THat whereas your Sacred Majestie, ever since your happy Accesse to the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme, hath governed your People with so much Justice and moderation that all your good Subjects doe beare that Reverence and love unto your Sacred Person, as is justly doe to so gracious a Soveraigne; And your Majesty next to the Service of Almighty-God, and the main­tenance of his true Religion, hath preserved and maintained the antient and a Fundamentall Lawes of this Kingdome without Innovation.

Yet so it is, may it please your most Excellent Majesty, that some malitious Persons (who are as yet unknowne to your said Attorney) being ill-affected to your Majestie, and to your hap­py Government, and intending to raise false, scandalous, and se­ditious Rumours against your Majestie, and your gracious Go­venment, have of late wickedly and seditiously framed; contri­ved and written a false, seditious, and pestilent Discourse in these words following;

Touching the first, having considered divers, meanes, I find none so important to strengthen your Majesties Regall Authori­tie against all oppositions or practises of troublesome spirits, and to bridle them, then to Fortifie your Kingdome by having a For­tresse in every chiefe Towne and important place thereof, furni­shed with Ordnance, Munition, and faithfull men as they ought to be, with all other circumstances fit to be digested in a businesse of this nature, ordering withall the Trayned Bands of the County to be united in one Dependancie with the said Forts, as well to secure their beginning as to succour them in occasion of suspect, and also to retaine and keepe their Armes for more secu­rity, where by the Countries are no lesse to be brought into sub­jection then the Cities themselves, and consequently the whole Kingdome: Your Majestie having by this course the power thereof in your owne hands.

The reasons of these suggests are these.

• 1. That in Policy it is a greater Tye of the People by force and necessitie, then meerely by Law and Affection; For by the one, the Government resteth alwayes sure, but by the other no longer then the People are well contented.
• 2. It forceth obstinate Subjects to be no more presumptuous then it pleaseth your Majestie to permit them.
• 3. That to leave: a State unfurnished, is to give the bridle thereof to the Subject, when by the contrary it resteth onely in the Princes hands.
• 4. That moderne fortresses take long time in winning with such Charge and Difficulty, as no Subjects in these times have meanes probable to attempt them.
• 5. That it is a sure remedy against rebellious and popular [Page 3]Mutinies, or against Forraigne powers, because they cannot well succeed, when by this Course, the Apparent meanes is taken a­way to force the King and State upon a doubtfull fortune of a set Battell, as was the cause that moved the pretended Invasion against the Land attempted by the King of Spaine in the yeare, 1588.
• 6. That your Majesties Government is the more secure by the Peoples more subjection, and by their subjection the Gentrie or Parliaments must be forced to alter their style, and to be confor­mable to your will and pleasure; for their words and opposition importeth nothing where the Power is in your Majesties owne hands, to doe with them what you please, being indeed the chiefe purpose of this Discourse, and the secret intent thereof, fit to bee concealed from any English at all either Counsellour of State, or other; For these and divers other waighty Reasons.

It may be considered in this place to make your Majesty more powerfull and strong some Orders to be observed, that are used in Fortified Countries. The government whereof imports as much as the States themselves. I m [...]ne in times of doubt or su­spect, Which are these;

• 1. Inprimis, That none weare Armes or weapons at all either in City or Countrey, but such as your Majestie may thinke fit to priviledge, and they to be enrolled.
• 2. That as many High-wayes as conveniently may be done, be made passable through those Cities and Townes fortified to constraine the passengers to Travell through them.
• 3. That the Souldiers of Fortresses are sometimes chosen out of another Nation (if subjects to the same Prince) but howsoe­ver not to be borne in the same Province, or within 40. or 50. miles of the Fortresses, and not to have friends or correspondency neere it.
• 5. That at the Gates of each walled Town be appointed Of­ficers, not to suffer any unknowne Passenger to passe without a Ticket shewing from whence he came, and whither to goe, and [Page 4]that the Gates of each City be shut all night, and the Keyes kept by the Major or Governour; Also the Inne-keepers to deliver the names of all unknowne Passengers that lodge in their Houses and if they stay suspitiously at any time to present them to the Governours, whereby dangerous persons, seeing these strict courses will be more warie of their Actions, and thereby mis­chievous attempts will be prevented.

All which being referred to your Majesties wise consideration. It is meete for me withall, to give you some satisfaction of the charge and time to performe what is proposed, that you may not de discouraged in the difficulty of the one, or the prolongation of the other; Both which doubts are resolved in one, and the same Reason, in respect that in England. each chiefe Towne commonly hath a ruinated Castle well seated for strength whose Foundation and Stones remaining may be both quickly repaired for this use, and with little charge, and made strong enough; I hope for this purpose within the space of one yeare, by adding withall Bulwarkes and Rampiers for the Ordnance, according to the Rules of Fortification: The Ordnance for these Forts may be of Iron, not to dis-furnish your Majesties Navy, or to be at a greater charge then is needfull; To maintaine yearely these Forts, I make account in ordinary pay 3000 men will be suffi­cient, and will require 40000 pounds charge per annum, or there­abouts being an expence that inferiour Princes doe unde goe for their necessary safetie. All which pretention added to the invin­cible Seas-force your Majestie hath already and may have, will make you the most powerfull and obeyed King of the world, which I could likewise confirme by many examples, but I omit them for brevitie; and not to confuse your Majesty with too much matter your Majesty may find by the scope of this discourse the meanes shewed in generall to brydle your Subjects, that may be either discontent or obstinate; So am I likewise to conclude the same intent particularly against the perversnesse of your Parliaments as well to suppresse that pernitious humour, as [Page 5]to avoyd their oppositions against your profit, being the second part to be discoursed on; And therefore have first thought fit for better prevention thereof, to make knowne to your Majesty the purport of a generall oath your subjects may take for sure avoyd­ing of all rubbes that may hinder the conclusion of these busines­ses; It is further meane, that no Subject upon paine of high Treason may refuse the same Oath, containing onely matter of Allegiance, and not scruples of points of conscience, that may give pretence to be denyed.

The effect of the Oath is this.
THat all your Majesties Subjects doe acknowledge you to be as absolute a King, and Monarch within your Dominions, as is amongst the Christian Princes, and your Prerogative as great, whereby you may and shall for your selfe, by your Maje­sties Proclamation as well as other Soveraigne Princes doing the like either make Lawes or reverse any made, with any other Act, so great a Monarch as your selfe may doe, and that with­out further consent of a Parliament, or need to call them at all in such cases, confirming that the Parliament in all matter (ex­cepting Cases to be sentenced as the highest Court) ought to sub­mit to your Majesties will to give the Negative or Affirmative conclusion, and not to be constrained by their Impertinencies to any Inconvenience appertaining to your Majesties Regall Au­thoritie; And this notwithstanding any bad pretence or Cu­stome to the contrary in practise, which indeed were fitter to bee offered to a Prince Elected without other right then to your Ma­jesty, borne successively King of England; Scotland, France, and Ireland and your Heirs for ever and so resumed not onely of your Subjects, but also of the whole world; How necessary the dan­gerous Supremacie of Parliaments usurpation is to bee preven­ted. The Example of Lewis the Eleventh King of France doth [Page 6]manifest, who found the lik opposition, as your Majesty doth, and by his wisedome suppressed it, and that to the purpose here intended, which is not to put downe altogether Parliaments and their Authoritie, being in many cases very necessarie and fit, but to abridge them as farre as they seeke to derogate from your Majesties Regall Authoritie, or advancement of your Great­nesse; The Caution in offering the aforesaid Oath may re­quire some policie for the easier passage at first, either by singu­lar or particular Tractation and that so neere about one time over the Land, as one government may not know what the other intendeth, so it may passe the easier, by having no time of Com­bination or Opposition; There is another course also more cer­taine then this to bring to passe this Oath easily, as also your profit, and what else is pretended, which here I omit for brevity, requiring a long discourse by it selfe and have set it downe in particular Instructions to informe your Majestie.

The second part of this Discourse is touching your Majesties Profit after your state is secured, wherein I shall observe both some reasonable content to the people, as also consider the great expenses that Princes have now a dayes more then in times past to mayntaine their owne greatnesse and safety of their Subjects, who if they have not wit and will to consider their owne Interest so much indifferently, your Majestie must repaire their defects, and force them to it by Compulsion; but I hope there shall be no such cause in points so reasonable to increase your Majesties Revenues; Wherein I set downe divers meanes for your gracious Selfe to make choyce of, either All or Part at your pleasure, and to put it in execution by such degrees, and Cautions, as your great wisedome shall thinke fit, in a busi­nesse of this nature.

Imprimis, The first meanes and course intended to increase your Majesties revenues or profit withall is of greatest consequence, and I call it a Decima, being so termed in Italy, where in some parts it is in use, importing the tenth part of all Subjects estates to be paid as a yearely Rent to the Prince; and as well monied men in Townes, as landed in the Countries, their values and Estates esteemed justly as it is to the true value, (yet with reason) to pay it, and this is paied yeerly in money: Which course applyed in England for your Ma­jesties service, may serve in stead of Subsidies, Fifteenes, and such like, which in this case are fit to be released, for the Subjects benefit and content, in recompence of the said Decima: which will yeeld your Majesty more in certainty then they doe casually by 500000. pound per annum at the least.

2. That when your Majesty hath gotten money into your hands by some courses to be set downe, it would be a profitable course to encrease your Entrato, to buy out all Estates and Leases upon your owne Lands, in such sort as they be made no losers; whereby ha­ving your lands free, and renting them out to the true value as it is most in use, and not imployed as heretofore, at an old Rent and small Fines, you may then rent it out for at least foure or five times more money then the old Rents comes unto: So as if your Maje­sties Lands be already but 60000. pounds per annum, by this means it will be augmented at least 200000. pounds per annum: and to buy out the Tenants estates wil come to a small matter, by the course to make them no losers, considering the gaine they have al­ready made upon the Land. And this is the rather to be done, and the present course changed, because it hath been a custome used meer­ly to cozen the King.

3. Item, Whereas most Princes do receive the benefit of Salt, in their owne hands, as a matter of great profit, because they receive it at the lowest price possible, and vent it, doth gain double yearly: The same course used by your Majesty were worth at least 150000 pounds per annum.

4. It is likewise in other parts, that all Weights and Measures, either in private Houses, Shops, or publike Markets shoul'd be view­ed to be just, and sealed once a yeere, paying to the Prince for it: [Page 8]which in England applyed to your Majesty, with order to pay sixe pence for sealing each weight or measure would yeeld neare 60000 pounds per annum.

5. Item, Though all Countries pay a Gabella for transportation, and so likewise in England, yet in Spaine there is impost upon the Woolls; which in England is so great a wealth and benefit to the Sheep masters, as they may well pay you five pound per cent. of the true value at the sheering, which I conceive may be worth 140000. pound per annum.

6. Whereas the Lawyers fees and gaines in England are excessive, to your Subjects prejudice, it were better for your Majesty to make use thereof, and impose on all causes sentenced with the party to pay five pound per cent. of the true value that the cause hath gained him; and for recompence thereof, to limit all Lawyer. Fees and Gettings, whereby the Subjects shall save more in Fees and Char­ges, than they give your Majesty in the Gabella: which I beleeve may be worth one yeare with another 50000. pound.

7. Whereas the innes and Victualling-Houses are more char­gable to the Travellers then in other Countries, it were good for your Majesty to limit them to certain Ordinaries, and raise besides a large Imposition; as is used in Tuscany and other parts: That is, a prohibiting of all Innes and Victualing-Houses, but such as shall pay it; and to impose upon the chiefe Innes and Taverns ten pound a yeere to your Majesty, the worst five pound per annum, and all the Ale-houses 20 shillings per annum, more or lesse as they be in cu­stome, of all sorts, there are so many in England, that this Impost may well yeeld 100000. pound per annum to your Majesty.

8. Item, In Tuscany and other parts there is a Gabella of all Cat­tell, or Flesh and Horses sold in Markers, paying 3. or 4. per Cent. of what they are sold for; which by conjecture, may be worth in England 200000 pound per annum, using the like Custome upon Fish, and other Victuall (Bread excepted;) and for this cause all Flesh and Fish and Victuals in the Market to be prised, and sold by waight, whereby the Subject sayeth more in not being cozened, then the imposition importeth them.

9. Item, In Tuscany is used a Taxation of 7. per Cent. upon all [Page 9]Alienation of Lands to the true value; and also 7 per Cent upon all Dowries and Marriage-monies; the like if it were used in England were worth at least 100000. pound per annum; with many other Taxations upon Meale, and other Merchandizes, in all Townes as well as Port Townes, which here I omit, with divers others, as not so fit for England. And in satisfaction of the Subject for these Taxes, your Majesty may be pleased to release them of Ward-ships, and to enjoy all their estates at eighteen yeers old, and in the meane time their profits to be preserved for their owne benefit. And also in for­feitures of Estates by condemnation, your Majesty may release the Subject; as not to take the forfeitures of their Lands, but their Goods, High-Treason onely excepted; and to allow the counsell of Lawyers in case of life and death; as also not to be condemned without two witnesses; with such like benefits, which import much more their good, then all the Taxations named can prejudice them.

10. Item, That some of the former Taxations used in Ireland and Scotland, as may easily be brought about by the first example there­of used in England, may very well be made to encrease your revenue there more than it is now by 200000. pound per annum.

11. Item, All Offices in the Land, great and small, in your Ma­jesties grant, may be granted with condition, to pay your Majesty a part yeerly, according to the value; this in time may be worth (as I conceive) 100000. pound per annum; adding also Notaries, Atturnies, and such like, to pay some proportions yearly towards it, for being allowed by your Majesty to practise, and prohibiting else any to practise in such places.

12. Item, to reduce your Majesties houshold to bord-wages, as most other places do, reserving some few Tables: this will save your Majestie 60000 l per annum, and ease greatly the Subject besides, both in carriages and Provision, which is good reason that your Majesty in honour might doe it.

13. Item, I know an assured course in your Majesties Navie, which may save at least 50000 l per annum, which requiring a whole discourse by it selfe, I omit; onely doe promise to doe it when­soever you command.

14. Item, whereas you Majesties Lawes doe command the strict [Page 10]keeping of Fasting dayes, you may also prohibite those dayes to eat Egges, Cheese, or white-meates, only to such as are contented to pay eighteen pence a yeere for the liberty to eat them, and the bet­ter sort tenne shillings; the employment of this may be for the de­fence of the Land, in maintaining of the Navie, Garrisons, and such like, much after the fashion of the Crusado in Spaine, as your Majesty knoweth being first begun there under the pretence to de­fend the Land against the Moores, and the same used in England, may very well yeeld one yeere with another 100000 l without any disgust to any, because it is at every ones choice to give it or no.

15. Lastly, I have a course upon the Catholikes, and very safe for your Majesty, being with their good liking, as it may bee wrought, to yeeld you presently at least 200000 l per annum, by raising a certaine value upon their lands, and some other Impositi­ons, which requiring a long discourse by it selfe, I will omit here setting it downe in my Instructions.

It will save your Majesty 100000 l per annum, to make it paine of death, and confiscation of Goods and Lands, for any of the Officers to cozen you, which now is much to be feared they do, else they could not be so rich; and herein to allow a fourth part of the benefit to him that shall finde out the cozenage; here is not meant Officers of State, as the Lord Treasurer, &c. being Officers of the Crowne.

The summe of all this Accompt amounteth to 2200000 l per annum, suppose it be but one Million and a halfe, as assuredly your Majesty may make by these courses set down, yet it is much more than I promised in my letter for your Majesties service, besides some summes of money in the present by the courses following:

Imprimis, By the Prince his Marriage, to make all the Earles in England Grandes, (as in Spain) and Principi, with such like Privi­ledges, and to pay 20000. pound a piece for it.

2. As also if you make them Feodataries of the Towns belonging to their Earldomes if they will pay for it besides as they do to the King of Spaine in the Kingdom of Naples.

3. And so likewise Barons to bee made Earles and Peeres to pay tenne thousand pound a piece, I thinke this might [Page 11]yeeld 500000 l, and oblige them sure to your Majesty.

4. To make choice of 200 of the richest men of England of estate, that be not Noblemen, and make them Titulati, as is used in Naples; And paying for it, that is, a Duke 30000 l, a Marquesse 15000 l, an Earle 10000 l, a Baron or Viscount 5000 l. It is to be understood, That the ancient Nobility of Barons made Earles are to precede these as Peeres, though these be made Marquesses or Dukes: This may raise a million of pounds, or more unto your Majesty. To make Gentlemen of low quality, and Francklins, and Farmours, Esquires to precede them, would also yeeld your Majesty a great summe of money in present. I have another course to yeeld your Majesty at least 300000 l in money, which as yet the time serveth not to discover, untill your Majesty be resolved to proceed in some of the former courses, which till then I omit. Other courses also that may make present money, I shall study for your Majesties ser­vice, and as I finde them out, acquaint you withall.

Lastly, To conclude all this discourse, by the application of this course used for your profit, It is not only to make you the richest King that ever England had, but also the safety augmented thereby to be most secure; besides what is shewed in the first part of this discourse, I meane by the occasion of these Taxations and raising of moneys, your Majesty shall have cause and meanes to employ in all places of the Land, so many Offices and Ministers, to bee oblieged to you for their own good and Interest, as nothing can bee attempted against your Person or Royall Estate over Land, but some of these shall in all probability have meanes to finde it out and hinder it: Besides, this course will represse many disorders and abuses in the publike Government, which were hard to be disco­vered by men indifferent. To prohibite gorgious and costly Apparrell to be worne, but by Persons of good quality, shall save the Gentry of the Kingdome much more money than they shall be Taxed to pay to your Majesty.

Thus with all humility I take my leave, and kisse your gracious hand, desiring Pardon for my Error I may commit herein.

The which false, seditious, and malitious Discourse and writing, so framed, contrived and written, as aforesaid, the Authors thereof [Page 12]intended should be divulged and dispersed, as if the same had been entertained by your Majesty, with purpose to be put in execution, thereby to raise feares and jealousies in the mindes of your good Subjects, that your sacred Majesty had a purpose to alter and inno­vate the ancient Lawes of this Kingdome, and the ancient manner and Forme of the Gov [...]rnment thereof, and to draw all things to be disposed of at your Majesties absolute will and pleasure, and to command and dispose of estates, goods, and revenews of your Sub­jects, or such part or Portion thereof as your selfe pleased without the consent of your Subjects, and to make and repeale Lawes and Statutes, by your Majesties Proclamations only, without con­sent of Parliament, and that to over-awe and oppresse your subjects you purposed to place and maintaine Garrisons, and Fortified Castles and Places in a Warre-like manner in all the Principall Cities and Towns in this your Kingdome.

Which if it should bee believed by your People, could not but raise infinite discontents amongst them, the consequences whereof might be extreme, and almost of inevitable danger to your Ma­jesties Person and State, and to the whole Frame of this Kingdom, and to the great dishonour of your Majestie, which all and every your good and loyall Subjects are in their duty and allegeance to your Majesty bound to prevent, to the uttermost of their Powers, and to discover to your Majesty, or some of your Privie-Councell, or other Magistrate, all such false and seditious discourses and writings whensoever they shall come to their hands or knowledge.

Neverthelesse, some forgetting that duty which they owe to your gracious Majesty their liege Lord, and intending to further and cherish those false, scandalous, and seditious rumors, whereby mat­ter of discord and slander might grow betweene your Majestie, the great men of this Kingdome and your People; and not regarding the great dangers and evill consequences thereof, having gotten the said Discourse or Writing, or some Copie or Copies thereof into their hands, at severall times within the space of eight moneths now last past, did make or write, or caused to be made or written, severall copies thereof, and amongst them­selves, and also to and amongst many others, have published, divul­ged, [Page 13]and dispersed the same, to the great and insufferable scandall and dishonour of your Majesty, and of your most just and gracious Government; and none of them before such publication thereof did make the same known to your Majesty, or any of your Privie Councell, or any other lawfull Magistrate, as in duty they and every of them ought to have done.

In consideration of all which premises, for as much as the said spreading publishing, and divulging of all such scandalous and ma­litious tales, newes, and rumours, and not making the same knowne to your Majesty or your Privie Councell, or other Magistrate, is contrary to the good Lawes and Statutes of this your Realm, and contrary to the duty and Allegeance that they owe to your Maje­sty; and for that the venome thereof may by this undue meanes be dispersed and infused in and unto many others, in and through whose hands, those false, seditious, and malitious Papers and Wri­tings have or may come: and for that the danger thereof is exceed­ing great, and may be of infinite ill consequence, if in time the same be not prevented, and for example and terrour to all others be not severely punished:

May it thereof please your most excellent Majesty to grant un­to your said Atturney your Majesties most gracious Writs of Sub­poena, to be directed to such as have divulged it; commanding them at a certain day, and under a certain Paine therein to be contained, personally to be and appeare before your Majestie, and the right Honourable the Lords and others of your Highnesse most Honou­rable Privie Councell, in your Highnesse Court of Star-chamber, then and there to answere to the premises, and to stand to and abide such order, direction, sentence, and decree therein, as to your Ma­jesty, and the said Lords and others shall be thought most meet and agreeable to Justice.

And your said Atturney shall over pray, &c.