valuation of our Money with forrein； but according to the
Intrinsical value of either of them。 And by the last Placcard of
the Low Countries； the English shilling is made current for one
shilling nine pence Flemish； by which accompt three pound two
shillings English will make five pound eight shillings and six
pence Flemish。
But admitting the valuations as they are set down in the
Proposition； yet it will appear； but a meer Sophism； for the
truth is； as it is set down in a former Chapter； That silver is
higher valued in France and England； than in Spain； and in the
Low Countries than in either of them； and in the Hanns Towns than
in the Low Countries； and so still higher； the further Eastward：
But of gold it is not so： and upon an exact computation it will
be found； That Gold is higher valued in England than in the Low
Countries； and that a pound of fine gold reduced into the Riders
of the Low Countries； makes but forty five Guilders； and seven
Stivers； and allowing ten Stivers and a half for twelve pence
English； as it is made current by the last Placcard； there the
said sum amounts in sterling Money but to forty three pound
thirteen shillings and a penny； but a pound of Gold fine makes in
twenty two shilling pieces； forty four pound； eight shillings
four pence sterling； which reduced into Guilders after the former
accompt makes 446 and a half； so as the pound in fine Gold is
valued in Jacobus pieces； at 8 Guilders two Stivers and one half
more than in Riders； and in English Money is valued at fifteen
shillings three pence more in Jacobus's than in Riders； so then
it follows； that if England do loose any thing in the true price
of her Commodities because Silver is higher valued in the Low
Countries than in England； England gains again in the price of
her Commodities； because Gold is higher valued in England than in
the Low Countries。 Besides all which none of the Objections made
against this Proposition are answered； but only elevated； and it
is manifest； that all those who are to receive Money shall be
continually oppressed with this continual raising of Money； and
if we shall still vie one upon another who shall raise highest；
in the End the Matter must necessarily come to a Confusion。
Chapter 22
Of introducing two different Species of Money
The Difficulties and Debate of the former Proposition have
produced this； set down in the title of this Chapter： For if to
let our Money stand still in the same condition； when our
Neighbours do raise theirs； be a means to drain away our own
Money from us； and to divert that increase of Stock which
otherwise should come unto us； and consequently occasion the
decay of our own Trades and Manufactures； and the increase of
Forrein； as in the former Propositions hath been disputed； Then
it were good to raise our Moneys when our Neighbours raise
theirs。 But if this raising of our Moneys do introduced an unjust
Oppression to all those； who do live upon the Rents of their
Lands； upon Pensions； upon Fees； upon Wages； or otherwise upon
any other Reward of their Industry； if it most of all disables
the King； and in the end doth threaten an extream Confusion and
Disorder； then is this good of Raising so allayed with the evil
that followeth it； that we were as good if not better to be
without it： From these Considerations hath this Proposition
risen； by which； the Authors thereof do presume； that we may both
raise our Moneys as we find occasion and yet not raise； though
they seem contradictory： and we receive all the Benefits； which
the raising of Money doth bring with it； and yet avoid all the
Inconveniences which are alledged to follow it。 Now the
Propositions which have been made in this kind； both here and in
other parts are very many； and differing one from another in
their Proportions； and in some other subtile and by
considerations； which if they should be set down in particular；
would much perplex the Subject。 I will therefore by supposition
set down a Proposition in a plain and easie Proportion for the
more ready apprehension of the Reader。
As for Example； Suppose the King should coin new twenty
shilling pieces； which should hold in intrinsical value but
eighteen shillings and four pence in Proportion to the present
Gold； and new shillings； which should hold but eleven pence in
Proportion to the shillings of the present standard； and then it
should be ordain'd； that all former Contracts already past；
should be acquitted in old Money； or else in new Money； valuing
every 20s but at 18s 4d and so in Proportion of lesser sums； but
that all new contracts should be paid afterwards in new Money； or
else in old； valuing every 18s 4d of the old Money at 20s of the
new。 By this means； say the Authors of this proposition； we shall
bring back our own Money at 20s and drain away the Money of our
Neighbours； and trades and Manufactures shall flourish in
consequence； yet our Moneys are raised； and yet no man shall
receive any injustice by it； for both the King and all other
Lords of Lands or contracted upon former Wages； shall be paid in
Money formerly current； or else in new proportionable to the old。
And all those which are to pay Money； either out of their own
Industry or Labours； or out of the fruits of the earth； or by any
other means； when they do see that they must contract for new
Money； apparently； according to the Proportion set down； worse
than the old； they will help themselves by raising their price in
Proportion unto it。 There may likewise be alledged Examples for
this Proposition； as in Ireland when sterling Money and Irish
Money are both current； the one a fourth worse than the other
without any Inconvenience。 And it seemeth that anciently before
the time of Edward the first in England； there were Moneys
current of several standards； for although there be a few Records
left of Mint matters； more antient than Edward the Third； yet
Anno sexto Reg。 Johannis membrana sptima Dorso； certain old Money
of baser standard was made current； But so； as no Jew or Merchant
stranger might buy Merchandize； or pay debts with it； or any
thing else； （but only victum et vestitum with that old Money；）
but in grossa et forti Moneta。 And in France； until the time of
Philip le Bell （who was contemporant with Edward the Second） it
seemeth that there were used several species of Money； And
Eddicts were made what Contracts should be acquitted in one
species and what in another。
But I will come now； as in the former； to the examination of
this Proposition。 first； the extreme Confusion is to be
considered which it will bring among the People by raising
Questions what is to be paid in old Money and what is to be paid
in new Money。
As for example； a man who lent Money before the time
appointed for the currency of this Money； after the day；
receiveth interest for it； and so lets it run on； Whether shall
this be interpreted an old contract or a new？ and divers other
Questions of like nature will arise。 But suppose that such
Prudence were used before hand as all such Questions might be
prevented； yet certainly the intricasie of the accounts between
the old Money and the new； by Reason of the confused Fractions
which are in it； would be a great molestation to the People： But
there lurketh a much greater Inconvenience which would not be
discovered but by length of time； which is when you have thus
raised the price of your Money； when other Nations shall raise
theirs again beyond your new Money； you must then be enforced to
make a second new Money of less intrinsical value than the first；
and then again； all Contracts between the first and the second
new Money； are to be acquitted in the first new Money； or in the
second new Money； valued in Proportion to the first； and so in
consequence of time； a third new Money would be coined； and a
fourth； and a fifth； and so forward； that by degrees both the
multiplicity of the Moneys； and the variety of the times of the
contracts would pass all humane comprehension。
As for Examples alledged； they make more against the
Proposition than for it； for I doubt not； but in the time of King
John； and afore and after that； there were great Varieties and
confusions in the Moneys current； and the Histories of those
Times are full of Complaints upon that subject。 And therefore
they do most highly magnify the Wisdom of King Edward the First；
who settled a uniformity in that Subject； by introducing one
certain species of sterling Coin。
And for the Example of France； the Histories of that Country
do not only justifie that there were great Confusions in this
Subject in those times； but by great Insurrections of the People
and Rebellions upon that occasion； insomuch； as the reputed
Authors of those Inventions were sacrificed to appease the
popular Rage。
Chapter 23
Of Coining of Moneys without Distinction of Weights
The Proposition； intended under this Title； is this； That the
Money； hereafter； both of Gold and Silver should be coined of the
same fineness； that the Silver and crown Gold now are； but that
there should be coined no pieces of a certain weight either of
gold or silver； but that the Allay being certain； the weig