters discharge for the payment of that money. I knew Cromwel's reason, but would not tell it to them. For I found (when it was too late) he knew he had undone himself, by seizing on this Silver and breaking up the Parliament; and that I was the fatal Instrument that advised him to take the Silver into his own custody, either under the Ban quetting house to lodge it, or in the Tower. He did believe I did it innocently and for his good; for had he believed I had done (as truly I did) maliciously to destroy him, he would have caused me to have been torn in pieces.  
Mr Strickland asked one Capt. Swan, a Gentleman of Kent, an intimate friend of mine, what he thought I was, and whether I was not a Cavalier; Strickland telling Captain Swan, Many of us of the Council of State take Violet to be a sly and dangerous fellow, he is always presenting Propositions unto us which may bear double interpretations; he pretends for the Councils profit, but I am sure it is for their danger; he hath stayed Three hundred thousand pounds in Silver, and hath set us together by the ears amongst ourselves, and with Holland: Cromwell and Bradshaw makes use of him, promising him from day to day to give him his Estate, but they but abuse him, they will never give him a farthing. I heard Bradshaw say, I could wish Violet had his Estate or the value, but there is no trusting him therein. If he should run to the King of Scots, he would do us more mischief than a hundred thousand pounds. Keep him poor, and that will keep him honest to us: for if he had his Estate, he would be with the King of Scots.   

The King of France hath a standing Council for to Regulate his Mints, and to hinder the Transporting of Gold or Silver. Were the like Orders settled in England, it would be for your Majesty's service, and keep your Majesty's Mint on work.  

IN an Ordinance and Declaration of the King of France, printed at Paris, 30. Oct 1640. Fol. 8, 9  
We expressly forbidden, that all Materials of Gold or Silver, either coined or uncoined, shall not be bought and sold at higher Rates, then is expressly set down in this Declaration, which doth declare the true value that must be paid for the Mark of Silver.  
We expressly forbidden every one of what quality or condition soever, to Transport out of our Kingdom any Gold or Silver, coined or uncoined, or any other Goldsmith's work, upon penalty of forfeiture of the Materials and Merchandise, and other things therein they shall be found to be packed up in, besides the penalty of fifty pounds, and bodily punishment.   

In an ORDINANCE and PLACCART, For the Regulating of the Mint; Published in Brussels the last day of May, 1640.  
ARTIC. XI. WE have also forbidden, and forbidden by these presents every one, of what quality or condition soever, as well our Subjects as others, to transport any Gold or Silver from henceforth out of our Lands, directly or indirectly, or to cause the same to be transported, Minted or unminted, without having obtained from us before hand express leave and consent to do the same, upon penalty of forfeiture the Gold and Silver and Bullion, and to pay besides the double worth, as also the Wagons that shall willingly have conveyed the same, the offenders to be banished out of our land for five years, and the second time for ever.   

Ordinance and Placcart at Brussels the 18th. of March, 1643.  
ARTIC. LVII. WE expressly forbidden any person of what quality or condition soever to buy or sell any Gold or Silver, either Bullion or currant, at a higher price than the Ordinance of our said Mint permitteth, upon penalty of the forfeiture of all Gold and Silver the first time, the second four times as much and severe correction.   

Placcart and Ordinance for Flanders and Antwerp. 4 Octob. 1585.  
ARTIC. XV. WE forbidden and interdict expressly that no one of what quality, or degree, or condition soever, shall transport or carry any Gold or Silver of our Coins or Bullion, melted or in mass, nor any Gold or Silver to coin money, upon forfeiture of the said Gold and Silver, besides two hundred Gold Risen Nobles, for every Mark of Gold, and twenty Golden Rose-Nobles for every Mark of Silver, and the second time to be bodily punished.  
ARTIC. XIII. ANd we do expressly forbid all and every one henceforth to buy or sell any wares of Gold or Silver money at above the price of the Mint; for profit or gain, upon pain of the seller to forfeit the pieces sold, and the buyer as much as the seller; besides, for the first time both buyer and seller to forfeit threescore pounds, and the third time to be arbitrarily punished.   

Placart and Ordinances concerning the general course and regulating of the Mint and moneys, as also concerning the Exchangers, Refiners, and Goldsmiths, and others in the united Provinces, 1646.  
ARTIC. XI. ANd as for the Gold and Silver money whose value is rated by this Ordinance, we expressly forbidden every one to present or pay, or receive the same at higher rates than are here ordered, upon forfeiture of such money so exchanged, besides arbitrary punishment.  
ARTIC. XV. WE forbidden every one to cull any Gold or Silver moneys, to sort the weighty and good ones, from the light, for private and particular profit upon pain of forfeiture, or to buy any Silver for Work at higher rate than the Ordinance, upon pain of forfeiture double the value.  
ARTIC. XVII. We expressly forbidden from henceforth to transport or cause to be transported out of our abovesaid Province towards any strange Mints, any Gold or Silver, Monies or Mass or Ingots, fit to coin money, upon pain of Confiscation of the above said money and materials: And beside the penalty of 100 golden Angelot's upon every mark of Gold, and 20 Angelot's for every mark of Silver, besides for the second time to suffer bodily punishment.  
ARTIC. XXII. We forbidden from henceforth every one to melt any Gold or other Moneys of her Majesty of England's stamp, valued by these Presents upon penalty of life and goods, and the moneys that shall be light, shall be brought to the Exchange according to the old Custom. If the Merchants please they may send to Amsterdam, and have all these Proclamations, and there they will see whether these Laws are not made according to the dates here abovesaid, in France, Flanders, Holland: The whole business I humbly submit at your Majesties and your Priviy Counsels feet, and humbly pray, I may ever live to see this Royal Prerogative of giving leave to transport Gold and Silver to be only in the Power of your Majesty, and your most Honourable Privy Council, that the Merchant's greatness may be as a Handmaid to your Sacred Majesty, and at your command always.    

POSTSCRIPT.  
I Do desire the judicious Reader to pardon the mistakes of the Press, and to mend them with his Pen, and the disorder of sorting my Notes, being straightened in time, and fane to use two Presses for expedition, lest the Merchants should have surprised his Majesty, and gotten leave by Act of Parliament to Transport Gold and Silver at their pleasure, to the damage of the King's Majesty, and his imperial Crown, and dignity. Grant me this just Request, to mend the Errors with your Pen, and I shall be encouraged to present you with that which will be advantageous to all the English Merchants, which is, I do intent to make an exact , and calculation of all the Gold and Silver Coins in Christendom, their just weights and fineness, and what they will make, being full weight in his Majesty's Mint in the Tower of London, and all the Figures, and Coins, Arms, and Mottoes severally Engraven, which will be a work of charge, and pains, and will be a guide to all Merchants, to know all Foreign Coins of Gold and Silver in Christendom, as well as our currant Coin of the Kingdom of England.   
FINIS.