按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
into this Subject of Money； and of the Remedies that may be
applied thereunto。
Chapter 2
Of the Matter of Money
Of all things whereof Money could be made； there was nothing
so fit as Metalls； as Copper； Silver； but above all Gold； for
they are first useful； which doth increase it； they may be
divided into as little parts as you will； and then returned into
a greater mass： they are susceptible of any form； mark or
impression to be made and fit to conceive it； they are of an
exceeding long indurance against the Injuries of time or
accident； they are hardly subject to any natural corruption；
especially Gold； of the continuitie and incorruptableness whereof
the Alchimists； who have most vexed that body； do write wonders；
so as one affirmeth； That it is harder to destroy Gold than to
make it； and they have sundry other properties accomodating them
for the matter of Money； as the world hath by a general consent；
and from all times received them for that purpose； especially
Gold and Silver； of which chiefly I mean to treat： It is true
that many particular Countries have antiently； and do as this day
use other things in stead of Money： （as to instance in some of
the modern） in AEthiopia they use certain stones of Salt in stead
of Money； in Guinney； Shells； in New Spain； Cacao； Coco in Peru；
one of which is a fruit； the other an herb： but in all these
Countries you shall find that there is a certain value set upon
Gold and Silver； by which chiefly the value of all other things
is raised； and that these other things do but serve as base Money
doth in sundry Countries of Europe； where it is current in
certain limits； by the Law or Custom of the Place； but yet they
cannot be without Gold and Silver Money； unless they will barr
themselves from all commerce with other Nations： And to that
purpose the Invention of Licurgus was admirable； who desiring to
lock up his Citizens from all commerce with other nations； did
upon great penalties banish all Gold and Silver out of the City；
and as long as that Prohibition was observed； the manners and
Customs of the City were preserved entire from the mixture of
other Nations： but when their ambition and voluptuousness had
entangled them in the Commerce of other Nations； then did Gold
and Silver grow into use in despite of all Laws； by this
universal value given unto Gold and Silver。 I shall convince
hereafter an important and a popular Error； by which many are
perswaded； that Princes can give what value they list to Gold and
Silver； by enhansing and letting fall their Coins； when as in
truth Gold and Silver will retain the same proportion towards
other things； which are valued by them； which the general consent
of other Nations doth give unto them； if there be a Trade and
Commerce with other Nations： By which intercourse it comes to
pass； that if the price of Gold and Silver be raised； the price
of all Commodities is raised according to the raising of Gold and
Silver； so as let any particular Prince or State raise the price
of Gold and Silver as they list； yet they will still hold the
same proportion towards other things valued by them； which the
general consent of other Nations neer about them doth give unto
them： and this universal value of Gold and Silver； the mint； even
in money； do call Intrinsical； and the local value they call
Extrinsical； as depending upon impression of the mark and
ordinance of the State。 Now Money is said to have an Intrinsical
value so much as there is Gold and Silver in it in fineness and
weight； which is computed in France （and was antiently likewise
the Computation in England） first for Gold； it is divided into 24
parts； which are called Carrats； and so when they say； the Gold
is 23 Carrats fine； then it is understood there is a 2th part
base； which is Allay mingled with Gold； or if they say； it is 22
Carrats fine； then there is a 12th part of Allay： or if they say
22 Carrats and one quarter fine； then there is so much Allay as
there wants to make up 24 parts。
Silver is divided into 12 Deniers and every Denier into 25
grains； as if it be said； that Silver is jj Deniers and 12 grains
fine； then there is 12 grains of allay； which is a 24th part； or
if it be said to be jj Deniers and 6 grains fine； there is then
so much allay as it wants in the fineness to make it 12 deniers：
But with us in England； ever since the time of Edward the third；
the Computation hath been dividing the Gold into 24 carrats； and
every carrat into a 4 grains； and every grain into so many parts
as there is occasion offered to divide it； as for Example； The
antient Standard of the sterling Gold was 23 Carrats； 3 grains；
and one half of fine； and half a grain of Allay； which is the 192
part； and the Silver is divided in England into 12 Ounces； every
Ounce into 20 Pence； every Penny into 24 grains； as for Example；
the old sterling standard is jj Ounces fine； and two Penny
weight； then there remains eighteen Penny weight of Allay and； if
there were jj Ounces two Penny weight； and 6 grains fine； then
there would remain 17 Penny weight； and 10 grains of Allay： and
again； when mention is made of a Pound of Silver fine； and Gold
fine； the meaning is so much Gold or Silver pure； is a pound
weight； besides the Allay which is mingled with it；but a pound of
Gold or Silver wrought； is but just a pound weight as it is
wrought either in Money or in Plate。 The Allay being mingled with
it according to the ordinance of the State； for the practise is
now； almost in all States； to set a price upon Silver and Gold；
according to the weight and fineness； above which price
Gold…Smiths or others who trade in those metals wrought in Money；
may not sell them； which price is in certain proportion
underneath the value which is given to the same metals wrought in
Money； the over…value allowed to the Money； being so much
advantage given to the State in recompence of the charge of
Coynage； and in Acknowledgement of the Soveraignty； which hath
with it likewise this necessary use； that it makes the Money so
much the less valuable to him that either would transport it into
forrein parts； or melt it； and consequently retaineth the Money
so much the better within its proper limits and natural form。
Chapter 3
Of the Forms of the Money anciently and now in use
It follows in the next place to be Considered； by what
degrees Gold and Silver came into these forms of Money； which are
now in use。 And for that purpose it is most manifest that the
most proper measure in nature for mettals is weight； and the
notice of Antiquity doth confirm it that it was so in practice；
for when the use of money hath excited the industry of men to
search for these rich metals and by study and practice to
discover their natures； it was easily found out that there was no
measure so fit to them as weight： But it was speedily found out
and discovered that weight alone was not a sufficient measure for
them； by reason that they are subject to mixture； and therefore
there was an examination made of the pureness of them； and a mark
impressed upon them to shew that they were approved； which was of
no other nature； but as the Assaymaster in