IT appears by several Acts of Parliament, that the Nation hath frequently been charged with great Sums of Mony, for the carry­ing on Wars, and for other the necessary Service of the Crown and Nation.

Those Sums for Methods sake were by their several Acts di­stributed to the respective Counties, and Cities of the Nation, and afterwards subdivided by Commissioners appointed by the same Acts into Hundreds, Wapes, and Wapentakes in each County, and the whole Sum for one or three Months laid upon every distinct County apportioned to the respective Hundreds thereof, and the Proportion allotted to every Hundred, subdivided again by the Commissioners of each Hundred, into so many Parts as there are Divisions in that Hundred, more or less ac­cording to the greatness and smallness of the Divisions, and Warrants Is­sued out by the said Commissioners, to the Constables of each Division, to Collect the Sum required after an Assessment thereof made by the In­habitants, or some of them, appointed thereunto by the Commissioners of each Hundred.

This Money, laid uppon each Division of each Hundred, is again sub­divided into Parishes, and those Parishes into the respective Townships of each Parish, and at length stated by the Assessors, upon each indi­vidual Inhabitant of each Township, that hath any Estate Real or Perso­nal, to render him or them lyable to pay any part of what is laid upon that Division; And so the whole Treasure granted by the Acts (or ought to be) collected and paid by the Inhabitants of every Township, by all Townships in every Parish, by all Parishes in every Division, by all Di­visions in every Hundred, by all Hundreds in every County, and by all Counties in the whole Kingdom. A way very suitable to the Pru­dence of the representative of the People, and much becoming the Justice of the High Court of Parliament.

[Page 4]Yet if I may have Leave, without Offence, I would humbly demand,

How it comes to pass, that notwithstanding so Many, so Great and Unparal­lel'd Sums of Money as have been given and granted to his Majesty, since his happy return to his Crown, His Majesty should yet be said not only to have an Empty Exchequer, but also to be much in debt to several of his Subjects.

In all Diseases of the Body Natural, we say to discover the Cause of the Distemper, is half a Cure, and to remove it, will totally restore the Pati­ent. What is true in the Distemper of the Body Natural, is as equally true in the Distemper of the Body Politick; take away the Cause, and the Effect ceaseth. And however it is not easy (yea 'tis impossible) to Assign all the grounds and causes of his Majesties unhappiness in this par­ticular, after the expression of so much Love, Loyalty, and Affection from his Parliament and People, who almost (if not altogether) have at eve­ry Session, given him for these ten Years past, little or much to enable him to carry on his Affairs, without exposing himself to Debts, and other griev­ing Disadvantages to himself and his People, yet some of them that are too obvious (and the grand Causes among many others) shall be given in answer to this Inquiry, for the future prevention of so great a disservice, both to his Majesty and his People, who by reason thereof is alwaies re­ceiving, and yet hath not sufficient, and who are always giving, and yet are as far from their end in giving, as if they had given little or nothing.

1. The first Reason or Cause that I shall mention may be in the Parliaments not giving or granting, what they do give or grant, till the Service for which it is given, be commenced or in some forwardness for its Expence, whereby his Majesty is oftentimes forced either to advance his Treasure up­on the Credit of what they are about to give him, or for want thereof to purchace all or most Commodities requisite for his Service, at exorbitant Rates and Prizes, which renders it much more in Charge and Expence, than otherwise it would or ought to be.

2. These Allowances given by the Parliament out of the Treasure, given his Majesty in their respective Acts to several Persons, though in it self, it be upon view, but of small or no consideration; to wit; one penny or two pence in the Pound, Yet if these pence or two pences be cast up, and put into a total Sum, to be defaulked from the whole Sum given, it will then appear that the want thereof is a great Detriment to his Majesty, and doth frustrate his Service (as to so much) beyond his expectation from the Sum given him. As for Example, suppose the Sum given to be two Millions (as of late it hath been and more) four pence in the Pound, di­stributed into pence and two pences to several persons, amounts in the whole, Two Millions to 33333 l. 06 s. 08 p. This 33333 l. 06 s. 08 p. if duly paid would answer his Majesties expectation of two Millions of Treasure said to be given his Majesty, and the Parliaments intention in giving him so much, whereas this defaulkation in the Act it self, renders the Sum so much less than is promised, and his Majesty so much the more in debt for want of it, and the Subject liable to future Taxations for the same Mo­ney, which he hath already paid as part of the two Millions formerly granted.

[Page 5]3. The Anticipation of his Majesties Revenues, by Loanes from the Ci­ty of London, and other private Men or Places (before what is given him by his Parliament is or can be reckoned,) is a great cause of its expence, without that Providence which otherwise might be used, and consequent­ly of leaving his Majesty under the burthen of debt, as much (if not more) than he was before it was given him.

4. The paying of Interest to all Venders of Goods or Commodities served into the Navy, for the carrying on his Majesties Service there, is intol­lerably disadvantagious to his Majesty, and contracts upon him such, and so great Debts, that unless the Parliament be constantly giving, his Majesty must needs sink under the weight of them (for over and above the com­mon and bare Interest allowed) these men knowing before-hand, what course they must steer, before they can compass their Money, will not part with their respective Commodities, without the inclusion of 20 per Cent. Profit for their Goods sold, for which upon receipt of Bills or Deben­tures for their Money, they immedlately carry them to the Exchequer, and enter them there as so much Money lent to his Majesty, at 7 or 8 per Cent. till they be paid, whereby it appears to me (I know not what it doth to other men) that his Majesty loseth 30 per Cent. of all Bills or Debentures so brought into his Exchequer, as Money lent for Goods sold into the Service, which must needs leave his Majesty as much in Debt at the end of the Year as he was at first.

5. The Payment of those Moneys either lent or anticipated by Tal­lyes, or brought into the Exchequer by Bills or Debentures in the new way, commonly called by COURSE, is the Ivy that eats out the Heart of his Majesties Revenue; for though it be true that the Parliament have in their Wisdoms, made strict Provisoes in several Acts, for the due pay­ment thereof, without much Charge or Fees to the Vender or Buyer, yet it is also true that, let them do what they can to prevent the Mischiefs that may attend their Payment Irregularly or out of Course, yet (when they have done all) all that they have done, nor doth nor can signify any thing as to the freeing his Majesty from being in Debt, in regard what they build upon in this way, is that which cannot stand for want of a sure and solid Foundation to bear it upon.

For whatever is or may be pretended unto by those Gentlemen that were the first contrivers of this way, as men interested to promote it, yet in­deed the way it self is a Sandy Foundation, and so far from answering its end, to wit, the speedy payment of his Majesties Debts, that it is totally destructive to him and the Nation, and the longer it is followed, the more he will find himself plunged into Debt; So that if he had not the Peo­ples Purses and Affections to supply him in a constant way of giving, he would never be able to extricate himself out of them. And to speak plainly, Payments in course, are at the best but coarse Payments, both in reference to his Majesties Honour and Profit, and with reference to his Peoples satisfaction, except such as are interressed Persons, or usurious Abusers of his Majesties Service. I shall take leave to expatiate a little upon this Head, because I know it to be the greatest Diana of these times, and is looked upon as the rarest Expedient that ever was found out for the Honour of his Majesties Service.

Suppose a Lord, or other Noble Man of this Nation, whose Revenue [Page 6]is 5000 Pound good Estate, to be also an adventurer to the East Indies, or Guinny, twenty thousand Pounds with hopes and design to improve his Fortune, who yet by reason thereof and other Expences, incumbent upon him for the support of his Family, and maintenance of himself in that grandeur, that his Birth, Office at Court, or Nobility requireth, be­gets himself unwarily into Debt to several men 40000 l, which if paid, would almost ruine his Estate, and if not paid will grow more and more upon him every Year. Suppose also this Nobl-eMan, upon consideration of his present condition, should advise with his Steward or other Ser­vants or Friends, what course to take to free himself from this great pres­sing Debt: It cannot be imagined that any faithful Steward or Friend will say, Sr. you have 5000 Pounds per Annum in good Revenue, settle it upon your Creditors for their security, that their Debts shall be paid them, but limit your self to no time when, only ingage your Income for the Principal, and pay them Interest, till you can pay them both Interest and Principal, and that they may be satisfied that you intend really and truly to pay them one time or other; give them order that all and every of them shall bring his and their Bills, Bonds, Book-Debts or what else soever he hath to shew for his Debt to your Steward, and there enter their Claim upon Record with Promise, that he that comes first shall be first paid, and he that comes last, must be content to stay till the last but himself be paid, only both the first and last shall all be assured that let the Payment be when it will (ever or never) they shall all be paid in Course, and they shall all have Interest allowed them till it be paid, though never, or never so late first.

Yet admit he or they should thus advise this Noble-Man, can any rati­onal Man think that this is a good way or proposition to disingage him from his Debts, or that it is a good Foundation laid to free him from them, and yet preserve his Estate, Honour, Adventure and all necessary Expences in­tire? surely no; Considering that by this Advice his Revenue must be pawn­ed to his Creditours, his Adventure will daily call upon him for more Is­sues, his Honour will require that he should still live at the same rate as formerly, and that the Interest of his 40000 Pounds Debt will be a con­stant eating Charge upon his Estate. Must not these Incumbrances needs leave him in a worse Condition as to his Debts the next, than he was this Year, if he resolves to take up or prosecute this Way or Advice.

For the Interest of 40000 Pound for one Year is 2400 Pound, which is almost half as much as his whole Revenue can drown of his Debts for that Year, so that he pays but 2600 Pounds of his 40000 Pound Debt in one whole Year, and is left at loss how to equip and set to Sea his Ships the next Year, having all his Revenue in Lavender to his Creditours. If he doth not set them forth, he hazards the loss of his 20000 l Stock, if he doth, he must then advance Money upon the Credit of his whole Estate to do it withal, and this involves him into a greater Debt than he was in at first. If he cannot take up Money without great Disadvantage, then there is no­thing left him but to hire his Ships, Man, Victual, and Store them with all Commodities fit for the Trade he drives, upon Trust or Ticket from such as will trust him or sell their Commodities to him at 6, 6, and 6 Months time, till his Ships return from Sea, at what time he hath Freight, Victual and Wages to pay to all his Seamen and Owners as a growing Debt up­on him. Now I pray consider will any of those that trust him with their [Page 7]Goods at such Days of Payment (if they know his Condition) not include in the Price of their Goods, so much Profit as may bear the hazard and adventure of their Trust and Forbearance? surely they will. And by how much his Necessity may pinch him to make use of their Courtesie, by so much he may assure himself they will grow upon him in the Price, and Profit of their Commodities, and this runs him more and farther into debt than ever; for he that drives a Trade upon Ticket or Trust, either by advanc­ing Money at Interest, or taking up Goods at Time, is and must needs be in a sad Condition as to his Trade.

Unto which we may also add that if this Lord or Noble-Man shall yet resolve to live at as high a rate as ever for the Maintenance of himself, his Lady and Family, and for the upholding his Reputation in Court and Coun­try (Necessity being laid upon him so to do,) then certainly his Debt must and will increase upon him every Year, so long as he continues in this course, and sink him deeper and deeper into Debt, and all this (and more that might be said) upon the single Accompt of this Sandy Foundation or Ad­vice given him by his Steward to enable him to creep out of Debt by degrees.

I list not to make any Application of this Parallel to the Case in hand, an easie understanding will save me that labour, and though I know that Simi­lies do not run upon four Feet, yet I shall take the boldness to tell my Reader, that as this Course is and must be greatly destructive and preju­dicial to the private Estate, Honour and Reputation of this Lord or Noble-Man, so it is infinitely much more in the case of the King, in regard no Comparison between a private Man and a Prince, will or can reach the sad Loss and Dammage that must and will attend his Service, more than any private Mans whatsoever.

6. The next begetter of his Majesties great Debts, is the non-payment of the Seamens Wages so soon as the respective Ships come into Harbour, and are safe at their Moarings after the Service is ended, the neglect or want whereof is the Ground and Cause of that devouring Charge that at­tends his Majesties Service.

What the Dammage thereof is or may be, is not easily discerned by most Men, and little considered by those that do discern it, as being neither their Horse nor their Load; but that you may see a little into the mischief thereof, I shall crave Leave to hold it forth in the Example of a Ship of 200 Men, that by the Foot you may better guess at the Body of great Sea-Monsters.

Suppose a Ship manned with 200 Men, and employed in his Majesties Service for six Months past, to come into Harbour, and for want of Trea­sure to pay off, the Company lyes at her Moarings, or in dry Dock one Month, full manned in Victuals and Wages; the Question before us is, what Dammage this is to his Majesty for the growing Debt of Victuals and Wages for that Month.

That we may the better see the Dammage, we must inquire and know what is the Debt from his Majesty for the whole Company for their six Months Service past. Now the Debt for the Wages of 200 Men for one Month, (supposed at 30 Shillings Medium for one Man) comes to 300 Pounds, which for six Months is 1800 Pounds. This being stated, it ap­pears that the Dammage his Majesty sustains for the want of 1800 Pounds [Page 8]to pay off these 200 men is for one Months Wages 300 Pounds, unto which if you add for the Price of their Victuals for the same Month (at 20 Shil­lings medium) it amounts to 200 Pounds more, and is in the whole 500 Pounds, which is 200 Pounds more than one quarter part of the whole 1800 Pound Debt for six Months. Now how unreasonable a thing is it that his Majesty should for want of 1800 Pound present Money be smitten into Debt 500 Pound in one Month, and so in proportion into a greater or smal­ler Debt, for a longer or shorter time, whilest the said Ship lies unpaid? If the preceding Article of Anticipation be by the bare Interest of Money, such a loss to his Majesty, what Detriment is this at such a time when yet his Majesty hath no need of, nor Service for those men whom he both feeds and payes?

Let those that can, cast it, for my part, though I can I will not, as asham­ed to say what it is; and upon that account I must confess that I have sometimes stood amazed to think upon the Improvidence (I must not say Imprudence) of some employed in his Majesties Service, that should take care to prevent this Mischief, not much inferiour to the last mentioned; And I dare affirm that and if it be no better provided against in the future, than it hath been for time past, let the Parliament give what Treasure they please to his Majesty, to carry on his Service in time of War; this very particu­lar shall swallow up a great part thereof, and leave his Majesty more in Debt at the end of every Voyage or Service, than can be recovered or paid without new Supplies from the Nation, for if 200 Men shall beget him 500 Pound in Debt for one Month, it is not difficult to say what the whole or great­est part of a Fleet manned with 30 or 40000 Men shall fleece from him for two or three Months together.

It would be accounted an officious Act to discover what Debts his Ma­jesty contracted in this particular, for and during the late War with the Dutch. And though it be not difficult to Collect it by the respective Sea Books of each Ship in the Fleets then set to Sea (discompting the time from each Ships coming to her Moarings, till the day she was paid off) yet in­deed it is better to be concealed than made publick, for if it were exactly cast up and known, it would astonish his Majesty to think how his Trea­sure hath been wasted, and his Debt increased without any Service done for it, being paid not so much for Wages earned, as Money cast away for want of Treasure to pay what they had already earned, before they came to their Moarings.

7. Among other Causes of his Majesties contracting great Debts upon him, it is none of the least to farm out his setled Revenues; Such as the Excize of Beer and Ale, Chimney-Money, &c. to such men as will contract for them, for this is the way to render these Collections one third part less than indeed they are, and consequently his Majesty so much the more in Debt. It cannot be denyed but that all Undertakers or Farmers of his Ma­jesties Revenues, Fish for Profit to themselves, and were they not assured that in probability they might gain to themselves one third Part more than what they engaged to pay, they would never oblige themselves and their Estates to make good what they promise. We may add to this that all Ad­vance-Money upon the Contract or Farme taken, lessens the Revenue so much the more, by how much the more ready Money they do advance be­fore they enter upon their Contract, for it is not to be believed that these [Page 9]men would deposite so great Sums as they do, were it not as a Shooing-horn, the better and easier to draw the Contract (as a Shooe) on their Feet. And though here be no visible Loss of Interest Money to his Majesty by this Anticipation, as in the case of other Loanes (yea rather a seeming visible Profit,) yet the invisible Loss included in the Contract it self, is more than the Profit of double Interest to the Farmer, and consequently more than the Loss of double Interest to his Majesty.

Nor must I omit (though I know it a Digression from the Point in hand) that great reflection upon his Majesties Honour that attends this way of Farming, for under pretence of his Majesties Grant or Commission, the re­spective Farmers skrew and tenter the Subject unto or beyond the Letter or Meaning of the Act of Parliament, yea contrary to Certificates produced from the Justices of the Peace, that they are free'd from Payments by the Act it self, and thereby they render their Lives bitter to them, and their E­states exceeding Poor and Low. Hence comes Clamour, Discontentedness against the present Government, and the Cry of the Poor against their own Trustees. I know that most of these Undertakers are Gentlemen of Quality in their respective Countries, where their Farm lies (though some also are Strangers to the Places, and live far remote) but I know withal that these Gentlemen do not Act in their own Persons, farther than to regulate or methodize their Profit upon the whole Farm, and when that is done, they let out their Farms to Subcontractors, if they can get any that will come up to their Price, so as to ascertain their designed Profit, and if they cannot so do, then they depute the Power of his Majesties grant to them, to Subcollectors for their Uses, who generally are men of small (if any) Reputation in the Countries or Places where they live, and who for the most part do employ such men under them as are much inferiour to them­selves, and altogether unfit to receive any Trust. And these are the men that rake and tear, that grieve and vex the Subject, which the first undertakers and sometimes their Subcontractors and Subcollectors are ashamed to ap­pear in, though yet it be connived at both by the one and the other, to be done by these inferiour Instruments, in order to the improvement of their Farm or Contract, the Profit whereof was the first Bait that inticed them to bite at his Majesties Service, whatever might otherwise be pretended.

Thus I have endeavoured to give you a few of the many Grounds and Causes of his Majesties past and present great Debts, notwithstanding all that large and liberal Aid he hath and doth receive from his Subjects, by seve­ral Acts of Parliament.

I could easily enlarge, and both tire my self, and my Reader in specify­ing many more, which though happily they are or may not be such, and so great as those before mentioned, yet of themselves they are of great Con­cernment, and highly prejudicial to his Majesties Service, by licking up (beyond all Bounds and Reason) his Majesties Treasure, and hurrying him into Debt as I may say, over Shooes and Boots. Such are the Management of his Naval Affairs in the Victualling Office by Contract, too great Salle­ries to subordinate Instruments, want of seasonable Supplies of the Maga­zeens in all his Majesties Yards and Store-Houses, buying all sorts of Pro­visions at extream Rates and Prizes when (and not before) Necessity en­forceth their supply, payment of those Provisions in a long bow of time, furn­ishing the necessity of one Yard or Store-House with the Provisions of an­other [Page 10]Yard after they are laid in there, at exorbitant Rates and Charge, want of due Musters, and in Default thereof Payment, of dead Payes to Captains, Pursers, Imbezellments of Boteswaines, Gunners, and Pur­sers, the abuse of provant Cloaths sold to Seamen prest into the Service, buy­ing poor Seamens Tickets, compounding for Bills and Debentures, when there is Money in the Office to pay them, Diverting his Majesties Treasure to private Uses. These and an hundred more, that with an easie Recollecti­on might be ennumerated, are all tending much to the Disservice of his Majesty, the contracting of greater Debts than needs, the Discouragement of the Subject to serve his Majesty with Provisions, the Discontent of the whole Nation, and the Disappointment of the good Intentions of the Parlia­ment, in laying so many and so great Burthens and Taxes upon the Sub­ject, with design to preserve his Majesty from being in Debt. But in re­gard, all or the most part of these (and those I pass over with Silence) are such as are already in the Hands and Care of Subordinate Instruments, in­trusted with their Regulation and Prevention, I shall rather choose in Si­lence to bury them, than by raking in them, to uncover the Nakedness of those whose Trust is to reform them. And shall proceed in what remains before me, as the Design of this whole Discourse, to wit (if it be possible) to propound such Expedients as (at least in my poor and weak Capacity) may have a Tendency to preserve his Majesties Honour, and to redeem him from those needless growing Debts that now burthen him, and in him the whole Nation. And yet to carry on his Majesties Revenue, Service, and Expence, at as high a Rate of Honour and Value as now it is or can be sup­posed to be, by all those Contrivances and Practices before mentioned.

The whole Charge and Expence of his Majesty may for Methods Sake be looked upon under the Notion of Ordinary or Extraordinary.

I call such Ordinary as refer to his Person, his House, Guards, Buildings, Reparations, Privy-Purse, Intelligences, Negotiations with forraign Prin­ces, Maintenance of his Navy in Harbour, his Garrisons, Fortifications, Building and Repairing of Ships, together with all other things, that are constant Charges upon him, and must be kept and maintained by him, and his Successors, as Kings of England.

I call nothing Extraordinary, but open and Proclaimed War, with one or more Forraign Nations, or Association with Forraign Princes, where­by he is and must be forced to raise an Army, or set out Fleets of Ships to Sea, &c. For the Common Defence of the Nation, preservation of Peace, Trade, &c.

The first of these is already provided for and setled, the Parliament ha­ving given his Majesty twelve hundred thousand Pounds a Year, to enable him to pay and bear all Charges and Expences that may or do attend such things as are of a constant being; and must of Necessity be kept up and main­tained for the preservation of the Nation in time of Peace, and the Honour of his Majesties Person and Court. And I could heartily wish that if what is already setled upon him shall by experience be found too little, more might be added rather than his Majesty be exposed to follow the by-Ways, and De­vices of Byassed Men, to advance Money for his Necessity, and thereby run himself into great Debts, not so easily Discharged as Made. It is a sad Story that the whole Nation of England (I might say three whole Nati­ons) should not be sufficient for the Maintenance of one Man, according [Page 11]to the Nobleness of his Birth, the Dignity of his Office, and the Necessary Expences that attend it, without such Precarious ways before mentioned, that render him (as a borrower) a Servant to the Lender, and yet after all leavs him in a worse Condition than he was at first.

The last of these must be provided for, by Additional and Extraordinary Levyes upon the Nation, according to the Greatness, and Formidableness of the Enemy, the length of the War, &c. As it shall be made known by his Majesty to his Parliament, who are bound seasonably and speedily to sup­ply what they in their Wisdoms find fitting, for the better carrying on of the War, both by Sea and by Land, for the Preservation of his Majesty, and the Honour and Safety of the Nation, &c. Now supposing the first already setled, and the last to be setled by the Parliament: the next Enquiry is how his Majesty may have and enjoy the full proceed of his Revenue already set­led upon him for all ordinary Expences, without Snips, Abatements, De­faulkations or other great Loss or Dammage before it be collected, or after it is Collected before it is paid to him, or to his use, to such Persons as he shall Authorize to receive the same. And how his Parliament may for the future so settle a Reveliue upon his Majesty, for all extraordinary Charges, &c. in case of War, and dispose the Collection, Receipt, Payment, and Ex­pence thereof, and of every part thereof, that the Nation may not be abu­sed, his Majesty Dishonoured, nor his Service Retarded, either for want of Treasure sufficient to bear the Charge, or want of Care and Fidelity, in the Payment of all Expences the War may require.

I put the Collection and Payment of all Treasure, whether for Ordinary Charges in time of Peace, or Extraordinary Expences in time of War to­gether, because the same way to be propounded for the Collection and Pay­ment of all Treasure given or to be given his Majesty for ordinary Expen­ces is (or with little Variation may be) the way and measure of all Collecti­ons for extraordinary Expences in time of War. For the Collection where­of I shall humbly Offer to Consideration these ensuing Propositions (viz.)

1. That all Acts of Parliament already made, whereby his Majesty hath any Revenue from the Nation in General, such as Excize upon Ale and Beer, Hearth-Money, &c. and all future Acts to be made to Levy Money upon the general Body or Bulk of the Nation, for any Cause or Causes whatsoever, either Ordinary or Extraordinary, be declared by the Parliament to be Col­lected in manner and form following. That is to say, First by every Town­ship in the whole Nation, according to the respective Proportions assessed upon them. Secondly, by every Parish containing such and so many Town­ships in that Parish. Thirdly, by every Division containing so many Pa­rishes in that Division. Fourthly, by every Hundred containing so many Divisions as are in that Hundred. Fifthly, by every County containing so many Hundreds as are in that County. And lastly by the whole Nation, containing so many Counties as are in it. As for Cities and other Corpo­rate Places, the way of Collection may be carried by Parishes in that Ci­ty, Corporation, &c. according to the respective Revenues that may arise from each Parish. This is already practised as to all Land Taxes, and needs no Alteration or Amendment.

2. Secondly, That two able and sufficient Men Inhabitants of each Township, be required by the Deputy Lieutenants, Justices of the Peace, or other Commissioners to Assess themselves and the rest of the Inhabitants [Page 12]of each Township, Parish or Division, in every Hundred, and enable to Collect what is so by them Assessed, proportionably to the whole Sum laid upon that Hundred or Division, and those Parishes and Townships within the same. This also is the Method of former Times, as to all Land-Taxes, and cannot be put in a better way.

3. Thirdly, That this Money or Treasure, thus Collected, may remain, and be in all and every part thereof, in the Hands of the said Collectors, re­spectively, for and till such time as it be required from them by such Trea­surers as shall be Impowred to receive and pay, or Assign it to be received and paid to such Men to whom the same or any part thereof shall appear to be due from his Majesty upon any accompt whatsoever, according to the re­spective Trust of the said Treasurers, and the due and ordinary Form of that Place and Office, wherein they are Intrusted as Treasurers, and not other­wise, whether they be Treasurers at War, or for the Army, the Navy, the Houshold or any other Treasurers whatsoever, legally warranted to re­ceive and pay his Majesties Treasure and Debts.

More than this needs not be said or done, with Reference to the Colect­ing of all Aids whatsoever in all Townships, Parishes, Divisions, Hun­dreds and Counties of the whole Nation. And more than these, two able and sufficient Men, are needful to be appointed as Collectors thereof, in their respective Townships, who are best able to know and Determine how ma­ny Chimnies are in each House of that Township, and how many Ale-Hou­ses or Brewers and Drawers of Ale and Beer, do inhabit therein, having the Acts of Parliament to direct them what to do for the one, and Instru­ctors from the Justices or other Commissioners for the Hundred, what to Impose upon the other, either by the Strike of Mault spent, or by the Barrel of Ale drawn, &c.

In this way propounded his Majesty shall be sure to have his full Revenue Collected, and deposited in good Hands ready to be paid to such as by his Authority, shall Assign the same or any part thereof, to all or any of his Creditors, to whom they shall give their Assignations free of all Charge to his Majesty, not only for Collecting, but also for paying of the same. For they do not more, nor so much as the Collectors for the Poor, or the Church­wardens of every Parish, do or ought to do. And by this way it will easily appear not only what the whole Sum of all and every Aid granted or to be granted to his Majesty, will or doth amount unto in every Township, Parish, Division, Hundred, and County of the whole Kingdom; but may also hap­pily discover, that whereas his Majesty now loseth one fourth, if not the third Part of his Aids given him by Anticipations, Loanes at Interest, Ex­traordinary Prizes for Provisions, Interest Money for Payments in Course, Fees to Collect, and Charges to Remit them after Collections, Fees upon Receipt and Payment of them, Contracts with Farmers and Undertakers, and twenty things more that I list not to mention. He shall now have not only all or the most part of those Expences saved, and his Revenue setled and determined what it is, but also the same augmented some hundred thou­sand Pounds by the Year, every Year so long as it shall be continued.

This may satisfy for the way of Collecting his Majesties Treasure whe­ther for Hearths or Excize, and in general of all other Aids whatsoever, that are or may be given him by his Parliament, and laid upon the Nation in General.

[Page 13]As to the Payment of this Treasure, thus Collected and Lodged in the Subjects own Hands (which will much content them,) I shall further offer to Consideration these Propositions following, which I doubt not will con­tent and please them much more, if due Care and Fidelity be had and used therein.

1. First, That the Treasurers both of the Navy, Army, and Houshold or other Treasurers of his Majesties Revenues respectively, be required and enabled by Act of Parliament to receive and Pay the same, as the Sole Trustees thereof, for the Use and Service of his Majesty, and for no other Use or Service whatsoever.

2. Secondly, That all Treasures, Aydes and Collections so Vested in the said Treasurers, by the several Acts of Parliament, shall not be diverted or paid by them or any of them, to any other Use or Service, than for the Ser­vices proper and peculiar to their respective Trusts, whether in the Army, Navy, Houshold, &c. Or by any other Order or Warrant, than the or­dinary Warrant of three or more of the Commissioners for the Treasury, three or more of the Commissioners of the Navy, &c. And that if they or any of them, shall presume to pay any part thereof, to any other Use than the Payment of his Majesties due Debts, according to their several Trusts, by any other Order or Warrant, than the ordinary Warrant of that Of­fice, whereof they are Treasurers, that they by the said Act, he or they shall be liable to such Punishment as his Majesty with his Parliament shall think fit to lay upon him or them, for his or their Breach of Trust in that behalf. And that the Auditors of their Accounts, respectively be requi­red and impowred by the said Act or Acts of Parliament, not to give him or them any Allowance of any of his Majesties Treasure so paid by any ex­trajudicial Warrant, or Order upon any Pretence whatsoever, upon all or any of their present or succeeding Accompts, upon pain of losing their Places, and suffering what other Punishment his Majesty and his Parlia­ment shall think fit.

3. Thirdly, That the Commissioners of each County nominated in the said Act or Acts, be impowred and required speedily to send up to the said Treasurers, under the Hands and Seals of six or more of them, a List or Certificate of what Sum or Sums of Money are Due and Payable to his Majesty by the said County, as their Part of the whole Sum granted for three or six Months, according to the several Acts for the same, and therein de­clare how the same is by them and their fellow-Commissioners, distribu­ted into so many Hundreds as are in that County, and into so many Divi­sions as are in each Hundred, and into so many Parishes as are in each Di­vision, and into so many Townships as are in each Parish. And to signify in the said Certificate the Names of the respective Collectors of every Town­ship, together with the distinct Sums of Money charged upon them, and Collected by them, whether for the Hearth Money, Excize, or the Navy distinctly, whereby the said Treasurers may at one view, have and see not only the full Sum payable by every Hundred in the said County, but also by every Division in the said Hundred, every Parish in the said Division, and every Township in the said Parish for three Months, and where and in whose Hands the same and every part thereof is Lodged for his Maje­sties Service.

4. Fourthly, That the like Certificate or List be also sent up to the said [Page 14]Treasurors under Hands and Seals of two or more of the Commissioners of every City or Town Corporate, chargable in the said Act or Acts, with a­ny part of that Sum that is charged upon each County, as part or member thereof for three Months.

5. Fifthly, That when the Treasurer of the Navy, or any other Treasu­rer hath received the aforesaid Lists, Certificate, or Duplicates of every Coun­ty, Hundred, Division, Rape, Wapentake, City, and Town in the whole Kingdom, charged with all or any part of the Sum mentioned in the said Act or Acts, he or they the said Treasurers be further required, and by the said Acts Impowred to give publick Notice at the common Office of the Na­vy or other Places, where their respective Trusts are to be executed, to all men that have or shall sell any Provisions, Commodities, Goods, or Wares to his Majesty, or others Authorized by him for his Use in the Navy, or a­ny other Place, where his Service requires them, and are thereby become Creditors to his Majesty, for any Sum of Money whatsoever, that they and every of them shall forthwith bring to his, and their Offices respectively, all such Bills, Orders, Warrant, or Debentures Signed and Attested in the due form of the Office of the Navy, Army, Houshold, &c. by three or more of those that are or shall be Authorized to give Warrant for all Payments referring to their particular and respective Trusts, and there to put their Hands as for the Receipt of so much Money as shall justly appear to be due upon the same, after due Examination had thereof by the said Treasurers and their Deputies and Instruments, and after Defaulkation made of all Im­prests formerly paid thereupon.

6. Sixthly, That the said Treasurers be in like manner Impowred and Required by the said Acts to call for and take up all Bills of Impresses Signed and paid in the due form of their several Offices, to any Person or Persons that have or shall contract for any Provisions, referring to the Navy, Ar­my, Houshold, &c. to be afterwards supplyed and served into his Maje­sties Stores for the present and future Service.

7. Sevently, That the said Treasurers for the time being, respectively be required and by the said Acts Impowred upon Receipt and Delivery of all and every such Bills of Emptions or other ordinary Warrants, Debentures, &c. to give to the respective Parties from whom they do or shall receive the same, one or more Assignations under his or their Hands and Seals, up­on one or more of the said Counties, Hundreds, Divisions, Parishes and Townships, most remore from London, of so much of his Majesties Trea­sure vested in them by the said Acts, as shall Pay and Discharge each Mans Bill or Debenture, Order or Warrant, therein Charging, and in his Majesties Name requiring all to whom the said Assignations shall come or concern, to pay the same to him or them, or their lawful Assigns upon sight thereof, if then due, or so soon as the same shall appear to be, and grow due, by and from the said Counties, Hundreds, Divisions, Parishes and Townships by Vertue of the said Act or Acts of Parliament.

Which Assignation so Signed and Sealed as aforesaid, shall be (and by the said Acts shall be expressed to be) as good and sufficient Security to the respective Parties, for their several Debts due from his Majesty, as if they had still kept their Bills and Debentures for the same, and upon Payment thereof by the County, Hundred, Division, Parish, and Township, and the Collectors thereof respectively, upon whom it is charged or drawn, the like [Page 15]good and sufficient Security, and Discharge for and to the said County, Hundred, Division, Parish, and Township, and the respective Collectors, and all other men whatsoever concerned therein, as if they and every of them had paid the same according to former Custom, to the high Collector, Receiver General, or Farmers of his Majesties Revenues.

8. Eightly, That the said Treasurers be enabled by the said Acts (if the Parties shall desire it) to include in one and the same Assignation, as one in­tire Sum, all such Money as shall appear due, to or upon eight, ten, twelve or more Bills or Debentures, Orders or Warrants to 8. 19. 12. or more men that shall amicably Consent and Agree among themselves, to employ one or more men for them all, to receive the Sum assigned from the respective Counties, Hundreds, Divisions, Parishes and Townships, provided that they and every of the said Treasurers do specify in the body of his and their Assignations each mans distinct Name, Bill and Sum of Money due to him in particular, though he chargeth the County, &c. but with one Total.

9. Ninthly, That all Commissioners nominated in and by the said Acts for all and every County, be required to be Aiding and Assisting to all and every such Person or Persons, that shall present or produce to them or any of them, any Assignation upon that County, Hundred, Division, Parish, or Township within the same, by giving Warrants of Distress to all Consta­bles and other Officers in case of Refusal or Delay of Payment thereof af­ter the same shall appear due to his Majesty or his Assigns by the respective Acts of Parliament.

10. Tenthly, That the Comptroller of the Navy, &c. for the time be­ing (or such other Person or Persons as his Majesty and the Parliament shall think fit to appoint) be Required and Impowred by vertue of the said Acts, to take and keep an exact Counter-Check, or Book of Accompts, by way of Charge and Discharge, or Creditor and Debtor, of all Bills, Debentures, Orders and Warrants, that shall be taken up by the said Treasurers re­spectively, and of all Assignations thereupon given by them or any of them, to all or any of his Majesties Subjects or Creditors, therein specifying the particular Sums of Money due to the respective Persons upon the said Bills, &c. and payable by the said Assignations, to them or their lawful Assigns, by and from the respective Counties, Hundreds, Divisions, Parishes, and Townships, as the same shall grow due to his Majesty, by Vertue of the said Acts, for Beer and Ale, Chymnies, or any other thing or way whatsoever. And that no Bill, Debenture, Order, or Warrant be taken in by them or any of them the said Treasurers, nor any Assignation be thereupon given by the said Treasurers or any of them without the Presence, Privity. Ap­probation, and Attestation of the said Comptroller, or such other Person or Persons, as his Majesty and his Parliament, shall please to appoint in and by the said Acts.

These things premised, I shall endeavour to vindicate this Proposition from some of those Objections that may be made against it, either as not Practicable at all, or if it be, yet with so much Disadvantage and Dammage to his Majesty, that it will not become the Honour of his Majesty, nor the Wisdom of the Parliament to settle it after this manner.

1. It may be said that all his Majesties Treasure ought regularly to be brought into, and lodged in his Exchequer before it be Issued to any par­ticular Service, &c.

[Page 16] To which I Answer.

That I am not at all against the way of the Exchequer, when the Ser­vice may admit of Formalities without Prejudice to its self (which ought in the first place to be regarded) but if the Aides and Revenues setled or to be setled upon his Majesty, whether Land Taxes, Hearth Money, Excize, or any other of the nature of these, referring to the Nation in General, cannot be Collected nor Paid into his Majesties Exchequer, without the loss of much Time, and the expence of too much of the same Treasure, and that by this or any other way that may be found out, his Majesty shall not only expedite the Collection as to time, but also facilitate, if not totally annihilate the Charge and Loss that attends its Transmission into the Exchequer: I see no Reason, why we should so far dote upon a Formality (especially in time of War) as to expose his Majesty to so great and insufferable a Loss, only to keep up that Observance in strict Mode and Form.

2. Nor indeed is the Treasure of Hearth Money, and Excize, paid at pre­sent into his Majesties Exchequer, as by the Objection it is supposed it ought to be, but they are both farmed to several Undertakers, and the Money con­tracted for, is paid by them into the Exchequer, and no more. And what his Majesty gains by farming of them, is easy to be told. It is true, he saves the Charge of Collecting, and Remitting it into his Exchequer, by these Con­tracts, but it is as true that the Remedy is by so much worse than the Disease, by how much his Majesties Loss, in and by these Contracts and Farmes, is greater than the Charge of Collecting and Remitting the Trea­sure into his Exchequer. Whereas in the Way Proposed, his Majesty shall be at no Charge in Collecting, nor yet in Paying into or out of his Exche­quer, what shall be Collected for his Service, and besides all this, the In­sufferable Loss that now he undergoes by Farming, shall also be saved.

3. Suppose it Convenient to Lodge all his Majesties Treasure in his Exche­quer, when it may be done without loss of Time, or Expence of Treasure, as the common Receptacle of his Majesties whole Revenue, doth it there­fore follow, that it may not be paid elswhere, when both these Inconveni­ences that now attend it, may thereby be prevented; if it were paid into the Exchequer, must it not be paid from thence to satisfy his Majesties Debts, to the same Men that this Proposition designs it for, and when it is Paid do not all Instruments employed in the Exchequer, discharge themselves of it in their Accompts, by those Bills and Debentures, Orders, and Warrants, that give them Power so to pay it.

The Design of the Exchequer, is principally for the Accompts of his Ma­jesties Revenues, and not so much for the Receipt of the Treasure it self; Now if the Accompts of his Majesties Treasure, may be made in his Exchequer, as regularly as if it had been brought thither in Specie, though it never came there (as all Farmes, and Contracts for these Aides never did) then there can be nothing of Prejudice to his Majesties Service in this Proposition, though by it the Treasure be designed to be paid where it is Collected, to wit, in Yorke, Plymouth, Bristol, Yarmouth, and all other Places of the Nation: The Truth is, none but Men Interested in the Receit of these Aides, will make this Objection, nor they neither, but as it refers to their private Pro­fit, by being paid there, and no where else, and by themselves, and no other Men.

[Page 17]4. Nor is the way propounded, altogether a Stranger to the Practise of late Times. There are many yet living, that do know, and can well re­member that in the Years 1635. 36. 37. 38 and 39. all the Treasure that was then required and advanced by his then Majesty, from his Subjects, un­der the Name and Notion of Ship-Money, was by special Order from his Majesty and Council, Vested in the Hands, of the then Treasurer of the Navy, who was by special Order, Enabled to Receive and Pay the same, without ever being brought into the Exchequer, and Limited to Pay all and every Part thereof; to and for the Use and Debts of the Navy (as Ship-Mo­ney) and not otherwise, as Part of the ordinary Charge of the Navy, or a­ny Ships thereof employed at Sea, in all or any of these Years. And upon this Account it was that his Majesty would not suffer it to be brought into his Exchequer, that it might not be diverted to any other Service, than the Ser­vice of Ship-Money, so called, that he might the better satisfy his Subjects, that what he did in Levying that Treasure from them, was in Order to their own Preservation, and not at all for any private Advantage to himself.

5. Yea give me Leave to tell you, that at present his Majesties Reve­nue of the Customs, and Imposts, though it lies so near Westminster, that it may without much loss of Time or Expence of Monies, be paid in­to his Majesties Exchequer, yet (for the greatest Part thereof) it is not so Paid, nor doth it follow, that what part thereof is not Paid in there, must of Necessity be Issued thence, and from no other Place whatsoever, for the Use of his Majesties Service; But the common Way is for all Gold-Smiths, and others that do lend his Majesty any Money at Interest, to carry on his Services, before his own Revenue be Collected, to strike Tallies upon the Commissioners or Farmers of the Customs, &c. for their respective Loanes, with Interest Included in those Tallies, and they do receive their Debts, not from the Exchequer, but from the Treasurer of the Customs, as the same shall grow due upon their Tallies. Now if this Course hath been, is, and may be Practised for the future, without Prejudice to his Majesties Service, though the Revenues of the Customs be not Paid into his Majesties Exche­quer, I would humbly demand why the same Latitude may not be given and taken for the Payment of his Majesties Revenues of Hearth-Mony, Ex­cize or Land Taxes in any other place of the Nation, by Assignation, from the respective Treasurers, in whose Hands the same is Vested by Act of Par­liament, which is to them as good a Warrant (if not a greater) than any Talley stricken in his Majesties Exchequer, can be to the Commissioners of the Customs, especially considering that by this Means his Majesty shall save the Interest Money allowed the Goldsmiths or others, upon their respective Tallies, and also the charge of Collecting and Paying it into his Exchequer, and the Fees allowed upon its Receipt there, and Payment thence. And that the Subject shall reap the Benefit of the speedy Payment, without much Charge or Trouble.

6. If it be said the Way propounded, must needs be very Chargable, Ha­zardous and Troublesom to the Subject before he can possibly compass his Assignation, or the Money Payable thereby, &c.

I Answer.

1. That though I propound the Treasure to be Paid in the Country, and [Page 18]not out of the Exchequer, nor yet by the respective Treasurers that are now trusted to Receive and Pay the same, but by private Men that have the Money in their Hands, and to such as bring to them Assignations for it from the Treasurers, yet these Men that Receive it, are such Men as have Con­tracted Debts to themselves by Provisions, &c. Sold to his Majesties Use, or for Service done him, and such as (before they had their Assignations for it) had Bills, Debentures, Orders, and Warrants for their respective Debts, in the ordinary Way of the Offices of the Navy, Army, Houshold, &c. And such as did by their Receipts to them acknowledg full Satisfaction of them, upon the Delivery of their premised Assignations, and being such and so quallified, what is the Difference between their Receiving their Money or Debts at York (if they be content there to take it) or at London, at a Gold­smiths Shop, upon a Ticket or Assignation from the same Man or Treasu­rer, especially considering that the first is setled (as I propound it to be) by Act of Parliament, and the last is a Design of the Treasurers and their In­struments (never practised till a few Years Past.) Is it not better and more easie for the Subject to take and Receive his Debt, where he knows it is al­ready Lodged by Act of Parliament (though far distant from London) than to dance Attendance upon the Treasurer and his Instruments many Months before he can procure an Assignation to the Goldsmith, and when he hath it, to be as far from his Debt as he was before, unless, &c.

2. But Secondly. The Novelty of this Proposition, doth not render it im­practicable for the Subject, nor doth it follow, that because it was never ex­perimented, nor so much as Propounded before, that it may not be propound­ed now, and practised hereafter, if upon due and serious Consideration had thereupon, it shall be found both Honourable and Highly Beneficial to his Majesty, the Parliament, and the Subject, to make Use of it.

As to his Majesty, I dare boldly (yet humbly) Affirm that in the two set­led Aides of Hearth-Money, and Excize, he shall save (what is now lost) some hundred thousand of Pounds by the Year, and could without much Difficulty make it appear by an Induction of Particulars, were it need­ful, and not too much reflecting upon Interested Men.

As to the Parliament, the Way proposed will enable them to see what they have given to his Majesty by this or that Aid, and to determine upon View thereof, whether it be needful for them to grant him more, yea or not, which (as it is now carryed) they are not able to do, for though they know they have given him the Excize upon Ale, the Hearth Money, and other Aids and Revenues, yet they neither do nor can know, what one, both, all, or any one of these Aids do mount unto in the Total by the Year, and for want thereof are necessitated to Act upon an Implicite Faith, in giving more when it may be what they have already given, is enough.

As to the Subject, the way proposed is no more (nor indeed so much) as he voluntarily puts himself upon, in his Trading and Dealing with all Chapmen, in all parts of the Kingdom, to whom after he hath Sold and Trusted his Goods, he doth constantly once or twice every Year make his Application in his own Person, or by his Instruments, to Collect and Re­ceive his Debts from them, wheresoever they Dwell, and oft times with ill Success, when the Debter by ill Husbandry or other Cross, or Casualty, is become Poor and Insolvent (which yet in the way Proposed can never be supposed in his Majesty or the Parliament) yea we know that all Mer­chants [Page 19]that Trade for Ireland, Spain, France, the Streights, Barbadoes, Vir­ginia, New England, yea the East Indies do run great Hazards, and are at greater Trouble and Charge in procuring their Debts, than possibly are or can be Imagined to be, attending those that do or shall trust his Majesty in the Navy, Army, or Houshold, if this way of Assignations for their re­spective Debts were vigorously put into Practise, and they thereby assured, that upon Demand of their Money, due upon their respective Assignations, they should be duly and punctually paid without Snips, Fees, Gratuities, Delayes, or other Abatements, or Charges whatsoever, other than their necessary Expences, to Collect and Receive them.

What better Security can they have or desire to have than the King, Lords and Commons? what quicker Payment, than from the Collectors of every Township, Parish, Division, Hundred or County? what greater Power than upon Denial or Delay to distrein the Parties Goods, and sell them be­fore his Face, and that by Authority of the Parliament, and that not so much by himself, as the Constable or other Officer, upon the place re­quired, and impowred by Act of Parliament so to do. Add to this that all or most Tradesmen in London, that shall or may serve his Majesty with Provisions for the Navy, Army, Houshold, &c. came first out of the seve­ral Counties of England and Wales, to be Apprentices there, and still have their respective Friends, Relations, and Acquaintance remaining there, by whose Insluence their Charge and Trouble may be much Facilitated. And I do not understand why those that either do or shall deal with his Ma­jesty or his Commissioners for his Use, should not as equally be content to take their Debts or Assignations from private Men, where those Men have it for them, as from other private Men of the same place, to whom they have Sold, and voluntarily Trusted their Goods, &c, Especially considering that his Majesty not only hath it there, where it is assigned them, but also that his Majesty and his Parliament, have of purpose Lodged it there, that it might not be diverted from them to any Use or Purpose whatsoever.

Moreover, if once the Subject finds the Benefit, Security, and Sweetness of this way of Payment, and be thereby encouraged to deal farther with his Majesties Commissioners, or other Officers, as knowing by Experience their Assignations certain and punctual (as to Payment) then the said Commissioners and Officers may and shall make their Contracts at easier Rates, by at least 8 l. per Cent. in the Price, than now they either do or can do, (besides the unserviceableness of the Provision it self) for every Man is at present loath to deal with his Majesties Officers, for any considerable quantity of Goods, unless they be prickt forward thereto by the profit of 20 per Cent. in the Price, more than they would willingly sell the same Com­modity for to a private Man, if that Man be a good solvent and punctual Man as to his Payment, whereas if his Majesties Payment were certain, they would then seek the Service of his Majestie. Officers and Commissioners should never want any Provision they desire to have, better for and at far easier Rates than now they can procure them, by reason of the uncertain Way of Payment, and these not be named Snips, Abatements, and Allowan­ces (besides the length of time) that are and must be made before they can compass their Money.

I shall further add that if it were true that the Subject should (by the way Proposed) be at as great a Charge and Trouble as his Majesty is now at in [Page 20]remitting his Treasure into his Exchequer (which yet cannot rationally be imagined) yet is it not better that 20000 Men or more should divide and bear the Charge and Loss among themselves, than that the whole Bur­then should lye upon one Mans Shoulder, or his Majesties single Person, e­specially considering, (as we say) that the Medium will bear it (as to them) I mean that the Profit in the Price of their Provisions will bear it, and much more, whereas his Majesty loseth what he loseth, be it more or less, out of the quick Stock. I mean his setled Revenue.

Let me further say, that it is safer and more rational (yea it is practical in all common Nusances,) that some few Men in the Nation, should ra­ther bear the Loss and Charge of that Nusance, than that the whole Na­tion should suffer under it, as they do in the Case in Hand. For to speak plainly, it is not so much his Majesty that loseth what is lost (though that be a Truth in some Sence) as the People of the Nation that pay it, who indeed pay and lose it twice over. First out of their Purses and E­states, by paying it according to the Act, and Secondly in its not being em­ployed upon the Service for which the Act requires it.

In short, I am partly confident, and for the greatest part thereof could make it appear (were it not to avoid Offence) that his Majesty loseth the fourth, if not the third Part of all his Treasure given him by several Acts of Parliament, before it can arrive to a nett Payment in the due Form of all Offices, and we know that the one fourth Part of two Millions, is in the whole 500000 l. Now whether it be safe for his Majesty or his Parliament to suffer so great a Dammage to attend the Service upon which the Welfare of the whole Nation depends, if they can prevent it, I humbly submit to their more serious Consideration, and shall only say that by means of this Proposition, the Treasurer of the Navy, and all other Treasurers may be constantly furnished with Treasure sufficient, and more than enough to pay off all growing Debts upon his Majesty, whether by Interest or other­wise, and after a more especial manner, that devouring Monster of Seamens Wages before mentioned, so soon as the respective Fleets or Ships shall be safe at their Moarings, the want whereof in the late War with the Dutch, was a most intollerable Disservice to his Majesty.

To conclude, I shall humbly leave it to the Wisdom of his Majesty, and his Parliament, to consider that the way proposed cuts off all Capability in the respective Treasurers of Diverting all or any part of his Majesties Trea­sure, already or hereafter to be granted to him, to or for any other Use or Uses than the Payment of his Majesties Debts, duly made in their respective Offices, to which it is assigned, which (if I mistake not) no other way as yet Proposed or Practised can prevent or disappoint. And if there were no­thing else of Weight or Worth in this Proposition, that might invite its en­tertainment; Yet this it self duly considered, is enough to out-Ballance all Objections, that are or can be made against it. The Truth is, though I could frame as many Objections against the Way proposed, as most of those that shall set themselves to oppose it, yet I cannot see any of them, of that weight and consideration that some may think them to be, and truly if I did, I should readily relinquish all Thoughts upon it, as Idle and Vain, having no De­sign by it, either against any mans Person or Welfare, or for any private Profit or Preferment to my self, but intirely to serve his Majesty and my Country, as becometh a dutiful Subject in these Distracted Times which [Page 21]call aloud for every mans Help to preserve his Majesty from Debt and Dis­honour, and his Subjects from all unnecessary Burthens. If his Majesty and Parliament shall not think fit to make use of it, I can as well content my self, as if they did, I shall acquiesce in their deep Wisdom, though yet I think I shall never live to see his Majesty freed from those Debts that are now upon him, and do and will grow more and greater, notwithstanding, all the forementioned Ways and Means now used to free him from them; Interest Money, and other Improvidences not fit to be named, though yet notoriously known, being as equally destructive to his Majesties Revenues, as they are to a private Mans Estate, if not truly and carefully prevented.