him to the best Advantage such as he finds him。
ow all the Common…wealths of the World are grown to such a
Depravation； that not only the exchange of Necessaries； for which
Money was first invented； but all things else are valued by
Money； the services and duties of the Commonwealth； the virtue
and the lives of the citizens； so that in the common opinions；
that State that abounds in Money； hath Courage； hath Men； and all
other Instruments to defend itself and offend others； if it have
wisdom how to make use of it： and upon this ground it was said；
during the time of the late Wars in France； that that side that
had the last Crown to spend must be infallibly victorious。 And it
seems that in the Low Countries； on both sides they are of the
same opinion； for so they may draw Money by it from their
Enemies； they do furnish them with Victuals and other Provisions
to sustain their Armies by Pasport and publick Avowal。 Hence it
is that in the modern Forms of Common…wealths there is no
Proportion； no Mediocrity of Money； but all do strive to abound
with it； without any stint。 And hence it is that Rarity is almost
the sole Inconvenience in matter of Money； the Rarity of Money
doth grow out of these Four Causes following； viz。
First； Want of means to bring in the Materials of Money。
Secondly； Facility of exporting them。
Thirdly； The wasting of them in the Kingdom。
Fourthly； The great encrease of the proportion between Gold
and Silver； and the things valued by them。
First； the want of means to bring in the Materials of Money；
may be reduced into these heads。
First； The want of Manufactures； for Manufactures do breed
Money； and Money again doth breed Manufactures； which is apparent
in divers States and Cities； that have no natural commodities of
their own； either to exchange for other Commodities or to bring
in Gold and Silver； which do yet notwithstanding abound with both
by reason of their Manufactures； and as the Stocks of their Money
do encrease； so do their Manufactures encrease withall。 But the
ways of encreasing and maintaining Manufactures do depend upon
other considerations in civil Government； and in no sort upon the
course of Money except by accident； that the good Government of
the course of Money may breed plenty of money； and plenty of
Money doth help to encrease Manufactures； and therefore to speak
no more of this Subject； I purpose。
A Second cause of want of Means to bring in the Materials of
Money； is the want of Sumptuary Laws to be made and executed； for
as in private Families there is no so easie and certain way to
thrive； as the cutting off superfluous expences； so is it in the
Common…wealth； and that which the Industry and Will of the Master
doth perform in every Private Family； that the Magistrates and
Law ought to perform in the Common…wealth。 But this Title
likewise hath not Coherence with my Subject； and therefore I do
omit to speak any further of it。
A Third cause； is the want of Sufficient Search of these
Mettals in the Bowels of the Earth within the Kingdom； and it is
a certain Experiement that there are sundry Mines of Silver in
this Kingdom： and there is ground to believe both that they are
of great Profit and of long continuance； if the working of them
shall be well regulated by the State； and judiciously prosecuted
by the Undertakers： but this also hath no dependance upon my
Subject； and therefore here I leave it。
The fourth cause of the want of means to bring in the
Materials of Money is the impediments of Trade； which are very
many； and of subtile disquistion； but have no dependance upon our
Enquiry； but by accident； and therefore I leave them to be
discussed where it appertaineth。
A fifth Defect； in the bringing in of the Materials of Money；
is the Prohibition of Forrein； especially Spanish； and this Title
hath entirely relation to our Subject； and hereof I purpose
hereafter to examine the Inconvenience apart； together with the
Remedies propounded。
A sixth cause； is the Low price of our Moneys； especially of
our Silver Moneys； which is the cause assigned by many that much
of the Materials that would be brought hither into England； if
the price were higher； is now transported into other parts： And
in this Title I mean first to examine apart the disproportion
between our Money of Silver and Gold。 But the low price of our
Money in respect of our Neighbours and the raising of it higher；
or not raising of it； or the reducing of it yet lower； according
to the values of more ancient times； and the Inconveniences that
may grow by the one or the other； and the remedies propounded
will occurr to be considered in every division of the causes of
the Rarity of Money。 But to avoid Confusion； I do purpose to
handle them all together in one Chapter。
The Second cause of the rarity of Money and the Materials
thereof； is the facility of exporting them out of the Kingdom
which doth arise out of these Causes；
First； out of raising of prices of Moneys by our Neighbours；
which in effect is the same with the former of the low prices of
our Moneys； for by giving a greater price for our Moneys； than it
is valued here with us； they allure both our own and Forrein
Merchants to carry our Moneys to them。
A second Cause is the unequal Coinage of our Moneys； by which
cometh to pass that those pieces which are over heavy and of
finer Allay； are tried and culled out； and either exported into
Forrein parts； or melted down for other uses。 And although it
might be thought that the strict care used by the State in this
behalf should have prevented this mischief； yet daily experience
doth shew that great Quantities of the weightiest and best Moneys
are daily exported； and that the Silver which remaineth amongst
us is so much under the Standard as is hardly credible： which
matter I purpose to handle； being naturally incident to this
subject。 The want likewise of Manufactures and Sumptuary Laws；
are two causes of the facility of the exporting the Money and the
Materials thereof our of this Realm； for by the encrease of
Manufactures； the Commodities of the Kingdom are increased； and
by Sumptuary Laws Forrein commodities are made less useful； both
which conduce to the keeping of the Money and Bullion within the
Realm。 But these causes are not of our consideration。
A third cause of the Rarity of Money and the Materials
thereof； is the wasting and consuming it within the Kingdom； as
in guildings； gold and silver…thread； and inlayings； all which is
consumed in a manner to nothing； the excessive use likewise of
Plate maketh Money scant； but all these Defects are to be
remedied by Sumptuary Laws。 The laying up of Money also in
Treasure； is likewise a Cause of Rarity： But the Interest of
Money is so high and quick in England； as I believe that cause
doth little prejudice。
The fourth cause of the Rarity of Money and Materials
thereof； which is the great Encrease of the Proportion between
Gold and Silver； and things valued by them is entirely of our
Consideration。 And this cause doth diminish the quantity or
decrease the weight or fineness of the Gold and Silver； but doth
encrease the use and want of Gold and Silver； and so maketh the
Money and Bullion of the Realm in general； and of every man in
particular； less in effect and value； though the quantity do
increase。 As for Example： If a pound of Silver of the sterling
Standard； coined into Money in Edward the Thirds Reign； would
have bought two fat Oxen； or seven quarters of Wheat； and that
now at this day； two pounds of Silver of the sterling Standard
coined into Money； will do no more than buy one fat Ox； or three
quarters and one half of wheat： and if other things are increased
in price according to that value； and that the like proportion
doth hold also in Gold； it doth then follow that although the
Realm in general； and every man in particular should have now
twice as much of Gold and Silver in weight and fineness； as in
King Edward the Thirds Reign； yet in use and effect they should
have but half as much as then； because this double quantity in
weight and fineness would in proportion to things valued by Gold
and Silver； arise but to half so much as then： and so the great
Increase of the Proportion between Gold and Silver； and things
valued by them； doth induce a Rarity and Scarcity of these
Mettals； though the Quantity should increase。 But what the just
increase of this Proportion is； and by what means it may be
certainly proved； and how the Raritie may be remedied； I purpose
to treat hereafter。
Thus I have set down in general all the constant and certain
Causes of the Rarity of Money： of so many of which as are
incident to our subject； I purpose to treat in particular： As for
the other Branch； of the Inconveniencies of the matter of Money；
which is Disorder and Confusion； I purpose not to make any title
a part of it； both because； as I have said before； the occasions
of Confusions in England； in this Subject are very few； and that
I shall aptly have cause to speak of it by the way； in the Causes
of Rarity； which I mean to handle； not in the Method set down in
this Chapter； but begin with