PROPOSALS HUMBLY offered TO THE HONOURABLE HOUSE of COMMONS.  
For the taking off the Excise of Beer and Ale, and the settling a better Revenue upon the Crown, in lieu of the Court of Wards and Liveries, by a burden insensible, or inconsiderable; but will very much Enrich the whole Kingdom in General, and at all times will be a good Fond to borrow a Million of Money.  
THE Reasons for the taking off the Excise of Beer and Ale,  
1. Beer and Ale being made out of the Product of Corn, is the principal Cause that all the arable Lands in England fall in Value, and have undone more Farmers since the Year Anno 1662. than were undone many Ages before; and it is most certainly true, before that time, never any Act passed to give Money to export Corn out of the Kingdom, but were frequently beholding to Foreign Kingdoms, for the Importation of Corn.  
2. The unreasonableness of the said Acts, that Four or 500000 l. yearly should be paid, by less than the fortieth part of the People of the Kingdom; and them, the most are Labourers, Artificers, Handycrafts-men, and poor people, who cannot spend more Money than now they do; and a great number of them cannot live upon their Labours, without paying at least one penny per day for Excise, and several a great deal more.  
3. Before the coming up of the Excise, Strong Beer was sold for a penny per Quart, according to the Statutes; but upon the coming up of the Excise, the Retailer was allowed to sell it for five Farthings per Quart.  
4. Before the Year 1662. That the Excise was let to Farm, all Inn-keepers, Victuallers, and most Brewers, Compounded for their Excise, and did not pay the Government one third part of the Duty; and before that time, the Rents of Lands kept up; but the late King Charles the Second Letting the Excise to Farm, the Farmers of the Excise would not Compound with the Brewers, Inn-keepers, or Victuallers, but forced them to pay to the utmost Gallon of Beer, and so it is continued to this day; and if an Account could be taken, what the Excise did produce to the Government before the Year 1660. and what it does produce to the Crown at this time, it will appear, it is now triple what it was in those times; and after the Excise was Let to Farmers, the Victuallers raised their Strong Beer to six Farthings per Quart to the poor; so the Brewer and Victualler are no losers by the Excise as they pretend; but it is the Poor that pay it, being forced to drink less, or Smaller Drink, not being able to spend more Money, either of which hinders the Consumption of several hundred Thousand Quarters of Corn, which is the real Cause of undoing the Farmers, and falling the Rents of Land; and if the Excise were taken off, it would certainly advance the Prizes of Lands, to the Rates as formerly; for as there is now Four or 500000 l. yearly drained out of the Kingdom into the King's Coffers, if that should cease, there would be the same money spent in Beer and Ale as formerly, which would always advance the Prizes of Corn, by making the Consumption so much the greater.  
5. That all the Barly-Lands in England, that is sown with barley and Malted, and Sold to the Common Brewer, Inn-keeper, or Victualler, pay the King above three times as much as the Farmer pays his Landlord: For Lands that the Tenant pay 12 s. or 14 s. an Acre, will produce one year with another Five Quarters, which will make Fifteen Barrels, which at 3 s. 3 d. per Barrel amounts to 48 s. 9 d. Lands of 6 s. the Acre will produce three Quarters, which make Nine Barrels at 3 s. 3 d. amounts to 29 s. and 3 d. and the Coursest Land, not worth 12 d. per Acre, will produce above one Quarter, which amounts to 9 s. and 9 d. And this burden lying so heavy upon the barley, keeps down the Prizes of all other Grain; and the Plow being so heavily oppressed, puts Farmers where their Lands are enclosed, to lay up their Lands to Feeding and grazing, by sowing Sinkfoyl, Clover, and several other Seeds, which brings down all other grazing Lands, so in truth it does effect all the Lands in England.  

The Particulars in Lieu of the Excise, are,  
I. That the Additional Duties upon Wines by Act of the first of King James, be made perpetual; it being certainly true it prevents the exportation of Money, above 100000 l. yearly, for Wines being the product of Foreign Countries, the Foreigners are forced to sell their Wines so much the cheaper, as the Duty amounts to; so the Merchant is no loser, nor do Gentlemen pay any dearer than if that Act had never been made.  
II. That the Additional Act that passed the first year of King James upon Brandy, French wrought Silks, Stuffs, and linen, and all other wrought Silks, and all East-India Silks and Stuffs, be made perpetual, the effects of which already appears by the making of wrought Silks and linen: And if ten per Cent. were laid on all linen Cloth, Thread, and Haberdashery Ware imported, it would give so great encouragement to Trade, as in few years all the poor Children in England would be taken off, and ease all the Parishes in England of the greatest part of their Poor, which now is so heavy a Burden upon them; and would mightily encourage the sowing of Hemp and Flax.  
III. That an Additional Duty of ten pounds per Cent. be laid upon all East-India Goods, excepting raw Silk and Wool that shall be consumed in England, it being no damage to the Company, and insensible to the Consumer.  
IV. That all Pepper consumed in England pay eight pence per pound weight, and Ginger eight pence per pound, and Nutmegs, Cloves, Cinnamon, and Mace pay sixteen pence per pound, and all other Grocery-Ware, except Sugar, pay ten pounds per Cent. it would be no damage to Trade, and the Burden insensible.  
V. Upon all Salt made in England a penny per Gallon, it being no more than is paid for every Gallon of Strong Beer and Ale, and a penny per Gallon for all Salt imported for one or two years, and after that time two pence per Gallon, it being found by experience that at this time there is as good, if not better Salt made in England than is exported out of France, or any other parts of the World both for curing of Fish and Flesh; and if this encouragement were given, in two years time there would be made in England more Salt than the Kingdom can consume, and at all times, as well in War as in Peace, the Kingdom will be supplied at reasonable rates. 

2. It will be of very great advantage to all Gentlemen that have any Salt Works, or shall erect any new Works for Salt; for at all times they will be good Gainers.  
3. It will be of great Advantage for all Gentlemen that have any Coal Mines lying near the Sea, by consuming of many thousand Chaldrons of Coals.  
4. It will increase Navigation, and set many thousands of People to work.    
VI. As Paper is imported by Money exported, if one penny per choir, containing twenty four sheets upon all white Paper, and proportionable upon all other Paper made in England; and double the value upon Paper imported, it will be of very great advantage.  
VII. Upon Glass made in England ten pounds per Cent. and double the value upon all Glass imported.  
VIII. Upon all Deal, Timber, Boards, and Wood imported, it being produced by Money exported, ten or twenty pounds per Cent.  
IX. Upon oil ten pounds per Cent.   
All these Particulars will amount to the full value of the Excise, and will be a sufficient Fond for His Majesty at all times, during the Wars, to borrow a Million of Money from time to time, and if His Majesties extraordinary Occasions require it, that the Excise should be continued for one year or a longer time, yet it would put life to the Farmers, and they would use all means possible to go on with their Labours, in hopes and expectation, that they at last may reap the fruits of their Labour.  
FINIS.