May it please your Lordship to give Order, That no further proceedings in this business be, but before, His Majesty and his Privy Council at White-hall; and if His Majesty and Privy Council give judgement against what I say to be true, I will lose my life, when they hear this business examiued.

WHereas the Merchants of London are endeavouring to get an Act of Parliament, to have liberty to export Gold and Sil­ver freely without the Kings Majesties and his most Honou­rable Privy Councils leave, I humbly propound, for His Majesties ser­vice and the safety, and honour of his Majesty, that these humble Propo­sals might be considered of before any further proceedings on that busi­ness be made. That his Majesty and his honourable Privy Council be pleased to keep intire in their own hands the Licencing of all Gold and Silver after it is imported into this Kingdom, to be exported or Coined, as they shall see just cause, for the safety of the Nation, and safety and honour of his Majesty and the Lords of his Council, and the safety and benefit of all his Majesties Subjects of what condition soever; and be­ing setled in the Crown so many hundred years by Acts of Parliament, as I shall prove it, this great and Sacred trust be no way altered, especi­ally at this Juncture of time, this Kingdom being robbed of almost all its Gold and a great part of the Silver Coin, for the private profit of particular persons, to the weakning of the Nation and the destruction of Trade▪ this Royal trust being one of the prime flowers of the Crown, and the very soul of the Militia, and it a right inherent onely in the King and his Privy Council, and there onely deposited for many hun­dreds of Years; whereby the King (only) by the Law can give leave and licence to transport Gold and Silver after it is imported into the King­dom▪ and that if you ever suffer this Roial trust to be managed by the Merchant, and suffer all persons by Act of Parliament to be free to transport Gold or Silver, either in Coin or Bullion, after it is imported and landed in England.

You take away one of the principal Prerogatives and flowers of the Crown, destroying his Majesties Mint in the Tower of London, and [Page 9] lay a sad foundation to give some factious Merchants of this Kingdom a ground to make new disturbances, and leave the Nation weak and na­ked of all Gold and Silver.

The granting the Merchants this power they desire, will bring a thou­sand mischiefs both on the King and Kingdom, which God defend. In all ages, till these Phanatick daies, the Gold and Silver after it was landed in the Kingdom, was held the Blood and Sinews of War and Peace, the Militia and strength of the Kingdom.

I shall humbly present unto you these following Reasons for keeping this power intire in your Majesty and Privy Council, and the King, Lords, and Commons cannot be safe to suffer any other person, upon any pre­tence whatsoever of the Crafty Merchant, to have the disposals at their will, and for their private lucre to have the power by Act of Parlia­ment, to transport Gold or Silver either to the Indies, or other forraign Countries, or to any part of Christendom.

Without your Majesties licence and order to take an exact account of what quantity of Gold or Silver is transported, to what Country, the Ship, with the Ships masters name, either to the Indies, or any forraign Princes Country in Christendom, or to any State, or Commonwealth; that so upon reasons of State, they may either inlarg his Licences to the Merchant, or straighten them according as the King and his Privy Council in their great wisdom shall think fit.

Your Majesty and Privy Council ever having regard that the King­dome have alwayes such plenty of Gold and Silver as may be for the honour of the King, and safety of the people, and to maintain Trade and Comerce in the Kingdom, to pay Rents, Customs, Excise, and Subsidies, to be a strength and an honour to the Kingdom, and the King and his Privy Council to take the care to hinder Gold and Silver to be trans­ported to the Kings enemies.

And of all and every part of these Heads and Branches, and real Prero­gatives; in all Ages the King, and none but the King, and his Privy Council, by Acts of Parliament, are the onely proper Iudges at their will, discretion and pleasure, for the safety of the Kingdom, and no other person whatsoever.

Upon the several Reasons of the Merchants to his Majesty and his pri­vy Council, and upon their petition and request the King can dispence with the penalty of the Law, and give the Merchant licence to trans­port onely such quantities of Gold or Silver, either forraign Coin or Ingots, or the currant Coin of the Kingdom, either in Gold or Silver, as [Page 11] the King and his privy Council shall think fit, for to carry on the Mer­chants trade in Christendom, and out of Christendom, to strengthen his Majesties friends, and offend his foes; and this is an undoubted right of his Majesties Crown, and cannot be dispenced with, or deposited into the Merchants hands, or any other Subjects, either Lords spiritual or tem­poral, but to the dishonour of his Majesty and all the good people of the Kingdom, I do humbly prove it true for these Reasons follow­ing.

If any person, of what degree soever, transport Gold or Silver without the Kings licence, the Laws and Statutes heretofore hath made it Felo­ny, both for Bishops, Noblemen, or Commons, as I shall shew by the St atutes hereafter following, afterwards a praemunire, and at this day forfeiture and imprisonment during the Kings pleasure, viz. 9 Edward 3. 2 Henry 4, cap. 4, 2 Henry 6, cap. 6. 18. Edw. 4, 1 Henry 8. 5 and 6 of Edw. 6.

When the Kings Majesty hath War with any Prince, by the Law the King may prohibit the Merchant to export Corn, Armes, Ammu­nition to them, or any other Commodities: the Law provides the pro­hibiting the exportations of Wool, Fullers earth, and Timber, as be­ing destructive to the Nation.

Gold and Silver by the Law is free for any man to import, at what place he please to land it, without paying any Duty or Custome, the reason whereof is, that the Merchant is obliged to Coin it, and upon the Coinage the King hath his duty paid, but once being landed, it cannot be transported but with leave from his Majesty, or the forfeiture being ta­ken, and the party claiming the Gold and Silver so taken on shipboard, to be committed to prison without Bail, till the King or his privy Coun­cil please to discharge him: This is the Law, this the Custome, before these mad Phanatick daies that we had no King in Israel.

And this in all Ages was the practice both in your Exchequer and the Star chamber, for otherwise the Merchant, for his private profit would send all the Gold and Silver out of the Nation, and make the Kings pro­clamation wait upon the Merchants Exchange, as at this day it is with the Gold: The Merchants and some Goldsmiths have raised Gold a­bove the Kings proclamation: may it please your Majesty, we want a Star chamber to punish them. I humbly leave it to consideration, no Gold to be had under one shilling six pence in twenty shillings, more then silver; I humbly pray an Act might pass this present Parliament against this abuse of the Gold Coin, and several other abuses and cheats [Page 10] put on the Nobility and Gentry by the adulterating and undue making Gold and Silver Lace in London, whereby the wearers are daily cozened by course flight adulterate Gold and Silver, and by putting a slight body of Silver on a great threed of silk, to the damage of this Nation, above fifty thousand pound a year, as I will prove it to your Majesty and your Privy Council; and this is done for want of a Regulation of the Work-masters and Workmen in London that make Gold and Silver Lace, without an Essay, or Finenesse, or proportion of Silver to Silk.

I humbly desire your Lordships to consider what a loss the King will have in his Customes, to suffer Gold and Silver to be exported at the pleasure of the Merchant, and pay no Custome; here will be, for the profit of particular Merchants, a Trade driven both inwards and out­wards, and the King have neither Excise nor Custome; for all the World knows, Gold and silver payes no duty inwards, it is free to be imported at the pleasure of the Merchant, when and how, and where he please, for the reasons abovesaid:

And if you give the Merchant leave to transport the Gold and Silver freely he imports, what is the King the better by this Trade of the Mer­chants, either inwards or outwards? let this be granted to the Mer­chants, to send out Silver and Gold freely, for their private profit, and in a few years they will leave neither Gold nor Silver in the Nation.

May it please your Majesty, It is profit that is some Merchants guide, not honour, nor the safety of the Nation, and this is most apparent by some mens actions and demands, touching this great businesse; The King will lose in point of His Excise, and Customs, for if the Merchant invest his Silver and Gold in Merchandies, the King hath thereby His Excise and Customs: the King will lose in point of His Mintage; if no money be coyned, no profit by coynage: this hath made the Mint, a great part of their Work-houses fall down: It is for the Kings honour to have His Kingdoms full of Gold and Silver, for His, and the Subjects de­fence.

And if this Fanatick project should take, the King loses one of the principal prerogatives of His Crown, and Dignity; for those that have the command of the peoples purses, have the principal part of the Mi­litia.

This is a Common-wealth trick, but tends to the undoing of a King, in all Countries where the Merchants can set up a banck, and transport money freely, as at Amsterdam; have not these men the command of the Militia, they are the peoples Princes, and virtually the Banckers have the [Page 11] power, riches, and strength of the Common-wealth, let who will have the Title, the Prince of Orange, and the Duke of Venice, &c. but the Banker, and the hogan mogan Merchants have the power.

The reason is clear, they have got the people by the money, and leave them nothing but some Stivers, and base money to buy victuals; and indeed the people have nothing but a paper credit; in a Kingdome the Merchants will never put up a banck, least the King should seize on it all, they will not allow a King to do that they practice.

And I humbly say, it is not for the safety of the King, nor Lords, to let the Merchants have liberty to transport Silver or Gold at their plea­sure, to forreign Bancks, and Common-wealths, least the Merchants in a year or two put the same trick on the King, and Kingdom, for all their current Silver, as at this day they have done for all the Gold of the Na­tion. Let the greatnesse of the Merchant be as a Hand-maid to the Kings greatnesse, and ever subordinate to the King.

Or else a confederation of twenty Merchants and Goldsmiths, shall make the English shilling, in spite of the Kings Proclamation, and against His Crown, and Dignity, and in despite of an Act of Parliament, to go for 13. d. every English shilling; twenty shillings, for twenty one shil­lings eight pence; let but the Merchants make Silver a Merchandize, as the Goldsmiths and Merchants have already done Gold.

I beseech your Majesty to observ your Royal Father of blessed memory, never did by His Proclamation, or at his Mint in the Tower, raise the Gold coined at above twenty shillings a peece in payment. Doth not the Statute 5. and 6. of Edw. the sixth, make it forfeiture of the value, for any person whomsoever, to utter, or put off Gold or Silver money at above the Kings Proclamation, and imprisonment during the Kings pleasure? Do not above ten Proclamations say the same? this is the known Law. Yet at this day, by the confederation of some Merchants and Gold­smiths, in spite of this Law and Proclamations, for the Merchants and Goldsmiths private profit, the current Gold is not by any person to be had, a twenty shilling peece under 21. s. 4. d. 21. s. 6. d. 21. s. 8. d.

Your Majesty shall receive a hundred thousand pounds in Silver, and not have a twenty shilling peece in Gold in a payment in the Exchequer. What is the reason the Merchants and Goldsmiths have made it a Mer­chandize? they have against your Majesties Lawes, to your weakning, and dishonour, and against your Majesties Imperial Crown, and Digni­ty, robbed You, and the Kingdom, of all the Gold; broke your Royal Statutes and Proclamations, beggered your Majesties Mint.

And these very men that have thus abused your Majesty, after all this licentiousnesse, are so bold to desire to steal one of the prime Flowers out of your Majesties Crown.

Which is by having an Act of Parliament, that they might freely, and at their will transport Gold and Silver, at their pleasure; they will (if they could get this great power into their hands) leave neither Gold nor Silver in the Nation, but light and clip'd money, groats, ninepences, and thir­teenpence-half-pennies; let this be but taken notice of, how the Merchants have robbed your Royal Father, your Majesty, and the whole Kingdom, of the currant Gold of the Nation.

And then I humbly leave it to your Majesties wisdom to consider what a project this is, tending to the weakning of your Majesty, and Kingdom.

These men that have transported the Gold and Silver of the King­dom already, without your Majesties leave, and against the Law, are grown monstrous rich many of them by transporting all the Gold of the Nation, and most of the Silver.

And now their riches makes them so bold, thinking to bribe out all businesse, as formerly they did in the Rump Parliament; they would work iniquity by a Law, if your Sacred Majesty, or your privy Councellors should ever permit them, to the ruine and damage of the whole Kingdom, to gratify the greedy avarice of some Merchants, whose co­vetousnesse will never be satisfied; gain is their godlinesse, and not god­linesse their gain.

May it please your Majesty, your Royall Grandfather, and Father, King JAMES and King CHARLES of blessed memory, gave a stop to this mischief of transporting Gold, by bringing some of the Mer­chants of London, that transported Gold and Silver into forreign parts, into the Star Chamber in the years 1619. Sir William Curtine, Sir Peter Vanlor, Mr. Delabar, Sir Moses Trian, and some twenty more were fined in the Star Chamber at near two hundred thousand pounds, and paid King JAMES into his Exchequer, for their composition, about one hundred thousand pounds; this sentence gave a stop to the transporters of Gold, and upon this sentence, shortly after the Mint flourished.

Your Majesties Royal Father, in the year 1635 King CHARLES of blessed memory, commanded me your Majesties Humble and Loyall Subject, to discover all such as transported Gold or Silver without His leave. I have the Kings Majesties Gracious Letter to me of thanks for my good and acceptable Service, under His Majesties Royal Hand and [Page 15] Signet, for discovering the transporters of Gold and Silver, which Let­ter I have ready to produce to your Sacred Majesty.1648. On Fran­cis Braudgen brought me your Mrajesties Royall Fathers command to put a charge a­gainst the Trans­porters of Gold in the Exchequer. Notwithstanding his Majesties for­mer command to forbid me to dis­cover the Trans­porters of Gold 1643. because his Majesty heard that some Mem­bers of Parliam. in 1648. was sen­ding away their estates in Gold, he would have them discovered, and made known to the people how they robbed them of their Treasure. I caused the trans­porters of Gold at my own charge to be fined 24100 pounds, I caused upon command of his late Majesty to be filed in the Exchequer in 1648, as will appear on Record at this day, above a hun­dred several informations against the Transporters of Gold and Silver, at my charge many hundred pounds, I know the men and their instruments at this day as well as I know my right hand from my left. I cau­sed an exception, to have all the Transporters of Gold excepted out of the general pardon granted by the Parliament in the year 1651, as will appear in the Act, I put in an exception to have had it excepted in his Majesties general pardon 1660, but there was so many guilty persons that had transported Gold and Silver out of the Kingdom, that I could not get it put into the Bill to have these offences excepted, whereby your Majesty lost one hundred thousand pounds, had I got it excepted out of your Majesties pardon, there was above an hundred Merchants and Gold­smiths that I have proof against, for transporting Gold and Silver, and rob­bing the Kingdom of Millions of money; if your Majesty please, I wil give your Privy Council a perfect list of their Names who transported Gold & Silver, that should have paid your Majesty one hundred thousand pounds, and thank God they escaped so too; I have all the charge against them, and the informations in the Exchequer is now on Record, and informations filed, to the just value of six hundred and fifty thousand pounds.

This business I acted, by command of his late Majesty of blessed memory, and did lay out of my Purse the sum of nineteen hundred and sixty pounds in discovery of the transporters of Gold in one thousand six hundred thirty six, and had not your Majesty pardoned the offen­ders, I would not for my share have taken twenty thousand pounds of them.

I have it under your Majesties Royal Fathers hand and signet from Ox­ford, that he would pay me for my great good and acceptable service in discovering the transporters of Gold.

This true account I humbly give your Majesty, to shew there is no man in the Kingdom can discover the transporters of Gold so well as my self; I know them as well as the Beggar knows his Dish, and this is done by intelligence.

I was for seven years commanded by his late Majesty to give a stop to the transporting of Gold and Silver, and I did effect it, as appears by your Royal Fathers Letter, ready to be produced to your Majesty.

If your Majestie will be pleased at this time to command me to Catch these Moles that work under ground, the Transporters of Gold and Sil­ver, and will Graciously Impower me with a Commission, and War­rants to do the same, I will undertake to set your Majesties Mint on work again, and stop the Transporting of Gold and Silver.

Vast sums of Mony is Transported daily, both Gold and Silver, which, if not in time prevented by your Majestie, and your Majesties Hono­rable, and Prudent Councel, will weaken, and destroy your Majestie, and the Nobility, and the Commonalty in general, to make a few Merchants. If it be your Majesties, and the Lords of your Councels pleasure, to impower me to do it, I will (by Gods assistance) remove the obstructi­ons of the Mint.

May it please your Majestie, I shall humbly desire, before any further progresse of this businesse be made, concerning the giving the Merchants leave to transport Gold or Silver. That by your Majesties especial Command, a select Committee of Merchants may meet, with some of the Officers of your Majesties Mint, and my self, and that we may be order­ed to make a true Calculation of all Forreign Coins, both Gold and Silver, what every Coin will make, being its full weight, in the Tower of London, & that we send for over from beyond the Seas Placcarts, Edicts, and Proclamations, of Forreign Countries; And that a Jury of Artests be commanded upon Oath, to make a true Report how they find Gold and Silver over valued in other Countries, and report as neer as they can the just and true Standard in Forreign Mints, what proportion they hold to the Mint of the Tower of London. When this is done, to consider of what waies and means they use to keep their Mints on work, that such waies as may be advantageous for setting your Majesties Mint on work, may be observed to prevent former abuses. That the waies and means how these Differences, Standards, may be rectified beyond Seas, and all Standards reduced to a pair, and equalitie with England, and this Misterie un­soulded truly to your Majestie after the essay by fire and water.

And so when this businesse, which is very weightie, is truly, and rightly stated by the Essay, Finenesse, and Weight, and is strictly, and exactly stated to your Majestie, and your Privy Councel, then may it please your Majestie, by, and with the advice of your Privy Councel, such waies may be concluded on, as your Majestie in your great wisdom with advice of your Privy Council shall judge best for your service.

They being truly informed both by your judicious Merchants, and the Warden, Master, and Comptroller of the Mint, being assisted with a [Page 16] Jurie of Arrest to make Essay upon Oath. By this way I humbly say, the whole truth of this businesse will be found out.

The Law saith that Gold, and Silver, and Corne, and a mans House is every mans own, to have a propriety in it to make use of between party and party, but not to destroy the propriety, but he is finable by the Law: a man cannot lawfully burn his own House, burn his own Corne, Transport his own money, but it is finable; and this was used in the Star Chamber by the Atturny Banks, and the King's Councel at Law, as an Argument against the Transporters of Gold, in the Twelfth year of King CHARLES in the Star Chamber, when I prosecuted the Trans­porters of Gold and Silver, by command of the late King CHARLES.

I had disbursed in causing the Transporters of Gold and Silver to be fined in the Star Chamber 24200l. at my charge 1960l. and never as yet had penny for that service. This very sentence kept the Gold and Sil­ver in the Nation, till the beginning of the late War 1643. For which Service your Royal Father gave me thanks as aforesaid, but as yet never had penny of Money for doing that Service.

May it please your Majestie, whosoever goes about to take the prero­gative out of your Majesties, and your Privy Councels hands, of hin­dring the Transporting Gold and Silver without your Majesties licence; I humbly say it is a Jesuitical, Fanatick design, under the specious pre­tence of Freedom of Trade, to rob your Majestie, and your Privy Coun­cel, of the priviledg of keeping in the Treasure, and Wealth of this Kingdom, weakning your Majestie, and your Privy Councel, and your Royal Prerogative, leaving the Wealth, and Treasure of this Kingdom, in Gold and Silver, to be guided by the covetous desire of some Mer­chants, many of them care not two pence for the safety of the Common­wealth, so they, and their private Families grow rich. I humbly say it is a presumptuous motion of some hot headed Merchants, that would by crafty and sly pretences rob your Majestie of that which is next to the Militia of the Kingdom, nay, it is the very soul of the Militia, Gold and Silver; get to be Master of that, any man may get Shipping, Armes, Mo­ney, and any thing to make a disturbance in the Kingdom.

We lately see upon what slie pretences the Sword was wrung out of your Majesties Royal Fathers Hands; he that cast his eye upon any of the Flowers of your Majesties Imperial Crown, with intent to take them out either by fraud or force, let them fall as Corah, Dathan and A­biram, and let their end be like Achitophels, who seek to rob your Royal Majestie of this your just Prerogative.

And this I here humbly say, I will with my life maintain before your Majestie, and your Privy Councel, and the Parliament or Committee of Trade: And these following Statutes, Lawes and Proclamations are my Protection, and Warrant for what I humbly say.

1. A Proclamation against giving for Gold, more then it is currant. 21. July. 17. Jacob.

2. A Proclamation against melting, and culling heavy English Money. 18. May. 9. Jacob.

3. A Proclamation against buying and selling Gold and Silver at high­er Prises then the Mint. 14. May. 1. Jacob.

4. A Proclamation against Transporting of Gold. 23. May 1. Ja­cob.

5. A Proclamation against Profit for Gold and Silver; And melting. English Money. And to prevent the abuses and wast, in making Gold and Silver Threed, and Laces. 4. Feb. 3. Caroli.

6. A Proclamation against Transporting Gold and Silver, and melting down the Currant Silver Coins of the Nation, for Plate, or Gold, or Silver Threed. 15. May. 3. Carolus.

May it please your Majestie, to observe with what care the wisdom of former Parliaments intrusted the Kings of England, and their Privy Councel, to keep carefull watch that the Gold and Silver once import­ed into this Nation, should be converted into Coin, for the Strength and Honour of the Kingdom; that those that did Transport Gold and Silver without the King's Licence, were Felons. And in the Tryall in the Star. Chamber, 12. Caroli Primi, which I followed by Order of his late Majestie of blessed memory. The Atturney-General Banks, and the King's Councel, read many Presidents, wherein the Transporters of Gold and Silver had judgment, and suffered execution of death, as Felons.

Your Majestie will finde transporting Gold or Silver without the Kings licence to be Felony, and by several Acts of Parliament, 17 Edw. the 4. and the 4 Henry, cap. 13. And I humbly conceive the Kingdom is in as great scarcity of Gold and Silver now as it was then, for al­most all the Gold and Silver is transported without the Kings licence by the disturbance of the late War, and now some Merchants are grown so presumptuous, that they would have an Act of Parliament to make it to be at the will of the Merchants to transport what Gold or Silver freely they please without licence from the King, it were better for the King­dom that these that go about to take this prerogative from the King, [Page 18] were blind, rather then the rest of the Kingdom should ever see that day these Merchants should have their will, Stat. 9. Edw. the 3. against the transporting of Gold or Silver without the Kings licence, or the melting down the currant silver coin by Goldsmiths or others into plate Stat. 2. Hen. 4. cap. 4.

No person ought to presume to transport Gold or Silver either in coin or bulion, upon pain of forfeiture of as much as they might, which I take to be lives and estates.

2 Henry 6. cap. 6. Upon a grievous complaint made in Parliament, That great sums of gold and silver was transported without the Kings li­cence 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 the gold and silver is transported by Merchant aliens, it is order­ed, That the Mercheant aliens shall find security in the Chancery that they shall not transport the gold or silver monies out of the Kingdom upon pain of forfeiture of the sum or value, and if any do contrary and that duly proved, his pledges shall pay the forfeiture, though the Mer­chant stranger be gone beyond the Seas: If this Law had been put in ex­ecution this last twenty years, the Kingdom had had millions of gold and silver, which it is now robbed of, and the offenders are now grown so impudent to hope to get an Act of Parliament to rob the kingdom of all the gold and silver, as the greedy Merchant shall find and see his op­portunity to send away what gold and silver they please, without the Kings majesty or his privy Councils licence for the future.

18 Edw. the 4. No person to carry gold or silver, or jewels out of the kingdom upon pain of Felony.

1 Henry the 8. cap. 13. An Act made that whosoever shall carry any gold or silver out of the Realm without the Kings licence, shall forfeit double the value.

The 5th. and 6th. of Edward the 6th. cap. 16. An Act touching the exchange of gold or silver, that whosoever gave more for gold or sil­ver, then it is or shall be declared by the Kings Proclamation, shall suf­fer imprisonment for the space of a year, and make fine at the Kings pleasure, the one moity to his Majesty, and the other moity to the Par­tie, that shall seize the same, or will sue for it by the Bill of infor­mation; were the Gold-smiths of London sued on this Statute it would ruine most of them. Had not the Act of Oblivion pardoned them, but that gives them no licence or protection now at this day to act as they do, to sell gold for 21 and 22 shillings for a Twenty shilling peice. [Page 19] Till this be remedied and the rule for the price of gold set by your Majestie, the Mint will never coin gold to any considerable quan­tity.

If this desire of the Merchants should go on, the Kingdom of England which in all Kings raigns abounded with gold and silver, and famous for their pound sterlings, the true guide and measure of our monies will be put to use the Rooking tricks of the Bankers of Amsterdam, and other Commonwealths.

Feed the people with a paper credit and the Merchants have all the peoples money; I beseech your Majesty to consider of this monstrous design and proposals of the Merchants, should by your Majesty be gran­ted, which God defend, in whose hands your Majesty disposeth the Mi­litia of the kingdom, even truly your Majesty would surrender the Mili­tia of the kingdom into the Merchants power.

To send away all the treasure of the kingdom, by which means, they will so fetter and impoverish the people of the kingdom, that when your Majesties loving Subjects would give you aid by consent of Parliament, they have no monies to do it but at the Merchants plea­sure, who will be the onely Judges of the price they shall pay by ex­changing, and the quantity in coin they will please to let the peo­ple have.

Should the Parliament now grant your Majesty a paiment of a hun­dred thousand pounds in coined English gold, at twenty shillings the peice of gold, according to the Lawes and Statutes and your royal Fa­thers Proclamation, which forbids all either Forreigners or Natives whomsoever, to pay, give, or utter the currant coins of gold or silver at above the Kings proclamation, upon pain of forfeiture and imprison­ment during the Kings pleasure. See the Statute law 5, 6, Edward 6. Yet for all your Maiesties lawes and proclamations, your Maiesty nor the Parliament shall not receive a hundred thousand pounds in gold or a hundred pound, but at the Merchants price, viz. 21 shill. 4 pence, 21 shill. 6 pence, 21 shill. 8 pence, 22 shill. for a twenty shillings piece of gold. This is done in contempt of your Majesty and the law, because the Merchants have got all the coined gold into their hands, and transport­ed it to forraign parts, and they will not let it come back again but at their pleasure and price make silver a free merchandize, the merchants will guide the prize and send it all away, to the destruction of your Ma­iesties Mint.

The Merchants of London, had they this power they desire, would by tricks, either by Security or Exchange, get all the Gold and Silver into their hands.

And then I tremble to think what will follow, if the Merchants be Masters of all the money: your Majesties Fleet will lie at Chatham, at Portsmouth, &c. and no moneys to be raised, but at the will of their Ban­kers; Your people in Parliament shall grant your Majesties Subsidies, and when it comes to be paid, they have no money but what is in the Merchants Banks, or upon the Merchants Security, they having gotten into their hands all the money.

All the world knows, the whole stock of the money of the King­dom, is to be disposed of by the credit of the City of London; the City of London gives the Rule to the Kingdom, and the Merchant of Lon­don for credit upon money rules the City, now if your Majestie should put this power into the Merchants hands, to transport Gold and Silver at their pleasure, it would be a ready way to see the late Tragedies act­ed over again; and it is granted by all persons, that Gold and Silver commandeth all things; if your Majestie should part with this Royal Prerogative, I humbly desire your Majestie, upon my knees, to con­sider where you will lodge this great Jewel, which is the quintessence of the Mllitia: I humbly say many Merchants of London are recovered but lately out of the madness of a dangerous Rebellion, and wise men use to watch such as have been once frenzie afterwards in all their actions, lest being let goe at their own pleasure they one time or another do either themselves or some others a mischeif; this I now humbly say, is to preserve your Majesties Greatness, Honour, and safety of your Majesty, and your most honourable Privy Council.

I study not to please some Merchants, but to serve your Majestie in truly stating this business, I being formerly imploied in this service by your Royal Father he would have believed me in this point, and concern­ing the regulating of Gold and Silver lace, and removing the obstructions of the Mint for seven years, I had the onely care of this business by his Majesties order, to prevent the transporting Gold or Silver.

If your Majestie suffer the Merchants to obtain this their desire, all the paiments of the Kingdom will be unfixed, and your Majesties Subjects will have no money left but Groats, and some odd monies, to buy But­ter and Eggs; the Tenants must pay their Rents after the Barbarious way in SCOTLAND, in Boules of Corne, and Chaldrons of Victualls, Coles, Horses, Cowes, and Sheep. Your Majesties Privy Councel, [Page 21] and your great Lords, and Gentry, must truck with their Tenants instead of a thousand pound Sterling, to be paid them in current Gold and Sil­ver, according to 20. s. the pound Sterling for Gold, they must at this day pay 21. s. 6. d. if they will have a twentie shillings peece; is not this a wrong and dimunition to all the Lords in ENGLAND, seven pound ten shillings in the hundred, in all the Rents they are out of by Lease.

But let Silver be made a free Merchandize, to Transport at their plea­sure, without your Majesties leave, farewell all Land-Lords payments in money (then, which God defend your Majestie should expose all the Nobilitie to be at the will of the Merchants, for to receive either their Rent in Money or Ware.) All payments in Silver will raise the price of your English shilling shall be set against your Majesties Crown, and Dignitie by the Merchant, as at this day, all the world know they have presumed without your Majesties leave, and against your Lawes, to send away all your Majesties current Gold of the Nation, and to make it a Merchandize here in London, in contempt, despite, and affront of your Majestie, the Parliament, and your Majesties Lawes and Statutes, and now are so brazen Fac'd, that they look, and sue to have libertie to rob the King of this great priviledg▪ I humbly hope the Merchants bribe­ing daies are past, they had once a time in the long Parliament to make their Gold and Silver break thorough all Barrs, all Lawes; a Corporati­on of London, with a joynt Purse, was such a Roman Ram, that it batter­ed down all the Lawes, and Statutes. I humbly hope this businesse, and the mischiefs that would follow, if they should obtain, their desire is so clearly stated, to be only in your Majestie, and your most Honourable Privy Councel, that you will never part with it to any Corporation of Merchants, or others, but to keep it safe where the Law hath disposed it, it is a Iewel the Law hath invested in the Crown, and cannot be va­lued, it is an inestimable Pearl, and Riches.

That if the Merchants could by confederation pay down a Million of Money to your Majestie presently, to have it in their hands; Your Ma­jestie would be a loser, Your Majestie would part with that which is Your Honour, Your Safetie, Your Lords, and all Your Peoples safetie, the Soul of the Militia.

I pray God upon my Knees, your Majestie, and your Privy Councel, would consider what is here said, and set a mark on these men that at­tempt under sly and fained pretences, by subtiltie and craft, to under­mine your Majesties Throne, Crown, and Dignitie; these men that de­sire this to be in their Power, are like Water men, look one way, and Row another.

These men many of them have designed in their heart the moddle of a Common-wealth, to be the fittest Government for this Kingdome; God hath delivered your Majestie from the Sword-man, the Club man, and hath restored your Majestie to the Glory, and Greatnesse of your Royal Father, and your Predecessors, with the Hearts of all your good Subjects, and a large increase of the Revenues of your Crown, to the joy of all your Majesties good Subjects.

This Glory troubles some Mungrels of LONDON, that dare not bark, but are at this day cunning fauning Spaniels, that would by fauning co­zen your Majestie of this Great, atd Royal Prerogative, which had they it, in seaven years they may lay such a Foundation, that the Child un­born may rue it.

I have read of a little Fish that sticking to a Ships side shall stop a great Ship under sail. The Merchants of a Kingdom or Common­wealth that are Bankers and have libertie to transport Gold and Silver at their pleasure, rule the Commonwealth both for War or Peace, and have virtually the sovereign power, being Masters of all the peoples mo­nie. These Bankers can hang a Pad-lock on the Commonwealths Sword when they please: God defend your Majestie and your Lords from suffering them to do so in your Kingdom of England, for all the rea­sons before and after following.

The Merchants of London have transported all the Gold and most of the Silver out of England, principally by the confederation and assist­ance of the Goldsmiths in Lumbardstreet, who are just in the nature of the Bankers at Amsterdam, and the Goldsmiths is your Merchants Jac­call as the Jac-call is to the Lion, they hunt for the Lions prey. The Goldsmiths lay up Gold and Silver for the Merchants to transport, some Goldsmiths in Lumbardstreet, keeping at this day many great Mer­chants of London cashes, and some Noble mens cash by this credit of several mens monies, the Goldsmiths in Lumbardstreet are in the nature of Bankers, and have a great stock of Treasure by them alwayes of Gold, forraign coines, and Silver.

And as these and the Merchants please to truck and and chaffer, set the price of the currant Gold of your Kingdom at above the price cur­rant by Proclamation of your Royal Father, and above the price of your Mint, to the destruction of your Majesties Mint, and against your Crown and Dignities; your Majesties Mint is tied to a certain rule both for the weight and fineness of the Standard of your Majesties Gold and Silver, and cannot by the Law exceed; now here is the mischief.

The Goldsmiths they go between the Mint and the Merchants that transports Gold and Silver, and out-bids the Mint, 1. d. and sometimes 2. d. and more the Ounce in Silver, and five shillings the Ounce in Gold at this day, and so catch up all the Gold and Silver to transport, being Factors, and Purveyors to the Merchants that transports Gold and Silver.

And by this confederation between the Merchants, and Goldsmiths, contrary to the Lawes, and Proclamations of the Kingdom, they have cheated, and robbed the Kingdom, and your Majesties Mint in the Tower of London, and for these last fifteen Years have destroyed, and made desolate the same.

Your Majesties Mint in all times, by the Law, should have the pre­heminence, and first served.

Your Majesties Mint at this day is neglected, your Majesties Lawes despised, and your Majestie, and the Kingdom of England, Lords, Gen­try, Commons, cheated, and robbed of all your Gold, and almost all your Silver, to the weakning, and impoverishing of the Kingdom.

This wickednesse is done onely for the inriching of a few particular Persons, Goldsmiths, and Merchants, to the destruction of the whole Kingdom, and if not timely prevented, to the ruine, and destruction, and decay of Trade. This was done when we had no KING in Israel, God forbid your Majestie now should suffer it.

If your Majestie by your justice do not make some of these Offen­dors an example, and timely prevent it, by the grave advice of your most Honourable Lords of the Councel for the time to come, to prevent these abuses by a Law, or renewing the old Laws by your Majesties Procla­mation, making it losse of Estate for any Goldsmiths to sell any Mer­chants Gold or Silver to transport, or to convert Gold or Silver into a­ny other use then Plate, and Gold, and Silver Wyer, the Offendor for ever after to lose his Freedom.

And that no Merchant, or Goldsmith, shall give for Gold or Silver more then it shall be declared for by Proclamation, upon pain of forfei­ture. And that all Goldsmiths that are Exchangers of Forreign Bullion, shall enter into securitie with the Officers of your Majesties Mint, to your Majesties use, to Coin the same, and to convert it to no other use. That no Merchant obtain a Licence from your Majestie, to transport Gold or Silver, nor the East-India Company, other, or more then they them­selves cause upon their own proper accompt, to be truly imported, ac­cording to their Charter; and that all Warrants for transporting Gold [Page 24] or Silver be Registred, and the Goldsmiths to be tyed to Coin all the Gold and Silver they shall hereafter buy, such Goldsmiths that will not to be debarred, the liberty to have power to exchange Forreign Gold and Silver, this being a Prero­gative of the Crown, and never granted the Company of the Goldsmiths, as I can prove by the Law, that the Warden of your Majesties Mint is your Majesties Exchanger, and he may Licence any whom he please to buy Forreign Bullion, provided they put in securitie to Coin it in the Tower, and convert it to no other use but to coin upon the pain of forfeiture of his Bonds to your Majestie.

May it please Your Majesty, my most humble prayer to Your Majesty, and Privy Councel is, that at this juncture of time the late Lord Cottingtons Rules & Obser­vations may be made use of for bringing of Gold and Silver into the Kingdom, that State-man about the year 1630. made a most advantageous Contract with the King of Spaine, for the bringing in Silver from Spaine in English, bottoms and Landing the Silver at Dover, one third part to be Coyned in Your Majestyes Royal Fathers Mint in the Tower of London, and the other two parts by Your Majestyes Royal Father, and his Privy Councels Licence to be transported at the will of the Importer, this Commission was granted under the Great Seal of Your Majestyes Royal Father, by the advice of his Privy Councel, and above ten milli­ons of Silver Coyned upon that Contract, from the year 1630. to 1643. This Silver hath bin almost all transported away for the private profit of the Merchant, and little currant Silver Coyne left in the Kingdom, but light and eliped, and Coun­terset mony in abundance. All the Gold sent away, to the destruction of the King­dom, for the private profit of the Merchants. If Your Majesty please to inquire of Your Officers of the Mint they can certifie this is the truth. And what a dangerous Project this was of some men, to goe about to steal so Royal a Flower out of the Crown, such pilferers are Enemies to Your Majesties Crowne and Dignity, and ought to be watched as men newly recovered out of a Lunacy, kept from doing either themselves or others mischefe.

May it please Your Majesty, the King of Spain having peace with Holland, and France, will not have occasion to Export so much Mony for Flanders, as He had when He had Wars with Them. Yet great Summes of Silver will dayly be Ex­ported to Flanders from Spaine, to pay the Spanish Garrisons in Flanders, and the Trade from Spaine to Antwerp, to pay the Bankers there, will dayly cause great quantities of Silver to be Exported from Spain.

I humbly desire, that upon Treaty with the Spanish Ambassador, the Lords of the Councel would take order to Carry the King of Spaines Silver, as the Lord Cottington setled it; and that by the Law it should be made Felony, for any Person that did not Coyne one full third part of all Silver that by agreement with the King of Spaine should be coyned, this Licence to be Canstantly allow­ed to any Person upon the King of Spains Composition for Trade from Spaine; And for all other Persons whomsoever, that Import Silver or Gold, to have it by Act of this Parliament, after the said Silver is Landed, that any Person that Transports Gold or Silver, it should be Confiscation of Ship and Goods, and Imprisonment during the Kings pleasure. Besides, the Forfeiture of all Gold and Silver so put on Ship-board to Transport without Your Majesties, or your Privy [Page 25] Councels Licence; And that all Gold-smiths, or others whomsoever, that Culleth and Melteth down the Currant heavy Silver Coyns, for any Manufa­cture, or to Transport, it shall be Felony, and that without Mercy.

If These Lawes by this Parliament be Revived, and I your Majesties Loyal Subject Impowered, and Commanded by your Majesties Most Honourable Privy Councel, to See to the due Execution of them; By the Blessing of God, I wil in a few Yeares Replenish the Great want, and Scarcity of Gold and Silver, in the Kingdom againe; And Remove the present Obstructions of the Mint.

May it please your Majestie, It is the Execution of the Law quickens and gives life to the Law, when knowing persons shall be intrusted to see to the Execution.

There are Laws and Proclamations against transporting gold, but no incou­ragement considerable for a mans time, all the Laws in the world will never re­form this abuse, if some Trusty persons be not appointed to look in a particular manner, and make it their business, and a man cannot imploy several people to do this service but at great charge, vigilance and diligent attendance to keep his watches, and intelligence in London, and the Ports; this mischief daily increases, because no knowing person is impowred and commanded to take care of this great business.

Queen Elizabeth would not admit the East India Company, at her first grant­ing them to be a Corporation, to transport the King of Spains silver coin into the East Indies, though the Merchant pressed it very often; telling her Majesty that her Silver Coin and Stamp was not known in the East Indies, they think­ing by that to get a License to send what Silver they pleased: This most pru­dent Queen, and her wise Privie Councel replyed, to the Merchants of the East-India Company, that for the very reason the Merchant alledged, to transport the King of Spains silver to the East Indies; It was her fixed reason and re­solution unalterable, she would not grant the East India Company leave to send the King of Spains, or any forreign Princes coin into India, but such Silver as was coined with her Effigies and Picture on the one side, and the Percullis on the other side, of the just weight and fineness of the Spanish peeces of eight, and peeces of four Royals, and no other Silver should by her Merchants be sent to India.

And this was her Majesties prudent reason for the doing thereof, that because the Indians did not know her, nor see her greatness on her Silver, her Majesty gave the East India Company leave to transport Gold or Silver, but so as she would for the time to come give them a just occasion to reverence and honour her, and bow at her Effigies, declaring she would all the world over, where she gave her Merchants leave to Trade, be known to be as great a Prince as the King of Spain: And that none should presume to send a greater quantity of Silver then she in her wisdome should judge fit, to the East Indies, as will appear by their Charter, both for the quantity, and with her Figure, Motto, and Percullis upon the Silver: The Queens Majesty declaring she held it as a speciall and chief Pre­rogative of her Crown and Dignity to put the Percullis upon all the Silver the East India Company should send to the Indies: Nor would she admit the Mer­chants of the East India Company to send more Silver then she and her Privie [Page 26] Councel did approve of; as appears in the Journal Books, the yearly Licences de­claring she would have her Merchants in that point to be subordinate to her will, not her will to be ruled at the Merchants pleasure.

And so during all her prosperous Reign to her death, this great and prudent Queen ruled her Merchants, and not the Merchants her; this was according to the Law of England, the Queen would ever be known to be a Queen.

This Narrative will appear to be true, by the Stamps, Weights, and Standard of this Silver that was coyned in the Tower ready to be produced to your Majesty, and the most Honourable Privie Councel, if your Majesty require the same; this course con­tinued all Queen Elizabeths Reign, and it would be for the honour and greatness of your Majesty, that all Silver transported to the Indies should be coyned of the weight of Pieces of Eight, with your Majesties Royall Effigies, and the Percullis in the Tower of London, that so all the world over, the Nations might see your Royal stamp, and bow down, and do reverence; What an honour had it been to your Maje­sties Grandfather and Father to have had sixty hundred thousand pounds transported in Silver to the Indies, with their stamp; which would have been done had Q. Elizabeths honourable Rule been observed: I humbly desire it may be done hereafter, though your Majestie get nothing but fame, no profit. I dare undertake the East India Compa­ny shall have their silver coined in the Tower for 12 pence the pound weight, that is 60000 l. coyned for one thousand pounds.

The East India Company by monie got this Royal Priviledge laid down at the beginning of King James his Reign, to the great impairment and losse of his Im­perial royal Crown and Dignity; and to the great losse of his Majesty in his Mint­age and Coynage and the losing and diminution of your Royal Grandfather and Fa­ther of Blessed memory, in their Revenue at this day above an hundred thousand pounds in the total sum in the duty of coyning, there being since King James his Reign by that Company above sixty hundred thousand pounds in Silver and Gold sent to the East Indies, were their Books of Entries examined, and their Books of Account to their several Factories in India; what they have sent yearly to every particular factory, and some Auditors appointed to make the inspection upon Oath.

I humbly say, there would be found many hundred thousand pounds transported both of English Gold, and Silver, more then ever they had licence from the King to send to the great weakning, damage and decay of this Nation, they being a Company that heretofore used to bribe out all their abuses by one course or other.

Had not your Majesty by your Royal pardon pardoned them, they should before this time have found the East India Company charged by me in the Exchequer with many hundred thousand pounds of English Gold and Silver, and of half Crowns and foreign Gold and Silver transported, against the Laws and Statutes of the King­dome, let them have got off as well as they could.

May it please your Majesty, That company pretends a debt your Royal Father should owe them for Silks and Pepper delivered unto one Burlemack, a Merchant, a­bout the Year, 1630. upon your Royal Fathers account, had not your Majestie in your great mercy pardoned this very Company of Merchants in your gracious and free Pardon, 1660. I could have chalked out the way to have peppered the East India [Page 27] Company, it had never been so peppered since it was a Company, they are pardoned for what is past, but they have no Priviledge for the time to come.

But if your Majesty command me to watch the East India Company that they for the future send no more gold or silver then they have licence for from your Majesty; I shall faithfully do it, and give a stop to these mischiefs they have formerly committed.

If your Majesty command, I shall not fear the riches or greatness of the East In­dia company, or Merchants of London, but I will tramel them and reduce them to the due obedience of your Majesties commands, and the Law of the Kingdom.

For the longer this business is not looked after, makes some Merchants think to get leave to weaken the Kingdom in general, and incroach upon your Majesties sacred Pre­rogative to send what silver and gold they list away for the future, without any Comp­troller.

May it please your Majesty, a Court in the nature of the Star chamber, would Frost-bite these Gentlemen, and make them pluck in their Horns, and submit to your Maiesties Lawes, which will be for the good of the Nation in general, that these men may be curbed, and not left to rob the Kingdom of all its Gold and Silver, as some Merchants have taken the boldness to do, when we had no King in this our Israel for this last se­venteen years.

Never School-boyes plaid such tricks in the absence of their School-ma­sters, as some of the London-merchants have done: When the books of the Common council of London, copied out together with the East India Companies books, be throughlie inspected, your Maiestie and your ho­nourable Privie Council will see incredible passages, fit for Your maiestie to know, such as is for Your maiesties honour and safetie for the future to prevent, viz.

I most humbly pray your Majestie and your honourable Privie Coun­cil, to command true Copies of all the Acts of the Common Council of London, from one thousand six hundred and thirty eight, to one thou­sand six hundred and sixty, and the true copies of the East Indies Com­panies books of Envoys sent to their Factors, of all the Gold and Silver they sent yearly, the ships name, and by what Factor, and to what Fa­ctors in India and Persia, ever since one thousand six hundred and twen­tie, to one thousand six hundred and sixty: Not that I have the least thought that any of them should be punished for what is past, by reason of your Majesties gracious pardon, but that an Eye might be kept over them to keep them from committing the same or the like offences again against your Majestie, your Crown, and Dignity.

I humbly say, I am so charitable to them, that I had rather see them [Page 28] alwaies upright in all their actions, then ever to hear that your Majestie should put your Royal self to that trouble to pardon them again; when they have offended, it is better, I humbly say, for the Merchants, that your Majesty take all course to keep some Merchants from falling; then to take them up after they are down, if they be watched that they shall have no opportunitie to offend, it saves the labour of punishing any of them.

Some Merchants I have heard say at the Council of Trade one thou­sand six hundred and fiftie, that it is an old Heresie to hinder the trans­porting of gold and silver freelie, and to retain it in the Kings hands he only to give a licence to transpor: Sure I am it is a Phanatick opinion for the Merchants to labour to obtain it out of your Majesties and your privie Councils hands.

Some Merchants are great magnifiers of Commonwealths, their Poli­cies and Governments, those that are for an Amsterdam model both in the Church and Kingdom; but in our Kings sacred hands this great Trust in all Ages hath happilie continued, and no Merchant never durst ask such a request to have it at their own dispose; these Merchants covet more profit and gain then they do the Kings Majesties greatness, and that makes them so busie to get this Royal flower out of the Crown.

May it please your Majesty, your standard of Gold and Silver is fixed to all your Subjects of all your Nations▪ the pound sterling is a fixed paiment, and is the guide to all the Bankers in Christendom; for till they return their Bills of Exchange for England, no Banker or Merchant can tell certainly the true intrinsecal value they shall receive for a hun­dred pounds delivered in their Banks, by Bills of Exchange to any place but onely England, where these paiments are fixed and paied ac­cording to the pound sterling, which is by shillings, pence, and half­pence, without any fraud or bankmonie, from the paiment of one hun­dred pound, to the paiment of one hundred thousand pounds, no man can be wronged of a penie, but it will exactlie appear upon the casting up of the accompt. Commonwealths and Bankers go upon Merchants subtilties, that is not for the Honour and Dignitie of your Majestie, to make your monie go high, when you are to paie your Armies and Fleets, and then presently to call it down in Kingdomes; Kings are Sa­cred, and cannot act such dirty tricks, as Commonwealths do.

Englands Tragedy from one thousand six hundred fourtie three, to one thousand six hundred and sixtie, may serve as a warning to all good sub­jects, [Page 29] how to turn Kingdomes into Commonwealths, or to leave power of transporting Gold or Silver at the will and pleasure of the merchant. Merchants are like fire and water, Good Servants, but bad Ma­sters; in their proper spheers good, but to get a head destructive to man­kind; witness the late horrible Tragedies fomented and continued onely by the pleasure and power of the Merchants and the wealth of London: The burnt Child dreads the fire. I lost twentie thousand pounds by the late Rebellion, which was hatched and kindled for the greatest part by those of London.

They surfeited with Plenty, Riches, and Trade, the late Royall King Charles the first, by his late Royall Fleets, laid the Foun­dation of the Merchants of Londons greatness and reputation all over the World, no Prince nor Commonwealth daring to injure the Merchants of London, but the King with the first winde had his Royal Fleets in their Harbours to demand reparation to the Merchants con­tent, else their harbours debarred Trade▪ The late glorious King got the envy of the Ship monies; but never a penny of it in his Exchequer. The Merchants of London got the profit, advantage, and security by Trading safely, and the Seas scoured from Pyrates: How unthankfully the Merchants required his Majesty, was shown in this late Rebellion. I speak not this that any should be punished, but that they might be pre­vented for the future to do the same things again, as they did this last seventeen years.

In King James and King Charles their raigns, those good Kings was got into the Citie of Londons debt, and to come out of it they did part with their Lands at half the value. When Masters borrow Money of their Servants, it makes them generally overvalue themselves and slight their Masters. I hope in a few years his Majesty will be in that condition to lend the City of London money, upon their Charter, the like to the East India Company and other Companies to have their Lands bound. This was King Henry the sevenths way, he would alwaies have his Exchecquer full of money, finding it to be the greatest security to prevent all mis­chief, to have the King richer then his people.

In the year one thousand six hundred fourty seven, your Royal Fa­ther being informed that many Members of Parliament, and factious Citizens was transporting and packing away their estates in Gold be­yond the Seas, which these had in aboundance cozened the Kingdom of, your Royal Father commanded me by one Mr. Francis Brogdou, of London Gentleman, on whom his Majesty constantly imploied to go between him and his loyal Subjects, then Prisoners in the Tower: [Page 30] This Mr. Francis Brogden brought me his Majesties, your Royal Fathers pleasure, that I should labour in the pretended Parliament-house to ob­tain a commission to discover the transporters of Gold and Silver, but so that if I obtained it, I should use my diligence to discover the Parlia­ment-men, and their factious Merchants of London, to make them odious to the Kingdom that transported Gold and Silver out of the Nation: I used my endeavour to make them publick to the World, for several years, to get this Commission to pass by the pretended Act of Parlia­ment, and it is well known to many of the then Parliament, Sir James Harrington, Fleetwood, and several others; but was particularly opposed by both the Ashes, Allen, Harvey, Sir Henry Vane, Strickland, and many others of the Parliament, and by swarms of Sectaries of the City of London: which men had transported the Gold and Silver out of the Nation; and therefore to be sure to have them within compass of the Law, I caused a Gentleman to file in the Exchequer a hundred informa­tions against the transporters of Gold and silver, and to let them remain on record, till your Majesties Royal Father did come to London (this was about one thousand six hundred and fourty eight) at that time being the hopes and prayers of all good men. But God had decreed it other­wise, by taking your Royal Father out of this World, the World espe­cially, this unthankful Nation, not being worthy of him; so all things rested till your Majesties happy arrival in May 29. 1660.

Concerning the transporting of Gold and silver, though your Majestie hath pardoned the transporters of Gold till 29. May 1661. I humbly say, your Majesty hath declared that for the future you will have all men conformable to your Laws, without respect of persons, if this rule be stri­ctly observed, your Majesty will never put this great business of trans­porting Gold and Silver to be at the Merchants will and pleasure, least the same tumults and troubles be played over again by some Phanatick Merchants, as they have done within twenty years; your Majesty may as safely put a Sword into a Madmans hand, or a Knife into a Childs, as trust the Merchants to transport Gold or Silver without your Maje­sties licence, after it is once landed.