A Discourse of Coin and Coinage [1]
Wants and
Superfluities, both parties could not always fit one another at
the present; in which case the Corruptions of Man's Nature did
quickly grow to make it behooful, that the party receiving should
leave somewhat worthy to be esteemed for a Pledge, to supply the
givers want upon the like occasion: Time did easily find out that
this Pledge should be something not too common, not easy to be
consumed with use, or spoiled for want of use, and this was
Money.
The first use of Money was then by it to supply every man's
particular wants. This introduced a second use of Cauponation,
when men did by the Pledge of Money procure not only those things
which they themselves wanted, but which they might sell to others
for more money: and under that kind is all Trades comprehended,
whether it be grose sale, or retale; and this use hath brought in
a third use of Money, for the gain of cauponation did give a
Colour to those that lent Money to such as did encrease it by
Trade, to take usury for it, which is therefore termed the most
unnatural use of Money, because it is most remote from the
natural Institution. Of this there are many kinds of which the
most refined is that of Exchange, which is mix'd with an usury of
place, as that is of time.
Thus did Money grow inseperably necessary to all Exchange, to
make the things exchanged equal in value, for that all exchange
is either by the actual or intellectual valuation of Money; that
is to say, Either the thing is exchanged for Money, or if it be
exchanged for another thing, the measure of that exchange is how
much Money either of the things exchanged is conceived to be
worth; and Practice hath found out that in values, which the
Geometricians have found out in quantities, that two lines which
are equal to a third line, are equal to one another: So is money
a third line, by which all things are made equal in value, and
therefore it is not ill compared to the Meteria Prima, because,
though it serves actually to no use almost, it serves potentially
to all uses. It is not impertinent to examine these things from
their ground in nature, or in use: For intending to treat by what
meanes the course of money may best be governed to the advantage
of the common-wealth, (a matter of so curious and subtil a search
as the most solid understandings are dazled with it) it is
necessary, first to lay down the first and plainest principles of
the Subject, by which the understanding of the Writer and the
Reader may be guided in the Labyrinths ensuing; and this subject
being much obscured, not only by the intricasie of its own
nature, but by the Art and Terms of those who do manage these
affairs, I do intent to lay open all the mysteries to the
comprehension of the attentive Reader. And for that purpose, I
intend first Historically, to set down by what Degrees, and upon
what Reasons the forms of Money and of Coinage, now practised are
given into use, and without any censure or observation upon them:
and I will afterwards treat a part of the inconveniences grown
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
Superfluities, both parties could not always fit one another at
the present; in which case the Corruptions of Man's Nature did
quickly grow to make it behooful, that the party receiving should
leave somewhat worthy to be esteemed for a Pledge, to supply the
givers want upon the like occasion: Time did easily find out that
this Pledge should be something not too common, not easy to be
consumed with use, or spoiled for want of use, and this was
Money.
The first use of Money was then by it to supply every man's
particular wants. This introduced a second use of Cauponation,
when men did by the Pledge of Money procure not only those things
which they themselves wanted, but which they might sell to others
for more money: and under that kind is all Trades comprehended,
whether it be grose sale, or retale; and this use hath brought in
a third use of Money, for the gain of cauponation did give a
Colour to those that lent Money to such as did encrease it by
Trade, to take usury for it, which is therefore termed the most
unnatural use of Money, because it is most remote from the
natural Institution. Of this there are many kinds of which the
most refined is that of Exchange, which is mix'd with an usury of
place, as that is of time.
Thus did Money grow inseperably necessary to all Exchange, to
make the things exchanged equal in value, for that all exchange
is either by the actual or intellectual valuation of Money; that
is to say, Either the thing is exchanged for Money, or if it be
exchanged for another thing, the measure of that exchange is how
much Money either of the things exchanged is conceived to be
worth; and Practice hath found out that in values, which the
Geometricians have found out in quantities, that two lines which
are equal to a third line, are equal to one another: So is money
a third line, by which all things are made equal in value, and
therefore it is not ill compared to the Meteria Prima, because,
though it serves actually to no use almost, it serves potentially
to all uses. It is not impertinent to examine these things from
their ground in nature, or in use: For intending to treat by what
meanes the course of money may best be governed to the advantage
of the common-wealth, (a matter of so curious and subtil a search
as the most solid understandings are dazled with it) it is
necessary, first to lay down the first and plainest principles of
the Subject, by which the understanding of the Writer and the
Reader may be guided in the Labyrinths ensuing; and this subject
being much obscured, not only by the intricasie of its own
nature, but by the Art and Terms of those who do manage these
affairs, I do intent to lay open all the mysteries to the
comprehension of the attentive Reader. And for that purpose, I
intend first Historically, to set down by what Degrees, and upon
what Reasons the forms of Money and of Coinage, now practised are
given into use, and without any censure or observation upon them:
and I will afterwards treat a part of the inconveniences grown
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