A remedy AGAINST The loss of the Subject, BY Farthing-Tokens: DISCOVERING The great abuses of them heretofore: and the Prevention of the like hereafter:  
By making them of such a weight as may countervail their worth in current coin:  
AND Proposing a satisfactory way for the Exchange of those that are already dispersed abroad.  
With some useful Cautions touching the receipt of certain foreign coin.  
Published for the good of the Commonwealth in general, but more especially of the poorer sort.  
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Bates, at the Maidenhead on Snow-hill, near holborn Conduit. 1644.   

A Remedy against the loss of the Subject by FARTHING-TOKENS.  
IT is not needful to make a long relation what inconveniences and mischief other Countries and kingdoms have sustained by copper coin, which was current for more then its just value or worth: especially of late in spain, which many of our Merchants, trading in those parts, can justify. That practise of bringing up copper coin was also projected here in England, and if it had gone forward, it would have been the greatest mischief that ever was contrived to undo this kingdom: For, in a few yeares all our good Gold and Silver coin would have been transported out of the kingdom, and copper coin would have been brought in out of all parts of christendom, and so all our Gold and Silver would have been turned into copper: but thorough Gods mercy, and the care of wise understanding Statesmen, it proved abortive.  
Now to come to our Farthing-tokens: the very name of them is not the name of any lawful coin or money, but onely a token, or an acknowledgement, that the party which pays it out, gives it onely as a token( because he cannot otherwise change his money, for want of small money or coin) to be ready and willing at all times to take it again: and therefore in former times, when small coin began to fail, divers retailing tradesman, to accommodate their Customers in changing their money, did make Tokens of tin and led, and gave them for change, and were always ready, and obliged to take them again whensoever they were brought to them: In this there was no great hurt, nor was it any ways oppressing to the Subject; onely now and then there were some of these Tokens lost, and that produced some advantage to the makers. Now this was soon espied by our Projectors,( otherways the very caterpillars of this kingdom) who upon pretence for the good of the Subject, and the good of the poor( a pleasing rhetoric in the ears of many) did soon obtain a Patent to make Farthing-tokens by Authority, with the Kings Stamp, no more of tin or led, but of copper; and no more a shillings worth, as others formerly had done, onely for change, but hundred pounds, nay thousand pounds worth: and to press them upon the people, many ways were used: some Merchants would sell unvendable commodities to the Patentees, to be paid in Farthing-tokens: and then the Merchant, or buyer of these Tokens, to rid his hands of them, must press them upon his Workmen, Labourers, and others whom he deals withall, and so in a short time every Chandler, Baker, Victualler, and other such retailing people, had their hands full of them. The profit for the makers of them was so great, as never was known the like: they could make out of an ounce of copper, which cost them not a full penny, the quantity of twenty pence in Tokens. This extraordinary pressing, extorting profit could not hold long, but other more eminent Persons must have a share, and so the first makers were dismissed, and their Patent disannulled, and then all the Tokens were left upon the Subjects hands, and so the poor Subjects were merely cheated with their Tokens, and were forced to sell them to braziers at 10. pence, or 12. pence the pound weight: no redress against those Tokens could be had; for, they had a Patent to make and distribute them, but the poor Subject had no Patent to force the Makers to take them again. Was not this for the good of the Subject?  
The next Token-makers we all know who they were, the public Farthing-token Offices in London do witness it: and this was done with a more large Patent, and more regulated for the profit of the Makers: they had their Officers to attend the sale of them daily, and had a pretty way to vent them, in giving one shilling over in twenty to those who came to buy them: this was so enticing to many covetous wretches, who made a common practise to fetch them daily, and force them upon all sorts of people whom they had any dealing withall, and so press 5, 10, yea 20. sh. at a time away: which was the cause that in a short time there was an infinite quantity of Farthing-tokens made and dispersed abroad, to the excessive profit of the makers, but the excessive loss of the takers, as very shortly after did appear: for, this excessive profit did entice many who had no Patent to be also Farthing-makers: but these poor sneakes were soon brought to the pillory for cheating the Kings Subjects, although they made their Tokens of as good metal, and as weighty as the Patentees did: these poor fellowes cheated by retail, but the Patentees sold by whole sale, therefore no cheating. But when in a short time not onely the City of London was mightily pestered with them, but also the whole kingdom, and especially the adjacent Counties of Kent, Essex, suffolk, and norfolk, who were so burdened with them, that in many towns and places there was almost no Silver or Gold coin left, but all was Farthing-tokens. And whereas the Patentees Officers were daily attending in the Office to sell ●arthings, so they would also take in Farthings from those who brought them, at the same rate as they sold them: the retailers, Bakers, Butchers, Chandlers, Victuallers, and other such sort of people were they who brought them in, to their great loss: but at last the poor must pay for all: for, the Victualler, Baker, &c. must sell the dearer, to get up his loss by the Tokens. But when Farthings began to come in more then went out, the Patentees did not like it, but a remedy was soon devised, and that was, that none were theirs but double-ringed Farthings, and so would take in none but double rings; a pretty device to draw their necks out of the collar: for very few Tokens were found with double rings, most did prove single rings, and none of theirs: who could prove the contrary? and so upon a sudden all Farthings, both double and single rings( only a few excepted) were left upon the Subjects hands: this was the second cheat, and a very grievous one; for it prest very sore upon many, it caused many tears to be  shed by many poor women, and children, who l●st all they had, as by many examples then were seen: for many poor women who got their living with selling of Fruit, Herbs, Fish, and other commodities, had all their stock in Farthings; some 6, 8, 10, to 20. shillings: this poor stock did maintain them and their children, but upon a sudden this was all lost, to their utter undoing: tradesman of a higher degree in many places had at that time 10, 20, 40. yea some had 60. pounds worth of tokens in their hands, and almost all proved clear loss, for the tenth part did not prove double rings: it was conceived that at that time there was no less then the value of one hundred thousand pound in Farthings dispersed throughout the whole Kingdom, and that was all lost( the copper excepted) and no remedy could be had against the Farthing-makers, who in conscience, equity, and justice were obliged to take them again. This was the lamentable issue of making Farthing-tokens for the good of the Subject.  
But these pretenders, who do all for the good of the Subject, would by no means forsake that excessive profit, but contrived another sort of Tokens that none should bee able to counterfeit, as they pretended; and that was with a little yellow spot in the copper, a good mark to know their own, but a better mark to make another cheat of one hundred thousand pounds more, upon the poor Subject, but all for their good, as is pretended: this hath gone on certain years; but at first, because that great loss did lye yet so heavy upon many, and so fresh in memory of all; they could not vent so many as they had expected: In the mean time this now sitting Parliament began, and presently all Patents were put down, because they were illegal, and pressing to the Subject: But( to the great admiration of many) this so illegal, and pressing a Patent, did stand upright in its full power: when they perceived they were not questioned, they went on cheerfully, and began to use several means to vent their Tokens, and amongst other devices, they used many poor women, as their Factors, to go about the city, and Suburbs, and all other places, where any resort of people was, and there would by entreaty, and importunate begging, get and persuade many to change them six pence in Tokens for Silver, which of late hath dispersed an infinite quantity of Tokens; by which means the Tokens are become so plenty, that every retailing Tradesman is so pestered therewith, that almost half of what they receive is Farthing-Tokens; and all adjacent Counties are become so full of them, nay more then ever they were before: so that of necessity these Tokens must go down again, which will prove a greater loss then those formerly; except the Authority of this 〈◇〉 nourable Parliament doth compel the Token-makers to attend at their Office, with ready money, to take in and exchange to the Subject all their Tokens for good current money, as in conscience and equity the Token-makers ought to do, or else it will prove a very great loss to the Subject.  
Now to come to the necessity of them; it is very true that Farthings are useful and necessary, both for rich and poor, we cannot well bee without them; and for to make them of Silver it would bee too small a coin, and very unserviceable, as by experience we find of our halfpence, who are so small and thin, that many cannot feel them between their fingers: therefore we ought to have Farthings either of copper, or else some metal mixed with copper, and ought to bee so much in value as may be worth a Farthing, in the same nature of other lawful coin: all copper without any mixture is like to be best, to prevent counterfeiting of them: for it is certain, if Farthings be so weighty and so big, that with the coining and other charges they cost a Farthing, we are sure none shall be counterfeited, nor brought in from foreign parts: for it was the great profit that made the increase. In France they have copper coin, they call Deniers, they have twelve to a Sous, or a penny, sterling, they are very neat and handsome, and very useful, and are as heavy as three of our Tokens, or thereabout: and in Holland they have copper coin eight to a Stiver or Penny sterling; they are as big as four of our Farthing-Tokens, and so it is in all parts of Germany, denmark, Swedeland, &c. where they have copper coin, but all as valuable as Silver or Gold coin, and is as good to the people as either Silver or Gold coin, and is no ways oppressing, nor burdensome to the people; but to the contrary, very commodious: therefore we ought to make our Farthings worth a Farthing, that the Subject may be no more deceived with unlawful Tokens, but may have lawful Farthings; which will be very useful and beneficial to all tradesman, and especially retailers of all sorts, and very comfortable to the poor people. But if we go on in making Farthings or Tokens of less value then a Farthing, and if there can be any thing gotten by counterfeiting them, let us be as careful as possible we may, there will be always found some or other that will venture to make them either here at home, or else in foreign parts, and will bring them in by stealth, although there be never so strict searching; and it will prove at last very hurtful to the Subject: also it is the Subjects due to have their money the full worth they receive it for, and so a Farthing must be as well worth a Farthing, as a Shilling is worth a Shilling: it is also the honour of a kingdom to have it so: there will need no extraordinary quantity to be coined, but only now and then, when there is little work at the Mint, to make or coin some, and to let all have them who will come for them, for changing money. And thus much concerning Farthings.  
Another, of no less, but more danger, there is of foreign coin, but it concerns most our Sea-coast of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, and generally all the West country, and this is divers sorts of foreign coin, which the people thorough ignorance take, much above its value: as divers sorts of collars, which are two pence a piece worse then the right sort of Rixdollers: also a sort of Spanish money commonly called pieces of Eight, which go current at four shillings and four pence amongst them: it is true, the right sort, or the seville coin, are worth so much: but amongst these are very many which are very light, and want much of their weight: also a sort of coin which is much worse then the seville coin, at least four pence a piece, and of all this no notice taken by the Subject; which if not timely prevented, we shall have a multitude of them brought in, and instead of bringing them to the Mint to reduce them to our own coin and value, they will bee prest upon the Subject, to their great prejudice. Also there is already a multitude of French Sous, and daily more come in, and go current at a penny, and are worth little more then three Farthings, which also ought to bee prevented: that every one may receive his money to the full value; as it is every one his duty to give weight and measure in other commodities, so it is the like in all money and coin.  
FINIS.