A True Discovery TO THE COMMONS OF ENGLAND, How they have been Cheated of almost all the Gold and Silver Coin of this Nation, WHICH Hath been, and is daily Transported into Foreign parts.  
AND How the people of this Nation are, and have been abused by light and Clipped English money, and the means showed for the prevention thereof.  
Humbly presented to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England.  
BY, THOMAS VIOLET A true lover of his Country.  
LONDON, Printed by W. B. and are to be sold by W. Shires at the sign of the Bible over against the North-door of Paul's 1650.   

A true discovery how the COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND, Have been cheated of their Treasure, and means showed for prevention thereof  
IT hath been daily practised by some particular Merchants, both Native and Strangers, to Transport the Treasure of this Nation, to the great prejudice of the State; who for their own private gain, have not spared to damnify the Commonwealth (so highly) that their Persons ●nd Estates cannot give a full satisfaction for the great mischief done, and practised by them to this Commonwealth, and without a strict Examination, and exemplary punishment of ●he offenders, or some of the chief of ●hem, these mischiefs will never be prevented, (and the Common wealth ●e still undermined by those Moles, to the unspeakable damage thereof) and for that some, through ignorance, do not understand and conceive the great damage which may come to the Commonwealth, by the suffering these abovesaid abu●es to continue, and others more crafty and subtle, both Goldsmiths and Merchants, that are Transporters of Gold and Silver, and practisers of several high frauds and abuses upon Coin and B●ll●on, have the confidence (or impudence) to make arguments for defending the Transgressors. Now for the information of some in their judgements, that have desired a true account, what Laws are now in force in this Nation for prevention of these mischiefs; what Orders and Laws in Franc●, H●lland, and Flanders, for the regulating of their Mints, Money, and B●llion; what punishments and restriction upon the offenders.  
I have procured the Ordinance, and Placcaets of Fran●e, Holl●nd, and Fla●ders to be translated, have abbreviated them for your information; and quoated some Laws of this Nation now in force, as hereafter follow.  
And if you please to make the Law, now presented to the House, stricter than it is now drawn, I humbly conceive you will do the Commonwealth the greater benefit, considering the present condition of the Commonwealth.  
Transporting of Treasure hath been Felony, 4. Henry 7. cap. 13. and 17. Edward 4. this Statute to endure for twenty years. I humbly conceive the Commonwealth hath now as much reason to look to keep the Treasures in the Nation as they had then, considering all things.  
That you would be pleased to give one Moiety at the least to any person or persons that will, or can discover the Offenders: that so by this reward, all persons may be invited to discover the Offenders all over the Nation, and the same rule followed which was in 14. Rich. 2. cap. 12. where Commissions by Act of Parliament, were granted throughout the Realm, to inquire of such as had conveyed the Money of England out of the Nation; in doing whereof, great sums throughout the Nation will come to the State, and the Offenders will remember the Proverb, sweet meat must have sour sauce, when they shall be enforced to pay back to the State, that which they have defrauded them of, and will prevent them and all others hereafter, for to take the boldness to get themselves fortunes by any of the aforesaid indirect courses, which so highly tend to the damage of this Commonwealth.  
By these deceits, Commerce is spoilt, Traffic decayeth, those things that are needful for man's preservation grow dear, the handie-crafts work ceaseth, the workmen betake themselves to some other places, and the Commonalty, to speak all in a word, is brought to Poverty, (as is Gravely observed by the Master General, and Council of the Mint in Flanders, 2. October 1647. in their Declaration, clearly demonstrating, That the careful and punctual keeping of the Placcaet of the Mint, is very necessary, and withal profitable to all persons of what state, quality, or condition soever; showing, that if the Placcaet be not observed, but that money should be paid out above the true value through these disorders they shall never be able to keep their Treasure within their Country.  
And in their Declaration showing most judicially, the great mischief● that befall a Nation by enhancing and raising their Money, being no rea● cure for the Commonwealth, but utterly destructive to all sorts of people, even from the Prince to the poor Labourer, to any Free-State or Commonwealth, to all Merchandise and Commodities: all which considerations, although very potent, yet do not oftentimes come into the minds and comprehensions, not only of the Common people, but also of those to whom the employment of Public Office have given more judgement and credit in managing of affairs themselves, and who dare to spread it abroad, that there is no harm nor evil in enhancing the Coin above its true value and worth, because they can put it away at the same price as they receive it; not taking notice by the way, that by raising and augmenting the price of money, doth or must by consequence, augment and increase the price of all Merchandizes and provisions proportionable, whereby of necessity must follow, that if the Moneys be augmented and heightened, the Landlords and Creditors receive so much less; the Merchandise, Victuals, and all other Wares grow presently dearer; the Public Treasure either Excise or Customs are abated, by so much as you enhance or lessen your Moneys, for it is not the Denomination of a high price of Gold or Silver sets the value, but it must have weight and fineness proportionable to what you call it, or else you go upon a wrong ground; As for example, in Scotland they call Thirteen pence halfpenny, a Mark; and Twenty pence, they call Twenty shillings; this denomination of a great value gives not the intrinsical value.  
I caused these men following to be Fined in the Star-chamber for transporting Gold and Silver, and Culling and Melting down the currant heavy Coin of the Nation.  

The 25th of Jan. 12th Car.  Charles Frank 5000 Robert Ellis 5000 Isaac Romeere 4000 Jacob Delew 1000 Roger Fletcher 1000 Richard Cockram 1000 John Parrot 3000 
The 17th of Febr. 12th Car.  Peter Hern 3000 John Terry 3000 Timothy Eman 3000 Isaac Brames 1000 Henry Futter 500 Henry Sweeting 500 John Perrin 100  
The total of the said Fines amount to the sum of 24100l.  
Sr. John Woollaston Knight, and William Gibs Esquire, both Aldermen of the City of London, being informed against in this Information, by the late Kings than Attorney General; procured the late Kings Pardon, and so were discharged.  
And Pet●r Fountain who was informed against for transporting of Gold, procured his Pardon upon payment of 1100l. And all these I did bring to a Trial all at my own Charge.  
That besides the fourteen offenders sentenced in Star-Chamber and Pardoned, as aforesaid, there are many other Merchants, Goldsmiths and others, that have transported Gold and Silver out of the Nation, that have sold Gold and Silver at above the price of the Mint, that have furnished much light Gold, English and Forraign, and great quantities of Gold and Silver to Merchants and others to transport, that have culled and melted down the weightiest current Silver Coins, as shillings, sixpences and halfcrowns, all which offences are against the common Laws of the Nation: And the wisdom and policy of State hath, upon free and general Pardons at Parliaments, exempted it out of the free Pardon, thereby the more to terrify and restrain men from venturing in that kind, to transport Gold or Silver, or to melt down the current Silver Coins of the Nation.  
That divers Goldsmiths of London, are become Exchangers of Bullion of Gold and Silver, and buy it of Merchants and others, pretending to carry it to the Mint; but indeed they are the greatest Instruments for transporting that are; and in a manner, they are only those who furnish transporters with English and Foreign Gold, Spanish money, Rixdollers, pistolets, Cardacues; culling and melting down the current Silver Coins of this Realm for Plate and Silver-thread: and no doubt, when a true representation of the abuses of such Goldsmiths, Finers, and Wire-drawers, as hath been formerly, and is daily practised by many of them, shall be made appear; I doubt not but the Parliament will think fit to take the same into consideration, and provide some means to restrain them from doing the Commonwealth that damage, as formerly hath been done.  
That some of the Goldsmiths make it their use and practice to buy light English Gold of shopkeepers and others, which by the Laws of this Nation, wanting beyond remedy, aught to be bought as Bullion, and upon the sale, aught to be defaced, and new Coined in the Mint: But they take another way; for they sell all this Gold to transport, though it want 4. 5. or 6. grains above the allowance, and that a 20. piece will not make 19. to be Coined in the Mint; yet the Goldsmiths will not abate above 2d. or 3d, and sometimes but 1d. in the piece, let the Gold want what it will; by which means they out-give the Mint: And the Gold which the Goldsmiths buy of the Subjects, thinking it is to carry to the Mint to be new Coined to pass in current payment, they put it into a dead Sea, never to be made use of in our Commonwealth: For weekly, French and English have bought up this Gold, let it be as light as it will, at higher prices than the Mint are allowed to give by their Indenture, to the value of many hundred thousand pounds; for by the Goldsmith's rule, the Mint is always last served, as being the worst Chapman, and giving least for it; for after all hands are full, both for transporters, Plate-workers, Finers, and Wire-drawers; then that, which they cannot vent otherwise, cometh into the Mint; which the Officers of the Mint know very well: and if Gold and Silver never came into the Goldsmith's hands, (which Merchants sell, to them, believing they carry it all to be Coined) far more Gold and Silver would come into the Mint, than now doth.  
And for this last 5. years, sum Goldsmiths have given for English Gold 20. 6d. 21. 21. 6d. and 22. for a Twenty shillings piece, which for the most part have been bought of them by Merchants, strangers and others, and Transported out of the Nation, so that now you may Receive five Thousand pound in a Payment and never a piece in Gold: If this ought not to be looked after and the offenders brought to Justice, I shall humbly leave it to the Parliament to consider.  
Also, many Thousand of Dollars and pieces of Spanish money they furnish Merchants yearly with that Trade for Norway and Denmark and other parts, and Transport Silver for those parts, to the great weakening of the stock of this Nation, and hindrance of the sale of our  commodities, which (before that pernicious way was found out) those Countries vented much of. Besides the hindrance of the sale of our commodities, the State is hindered of their Custom; for the Merchants drive a trade inward and outward, and so pay the State no custom; For instance Hambrough-Merchants bring great quantities of Rixdollers from Hambrough and other parts of Germany, and pay no Custom, because the State hath ever made Gold and Silver free to be imported without Custom, which the Merchants usually sell to the Goldsmiths, and the Goldsmiths for the most part sell to the Merchants that trade in Norway and Denmark: which Dollars are closely packed in some part of the ship, and so no Custom paid, either for bringing in the Silver, or sending it out; and no commodities, in a manner, other than Silver, are transported into those parts by the said Merchants, considering the quantity of their return; For what they want in goods exported from hence, they must make up in money: If great returns of commodities from Norway and Denmark, and few commodities exported from hence, the Balance must be made up with Silver; for no Nation will give us commodities; but there must be a balance for goods imported, by goods exported, or by Treasure.  
It is to be feared, that the industry of many ages cannot replenish the Nation with so much Gold, as hath been transported out of it within these few years; for it is an infallible rule, that where Gold and Silver is overvalued, thither will it be Transported by Merchants and others, for it continually resorts where it is most made of, and if you seek to raise it here, the remedy is worse than the disease; for than you take from the Gentry, and all settled Revenuers, as much of their means as you raise the current money; for if Gold should be raised in England, for example, the 20. to 26. as was in France, either higher or lower, you should buy no more at your Market for 26, than you could before for your 20. and contrariwise, if your 20. were but 14. you should buy as much for your 14. as when it passed at 20. so that whensoever money is raised, the loss falleth most upon the Nobility and Gentry, and certain Revenuers, who lose so much out of their inheritance, which they have let out in Lease, as money raised.  
All Merchants that trade for Spain, know, that when the West-India fleet cometh not into Spain, the Trade for that year is lost; and no money, no Trade. If this be an infallible rule for Spain, which suffers so much for the forbearance of bringing in of treasure for one year, and is supplied the next out of the Indies, and till their Fleet came home, no dealing with Merchants; I do most humbly present, how much more it doth concern this Nation, which hath no West-Indies to supply the Treasure transported, to provide, and carefully keep in the Nation's stock, which once transported, cannot be drawn back, but upon unreasonable terms; which will impoverish all the Gentry to an inestimable value; and as long as it remaineth out of the Nation, all Trading and Commerce decayeth, the Subjects are unable to pay Taxes, and other Duties, and it is one of the greatest mischiefs that can befall the Commonwealth.  
1. These reasons amongst many other, I humbly presented to the Parliament, 12. April, 1643. which if they had been then taken into consideration, had kept many Millions of money in the Nation. But by the subtlety of two Aldermen, whose pardon I had got from the late King, I for my reward was committed to the Tower for bringing up a Letter from the late King, though I had a Warrant from the House of Commons, and a Warrant from my Lord General Essex, for to go to OXFORD, and the Committee at Darby-house knew of my going to OXFORD, for the late King's Letter, which I desired Sir David Watkins before ever I went, to have him acquaint the Committee of both Nations at Darby-house of my business, and some other of the House of Commons, and that I would not go without their leave, which I had from them by him; and Master Rily the Scout-master of London, procured my pass from the House of Commons.  
But the truth was, the Presbyterian Party ruled then all, and they were resolved to make their Brothers of Scotland rich, and had a design to Circumvent this Nation, both of all their Gold, Money, and Movables, which for a great part they have done, as I will make it appear; and therefore any that did speak against transporting Treasure, or knew so much of their Tricks as I did, must be a Malignant, an enemy to the Covenant, and so I was kept 3 years, and a 11 Month's prisoner in the Tower, almost 3 years of that time close, because I should tell no Tales; and my Estate given away without hearing, and Sequestered to my damage, to the value of above 8400l.  
Besides the infinite ways the Presbyterians found out for to enrich their Brothers of Scotland, which all the Nation know. I shall declare one, which was so usorious & destructive to the Nation, as never the like practice was before put on this Nation, nor I believe, scarcely upon any other, under the colour of Friendship, League, and Covenant, and this to be done upon their dear Brothers of London, and that was briefly this. The Scots Commissioners procured an Ordinance, that no Ships should bring Coals from Newcastle, as appears at large by the Ordinance. When this was done, They must be the only men must bring us Coals from Scotland; whereas before our dear Brothers brought us Coals for nine, and ten shillings the Tun, and sold them delivered at London at that price, as will appear by all the Woodmongers books; they having by the subtility of their Faction, got all their Trade for Coals for the City of London, and other parts of the Nation, into their hands, than the City shall pay for their Brotherly assistance: For since the Ordinance for restraint of fetching Coals from Newcastle, until Newcastle was reduced to the Parliament, Scotch Coals was at thirty, and forty shillings the Tun; so that they sold them after they had Monopolised the Coals into their own hands, at four times the value they could, and did constantly before afford to bring them from Scotland.  
Then they had their Factours here, to buy up all the Hang, Bedding, Pewter, Stools, Chairs, Houshould-stuff, Pictures, and all manner of Lumber, which was sold to the value of many hundred of thousand pounds, out of the City of London and Nation, for half the value, and by them, instead of Ballast carried to Scotland, and this can be witnessed by thousands of people, who have to their total undoing suffered in this kind, and are never likely to see their goods, nor never to be Masters of such again, without they, or their Children will take the pains to go to Scotland and fight for them: by this way they may recover their Goods, or their value again.  
I shall humbly desire the Parliament to take notice after what Rate the Brotherly Assistance from Scotland, came in to help their Brothers, even, after the Rate of sending one hundred pounds worth of Coals to London to their dear Brothers, to make their return worth eight hundred pounds in a month, or six week's time, as is apparent, and can be witnessed by thousands of people, now they read this. Which after this Rate, a poor Scotchman might with one hundred pound, within the compass of one year, cheat this Nation of ten thousand pounds, and Transport it all in money. And this hath been done by many of them, to the value of many hundred of thousand pounds.  
And because I Petitioned the Parliament, to look to the Transporting of the Treasure, by which means, they would have been prevented in sending the Treasure of this Nation into Scotland, I must be Sequestered, Imprisoned in the Tower, and held a Malignant.  
But I humbly hope the Parliament will give me the hearing for my just defence; and when they shall by experience find, that this I say to be true, and that I discover the nest of them that have Rob this Nation, they will do me right, and unlose me from Oppression, and restore me to my Estate.  

Hereafter follow the Laws in Holland, Flanders, and France, for the regulating their Bullion and Money.  

Placcaet & Ordinance. Concerning the general course and regulating of the Mints a●d Moneys, as also concerning the Exchange and Exchangers, R●finers, Goldsmith's, and others in the United Provinces, 1586.  

ARTIC. XI.  
ANd as for the Gold and Silver-Monies, whose value is valued by this Ordinance, We forbidden every one to present, pay away, or receive the same at a hither rate, h●● is here Ordered, upon the forfeiture of such moneys, or the worth of it, in case the Fact be not presently discovered, and besides, upon the forfeiture of ten Golden Angelors the first time; for the second time, twenty Gol●e● Angelors; and for the third, four times as much and besides, Arbitrary punishment according to the h●mon●ness of the Fact. And We understand the same forfeitures and penalties, to take place, as well upon the Receiver, as the payer away, unless one of them, presently after the Receiving, or Paying away, do present himself to an Officer, in which case the denuntiator, either Receiver, or Payer away, shall be freed or quitted of the abovesaid penalty and forfeiture; and besides, to enjoy the third part of the same forfeit and penalty.   

ARTIC. XIV.  
So that we expressly forbidden, and interdict every one, to over-buy, or oversel, Change, or Chop any Species of Monies, rated by these presents, either in taking, or giving upon the same, any profit, gain, or advantage, after what manner soever, upon the same pain and penalty, as abovesaid, against those who shall Receive, or Pay away the same, at a higher rate than that of the Ordinance.   

ARTIC. XV.  
We forbidden also, every one to Cull any Gold, or Silver-Monies, and so by this means, to sort the weighty and good ones from the light, and bad ones, to Pay away the light ones, and make their profit of the weighty, upon penalty as abovesaid.   

ARTIC. XVI.  
And as for the Stuff, and Materials of Gold and Silver, being in Mass, or sweep, We forbidden to buy, or sell them at a higher rate, than according to the Rule of this Ordinance, upon penalty of confiscation of the abovesaid Materials; and moreover, to forfeit double the worth of them, at the charge as well of the buyer, as of the seller, for the first time; for the second time, twice as much; and for the third time, four times as much; and afterwards arbitrary punishment.   

ARTIC. XVII.  
We expressly forbidden henceforth to Transport, or cause to be Transported out of the abovesaid Province, towards any strange Mints, any Gold or Silver-Monies, and also any Materials, in Mass or Monies, also any Materials in Mass or Ingots fit to Coin Monies of them, upon forfeit of Confiscation of the abovesaid moneys and Materials, or the worth of them in case they were already Transported; and besides this, upon penalty of one hundred Golden Angelors, upon every Mark of Gold, and twenty Angelot's for every mark of Silver, and of more or less proportionably for the first time for the Second time, upon the same so forfeit penalty; and moreover to undergo bodily punishment, and if they have not wherewithal to pay the abovesaid forfeits and amerciaments, they shall be bodily punished according to the manner of the Fact, under which penalty and amerciaments, We understand are comprehended, all those who had assisted, and had a hand in the abovesaid Transportation, or conveying them away, although the moneys or Materials did not belong unto them.   

ARTIC. XX.  
Moreover, We forbidden every one to File, Cut, or Wash with strong Water, or Cement, or any otherwise, any Gold, o● Silver Monies, nor to Sau●der, Gi●d, Piece, or Nail the same, or any way to make the same lighter o● heavier, upon the forfeit of life and goods, where Confiscation taketh place.   

ARTIC. XXII.  
We forbidden henceforth every one▪ to Melt any Gold or Silvermoneys of her Majesties of England's stamp, valued by these presents, upon penalty of life and goods, where confiscation taketh place: And the Moneys of Gold which are found to be too light by three Grains, or otherwise Clipped, Washed, Nailed, or Saudered, shall be brought to the Exchange, after the old custom.    

Placcaet and Ordinance for Flanders at Antwerp, the fourth of October, 1585.  

ARTIC. XIII.  
ANd to hinder the Transporting of the good and true Moneys, We ●orbid all and every one henceforth, to ●uy or sell any Species of Gold and ●ilver-Moneys, to give any profit or ●ain for it, upon penalty of the Seller, ●o forfeit the Pieces which are sold, ●r shall be sold, and besides the buyer, as the seller, to forfeit threescore ●ounds of the abovesaid good Moneys, for the first time; and twice as much for the second time; and for the third time, four times as much; and besides, they are to be Arbitrarily punished.   

ARTIC. XIV.  
We also forbidden all, and every one, to Weigh, Clip, File, or make choice of any Species of Gold and Silver, fo● to make any profit with Melting, o● Transporting of them, upon penalty of Criminal punishment, besides the loss of the abovesaid Pieces.   

ARTIC. XV.  
Furthermore, We forbidden, and interdict well Expressly; that no one o● what quality, degree, or condition soever, shall henceforth endeavour t● Transport, or carry into any strang● Mints, or into any other than our ow● any Gold, or Silver-Monies of ou● Stamp, or others tolerated by thi● Our Ordinance, nor also any other moneys, being clipped, or declared Bullion, Melted, or in Mass, or otherwise nor also any other stuff, fit to Coin Monies of them, upon forfeit of the abovesaid Gold and Silver, and beside of two hundred Golden-Reals, for ● very Mark of Gold, & twenty Golden Reals, for every Mark of Silver, and of more or less in proportion for the first time that this shall happen; and for the second time, besides the abovesaid forfeit, to be bodily punished, and otherwise as occasion shall serve. And if so be, that any person have transported any sum of Monies, without being taken in the fact, We will nevertheless, that whensoever it shall be perceived, and discovered, they shall proceed against the transgressors by execution of the said penalties, even as if they were taken in the same Fact, well understanding, that instead of Confiscation of the Species, they shall be bound to pay the price, and estimation of the transported moneys, and besides, the double worth of them, and also to be criminally punished.  
We will and command also, That those who shall have helped to pack, or secretly convey, and transport the abovesaid moneys, either in Mass, or Species, although the abovesaid moneys did not belong unto them, they shall be bodily, or Arbitrarily punished, according to the quality of the Fact and persons.  
The Policy and Laws of this Realm, have always aimed at, and intended the Increase and Augmentation of Money, especially that of Silver, and this divers ways.  
I. By providing, against Exportation of it. 9 E. 3. c. 1. 38. E. 3. c. 2. 17. E. 3. 21. 5. R. 2. c. 2. 2. H. 4. c. 5. 2. H. 6. c. 6. 17. E. 4. c. 1. Made Felony 19 H. 7. c. 5. 3. H. 8. c. 1.  
II. By providing, against the melting it down, to make Plate or other Manufactures of it. 9 E. 3. c. 3. 17. R. 2. c. 1. 17. E. 4. c. 1. 2. H. 6. c. 13.  
III. By providing, that if any Moneys through time, or any other practice, became uncurrant, than the same to be converted into Money again, & not be diverted from Coyn. E. 1. Statute de monet parva Rastall Tit. Money.  
iv By providing, That none should give a price for Bullion, or Coined Money, above the rate of the Mint, or what the same is currant for: for it is not to be expected that any Bullion, either of Gold, or Silver, shall ever be brought to the Mint, when the owner may have a greater price, than at the Mint, either to be Transported, or to be converted to Make Plate, or other things: This agreeth likewise with the policy of Spain, which though it be the Spring, and Fountain from whence the greatest Streams of Silver have been derived into other parts, yet Silver there, will always yield the seller six pence, or one Real more upon the Mark at the Mint, than to be sold to any other for any purpose whatsoever, concurring likewise with the practice of other States.  
That all these Acts are defective, and not effectual to the ends abovesaid, for the reasons following.  
The Acts against Transportation; some extend not to Gold, as 9 E. 3. c. 1. Others have effect only upon the Money that is Transported, and that comes too late, and is seldom or never known, as 38. E. 3. c. 2. 5. R. 2. c. 2. 2. H. 6. c. 6. 17. E. 4. c. 1. being now discontinued.  
Those that extend to the Shipping of it, etc. viz. 2. H. 4. c. 5 19 H. 7. c. 5. and 3. H. 8. c. 1. Give the whole forfeiture to the King, and no part to the Informer, whereby they are not at all made use of, no man being willing to be at charge to prosecute another, doing no good to himself.  
None of those Acts do give sufficient forfeitures to restrain the Offences, as hath been manifested by experience.  
Lastly, they have not given any means for discovery thereof, without which, the Offenders will not be deterred from finding out close and secret ways to adventure and practise against them, when opportunity of great gain, and hope of concealment, shall invite and encourage them thereunto.  
And for the now Act drawn and propounded to be passed.  
BEsides the frame and body of it, comprehending, and fully extending to all the ways and means of the abuses, the same for the forfeitures. Is drawn from the example and precedent of 18. Eliz. c. 9 against transportation of Leather, Tallow, and raw Hides, and others in the Queen's times, and the late Ordinance 1647. Against transportation of Wool, Fullers-Earth, etc.  
The Clauses touching the proceeding by Information, etc. are the same with the like Clauses of the said Ordinance for Wool, 1647.  
And the Clauses to encourage the Instrument and others to discover the Offences, wherein themselves are liable to the penalties, are framed in Imitation, and by the Precedent of the said Act of 18. Eliz. And the other Ordinances and Edicts of other Kingdoms and Estates, that give like exemptions and encouragements to such, as though guilty themselves in the second degree, shall reveal and discover others more principal Offenders, taking likewise from them the confidence they would have, that the persons they employed should conceal their Offences, whereby they will be much deterred from hazarding and adventuring upon the practice.  
And the Clause touching the Commission, and examination of Witnesses for discovery, etc. And to commit them in case of their refusal to be Examined, is exampled by the 13. Eliz. c. 7. The Act against Bancrupts, & discovery of their Estates; There being greater reason and equity, for the discovery of fraud, concerning the Commonwealth, than concerning any private person.    

In an Ordinance & Placcaet for the general Regulating of the Mint, published at Brussel, the 18 of March, 1633. is inserted.  

ARTIC. XXV.  
WE declare, That although any of our Subjects or others, who shall have Acted any thing contrary to this Ordinance, and were not taken in the Fact, yet notwithstanding, afther they shall be convinced of the said transgression, they shall be proceeded against, with condemnation of the said penalties and amerciaments; well understanding, that instead of forfeiting the said moneys and materials, they shall be condemned to pay the worth of them.   

ARTIC. XXVI.  
And if it happeneth that the just quality and quantity of the said Species, Bullion, or Materials cannot be precisely known or verified, We will, that such transgressors be punished according to the heinousness of the fact, being left to the discretion of the Judges.   

ARTIC. XXVII.  
Which we intent shall take place, in regard of those who shall be convinced, to have paid away, presented, or received any forbidden Moneys, at a higher price than by this present Ordinance is declared, although the said quality & quantity of the same, could not be precisely verified.   

ARTIC. XXVIII.  
We have Authorized, and Authorise by these, all Officers, for to seize upon, and break open, the Packs, Letters, and Portmantles of the Messengers, or others whom they shall know or suspect to bring in any of the forbidden Species, or Materials, or to Transport, or convey out of our said Lands, any of our Species, and that in the presence of those, to whom the said Packets are sent to, or do belong, if so be they are residing in that place; as also in the presence of one of the Magistrates of the said place, only to know the name of those who caused the said Gold and Silver to be Transported, and to no other end.   

ARTIC. XXXVII.  
We also Order, that all those that shall be found to have Counterfeited, Coined, Stamped, Pressed, or cast in the sand, any moneys, of what manner stuff, or Metal soever, shall be executed a● false Moniers, in a kettle with boiling Oil, and water, & with Confiscation of all their Goods.   

ARTIC. LV.  
If so be any one be convinced, that he had picked, or chosen out, or caused to be chosen out, any of the said valued Species, for to keep the heavy ones for his profit, and to pay away the light ones to the damage of the Commonalty; We will, that he, besides the said Forfeits and Amerciaments, shall be banished out of Our said Lands, for the space of ten years.   

ARTIC. LVI.  
In case that any of the particular Masters of Our Mints, or Exchangers, were convinced of the said abuse, or that they should have presented, or paid away any of the said Clipped, or other forbidden Species, after that they had received the same for Bullion, or not Currant, then shall they be banished for ever out of Our said Lands, and their Goods Confiscated.   

ARTIC. LVII.  
And because the price of the Species is commonly regulated according to the price of the Gold and Silver Materials, Therefore we have forbidden, and forbidden every one of what quality and condition soever, to buy or fell any Gold or Silver Materials, or Species declared for Bullion, or not Currant, at a higher price than the Ordinance of Our said Mint permitteth, upon penalty of Confiscation of the said Materials, and the worth of them, at the charge as well of the Buyer, as Seller, for the first time; for the second time, sour times as much, besides the Confiscation and Forfeit, and of other Arbitrary correction.   

ARTIC. LXIII.  
We Order also, that the Brokers, who did assist and help to conclude or treat upon such parcels, either in rearguard of money given upon exchange, or upon use or obligation, either in payment of the sold merchandizes, or otherwise, shall be publicly whipped and banished out of our said Lands, for the space of ten years.   

ARTIC. LVI.  
And as We have understood, and are truly informed, that a great part of the irregularity concerning the said Placcaets, is risen and occasioned, by reason that many Merchants and Factours, will not buy the works and manufactures of the workmen, and handicraftsmen, unless they will receive the Gold and Silver at such a price as they will give it them; or when they have almost bought the goods, they give the Merchandise back again to the Sellers, if they will be paid according to the price Ordered in Our Placcaet: Therefore We will, that such oppressors of the poor Commonalty, shall be rigorously proceeded against, and punished, by apprehension of their persons, and that they, their Process being summarily, and criminally form, and found guilty of what is abovesaid, shall be banished for ever, and their Goods Confiscated, or instead hereof, to be condemned in a great sum of money, according to the heinousness of the Fact; of which Confiscation and Americiament, the half shall be given to the Plaintiff, or discoverer.   

ARTIC LXX.  
In like manner shall be punished those with the same Forfeits & Amerciaments, who shall have received, paid away, or presented any clipped Money, or declared for Bullion, with protestation, or declaration, that it is for to deliver them into our Mint, or to the Exchangers, unless they had presently cut them in pieces, or deformed them, or caused the same to be done by others.   

ARTIC. XCI.  
We declare, that although it be, that any of the Transgressors do obtain favour and pardon from Us, or from Our Council. We do not intent, nor We will not, that therefore they should be quitted, and discharged from the parts of the said forfeits and Amerciaments, granted by Us to the Officers, Callers in question, and Plaintiffs, or Discoverers respectively; but such favour and pardon only to take place, for as much as belongeth unto Us.   

ARTIC. CV.  
We Order well expressly, all Our Fiscals and Officers, to take their conclusions, and all Our Councillors, Magistrates, and other Judges, to give their Sentences in conformity of this Our present Placcaet, without using any moderation of the penalties and amerciaments therein contained, under what pretext soever, nor also any compensation of charges, to the prejudice of the Officer founded in the principal, upon penalty of Our indignation, and for to answer for it in their own persons, without that they shall plead any Ignorance, or the general transgression. Which excuses, We do not intent shall avail, or help them in any manner of way: but Our intention is, that they shall be punished, because of their negligence and connivance.  
This Ordinance and Placcaet of the 18 of March 1633, is again confirmed; and all Magistrates and Officers are required to do their utmost endeavours to see it strictly observed in all points. Published at Brussels the 26 of August 1643.    

In an Ordinance and Placcaet for the Regulating of the Mint; Published in Brussels the last day of May, 1644. is inserted.  

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 cause the same to be Tarnsported, either Minted or Unminted; as also in Mass, Ingots, or Bullion; without having obtained of us beforehand express leave and consent for to do the same, upon penalty of forfeiting the Gold, Silver, and Bullion, and to pay besides the double of their worth, and upon forfeit of the Merchandizes, if so be the abovesaid Gold, Silver, or Bullion shall be found to be packed in them; as also of the Horses and Wagons of those, who shall willingly and wittingly have brought and conveyed the same.   

ARTIC. xv.  
And if any one be found and taken to have Transported or caused to be Transported out of our Lands, any Moneys by Us valued, or other declared Bullion, or any materials of Gold and Silver, and have delivered or caused to be delivered the same into any strange Mints; We will, that such persons shall be proceeded against, sharply and rigorously by imprisonment of their persons, and that they, besides the forfeits of the said Species and materials, and four times the worth of them for the first time, shall be banished out of our abovesaid Lands, for the space of five years; and for the second time, for ever.   

ARTIC. xuj.  
And those who willingly and wittingly have assisted for to pack and Transport the abovesaid Moneys or Materials, shall be punished according to pleasure, or banished according to the quality of the person.  
Other Countries you may see strictly provide against these offences; and it will never be mended here, if you make not as strict Laws as they.    

In a Declaration of the King of France, for the Regulating of the new price set upon the Light and Clipped Species of Money: likewise for the observation of the prices of Gold and Silver employed for the Goldsmith's work. It is also expressly forbidden to melt the Money, and to Transport them or other materials of Gold and Silver out of the said Kingdom, Printed at Paris 30th of October. 1640.  

FOLIO 8, 9  
WE expressly forbidden, that all materials of Gold and Silver, either Coined or uncoined, shall not be bought or sold at a higher rate than is expressly set down in this Placcaet, which doth contain the true value that must be paid for the Mark of Gold and Silver.   

FOLIO 13.  
We expressly forbidden every one, of what condition or quality soever, to Transport out of our Kingdom, any Gold and Silver Coined or uncoined nor any other Goldsmith's work, upon penalty of forfeiting the Materials and Merchandizes, and other things wherein they shall be found to be packed up in; besides the penalty of fifty pounds and bodily punishment.     

Now that general Laws and Statutes in England from time to time have provided against Transporting of Gold, or melting down the currant Coin, and buying Silver and Gold at above the price of the Mint, appeareth by these following, viz.  
Stat. 9 Edw. 3d. Both forbidding the Transporting of the Gold of the Nation, and the melting down the currant Silver Coins, by Goldsmiths or others into plate.  
Stat. 14th. Rich. 2d. cap. 12th. Commissions made through the Realm, for to inquire of such as had conveyed the money of England out of the Nation, to the prejudice and damage of the King and Realm.  
Stat. 17th. Rich. 2d. cap. 1. There shall be no melting of the currant money to make any thing by Goldsmiths or others, upon pain of forfeiture.  
2d. Hen. 4th. cap. 4th. No person to Transport Gold or Silver, either in Coin or Bullion, upon pain of forfeiting as much as they might.  
4th. Hen. 4th. cap. 10th. No Goldsmith or other person to melt down the currant Silver Coins of the Nation, upon pain of forfeiting four times the value.  
9th. Hen. 5th. cap. 1. All Statutes heretofore made touching the good and lawful government of Gold and Silver, and not repealed, to be in force.  
2d. Hen. 6th. cap. 6th. Upon a grievous complaint made in Parliament, that great sums of Gold and Silver were Transported into Flanders and Bordeaux 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, that the money of Gold is Transported by Merchants-aliens, It is ordained, that the Merchants-aliens shall find security with sureties in the Chancery, that they shall not Transport Gold or moneys out of the Kingdom, upon pain of forfeiting the sum or the value; and if any do contrary, and that duly proved, and he so doing be gone over Sea, than his pledges shall pay the State his said forfeiture; whereof he that the same espied, and thereof gave notice to the Treasurer or the State's Council, shall have the fourth part.  
2d. Hen. 6th. cap. 12th. To the intent that more money be brought into the Mint, it is ordained, that neither the Master of the Mint, not Changer for the time being, neither sell no● cause to be sold, nor alien to no other use, but apply the same wholly to Coin, according to the tenure of the Indenture made betwixt the State, and Master of the Mint.  
4th. Hen. 7th. cap. 13th. Item, Where in a Parliament begun and holden at Westminster the 16th. of January, the 17th. of Edw. 4th. No person to carry Gold or Silver either in Bullion or Coin, nor Jewels of Gold, but such persons as be dispensed with by the Statute of Hen. 4th. upon pain of Felony, to be heard and determined as other Felony is; the which Statute to endure from the feast of Easter the 18. of Edw. 4. unto the end of seven years next ensuing: Since the which 7 years expired, the Gold and Silver Coin of this Realm hath and daily is conveyed into Flanders, Normandy, Britain, Ireland, and other parts beyond the Seas, as well by Merchants-strangers as by Denizens, to the great impoverishing of the Realm, & greater is like to be, without remedy thereof be hastily provided. The King our Sovereign Lord, the premises considered, by the advice of his Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Prayers of the Commons in the said Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, have ordained and enacted and established, that the said Statute made in the 16 year of Edw. 4. be and stand a Statute good and effectual, with all the premises in the same observed and kept, and put in due execution, from the feast of the Purification of our Lady, which shall be in the year of our Lord 1489. to endure to the end of 20 years next ensuing.  
1. Hen. 8. cap. 13. An Act made, that whosoever shall carry any Gold or Silver or Jewels out of the Realm, shall forfeit double the value, the one half to him that shall seize it, or therefore sue by action of debt at the Common-Law. This Act to endure to the next Parliament.  
5. And 6. Edw. 6. cap. 19 An act touching the exchange of Gold and Silver, that whosoever gives more for Gold and Silver than it is or shall be declared by the King's Proclamation, shall suffer imprisonment by the space of one year, and make fine at the King's pleasure, the one moiety to his Majesty, the other moiety to be to the party that seizeth the same, or will sue for it by Bill, Plaint, or Information or otherwise.  
1. A Proclamation against giving for light Gold more than is currant, 21ᵒ July, 17º Jaci.  
2. A Proclamation against melting English money, 18ᵒ Maii. 9º Jaci.  
3. A Proclamation against buying and selling Gold and Silver, at higher prices than the Mint, 14ᵒ Maii. 1º Jaci.  
4. A Proclamation against Transporting of Gold, 23ᵒ Maii. 10º Jaci.  
5. A Proclamation against profit for Gold and Silver, and melting English money for Plate; Wast in Gold and Silver, 4º Febi. 19º Jaci.  
6. A Proclamation against Transporting Gold and Silver, and melting down the currant Coins of the Natino, 25ᵒ Maii. 3º Gari.   

From all which Statutes and provisions it may be gathered, that the currant money and Bullion of the Nation, is the Subjects, only to use between man and man, but not to abuse: for no man by the Law can buy or sell them by way of Merchandise at higher rates than they are Proclaimed; if he do, he is finable by the Law: he that washeth, clippeth or lesseneth the currant Coins, commits Treason: He that exports the Treasure of the Nation, either in Bullion or currant Coin, being taken, loseth them: he that melts down the currant Gold or Silver of the Nation for Plate or other Manufactures, commits a forfeitute; and Transporting of Treasure hath formerly been made Felony, as by the several Statutes and Laws to this purpose appeareth.  
By these and divers other Laws and Statutes, our Predecessors have endeavoured the retention and preservation of the Coin and Treasures within this Nation, but could hitherto never effect it.  
Nor will these mischiefs ever be stopped, till their be Commissions by Act of Parliament according to former precedents, when the Nation was defrauded of their Treasure as now it is, strictly to inquire of the offenders, and bring them to Justice.  
For of late, the easy escape of Delinquents for these offences, hath given the boldness to offenders to go on: and Time, the truest Schoolmaster, hath taught all ages to know, that little penalties could yet never interpose betwixt the Merchant and his profit.  
Whereas this Parliament, by their Ordinance 6. of Sept. 1647. did decry all Clipped, Filed, or diminished Money (by means whereof great quntities were sold to some Goldsmith's) who have made it a Trade to deal with Receivers of Public Cashes, Graziers, and several other Persons (and instead of melting of these Moneys down) some Goldsmiths have issued these Moneys out again in payment, whereas at the Tower these Clipped Moneys would make but five shillings the Ounce-Troy, these men have vented out these Clipped Moneys to divers ill-affected people at five shillings six pence, and five shillings eight pence, and six shillings the Ounce, who have dispersed the said Clipped Moneys so bought from Goldsmiths up and down the Nation again, to the great enriching of themselves, and defrauding of the good people of this Nation, by buying up this Clipped Money since the Ordinance 1647. at the least twenty times over, and venting it for currant again (which had been helped, if there had been but six words put into the Ordinance (which was, to have required all persons exchanging any Clipped or uncurrant English money with any Goldsmith or others, upon forfeiture of double the value, to see it cut in two pieces, or so defaced, that it should not be passable after.) I humbly present this defect of that Ordinance, that it may be looked after and amended, and I humbly desire, that the Act against Transporting Treasure now committed, may be enacted with such vigour, that the Commonwealth may have the real benefit, and the offenders brought to exemplary Justice.  
There hath been twenty Millions of Money Coined within this twenty five years, as will appear by the Mint-Books, and almost all of it Transported out of the Nation, the Gold all gone, the currant silver culled out, the weightiest melted and transported: and that Silvermoneys which remains, is but little, and all culled Gold is made as precious in this Commonwealth as Diamonds. What inconveniences will arise by the indirect dealing of private men in this particular to the Commonwealth, I shall humbly leave it to you to consider.  
In the year 1643. It was humbly offered to this Parliament, to have the offenders discovered, and to bring them to Justice, and this mischief stopped; but by the great Interest of the offenders, that had then power in this Nation, the Proposition was slighted, and these mischiefs ever since daily practised, to the unspeakable damage of this Commonwealth: for it is far easier to keep the Treasure in the Nation by making strict Laws against Transportation, than when it is gone to bring it back, as too late experience will make this Commonwealth feel: but you have the power to call these offenders to a strict account, if you pass the Act fully to enable all people to make their discoveries, how, and i● what manner other Nations do punish these offenders: you have already presented out of their Placcaets, This evil is grown to such a height, that both our own Laws put in the strictest execution, and the Customs and Laws of other Countries added to them for this particular, with the greatest diligence of expert men, to make the search for what is past, and to prevent these mischiefs for the time to come, will be little enough: and to make this discovery is a service of more Importance to the Commonwealth, than at first sight can be apprehended.  
This is a certain rule, no great action in any Commonwealth or State can be done but by Money, which all ages have held to be the Sinews of War, and Garland of Peace; and what occasions we have to use it both for commerce and safety, is humbly left to you to consider; and in all well regulated States it hath ever been accounted a great service to discover the offenders and abuses practised upon the Treasure of their Nation: and to prevent the growth of these mischiefs is the work of every faithful lover of his Country; And he or they that shall be against the discovery of these offences and offenders, may amongst judicious men be justly suspected to be Parties themselves.  
And though some Merchants and other Interested Persons (may for their own Interest, either for their profit (or fear of Punishment for what they have done) speak themselves, or get others to oppose the Act against Transporting Treasure to pass the House, or procure it to be so altered, as it shall not be effectual to give a full cure to the Commonwealth of the great inconveniences it is now under, by several abuses practised upon Coin and Bullion.  
To give a cure to the Commonwealth of these great inconveniences, and also to take away the great obstructions of your Mint, which will never be done till this Act pass; and if it were more stricter, it would be more beneficial to the Commonwealth, especially in these times, when you have so many occasions of Money, by bringing in presently very great sums of Money to the State by the punishment of the offenders.  
You have here, with all humility, set down to you, the ways and means whereby your neighbour-countries use to prevent these mischiefs, and to punish the offenders for what is past, with several old Statutes of this Nation: out of which if you extract the quintessence, and make a sharp and vigorous Law, and require all your Officers and others to put it in full execution, you may in a short time cure this Commonwealth of these dangerous diseases, which if you let it go on, will prove a Gangrene.  
I humbly beseech you to take notice, there hath been within seven years Coined in ten days, more money in the Tower of London, than hath been Coined near upon this three last years: now if you suffer Treasure to go out of the Nation every day for want of a Law, to give all people power to discover and examine the offenders, in a short time you will not have any money left in the Commonwealth; (for experience in all ages show, that little and slight penalties can never stop some Merchants from their profit) so they get to their private, they care not what mischiefs the Commonwealth suffers: (for a Commonwealth without plenty of money, looks like a great House unfurnished, and bare Walls is no handsome sight) and you will find there will not be money left to pay your just Taxes, Customs and Excise, and to maintain Trade and commerce, if you clear not the obstruction of the Mint, and take some effectual course to set i● no work: & this Act is but a preparation and groundwork to cause your Mint to go: and till ●t pass, you will never see your Mint flourish: for to allow any man to out-give the Mint for Bullion, is, to shut up the Mint, for all men will vent their Treasure, where they can have the greatest price, & not to make a way for the opening of the Mint at this time, especially when you have such occasions of Money.  
I shall humbly leave it to you to consider the inconvenience;  
The Goldsmith's when they were before the Honourable Committee, by their Counsellor Mr. Recorder, and Mr. Vinstanly, being demanded by the Committee, what they could say why an Act should not pass for discovery of such as had Transported the Coin and Bullion of the Nation? did by their Council, and by Sir John Wollaston, Alderman Viner, and the rest, declare their willingness to have the offenders brought to punishment: The like they did for all such as Culled, or melted down the Currant coin of this Nation for their own private profit, or such as bought up the light Clipped English Money, decried by an Ordinance of Parliament the 6. of Sept. 1647. and did not deface it, but contrary to this Ordinance, did vent it again into several parts of the Nation, and pay it away to the deceit of all the people of the Nation. Upon this answer to the Committee, it puts me in mind of a custom, which is usual in all men's houses, If Glasses be broke, or any other mischief done, Nobody did it: But upon a Commission of enquiry, many times it is found to be Somebody. But to the question that was asked, the Goldsmith's by the Honourable Committee, concerning buying Gold and Silver above the price of the Mint, they pleaded, The trade was an ancient Trade, that if they were restrained to a Price, they, and their Families could not subsist, that they could not buy Silver, but some time the market was ot 5s. 1d. 5s. 2d. and 5s. 3d. and Sir John Wollaston said, That he, and divers others, had given 5s. 4d. nay, 5s. 5d, for Sterling-Silver for their trade, and for confirmation of the truth of this, he did appeal to his Brothers, Alderman Viner, and Alderman Nowell, and the rest of the Goldsmith's at the Committee, and none of them did deny it Now I shall humbly offer to your consideration; First Sterling-Silver will make but 5. in the Mint, and it is delivered out of the Mint, after it is Coined, at 5s. 2d. the Ounce. If the Goldsmith's give 5s. 5d. for this Sterling-Silver, how can any be brought into the Mint? nay, how is all the heavy Money Culled and melted down, and none left to pass but Light and Clipped? And this is the true ground why many Goldsmith's are Cashers to Merchants, and keep servants to receive men's moneys, without any reward, only that they might cull, and weigh out the heavy silver, and Melt it or Transport it beyond the Seas, for their own private gain, to the high deceit of the Nation.  
There is nothing in this Act doth restrain the due and orderly Trade of a Goldsmith, when it is well weighed and considered. But that which is their usual Trade, now discovered to be so highly destructive to the Nation, aught to be restrained. The Bakers may as well Petition against all pillories, or against my Lord Major, for weighing their Bread, as the Goldsmith's justly except against the restraining them, for giving for Gold & Silver, above the price of the Mint.  
They see it, that it is the Law o● the Land, in the 5. and 6. Ed. 6. c. 13▪ It is the daily practice of France, Holland, Flanders, as appears here by their Laws. Clothing is the Staple of the Land, and aught most to be cherished; yet the Law propounds for the Regulating of the weight, the length, and breadth. Brick-makers, Woodmongers, Meal-men, and divers other Trades, are restrained and regulated, and yet all these Trades receive protection and countenance in their orderly working of their Manufactures, from the Commonwealth.  
There are people which believe, That if there had been a real intention to give a stop to the Transporting of Money, it had been done before; though for my part, I am not of that opinion: There was (say they) notice of it nine years ago when the Presbytery had the power: And seven years ago, the grievances of the Transporting of Gold and Silver, with several other abuses, was by me at large presented to the Parliament, and the same mischiefs foretold, which is now come to pass; that without it were looked after, and a strict Law made against it, to discover the Offenders, there would not be any Gold or Silver left in the Nation. And this hath proved too true, for many millions of Gold and Silver have since been Transported, to the unspeakable damage of the Commonwealth.  
And upon seizure of several great quantities of Gold and Silver, by Mr. Watkins, chief Searcher of the Port of London, which was shipped to be transported; the Order of the Parliament, the 1. of Septemb. 1647. was made to the Committee of the Navy, to see to prevent it.  
After all these Certificates made by the Officers of the Mint and Customs, and the Committee of the Navy, for the speedy putting so good a work in execution, all which, I have hereafter set down.  
The Council of State was pleased to make a Committee of themselves; and after many great and serious consultations, drew up the draft of an Act of Parliament, with their desire to the Parliament to have it pass with all expedition, for the Service of the Commonwealth.  
There are others, more unhappy, which say, Now the Steed is stolen, shut the stable door: Now there is no more Gold left to Transport, to what purpose doth the Parliament make an Act against Transporting Gold? this should have been done before, for how can we maintain Commerce, pay Taxes, when our English Gold is forty times more plentiful beyond the Seas, than it is in England, and almost all the Silver Coin of the Nation Transported, and scarce any left, but Clipped, and light money.  
And some people are so Impudent to believe, that there are some Members of Parliament guilty of transporting money, or else this Act should not have stuck so long upon their hands.  
Others there are, that have Transported money, and committed many abuses upon the Coins of the Nation, that hope they shall have their pardons for what is past, though they have Transported almost all the Gold and Silver of the Nation, that now if they would, they can offend no more; and they have done the Commonwealth that damage, that a Million of Money cannot give them satisfaction. These I humbly conceive, aught to be made restore their unjust gain, which will deter any others hereafter for doing the like.  
And there are that say, Look how almost all men have sped that have certified against Transporting money, or looked to stop the same. Hath not Sir Robert Harlow, and M. Cogan been put out of their places in the Mint? Hath not M. Walkins, M. Tomes, Sir Thomas Daws, and M. Holloway been put out of their places in the Custom-house? Were not you Thomas Violet Imprisoned in the Tower four years, because you should not tell the truth, and let the Commonwealth know for all that time, most of their Money and Treasure was sending out of the Nation.  
I shall add something more to this. I have observed what the State hath gotten by putting out these men; and I found, First, That upon the putting forth of the old Officers of the Mint, in M. Swallows place, who was the Clerk of the Irons, and Surveyer of the Melting-house for the Mint; a place of great skill and trust, there is now a Clerk put in, to execute that place, that can neither write nor read; and other Officers put into the places of the old ones in the Mint, that were utterly ignorant of the Mysteries of managing that Office: And one of the greatest Obstructions of the Mint, comes through the ignorance of the Officers, and their want of correspondence and acquaintance with such as usualy have brought money from beyond the Seas.  
The old Officers of the Mint, were masters in this Mystery, which is not so soon learned as men think. And for some of those that have been turned out of their places out of the Custom-house, if the Act were passed for the Committee of Trade, there would quickly be presented the practices of some of the Officers of the Customs, and Petitions for a redress of many abusess practised by some of them, and a Review Petitioned for, to know upon what grounds many of the old Officers were turned out of their places, being never charged with any offence, but only forced out to make way for others to come into their places; some of the old Officers of the Customs being turned out of their places, only because of their activity in stopping the Gold and Silver of the Nation for being Transported; and this is M. Edward Watkins his case, and others put into his Office, that seizes Gold and Silver before it is forseited, and when the Merchant recovers it again by Law, the Searcher that made the seizure takes the Kinsg-Bench, and so the Merchant may go seek his Money, to the great damage of the Merchant.  
But according to former Precedents, all Officers of the Customs, were to put in security for the just performance of their trust to the State, and no Officer was to receive the Customs, and Moneys of the Commonwealth in any Port of this Nation; nor to make any seizure before he had put in security to the Lord Treasurer, to make a true Account of what moneys and goods comes to their hands, which I (having more than probable reasons) do believe the Collectors, & other Officers of the Ports, have not done, to the great damage of the Commonwealth, and prejudice of the Merchants. If seizures be unjustly made, and the Merchants recover their goods or moneys by a Verdict at Law, & after all their charge and hazard; not to have their goods and moneys again. This discovery I have put in for the service of the Commonwealth, it being a cause judged in the Checquer this last Term, that for the future such abuses of the new Officers of the Customs might be prevented.  
I have to some men replied this Act; it hath been delayed by the Parliament, only by the multitude of other business, though I must confess there are very few businesses of the Commonwealth can take place before this, but that all people should see when the Parliaments business was a little over, how zealous in deeds (and not in words) they would be, for to punish these great Offenders, and to make them pay back the unjust gain, which moneys should be employed for the public, and so save the Nation Taxes: that I was confident there was not any Member in the Parliament was guilty of Transporting money, or if there were, they durst not be seen to justify so wicked an Act, but would be glad to be quiet in a whole skin; and truly If I did know any of them, I would not meddle with them, without the Act did positively enjoin me to do it.  
It hath been objected to me, by some Goldsmith's and others; That I myself have been a transporter of money, and melter down of heavy Coin of the Nation, and a furnisher of Gold and Silver to transport out of this Nation, and a buyer of Gold and Silver above the price of the Mint. I deny it not, and my Answer to them is, An old Deer-stealer is the best keeper of a Park. And though I had the late Kings pardon, I had it not but it cost me dear; I paid at one time to his Privy Purse, two thousand twenty shillings pieces in Gold, and I am out at this day by his command, in making the discovery of such as Transported Gold, ninteen hundred and threescore pounds, both which sums, I have been out of Purse fifteen years: I would not have the greatest Offendor (that is a Goldsmith) by my consent, pay so great a sum. And this is my Answer to them, to that objection.  
I would have them by my example leave off so destructive a Trade to the Commonwealth, as furnishing the Transporters with Gold and Silver, Culling and melting down the currant Coyn. If I had not been convinced in my conscience, that it was bad, I would have followed that Trade still, I had as good an Estate, as most of the Goldsmith's to do it. I had as good Credit, and I left my Trade as fairly, for I challenge all or any man in London, that can say I did not pay all men ready money to every penny and farthing I ought, when I gave over my Trade, and the best Alderman of London can do no more; It is incident to all men to Err, happy is he that reputes, but to persist against the light of a man's Conscience, is done by the strong Instigation of the Devil.  
I do humbly present further, that their hath great mischiefs happened to this Nation and their Army in Ireland since this Parliament, by the Indirect dealing of some Merchants and Goldsmiths in London, who contracted with some of the adventurers for Ireland, to sell them Rials of Eight and foreign Coins, giving them some small time, but the poor Soldiers that received these moneys in Ireland, lost above twenty pound in the hundred by the moneys so paid them; for first the Goldsmiths culled out all the weightiest, and delivered none but Light and Clipped, and than the coursness of the Silver which was Bede money, and adulterated in the West Indies in the Mints, sometimes sixpence, sometimes more upon every piece of Eight, as is well known to some Goldsmiths and Merchants, so that by the baseness of the Alloy & want of Weight, their hath been at the least twenty pound in the hundred loss to the Soldiers: If he would make any return of it to his wife or children in England, as many of them found by sad experience.  
The Goldsmiths are the general Cashiers for some of the Principal Merchants in the City, and this rule the Goldsmiths observe when they receive moneys, to take none that is Bad or Clipped (but let any man send to them to receive moneys, they shall have great quantities of Clipped money mixed in their moneys they receive, and some of it constantly will escape the tellers eyes) which Clipped moneys the Goldsmiths buy of several people for Bullion, but never Coin it, the rest that they cannot put off here in London, they have their Agents vent it to Graziers and other people in the Country all over the Nation, by which means in many Towns and Cities of this Nation, they are so pestered with Clipped money, that their is little else stirring in payment, to the un-unspeakable damage of the receiver, who cannot pay it in London, but sell it to the Goldsmiths, sometimes at twenty five and thirty in the hundred abated: which is by the Goldsmiths returned down into the Country next week after; So that this abuse is like a Horse in a Mill it turns round and is a cheat put upon all people of the Nation, and without a strict Act of Parliament against it, will not be prevented.  
All these abuses aforesaid, are so high and Transcendent (that the offenders ought to be used as men usually use Wolves and Foxes) for if private Murder be so penal) much more is public Murder (now money is the Life, Blood, and Soul of the Commonwealth, without it no great action can be undertaken) for the service of the Nation) and those that Transport it or adulterate it in Weight, may well be esteemed as the greatest enemies to the Commonwealth, therefore that you would be pleased to give all encouragement to all people, both in the Seaports of this Nation, and in the City of London, for the discovery of the Transporting of Gold and Silver, and such as cull out the heavy Silver Coin of the Nation, and such as have bought Gold and Silver above the price of the Mint for to Transport: for as the affairs now of this Nation stand, you cannot have a greater disservice done to the Commonwealth, and you will find the Commissioners and Officers of the Customs, certify to the Commissioners of the Navy in Sept. 1647. their desires in their fourth Article, that a greater allowance should be given to such as discover the Transporters of Gold or Silver, than by the Statutes in that Case is provided, and the Statute in 1. Henry 8. cap. 13. gives double the value, the one half to him that shall seize it, or therefore Sue by action of Debt at the Common-Law, and by this draught of the Act, their is but one Moiety of what shall be proved to have been Transported given to the Prosecutour.  
What foreign Nations do, you have here the Precedents of France, Holland, Flanders, and what former ages here in this Nation have done, you have in 14. Rich. 2. cap. 12. by Act of Parliament Commissions made through the Realm, for to inquire from the beginning of his Reign, which was for fourteen years, of such as had conveyed the money of England out of the Nation, to the damage of the Realm: and without you make the like Commissions, the Commonwealth will be brought to extreme poverty.  
Here are annexed two Certificates of the Officers of the Mint, and Commissioners and Officers for the Customs, grounded upon an Order of Parliament, and an Order of the Commissioners of the Navy, viz.  
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.  
Committee of the Navy 2. September, 1647.  
THe Commissioners and Officers of the Customs with Master Watkins the head Searcher, are desired to consider of some course to be taken to prevent the Transportation of Bullion out of the Nation, according to an Order of the House of Commons hereunto annexed; and to certify the same to the Committee.  
Giles Green.  
THe Commissioners and Officers for the Customs, having together with the head Searcher, in the Port of London, in pursuance of the directions of this Honourable Committee above mentioned, perused sundry Statutes yet in force, relating, as well to the restraint of the Exportation of Bullion, as the Regulation of Merchants-Strangers in their way of Trade, do humbly conceive.  
1 That if the Statute of 2. Hen. 6. cap. 6. enjoining Merchants-Strangers, to give security in Chancery, not to Transport the Money or Plate of the Realm. And the Statute of 3. Hen. 7. cap. 8. enjoining them to employ the money they receive, in the Merchandise of this Nation.  
2 And that to the Statute of 5. Rich. 2. cap. 2. and 2. Hen. 4. cap. 5. The Parliament would be pleased, First to declare who shall be reputed Aliens: for that since the sitting of this Parliament, the Children of Aliens born in this Kingdom, are reputed Freeborn Subjects, and do enjoy their Privileges accordingly: which in former times was not allowed till the third descent. Secondly, To declare by Ordinance that the Estates of him or them that shall Export money or Plate, shall be immediately Sequestered.  
3 To impose a severe Penalty upon the Master of such Ship or Vessel, upon which any money or Plate shall be found above his ordinary charges, he being privy thereunto.  
4 To allow to such as shall discover or find out, any Bullion or Plate, endeavoured to be Transported, a greater share and proportion, than by the Statutes in that case is yet provided.  
5 And to settle some way of punishment for such as shall resist, or abuse Officers sufficiently Authorized in their endeavours this way on the State's behalf.  
The said Commissioners and Officers, do humbly conceive, That it would be a good means to deter such, who by all secret means do daily endeavour the Exportation of the Coin and Bullion of this Kingdom; and much prevent the Exportation thereof. All which, nevertheless they humbly submit to the Wisdom of this Honourable Committee.  


Tho. Dawes Coll.  
John Holloway Comptr.  
R. Carmarden Super. Vis.  
Edw. Watkins Searcher.  
W. Toomes Super. Vis. Gen.  
Walter Boothby.  
Rich. Bateman.  
Sam. Avery.  
Christoph. Pack.  
Charles Lloyd.    
The Officers of the Mint in the ●ower of London, whose names are here under written, in pursuance of the directions of the Honourable Committee of the Navy, in relation to their Order dated the 3. of December present, do humbly conceive, and certify as followeth.  
THat to prevent great abuses practised upon the Coin and Bullion of the Nation, which is Transported out of the Nation; as also to prevent the Culling and Melting down the currant money of the Nation: and for the discovering of such a● have offended to be brought to justice, to de●er others from a●ting the live abu●es for the future, do humbly conceive.  
That according to the Precedent ●● the 14. Rich. 2. cap. 12. a Commission be granted to make enquiry through the Realm, of such as had conveyed the moneys of England out of the Nation, and to make enquiry after all such as Melt, and Cull out the heavy currant money, contrary to the Statute of the 4. Hen. 4. cap. 10. none to Melt the currant Silver Coins of the Nation, upon pain of forfeiture four times the value.  
That 2. Hen. 6. cap 12. It is ordained, that neither the Master-Worker of the Mint, nor the Changer for the time being, neither sell or cause to be sold, nor Alien to no other use; but apply the same wholly to Coin, according to the tenure of the Indenture of the Mint, made between the King's Majesty and the Master of the Mint: to declare by Ordinance, That what Goldsmith, or Changer shall buy Gold or Silver, and convert it to any use to Transport, shall forfeit the value.  
To declare by Ordinance, that according to the 5. and 6. Edw. 6. cap. 19 an Act touching the Exchange of Gold and Silver. That whosoever gives more for Gold and Silver than it is, or shall be declared, shall suffer Imprisonment by the space of a year, and make Fine at the pleasure of the State. The Mint cannot be employed, nor the Transporting of Treasure stopped, if some course be not speedily taken to discover these great abuses. And already, almost all the Gold is Transported out of the Nation: and the Silver followeth it apace, as is prudently insisted upon in the late Petition of the Citizens of London, to both Houses of Parliament.  
We humbly conceive, that the making of this discovery throughout the Nation, of such as have, or shall Transport Gold and Silver into parts beyond the Seas, and of such as have, or shall Melt down the currant Gold and Silver Coins of the Nation, o● have, or shall buy Gold and Silver a● a●ove the p●ice o● the Mint: the practice of which all uses, if not timely prevented, ●● likely to bring speedy destr●ctio● to the Trade of this Kingdom▪ which is Pre●idented Anno 4. 〈◊〉. 2. 〈◊〉 2. when the Nation found the same mischief as we now suffer under, by Transporting of Treasure. And An●o 5. and 6. Edw. 6. cap. 19 by giving for Gold and Silver above the price of the Mint. As it will be a service of great importance to the Public affairs, and bring great advantage to the Trade of this Nation; so it will draw with it a very great charge. Which if Master Watkins will undertake, he will deserve well to be encouraged. Nevertheless, we humbly submit the premises, to the Wisdoms of this Honourable Committee.  


John St John Warden.  
Robert Harley Master.  
Henry Cogan Comptr.   December 20. 1647.  
THese Gentlemen by reason of their places in the customhouse, and Mint within the Tower of London, and their long experience in Merchandise and Trade of this Nation; I humbly conceive their Certificates will leave a great Impression upon the Parliament, and on the Honourable Committee that are appointed to report this Act, that what these Gentlemen have certified, hath been done upon a great deal of consideration, and upon great experience, with all their best skill and judgement for the service of this Nation in this most weighty Business, it tending so highly to the safety and welfare of the public (and the delay of passing this Act in its full force and vigour) will one day be found to be highly destructive to this Nation and that the design hath been set a foot, and prosecuted to hinder the Act for passing, is done by some people that have made themselves fortunes by these wicked practices, and though they dare not speak against the Act, yet they labour to stop it and delay it, or to procure the altering of it that it may be uneffectual, to give a stop●●● these mischiess which I hope they shall never be able to effect; I would have these men to know Justice is slow, but it is sure, and I am assured they will be discovered and brought to Justice when they least think of it, forbearance will be no payment, and this Act will bring their dark actions to light when it is passed the House: Besides these former Certificates, the Act now committed was drawn up by a Committee of the Council of State, and I was required to attend the Right Honourable St James Harrington in January last, being on of the Committee for taking away the obstructions of the Mint, which I did accordingly, and thereupon by Order of the Honourable Committee, for removing of the obstructions of the Mint, I was desired to send into Holland for several Coins of foreign Gold and Silver, and several Placcaets and Weights, and some of the said Gold and Silver I have delivered to Doctor Gurden to make Assays of, for the service of the State, the remainder I have ready to deliver to any, that will see me paid upon the delivery, I having demanded money of Doctor Gurden divers times, who ●●●ls me, he will procure money, but hath not as yet paid me for what I delivered him: and if I should not be paid for the Gold and Silver I writ for from Holland, the same price as by my friend I paid for it in the Bank in Holland, their would be a great loss redound to me to Coin it here (and lose the Exchange; The Exchange from Holland, when I writ for these Species, running at about thirty two shillings Flemish.  
I do humbly desire the Honourable Committee for obstructions of the Mint, to call to the old Clarks of the Mint for an account of what they have done about the Assays made of foreign Coins, and I humbly desire you to consider, how much it were for the service of the Nation, both in point of Honour, Profit, and safety to set your Mint on work.  
Which upon the peril of my life, if you pass the Act as it is recommended from the Council of State, I will find out ways to set your Mint presently going, or lose both my Estate and Life: I would not make this proffer but that I am sure of it, it is well known to all the Officers of the Mint, I know as much of Mint business as any of them here do, and for the Goldsmiths I am sure they think I know to much: and the Merchants have found it, that I know what many did and do here, and what their Factours did and do beyond Seas, and to be Master of this secret, cost me many a hundred pound, besides many years' time and pains, and by my intelligence in the Seaports of this Nation, I have caused the Transporters of money to be Fined at four and twenty thousand one hundred pound, and now as I have laid this business, they shall be discovered all over this Nation, if I should offer this, and could do the like service in any other State, I humbly conceive I need not petition twice, but it would be accepted at the first time, and the delay of passing this Act moves me not at all for my own particular, but for the Commonwealth. I shall never forget Sir John Coke his rule to me, and he was Secretary of State to the late KING, That he never knew a patiented, and a vigilant man lose his business, if it were just, for at one time or another, that man will find an opportunity to do it; and truly, by observing this rule, I have passed through great business, and some, of much difficulty; for all which I humbly thank God, and attribute it to his mercy.  
There is another cause of great waist of the Treasure of the Nation, which is the great quantity of Flanders Laces, and French Laces, both in the Thread, and in Silk, which are imported into this Nation, to the value of many scores of thousand pounds a year, which Lace is stole in without paying any Custom, being subtly packed in Commodities of great Bulk.  
But what the State loses by the Custom, is nothing in Comparison, what it loses in stock: for the Returns of this Lace is for the most part sent over in Gold and Silver of the currant Coins of this Nation.  
Neither is this Mischief all the hurt that cometh to the Commonwealth, for this Lace is made by them in France and Flanders, that can afford it far cheaper than any of our poor can do here; for generally it is made in Religious houses, in their Nunneries, which Nuns generally bring in to the Religious houses their Dowries when they are admitted, and as long as they live, they are well provided for all manner of necessaries to live very handsomely, both for their diet and apparel, being left to their voluntary choice after their Religious Exercises is done, to spend their time as they please.  
Now many of them being excellent Needle-women, spend their time in making Cut-works for their Altar-clothes, Black Laces for scarves, and Flanders Laces (as they are called) though many of them are made in France.  
These the Nuns make, and sell great quantities of them into England, which money, is all Returned into the use of the Monasteries, these Nuns thinking they merit most, that can get their Monasteries most money by their labour.  
And truly when I have been in company of some fine Dames in London, that profess much; I have told them of their Laces and Gorgets, that if they did know whom they made rich by such vanities, they would lay by the fashion, and give that money they spent in Flanders Laces to the poor, and not be instruments of making Nuns & Monasteries rich beyond Seas; and I have desired them to think how contrary their work was to their Husbands: their Husbands are destroying Bishops Houses and Lands, and Deans and Chapters houses, and Lands here in England, being Relics of Popery, and their Wives by buying up of the Nun's Laces in England, with the Returns of that Money, which they produce here, are a building Nunneries, and Religious Houses in France and Flanders.  
I humbly desire all the English Gentry, that are wearers of Lace, both men and Women to consider seriously what I say: it is of concernment. I take God to witness, I have heard Frenchmen, and Dutchmen say to me, above twelve years ago, that have dealt in Cutwork Laces, and in Flanders Laces, both black and white here in London, that they did believe there was above five hundred thousand pounds in a year Transported in Gold and Silver into France and Flanders, only in Return of Foreign Cut-works, and Flanders Laces, both Black and white; and I believe in my conscience they spoke truth; and to this day there is extreme excesses in these vanities, which as your affairs of the Commonwealth stand, highly concern you to look to prevent it, for I humbly desire you to consider, the Nation flings away so much stock in money; for Flanders Lace is of no use but to keep up pride and vanities; Gold and Silver Lace makes something upon the Return, one hundred pounds worth may make about forty pounds when you have done wearing of it: But for thread and Silk Laces, that which cost one hundred thousand pound, when they are worn out, will not make the Commonwealth one penny.  
I do humbly desire you to consider of a strict Law against importing any foreign Laces, or selling them in London; the forfeiture of the Laces is nothing, for that it will not be discovered, once in one thousand times. But I humbly conceive, it must be made Felony for any to Import Flanders, French, or foreign Laces or Cut-works, and loss of any Shopkeepers Estate that shall knowingly sell any foreign Laces, either Flanders, or any other.  
By which means you will prevent the Transporting many hundred thousand pounds of Treasure in a year, and you will stop the Trade of making Nunneries Rich by our money: And if the Gentry will wear Laces, let them on God's name put our own poor on work, and not foreigners; and by this means, you will give relief to many poor Gentlewomen, which through the calamities of the War are almost starved, and they are ashamed to beg, and they would be glad to make Lace, if any would employ them.  
There is also a great and excessive waste of the Gold of this Nation, in the vanity of guilding of Charoches, which is come to that extravagancy, that if a Bainian of the East-Indies, or a Chinoes of China, or any other strange Nation should come to Hyde-park in an afternoon, he would report in his own Country such stories, as your Jesuits reporteth of Perue, and Mexico, upon the first discovery of the West-Indies; That there were towns that all the houses were covered over with Gold and Silver: So would an Indian report the Gentry's Wealth of this Nation; That they were drawn through the streets of this City of London in Charoches covered over with beaten Gold.  
But I shall tell you what a French-Merchant said to me this Summer in Hyde-park, as we were talking of the great quantities of English Gold, which hath been Transported into France and Flanders, and other foreign parts; Saith the French-Merchant to me, I have heard you often complain of all the English Gold, being transported beyond the Seas, and now we are again speaking of it, I will demonstrate to you presently, that all is not gone, for you see how many guilded Charoches here are, then laughing, he told me, you see Sir, how you are mistaken, all your Gold is not gone, but if you had said, almost all the English Gold is transported beyond the Seas, that I would have granted you, for you have the shell of the Gold to gild your Charoches, and to make you fine things, but we in France have the kernel of your Gold, and thus much I grant you. But we in France, and Holland, and Flanders have not all, we are more conscionable, good Monseur Violet. I was forced to by't my lip, for I could not deny but that he spoke truth.  
There is another great waist of Gold and Silver in this Commonwealth, and that is, the making of Gold and Silver Thread and Lace within this Nation: there are some things may be said for it, and some things against it; I shall impartially put down some things what I know in this business, for I had the principal care of regulating that Manufacture of Gold and Silver Wyer and Thread, for five years together in the late King's time, and paid him about four thousand pounds yearly for it, and now it is under the regulation of the Commissioners of Excise, and I am confident doth not make the tenth penny to the State, as I paid to the late King; besides I was enjoined to look to the just standard of the Silver, and to the substantial making of the Manufacture, which now is totally neglected, and the Commonwealth cheated in the courseness of much of the Silver, and in the sleight making of it.  
If the Manufacture of the Gold and Silver Thread, was brought in from beyond the Seas, than would the State have the Custom, there being a great Impost and Custom laid on it, which would be a considerablederable Revenue to the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth in the stock of their Treasure would be augmented, for all Gold and Silver Thread makes a Return to the melting pot, and so increases the stock of money in the Nation; besides, that is an advantageous Trade, which for the Returns of our Commodities and Manufactures of England brings us Returns in Silver.  
There is replied to this, the setting so many thousands of poor people on work, which will starve if the Manufactures of Gold and Silver Thread, were brought in from beyond the Seas, or if the State should prohibit the wearing of Gold and Silver Thread and Lace. Indeed this is of great consideration, and aught to be considered on. But then if they will have leave to make it here, it should be done with such restraints and limitations, as the Treasure of the Nation should not be wasted nor impaired, the Currant money of the Nation should not be culled out to make Gold and Silver Thread, as many hundreds of thousand pounds have been since the making of this manufacture, which was but begun to be a Trade in London within less than forty years; also there should be a restriction of the number of the workers, not to increase as they have done, and the Wyer-drawers should be a distinct Corporation, and Officers appointed to look after their due and Orderly working, and an account kept for the State, of what Silver and Gold is spent every year in the Manufacture, and the Company of Gold Wire-drawers enjoined to bring in the value in Bullion from beyond the Seas, as they wast in this Manufacture; for without doing of this, the Trade is wholly destructive to the Commonwealth, and there can be no just plea, for to allow their Trade to continue.  
I humbly conceive the Commonwealth is not in a condition to suffer fifty thousand pounds a year in Silver, to be brushed and blown away out of Gold and Silver Lace: If those that work the Manufacture will not See to Import Silver from beyond the Seas, and be bound not to work Silver with a Core of Copper, and sell it for good Silver, for which cheat I have caused some of them to stand in the pillory, when I had the managing of that manufacture; and also that the Wire-drawers be bound, not to make any Spangles, Wyre or Thread, under sterling, which heretofore hath been their daily practice, and I believe is continued still.  
M. Jackson the Assay-master of Goldsmith's Hall, by direction of the Lords of the Council, made many score of Assays of Gold and Silver Spangles, Lace, Wyre, and Thread found and taken in Silkmens' shops, which were adulterated, and under the Standard, and this Manufacture will never be justy made, if there be not a government settled by a Corporation, and then the Trade might be so managed by their contracting for Bullion from beyond the Seas, that they may get a great Manufacture here; but I humbly desire the Trade may be driven with foreign Silver, imported, and not with the Stock, or Coin of the Nation.  
I do humbly declare unto you, that being required to attend the Committee of the Council of State, about the Act now presented to the Parliament, I did see, and was privy upon what grave consideration every branch of the Act now depending before the Honourable Committee, was framed and put down by the Committee of the Council of State, before ever it was recommended to the Parliament; and I do humbly desire for the Service of the Commonwealth, if any alterations be made in the Act, those that drew the draught of the Act, may be required to attend the Committee to give their reasons for the whole Act, or any part of it; for upon the effectual passing of this Act, much doth depend for the safety of this Nation, and it is of a higher concernment to the Nation than I can express; and I humbly conceive, there ought to be no respect of private interest, where the safety of the Nation is so highly concerned.  
I humbly desire the Honourable Committee, that the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint may be taken into your serious considerations, there being very few men in the Nation, can speak so much upon their own experience of these abuses concerning the Treasure of the Nation, as these Gentlemen, the Officers of the Mint have certified, which ever since their Certificate, hath been found in every part to be true.  
The Mint standing still & neglected, the Treasure that hath been Imported, was never brought into the Mint, but Exported out again; by which means for the private gain of a few men, the Nation is ruined and Impoverished, and a Trade Inwards, and Outwards driven without paying of Custom, and the Stock of Treasure of the Nation almost all Exported in these times, now there is so much occasion for money, to the admiration and astonishment of many lovers of the Commonwealth, that truly understand the secrets and Mysteries of Trade.  
And what mischiefs these do will in the end bring upon this Commonwealth, is deeply apprehended by many wise men, and can have no stop but by a vigorous Act to bring the Offenders to Exemplary Justice, whose Fines and Compositions, throughout the Nation, will amount to many scores of thousands of pounds to the State, for the payment of public debts, if Commissions of inquiries according to former precedents be granted by act of Parliament throughout the Nation, to inquire for the last ten years of these abuses.  
If in declaring what hath passed at the Committee, and of other Transactions, be not usual, I shall, and do humbly desire to have my pardon, for if my silence might not have endangered the Commonwealth, this that I have said should never have come to public view, for I know how to keep Secrets as well as some other men.  
I have read of one that was born dumb, and so continued for many years, seeing one coming to kill his father, cried out, Go● save my Father, and so gave timely warning for his Father to prevent the danger.  
A happy speaking of the child for the father.  
Truly I count the Obligation to my Country, above the Obligation to my Father.  
I have seen this danger many years coming upon the Nation. Though I am but young, and Ignorant in other business, I am sure there are few, if any in the Nation, that have had those ways and means to find out, and discover these mischiefs, as I have. I know and apprehend more, than I will or can express.  
The great mischiefs Transporting Gold and Silver, brings on this Nation, I apprehend.  
The condition of your Army, which must be burdensome, if they have not money to pay for their Quartering, I apprehend the danger and damage.  
The necessity of Tradesmen, and Handicrafts men will be put to for want of employment, upon the scarcity of money, making all Trade to decay, I apprehend.  
The sad condition of poor people, who will be enforced for want, to part with their clothes, their bedding, their dishes they eat their meat in, I apprehend  
The danger the want and poverty of the poor will bring upon this State, if there be not ways found out to bring in Money into the Nation, I do very sadly and seriously apprehend the inconveniences.  
And therefore I cry, God save the Commonwealth.  
God put it into the hearts of the Parliament, to see to keep that little money we have yet left; and to find out, and punish those that have cheated, and rob the Commonwealth of their Treasure, and to study ways how to bring in money into the Nation, for if this be not done speedily, in all probability, greater inconveniences than I dare write, will come on the Commonwealth.  
Much more I could say, but if these Reasons before recited, nor the Certificates of the Officers of the Customs, and the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint, and several Reasons of some Aldermen of the City of London, for the stopping of the Transporting of Gold and Silver, and the City of London's Petition to the Parliament, presenting the great inconveniences Transporting Treasure hath brought upon this City of London and the Nation; I humbly say, if all these will not prevail, I have do●e: For if I should write a Volume as big as S●●●ds Chronicle, I cannot give more clearer satisfaction of the necessity of passing this Act.  
If God hath decreed this Nation shall be cozened of all its Treasure, and the Offenders not questioned, nor diligent enquiry made after it, and such means as our Ancestors and other Nations (having far less occasion for money than we have) do daily practise; to prevent these mischiefs, and discover the Offenders, I shall with all humility submit to God's Providence, and rest satisfied.  
I have clearly discharged my duty to my Country, in declaring this business to the Commonwealth, that so they may know the true Reasons of the scarcity of Gold and Silver in the Nation, and the damage they sustain by the want thereof, and how the Mint comes to be obstructed, that almost no money hath been Coined for these three last years.  
What is here said, is with all humility presented to the Parliament for the service of the Commonwealth, by a faithful lover of his Country, being desired to state my Reasons by some in Authority for passing the aforesaid Act, I humbly obeyed it, and humbly conceive (if it were made stricter than it is) it were far better for the Commonwealth: For Transporting Treasure heretofore hath been made Felony, when the Commonwealth, I humbly conceive, had not so much occasion to see to keep their Treasure in the Nation, and their Mint going, as now they have.  
London, July 15. 1650. Signed, Thomas Violet.  
FINIS.