The Maintenance of Free Trade [27]
of the Starlin Standard? This is to be done only by his Majesties Proclamation according to the Statutes of exchanges, prohibiting that after three moneths next ensuing the same, no man shall make any exchanges by Bills or otherwise, for moneys to bee paied in forraine parts, or to be recharged towards this Realme under the true Par, or value for value of our moneys, and the moneys of other Countries in weight and finenesse, but at the said Rate, or above the same, as Merchants can agree, but never under the said Rate: which shall be declared in a paire of Tables publikely to be seene upon the Royall Exchanges in London, according to the said Proclamation, and the said Table shall be altered in price, as occasions shall be ministred beyond the Seas, in the generall Respective places of exchanges, either by their inhauncing of moneys by valuation, or by imbasing of the same by Allay; which by a vigilant eye may be observed, and will be a cause to make othr Nations more constant in the course of their moneys. And this will be executed more or course, then by Authority; becuase Gaine doth beare sway and command with most men. The facilitie hereof putteth me in minde of the Geometricall Axiom or Maxime, observed in commedation of the invention of round Wheeles, Circulus tangit Planum, unico puncta, as a reason to draw and carry Loads with a small strength; whereas if they had been made square, or any other Poly-angle and proportion: Forty horses would not so easily draw them, being laden, as two doth now, both with speed and ease. Unto which this Remedie may bee aptly compared, which (in a manner) comprehendeth all the other Remedies. For the Merchant Stranger, being here the Deliverer of money generally: will easily bee induced to make the most of his owne, receiving by exchange more for the same beyond the Seas; and the English Merchant being the Taker of the said moneys, will not bee so injurious to the State, as to give lesse beyond the Seas, then the value of the money of the Realme in exchange, contrarie to the said Proclamation: and if hee would, the Deliverer will not let thim have it. Besides that the Takers occasions are enforced by necesssitie, and he can be no loser; for by this directio, he will sell his Commodities beyond the Seas accordingly. English Merchants being the Deliverers of money beyond the Seas, and the price of exchange altering there accordingly, will have the like consideration, and the Merchant Stranger will provoke him thereunto. And if there be no Takers, the English Merchant may bring over the money in specie, wherein he shall become a Gayner. This course is agreeable to Justice and the Law of Nations, and will not hinder th'exchange to rise and fall as formerly; but keepe all in due order, with those considerations, Cautions and preventions as shall be set downe to prevent all inconveniences, proceeding by the inhauncing of money; which fall generally upon all men, in the indearing of things, and particularly upon Land- lords and Creditours in their Rents and Contracts; and especially upon the Kings Majesties Lands. Now before we come to answer some objections made against this Remedie, let us examine what Time the old observer, and experience the best Schoole-master of mans life, have manifestly touching the Raising of moneys in forraine parts, and within the Realme; it being one of the 34 defective remedies before declared. It is recorded in an ancient booke, that the inhauncing of the Coynes beyond the Seas, was the cause that King Henry the sixt of England, did raise the ounce of Starlin Silver from 20 pence to 30 pence: and King Edward the fourth from 30 pence to 40 pence. And after him King Henry the eight, after many sendings to forraine Princes about Minte affairs and exchanges, (preceiving the price of money continually to rise beyond the Seas:) caused in the 18 yeere of his Raigne, The Angell Noble to be valued from 6 shillings 8 pence, unto seven shillings and four pence, and presently after to 7 shillings 6 pence; whereby every ounce of Starlin