A DECLARATION Concerning State-Farthings; OR, Certain Remonstrative Reasons for the allowance thereof;  
Wherein is comprised, 

1 The Honour of the States vindicated,  
2 The People's hearts contented,  
3 The Commonwealths good propagated,  
4 The Relief of the Poor increased.    
By Thomas Dunstervile, Citizen of London.  
Imprinted for the Author, 1654.   

A Declaration concerning the allowance of Brass-Farthings, etc.  
TO the neverdying Honour of the Council confined for the Mint Affaires, every man that petitioned for State Farthings had a fair hearing: their Honour's diligent inquiry into, and care to preserve his Highness and the Councils Honour, and the Commonwealths good, cannot but speak their praises to all posterity: This was not all, but their Honour's management of this subject was clothed with humility and patience, or rather a patiented humility, fit qualifications for persons in place and honour; for these and the like Graces shine more gloriously in their Honours, than the most purest Jewel that ever was, could shine in the dark Ear of the blackest Ethiopian: These are graces indeed, which if they were resolved into one (I humbiy conceive) they may not be unfitly called the Daystar of the State; or if you please, the State's Daystar. Why should any man than presume to insert into any Diurnal things their Honours never did, punishment rather than mercy were a just Reward for such a person: But I humbly leave that.  
There are five principal Reasons urging the necessity for State-Farthings.  

The first is, the State's Honour.  
Secondly, the Subjects content.  
Thirdly, the Commonwealth's profit.  
Fourthly, the relief of the Poor.  
Fifthly, the suppressing of Abuses now practised.   
And this last is done by several sorts of men that stamp Farthings; not so much for their own use, as their own profit: so that it is as clear as the Sun, that his Highness and the State's dishonour, the Commonwealths disprofit, the Poor's misery, and the Commons discontent, are all folded up in the non-allowance of State Farthings; the Poor crying out for mercy, the Commons for redress; and this insufferable abuse cannot easily be corrected, until it shall please his Highness, with his Council, to supress the former, and to pass an Order for the allowance of State Farthings: And I veryly believe this would be an Order of such honourable and necessary concernment, that there is scarce any Order of Grace so like as that, not only to make the three Commonwealths, but even Posterity itself, his Highness and Counsels Debtors.  
And yet as this may conduce to an honourable and necessary use: so (if not rightly stated) it may bring with it great inconveniences: To prevent which, I hope. and my charity tells me, that the Council will at last make choice of such a Metal as shall be most honourable to the State, most profitable to the common wealth, hurtful to none, but a general good to all; And sure that must be such a Mettle as is not easy to be counterfeited; and not to be counterfeited at all by Founders, Braziers, Pewterers, Tinkers, or any Mechanics at all; And such a Metal now lies before their Honours relating to the Mint.  
There are other pretenders of the Commonwealths good too; the Metals are these, pure Copper of an intrinsic value, Copper and Brass mixed of the same value, Tin of the same value; and another white Metal cousin jerman to Tin itself: In show, all these are Pretenders of the Commonwealth's good: These I desire to discourse on, that all the people of the Commonwealth may understand, that if His Highness and Council shall allow of any Farthings, it shall be for the State's honour, and the Commonwealth's good; or else there will be none at all: And that I may the better undeceive the judgement of ordinary and common men, that either out of ignorance cannot, or out of partiality will not take notice of that which most conduces to their own, and public good, both of State and Commonwealth. But before I show the use and abuse, give me leave to answer two main Objections, which some men make against the allowance of State Farthings, their fears and jealousies arise from their former sufferings by Farthings made in the late King's time; the Proverb is, the  child dreads the fire.  
The first Objection is, the danger of glutting the Commonwealth with Farthings.  
The second, the prejudice poor Labourers will have by their Workmasters, who will pay them most of their money in Farthings.  
I answer, that there will be great danger of glutting the Commonwealth, if their Honours allow of Copper or Brass, or Tin, or any thing that is easy to be counterfeited; for such will be obvious for every man to stamp, and it is probable, there will be more stamped in every City, Corporation, Town, and Village, then shall be by the command of the State: for, indeed, it is the community of the metal that loads the Common wealth with these inconveniences, upon this account the Metal is prepared to their hands, let men get but the stamp fixed the work is done: we have had sad experience of this, by those practical abuses that overspread the Nation, when Farthings were made in the late King's time: But of that more fully anon.  
In answer to the second Objection: There are two ways to prevent those abuses that may accrue to poor Labourers. The first is, If please his Highness to command that no Workmaster shall pay a Labourer above 12 d. in 20 s. a penal Order would curb those wicked ones, that in this way would eat the bread out of poor men's mouths.  
Secondly, if the Council order that no allowance shall be given in the exchange of farthings for money, than every one will buy them as his necessity shall require, and no further: Yet for the Poors sake, I could hearty wish, that since the first way might be binding enough to prevent poor men's sufferings for their Labours, that the condescensions of the State's love and charity to the Poor, might appear in the allowance of twelve pence in twenty shillings change, and upon this account of charity to them, Charity itself would seem to be a fair flower in the Garland of the State's honour: To both which, I humbly submit.  
The truth is, I am a Commoner, freeborn within the Bounds of England's Commonwealth; and being so, I own all my abilities, cares, and years, to the service of the Commonwealth.  
I thank God I have passed through some employments for others and myself, in the course of my life, I have had interchanges, the World itself stands upon Vicissitudes, and it hath pleased the eternal God to wove up my life in prosperity and adversity; and yet my prosperity was never so high, as to provoke an ill eye: Nor I praise God yet, nor I hope never will be, so low, that I shall be wholly trodden under feet: My afflictions are more my sorrow then my shame; because I find, and veryly believe, there is no such happiness as to enjoy a little with peace of an honest heart: The World's disfavours as they have minded me more of my Duty to my GOD, so have they made me not forget my Duty to the State, and love to the Commonwealth, under whose Hemisphere (I bless God) I have yet a low Being. But whither do my wand'ring passions lead me.  
Gentlemen, and Fellow-Commoners,  
Pardon me, and I will endeavour to make good my Arguments, I hope without any just offence to any: Indeed, as I am a man, I was not made for contemplation only, my part was to do, as well as understand: in Earthly things I have been an Actor; in Heavenly things a Spectator: Upon the first account, I have studied the State's Honour, and the Commonwealth's good, and my endeavours hath produced a proper production to both if it be rightly understood. And yet such is the uncharitableness of men, that because I was bred a Silkman, and lived twenty years or thereabouts in Cheapside, and Paternoster-Roe, a Master for myself: The World is so full of aspic Tongues, that those that hate me without a cause (God forgive them) report, and so would persuade the World, that the artifice Metal I have prepared is made by another, and not by myself, I shall but desire these men to produce that man that either doth or can make it besides myself: else let them blush at their own Errors: But they will say I was a Silkman, and therefore it is impossible: Oh man! Dost thou think that man's weakness proves any impossibility to God, No, no, let not God's goodness be evil spoken of, because thou art evil: Let not thy Eye be evil to me, because God hath been good to me: for I must confess and say it is the Lords doing; therefore to him be glory.  
Now I beseech you give me leave to unfold what will be honourable for the State, and what will be profitable to the Commonwealth if farthings be allowed: this I will prove a contrary, by discovering first what will be dishonourable, and disprofitable.  
There are three forts of Metals offered to the States Farthings to be made intrinsical.  

The first is pure Copper, the Author petitions to have it intrinsic.  
The second is Copper and Brass sememented together, he calls it a high intrinsic, which is too high for me to understand.  
The third is Tin intrinsic too.   
All which, I will prove, if they be allowed, nay any metal whatsoever, that is easy to be counterfeited, of what weight or bigness soever it be, will be disprofitable, pernicious, destructive, and dishonourable to the State and Commonwealth; and that which aggravates it the more, it would bring with it, that most pernicious thing called, a Monopoly, which all men that love the Commonwealth, do so much abominate. First, I will prove it disprofitable, because if Farthings be made of an equal value, than the State must necessarily pay the petitionary pretender of the Commonwealth's good, his Relatives their charges, with all the Vtenciles thereunto belonging, which will amount to three or four thousand pounds a year at the least, and this is not all, though it be too much, but the allowance of any intrinsical metal, will obstruct the bringing in of five thousand pounds a year, all charges borne: so that here will be eight or nine thousand pounds a year loss to the Commonwealth, if you consider the out-going and the income thereof; thus it appears clearly to be disprofitable. Secondly, It will be pernicious and destructive, I prove it thus: The more impoverished the public Treasure is, the heavier burdens by way of Taxes, all men must undergo, therefore pernicious, and generally hurtful to all: Can any man think it equal, that your purses shall, or aught to be full, and the Public Treasure exhausted? God forbidden.  
Secondly, it will be hurtful, because it will be subject to every man's counterfeiting; I need not refresh the memories of any one, it is well known that there was scarce any man, but was a loser by those farthings formerly made of Copper and Brass; those formerly made were Copper, with a small coat of Brass on the one side, these now offered, are Copper in the middle, with Brass round about; as the former were counterfeited with so many hands, that they crowded the Commonwealth so full of them, that they surfeited on a glut, by these all men may expect the same effects, because they differ only in form, not in quality; so that it is clear, that there is no safety at all, to allow of any common metal. But it may be you will object, That if they be made intrinsical not man will counterfeit them: I pray you deceive not your own judgements, to an unrepairable loss; for if you make any common metal of an intrinsical value, than every five shillings worth must weigh six or seven pounds' weight, which will require very strong pockets, and if that were all, it were well, but a Tinker, or any Mechanic, shall gain three, four, or five pounds in making twenty shillings worth; and who shall disprove him? except men do carry weights in their pockets to weigh them as they do gold. This is not all neither, but these metals are in general use throughout the three Commonwealths, and can any reasonable man think that it will not exceedingly advance the price of that metal that should be so allowed of? Be not mistaken, for as sure as may be, you will find it a very hard bargain to gain a farthing and lose a shilling. Again, there is another inconvenience, for it is verily thought by some knowing men, that there is not Copper and Brass in the Commonwealth, to supply so great a work: take heed of a foreign glut, and it is the more to be feared, because they have copper and brass at a far lower rate than we in England: But now me thinks I see and hear the Gentleman that petitions for Tin to be made into farthings of any intrinsic value, to boast and say, that Tin is the only firsubien for farthings, saying, we have enough in England, not only for ourselves, but to supply others. Grant this, yet be not deceived, for it will be generally hurtful, if my first Arguments cannot convince your judgement, through yourself ends; yet if you will not be angry with me, I will prove it a Monopoly, and consequently generally hurtful: I must be bold to tell all you Gentlemen, that pretend the Commonwealths good, and petition for farthings to be made of an intrinsic value, you all sue to be Monopolizers: I will prove it thus. A Monopoly is, when a general or common commodity, of what nature soever it be, shall be sold unto one man, and he shall engross that Commodity into his own hands, for his own and only profit, to the loss of many, this is a Monopoly: but this will be aggravated by the extent of it, for the loss will spread itself over the bounds of the three Commonwealths, and over all those places over which the State's power extends; and therefore it clearly appears to be very pernicious, and destructive, and if so, than it must needs be very dishonourable to the State to allow so great an evil.  
These things then, being so clear, doth it not visibly appear, that these intrinsical petitionary pretenders of the Commonwealths good, do only intent themselves? they would very fain cure a wound in the thigh, or leg, and make a mortal wound in the head of the State and Commonwealth; it is a great courtesy, from which good Lord paeserve us; I wonder they are not ashamed at their own understandings, except they could draw some reasonable arguments in defence of themselves, which I am confident they cannot; Oh yes, one boasts of powerful friends, another of his great service he hath done, and that the State oweth him four or five thousand pounds; Methinks these are but weak props; for can any reasonable man think, that his Highness and the Council, who have hazarded their lives and fortunes, and all that is pretions to their Honours, to regulate all abuses, and qualify as much as in them lies, all the distempers of the nation, will wonnd their own Honours to the world's end, and to allow an order to any man to have the making of farthings, either in regard of a near relation, or otherwise, it being so pernicious and destructive, as it clearly appears? no, no, do not believe it, that God that hath made them honourable, will doubtless  them with integrity, which will balance a just and innocent cause against all powerful opposers: But stay a little, I had like to have forgot the Gentleman, that presented the white artified Metal, Sir I pray you pardon me, I must and will tell its faults, it is as bad as bad may be: Sir, that metal will be a rare metal to make counterfeit twopences and pence, which are now too many abroad, who would not only convert farthings into twopences and pence, rather than twopences and pence into farthings: and indeed Sir, your metal is for the present, so like these counterseited two pences, that what mischief it would bring with it, and hurt to the Com-wealth, my pen is not able to express, therefore I conceive not worth the owning.  
Thus I have according to my duty to the State, and love to the Commonwealth, shown the inconveniences that will arise by any common metal, or any metal that is easy to be counterfeited; by your favour, I shall humbly offer to you a metal made up by art, and it is such a metal as the earth itself cannot afford in nature, neither was it ever Calendared in any Chronicle or History, that such a metal was ever made before. Give me leave first to tell you the properties of it. 1. It beareth in it two colours, the one a pale faced red, embodied with Azure throughour ', so that it is different from all sorts of metal in colour, 2. It is hard and beautiful like silver, in its own kind. 3. It is in colour as durable as silver: 4. It is much easier to counterfeit silver than the same metal; which last well weighed, will take off the fear of counterfeiting Farthings, because (I conceive) no man will counterfeit farthings, that can counterfeit silver with more ease, provided the State make a penal Order against it, as in like cases it is for silver and gold.  
The properties thus opened, give me leave to show the inconveniences that will (if allowed) come with it: And,  
1. I will make it appear clearly to be no Monopoly, but that it will be honourable to the State, profitable to the Commonwealth, and generally good to all people.  
1. I will make it appear to be no Monopoly, and that in a threefold consideration. 1. Consider it in its essentiallity: 2 In its materiality. 3. In its adjuncts.  
1. Consider it in its essentiallity, it is shapeless and immaterial, and therefore can be no Monopoly.  
2. Consider it in its materiality, and it is a new invention which differs from all sorts of metal, and it cannot profit or disprofit any man to have it, or to be without it; as it is simply material, it is not common, but a new invention, and therefore in that regard, good for nothing but farthings, and yet if it were common as copper and brass is, it would be good for several things, but than it would not be good for farthings, because it would be a metal made up to all men's hands, that would counterfeit the Commonwealths coin; so likewise it is no monopoly in regard of its materiality, neither was it ever known, that any new invention could be a Monopoly. Lastly, consider it in its adjuncts, it will be honourable to the State, profitable to the Commonwealth, harmless, innocent & generally good to all. 1. It will be honourable, because that if his Highness & the Council please to allow it for farthings, it will set foath to the world how willing his Highness, and their Honours are, not only to preserve good Laws, but to confirm them, such an Act of Grace was made in the one and twentieth of the Reign of James concerning new Inventions, and in a nother kind confitmed upon George Manby, Ano, 1650. which Acts are extant concerning new Inventions, which Statute Law is so clear, so honourable, so just, and grounded on such good reasons, as namely, to cherish arts, especially when these Arts conduce to the State's Honour and the Public good, therefore I hope I shall find the like favour in the behalf of the Commonwealth.  
Secondly, it will be honourable, because it will be profitable, as appears before, it is the honour of a State to have the Public Treasure flowing and running over, it is likewise profitable to all forts of men, for the benefit it will bring to the public Treasure will ease impositson of taxes, which otherwise it would fall more heavy on every man; so that it is clear, this is harmless, innocent, hurtful to none, but generally good to all, High and Low, Rich and Poor; then if a Monopoly be generally cvil, and this generally good, this can be no Monopoly. I have no more to say, but I pray the eternal God, the mighty Lord, the great Counsellor of the whole world, to infuse such wisdom into the hearts of his Highness and Council, that they may act without delay, those things which may most conduce to God's glory, the State's honour, and the Commenwealths good, and I believe, when it shall please their Honours once really to consider of this very thing, it is a business of such honourable and necessary concernment to the Commonwealth, that their Honours will be loath to lose a day in the promoting of it; for sure it would be a day of Glory to God, a day of Honour to the State, a day of gladness and rejoicing to the poor, and a day of content to all people. In fine, the allowance of State-farthings will cut off those pernicious abuses practised against the State's honour and Commonwealths good: I wish that it may be fix'c where the merit of the cause most depends, and no otherwise:  
FINIS.