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People should receive in the practice of it； when as every man
should be bound to carry scales in his pocket （as they say they
do in China） and upon every little payment be bound to weigh
their Money。
To which it may be answered； That there have been antiently
Proclamations in England； and very lately in France； to avoid the
frequency of washing； clipping and scaling； to oblige the People
to weigh their pieces of Silver as well as of Gold； but for the
Silver； the People could never be brought unto it； whereas by
this Proposition； of Necessity； every man receives Money must be
tied to weigh the Silver as well as the Gold； and all these
Inconveniences of scaling； washing； culling； and wearing； would
be avoided with a small part of that trouble to the People；which
the weighing of the several pieces of Silver would put them unto；
partly because the least and most ordinary payments would be
accommodated by the small pieces coined of a certain weight； and
partly because the trouble of smaller payments would be
recompenced by the ease of the greater； for by this course a
thousand pounds will be as soon weighed as twenty shillings can
now be reckoned。
A third Objection may be made against it； That by this
Proposition Princes and States would be deprived of the means to
make secret benefit of their Moneys； which hath been continually
practised； and especially in times of eminent necessity； even to
the preservation of Kingdomes。
To this is answered； That the Objection though it be true is
yet of no weight； because that profit so made； is first made
unjustly； and by the breach of publick Faith； and then it is but
a false seeming profit； and always mischievous to the People； and
really not good for the receivers of it。 And （as it was formerly
touched） it may be observed； That after the decay of the Roman
Empire； the Reglements of the Mint of that great Monarchy being
lost； through the Inundations of barbarous People （as many other
excellent Institutions were） the Jews （who by God's Curse were
dispers'd into all Nations； and being suffered to acquire no
natural possessions； betook themselves to artificial possessions；
especially gave themselves to the Study of the nature of this
matter of Money as their Patrimony） in most Countries were
imployed in the affairs of the Mint： and to them succeeded the
Italians； as it may be observed here in England； where for some
Ages； after the expulsion of the Jews； there were no Masters of
the Mint but Italians of Lucca or Genoa： Now these People being
subtil Masters of their Art； and having no natural affection to
these Countries where they were imployed； but aiming only to keep
their own Mills grinding； did by projects of colourable profit；
abuse those States where they were trusted； and keep them in
continual alteration of their Coin； which always in the end
turned to diminution of the intrinsical value； and therefore；
finally this Proposition seemeth to me most strange and remote
from common apprehension of all the rest； but； being duly
weighed； the least Inconvenient and most likely to produce good
effect of any of the others。 And thus I have set down all the
Remedies； that by enquiry I could learn； to have bin propounded
either in England； or in other parts for the Inconveniences grown
into this Subject of Money； wherein all the particular Projects
that have made the same projects； varied only in form； or in some
by circumstances； yet I do believe； that hardly （one） can be
quoted； whereof the ground and essence is not here set down and
debated。
And； if the Reader； that with attention and care shall
have made his way through this intricate Discourse； shall in the
end complain that after all his pains； he finds himself as little
resolved what is fit to be done in this subject as before；
considering the variety and contrariety of the consideration
incident unto it； I must apeal whether I did not from the
beginning profess to set down nothing but problematically； and
that my Scope was not to render the Reader able to find out the
fittest course to govern this matter of Money and coin； but able
to judge of what should be propounded by others： a point of so
great Importance； that for want of that ability the wisest States
and the greatest Councils of Christendom； for many Ages； have
been abused by misterious names； and perplexed subtities of Mint
men； gold smiths； and Exchangers； who； as they had the whole
knowledge of this subject in themselves； so they had their
several Interests； and I conceive that I have performed all the
points that I have undertaken in this discourse； save on； which
is that speaking of the several means of raising of Money； I said
that the Occasions thereof had been two；
The one for the drawing of Money from the neighbouring
Countries； or preserving of their own。
The other； when the States without any such pretence； but
forced only by the violence of Necessity to raise means of
Subsistence for themselves； have doubled and trebled； nay
sometimes sextupled the values of their Moneys； of which I
promised to speak further： and for this purpose； I intend to set
down；
The history of the most memorable Raisings that have been in
this kind； both in our Age and heretofore； of what nature they
were； and how these States did draw their Benefit and Subsistence
out of them。
Secondly； What other Extremities and Confusions； those
Raisings did draw the said States； and the People thereof。
Thirdly； What Remedies these States have applyed to reduce
and settle those Extremities and Confusions whereinto they were
fallen； in which History I shall come to touch some Examples very
modern； as that which of late years was made by the Emperour
which now reigns； especially in the higher parts of Germany； a
raising so high and excessive as it equals any of the antient
Examples； even of those mentioned by Pliny； to be practised by
the Romans in their great extremities in the Punick Wars； whether
you respect the excess of the Multiplication； or the Strangeness
of the effects which it produced； the most famous Occasions；
which I purpose to examine were；
First； Those Raisings； mentioned by Pliny to be； by the
Romans in the first Punick Wars； which was to make every piece of
Coin current at six times the value of what it was before； since
which time； although there were sundry raisings made by the
Romans； yet none of them was neer this Proportion。
In the Kingdom of France； I cannot find any extraordinary
raisings made of the Money； until the time of Phillip le Bell and
Charles le Bell； and then the Kings of France； did raise an
ordinary tribute by coining Moneys of a base value； and when they
were dispersed in the Peoples hands； suddenly calling them back
again； and making them uncurrent； by which they got extreamly
both by the coinage and recalling them； for that none might
exchange or melt these Moneys so recalled； but the Officers
appointed by the King； which was a Gain of a most unjust and
grievous condition that ever was practised in any Kingdom； and
did accordingly produce great Tumults and Seditions there； yet
his practice did remain until the ti