they were pardoned of might have their Pardons under the Great Seal of England for what offenses and abuses in their Trades they had done contrary to the Laws of this Nation and Mr Attournie Generall by order of the King and Counsel to stop his Proceedings against them and the rest of the Refiners both in the Exchequer and Starr-Chamber The Refiners Alderman Wolastone and Alder. Gibbs thereupon offer to pay his Majestie six pence the ounce for all Wyer that should bee disgrossed and spent in that Munufacture And they drew in six other Refiners to bee their fellow Partners and Monopolists and to pay the Rent of a fair hous above one hundred and twenty Pounds a year to pay Clarks wages and other incident charges And this Office they did execute several moneths in the year 1635. before the King would give Alderman Wolaston and Alderman Gibbs their pardons for their offenses And much adoe then they had to get their Pardons for when their pardons were at the Signet Office Sr Henry Mildemay got the King to stop their pardons And this Sr John Cook the Secretary of State told me That Sr Henry Mildemay had presented to the late king how grosly both Alderman Gibbs and Alderman Wolaston had abused the Commonwealth contrary to the Law and how they had surprised the King in getting their Pardons and that they deserved to bee made exemplar I am sure according to the usuall way of the Court Alderman Wolaston and Alderman Gibbs could not remove such obstructions but with great summs though the particular summs I never knew And I was desired by Mr Secretry Cook at Oatlands on Sunday after Diner to go presently to London to Alderman Gibbs and Alderman Wolaston which accordingly I did to let them know from him their Pardons were stopped by the King and that they should attend him about it which accordingly Alderman Gibbs and Alderman Wolaston the next morning did I was well acquainted for I had paid for it what the meaning of such a message was to bee sent by me to Alderman Gibbs and Alderman Wolaston And I did believ that they had not come up to a full price nor paid so much as was expected and I knew that was the main stop of their Pardons Upon this Offer of the Refiners to pay the King six pence the ounce beeing asmuch again as the Gold-wyer-drawers had offered by their Petition the Gold-wyer-drawers were laid aside with their Petition and Propositions by the late King and his Counsel as inconsiderable persons And the Refiners Alderman Gibbs and Alderman Wollaston by their craft getting to bee great with the Attorney General Bankes Secretary Cook Sir William Beecher and other Courtiers got to bee the onely men to carry on this Project for being the Kings Agents to furnish One hundred thousand pounds a year for this manufacture And the late King to gratifie the Refiners who had bid him so roundly granted Alderman Wollaston and Alderman Gibbs their pardons under the great Seal of England the rest of the Refiners being then but young men were esteemed as rascal Deer they had not wool on their Backs nor had committed sins enough for to have their pardons under the great Seal of England and so got dismissed by Order of the Lords of the Counsel in the Court of Starr-Chamber And the King appoints the Refiners viz. Alderman Wollaston Alderman Gibbs Henry Patrickson Daniel Stalworthy William Haward Richard Gibbs Thomas Nowel and Walter Hill under the great Seal of England to bee called by the name of his Majesties Agents for the refining of One hundred thousand pounds Gold and Silver a year for this Business And they had not a bare title onely of that name for the late King allowed them to share with him and to tax the People in their prizes to sell their gilt silver Wyer two pence upon every ounce and the silver Wyer one penny upon every ounce more then divers Goldsmiths of London offered to sell the Wyer-drawers And this was offered several times by Captain Williams the late Kings Goldsmith a man of a great and vast Estate Mr Footer Mr Symonds and divers other able rich men And good securitie offered to the late Kings Commissioners and at the Counsel Table at Whitehall for the performing of Covenants But this would not bee granted by the late King or his Counsel And this gave the great Offence in Parlament 16â—0 it being found by the Parlament upon Examination that so great and numerous a company as the Company of Goldsmiths and Gold-wyer-drawers are should bee debarred so great a branch in their Trade as this is For it will be justified and credibly demonstrated to your Highness and the Parlament that these aforesaid eight Refiners whereof Alderman Gibbs and Alderman Wollaston had one half of the Trade and stock as appears by the Monopolie got more for their own particular profit by monopolizing to themselves the sale of all Gold and Silver Wyer for this Manufacture being one hundred thousand pounds a year then all the Goldsmiths in London which are many hundred families did get at that time by selling all the new Plate in London And I am confident all knowing Goldsmiths will calculate it so which was and is the principal part of the Goldsmiths Trade The Duty reserved to the King in lieu of his Customs was nothing so odious to the Wyer-drawers in comparison as the Refiners Monopoly was The Wyer-drawers constantly affirmed to the King and his Counsel and to the Kings Commissioners that the Refiners Monopoly was contrary to Law and upon a dispute at the Counsell Table the King called the Refiners Alderman Gibbs and Alderman Wollaston his Sheep and the Wyerdrawers he called his Goats but in the conclusion both these Refining Aldermen proved the Kings Majesties Sheep biters And the late King pressed the Wyer-drawers at his Counsell Table to conform themselvs to the Regulation but some of the Wyer-drawers told the said King They would submit to the Law but not to the Refiners Monopoly and that it was against the Law that Freemen of the City of London should bee restrained a Free Market to enrich private men and to make them Aldermen Besides the Gold-wyer-drawers were compelled upon great penalties as appears by their Bonds to buy no Silver wyer for their manufacture but of the said Alderman Wallaston Alderman Gibbs and the other six Patâ—ntees joined with them and oftentimes the Refiners Gibbs and Wollaston pressed the Commissioners to cause searches and complaining they were at great charges paying Clerks wages and Hous-rent and therefore desired searches and seisures of such Wyer-drawers silver which did not buy of them And they forced all persons to pay them two pence the ounce for all gilt wyer and a penny the ounce for all silver wyer more then they ought or needed to have done had the Wyer-drawers been permitted to have had a free market And the Goldwyerdrawers paid this for divers years together as is
and furious carreer of Alderman Gibbs and Alderman Wollaston while they were the Kings Agents in the Kings time but to save their skins when the times altered they could presently change their notes put on sheep-skins and would appear as Lambs they would be full of godlie expressions in Guild-hall Goldsmiths-hall and many other places in the City and bee highly for the Covenant and amongst their Brethren storm at the oppression of the Times and at Projectors and Monopolizers when there was none greater then themselvs as appears by this Monopoly They have said at a common Hall in Guild-hall when I was sent to the Tower that I was the Monopolist and Pattentee for this Manufacture when truly I neither had heart or hand in it nor any manner of waâ—â—s concerned in the buying or selling the silver Wyer for this Manufacture If I would I could not for the aforesaid Indâ—â—ture between the King Gibbs and Wollaston sets forth that onely eight Refiners were the Pattentees and none others enjoy notwithstanding the Statute made in the fourth year of Hen. 7th cap. 2. and notwithstanding the Statute made in the 5th and 6th years of Edw. 6th cap. 19. intituled The Penaltie for Exchange of Gold and Silver And notwithstanding the Statute of 18 Eliz. cap. 15. or any other Act Statute Law Ordinance Proclamation Provision or restriction whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And his Majestie for Him and his Heirs and Successors did will ordain and declare that during the continuance of this his Grant his Majestie his Heirs and Successors will not give or grant any libertie licence or power or authoritie to any person whatsoëver other then unto such as have already served or shall hereafter serve as Apprentices wholly and only to the Art of Refining and parting Gold and Silver by the space of seven years as the said John Wollaston William Gibbs and other the parties before named have done to bee made expended and imploied in or about the making gold or silver thread or any the several Manufactures herein before mentioned And the afore-said persons every one for himself did covenant and promise to and with his Majestie his Heirs and Successors that from time to time during the terme granted to perform their best endeavors in and by all lawfull waies and means for the promoting and advancing of his Majesties benefit and service in the premisses And his Majestie for him his Heirs and Successors during the term thereby granted did Covenant to vouchsafe his and their assistance to the said Agents and the Survivors of them for the better performance and discharging of the said Agencie and all other the premisses so by them undertaken according to the tenor and true meaning of the said Grant In witness whereof to the one part of this Indenture remaining with the said Agents Our Sovereign Lord the King hath caused the Great Seal of England to be put And the other part remaining with his said Majestie the said John Wollaston William Gibbs Henry Patrickson Daniel Stallworthy William Haward Richard Gibbs Thomas Nowell and Walter Hâ—ll have set their hands and Seals the day and year first above written Anno Dom. 1636. Witness Our Self at Westminster the 7th daie of May in the twelfth year of our Reign I have the Copie of this Monopoly of the Refiners verbatim at large sworn and attested ready to bee produced if required May it pleas your Highness THese are the chief Heads of the Monopolie granted by the late King Charles 1636. to Sir John Wollaston Alderman and Alderman William Gibbs and others Refiners of the City of London This monopolie was complained of to the late King and his Counsel by some of the Wardens and Companie of the Goldsmiths in Anno 1636. and since oftentimes to the late King and his Commissioners both by several Goldsmiths and Wyerdrawers as being a great loss and abuse to the whole Company of Goldsmiths in Annis 1637 1638 and 1639 and is against the Statute of 21. Jac. cap. 3. and several other Acts of Parlament and against the Common Law of the Land and the Charter of the City of London By this monopoly they ingrossing into a few particular mens hands for their private lucre and gain under the specious pretence of the Kings service which was the ordinary mask used by Pattentees and Monopolists of that time the lively-hood and subsistance of many hundred Goldsmiths and Wyerdrawers which by the Charter of the Company of Goldsmiths ought not to have been debarred and by the custom of the City of London were legally impowered to refine Silver and Gold aswell as the said Refiners were And though this was oftentimes offered it was alwaies denied and opposed by the Refiners who had got this monopoly in their Iron clutches and would not let go their hold till their monopolie was put down by the Parlament upon the Petition of the Gold-wyer-drawers as aforesaid I have left with the honorable Committee for Trade in Aug. 1656. several humble Proposals for the just and due regulation of this Trade of Refining and Gold and Silver-wyer-drawing If they bee put in execution the Manufacture will bee again justly and truly made the Coyn and Bullion of the Nation preserved and your Highness Revenue augmented But as the Manufacture of Gold and Silver Thread c. is now made the wearers thereof are many of them cozened and the Coyns and Plate of the Nation melted to the great dammage of the Nation and every day new Cheats are invented to deceive the Wearers by Wheels or Engines Therefore I most humbly pray for either a due Regulation of Gold and Silver Thread and Wyer c. or the making to bee put down in England especially at this time now wee have a Warr with Spain strictly to look that none of the Coyns of the Nation or Plate bee melted down for any of these Manufactures 8. That within these three months in June last Mr Alexander Jackson the Assaie-master of Goldsmiths-hall beeing desired to go to the Excize-Office to make an assay of some Silver that was made into Wyer for this manufacture seized on an Ingott of course Silver about 30l. which was thirteen penny weight worse then the Standard And weekly upon strict examination it will bee found that great quantities of course silver hath been made into these Manufactures This Silver as I am informed belongs to a Refiner and it is both contrary to the Law and a breach of his Oath to prepare any such Silver for any Manufacture I have many Assayes under Mr Jacksons hand the Assay-master of Goldsmiths-hall where four ounces of Copper hath been mixed and put into eight ounces of Silver and sold for good Silver by some Silkmen and Wyer-drawers to the intolerable deceipt of the Wearers of gold and silver Lace And whereas all persons should make gold and silver Thread to hold six ounces Silver to three ounces of Silk it hath been ordinary and at this day
most excellent Waies and Rules were setled in the Court of Exchequer in all Kings Reigns by the great care of many Ages And the Sages of the Law know there was not a more exact method in the world then the Court of Exchequer was for the just accompting and paying the Kings Dues I have heard my Lord Cottington say in the Exchequer Chamber That no Prince in Christendom had the like exact way as the King of England had by the course of the Exchequer if the Rules set down by the Court bee by the under-Officers duely executed so that whatsoever summ comes in there bee it a million of money must bee duely paid and accompted for or else hee could finde it upon the foot of the accompt if ever it came in charge into the Pipe And if the course of the Exchequer had not been disturbed and the payments of the publick money thrust out of the old Channel it had been impossible to have had so many Treasurers cozen the Common-wealth so grosly and shamefully as they have done And in order and pursuance of calling all Accomptants to a just true and strickt Accompt your Supplicant most humbly presents these ensuing Proposals to your Highness and the Parlaments view and consideration and humbly prayeth that the same may bee put in strickt execution with such alterations and additions as your Highness and the Parlament shall conceive fittest for the good of the Nation in general to ease the people of their Taxes For God defend that the generalitie of the people should contribute their monies and pay it to Treasurers that shall make themselves great and their private posterities after them out of what they have cozened and defrauded the Common-wealth of Therefore I humbly petition your Highness and the Parlament 1. THat an Act of Parlament may bee made and a Proclamation thereupon go forth commanding and requiring all Committee-men Sequestrators Trustees for sale of Delinquents Estates Commissioners of Excize Commissioners of the Customs Treasurers of the publick Plate and all other Treasurers Receivers Collectors and all other Accomptants and persons whatsoever that have been imploied to collect and receiv and have collected and received any the publick monies goods chattels plate c or other things of value throughout England and Wales ever since the beginning of the year 1642. shall within three moneths next after the date of the said Act and Proclamation make up and deliver according to the Laws and Statutes of this Nation made for Accomptants and Accompts into the Exchequer or other place your Highness shall appoint their several just and true Accompts of what Monies Goods Chattels Plate c. or other thing of value they or any for them have received And how and by what warrant they have paid and delivered out the same The same Accompt to bee delivered in upon the particular oath of every such person Accomptant that the same is a just and true Accompt And upon every particular accompt so made to pay in the money remaining in his hands upon his said Accompt if any there bee into the Exchequer or other person and place your Highness shall appoint to receiv the same And upon failer of bringing in their several and particular Accompts according to the said Act and Proclamation that then all such monies goods chattels and other things of value which shall bee found and proved upon Inquisition they have received for the Common-wealth whereof they have not accompted for shall bee levyed and taken upon their estates and their persons imprisoned untill they have justly and truly accompted And if any person or Accomptant aforesaid shall bee dead then the Heir and Executor or Administrator of such person so dying or being dead shall duely accompt for the partie so dying or being dead according to the Laws and Statutes of this Nation 2. That an Act of Parlament may bee made and sent throughout England and Wales to require and impower four of the next Justices of the Peace or such other Commissioners your Highness shall appoint to call a Jury in every Parish of substantial Free-holders or other discreet honest men either of the same Parish or Parishes next adjacent and to call to their assistance all other discreet persons that can and will give them true information concerning any of the premisses in charge And the said Jury so impannelled to make true Inquisition of all such neighbours and persons aforesaid of these particular things following viz. 3 That the Jurie bee impowered to enquire and present all persons men and women and their degree and qualitie that have been sequestred in each respective parish within every County of this Nation and the dayes of the moneth and year when this was done Also they are to enquire and present what stock of Cattel Money Plate houshold stuff c. or other things of value they had taken from them and to set down the particular values thereof Also to set down the values of the Houses Lands and Tenements Woods c. sequestred and into whose hands the same came And to set down the parcels and values distinctly and the several time and times when this was done and by whose order warrants and directions and who received the monies 4. They are to enquire and present in every Parish what Committee-men and Sequestrators and Treasurers are in every Parish their distinct names and qualities who of them are dead and who bee their Heirs and Executors or Administrators And if any Sequestrator Treasurer or Committee-man bee removed out of their ancient abiding places since 1642. to set down to the best of their knowledg or information they can get where every such Sequestrator Committeeman and Treasurer doth live in what Countie and place within this Nation or elswhere 5. They are to enquire in what Places of the Countie the Committee for Sequestrations did usually sit and to certifie the same And that diligent search bee made for all Books of Orders of everie particular Committee That in every Parish twelv able and discreet persons upon oath shall make strict inquisition who received all Rents and Profits of all Lands and Houses of Delinquents in the said Parish and how long every Delinquents lands were under Sequestration before they were compounded for or sold and to present all persons that shall bee proved to have the publick money in their hands and what quantity And this all Juries in every Parish shall swear to do without favor or affection and that some considerable penaltie may bee inflicted on such Juries or the Parties offending amongst them that shall wilfully perjure themselvs in wilfull making false Returns and in wilfull concealing any frauds to the prejudice of the Common-wealth through their connivance or willfulness when the Evidence for the State hath by good and legal witnesses sworn the fact positively and clearly and yet the Jury will not make their Returns according to their Evidence to set a penalty upon all Offenders of this
ounces Two penny weight Fine upon the pound The Assayes follow viz. The particular Originall Reports I have readie to produce to the Counsell of Trade wherin they will see the great Cheats put upon the Nation by some Refiners Wyerdrawers and Silkmen At the bottome of the original paper this followes viz. These are the severall Assayes of the silver Spangles plaited Wyer and silver Thread made and Reported by mee Alexander Jackson They being all under Starling and against the Laws of the Kingdom Some part of these Assayes I made by the appointment of Sr Henry Mildemay Knight in the year 1635 and some part of which falsified and defective silver Thread flatted Wyer and Spangles were brought to mee by Mr Tho Violet in the year 1638. By mee ALEXANDER JACKSON the sworn Assay-master to the worshipfull Company of Goldsmiths London By Order of the Lords of the Counsel I Tho. Violet paid Mr Jackson Five pounds for this Service And this silver Thread Wyer Spangles c. was one hundred and odd several parcels made contrarie to the oath of every Goldsmith Wyerdrawer and Refiner when they are made free at Goldsmiths Hall I humblie leav it to bee considered on whether this manufacture ought not strictly to bee looked after and duelie regulated when neither Oaths nor bonds will keep them to work good â—â—lver For executing of my Office justlie and strictlie to hold the Refiners and Wyerdrawers to a Rule to make all their wyer and thread of good silver and punishing the Offenders manie of them I brought to Justice And I shewed the King how hee was cozened in the Mint of Three thousand Pounds a year which caused Alderman Wollaston secretly to hate mee mortally And hee caused mee to bee clapt up by his incensing some members of Parlament against mee in the Tower in Januarie 1643. when hee was Lord Major of London And the Parlament kept mee close prisoner there Nine hundred twentie eight daies and Fourteen Moneths more in which I had libertie to go at large in the Tower upon the pretence I was a Malignant when the truth was Alderman Wollaston vented but his private malice against mee Upon this occasion viz. Alderman Wollaston having put up to the Parlament in the year 1640 a Petition slighting the Kings mercie and goodness towards him in giving him his Pardon when I saw Alderman Wollaston's carriage in that Petition hee presented to the Parlament I then told the King in the year 1640. that Alderman Wollaston joining with some of the Officers of his Mint had made a fraudulent agreement to melt all the silver in the Mint which was to make monies and hee to have from the King the allowance of 16 grains upon the pound Troy which is 2 pence the pound weight Troy for all the silver hee melted in the Mint This agreement was made without either the King 's or the Lords of the Counsells knowledg or approbation nor was there anie allowance or power under the Great Seal of England for him to receive these fees or the Officers of the Mint to grant them to him By which fraudulent bargain the King was defrauded of neer upon three thousand pounds a year from the year 1630. to the year 1640. And Alderman Wollaston put up all this monie in his own particular purse the King nor Lords never knowing any thing of this blinde bargain Alderman Wollastons place in the Tower being so inconsiderable in the eie of the State and in the reputation of the world the melter of the mint being but the Master workers servant that Alderman Wollaston never had a Patent for it under the Great Seal whereas the Master worker of the Mint hath a Pattent the Warden the Assaie-master the master of the Irons the Engraver the Comptroller the Teller and several other Officers of the Mint have all of them their several Pattents under the Great Seal of England for their several places Now Alderman Wollaston's place was worth every year to him more monie then all the aforesaid Officers of the Mint twice told for every year hee cleared near three thousand pounds a year as I proved to the late King and I can prove it to your Highness the Parlament and your Counsel whensoever you pleas and all the Officers Fees in the Mint did not amount to one thousand pounds a year A strange fraudulent trick that a servant for in the Mint Alderman Wollaston was but the master workers of the mints servant should get six times more then his master and three times more then all the Officers in the mint It was the profits of this Place raised him principally to bee an Alderman But this is no great wonder when the masters of the mint for many years are and have been ignorant of the mysteries and perquisites of their places to the great dammage of the Nation in many particulars In former times it was not so Goldsmiths and Artists were masters of the mint that knew the course of Exchanges and held Correspondence with Forrain Bankers and merchants no Age can shew afore this a Doctor of Physick master worker of the mint and had not I stopped at one time three hundred thousand pounds of silver the Irons in the mint would have been rustie I caused more money to come to the mint at one time 1653 then hath been coyned this seven yeare besides that money Upon this my Information to the King hee presently sent for Mr Andrew Palmer the Assay-master of the mint and Mr Henry Cogan the Comptroller of the mint and examined the business about Alderman Wollastons Place in the Tower and commanded mee to bee by and to declare before them what I had told his Majestie concerning Alderman Wollastons Place of melter in the mint And when they heard what I said they confessed it to bee a truth that Alderman Wollaston had in ten years beeing esteemed but as a servant by the condition of his Place in the mint to the Head-Officers the master Worker and Warden of the mint gotten more by his melting of the Silver in the mint then all the Officers of the mint put them all together had done Whereupon the King was wonderfull angry with them they beeing his Officers in the Mint that they would suffer such a thing and not acquaint him or his Counsel with it And asked If my Lord Treasurer or Lord Cottington or the Lords of his Counsel allowed him to have such Fees and allowances or knew that Wollaston made such Gaines in the Mint by being Melter of the Gold and Silver They told his Majestie No they did believe none of them knew it nor any others but the Officers of the Mint for that it was a mysterie and few did know it Thereupon the King sworâ— his Officers of his Mint must either bee Knaves or Fooâ—s to let such an one as Alderman Wollaston gull him of three thousand pounds a year and to give such a Place of Profit to any without his consent or the
is made to six ounces of Silk but three ounces of Silver the Silk many times heavy died the Wearers many of them are cozened and their garments spoyled And many other Cheats and frauds I could particularize 9. When I delivered an Accompt of these gross deceipts to the King and Lords and upon examination they finding these Abuses to bee so frequent both amongst Refiners Silkmen and Wyer-drawers The King and Lords of his Councel having often imployed mee in these Discoverics of the fraudes of the Wyerdrawers They ordered mee Thoms Violet Anno 1635. to bee Surveyer and Sealer of all these manufactures for three lives under the Great Seal of England And to have and receiv to my own use One Halfpenny the Ounce for Wyer and 4 Pence the pound Venice for all gold and silver Thread I Sealed and Surveyed And prohibited all persons to put silver or gold Thread to Sale before it was warranted by the Seal of my Office being the Rose and Crown In consideration of this Fee aforesaid I Covenanted and put in Securitie to the late King in the Exchequer That if any gold or silver Thread Spangles Purls Oes or Wyer should bee Surveyed and Sealed or passed out of my Office either by mee or my Deputie which was cours or adulterate silver under sterling or not justlie made the Thread with a due proportion of silver at the least five ounces silver to three ounces silk I was bound and am bound to this day to answer and pay all Damages to any person grieved or wronged in the Nation concerning the Premises And neither the Wyerdrawers nor Silkmen could in Parlament produce one parcel of silver thread that I sealed in the Office or that was sealed by my Officers to be cours silver or under the Standard And for five years I caused this Manufacture to bee made so exactly as the money and Plate of the Nation is now made and the best gold and silver Thread in the world Without my Fees which were allowed mee under the great Seal of England I could not bee at the Charge of searching and Sealing and without my Sealing and Surveying I cannot warrant this Manufacture of gold and silver Thread and Wyer c. to bee good and truely made both for the fineness of the silver and a due proportion of silver to a due proportion of silk and without this Regulation everie workman is left to do what hee list both for the fineness of the silver and the due proportion of silver to silk And at this day for want of my Office many frauds and deceipts are put on the Nation and all them that wear this Manufacture which I am bound to prevent or make good the Damage to the Nation or to any that shall bee deceived Which cannot bee exspected from mee unless I receiv my Fee to defray my Charge and hazzard I run in warranting all this Manufacture to bee good and justly made And of the justice and Equity of this I conceiv there can bee no dispute May it pleas your Highness NOw at this day the Manufacture of gold and silver Thread Wyer Spangles Oes c. is under no Rule nor Regulation either for the Fineness of the silver or the just and due making the silver thread with a due Proportion of silver to a due proportion of true died silk but it is left to every one to do what hee lists and to Cozen the Commonwealth and to cull and melt down the Coins of the Nation And if the Refiners can get but the Goldsmiths to melt down the heavie Coins as shillings sixpences and halfcrowns which they do at this day and as they are wont to do ever when silver is above the price of the Mint or when wee have Wars with Spain then generally silver is dearer then the Price of the Mint The Refiners think themselves clear and the Law cannot touch them if they buy heavie shillings and sixpences melted into Ingots And by this way all the heavie currant silver monies and Coin of this Nation is melted down This heavie English silver monie for the greater part is called and weighed by Goldsmiths in Lumbard-street who keep people purposely to cull and weigh the heavie shillings and sixpences of this Nation when silver is dear May it pleas your Highness Wee shall not have monie to buy and sell nor to hold Commerce nor pay Rent or publick Duties if this mischief bee not stopped When I was an Apprentice I delivered with mine own hands for one Mr Eman's Account who was my Master to Alderm Gibbs above thirtie thousand Pounds of heavie shillings sixpences and halfcrowns which hee bought of my Master Mr Timothy Emans a Goldsmith in Lumbard Street The said Mr Emans then being a publiuqe Cashier for severall Marchants and receiving their monie and keeping their Cashes by which means hee culled and caused to bee culled and melted everie year in heavie shillings and sixpences above Thirtie thousand pounds a year from the year 1624 to the year 1630 into Barrs or Ingots And there was many Goldsmiths in Lumbard street at that time everie of these years did melt as much heavie English monie and some of them more then Mr Emans did And English silver was at that time so scarce one could hardlie get white monie Anno 1629 for gold but now almost all the silver and almost all the gold is gon the silver melted down for gold and silver Lace The gold almost all Transported that in a payment of ten thousand pounds one shall not receiv Ten shillings in gold Alderman Gibbs would never have these shillings sixpences and halfcrowns from Mr Eman in Kinde but the propeâ—â—ie altered and melted into Ingots though hee knew and bargained for English monie by the name of Swarg to bee melted without fraud being a common word amongst the Goldsmiths for heavie English monie Whereupon my Master commanded mee to put in everie Ingot so much Copper as the silver wasted which was about a farthing the ounce For Mr Eman selling the heavy shillings halfcrowns and sixpenses to other Refiners and Silver-smiths in Kinde without melting would not bear the waste of melting Mr Gibbs 's English money into Ingotts But Alderman Gibbs finding my Masters Silver a farthing in five shillings courser then other Goldsmiths in Lumbard Sreet Silver was who melted down Mr Alderman Gibbs had a pair of Assay Ballances in his closet and when hee questioned mee about this Business hee weighed above sorrie severall Assayes of my Master Eman's silver with the Standard Piece and all of them fell out one penny weight short and then hee took about forty other Assayes of one Mr Bradshaw's Silver as hee told mee and Alderman Gibbs said to mee This is heavy English mony in Ingots which I have and do daily buy of Mr Bradshaw and weigh your Masters Assayes against his So I did and found my Masters Silver all one penny weight short of Mr Bradshaw's Silver Thereuppon Alderman Gibbs was
passages in that Chapter fit for these present times By the blessing of God these glorious Beginnings of this Parlament will have as an auspicious and happie end and finishing to the great contentment of your Highness and all the good people of your several large Dominions to the terror of your Enemies and the frustrating of many Spanish designes that were and are hatching here under specious pretences of several mens Interests and Discontents These mens Eggs were buried no doubt in India Gold but by the good guidance of God the Spaniards Eggs will prove addle He is so subtle by the Counsel of his Jesuites casting themselvs into all shapes for hee doth most of his work by the Jesuites who sow and foment new Doctrines amongst us that have bewitched and cracked the heads of many men in these Nations which do the Spaniards and Papists work and know it not VVhen your Highness Navies sailed to the VVest-Indies You caused them to bee sheathed with Planks Pitch and Hair that the worms which breed in those Seas might do no hurt or prejudice to the hull or bulk of their Ships Great SIR England Scotland and Ireland may well bee compared to three Roial Ships and the Dominion of Wales to a most Princely Frigot Your Highness by the grace of God being Protector General and Admiral Your Highness hath now a Warr with Him that stiles himself the Emperor of the Indies This Prince is Master of a Metall that is as dangerous to all Princes in Christendom their Persons Countries Lands and Territories as the Worms in the Indian Seas are to the Merchants ships No Iron barrs can bee made so strong but this Metall like Aqua fortis will eat thorough It is called Gold and Silver it is so subtle that it will incorporate like Quick-silver almost with all metalls Men of all Professions all Ages rich and poor young and old none but are taken and corrupted with it as hee is a Natural man But God hath appointed a Remedie against this Poison to some persons through his mercie the pretious balsom of his restraining Grace but this hee grants but to a few whose spirits are elevated above Gold and Silver this world or worldly things God hath appointed another Balsom for these Nations against the Poison of Spanish Gold and Silver and that is to bless these Nations with your Highness victorious PERSON beeing assisted with your supreme Counsell the Parlament Upon my knees I most humbly say As you sheathe your Ships you send to India for fear of the VVorm so your Highness must sheathe the Cinque-ports and Creeks of your HIGHNEss Dominions you must fortifie and garrison the Sea-ports of this Nation and the People bee alwaies readie both in hand and heart all as one man to fight for our Religion Countrey our Lives Wives and Children Lands and Estates and without this bee done wee shall not have a Beeing Estates or Proprietie this is the one thing necessary and chiefly to bee lookt after to fortifie and secure the Nation against home-bred Traitors and forain Forces And if any should presume to assault us wee may bee afore-hand and by our Navies destroy their Ships Vessels in their own Seas let their Land be died with their Spanish blood let their barren Countrey bee fatned with their own Carkasses and as they give in their Monies the Sheaf of Arrows as a remembrance of the great Victories they obteined by the Valor of the English so now for their Ingratitude the Spaniards may cry as they did in Queen Elizabeths time to Philip the Second King of Spain and his Counsel SIR Let us have Peace with England and Warr with all the World And if they did so when this Nation had but one Drake and a small Fleet in comparison of what your Highness hath wee having now many score of Drakes which if they bee impowered with your HIGHNESS Commission and Gods Blessing thereupon they shall never bee able to bring home their Treasures from the VVest-Indies and though our Fleet wait long no doubt the Vigilancie of your Admirals will make the Spaniards pay for their attendance About sixteen years ago God out of his secret Judgment struck the Crown of Spain with a dead Palsie on one side by the revolting of the Portugals their right heir and true King assumed the Crown viz. the Duke of Bragantza so that now your Highness fights but with one half of the King of Spain as hee was formerly the other half the Portugal will assist You in all his Dominions both in Christendom Africa East and West Indies to destroie the Spaniards So that as God hath raised your Highness to this Greatness admirably to have the Soveraignity and Dominion of these Nations so by this rent and division of Portugal from Spain God hath facilitated and made the way easie for your Highness to cut down and pluck up by the roots this barren Tree the Spaniards And those Nations in the West-Indies which at this day live under the Spanish Tyranny and are now fed with the chaff and bran of Popish Superstition may bee by the blessing of God fed with the pure manchet of the Gospel and at once bee delivered from bodily and spiritual slavery My daily praier to God is to keep us unanimous in this Nation of England as wee and our Predecessors were in famous Queen Elizabeths daies that it may bee the study of every good Protestant in this Nation with heart hand and purse to destroy the Spaniards greatness The King of Spains Power is now not half so much as it was before Portugal revolted from him and his Power is now farr more in shew then substance his Territories and Dominions are at such a distance one from another they stand like the haires of King James's beard scatteringly as if one was afraid of another the charges of Garrisons and to keep his Dominions under his Obedience doth cost him in some Countries farr more to keep the bare Title then the Revenues of the Countries amount unto witnesse our next Neighbour Flanders and the like is for many other of his Dominions that yearly cost him many hundred thousand poundâ— hee holds a VVolf by the ears and if the King of Spain could bee well rid of them both Hee and his Counsel no doubt wishes both Flanders and Holland drowned in the Seas they have been the Spunges that have sucked up all his Treasure yearly There was wont of old to bee a saying No Fishing like the Fishing in the sea No service like a Kings so I humbly say No Warr like a Warr with Spain No service like a Protectors service If wee can but light on the King of Spains Indian Fleets stop that Course your Highness and these Nations by Gods assistance will turn the scales of all the Affairs of Christendom and make your Highness appear the true Defender of the Faith in these Imperial Dominions and the Sword and Buckler of all the Protestant Churches
Ostend 5 The Steersman Peter Naut hearing what I had declared in flinging the writings over-board asked mee Whether or no I had given in such testimony to which I answered I had and would justifie it whereupon the said Steersman Peter Naut struck mee on the face that I bled and so the said Steersman went out of the room without further denying the truth thereof 6. Peter Naut the Steersman brought on shore from the Sampson a parcel of silver about the bigness of a Sugar-loaf which hee knew belonged to Daniel Ferrine a Master of a Ship in Amsterdam I. D. Jacob Eliares Dated March 21. 1652. Wee underwritten do witness That the above Articles were affirmed to bee true by the said Jacob Eliares who subscribed the same in our presence I. Carleton Will. Reymes Jonathan Symonds THO. VIOLET A true Copie There was many score of thousand pounds stoln out of these Ships while the silver lay in the River by Dutch and others and had it not been unladen but by the State left on ship-board before this time it would all have been in all likelyhood stoln away The Testimony of Richard Scot taken this 15 of December 1652. WHo saith That in September last there lay a ship called the Prophet Elias belonging to Horn in Amsterdam and to his best knowledg bound for Holland the Skipper of the same ship died at Cales and being dead the Deponent saith That the Owners of this ship being part owners of the Sampson did sell the said ship to some Spanish merchants at Cales at which time here was taken out of the ship the Elias by the men and boat of the Sampson a parcel of money containing fifteen or sixteen bags and four or five bags of Cocheneel and brought it on board the Sampson where so farr as this Deponent knoweth it is still remaining Richard Scot. Witness James Reynolds Jonathan Symmonds I. D. THO. VIOLET A true Copy BArnard Claeson of Groeningen in Westfreyzland saith That hee is 20 years old and that hee hath been aboard the Sampson nine moneths and ninteen daies and that hee came first aboard at Talloon shee being taken by French-men and from thence to Genoa where shee took in most part of her Lading and from thence went to Lighorn where they took in a small parcel of Goods more And that their end in going to Lighorn was to look for two Holland men of Warr there to conduct them to Cales where they lay three or four moneths for the silver Fleet And that at Cales hee knows there were taken in Dutch goods by the Skippers acknowledgment but after the â—umor of the Warr between England and Holland the Skipper said That hee had sent a shore all the Dutch goods but to this Deponents best knowledg there went not above three or four parcels on shore And saith that hee supposeth these Goods were pretended to be sent on shore upon the accompt of our Differences And hee further saith That when they were in Cales before they were Laden they said they should go for Holland but after they had taken in the silver then they gave out that they were bound for Ostend And hee further saith That most part of this silver was taken in by night in small parcels And saith That the Goods they took in at Genoa were delivered at Cales And saith That there was a very great quantity of Goods aboard the said ships when they were reported to go for Holland And that hee knoweth not that the said Goods were laid on shore again December 20. 1652. Bernard Clason Thomas Angel The substance abovesaid is verbatim acknowledged by Tho. Angel In presence of us James Reynolds Jonathan Symmonds THO. VIOLET A true Copy April 18. 1653. The Testimony of Barnard Clason about the age of 22 years SAith Hee was taken aboard the Sampson Otto George Master at Tolloon in France and sailed with him from thence to Genoa and to Allicant so to Malaga then to Cales where at first hee gave it out hee went for Amsterdam and not onely the Captain but the Steersman said the same Hee further saith That hee heard a Merchants man say to the Steersman hee had two Barks of Ox or Cow hides that were to go for Amsterdam and asked the Steersman if their ship was bound for Amsterdaam to which the Steersman answered Yes they were bound for Amsterdam but after hearing of the Warrs between England and Holland then they gave it out they were bound for Ostend I. D. Barnard Clason THO. VIOLET A true Copie The Certification or Information of John Perrin one of the Ships company of the Vice-Admiral of the Ships now under arrest which pretend to bee of Hamborough called the Salvador as followeth IMprimis The said John Perrin being about 32 years of age doth certifie That hee being an English man born at Tonge neer Sittingbourn in the County of Kent That hee beeing about his occasions at Cades in Spain where the aforesaid ship Laded hee was entertained by â—he master of the said Salvador for wages as they pretended â—o go for Ostend and coming homewards as the Ships company was at prayer one Thomas Thomason an Italian Passenger in the said ship demanded of a Spanish merchant Whither the said ship was bound to which the â—aid merchant replyed That they intended for the Downs â—here to take in a Pilot And said that they would from â—hence go to Ostend And that the most part of the goods were to go for Amsterdam Also that at the same time when the said Salvador came from Cades there were seven ships more came from thence with her And that â—he masters mate of the great Sampson told him the said John Perrin that three of the said ships were going to St Mallows and four of them to Ostend whereof five of the said seven ships are here in the River of Thames This John Perrin lives at Feversham in Kent when hee is in England per me John Perrin This Paper was delivered to mee December 14. 1652. by Mr Richard Pitts of the Tower In the presence of I. D. John Reynolds THO. VIOLET A true Copie The Declaration of Philip Brown concerning the Ship Sampson said to bee of Lubeck Nov. 2â— 165â— SAith that hee was shipt in the said Ship at Talloon about the beginning of the summer from whence the Ship sailed to Genoa and from thence to Lighorn where they expected to bee conveyed by two Hollanders who were gon the night before they got thither which should have conducted them to Cales where when they arriveâ— they lay seaven weeks and this deponent saith that in that time hee took in by night for 16. or 17. nights together several parcels of silver and hee saith further that being one night walking upon the deck with the Masters mate the said Brown askt him whether or no the said ship with her lading would not bee Prize to this State in case it should bee taken by any of the Parlaments Fleet Hee answered that hee
the value of one thousand three hundred and odd pounds Besides many of my Papers and Accompts of great concernment to the Commonwealth and as yet I cannot come to the knowledg who hath them But this I am sure of If there had been any thing in them that could have made against mee there had then use been made of them 2. My mother had at another time a Privy Seal taken from her wherein the late King acknowledged hee owed me for my expences in discovering the Transporters of Gold and Silver ninteen hundred threescore and eight pounds which money I laid every penny out of my own purse to do the late King and Commonwealth that service and I caused the transporters of gold and silver to be fined in the Star Chamber at Twenty four Thousand pounds besides several Merchants and gold and silver Refiners viz. Alderman Wollaston and Alderman Gibbs Mr Peter Fountain and others Upon their Petition to the late King and paying well for it had their Pardon under the Great Seal of England for several abuses practised by them in their Trades and complained of at Whitehall to the late King by Sr Henry Mildemay Master of the Jewel-hous and by som of the Wardens and Company of Goldsmiths as will appear by the Order of the Counsel-table 25 Jan. 1634. 3. The Committee of Essex put mee out of Possession of the Mannors of Battells and Patan-Hall in Essex as appears by their Warrants Of which Lands I had an Extent to the just value of One thousand pounds and one Mr Elconhead received my rents ever since 1643 Mr Philip Cage being in possession for my Use 4. The Committee of Shropshire seized in my sisters hands in London three Bonds due to mee in two thousand pounds for the payment to mee Thomas Violet one thousand pounds by the Lady Anne Waad Edmond Lenthal Phillip Cage and Charles Mordent Esqrs as appears by the Bonds restored unto mee back from John Corbet Esq r 24th of May 1656 by vertue of your Highness and your Counsels Order of 21 of March 1655. And I have put these Bonds in suit according to the power given unto me by your Highness and your most honorable Counsel For which Justice I most humbly am bound to give to Colonel Syddenham my Lord Strickland and Col. Jones most humble thanks humbly trusting in God that they will bee honorably pleased to move your Highness and the Councel to take that order the rest of my Estate under Sequestration shall bee justly restored Or that I shall have the summ to bee made up Eleven thousand pounds paid mee according to the faithfull promise of the Councel of State 1652 for staying and intituling the State to the aforesaid Three hundred thousand pounds in silver which the Commonwealth onely by my means had every penny of it 5. I had the Leas of ten severall Houses at the Posterne in Little Moor-fields and the Tennants owed mee when I was committed to the Tower in arrears for rent above one hundred pounds And for these Thirteen years I received no Rent of them But one Mr Elconhead hath received the Rents of them ever since 6. I had the Office of sealing and surveying of all gold and silver Thread and Wyer which prevented the making of all sleight and adulterate gold and silver Thread and Wyer granted to mee under the Great Seal for three Lives from the late King which Office cost mee Fifteen hundred Pounds to the Lord Treasurer Juxon L. Cottington Sr John Cook Secretary of State and Sr. John Bankes the late Kings Attourney The necessity of keeping up that Office to prevent the dayly Cosennages and frauds of divers Silkmen Wyerdrawers and Refiners in their making Cours sleight and deceitfull Gold and Silver Wyer and Toread I shall at the later end of this book shew at large having about three hundred Assayes of adulterate and cours gold and silver Wyer Thread Spangles Oes c all made and sold contrary to the Lawes and Statutes These Assayes are in my custody under the Hand and Attestation of Mr Alexander Jackson Assay-master of Goldsmiths Hall and the several Silkmens names and shops and dayes of the Moneth in which they sold this cours adulterate gold and silver Thread and Lace Spangles Wyer c. to the great deceipt of the Nation in generall And upon the Discovery of these notorious Cheats the late King and his Counsel appointed mee Surveyor and Sealer of the said Manufacture I caused all the abuses to bee laid aside I Indicted som offenders imprisoned som caused others to stand in the Pillory and made many of them that wrought adulterate cours silver run away out of London By which means I angred many cheating Wyer-drawers Silkmen and Refiners and the late Kings Councel and Commissioners setled such Rules and Orders during that Regulation the Manufacture was all made of good silver and the Coin and Bullion of this Nation preserved and your Supplicant was bound to the late King to warrant all the Manufactures either of gold or silver Wyer or Thread which hee sealed or surveyed in the Office to bee good silver and to make it good to any party grieved in the Nation as appears by my Patent under the Great Seal of England For which Assurance Surveying and Sealing I was allowed to demand and take an half penny for every once Troy in Wyer Spangles Oes ctc. I suveyed and 4 pence for every pound weight Vennice for all the Gold and Silver I sealed with the Seal of my Office being the Rose and Crown 7. I had a Grant from the late King under his Signet to bee Master-worker of the Mint in the Tower of London for my life with the Fee of five hundred pound a year for executing that place which Grant was taken from my Mother out of her Custody when I was sent to the Tower 8. I had one quarter part of the Lady Willers Farm at the Custom-hous for the Importation of all gold and silver Thread Hatbands Lace and Copper thread throughout England and Wales which costmee a little before I was sequestred above seven hundred pounds And if the making gold and silver thread was put down in England the Custom of gold and silver thread imported would make a far greater Revenew then now it doth by the Excise and the manifacture if it bee made here ought to bee kept to a strict Regulation 9. I spent in my Imprisonment in the Tower for almost four years above seven hundred pounds and could never get to be heard though I petitioned to the Parlament as aforesaid many years to come to a Triall knowing my self to bee innocent both by God's Law and the Laws of the Land and above all by the testimony of a good Conscience which hath ever supported mee in and thorow all these troubles All this Estate was and is Sequestred but my three aforesaid bonds to this day besides my Dammage for my four years Imprisonment 10. Since I came out
of the Tower by order of the Counsel of State 1652. and since I laid out in the Prosecution of the silver Ships Sampson Salvador and George above the summ of five hundred pounds as appears by the Oaths of severall persons which I emploied in this Discovery as you may see in this book Fol. 50 51 52 53 54 55. I borrowed every penny of this money paying Interest for it at this day And by my Protest against the Discharge of these silver Ships Sampson Salvador and George and my Discoveries thereupon by many good and legal Witnesses Passengers and others in these Ships I caused all the Silver to become the States All which services I did upon the faitfull promise of the Counsel of State in December 1652 to restore mee to all my Estate or the full value of Eleven thousand pounds being Required to do this Service by severall Warrants from the Counsel of State and at the Entreaty of Doctor Walker as appears in this Book And no other man in England besides my self did ever at one time save the State three Hundred thousand Pounds which if it had not been for mee the State had been cozeâ—ed of every penny of it as appears by this and my former Narrative Here followeth the Copie of the late Kings Letter to the City of LONDON To Our Trusty and Wel-beloved Our Lord May or and Aldermen of Our City of London and all other Our wel-affected Subjects of that City Charles Rex TRustie and Well beloved wee greet you well When wee remember the many Acts of Grace and Favor Wee and Our Royal Predecessors have conferred upon that our Citie of London and the many examples of eminent Duty and Loyaltie for which that City hath been likewise famous Wee are willing to beleev notwithstanding the great defection wee have found in that place That all men are not so farr degenerate from their affection to Us and to the peace of the Kingdom as to desire a continuance of the miseries they now feel And therefore being informed That there is a desire in some principal persons of that City to present a Petition to Us which may tend to the procuring a good understanding between Us and that Our City whereby the peace of the whole Kingdom may bee procured Wee have thought fit to let you know That wee are ready to receiv any such Petition and the Persons who shall bee appointed to present the same to Us shall have a safe conduct And you shall assure all our good Subjects of that Our City whose hearts are touched with any sense of Duty to Us or of Love to the Religion and Laws established in the quiet and peaceable fruition whereof They and their Ancestors have enjoyed so great Happiness That wee have neither passed any Act nor made any profession or Protestation for the maintenance and defence of the true Protestant Religion and the Liberties of the Subject which wee will not most strictly and religiously observ And for the which 〈◊〉 will not bee alwaies ready to give them any security that can bee desired And of these Our gracious Letters Wee expect a speedy Answer from you And so Wee bid you farewell Given at Our Court at Oxford in the nineteenth year of Our Reign December 26. 1643. By his Majesties Command GEORGE DIGBY I do most humbly desire the Common Council of the Citie of London to certifie your Highness if ever amongst all their Records since the foundation of their City they finde such a sad President as mine is And whether that any Messenger from any former King of England suffered the loss of his Estate to his damage above eleven thousand pounds for bringing them or any their Ancestors the like Letter as I did from the late KING And at that time viz. in December 1643. there was sent and came from Oxford the Writs weekly under the Great Seal of England without any Countermand My hard usage After-ages will hardly beleev had I not Printed it to Posterity I Sufferd Imprisonment in the Tower almost four years for bringing up the aforesaid Letter from Oxford to the Lord Mayor and Common Council of the City of London in December 1643 although I had an Order from the Hous of Commons as appears by their Journal Book and a Pass from the Lord General Essex to go to Oxford which were both procured for mee by Mr Theophilus Ryley Scout-master General of the City of London who was authorized to execute that place by the then Parlament and Common Council of London and I was authorized by the said Mr Ryley to do the same Mr Ryley being impowered by the then Parlament and Common Council of London to hold Intelligence in any the Kings Quarters as by his Orders hee shewed me Mr Ryley was a man of a known approved Integritie and in great esteem with the then Parlament and Citie of London at that time and would not have acted any thing but what was just and for the Parlaments service according to his Trust If hee had thought it otherwise and hee might have gotten a hundred thousand pounds upon my Conscience and that made mee to act this Business to bring up the Kings Letter upon his Intreaty as hee confessed upon his Examination and I justified my doing thereof by his Order hee being a publick minister and impowered to do it as hee told mee And also the Committee of both Nations was made acquainted with my going to Oxford for the bringing up the said Letter which I brought from the late King by Sir David Watkins Knight I desired him to make them acquainted therewith before ever I went to Oxford and to have their approbation which Sir David Watkins after hee had spoken with them told mee I had their approbation to go to Oxford And all this was done before any Law or Ordinance was made or declared to forbid mee or any other to do the same that ever I heard of And I humbly say That before a law made there is no transgression neither by Gods law nor Mans law And I was not to question Mr Ryleys power abilities and trust considering hee acted as a publick minister but to act according to his direction so long as hee was in the said Office of Scout-master I having his Warrant and approbation for doing what I did I have never read nor heard of so heavy a punishment as your Supplicant doth suffer under before a Law made to give a man warning And by the Statutes of 9. Hen. 3. cap. 29. 5. Edw. 3. cap. 9. and 28. Edw. 3. cap. 3. No person of what estate oâ— condition soever hee bee shall bee put out of Land or Tenement nor taken nor imprisoned nor dis-inherited without being brought to answer by due process of the Law which I have petitioned for by a legal trial many years but could never obtain the same May it pleas your Highness Had there been a Proclamation or Act of Parlament at that time to have
approved of by the Commissioners of his Highness's Treasurie or others to bee appointed for that service by his Highness and Counsel Then the full Charge of every County shall bee put at the foot of each mans Accompt that hath been a Receiver And every Receivor's Estate and Person to lie lyable till hee hath perfected his Accoumpt justly and truly in the Exchequer according to the good known Laws of the Land 14. And if this cours bee strictly looked after and taken Whosoever hath any of the Commonwealths monie in his hands it will bee found out For if any Treasurer or Collector hath a Charge given him by the Countrie Citty Town Corporation or hundred for the monies hee hath received Every Receiver and Treasurer must discharge themselves by known legal Acquittances and Warrants from such as were legally impowered to give them and from the day any Accomptant of the Commonwealths money till the time hee shall have a just and legal Discharge upon a just and true Accompt not a feined forged or Averian Account I most humblie say Every Receivers and Accountants Bodie Lands and Estate whatsoever their Heirs Executors and Administrators are all and every one of them Lyable till they have justly Accounted and gotten their Legal Quietus est And this is the known Law of the Nation and constantly hath in all ages been practised in the good old way of the Court of Exchequer at Westminster The Whole Premises upon my knees I humble tender at Your Highness and the Parlaments feet and implore your gracious and benigne Acceptance of your Supplicant's loyal endeavor for Your Highness and the Commonwealths Service To His Highness OLIVER LORD PROTECTOR OF England Scotland Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging The humble Petition of THOMAS VIOLET of London Goldsmith Humbly sheweth THat great quantities of Plate Bullion and the heavy currant Silver Coynes of this Nation as Shillings Sixpences and Half-Crowns and Five shilling pieces have been formerly and are at this day melted down for the making of Gilt and Silver Thread and Wyer Spangles Oas Purl c. to the great waste of the Stock of this Nation By which evil Practices many mischiefs and damages have been and are daily put on the Common-wealth which ought strictly to bee prevented most especially in this conjuncture of time when wee have Warrs with Spain That your Highness would bee graciously pleased for the future not to suffer either Refiner Goldsmith or Wyer-drawer to melt the Coyn or Plate of the Nation to make Gold or Silver Wyer or Thread but that all Silver imploied or spent in this manufacture bee bought or contracted for beyond Seas upon the produce and returns of Commodities And that none of the Coyn or Plate of the Nation be spent or wrought in this manufacture upon the severest penalties can bee inflicted on the Offenders That the late King and his Counsel in Anno 1635. taking into their consideration the great loss hee sustained in his Customs by suffering this manufacture to bee in England did cause a Duty to bee imposed on Gold and Silver Wyer which was made into Silver Thread Spangles Purls and Oas the summ of Six pence the ounce Troy which is not two pence upon the ounce Venice upon Gold and Silver thread commonly so called but it is truly gold and silver Silk for the Silver is all spun on Silk May it pleas your Highness the Book of Rates in the Custom-house laies eight groats upon one pound Venice which upon accompt is above six pence the ounce Troy in Wyer as upon Examination before the Counsel of Trade your Petitioner shall make it clearly appear That if your Highness do continue the making of gold and silver wyer and thread here That your Highness will bee pleased to recommend it to the Committee for Trade to take especial caâ—e to prevent the frauds and dammages now daily done and practised in this manufacture And to make such Orders and Rules for the Trade that there may bee a thorow Reformation of false sleight and deceitfull stuff upon very strict penalties And for the due execution of the same the Committee of Trade to consider and settle such Officers and their Fees for their paines as they shall deem fiting to prevent the by-past Abuses And to report the same Regulation to your Highness and your Counsell for Confirmation That if your Highness continue this manufacture here That then as great an Excize bee laid on it here as is laid on the Custom and Impost of Gold and Silver thread imported from Millan Venice or other Forain parts For the making of silver thread here hinders the importation of so much Silver as would bee brought in on that manufacture which Silver will increase the stock of the Nation And this manufacture being made here as it is now made without order or Rule both for fineness and weight of Silver and without consideration had what your Highness and the Common-wealth loseth in the Customs by suffering it to bee made here and the waste of the Coyne Plate and Bullion of the Nation without a due regulation of this manufacture it is far better for the Commonwealth to have the making totally put down May it pleas your Highness Much may bee alledged and pleaded for the making this manufacture here so it may bee justly made as that it keeps and maintains a lively hood for many thousand persons and families in and about the City of London which would perish if this manufacture were put down A just and strict regulation will bee better for the Work-men and the Trades-men such as are honest and would not adulterate their Lace Ribbons Spangles c. in this manufacture And bee greatly advantagious to the wearers The Coyn and Bullion of this Nation will bee preserved and your Highness Revenue much increased If the draught for the just and due regulation of the manufacture of Gold and Silver wyer and thread which your Petitioner herewith most humbly presents to you Highness bee put in due execution with such alterations and additions as the Committe for Trade in their great wisedoms shall think fit for your Highness and the Common-wealths Service Your Petitioner humbly praies That the premisses may by your Highness bee recommended to the Committee for Trade and they Ordered 1. To consider Whether it bee fit at this conjuncture of time to continue the making of this manufacture here in England 2. If they conceive the manufacture still may bee made here for the relief and imployment of the Poor That then the Committee of Trade bee Ordered by your Highness to set down such Rules and Waies as they in their Judgments shall think fit to prevent all former Frauds and Abuses put upon the Coyn of this Nation And that asmuch Excize may bee laid on the Silver Wyer and Thread as is paid to your Highness and the Common-wealth in the Custom-house if the Silver Thread were imported from beyond Seas into this Nation
nor the Transporting treasure stopped if som cours were not speedily taken to discover these great abuses and already all the Gold is Transported out of the nation and the Silver followeth apace and this is the Certificate of all the chief officers of the Mint 3. December 1647. About November 1647. The Citizens of London petitioned the Parlament against the Transporters of Gold and Silver shewing the great mischiefs that came to the City thereby The 18 of August 1649. The Counsell of State ordered that a Committee should bee appointed to take into their considerations the business of the Coyn and the Par between this and other Nations and that there bee care taken that the Coyn of this Nation may bee kept from carrying away out of the Nation And to consider of som means how the Mint may bee set on work In pursuance of this last Order the then Counsell of State did give order for the draught of an Act which was drawn by order of the Committee for the Mint And I Thomas Violet was required by the Counsell of State to attend this business And upon severall meetings and debates of severall Honorable members of the then Counsell of State The draught of an act of Parlament against transporters of Gold and Silver was finished and left by order of Parlament in Mr. Augustin Garlands custody and the said Act was twice read in the Hous about the 12 of Aprill 1653. following called for again and apointed to bee finished as apears by the Journals of the Hous But other mighty business did intervene May it pleas Your Highness It was easily to bee discerned that som guilty Marchants who had been guilty of Transporting of Gold had hindered this Act from passing and I know all the Members in that Parlament were not free from transporting gold and silver and that made some of them say as long as they sat within the Parlament wall that Act against transporting gold culling the English coyns or buying of gold and silver contrary to the law should never pass the hous Former Ages have made transporting gold and silver Fellony as appears by severall Statutes And all such as Cull and melt the currant Coyns of the Nation to forfeit treble the value of the monies they have melted or caused to bee melted And by the Statute of 6 Ed. 6. cap. 19. who soever gives more for Gold or Silver then it is or shall bee declared by the Kings Procamation to be currant for within this his Highness Realm that all the said coyned monies gold or silver so exchanged every part and parcel thereof shall be forfit and the parties so offending shall suffer Imprisonment by the space of one year and make fine at the Kings Pleasure I have for these many years pressed for an act of Parlament to bee made according to the Statute of 14. Rich. 2. cap 12. for Comissions to go through the Nation to enquire of such as have conveyed the gold and silver out of England to the prejudice and damage of the Nation 9. Ed. 3. cap. 3. 17. Rich. 2. cap. 1. 2. H. 4. cap. 4. 4. H. 4. cap. 10. 9. H. 5. cap. 1. 2. H. 6. cap. 6. 4. H. 7. cap. 13. 1. H. 8. cap. 13. By all these aforesaid Laws and Statutes your Highness's predecessors endeavored stricktly to looke to the preservation of the Coyns of the Nation May it please your Highness THere was about twenty milions of gold and silver coyned in the Tower from the year 1622. to 1645 as will â—ppear by the Mynt books upon a calculation which The Clerkes can quickly finde out to a penny and all this gold is already transported the currant silver coyns all culled and the heaviest transported or melted to make gold and silver lace and that monies which remains is clipped and light And these mischiefs have been acted by perticuler persons and will every day increas without some speedy and timely remedy bee had to find out the Offendors The currant Silver coyns of the Nation have been greatly spent in making the manufacture of gold and silver wyer thread c. formerly in the years from 1624 to 1630. There beeing then a war with Spain Starling silver was sold by the Goldsmiths for five shilling and three pence and five shilling and four pence the ounce Now the money in the Tower is coyned at five and a pence So that all but the clipped and verie light mony was melted down to make plate and gold and Silver wyer and thread And this was known to bee the generall practice of almost all the Goldsmiths and Refiners in London I most humbly say There is never an honest Goldsmith in London that will have the face to deny this to bee a trueth Silver was then so scarce that in payment of a thousand pounds you should receiv nine hundred pounds in gold and then in 1629. men were troubled to get silver monie for gold Silver was so scarce The East India company bought up in those years Spanish monie and dollers and gave four shilling 10 pence a peice for them which is five pence in a peice of Eight more then they will make in the Mint Now your Highnes hath a warr with Spain the fountain of Silver is diverted for the present so that silver riseth and so consequently the Goldsmith weighs and culls all the Silver that passeth through his hands And as the market riseth so doth the Goldsmith lighten his plummet or weight hee culls the Mony of the Nation with till at last they will cull and melt it all up Som Goldsmiths in Lumbert street contrary to the law have bought and sold Milions of Gold till now at last they have bought sould all the Gold out of the Nation and the currant Silver coyn of this Nation is following after a great pace and will stil follow except a strict Law bee made to discover the offendors and bring them to severe justice to deterr others there will be no mony left in the Nation neither gold nor silver The sad effects of such a mischeif is not suddenly apprehended for no great action can be don without monie And the long Parlament though they could not then agree for the passing of an act against the Transporters of Gold and Silver yet they excepted all such as transported Gold or Silver or culled or melted the currant coyns or bought or sold gold and silver contrary to the Laws and statutes of the Nation from the generall Pardon A Commission to enquire and find out the offendors directed to skillfull discreet persons and authorized by act of Parlament according to former presidents will bring in good store of monies towards the payments of publique debts May it pleas your Highness for the Regulating of Gold and Silver thread If the Refiners and wyer drawers bee not tyed to refine all the silver for their manufactures in one place and not to melt any silver but what shall bee Imported from beyond the Seas or shall proceed from burnt silver Returns of their Manufacture and this to bee duely and strictly enjoyned them and that culling and melting of the currant Silver monie of the Nation for these manufactures Bee for the future made Fellonie and strickt Rules and ordinances to provent all the frauds formerly practised both by the Refiners and wyer-drawers which offences are by me most humbly presented to your highness the Parlament for a redress and reformation If there bee not such officers and Ministers appointed as aforesaid This manufacture will never bee regulated nor the frauds prevented I do also implore your Highness Grace and Justice for the Restoring mee to my place which I had and to have such sees as formerly I Received and I to warrant the Manufacture to bee justly made to the nation or pay the damage to any that are damnified by any gold or silver thread sealed in my Office And that your Highness and the Parlament will bee graciously pleased out of your Benignity favorabily to accept of these your loyall subjects Endeavours to do your Highness and the common wealth most humble and faithfull service which shall for ever oblige mee dayly to proceed and for ever to Remain your humblest Loyall Subject September 29 1656. Thomas Violet