First, The lawfulnesse of these Bankes; As they are two, so the ground of their legality is twofold.

1. Charity erects one, which accordingly beares the name of its Founder, and it is called (Mons Charitatis) the Banke of Cha­rity. To oppose then the setting up hereof, is plainely to with­stand Charity, and in so doing a man both proves himself to have no charity, and disproves before God and men, all the good he either pretends to have or to doe. Hence the best Casuists amongst the Pontificia [...], not onely allow, but also avow [Page 4] that Banke of this kind, which Leo the tenth, in the Lateran Councell held May the 4^th 1515. did both confirme & commend; and doubtlesse so much of his praise thereof as savours not of the Romish Gust, will not prove distastfull unto any judgement that is sound. We (saith that Bishop) with the approbation of the Councell declare and determine that the Bankes of Charity instituted by Common-wealths, neither doe nor have any colour of evill in themselves, they yeeld none occasion of doing evill, and can by no meanes be reproved: nay rather such lending ought to be praised, approved and in no case conceived to be Ʋsurarious, yea that their Piety and Pity should be preached or published to all People.Sess. 10.

2. The Banke of Trade is founded on Equity. He therefore who shall oppose the making up hereof, seemes no lesse unjust, then he uncharitable that resists the former. The Equity of this Banke is evident from the Justice which appeares to be in re­quiring of gaine for the Vse of money lent as Merchandize; which yet if any scruple at, I shall (so soone as my inter­vening imployment will permit) make as cleare as the day (for so it seemes to me) in a full resolution of his doubts concerning such Lending For the present, as more proper to our businesse in hand, we will for confirmation of this latter Banke, produce some Patterns of Precedent examples herein.

This kind of Banke cannot be accounted a Novelty, since it is knowne to such as have travelled either their owne Studies, or other mens Countries, that Forraigne Nations have been long acquainted with Bankes of this nature.Ubi supra: Cap. 39. That noted Casu­ist Tolet informes us of two, which though they differ some­what in name from this Banke desired, yet in regard of the Act of Vsury, they are one and the same with it; yea and that learned man, though a professed enemy to all Vsury, allowes them both.

One he names Mons Fidei, a Banke of Trust: which Clement the seventh instituted at Rome; In it Seven were given for the use of an Hundred per annum for ever; because he that puts his money into this Banke, was never to take it out againe; so that the Annuall Vse-money of Seven, were to him his Executors and Assignes for ever, and might be bought and sold like as Annuites are with us.

The other he stiles, Mons Recuperationis, a Banke of Recove­ry. This Pius the Fourth ordained, and herein Twelve were gi­ven for the use of an Hundred per annum, so long as he lived, who put his money into the Banke; and when he died, his mo­ney remained to the Banke, except he died within the first three yeares; Besides, he that had this Pension of Twelve during his life, might sell the same to another for his life, with this Proviso, That the Seller live forty dayes after the Sale and Alienation.

To these many others may be brought in from the Hollanders and other Nations, but Brevity onely presents the Chamber of London. Whereinto men may put in their moneys, for the As­surance whereof, and the payment of its Vse (which is Five in the Hundred per annum) they have the Security of the Cham­ber, which is accounted the best this day in England.

Thus may the indifferent, yet Intelligent Reader, see how these Bankes are lawfull.

2. The meanes of their Collection like themselves, are di­vers.

1. The Banke of Charity may be raised,

1. By the Liberality and Bounty of charitable and able Per­sons. For mine owne part, I am confident, if this good worke were once set on foot, that many Well-disposed People, would readily bring materialls, not onely to lay a Foundation for it, but also to reare the Walls, and finish it to its Vsefulnesse, by furnishing it with their moneys; contributing their use un­till some occasion shall call for them to be imployed in some necessary way of their private and particular affaires. That lit­tle acquaintance I have with Antiquity perswades mee to this strong beliefe; For that gives us store of examples in this kind: we need not bring forth Forraigne acts, this Land hath yeelded as charitable Persons as any other in the world, and in as great a plenty; it may for a taste suffice to adde one or two. John B [...]rnes Mercer Major of London 1371 in Anno Regui Edwardi ter­tii 450 gave a Chest with three locks and a thousand Markes to be lent to young men upon sufficient pay,See Stow's Chronicle. so that it passed not one hundred Markes. The gift of Sir Thomas White Major of London in Queene Maries fi [...]st yeare 1553, was farre greater, for he gave to the City of Bristoll two thousand pounds of ready [Page 6] money: eight hundred pound whereof was to be lent Gratis to sixteen poore young men Clothiers, &c. These may serve to hint the probability of this meanes.

[...]. 2 Tim. 2.1, 2.2. But if charity in men should prove so cold, that they come not freely off in this way, as may too justly be feared in these last and hard times, wherein Selfe beares rule with so high a hand in most men, that their hearts are adamantine towards others; then may it please the State to enact for a Law, That they who doe put one thousand pound into the Banke of Trade for Vsury, shall put one hundred into the Banke of Charity, gratis, there to remaine so long as the other doth in the former Banke. And this would excellently suite with

Epist. 383. a. Cas. lib. 5. cap. 44.1. That Caution which Calvine, Amesius, and other Divines allowing some Vsury, doe give unto the Vsurers, viz. He which lends on Vsury should not be so addicted to his gaine and profit that in the Interim he neglect or omit what he is bound by mee [...]e necessitie to doe, either in lending freely to them in want, or in giving [...] right according to his ability.

2. The proportion of one hundred to a thousand doth agree with the different number of these differing Borrowers; there being ten Borrowers to trade for gaine, to one Borrower for extreame necessity, as is most evident to any that observe.

3. For another meanes to erect this charitable building, the Masters of Assemblies, by the Publicke Magistrate may be re­quired to exhort such in their severall Flocks as are able to set their helping hands thereto, by such Arguments as their wiser judgments can produce.

4. When rich men die intestate, and without heires in Law, whereby their goods and estates come either in part or in whole to be disposed by the discretion of the Judge in that Case pro­vided, he may be enjoyned by some Law for this cause to be made, That he shall order such goods to be delivered into this Banke. So should the poore become heires to those rich men, whereby this Proverb of Solomon would frequently be made good;Prov. 28.8. He that increaseth his substance by biting Ʋsury and unjust gaine, shall gather it for him that will pity the poore.

5. When any persons out of a charitable devotion are at any time minded to give towards any Hospitall, &c. that they may [Page 7] be perswaded to give and bequeath the moneys they intended for that purpose, unto this Banke; because the benefit they shall doe the poore hereby will be greater being more generall, then can be in those other works.

But hereto Satan will brooke his name; For this subtile Ser­pent is apt to creepe into such pious intents, by our naturall pride possessing us with a conceit of advancing our names, and perpetuating our memories by such foundations called after our names, as Absolon did by his pillar:2 Sam. 18.18. which (as he will plead to them) cannot or will not be, if they put their moneys into this Banke.

6. Lastly therefore to prevent this his wile.

1. Such men may be put in minde of our Saviours direction in matter of Almes, this being no other if duly considered. His Rule is this; Take heed that you give not your almes before men, Math. 6.1, 2, 3, 4. to be seen of them, or else you shall have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou givest thine almes, thou shalt not make a trumpet to be blowne before thee, as the Hypocrites doe in the Synagogues and in the streets, to be praysed of men: Verily I say un­to you, they have their reward. But when thou doest thine almes, let not not thy right hand know what thy left hand doth: That thine almes may be in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret be will reward thee openly.

2. But though no man ought to doe any pious and charitable worke in this (or any other) kind to be praised of men, but to testifie his obedience to Gods Command in the love of his Neighbour, yet it is indeed no lesse then their due to receive Commendations from the State by its gratefull Comme [...]o [...]i­on of their exemplary charity herein unto its more feeble & de­crepite members. This is the laudable custome of the Learned V­niversities, to their pious Founders and bountifull Benefactors in particular. And if the Common-wealth shall thinke it fitting to imitate their usuall practise in registring the names of the Con­tributors to this Banke in the Table, and to hang it forth in some convenient place for a publicke view, yea and to keepe yearely a Festivall day, wherein their names may be solemnly declared to all such Auditors as please to come; As it will be an excel­lent Testimony of gratitude to them, so it may be a prevailing [Page 8] Incitement unto others to imitate their practice. For it is a truth of the Historian, Etiam sapien­tibus cupido gloriae novissi­mè exnitur. Tacitus. That the desire of Fame or Glory, is one of the last things which even wise men can lay aside.

Thus may the Banke of Charity be raised.

2. The way of collecting that of Trade is otherwise, as the end thereof is different from that of the former Banke.

Summ. Part. 2^d. Tit. 1. c. 11. Antonius relates how certaine Bankes wherein Vsury was paid to the Creditors, were raised at Florence, Venice, and Genoa, saying, When the City wanteth money, it imposeth a Taxe or Scotupon the Citizens, which Scot hath severall names in every City-where it is made; To the payment hereof whosoever was unwilling, was compelled by the City, which yet allowed them five in the hundred Per Annum for Ʋse, untill it was repayed. The taking of Vsury in this way hath been much controverted among the Pontificians, as ap­peares by the Archbishops discourse thereof; yet he seemes to allow it, as doe also many other of the Learned amongst them, as appeares by the Quotations of Bernardinus de Bustis, Rosar. Serm. 27. part. 2. lit. Y. in a de­fence thereof; yet cannot I see so much strength in their Argu­ments as may force my weake judgement to joyne issue with them. For to lend either to Prince or State, wherein we live, for Vsury, when they are necessitated to borrow, doth seeme to mee, farre more likely to be,

1. Ʋnnaturall; as for the child to refuse to lend unto his Parents in their need, without some gaine as a reward there­fore.

2. Ʋncharitable, in not taking a tender notice of their ne­cessity, which may be, and sometimes is as great, and pressing, as any Private Persons whatsoever.

3. Ʋnreasonable, because their borrowing is not so much for themselves, as for the publicke-Weale, wherein our owne Being, and Well-being are wrapped up, and become partakers of the benefit which redounds by their borrowing. So that to lend gratis to them, is but to contribute willingly to our owne good; and to lend them for increase, is to be hired to doe our selves a good turne.

4. Cruell, for that lending to them on Vsury, when they borrow to supply their urgent need, in regard of the Common-good, doth bite both Prince and State so deepe as to expose [Page 9] them to ruine by their impoverishment,Qui Veneto­rum opes ex­tollunt, vehe­menter fal­luntur; nam Aera [...]; publici magna est in­opia; Argu­mento sit, Triplicis Montis ratio quae Usuris quincuncibus publica ve­ct [...]galia ex­haurit ut Gi­onatus Dona­tus confitetur. Method. Hist. Cap. 6. as appeares by the in­stance of the three Bankes at Venice cited by Bodinus out of Donatus.

5. Moreover this Banke of Trade to be instituted is not onely for the Benefit of the Commonwealth ( [...]n statu conjuncto) as one Body, but also and principally for the good thereof (in stat [...] separato) as consisting of many members, which doe often want supply to enable them to officiate in their severall Voca­tions to their owne and others profit.

6. Lastly therefore the best and readiest way to make up this Banke of Trade in this Land, is for the Honourable Court of Parliament to make it a Law, that every Person, who doth lend and put out his money on Vsury shall bring the same into this Banke upon the penalty of the losse of the Principall: and that none shall borrow on Vsury to gaine thereby but of this Banke, on some such forfeiture as their wisedome shall thinke most fit; And thus may both these Bankes be made up.

3. The Order of their Institution, and Manner of their Go­vernment deserves some more experienced understanding, then my shallow capacity to regulate it. Yet that we may not seeme wanting to our utmost ability in helping forward so good and necessary a worke, what my simplicity reacheth unto herein, I shall not blush to signifie, thereby at least to give some hints unto such as are more quick-fighted in such affaires, and can inventis facilè addere, what they shall finde to be much more ma­teriall to the usefull framing of these buildings.

1. For the ordering of the Banke of charity,Ubi supra. Tolet layes downe these Lawes or Rules.

1. That the summes delivered to those needy borrowers be lent but for some short time, a yeare, or more, or lesse, as their necessary occasions shall be found to require.

2. That they be not suffered to exceed their time limited for repayment, that so there may be alwayes sufficient to supply the wants of others that shall fall into their ranke.

3. That these poore and necessitated borrowers give some pledge answerable to the summe they borrow, lest they be­come negligent (as it is their custome) in returning what they borrow, and so the Banke in time come thereby to be consumed.

[Page 10]4. That if the money borrowed be not repaid at the time assigned, the pledge to be sold, and what is due to the Banke being reserved, the residue (if any be) to be returned to the Owner thereof.

5. That these Borrowers doe for the time they enjoy the money lent them, returne some small gaine with the Principall towards the Expences of the Officers of the Banke.

Of these Rules, the foure first I conceive may be allowed for good; though indeed the third may admit with the Pledge any other securitie also: because every such borrower may not happily have a fitting pledge, and yet may otherwise be able to give sufficient security for the money he doth want; But this securitie must also have some forfeiture annexed to it, which Post moram, (as the Civilians speake) may be a meanes to salve the Banke, if by their delay and default any losse and detri­ment doe betide it. This is no other then the Ʋsura punitoria, which is on very good reason allowed by all men.

The last Order before specified, is that wherewith Cajetan Soto and others so much quarrell; And truly I cannot but take their part, when as the said rule is imposed on, and the gaine exacted from such as borrow for meere necessities sake, as in this Banke it is evident they doe; Because it cannot be imagi­ned how these indigent borrowers, not gaining by the money borrowed, can returne any the least increase, without a sensible biting of their feeble estates.

The Reason which the said Tolet gives in defence of that his Rule, is the Indemnity of the Banke, as he (after his most un­holy Father) calls it; Because, forsooth, the Banke must not so lend as to suffer losse.

But this his Reason holds not good herein.

Ubi supra1. Because the monies are put into this banke for a charitable use; Hence, I conceive, they are called Almes, by the men of Trent. That charitable use is the lending of them unto the poore and needy for some certaine time; and this their lending is no lesse then an Almes-giving; Now Almes must be given Gratis, Charity must be without expectation of reward in the least de­gree, else it loseth both its name and nature, and degenerates into unjust Vsury.

[Page 11]2. Neither Banke nor Bankers (as I may call the Contribu­tors) can conceive they suffer any lesse by their very act of len­ding to the poor freely in this way;Prov. 19.17. because what they even give this way is lent on Vsury to the Lord, who at the furthest will at the great day of Accounts repay them with increase. Now it i [...] against equitie to expect a double pay, one from God, and another from man, for one and the same worke, or to desire a Recumbence where no dammage is to be approved.

Ma [...]donate therefore endeavours to defend this Rule by ano­ther Device, saying,Casuum sum­mulae quaest. 9. art. 10. The Poore in the City where such a Banke is instituted, are Masters both of the moneys put into the Banke, and of their Ʋse, so that the Officers of the Banke are but their servants, and because it is fitting that Masters m [...]intaine their servants, Ergo it is requisite these poore Borrowers provide for these Officers, which they cannot doe more commodiously then by returning some gaine ac­cording to the summe they borrow.

But this cunning fetch of that subtile Iesuite, will not serve his turne.

1. Because as there is Jus Proprietatis, & Jus Charitatis, so it is true, The Poore are Lords of the Vse which in charity is given them; But the Contributors of that charitable use are Lords of their monies, and reserve [...]till their Propriety in them, and by their said Right have power to call for the said monies out of this Banke when their owne affaires or pleasures shall re­quire them.

2. Though it be granted that the Poore are Lords of the Vse of the said monies so long as they remaine in this Banke, yet are they such poore Lords, as they are not able to helpe them­selves, much lesse to keepe and maintaine others.

3. The Officers of the Banke are more properly the servants of the Contributors, whose monies are distributed by them in this way of loan unto the poore.

1. Because these Creditors did first let them at worke, by put­ting in, their monies towards the making up of their intrusted Stocke.

2. All the businesse of these Officers is about those Creditors monies, as to give them out upon pledge, or other securi­tie, and to looke unto their repaiment; The receiving and re­turning [Page 12] of the poore mans pledge, is not properly for the poore m [...]ns [...]ake, but for the r [...]ch mans monies sake, that is [...]o secure it.

3. Lastly, because these officers will seeme to be servants to these poore people, by reason of their continuall and readie at­tendance on them, when their necessitie drives them to the Ba [...]ke for succour. Therefore for a further and cleare answer thereto, it is said, there is Officium servitutis, and Officium cha­ritatis, A Service for hire, and a Service for love. They that doe the former are properly call [...]d servants, those that doe the latter are in our Dialect properly named Friends, who yet fi­guratively, and thence complementally in these dissembling times, stile th [...]mselves, Servants to such as they pretend to serve in that kinde The Scriptures indeed seeme to favour that use,Gal. 5.13. [...]. (but not the common abuse) of the word Servants, en­joyning all men in love to serve one another. Put this Service of love must be free, else it is not for love, but for lucre of the hire. Now the service of the Officers of this Banke towards the Poore, is to be a service of love and charitie, therefore it must be done freely to them, without any expectation of re­ward from them.

Object. But if the Officers live of the maine Stocke in the Banke, like moths they will eate up that which seeds them, and so consume the Banke.

Answ. Nothing more sure! But what? must therefore the poore borrower pay for it? Nothing more unjust. Other meanes must be fo [...]nd out, for the maintenance, of these officers, and none of the worst, as it is one of the easiest i [...], a certaine revenue or stipend sufficient to answer their expences and paines in this way, may be ordered to issue out, and be paid them from the other Banke; For

2. Concerning the Banke of Trade, all the former five Rules may not onely be observed; but also the latter of them which r quires gaine from its debtors, may be so drawne up as to call for one in the hundred from the borrowers to gaine in tr [...]ding, more then the Banke shall pay to its Creditors; and from the Redundancie of that One will flow sufficient meanes to maintaine the Officers of both Bankes, yea and to raise a com­mon Stocke to the Banke it selfe for the Commoditie of the whole State in generall.

To these Rules must be added some other, as

1. To k [...]epe these two Bankes distinct, and thereby cleare from all abuse in pe [...]verting their proper course, it may please the L [...]w makers to inflict some heavie penalty on such as shall any way by their craft and subtilty, corrupt and disorder either of them; And indeed those who shall under a pretence of feigned necessity abuse the charity of the Banke of Piety (that of the Two will be most subject unto abuse) are farre worse then those counterfeit Rogues, who to deceive good persons of their charity, use to implaister themselves, and make a halting before them, when as they have neither sorenesse, nor lamenesse a­bout them; For these Hypocriticall borrowers doe withall steale from the Poore what is their due; Bankrupts they are indeed, and worse then those the Stature orders, who yet are not thereby ordered according to their deserts.

2. To prevent corruption from creeping into the Officers of these Bankes, they must be enjoyned to be accountable unto the Honourable Cou [...]t of Parliament, as to the great Master of these Bankes, by whom as they are to be setled, so must they be go­verned; For into that High and Wise Assembly, Partiality, and indirect carriage of businesse cannot scru [...] themselves, as they have done into the Feoffees & Governors of other charita­ble and pious Foundations in this Kingdome, wh [...]reby the true intent of their first Founders is exceedingly hindred, and some­times altogether overturned, and brought to nothing. As Ma­ster John Barnes his chest (before spoken of) hath stood in the Chamber of London, emptie a long time without money or pledges for it. The like might be instanced in many other like Acts of charity, which hath been no little di [...]couragement to such Worthy mindes, as have been willing to imitate these faire Copies set before them.

3. To make these Bankes more usefull in their severall wayes, there would be one in every County, and in that part thereof as shall be found most convenient for lenders and borrowers on all their occasions to have recourse unto, with little trouble of Travail, and lesse charge of expence.

More Rules I will not presume to mention; for if these doe p [...]ase those sage Senatours, in whose power it is to confirme [Page 14] what they finde worthy of their approbation, they can out of the depth of their wisedome draw both more and better. Where­fore I proceed to intimate,

4. The benefit and commodious advantage which will arise unto the Body of the Common-Wealth, and its members by establishing these two Bankes.

By the Banke of Charitie.

1. The swift Torrent of unjust Vsury which swallowes up the low estates of such poore borrowers as extreame necessitie (in their conceit [...]) drives to take upon Vsury, would be alto­gether stopped, and quickely dried up; This very particular hath prevailed with some wise Princes, to take this course in part.Aemilius Pro­bus in his life translated by Sir Thomas North. As Augustus Caesar in the yeare after Christ was born, to stay the violent course of great Vsuries, put into the Exchange two millions and an halfe of Gold, that is, Five and twenty hundred thousand Crownes, and suffered private men to take of it for three yeares without Interest, putting in pawne into the Exchequer Lands and Possession being twice as much worth as the Principall; The like did Tiberius Caesar (as the Civilian of Naples tells us, happily out of Tacitus) by putting a hun­dred million of Sesterces (which amount to about to 78125 sterling) in Banke, and lent it for three yeares space without consideration or Interest, if the debtor could give security to the People of Rome in Lands double the value of the debt:Gen. Dier. lib. 1. cap. 7. Annal. lib. b. c. 4. and the Emperors aime herein was to take away that Vsury which had almost squeezed the poore out of their estates. Now what an honour and comfort it would be to this Kingdome, and indeed to any other, if it could say, defecit de platei [...] Ʋsura dolosa, who cannot divine?

2. By the Banke of charity many persons would be preserved from utter undoing, and not a few Families of good note de­fended from ruine,Aemilius ibid. both which else cannot but sin [...]e under the over-pressing burden of their instant necessity; This moved Augustus to that his former charitable act, much more should it worke upon Christians,John. 13.35. whose cognizance is charity.

2. The Banke of Trade will be very fruitefull; For,

1. Therein may provident and carefull Parents put their mo­nies to raise and be portions for their younger children; Honest [Page 15] and trusty Gu [...]di [...]ns hereby might rid themselves of much care and h [...]ard in laying up their Pupills Stockes for their advantage and maintenance. The widow and other helplesse persons might herein secure their money, estates, from the flattery of deceitfull borrowers.

2. The Banke of Trade will at all times yeeld present as­sistance to all such as in their lawfull way of Trade and gaine shall have occasionall defects in their imployments by want of ready money, so that hereby Trading would flow in a high streame to the enriching of the Land. For,

3. Monied men would be induced to bring forth so well for the Publicke Vse of the Land, as for their private benefit, what now lies dead by them. Many who dare not now lend for feare of the evident hazard they see others daily incurre by lending, will doubtlesse cast away that feare, because they shall see their monies so safe, yea sa [...]er to them with their Vse in the Banke then in their owne chests and Closets.

4. The monies of this Land thus brought forth into imploy­ment there would be little or no need of Forraigners Stockes, which for want of the former are become at this day the very Market-money of this Kingdome.

5. The Security of this Banke being infallible, the hazard in lending will be much abated, if not totally taken away, where­upon the price of money lent on Vse may be justly somewhat lessened, to the Improvement of Land so much desired by Landed men.

6. By this meanes that Hell-invented practise of Bankrupts would be altogether prevented, to the safety of many a credu­lous Creditor. For how come those V [...]pers to creepe so deepe into the Bowells of mens estates, but by the covetous follie of lenders who strive to put out their monies in a secret and hidden way that their estates may not be knowne, and so they may e­scape, or at least be eased in their Scots and Taxes? Hence it is that though one of these serpentine borrowers have many Cre­ditors, yet they are altogether ignorant of one another, where­by they conceive him (who puts the best side outmost, if he hath any good) to have an estate farre better then he truly hath, of his own, and thereupon they doubt not of their monies untill they find them lost without all doubt.

[Page 16]7. From the yearely increase of the one redounding to the Banke out of the Vsury of every hundred pound, will quickly grow so great a stocke for the Vse of the Common-Wealth at all times, as it sh [...]ll never be brought to such straites againe for the raising of monies on sudden and importune occasi [...]ns, as of late it was, and daily is. This will agree with this Politicall Aphorisme of Danaeus; Besides the ordinary treasury which is ordained for the discharge of ordinary publicke expences, there must be reserved in every Republicke, another by it self, & that with all ho­nesty, for the removeall and repaine of extraordinary losses and calami­ties. Thus had the Athenians a thousand talents laid up for ex­traordinary occasions.Ex Thucyd. 8. And this would quickly appeare to be unto this Kingdome,

Ornata erit civitas si opes publicas, a­gros vel ve­ctigalia habe­a [...]. Dan. ex A­ristot. Pol. l. 1. cap. 10. Maximus in Rep. Nodus & inopia rei pecuniariae. M. Cic. Epist. ad Brut. 2. Epist. 18.1. An Ornam nt to beautifie it in the fight of all that have their eyes upon it. It is the Glory of a City or Kingdome to have Publicke Riches, Lands or Revenues.

2. A Munimen [...] and Rampier of defence; For hereby shall this Land become formidable unto all other Nations, when they shall see, and certainely know that money, which is Ner­vus belli, is so plentifully provided for, against all such occasi­ons. The greatest difficulty in a Common-Wealth being (then especially) the want of money,

3. An easement unto the Subject from all over great Taxes, which usually presse men into discontent, which doth frequent­ly hinder many good and necessary designes for the Common-good in times of Peace, but especially in warres, wherein delay usually makes danger remedilesse. Hereupon it is determined as a Rule in State affaires,Bella susti­nent magis opes superflu­ae, quam vio­lentae collati ones. Dan. ex Thu. cid. lib. 3. that Warres are maintained better by a superfluous store of Riches, then by constrained contribu­tions. Let our present experience of the premises be called to speake hereto.

8. Lastly, By this Banke it will be easie for the State soone to finde out, who are the most able and sufficient members thereof. What an advantage this may be unto the Common-Wealth Wealth when times require best service, as our present doe, I leave to be considered by the Great Councell of the Land, whom it doth indeed concerne to know.

Obiect. What shall mens estates be made knowne?

Answ. That is necessarily required to the raising of these two Banks to their full height of Perfection.

Obiect. But this must not be; For if mens estates be known fully, they shall have wrong done them; Their Scots and Lots for Church and poore, Their Subsidies to the King, their Armes, and such like publick burdens shall be increased, and heaped on their backs.

Ans. Alas! how doth covetousnesse and selfe-love blindfolde the eyes of sharpe understanding! The truth is quite contrary; mens estates must be knowne for the avoiding of doing wrong in Scots, Taxes, Subsidies, Armes, and such like burdens, as a­varice accounts them. And further those greedy Hold-fast [...] who reckon the payment of a duty no lesse then an heavy op­pression and wrong put on them, must know; There is no one thing whereby more wrong is continually offered and done, then is by men [...] concealing of their estates from such as should know them.

This, I expect their gaping mouthes will cry downe for a Paradox; and I am confident Mens Havingnesse, which makes them so unwilling to reveale their estates will be the onely Re­mora to this good work: Wherefore that I may let them bloud in the right veine, and for their Saving-Health pricke them to the heart with Saint Peters Launce (a plaine discovery of their hainous crimes herein) I must intreate ( [...]) that li­berty of speech in telling them the naked truth concerning their eternall Souls in this particular, which they willingly suffer both the Physician and Lawyer to take in matters which con­cerne onely their mortall bodies and temporall estates.

Every Christian hath a threefold Center he must move unto; His God, Neighbour, and himselfe. Accordingly, there are three motions he must move in: Piety, Equity and Sobriety. In Sobriety towards himselfe, Equity, towards his Neighbours, and in Piety towards his God. All which are directly opposite to, and cannot stand with the willfull concealement of our Wealth; Wherefore he that shall so doe declareth to the world that he crosseth the Rule of grace, in living not soberly,Tit. 2.12. 1 Cor. 4.7. nor righteously, nor godly in this present world. For

1. Our duty to God in regard of those estates he hath given us (for what have we, which we have not received? and whence receive we our estates, but from his blessing which maketh [Page 18] rich?prov. 10.22.) is twofold. 1. Thankfulnesse. 2. Faithfulnesse.

1. Thankfuln [...]sse to God, River-like, returnes unto the O­cean of his glory, those streames of blessings, which flowed from the Fountaine of his goodnesse. It is a free rendring to him the Glory of his goodnesse in bestowing our estates upon us. And this Returne is not to be done onely with the heart, and privately in our closets,Heb. 13.15. Hos. 14.2. Psal. 107.22. Psal. 40.10. but the tongue must eccho it in a more publicke way. Hence it is called the fruite and calves of the lipps. King Davids rule herein is, Let them offer the sacrifices of praise, and declare his workes with rejoycing. His practise was ac­cording; I have not concealed thy mercy and thy truth from the great Congregation. The Lord would have his mercy knowne both for the Glory of his Name, and to draw on other men to a faithfull dependance on him,Psal. 78.4, 5, 6, 7, 8. which the Psalmist elsewhere doth at large expresse. He therefore who hideth any mercy of God to him from the knowledge of his brethren, is no lesse then an unthankefull person; yea and when he is legally called to ma­nifest Gods goodnesse to him, or when he would seem to doe it willingly and of his owne accord, by an opening of his estate to the eyes of all the world, to conceale any great part thereof, his ingratitude thereby, becomes great-bellied, for Twins are hatched in its ingendring wombe.

1. The first-borne is a Lye. For he that in this way conceales his estate, or any part thereof, belies God, bearing the world in hand that the Lord hath not been so bountifull to him as in­deed he hath. This dissembling and double kind of dealing, was the sinne of Ananias; For the Apostle said unto him, Why hath Satan filled thine heart to bely the Holy Ghost, Acts 5.3. and to keepe away part of the price of thy possession? This is a breach both of the third and ninth Commandement.

[...].2. Its second brat is as deformed, it is Injustice it selfe. Vn­thankefulnesse doth open wrong. It detains from benefactors their due; It keeps backe from our Lord that Rent we owe him for these our Copie-holds. Thus it offends the eight precept. One would thinke this enough to convince them of sinne, who wilfully conceale their estates, when they ought to bring them forth; But this hath not discovered the depth of its sinfulnesse as it directly strikes at God; For

[Page 19]2 There is another duty owing to him for our estates, which Divines call Faithfullnesse: which brancheth it selfe into a Trust on him, a Truth to him.

1. The great Lord of all is bountifull in giving unto us,Isai. 51.3. be­cause he would have us confide in him, and waite on him, But the close-keeping of his liberality to us in our estates, declares us distrustfull of him, that we dare not rest our selves on his Providence in committing our wayes to him, but we leane more upon our owne care and closenesse, as if an open thank­fullnesse to him, would prove dangerous and lossefull to us.

2. And if we doe not trust God, we can never be true to him. Experience tells us, that such as suspect, and will not trust others; are seldome or never true themselves: Our faith­fullnesse in doing for God, springs from our faith in him, as ready and able to doe for us. Wherefore since the vailing of our wealth is by the foule hands of Infidelity, it cannot but pro­duce a most treacherous perfidiousnesse in their use he gave them for. We are but his Expenditours;1 Cor. 4.7. and Stewards ought to be faithfull in their layings out, but faithfull we cannot be if we hide the Talent our Master gives us to trade with in a Napkin of Leasing, not imploying it so, that he may receive his owne with Vsury. He that shall thus doe, is brother to him, who instead of an hundred, wrote downe fifty.Luke 16.6.8. What account will such a man give, at the Reckoning day with the world? Will not Christ say then, Cast this unprofitable servant into utter darkenesse, where is weeping and gnashing of teeth? Matth. 25.30. Acts 5.5. Ana­nias was soone called to an account, and punished for his fal­shood in this way. Me thinks if a man did seriously consider with himselfe, how often, and how much he hath wronged God by his concealing of his estate, in belying him to his face, and stealing from him the Diamond in his Crowne, His Glory; in being distrustfull of him, as if he were not trust-worthy, and faithlesse to him, as if he were a kinde of Infidell, this very fight of the evill in so doing, should scare him from doing so again.

And yet you see not all the mischiefe that is packed up in this kind of men dealings. For as it sins against God, so,

2. Secondly, It is against our Neighbour: The duty we owe him requires an open declaration of our Substance. His due from us is Righteousnesse; that is, (Jus distributivum) d [...]stributive [Page 20] Justice, which (Suum cuique dat) gives every man that which is his. But he that wraps up his estate in secrecie, keeps from men what he in conscience (if he have any) is obliged to give them; yea, and this defrauding of them is his meere intention in that his false dealing: That I may rip up the very Entrailes of this iniquity, it is expedient to shew the multitudes that suffer hereby; They are ranged into Superiours, Equalls, and Infe­riours.

1. Our Superiours are either Civill, or Ecclesiastick.

1. Our Civill Superiours are the Head and Body of the Common-Wealth.

First, The Head, the Kings Majesty with his deputed and subordinate Magistrates, are greatly injured by mens concea­ling of their estates. Maintenance we owe the Publick Magi­strate, as a Part of that Honour which the fifth Commandement requires of us as his due.Rom. 13.7. Hence the Apostle, Tribute to whom you owe Tribute, Custome to whom you owe Custome, Feare to whom Feare, Honour to whom Honour. But the Question will be, What Portion of Tribute each man must pay the Magistrate as his due? The answer is, That each mans tribute to the Publicke Magistrate must be proportioned onely by his estate, so that as his estate is greater or lesser, his Taxe riseth and falleth. Thus it hath been anciently, (as I shall shew hereafter) and ought to be still; wherefore he that minceth his estate, doth diminish the Magistrates Right, and in so doing commits direct Theevery.

Secondly, The Body of the State in generall, suffers much with its Head herein. For it is not replenished wi [...]h that Strength and Store of Ammunition, which it ought and would be, if all m [...]ns estates were knowne. The wisedome of the State doth order every mans burden in all Publicke Taxes to be ac­cording to his strength; Hence some men to be favoured in their Load feigne themselves much weaker then they are. A traiterous generation, and enemies to the State.

Secondly, Our Ecclesiasticall Superiours are also double, The Church, and Church-men.

Matth. 12.4.21.13. Isai 37.1.1. The Church, that is called Gods House, the Building wherein his Publicke Worship is given him, receives much da­mage by mens concealing of their estates: For hereby it comes [Page 21] to passe, that it is not so well repaired and maintained as it ought. Happily this argument may seeme ridiculous to those fanatique persons who have throwne Gods House out of dores. But it will not be so much slighted by them who have their wits about them, and their hearts at their right hands; These are the men I speake to, for as they hate superstition, so they love decency,Hag. 1.4. and count it a Piaculum to live in seiled houses of their owne, whilest the Lords house lies wast.

2. The Church-man, the Minister, who breakes to his flock the Bread of Eternall life, is cozened of his due maintenance. True, the Lawes give him Tithes, the tenth of the Increase: But no Parish can endure, by their good wills, to pay it truly, and duly, in kind. Wherefore the Minister for quietnesse sake, usually compounds with them: and the Composition most commonly is by their rents; which to beguile him in, it is too common for Land-lords and Tenants to combine to curtaile, yea and by swearing, or solemne protesting to avouch the Prices of their Houses and Lands, that is, The summes of their Rents lesse then they are: or to use some other indirect way of under-hand dealing herein; as if it were no sinne to deceive a Minister. Justly may God plague them with such, as will pro­portion their worke according to their wages: but he is mercifull.

Thus are our Superiours wronged.

2. Our Equalls are no lesse damnified by this deceitfull co­vering of mens wealth from others sight: For hereby he that is yoked with us in a Scot is forced to beare more of it, then he should; and so we crosse Saint Pauls meaning,Gal. 6.2. though we seem to fulfill hi [...] charge in forcing our burdens on one anothers backe. A Scot is then equally made when every man is taxed according to his estate: If any be cased by their falshood in be­lying their estates, others must pinch for it. Mark Tully in his charge against Verres saith. The Taxe was made after such a manner when you were Praetor as thereby the Common-weale of no City could be governed; For the estates of rich men were extenuated, and meane mens extended, so that in requi­ring Tribute such a burden was laid on the Common-people, that if the men should be silent, yet even the matter it selfe [Page 22] would abandon such a Taxe. And to say the truth, even in these our times it is apparent like the Sunne at Noone, that the middle sort of Persons, whose estates are of no greater latitude then the Zenith of every mans knowledge, doe beare away the greatest part of publicke burdens, and so are most heavily and unjustly oppressed; and the reason is, because of mens con­cealing their estates. Hence comes that heart-burning and envie amongst Neighbours, which seemes to have set them on fire from hell: such is their malice at one another, in vieing at each others estates, when they come together at making of Scots and Taxes, and the reviling speeches with Ʋnchristian Behaviour that passeth between them. This fire would be put out, if men would out with their estates themselves.

3. Lastly, Our Inferiours are sufferers also hereby; Those I meane, who are not scotted or taxed, such as have no E­states to maintaine themselves,Deut. 15.7, 8, 9, 10, 11. 1 Cor. 16.1, 2. much lesse others. Their re­liefe is a duty strictly enjoyned by our God. The measure of that reliefe they must have from us, as it respects us, must be according to our State-ability: this God and charity requires. But covetous selfe-love hinders our obedience: wherefore the civill Magistrate (whose lawes most men regard more then Gods) was necessitated (for the fulfilling of the Lords injun­ction hereof) to bring in Taxes and Scots for the support of the poore, thereby to compell men to doe that which their very Religion cannot obtaine of them. These Scots and Taxes, Ju­stice requires should be equally laid upon every man, that is, they should be proportioned to every mans estate: which can­not be because men doe strive what they can to suppresse the true Notion of their Abilities; and not paying according to the true worth of their estate, it necessary followes that the Poore are wronged by them, in not having their due from them. So­lomon adviseth such Nabals to the contrary, saying, With-hold not the Good from the Owners thereof, Prov. 3.27. though there be power in thy hand to doe it. And thus mens undervaluing of their estates ap­peares to be unrighteousnesse in a high degree; And yet have you seene but two parts of its wickednesse: The third and last followes. For

3. Finally, such kinde of close dealing of worldly selfe-wisedome [Page 23] cannot stand with that sobriety we should have in and towards our selves.1 Thess. 5.6, 7, 8. Rom. 12.3. Luke 21.34. We should live soberly in this present world; Now christian sobriety is a virtue moderating not one­ly our desires of meate and drinke, but also all esteeme of our selves, and our cares for these outward things. It restraines the Lust of the eye, as well as the Lust of the flesh and the Pride of life; But I appeale to every conscience of these greedy Hun­garians (if they have any) whether their wilfull and obstina [...]e denying of their wealth doe not come from their covetous af­fection thereto, and inordinate love thereof? I dare avow it doth, and that in so doing their soules appeare to be drunken, and overcharged with the cares of this life.1 Tim. 6.9, 10. Hence it is that they erre from the Faith, and fall into such Temptations and snares, as will pierce them through with sorrowes, which are to be prevented onely by a Godly sorrow never to be repented of: and to bring them thereunto, Let them in time consider what they have done, in a serious review of the sad premisses, which will convince them that in this one act they have committed many sins; the least of which they can never excuse so well, but it will overthrow them at the Barre of Gods Judiciall Tribunall. In the meane time, they must admit of this for truth, That they love not themselves, nor their Neighbour, no not their God, and therefore are not the same, they would seeme to be, True Christians.

But to make our flight somewhat lower, Civill Policy also doth require men to be know their estates; Christianity is our upper sphere, wherein whilest we move,Phil. 3.20. Gen. 5.22. we have our conversa­tion in heaven, and walke with God. The lower Sphere sub­ordinate thereto, is civill Policy, wherein whilest we rightly move, we live with Gods Vicegerents, as good Subjects, and sound members of the Body Politick, which cannot subsist without the influence thereof. Wherefore as I have endeavou­red to make men shew themselves good Christians, so now my aime is to perswade them to be good Common-wealths men in this particular: And so to doe, I will briefly make i [...] good to them, that, The Publication of mens estates hath been practised, commanded, and commended by such, who have diligently sought the Prosperity of those Cities and Kingdomes they lived in.

[Page 24]1. For the Practise of it: The Custome and Practise of the greatest Empire of the Romans may suffice to prove the revealing of mens estates absolutely necessary to make a Kingdome be­come great and flourishing; For the very first steppe unto the superlative degree Rome climbed up unto, was no other then the exact view and perfect valuation of the estate of every Ro­man from the highest to the lowest: as is cleare by these ensu­ing Authorities.

Decad. 1. lib. 1. T. Livius saith; After Servius Tullius (the sixt King of the Romans) had vanquished the Hetrurians, he returned to Rome, and then went about an exceeding great worke, or meanes of Peace,Vide Penart. in 2 Sam: 24. That as Numa was Author of the excellent Lawes, so after ages did report Servius the Founder of all distinction in the City and Orders, wherein appeared any degree of dignity or fortune. For he ordained the Valuation of every mans Goods, A thing most profitable to an Empire that should be­come so great: Thereby all Officers of Warre and Peace, came not to be done man by man, as before, but according to the qua­lity (or rather the quantity) of their estates. Then did he di­stribute them into Companies and Bands; And this Order comely both in peace and warre, he did prescribe according to their valuation. Of those that had the greatest estates he made eighty Centuries, forty of the elder, and forty of the younger. To the Seniors (of whom the Senate hath its name) he commit­ted the Custody of the City, &c.

Rom. Antiq. lib. 4. Dyonysius Halicarn: relates that, besides the many other things Servius Tullius did constitute, he commanded all the Ro­mans to give in their Names, and to prize their Goods by the value of mony, and to adde a lawfull Oath, whereby they should sweare that all their Goods were truely valued to their full worth, and withall to set downe the Names of their Parents, their age, their wives and childrens names, the Name of their City, or Village of the Countrey, where they dwelt being also added. And he did inflict this punishment on him, who was not valued or prized: He should be despoiled of all his goods, whipped, and sold for a slave. This Law endured a long time amongst the Romans, but when the Valuation was finished, and the Bookes wherein the Names of all Persons were written, [Page 25] being received, whereby both their number, and the greatnesse of their Fortunes was knowne, he did introduce the wisest Or­dinance that ever was, and the most profitable to the Romane State, as experience hath taught. This was the good Order he instituted, he tooke out of the whole number one part whose estates were greatest, &c.

This Act was afterwards imitated by T. Largius the First Dictator:Dion. Halicarn. lib. 5. for according to Servius Tullius his most excellent Ordinance, he commanded all the Romans according to their Tribes to confesse openly the value of their estates, adding there­to the Names of their wives and children, with their owne and their childrens ages; And in a little time all were valued, be­cause of the greatnesse of the Punishment: for they who obey­ed not were to loose their Goods, and be turned out of the City, &c.

Againe when M. Geganius Macerinus, Idem lib. 11. ad sine [...]. and T. Quintius Ca­pitolinus were Consuls, they informed the Senate, that whereas many things had been neglected by reason of the continuall ex­peditions of the Consuls, amongst them, That Ordinance which of all other was most necessary, viz. The Valuation of Estates, whereby was knowne both the number of them, who were of a military age, and the greatnesse of their fortunes, by the quantity where­of, every one should contribute to the necessity of Warlike occasions, there having been no Valuation in 17 yeares, &c.

Moreover we read in sacred Writ,Luke 2.1, 2. that there came a Com­mandement from Caesar Augustus ( [...]) Ʋt describeratur totus Orbis; That the Habitable world (under the Command of the Romane Emperour) should be described as Beza renders it; Erasmus, Ʋt censeretur, and so Vatablus, whom our English Translators se [...] to follow, by saying, That all the world should be taxed.

If any object, The Emperour sinned in this his Command, as David did in numbring of his People, alledging the Autho­rity of Stella who indeed aggravates this Act of the Romane, In locum. as a greater sinne, then that of the Israelite.

The truth is, Some learned men doe doubt whether this De­scription of Augustus were made for to impose Tribute, or onely to know the number of the People subject to the Romane [Page 26] Empire in those most flourishing times,Dubitant non-nulli eruditi an illa descrip­tio sit facta ad imponenda tributa, quae est recepta sententia; an vero ad cog­noscendum florentissimis illis tempori­bus numerum subditorum Imperii Ro­mani, sicut David popu­lum suum nu­mer avit. 2 Sam. 24. Dan. Tossanus in locum. as David did cause his People to be numbred; yet the former being the most received opinion, and grounded on the Ancient Custome, and com­mon practise of the City of Rome, it may be said with Albertus M: Though David sinned in numbring the People, because he did it in pride; yet Augustus off [...]nded not, because he de­scribed the world out of a good intent toward his people. His purpose bei [...]g thereby to know how much he could be inabled toward the Government of the Common-wealth, (Per Consi­capitem) by Pole-money: which the Pontifician writers reckon to be the Romane Penny for every head. But to proceed:

In locum.We have another hint of this practise of the Romans in Act. 5.37. where Pauls learned Doctor saith, Judas of Galileo rose up in the dayes of the Taxing, and drew away much people after him. In which words we onely take notice now of the occasion which that seditious person made use of, to stirre up his Complices unto a mutunie; andVid. Joan. Brentium. in locum. that was the Description or Taxing of the Jewish Nation, which did infringe their Liberty and Freedome, and brought them under the yoke of the Romane Empire. To evidence this, may serve the Observation of Chemni [...]us on the like passage of slavery put on them by an Egyptian King: For thus saith he, In the third Book of the Maccabees, these words [...], are sometimes repeated concerning Ptole­maeus Philopater, who commanded that all the Jewes should be brought into a servile condition by making a description of theme and the story addes that many of them did boldly endea­vour to free themselves from giving in their Names. In this place is mentioned [...], which the Jewes did oppose with the hazard of their lives and estates; Because the intent thereof was, that [...]he Jewes might not be a peculiar Na­tion, and keepe their owne Lawes and Government, but should be reckoned by this publicke Token, amongst the Subjects of the Egyptian Kingdome.

Chemnitius a little after those words saith moreover, it is worth our notice, that after Archelaus, that is, almost in that very yeare,Harmon in locum. when Christ being twelve yeares old, did teach first in the Temple, another description of the Jewes was made, [...] Josephus reports; And that under Vespasian, a little before [Page 27] their destruction a third description was made of them.Ioseph. de Bel­lo Iud. l. 7. c. 26.

And about foure yeares after, that Jerusalem was utterly o­verthrowne, Vespasian and his Sonne Titus were chosen Cen­sors; Of which Plinie makes mention,Accedunt ex­empla recen­tissimi Census quem intra quadriennium Imperatores Vespasiani, Pa­ter filiusque Censores ege­runt, &c. Nat. hist. l. 7. c. 49. to certifie us of the ex­traordinary length of life and number of yeares, many persons were found to have enjoyed.

As for after times, It may suffice to adde the Testimony of that Profound Scholar, Isaac Casaubon, Exercit. ad Appar. Baron. Num. 93. who affirmes, The Cu­stome of Describing or Taxing, was alwayes kept, not onely in the Government of Old Rome, but also in that of the New, being now and then acted as their affaires required. For wit­nesse hereof, he brings Gregory Nazianzens speech to He [...]enius, in his ninth Oration to Julian, who with Hellenius was sent in­to Capadocia to equalize, and levell their Taxes and Tributes imposed on the People of that Countre [...].

But to leave forraigne examples, it seemes expedient to looke home, and see whether this practise hath ever been i [...] this Kingdome. To put this out of doubt, I shall need to bring no more instances, then that of William the Conquerour, who in his se [...]ling of this Kingdome to Him, and His, seemes to have shewne as much wisedome, as he had done valour in winning it by his Sword. For Master Speed informes us,Chron. lib. [...]. 2. Sect. 40. that the said famous Conquerour, caused an exact Survey to be taken of the whole Kingdome, yea and of every particular Part and Commo­d [...]ty thereof: so that there was not a Hide of Land, Lake, water or wast, but he knew the Valuation the Owners and Possessors, together with the Rents and profits thereof, as also of all Ci­ties, Townes, Villages, H [...]mlets, Monasteries, and Religious Houses; causing also all the People in England to be numbred, their names to be taken, with notice, what every one might dispend by the yeare. Their substance, their money, and bond­men recorded. How many yokes of Oxen and Plough lands were in the Realme, and what services they owed, who held of him in Fee. All which was certified upon the O [...]bes of Commissioners. This done, he exacted fixe shillings to be paid him for every Hide of Land, which a mounted to an huge summe of money. This Booke thus made of every severall Survey was commonly called the Roll of Wi [...]hester, as being there at first [Page 28] kept; But for the Generality and inevitable Censure thereof is by Authors named Liber Judiciarius; by the English, it is cal­led Doomesday-Booke, kept to this day in the Kings Exchequer at Westminster.

By these premisses appeares ( [...]) That this valuing of mens estates hath been a common practise in Kingdomes.

Before we leave it, I shall briefely adde the [...] thereof.

1. The ( [...]) manner of doing it among the Romans will clearely shew it selfe, in a discovery of

• 1. The quality of the persons imployed.
• 2. Their office and work therein.
• 3. The Ceremony used therefore.
• 4. The Time, when and how often it was practised.

1. The Qualitity of the Persons imployed about this worke. The Romans alwayes chose two men of the best Ranke and Re­pute amongst them to doe it,Demum eò dignitatis ve­nit Censurae status ut nisi clari illustres­que post tri­umphos & consulatus il­lam expere­rent. Alex. ab Alex. Gen. Dir. l 3. c. 13. In vitâ M Ca­tonis De legibus lib. 6. De legibus lib. 3. ad initium. Ubi supra. Fenestella de Magist. Rom. cap. 17. and called them the Censors. None but famous and illustrious persons were wont to obseeke that Office of Censorship, and that, after their Consulships and Tri­umphs, as if it were one step of honour above them. It was in­deed the chiefest office among the Romans, and therefore fit only for the best men. Plutarch tells us, M. Cato ten yeares after his Consulship su [...]d to be Censor, which was in Rome the greatest office of dignity that any Citizen of Rome could attaine unto, and as a man may say, the Place of all Glory and Honour of their Common-wealth. Plato therefore did appoint that his Thirty seven, the chiefest men and of highest ranke in his Common-wealth, should have the Custody of the Lawes, and the keeping of the Talles, wherein were registred the names and summes which every man set downe of his estate.

2. The Office of the two Censors (which we finde Empe­rours themselves to accept of) did in time grow to a very great height; for thereto was added Censures of manners, and many other particulars do at large appeare by the Romane Law con­cerning it, recited by M. Cicero; and also by the report of Plu­tarch, Fenestella, Alexander ab Alexandro and other classicall Au­thors. But at the first it was farre lesse, and branched it selfe onely into two parts according to the two most usuall signifi­cations of the word Census. For

1. The word Census signifies (Quicquid fortunarum quis ha­bet) [Page 29] whatsoever a man hath, his whole estate, and all that he is worth.Sive apud Rom. script [...] ­res Census in­terdum signi­cat ipsa bona; ut Homo te­nuis Census, & apud Saty­ricum, Misera est magni cu­stodia census. Casaub. exer­cit. 16. Baronit Annal. Num. 10. Vide Annal. Beza in Matth. 17.24. & 22.17. & Mark 12.14. Har [...]. Ubi su­pra. Postea &c. Exercit. 16. Ubi supra. Beza in Annot. in Matth. 22.17. F [...]llerius in Praxi Censu­ali 2 Varro­nis. lib. 4. de ling. lat. Cas. lib. 5. c. 41. Casaubon. Ex­ercit. Annal. Baron. Num. 10. & Exer­cit. ad Appa­rat. Numb. 93. For the first worke of the Censors was to value every mans estate, and to inventary both his Lands and Goods. The greeke word [...] signifies to take or make an account, and [...] imports that which commonly is called an Inven­tary, &c. A [...] Chem [...]nitus out of Budaeus; and Casanbon out of the Glossator saith, [...], that is, [...]; The Description, was an Estimate of a mans substance; And in times past it was one part of the Censors office, habere & ordi­nare Census; But when the Censors were taken away, there were certaine men sent into the Provinces, and they were called Censitors, who measured all mens Lands, and set them downe in their Bookes of Valuation; Hence also the word Census is used to signifie a Valuation, or estimation of all mens abilities, as well in Rents of Lands, as Moveable Goods; And from this practise, To let derives the signification of Census first named, saying, Observe that in times past, the Rents and Goods of Inhabitants were valued by the Emperour, that there might be made a just estimation of them; And such an Estimation is cal­led Census: and from thence the word was enlarged in signi­fication so that the estate which was prized, was called Census.

2. The other signification of Census is a Cesse, Taxe or Tri­bute, that is laid upon mens lands, goods, and estates. So it is translated in Matth. 22.17. and Marke 12.14. For when the Censors had valued mens substance, then by their esteeme there­of, they regulated and ordered every mans Scot and Taxe; Therefore the Graecians called the Censitors [...] and the Latines Peraquatores. For they corrected the Bookes of Valu­ation, and divided amongst the Citizens equally the Burden of the Tribute according to every mans estate; Thus Juli [...]nus and Hellenius were sent into Cappadocia, to take a survey of mens estates, and amongst them to levell, and even the charge of the Tributes: which was heretofore the office of the Censors, and since of the Censitors, and from hence this word Census came to meane a Taxe, Cesse, Scot, or Tribute.

3. The Ceremony they used about this Office, was to enter thereon in a religious (or rather superstitious) way; For they did offer up certain sacrifices, as a Sow, a Sheepe, and one Bull, as Pomponius Laetus, or three Bulls, as P. Martyr saith.In 2 Sam. 2 [...] And a­nother [Page 30] ceremonious observation they had herein, that when (one of the Censors happened to dye, they might not choose one in his roome, but it was ordered, that the Survivour should a [...]di­cate and renounce the office, that so two Censors might be new chosen:Fenestella ubi supra. which arose upon this occasion; because the French-men did take Rome in that yeare, wherein one Censor died, and another was put into his place. But these Pagan and heathenish rites vanished away even at the rising of the Sunne of Righte­ousnesse, and yet the office it selfe endured long after, as Casa [...] ­bon affirmes, thereby acquitting Censorinus from the unjust cen­sure of Baronius.

4. Lastly, The time that it was at first usually pract sed in, and by the Law should have continued, was every five yeare. If the Reader will compare the end of the fift Booke o [...] Dionys. Halica [...]n: Exercit: ad Apparat. Annal. Baron. Num. 93. where T. Largius observed it, with the end of his sixt booke, where it is againe executed, and number the yeares between, he shall finde them to be five. Calvisus in his Chrono­logy recounting the times hereof, makes it cleare to the obser­ver. Hence the latine word Lustrum signifies the space of five yeares, and the Romans reckoned their times thereby, as the Greekes did by their Olympiads; M. Cicero in lib. 3. de Legi­bus, ad initi­um. yet it seemes this time of five yeares was altered; For it is reported by Fenestella that Ma­mercus Aemilius when he was Dictator, did decree it should be every yeare, or every yeare and halfe, as Alexander ab Alexan­dro: B [...]man. de O­rigin. ling. lat. in Luo. Because the Censors by the length of their office, were growne proud and insolent. And it further appeares that the Censors did not every five yeares describe, or value, and [...]e mens estates; For besides the complaint of the two Consuls in Dion. Halicar. before recited;P. Mart. Vbi supra. Censorinus saith, Servius Tullius did ordaine that every fift yeare a Valuation of the Citizens being taken,Vbi supra. Lustrum conderetur: but so did not they which came after;Vbi supra. For whereas there are little lesse then sixe hundred and fifty yeares between that which Servius did observe, and that of Vespasian and Titus, yet there were no more then se­venty five Lustra; Apud Calvis. Chronol. in Anno Christi. 74. and afterwards they left the same quite off. This last clause is that which Baronius carped at, and Casau­bon cleared from his mistake. And so much briefely for the ( [...]) manner of the Romans doing this work. Come we to

[Page 31]2. The ( [...]) Reasons why they did thus practise. The grounds whereon, and ends whereunto they moved herein: they seeme to be especially to be these.

1. The expiating and purging of the people:P. Mart. in 2 Sam. 2.4. Hence the Verb Lustro used by good Authors to expresse the worke of the Censors, signifies not onely to view, and compasse about, but also to purge by sacrifice: what their sacrifices were, hath been intimated; and herein it is a probable conjecture of the Lear­ned, that they did imitate the Israelites, who were enjoyned by the Lord their God at every Description, to bring an offering for the expiating of their Soules; Exod. 30.12, 13, 14, 15, 16.

2. To know the number of the People, for the raising of Souldiers, when occasion required an Army.

3. To finde out the ability and wealth of every particular person, and so of every Province, Kingdome, Nation, and the whole Empire in generall; which was necessary for them to understand.

1. That they might the better distinguish of their people,Census discri­men haben­dum ut inde dignitatis [...]a­cio inter cive [...] haberi quoque possit, item & onerum pub­licorum. Da­naeus in sylv [...]. Aphoris. Po [...]t. Controvers. 9. In loc. com. Jurid. collect. ex Operibus Senecae. Vide Alex ab Alex li. 4. c. 11. Vbi supra. Id. Ibid. Budaeus apud Chemnit. Vbi supra. and particular persons, and accordingly order them into their severall rankes and degrees. This use Servius Tullius made of it, and so did all the following Censors, as appeares by Seneca, Gothofredus, and others.

2. That they might equally taxe every man: for according to each mans Estate was his Tribute, Cesse, or Scot proportio­ned, as hath been hinted already.

3. That hereby they might have some guesse at the com­mings in of the State, its Revenues, whereby they might regu­late their expences, both in times of warre and peace.

4. Lastly, hereby was intended, an acknowledgement of subjection from the Persons and People so described, valued, or [...]ed. Their confession of their Names and Estates, to be there­by scotted and cessed, to pay Tributes and Subsidies, was a Pro­fession of their submission to the Commander. And so we have done with the Practise of the valuing and prizing of mens estates.

2. The next thing concerning the same to be enquired after is, the originall thereof, which being opened, the command thereof by prudent Governours will plainely appeare. I finde [Page 32] Plato in his Common-wealth to take this Order,De legibus lib. 6. 12. saying, After this manner Publicke Contributions shall be dispensed; First, for the benefit of many shall be had a Valuation, or an Estimate of every mans whole estate, &c. The Names of all persons, and Summes of their estates he commanded to be enrowled; And if any man failed in the Manifesto of his substance, the punishment he did enjoyne for him, was, that the Remainder or Overplus concealed should be made common, and distributed amongst the people, and the delinquent to become infamous, as one that despised the Lawes for lucre sake, and who would, might accuse him, &c. Thus runnes that Philosophers Law concerning this particular in hand; But he was not the first that trod out this way: For before he was borne, threescore and sixe yeares, or there abouts did Solon govern Athens, (Anno ante Christum 592.) by whom amongst other Lawes, this was also made a Law, that every man should every yeare declare unto the publicke Magistrate,Et imprimis haec lex com­mendatur quam tulit, ut quisque quotannis in­dicaret Ma­gistratui mag­nitudinem fa­cultatum sua­rum, & arti­ficil genus un­de sibi hone­ste victum pa­raret. Carion. Chron. lib. 2. In the life of Solon. the quantity of his wealth, and his kind of Trade, whereby [...]e did honestly get his living. And Plutarch saith, Solon being desirous to have the chiefe Offices of the City, to remaine in rich mens hands, as already they did, and yet to mingle the Authority of Government in such sort, as the meaner people might beare a little sway, which they never could before, he made an Estimate of the goods of every private Citizen: and those he found yearely worth five hundred bushells of corne, and other liquid fruites and upwards, he called Pentaco­s [...]omedimnes, as to say, Five hundred bushell men of Revenues. And those that had three hundred bushells a yeare, and were a­ble to keepe a Horse of service, he put in the second degree, and called them Knights. They that might dispend but two hundred bushells a yeare, were put in the third place, and cal­led Zeugites; Yokemen or Farmers. All other under these, were called Thetes, that is, Labourers, who are set at worke by other men. These latter, he did not admit to beare any office in the City, neither were they taken as free Citizens, saving they had Votes in Elections and Assemblies of the City, and in Judg­ments, where the People wholly judged. It may easily be con­ceived that Servius Tullius who came to be King of the Ro­mans, about seventeene yeares at the most, after Solon tooke on [Page 33] him the Rule of Athens, did imitate him herein;Ab eo (Solo­ne) Civilis Ro­manorum J [...] ­ris, cujus eti­am hodiè pas­sim usus est, origo dema­navit Carion Chron. lib. 2. Textor in officina de Rom. Regi­bus. Descriptio­nem Civitatis a majoribus nostris sapi­entissimè con­stitutam; &c. pro P. S [...]xtio. Vbi supra. Vbi supra. Vbi supra. Quintum fo­mentum E­qualitas. h [...] c, ut justa & u­niformis con­tributio sit, nec per bo­nam malamve gratiam, hunc subleves, il­lum premas. Huic autem aequalitati ra­tio unica; Census. Res saluberrima magno fururo imperio, quem nesciri aut negligi hodie non mirer? &c. Civil. Doctri­nae lib. 4 c. 11. for the Ro­manes derived their Lawes from Solons, as the learned have ob­served; as Solon received the grounds of his owne, from other Nations, and especially the Egyptians, amongst whom he so­journed in his Travels.

3. Finally for the commendation of this Act of Civill Policy, it may safely be affirmed that as many Authors making men ion thereof, doe highly prayse it, so as yet I have found not one which doth in the least measure impeach the same: The high esteeme those two noted Historians, Livy and Dion: Halicar­nasseus had thereof, may appeare by their words already reci­ted; And M. Cicero who doubtlesse understood the mysteries of State Affaires, so well as any of his ranke ever did, doth say, Our Ancestors did most wisely constitute the Description of the City; Plutarch also extolls that Act of Solon, as of most excellent use, as his law thereof is praised by Ph. Melancthon. P. Martyr saith, It was very commodious; Besides the Excel­lency thereof appeares by the dignity of the Persons that onely were chosen to that office, as hath been showne: But of late wri­ters in this particular, Lypsius may be instar omnium, who most fully commends the use and practise hereof unto all Princes and Magistrates, in this manner. The fift meanes to mitigate and abate the hatred and discontent which useth to arise in the hearts of Subjects against their Princes & Governors, by reason of Taxes, and such like publike burdens imposed on them, is E­quality; that is, A just and uniforme contribution, the same thing being not made greater or lesser to any man, either for love or hatred: To which equality there is but one way, The valuing of every mans estate; a thing most profitable to make any Dominion great. Shall I wonder that it is unknowne or neglected in these times? Truely I may, seeing there are such evident and obvi­ous examples thereof, (For what Common-wealth hath in times past been meanely good without it?) and that it is with­all of such manifest use. Plato said rightly, It is very profitable that every man bring forth his estate to be rated or v [...]lued; bec [...]use hereby alone it would come to passe, that all degrees of Patri­mony, Dignity, Age, Arts and Offices would be enrol [...]ed, whereby would appeare, how able all Cities and Countries [Page 34] were to leavie both souldiers and money. Lastly, Hereby Tribute might yearely be paid in an equall proportion. Wherefore if thou O Prince, or Governour be wise, recall this practise, both for thine Owne and the Publicke Good; and Censors being chosen, let all the People, with their Ages, Off-spring, Families and Estates be registred. To these Censo [...]s must all power be given of making the Estimate of their Estates, and Summe of their Taxe.

But by whom shall they be chosen? If you will heare me, to take away hatred and suspitions from that office which of it selfe is displeasing, let the p [...]ople designe them, that they may with the greatest care elect such as they will put most confidence in concerning their estates. How many must be chosen? Let there be two or three in every City. How often must this De­scription, or V [...]luation be? They differ herein, for in some Ci­ties, it is every yeare, and in other greater Cities never but in the third or fift yeare: But I conceive it would be more safe, and better to be every yeare, because of mens remoovings from place to place, their deaths, increase and decrease in estate. Thus farre Lypsius, with whom I cannot but consent, and yet with these cautions.

1. That these Censors, whether two or three in a City or P [...]rish, be in this Kingdome chosen, not by the vulgar people, but by the Honourable Parliament, who as they are the Wise­doe of this Nation, so they are the Representative Body of the same.

2. That these Censors have Power to give an Oath to every man who is to be described, valued, or prized, to draw from him a true confession of his whole estate, as Servius Tullius did unto the Romans.

3. That such persons as notwithstanding their Oath (for as some have, so others will preferre money before faith and truth) shall like Ananias conceale any part of their wealth, doe by some law for that end to be made, forfeit the particu­lars concealed, unto the King and State, and they themselves be proceeded against in Law as guilty of Perjury.

4. That the Censors themselves be sworne to execute their office without partiality: and if they wilfully swerve from [Page 35] their oath and equity, then that they be fined, or other wayes punished, as the State shall thinke most fit.

5. That this Description be once every yeare.

6. Lastly, That these Censors be ordained in every Parish, or at the least in every Hundred, to lessen their trouble that they may the more exactly manage their office, which will be accompanied with many incumbrances and difficulties, especi­ally at the first setting it on foot, by reason of that naturall a­versenesse, which is generally in men from all good that is pub­licke; and from this particular most of all, because at the first sight it will seeme to crosse their Having disposition; But the truth is, if it were throughly and seriously considered without all prejudice,Censorum qui in singulorum Censum mo­res, & vitam liberè & sin­cerè tamen inquirant, po­testas in quavis Repub. bene instituta est necessaria. Danaeus. Resp. optima est in quâ om­nes magistra­tus & cives conferunt om­nia sua ad Reip. salutem vel commo­dum. Id. è. Plut. de Civil. Admi­nistr. (which blinds many tim [...]s the clearest eyes of the sharpest understandings) it would appeare to be not onely use­full, but also necessary to the well-being of the Republicke; For that Common-wealth is in a very good condition, in which all Persons, Magistrates and People doe conferre all that they have to the Benefit of the State. Now the health of the body in generall is made up of the prosperity of each particular mem­ber; wherefore every person should even for his owne good bring forth his estate for the publicke use of the Kingdome; much more should he be willing to pay, and part with the Taxe cessed on his State, never grudging and repining thereat, espe­cially if equally made. Doubtlesse if every man would worke himselfe to come off freely in these matters, not onely the bo­dy in generall would be saved, but each particular member also preserved, yea and the quantity of most mens taxes be lessened to their great content; But when men shall be so purblinde as not to see the good they doe themselves, when they in any way accommodate the State, and thereupon doe preferre their own private welfare before the Publicke, they runne the highest way to ruine both. For proofe hereof many notable instances sad experience can produce; But that shamefull losse of Con­stantinople is witnesse enough.See Master Knowles his history of the Turkes in the life of Maho­met the Great. When Mahomet the Great be­sieged that City, the Poore Emperour many times with teares in vaine requested but to have borrowed money of his cove­tous Subjects, to have been imployed in the defence of the Ci­ty, but they would still sweare, that they had it not, as men [Page 36] growne poore for want of Trade, which in few dayes after their enemies found in such abundance that they wondred at their wealth, and derided their folly, that possessing so much, they would bestow so little in defence of themselves and their Countrey. To speake of the hidden treasure, money, plate, jewels, and other riches there found, passeth credit. The Turkes themselves wondred thereat, and were therewith so enriched, that it is a Proverb amongst them at this day, if any of them grow suddenly rich, to say, He hath been at the sacking of Constan­tinople. Wherof if some reasonable part had in time bin bestow­ed upon defence of the city, the Turkish King had not so easily ta­ken it. But every man was carefull how to increase his owne private wealth, few or none regarding the Publicke State, un­till in fine every man with his privat abundance,Eccles. 5.12. was wrapped up together in the selfe same common misery; And indeed this is no wonder to a Christian who knowes that sometimes riches are reserved by their Owners to their owne hurt and evill both in this life, and that to come; but hereof I say no more than the old said saw, ‘Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum.’

Wherefore to conclude, As the readiest way to suppresse unjust Usury, is to raise Bankes of Charity, and Trade, and as to the perfecting of those Bankes, the open discovery of every mans estate is necessary, so it appeares to be an undoubted posi­tion, That the Person who would approve himselfe a true Christian, and a good Common-wealths man, must confesse, re­veale, and lay open his whole estate, whensoever he shall be duely called thereunto.