THE care of the Kings of this Realme Our Progeni­tors, for the restraint of exportation of Gold and Siluer into forraine parts, appeareth vnto Vs in sundry Lawes, contayning both seuere penalties, and strict prouisions and cautions to preuent and punish that offence; in so much as the same for diuers yeeres, (and those not long past) was made in degree of Felony, and that very iustly, beeing an offence to the Publique, which deserueth more then the defrauding of a priuate man: And yet such is the presumption of the time, as, although many of those Lawes are still in force, it is visible and no­torious, that great quantities of Our Coines of Gold do passe ordinarily in paiments, in forraine Na­tions, nay, (which is a thing very vnnaturall) that Our Gold at this time is more stirring abroad in parts beyond the seas, then here at home in Our owne Island, to the disgrace of Our Gouernment, and notorious inconuenience of Our Subiect. For remedy whereof, and as a part of Our Royall Office, We called before vs and Our priuy Councell, (desides diuers Gentlemen of quality and discre­tion) sundry Merchants of euery Trade, Officers of Our Mint, and Goldsmiths of the best sort, that Wee might the better ground Our resolutions vpon such informations and discoueries, as ei­ther Art, Experience, or the knowledge of the affaires abroad, could affoard; And ioyning the con­sideration of former euents, with the present opinion and aduice which Wee haue taken, Wee made this conclusion, That it is in vaine to striue with this disease, except the cause be remooued, which is confessed by all to be the great gaine which the Merchant (especially the Stranger) maketh, by the exportation of Our Gold, which gaine likewise is a consequent of the disproportion between the price of Our Coines of Gold abroade, and here within Our owne Kingdomes: For the case standing so, as that our Vnite which is currant here but for twenty shillings, is valued in forraine parts at two and twenty shillings, which is a full tenth part more, and other Our Coines of Gold ratably; The gaine is so extreame, and so swift in the returne, that the sweetnesse thereof, ioyned with the hope of con­cealements, in regard of the infinite shifts to auoide the search, maketh the effects frustrate of all Lawes and Policies that haue beene vsed, or can be vsed against the exportation, as long as that vio­lent Adamant of Lucre draweth mens desires to offend: And therfore finding no other remedie com­petent or effectuall, We resolued (preseruing still the waight and finenesse of Our Standart,) to raise the price of Our Gold to be of equall value with that it beareth in forraine parts: And yet that it may not be conceiued, that We would make the remedy larger then the inconuenience, We would be [Page]thus clearely vnderstood, that We haue absolutely concluded with good aduice and deliberation, not to make any manner of alteration in the price, or otherwise, of Our Siluer, with which all Trades and payments are so much driuen and made, as the raising the price thereof would giue both colour and cause to rayse prices of all commodities and things vendible, which We seeke by all meanes to auoide. And because it may appeare to the world, that in this Our proceeding, Our eye is single, and not bent vpon any benefite to Our selues, although We mought haue taken a reasonable occasion, in res­pect of the diuersitie of the pieces of Gold which are currant within Our Realme, and their seuerall finesses to haue set this increase of price vpon such Coines onely, as should haue beene newly stamped, whereby much profite might haue growne to Vs by the coynage; yet to auoide all commixture of Our owne benefite, with matter of reformation for the publike good, Wee haue giuen the price as well to Gold heretofore coyned, as hereafter, so as if any profite by accident should fall out, it will bee rather Our Subiects, then Ours:

We doe therefore hereby publish, declare and authorise, all the seuerall pieces of Gold hereafter men­tioned, to be currant within this Our Realme, respectiuely hereafter at the values following.

All other pieces of Gold, of the Coyne of any former Kings of this Realme, Our Progenitors, and at this time currant, to beare the like encrease of price in proportion with Our owne Coynes aboue specified, That is to say;

And forasmuch as the greater price is set vpon our Coines of Gold, which is like also to be a meanes to draw foorth Gold to be more vsuall in payments then of late it hath bene, the more conuenient it is, that no pieces of Gold which are become light by any clipping or washing, or the like practises, bee put vpon Our louing Subiects, in any payments to their preiudice, if the defect be not within that small abatement, which must be by reason of the incertainety of the shearers at the Mynt; Wee haue thought good according to the President of a Proclamation made in the nine and twentieth yeere of the Reigne of Our late deare Sister Queene Elizabeth, which continued in force till her decease, to declare, and by these presents We doe declare, that it shall be free and Lawfull for all and euery Our louing Subiects, to refuse in any paiments all pieces of Gold, which shall be lighter then according to the remedies, or a­batements hereafter following.

The Abatements or Remedies, which the seuerall pieces of Gold may not exceede.

• In euery piece of Golde currant for xxx. s. The Remedy and abatement shall not exceed iiij. gr. di.
• In euery piece of Golde currant for xx. s. The Remedy and abatement shall not exceed iij. gr.
• In euery piece of Golde currant for xv. s. The Remedy and abatement shall not exceed ij. gr. di.
• In euery piece of Golde currant for x. s. The Remedy and abatement shall not exceed ij. gr.
• In euery piece of Golde currant for v. s. The Remedy and abatement shall not exceed j. gr.
• In euery piece of Golde currant for ij. s. vj. d. The Remedy and abatement shall not exceed di. gr.

Furthermore we doe not so rest vpon this course of pollicy, for the stay of the exportation of Gold out of Our Kingdomes, as We do in any sort lay aside those Legall remedies, which by Our Lawes and Statutes in force haue bene prouided for the repressing of the said offence, in exporting both Gold and Siluer: But contrariwise, Our will and pleasure is, and We doe make knowen the same to all Our louing Subiects, and straitly command all Our Officers and Ministers, to whom it may ap­pertaine, [Page]that the Statutes and branches of Statutes, hereafter particularly expressed, be duely put in execution; that is to say, the Statutes made at Yorke, in the ninth yeere of King Edward the third, called the Statute of Money, first, sixt, ninth, & tenth Chapters, wherby is prouided that from thence­foorth none should carry away any sterling out of the Realme of England, nor Siluer in Plate, nor vessell of Gold or Siluer, vpon paine of forfeiture of the same Money, Plate, or vessell. And that the Mayor and Bayliffes in euery Port, where Merchants and ships should be, should take an Oath of the Masters and Merchants of Ships, going, and comming againe, that they should doe no fraud a­gainst the prouision of that Law in any point. And that good and strait search should be made in all places vpon the Sea coasts, in Hauens and elsewhere, where any arriuall should be, by good and lawfull men thereto sworne, that in the Kings name they should make diligent search, that no man of what estate or condition soeuer, should carry out of this Realme, Sterling Money, Siluer or Plate, nor Vessell of Gold or Siluer without the Kings Licence. And that the searcher shall haue the fourth part for their labour of as much as they shall finde so forfeited, and to loose all his goods if he dispense with any man, and be thereof attaint; As by the same Statute among other things more ful­ly doth appeare.

And one other Statute made in the second yeere of Henry the fourth, the fift Chapter, whereby the King did ordaine and establish, that from thenceforth that any searcher of the King might find Gold or Siluer in Coyne or in Masse, in the keeping of any that should be passing, or vpon his passage, in a­ny Ship or Vessel, for to goe out of any Port, Hauen, or Creeke of the Realme, without the Kings spe­ciall Lycence, that Gold or Siluer should be forfeited to the King, (sauing his reasonable expences) As by the same Statute it doth and may more at large appeare.

And We doe specially charge and command, that the Mayor and Bayliffes in euery Port, where Merchants and Ships shall be, and all such to whom the same shall or may in any wise appertaine, doe from hencefoorth carefully take the Oath of Masters of Ships, and Merchants, according to the true meaning of the said Statute, made in the said ninth yeere of King Edward the third: And that all Customers, Searchers, Comptrollers, and all other Our Officers and Ministers whatsoeuer, to whom it appertaineth, doe so carefully and diligently execute their seuerall Offices, as the said Sta­tutes and all others in any sort concerning the Premisses, may without any default or negligence in them, or any of them, be duely and effectually executed vpon paine of the greatest punishment, that by Our Lawes may be inflicted vpon them for their default, negligence, and contempt in that behalfe.

Giuen at Newmarket the three and twentieth day of Nouember, in the ninth yeere of Our Reigne of Great Britaine, France and Ireland.

God saue the King.