Polices to Reduce This Realme of Englande Vnto A Prosperus Wealthe and Estate
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| Date | 1549 |
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Entry
[Goldsmiths' Library (University of London), MS. No. 10. The punctuation of the original has been retained. ] The contentes of the Chapititers.
Wherin the Floreshinge estate of AlCapitulo primo :
Realme consisteth.
One of the Cheifiste Causes whie euery thinge is now so Deare, with the remedi Capitulo : Secundo : therfor.
Certen other generall Cawses whie euery thinge is nowe so deare, with the Capitulo : Tercio : Remedi therfor.
The means to cause mouche Bullion to be brought frome be yonde the Sees vnto the kinges myntes: wherby his maiestie Capitulo : quarto maye Be wonderfull enriched with out eney empouerishene of his Realme.
That our newe Coynes be nott counterCapitulo : quinto :
fait in foren Realmes.
The means to cause mouche wares to be yerly carryede forthe of this Realme. -Capitulo : Sexto : That husbande men do nott hereafter
-Capitulo Septimo gyve ouer Tillage in plentifull yeres . The means to cause maney kindes of Wares to be Wrought with in the Realme which here to fore were wonte to be Capitulo octauo wrought in other Realmes and brought hither.
The remedi to cause as mouche fishe to be spente in the realme as therwas wont Capitulo Nono : to be eney tyme here to fore. One other provision to make more -Capitulo : Decimo plenty of vitall. A breif Resitall of the chief effectes of thisBoke.
of Capitulo : Vndecimo :
The preface. To the right Excellent Prince the Lorde Proctectors grace.
If yt shall please your moste noble grace to considre howe many Statutes have heretofore bene made in the Parliament howse fore the redresse and amendement of the Publicke Weall of this realme, and how littell the State therof haue bene therby reformed, your grace shall easly perceve that likeas we suffer our selfes to be ignorant of the trewe worshipping of god: Even so god kepte frome vs the right knowledge how to reforme those inconveniences which we did see before our eyes to tende vnto the vtter Desolation of the Realme. But now that the trew worshepping of gode is by the vertuous enclination of the kinges maiestie and by the godly Dilligens of your grace So puerly and sincerely sett forthe it is like wise to be trusted that god of a boundant mercifullnes towardes vs will vse the kinges maiestie and your grace to be also his ministres in plauking vppe by the rottes all the Cawses and occasions of this foresaid Decaye and Desolacion : And althought I do right well perceve that your grace hath no les knowledge in godli pollices for the reforming of the miserable estate of this realme then your grace have good zeale to the setting forthe of godes worde, Yet for asmouche as I haue heretofore gyve[n] my Dilligence for the space of these iiij or v yeres to note and observe the present state of this wealth and Realme with all the Cawses and occasions bothe of the wealthe and of the Miseries in the same, I thought goode to compare souche thinges as I haue noted in to a littell boke, and to Dedicate it vnto your highnes trusting that your goode grace which haue bine alwaies wonte to interpret thinges indifferent in to the beste parte will not miscontrive this mi pore service, for I my selfe am a man that have a howsholde and some servuntes vndre me, and althoughe I with a littell seking can easely fynde enye thing that I wolde haue, Yet do I well allowe his service which Layethe those that I sholde occupie reddy at myhande, and as I truste your grace will accepte mygoode will in good parte : So am I certen that ther be manye men which if the knew this littell boke to be my device wolde binde themselfes as mouche as lieth in them to deprave it : For it is naturally gyven vnto all men to HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES fantesie ther owne inventions and to finde faute with other mens :
Even as thoughe the estimacion of the wisdome were in daynger to be claane loste excepte they cane seke oute some thinge in a nother mans device to finde faute with : But I most hartelly and vmble desier your grace that non opinion nor Device in this littell boke be condemned nor rei[e]cted vntill I haue bine harde answer vnto the abiections which shalbe made to the contrary : For he that dothe affeccionat to be brieff (as I am Dryven to be) for feare least your highnes wolde not elles vouchesafe to reade ouer my boke cannot declare euery thinge so planlye as he maye which dothe debate his matters and tarry longe vpon every poynte : Iff I shall perceave your highnes to be herewith pleased, I shall hereafter god geving me quietnes present your grace with the residew of my Studye and Labors in this behalfe, wherein your highnes shall well perceve, that althoughe my witt and power be but smalle yett my good will and dilligens shall not lacke towardes the furtheraunce of souche thinges as shoulde be to your grate honour : which I beseche god dayly to encreas : Wherein the floureshi[n]g State of a Realme consisteth. Capitulo Primo :
Seinge that the hole porpose and effecte of this littell boke is to Declare the means and polices howe to reduce this Realme to a prosperus and floreshing estate. It is requisite that fyrste of all I Declare wherin the Floreshing estate of a realme consisteth.
And surely in my Judgement it consisteth cheifly in being stronge against thinvasion of eneymies, not molested with cyvile warres the people being wealthie, and not oppressid with famyn nor penury of victualles. for no man will caule that a flouresshing realme which being not able to kepe oute their eneymies haue thercountries envaded, ther landes wasted, ther Townes Burned, ther Children and Kinsefoke put to thunmercifull swerde of ther enemies, But whan souche cruell thinges happeyneth by cruell Discorde betwein countriman and countriman within the Bowelles of a realme, it is mouche more pernicious and vnnaturall : But admit that a Realme be neyther molested with the invason of 1 The words in italics are underlined in the original.
foren enemies nor yet trobled with Civill warrs, yet is it not worthie to be cawled a floureshinge realme yf the most parte of the persons and people lyve in extreme pouertie. victuall being alwaies at so hieghe price that in those yeres in which Corne dothe mystake in eney thing, or Cattell chaunce neuer so littell thorrowe morren or other incessions to Die, a great nombre of the people shalbe in dainger of famyne, And the strengthe of a realme againste thinvasion of enemies, consistethe in having a Noble kinge and good maiestrattes, the king having alwaies sufficient of Treasur to mentaigne warres a gainste his eneymies the realme being thorroulie inhabited with people, the People being obeydient to the kinges maiestie, and to the mayestrates in the kinges behalfe : but alas that singler commoditie, wher with god hathe endued this Realme especially aboue all other ; ys now like to tourne vnto our destruction : For the fynes of our woll hathe heretofore of late beine thoccasion that Divers men of power have mentaigned ther shipe to gette the pore men oute of ther howses : and oute of all that euer they have hade. Yet it ought to be considred that the mighty force of our eneymies cannot be resistede with Shippe be ther woll neuer so fyne : But in the multitude of people is the state of a kinge : and in the Fewnes of Subiectes is the princes dishonour sayeth Salamon in his proverbs : Lykewise the wise Phillosopher Pithagoras saithe that the subiectes ar to a kinge as a winde is to a fyer : For the grosher that the winde is : the greatter is the Fier. Seinge thane that the prosperus state of this realme consistethe in thes thinges before rehersid : I entende fyrste to declare how this realme (godbeing praysede) may be made Populus, the people wealthie the kinge riche the Realme withoute Cyvill Discorde : vitall plenty. And all other thinges at the price they were commonlie at xxth or xxxth yeres paste : Althought this entreprice semethe to be greate, and the thinge very Difficulte to be brought to pase, considering the wonderfull highe price that vitall and other thinges is alredy rysen vnto, Yet I moste hartelly desier your grace and all other to whome the pervsing of this boke shall chaunc to be committede: that you defere your Judgement herin vntill ye shall have thorrowly herde and perceyved my hole entente and HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES meaning : and I doubte not but that when my meaninge herein shalbe thorrowly perceyvede : Ye shall also perceve that all these thinges before namide. be not only possible but also facill and eaysie to be brought to pase: And considre well that it muste alwayes be founde trewe which was spoken by Salamon in the xth chappiter of his proverbes, whan the Juste ar in auctorryte the Citty prosperith : But when the vngodly have the rule it decayethe : But to returne a gayne to my former purpose : For as mouche as the highe price of all thinges is not only the greateste matter that the people grudge at: and one of the principall oucasion of pouertye and faymine: but also the cheyfiste cawse that the kinges maiestie cannot without expence of wonderfull great sommes of money menteigne his warres a gainste his eneymies: therfor I purpose fyrste to Declare the cawse whie euerythinge is nowe so Deare and by what means that great inconvenience maye be remedied withoute abatinge aney thinge of the gaynes which his maiestie nowe hathe by the coynage in his mynttes :
One of the chiefeste generall causes why everythinge is nowe soo deare with the remedy therfore. Capitulo ijo. For as muche as it is right evident by cronicles that the skantenes and derthe of victuall and other necessaries, hath at maney tymes hertofore not only enforcede great nombre of people to leve ther owin natyve countrys and to inhabit other regions but also hathe ofte tymes cawsede aswell in this realme as also in meney other places greate discorde ande tumultes to ryse betwein the commonaltye and the maiestrates. I have therfor thought good in this littell boke moste specially to Intreat of the causes of this present Derthe and of the remedies for the same, for besides the peculier cawsis which divers tymes do happen : for the rising and fawling of some kinde of wares :
Therbe also certen generall cawses why euery thinge is now risen to soo highe price : One cawse is the fawling of thexchaunge be twein vs and Flandres and betwein vs and other nacions my meaning is not thabasing of our Coynes to be the cawse as the moste men Do affyrme : for then showlde euery thinge be at fower tymes doble the price it was at xxtie yeres by paste : as the tonne of Irone which was wounte to be worthe but Syxe pound shulde be now at xxiiij li. lyke wise the tonne of Wyne which was wonte to be at : Cs.: shoulde be nowe at xx li. So that it is easie to be perceived that althinges is not now risen according to the Basenes of our coyne : But the moste thinges be risen of price according vnto the fawlinge of thexchange : As it muste nedes Doo by all reasone : For when thexchanche was so that we might have hade xxx s. flemish for our xxs. then myght the marchaunte Delever here fyve markes Sterling to receve for it againe at the martes by exchaunge fyve pound flemishe for which vli. flemishe he might then have there one Laste of Osmundes which he might then retayle here for viijs. the barrel and vndre and yet be an honest gayner : And ye muste graunte that he which at this daye maketh the foresaid Osmundes be yonde the Sees : cannot sell it at oney lower price then v li. flemish as he did before for the laborers and workers of hit muste have as mouche Flemishe money for the working as they hade before. And the english Marchaunt which wolde now have the said laste of usmondes muste either carry golde or Siluer prevely thither to buy it or elles to Deliuer money here to receve it againe ther by exchaunge or elles carry thither as mouche in valure of other wares wherwith to make his change. But if he will now make his exchunge he cannot have ther v li. flemishe to by the said Osmondes but he muste deliuer for it here: Cs. english or ther about. So that if he shoulde now retaile the saide Osmondes here for viij s.
the Barrell as he was wonte to do he shoulde lose clerly his labour, his freyght, his custome and all his travaill. And if he wolde carry over golde, that Angell which he mought have hade xxxth yeres by paste for vj s. viij d. woll now coste x s. or very nigh it. so that bothe these werkinges ar a lyke. Therfor let it now be sein if this matter cane be aney thinge holpen by the carryeng ouer of marchaundice. For in deid whan abarrell of Osmondes was retaylede here vndre viij s. then might the marchaunt have bought here ij C waight of Tynne vndre Fyve marke and have solde it again in flandres above fyve pounde flemishe wherwith he might have bought his Laste of Osmondes.
HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES 317 And treweth it is that the marchaunt man in flaundres cane be contente to take for his laste of Osmondes the said ij C waight ofTyne so that he may reddely sell it ther againe for so mouche flemishe money as his laste of Osmondes is now ther worthe. And admyt that to be still but vli. But that beinge trewe that the two hondrethe wayght of tynne may be solde in flandres for vli. flemisheye maybe sure that no manbeing honour [i.e. owner]
of mouche Tyne here in englonde is ignorant what price it berith in flandres, And ye know also that v li. flemish is now be exchange v li. englishe. And therfor he wilnot be so folishe to sell his ij C weight of Tine here in englonde mouche cheper then v li. althoughe he coulde aforde to sell it neuer so chepe For every man will sell his wares at the higheste price he may. So that the raysing of thexchange is also the cawse that Tyne and all other our owin wares is rysen. For the lyke reason is to be made of all other thinges and also by reason of the warres. Bothe whereas Tyne is made in the parties of be yonde the Sees and also in the parties wheras Iron is made, bothe Tyne and Osmondes and also manye other kinde of wares be now solde also in flandres for more Flemishe money then they ar wonte to be, so that although ther were none other cawses to make thinges deare but only the falling of the exchaunge yet all thinges wherof the lyke kinde hath recourse to or fro be yonde the Sees. shoulde be a certen quantitie Derer by means of this generall cawse. Here perchaunce some mane will saye that thexchaunge muste of necessity have risen after our coyne was ons made base but that is not so, for the exchaunge myght have byne kepte still as it was, our money being neuer the lese coynde as base [as] it nowe is. For nothing hathe brought the exchaunge so lowe but only the highe price that the kinges maiestie gyveth for golde and Silluer at his mynttes. For yf the kinges maiestie wolde have gyven no more gaynes but viij d. or xij d. in xx s. of olde Siluer by tale and no higher price for the once of Siluer Bullion then as he dide before and after the lyke rate for golde then shoulde thexchaung neuer have byne alterid nor rysen, and then shoulde not wares have risen in price and yet notwithstanding goode provision hade byne made that we might have sente more quantite of wares oute of this realme, ther shoulde have bine brought far greatter pleanty of Siluer bullion vnto the mynttes then their haue byne : So that the kinges maiestie shoulde bothe have gayned far more by his mynttes. and also haue spente farre les in his warris and in his howsholde then his maiestie have nowe done. Therfor if your grace wolde haue all thinges at as lowe price as they were xxth yeres by paste the kinges maiestie muste gyve but x1 s. for the pounde weigt of Syluer bullion and but fortye shillinges for the ounce weigt of golde to the intente that marchaunt men may rather covet to bringe in Siluer bullion then golde, for that the kinges maiestie hathe and maye conueniently haue far greatter gaynes by the coynage of Siluer then by the coynage of golde : Yt will now seime vnto the moste men that if the kinges maiestie shoulde gyve no higher price for golde and Siluer then is before saide, that then ther shoulde be very littell brought vnto the mynttes. But it is an infallible argument that if we sende yerely into beyonde the Sees one hundrethe thowsande poundes worthe of wares more then we receve yerely agene, then muste ther nedes be brought into this realme for the saide hundreth thowsand poundes worthe of wares so muche in valuer either of golde or Syluer. which Golde and Syluer cannot remaine in the marchauntes handes but muste nedes be destributed a mongeste them in this realme, whose labor hath brought the said wares :
therfor yf it be not brought over in payable money that is to saye in our newe coyned golde or Siluer the greate substanstherof muste of necesitie be brought vnto the myntes to be coynede, all thoughe the kinges maiestie gyve but x1 s. for the pound weigt of Siluer : And then may the kinge, if it shall please his maiestie pute to the pounde weigt but Sixe ounces of Deloye and vj oz.
Siluer : and then shall his gaynes in the pounde coynage be equall with the gaynes his maiestie nowe hathe, although he make his grottes in bignes after the rate of xlviijs. in the pounde weight. Neuertheles if the necessite of his warres shall so require : His maiestie may coyne also as base as he nowe coyneth and then shall his gaynes be mouche greatter. And as for the means to cawse mouche Bullion to be brought vnto the myntes wherby shall redounde an inestimable profitt vnto the kinges maiestie. I will declare in the forthe syxte and eyght chapiters :
HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES Certen other generall causes why every thynge ys nowe soo deare with the Remedies therfore : Capitulo Tercio : Therbe divers other generall causes of this presente Derthe whe[r]of one principall cawse is the Ingrossinge of thinges into fewe mens handes.
For when one mane biethe all the steell which commith into englande, he may sell it againe at what price he listethe: and whane one mane engrossethe vppe all the Shipe maye he not make therof whate price it shall please hime? And when eight or tene parsons only haue the hole commoditie and only trade of aney one thinge, it muste be neades far derer then it shoulde haue biine if it were not ingrosede into fewe mens handes. Lyke wise the wooll which was wonte tobe mearly equally Distributed into Thyrty or Forty Thowsande sindry mens handes, being nowe (to speke of aney quantyte therof) in the handes of ij or iij hundreth persons: muste it nott nedes be therfor mouche the derer.
And for asmuche as woull is by this means risen to an highe price the lordes and gentillmen which being by the suppresson of Abbeyes, and thorrough the lib[er]allite of our late souereigne lorde the kinge that Deade is waxen riche: Sease not daylie to conuerte all ther groundes vnto Shipe pastures which is also a wonderous minesshinge of the vitall in this realme, and so consequently ensuethe the greate Dearth therof: for the moste parte of theme laye ther groundes holye with wethers, partely by cause ther chifeste studdy and desier is to haue mouche woll : And partely also for that ther wethers will lyve vppon that pasture where the pore mans cowe or his caufe shall either Dye for honger, or at the leste waye yelde so littell proffite that he shall be glad to lete the gentillman alone with the hole common. And although by wethers rise the great plentye of woll yet, ther encresithe not so mouche prouffitt of victuall vpon Tene Lordeshipps layede holy to the pasturinge of wethers as ther Dyde by one of theme when they were inhabited with the husbande man. For the husbandman byside the greate encrease of Cornne encreassithe also mouche other victuall : As Caulves. Lambes .
Butter. Egges. Chese. Chykens. Hens Capons. Duckes. Geyse, pigges and Porke with Bakon: For the husbande thorrow the labour of the wyfe and servanttes encreassith more victuall through the white mete of one Cowe in one yere being well pastured and her Caulf being taken frome her at a monthe olde, thene her boddy being fatte, amountith vnto.¹ wher the greate Shipemaster whene he hathe kepte his wether vj or viijth yeres : yet is ther not paste doble asmouche fleche vpon his wether as ther was when his wether was butt one yere olde. Is not this a wonderfull decaye of victuall? Is it aney maruell, thoughe victuall be now waxen dere ? But seing ther is at this present so maney Shepe within the realme, howe chanche it, that woll is now at doble the price that it was at within this vij yeres. Mary, for that as I saide before, the great quantite therof is in so fewe mens handes. For it is risen a greate Deale more thene the rate of the fawlinge of thexchaunge amounteth vnto. Seinge then that woll is Deare : Clothe muste nedes rise of price accordinglie. And what thinge cane be chepe whan victuall and Clothe is Deare ? Surly nothinge that is wroughte ormadebymans hande or labour : for victuall and Clothe be the moste principall thinges. Yee and in a maner the only thinges where vpon euery artifficer bestowith his money. For vitall is the very Norse of all Sciences and Artifficers. Andhusbandery is the Naturall mother of Victuall : which the excellente wise Fillosopher Xenephon right well perseving: declarithe husbandrye in his treatty of howsolde to be the mother and norse of all Sciences.
Thane muste it nedes follow that wheras victuall and also clothes beinge by this Decaye of husbandery waxen dere all thinges that is wrought by artifficers in this our realme muste consequentely be also Deare. And when thartifficers which at the fyrste bought only ther victuall and clothe dere. Nowe bienge his workinge toles and all other necessaries Derer and derer : and payenge also more rente for his howse then he was wonte to doo : He muste now also rayse againe the price ofhis wares and so lykewise every artificers shall by the vicisitude of raysing of other wares beDreven to rayse a gaine his wares. And lykewise the lande lordes rayse ther rentes and 1Ablank is left in the MS. after this word, but the sense does not seem to require any addition.
HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES 321 viers the Tenantes the price of all victuall vntill souche tyme as this gm scarsenes of victuall be remedied : which shall never be brought monts ert to pase, excepte these greate Shippasturees be distributed a gayne into husbande mens handes and occupieng. So that by thes foresaide meanes that is to saye by gyving souche lese price in the myntes for golde and Siluer : By destributinge a gaine of olde
.
も ro the Shippastures into Dyvers mens handes: And by the inhebetinge of covetus marchaunte men, that they do not engrose the hole commoditie of eney one thinge into ther handes. All thinges may be brought vnto the price that they were commonly at xxxth yeres by paste. Ther is yet also one other inconvenience lyke to growe for the scarsenes of victuall wherof I will entreate in the ixth Chappiter. And as for the means to cawse the Shippastures to be destributed againe into husbande mens occupienge, I will declare in the vj chap.
The meanes to cause mouche Bullion to be brought frome be yonde the Sees unto the kinges Mintes wherbie his maiestie may be wonderfully enriched withoute thimpouerisshing ofhis Commons : Cap : quarto.
The onlie meanes to cause mouche Bullione to be broughte oute of other realmes vnto the kinges mintes is to prouide that a great quantite of our wares maye be carriede yerly into beyonde the Sees and lese quantitie of ther wares be brought hether a gaine. For yf it so were that we dide sende thither yerly in wares the value of vj C. thowsande poundes and receve a gaene no wares frome thense, no mane cane then denie but we shoulde then receve from thence yerly in bullion, or in our owine coyne the value of the saide vj C. thousande pounde : Lykewise if souche means maye be fonde as I ensure your grace, it is nether vn possible, nor vnlykelye to sende ouer the Sees yerly in wares the value of a leven hundreth Thowsande pounde, and to receve a gaine in all kinde of wares but the value of vj C. Thowsande poundes: Muste it not follow of ne- cessitie that we sholde then receve for the other fyve hund[red] Thowsande pounde, eyther so mouche Bullion or englishe coyne.
But when all our new Englishe21coyne shalbe come ouer againe VOL . III .
then muste they nedes bringe Bullione, and yf the kinges maiestie gyve xijd. Lese for the ounce of golde then for the pounde weigt of Silluer, it shall then all be brought ouer in siluer bullion: and by vj C. thowsande ponde in siluer bullion gyuing the price that the kinges maiestie now gyveth : and being coyned after the rate his maiestie now coyneth, ther is gayned a boue vj C. thowsand pounde clerly. But if his maiestie shoulde gyve but forty pence for the ounce of Silluer, and coyne also after the rate that he now coyneth, then shoulde his gaynes in his mintes be far greatter and his Charge of warrs, and howseholde far lese. which is a matter well worthey to be lokid vpon seinge it is no empouerisheing unto the commons : but shall rather be an in estimable richeinge bothe of the lordes and commons as I shall here after planly declare. Ande all though these thinges seme very strange and harde to be brotte to pase. yet yf your grace do marke well my maninge hereafter I doubt not, but declare planly how this may be donne and that also even as the opertunite now servith without eney greate dificultie : considerinnge what a great nombre of people is now in this realme which working a littell in Somer be more then halfe Idell all the residew of the yere : besides theme which be alwayes Idell : considerinng on thother side, what a great quantite of grounde in this realme liethe waste and ouergroine bering nowe nothing wherof commith eney proufit : which being manuride might be causide to encrease yerly an numerable quantite of Corne. Let it be also consideride what a great nombre of Monkes, Channons, Friers and Chauntrye pristes with ther Servantes were mentayned in Idelnes : when the Abbeyes dyd stande: besides the tyme when the residew of the realme did also bestowe them in Idelnes and Idell workes in gooing of pilgramagis : keping of Idell hollidayes : Carvinge, pantinge, and gilding of Imagis, and yet neuerthelese, the artifficers and laborers in those dayes dyd all the worke and labour for the tillingandmanuring of the gronde: and for the victualing and clothing of all the people in the hole realme : and for the woking of all other thinges necessary for the same: and besides that sente ouer the Sees yerly in wares the valure of vj C. thowsande poundes. Seing then that so muche Idelnes was here mentayned, this realme being neuer HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES 323 thelese able to sende ouer the Sees yerly in wares the value of vj C. thowsande poundes: it shoulde seme by all reasone that if euery laborer, and artifficer, and all other the common people of this realme wer well sett at worke: and the residew of our superfluus hollidais pute done: we might be able, be sides the prouision of Corne victuall and clothe for saruing our owne realme, [to] sende ouer the Sees yerly xij C. thowsande poundesworth of Corne, Lede, tyne, Clothe and other marchauntdice.
For ther is yet standing beside the Sondayes xxxvth hollidayes, wherof xxiiijth or xxvth maybe well putte donne. And neuertheles kepte still Selebratide the Natiuite of our Lorde with the other holly dayes folloing in commemoration of all Sanntes : Lykewise the holly dayes folloing Esterdaye in commemorat[tion] of all Saintes : and also thre dayes incommemoration of all Saintes folloing white sondaye: For yf these foresaide hollydayes and the Sondayes [were] well spente eyther in heving goode Sermondes or of holly Omelyes well redde and treatably and that the people were ernestly exortede commaunded and chargide by their Curattes to remembre and caule apon gode dayly at ther uprising with the Lordes prayer, the people might by souche sermones Omilies and daylye prayers be far better disposide then they now ar. And yf xxth of the saide hollydayes were be- stoide in labor, (for I accompte iiij or v to faule vppon the Sonndayes) this realme shoulde be the richer yerly by v or vj C. thowsand pounde and by means therof muche more Bullion to be brought vnto the mynttes : For ther is in this realme : as moste mene do affyrme Fyftene thowsande parishes : and admit ther is as meney artifficers and Laborers Reckening bothe men and women with ther servauntes and prentises in euery one parishe: as may gayne to ther selfes in one working daye xl s. toward ther meat and drynke: For meate and drinke muste they ons haue, although they were Idell, this amountithe in all englande in one daye to thirtye thowsande pounde: so that by putting donne of xxth hollidayes this realme maye be enrichede euery yere Sixe hundreth thousande pounde : For if the Smithes in this realme dyd vpone those dayes make nayles: Shoulde not we receue so maney the fewer nayles fro be yonde the Sees ? And yf the Tyne workers did also vppon those dayes worke Tyne shoulde we not sende ouer the Sees so muche the more tyne? And so Lykewise may it be said of all other occupacions and labors: So that, either by the sending of more wares ouer Sees, or by receving lese frome thense, this Realme shalbe yerely enrichede as is aforesaide with money and Bullion comming oute of other countries: and before that, it cane be curraunt in this realme, it muste be coynede in some coyne as shall please the kinges maiestie. So that his maiestie maye gayne eyther doble or treple or what hime selfe shall please by the coynage, souche provision before declaride being made, that it may be brought in Siluer Bullion. Yet will I not affyrme that ther shall be brought eyther so mouche Bullion vnto the mynttes yerly as the ouerplus of the wares amountith vnto : for they alwayes which be very Riche will kepe some Bullion for making of plate which in tyme of peace wilbe no inconvenience : For when the kinges maiestie shall haue eney greate warrs, his maiestie may easly withoute eney grouchinge of the commons procure a Subsidie for the mentenaunce of the warres of xij d. a yere during his warrs oute of euery pounde valure of plate. And all though the some of the subsidie shall amounte to a very great thinge : yet by the meanes of the greate quantite of plate which shallby occasion therof be brought vnto the myntes. his maiestie shall gayne innumerable somes. This kinde of Subsidie shoulde nowe at this parliament have beine bothe grantide and payed with much lese grutcheng then the relif which was graunted vpon clothes: And shoulde haue turnide also vnto an unknowen proffit towardes the kinges maiestie : And asfore the relif vpon clothes, I beleve verely yf the trewith might be knowin that the kinges maiestie shall Lose more in his mynttes by the means of the saide relife, then the gaynes of the said Relif shall a monte too. For doub[t]les it shall be the cause that the fewer clothes shalbe made in Englonde. So that ther shalbe carriede ouer the Sees a lese quantite of wares then ther shoulde elles haue byne : and so consequently lese quantite of Bullion be broughte vnto the realme.
And wheras his maiestie shall haue of a clothe that is worthe Sixe pounde, but iiij s. for relif: he shoulde gayne be bringyng in of so mouche Bullion as mouche as a clothe shoulde be solde for a boue eyght pounde. where as the value of the HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES 325 woull that the clothe is made of amountith vnto not passing halfe soo muche. And thus for euery clothe that shalbe made ther shalbe fewer by means of this Relif, his highnis shall lose in the mynttes halfe the value of the clothe. So that for hauing a small Subsidie vpon Clothes, his maiestie shall lose a greate peace of Reuenew which his maiestie shoulde elles haue hadde by the bringenge of Bullion vnto his mynttes. And besides that dryve maney of his Subiects into idelnes and mysery. And I ensure your grace ther cannot a greatter occasion be geven to make tumulte and Insurrection then sodenly to dryve a greate tumulte to gyther oute of ther worke into Idelnes as it maye be evedently sein in many sondry Cronakles yea and of the late here in Englonde in the xvjth yere of the reigne of our late souereigne Lorde king Henry the eyght by the dangerus insurrexion in Suffoke and Norfoke which was only by the occasion of the Clotiers ther dyd sodenly (partly perchaunce of a frowardenes) as I feare some will nowe doo, pute a waye ther wo[r]ke men by the reason of a greate Subsidie which was then graunted.
A prouision that oure Newe Coynes be not counterfaitede in foren Realmes : Capit quinto :
Ther is nothynge more to be doubtede, nor aney thinge cane so muche hindre thincreasinge of the realme and the kinges maiesties gaynes in his mynttes as the bringeinge of Counterfaictmoney in to the Realme. For although ther is not in a hun- derith pounde of souche counterfait money the trewe value of forty shillinges in siluer yet neuertheles for the saide C. li. Counterfait the bringer in therof may carry out of this realme for hit a hundreth poundes worth of good wares: And all thoughe ther be not in a hundreth pounde of the saide money one C. oz of good Siluer yet he that bringeth in the saide C. li. counterfait maye carry a waye for hit Fower hundrede ounces of good Siluer so that by bringen in of one hundred ounces of Siluer, he carrieth a waye fower hundrede ounces. Therfor seing that the hole weale of the Realme and thinrichinge of the kinge his maiestie consisteth vpon this poincte I wolde to gode that [we] shoulde not herin be over negligent, suffering our selfes to be wrongefully persuaded that our coyne cannot be so counterfaited but that we shall perceyve it: for they flatter theme selfes to mouche with perswading theme selfes that they ar so conning in myxenge and blaunching of mettalles as ther is not in some other countries other mene as conninge as they: Yea and that after they have once seine our Coyne cane counterfaite it so nigh that they will not mise one Jotte neyther in the Deloye, in the Stampe, nor in the Blanching.
Therfor, for as mouche as ther cane be no kinde of Differaunce perceyved betweine our coyne and the counterfaite: And consideringe the greate Domage bothe vnto the realme and to the kinges maiestie by the bringeng in of eney counterfait money. It shoulde be well done to enacte that none of our new Coynes after a certen daye be brought into this Realme frome eney forene contrayes vppon payne of forfeyture. And me semith that this acte shoulde be very Reasonable considering it hath of longe tyme byne inhibeited by the lawse of this Realme to carry aney of our englishe moneyney [sic] or coyne out of this Realme. This Statute being ons enacted and narrow serche ther vppon made, it woll discorage all foraine princes and ther Subiectes to goo aboute the counterfayting of our Coyne where as elles ther coulde be no better practise nor pollicie for our eyneymyes then to menteigne warres a gainste vs with our owne Syluer ther for it were better that we were herin Raither to scrupilus thene to negligent:
The means to cause the Common people of this Realme to be thorroulye sete a worke. Mouche wares to goo Forthe of this Realme. And the Shipe pastures to be dystributede agayne in to diuers mens occupienge. Capit Sexto .
And yf ther were non other waye nor means and that ther coulde be non other prouision found to sett all the Idell people of this realme a worke eaven the very waste grounde and the Shipe pastures in this Realme, yfthe one half myght be convertid into erable grounde, were able to sett all mene sufficientlye a worke, yea and thoughe ther were also half as maney more people in this realme as ther now is. And surely ther were no waye better to cause moiche wares to goo forthe of this realme then HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES 327 to converte the waste grounde being now ouer Floine with water and ouer groine with broime, ferren or Fyrse, vnto erable or pasture. And to restraine the Shippe Masters and engrossers of Farmes, that they do not hereafter converte so mouche grounde vnto Shippe pastures. And then to suffer all manner of Corne to be yerly transeportide ouer the Sees as well as eney other kinde of marchundice.
Is ther not exclamacion made almoste in euery notable Sermonde against the insaciable Shippasturers ? But neyther cane the feare of gode nor the shame of the worlde dryve theme to distribute ther grondes againe into husbande mens handes and occupienge. And of this one thinge be you certen and sure that as longe as the Shippe Masters be sufferede thus to encroche and gayther gronde in to ther handes and Laye all to Shippe pastures, ye shall neythe haue victuall chepe : the realme well inhabited nor the common people able to helpe the kinges maiestie in his warrs: For as Cicero in his thirde boke of offices saieth : whereas euery mane pull and violently drawe vnto himeselfe all that euer he canne snache frome other men, fare well that common wealle, the societie of men is clene over throne. Therfor, for as mouche as this gredye getheringe to gither of grounde for shippasturis tendethe so mouche to the destruction of this noble realme and that no gentill exortacon cane enduce thehonors [i.e. owners] therof to reduce ther groundes to ther former estate. It is more then requisite that some remedie be herein provided. And surely ther coulde haue byne no redier waye to cause agreat quantite of the said Shippastures to be convertid into erable then this Subsidie vppon Shippe. If all they which have above Two hundrede might have payed for euery shepe they have aboue the saide nombre iiij d. yerly during the king[s] warrs and they which have vndre the saide nombre to have paide nothinge. this Subsidie shoulde have causide the Shippe with the Shippe pastures to be immediatly destributed into dyuers husbande mens handes, which beside the yerly encrease of corne wolde cause also mouche plenty of all maner other vytall. But yf this foresaid Subsidie shalbe thought not sufficiente to cause the foresaid Shippe Masters and engrosers of farmes to destribute ther grondes into dyvers mens handes, it may be ennactede that no man be sufferide to kepe eney Shepe or gelded beastes, excepte they kepe for euery eyght shepe one acre ofgronde in tillage. And for euery two gelded beste[s] one acre of gronde in tillage. vpon payne elles to forfait for euery shepe xij d. and for euery beaste x s. Surly this engrosing of Farmes and Shipe pastures haue hitherto beine a wonderfull decaye of victuall in this realme and mouche againste the common weall of the same. And yet I haue oftymes doubtede with my selfe whether this realme suffired more domage in this behalfe by the couetusnes of the ingrossers of Farmes and shipe pastures or by the slothe and negligence of other people in this realme or rather (yf I myght be so bolde herin to speke the trewthe) by the negligence of theme of the parliament howse in suffringe so mouche good grounde in this Realme to be ouer flowen with wauter and ouer grone with Busshes, brome, Ferne, hethe and furse, Maye we not be a shamide to remembre our neglige in this behalfe, if we rightly poundre what a wonderfull quantite of grounde in this Realme is by this means wasted and desolate, considering one thother parte what an in estimable quantite of corne and victuall might be ther vppon encreaside by the Labour of them which at this present for wante of worke be more then halfe Idell and by theme which lyve wholly in idelnes. We may se in all other realmes very barren groundes even by force made fertill, but we suffer our frutfull groundes be slothe to be come barrene. They will sete yonge babes to worke but we suffer great lubbers to be Idell. and what hathe byne the cause of this Slothe and Idellnes amonge vs, mary eaven the great fructfulnes of our gronde. For as Patricius Senensis boke de regno [et] institucione regis sayeth. That contry which of hime selfe is so frutefull that it bringeth forth plenty of vitall and all other thinges necessary for mans life and sustinaunce, bringeth vppe also solouthefull and Idell people. And contrary wise, those people which inhabite the Barren contries, be muche more Dilligent and Industrius. Oure gronde hathe in tyme paste and all wayes here to fore yelded souche plenty of victuall that the very pore Laborers here in englande haue alwayes heretofore bine accustomed to be fedde with Fleche and white meates.
whereas the common people in other realmes lyve onlye with routtes and yerbes. So that now by the longe custom it is so HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES 329 groune in to Nature that an englishe man cannot possible lyve with that Diat, which a stranger is well inovgh contentide with. And this is the cause that all other Nacions, cane afforde to make and sende hithe all those kynde of wares wherof we make the lyke here in englond at a lower price thene they cane be made here. For iij frenche pesauntes which lyue and labor the hole yere with a lese charge of victuall then we canne here fynde one servant. Maye they not therfor well aforde to sell ther wares fare chepper thene we ? And by the seling of the wares heare in englande cheper then eney englishman cane kepe servantes to make them : they dryve vs in Idelnes and Beggery. To this some man will saye that our beggers shoulde rayther lyve with rottes and yerbes as the frenche men do then to goo ofBedging but the cause whye they will not so do: is for that an englishe begger hathe bine wonte here to fore to yete more fleche better bredde and to drynke better drynke gyven in almes at mens dores then the laborer or artifficer in fraince cane gette and gayne with all his sore laboringe. And this is the cause that ourpeople for the moste parste [sic] will goo a begging rather then so Labor and Lyve so strayghtly. Now I wolde not wishe seinge these enconveniences maye be otherwise remedied that englishe men shoulde be driven to the frenche pezauntes Diette. For englishemen by the reason of ther stronge feadinge be mouche hardier and stronger in the warres then be the frenche Pezantes. But the meannes to brynge to pase that the Sale her[e] of those wares which be wrought in forren realmes shall not hereafter dryve thenglishe men vnto Idelnes I will declare planly in the eyght chappiter :. A prouision thate Husbandemen do not hereafter give ouer tillage in plentifull yeres. Capit : Septimo : It may well be allegide agenste this my advise that when we shall haue conuertide souche a great quantite of grounde vnto areable ther maye come souche a plentifull yere in all other realmes that we shall in no place haue vente nor sale for the thyrde parte of our Corne. And although the Daniskers and other nacions which haue allwayes vside Corne for the Chiefeste trade of ther Marchaundice haue the pollices to kepe Corne and wheate for the space of vj or vij yeres good if nede require. Yet it is to be consideride that the moste parte of Marchaunte men in englonde haue no souche experience and besides that perchunce some be not able and some other will not vpon certenty of gaynes disborse ther money in plentifull yeres vpon Corne so that the husbande man for a wante of a resonable price for the corne shalbe then dryven agayne to throw doune mouche of ther Tillage. But as for this inconvenience ther is a very good remedye yf your grace will note well my meaninge herein and for thadvoyding herof it shalbe requisite and also for other causes expedient, bothe for the kinges maiesties prouffit and also for the weale of the realme that proclamacion be made that the kinges maiestie shall at souche tymes when ther shalbe souche greate plentifull of Corne. gyve at certen portes in all the costes of this realme for wheat Seven shillinges the quarter. for Rie Sixe shillinges the quarter. For maulte benes and pece, fyve shillinges the quarter. But if the kinges maiestie do gyve a lese pryse for golde and Siluer in his myntes as is before declarde and so cause the exchaunge to ryse a gayne to thyrty shillinges flemeshe for Twenty shillinges sterlinge. And by the other pollices before namyde to cause vitall, clothe, and all other thinges cheper. Then will it be a right honeste price to gyue vj s. for wheat, v s. for Rye, and iiij s. for maulte benes and peace. And then maye the kinges maiestie sell it heare a gaine vnto marchaunt men at a lese prise then it coste gyuing them also a daye of payement so that he be paid for it in siluer Bullion and then shall the marchaunte haue it here at the kinges handes at souche lowe price that he shall aforde to sell it in Spaine or portuigall at a cheper price then either the Dansker or eney other nacion cane possible aforde to sell thers. And neuertheles the kinges maiestie shall gayne wonderfull sommes of money by the coynage of the Bullion. And for asmuche as our marchaunt men shall allwayes aforde to sell ther corne in Spayne and Portuigall at souche Lowe price : that they shall not only dryue the Danskers being mouche fardre frome the saide countries then we be.
frome thetrade therof. But also in procese of tyme all other nacions.
And furdre more cause also theme of the saide coun- HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES 331 tries of Spayne and Portuigall to soue mouche lese cornne then they were wonte heretofore to doo. So that when we shall haue thehole trade of seruinge the said countries it shalbe also a cause that no kinge nor prince of the saide Countries shalbe able for wante of vittal to menteigne aney warres a gaynste vs. And then whan wheate shall chaunce to be at so highe a price in Spaine and Portuigall as it hathe byne at meney tymes here tofore. by means wherof wheate beinge ons Risen here to xij or xiij s. the quarter the kinges maiestie may then take greate sommes of money for Licenses. For my meaninge is ther shoulde be an accte that no wheate shulde be carred oute of this realme beinge a boue the price of Tene shilling the quarter with oute Licens. So that whan our quarter of wheate shall chaunce to be ther solde for Forty or fyfty shillinges the quarter as it hathe byne at meney tymes here tofore: it shalbe wonderfull sommes of money that the kinges maiestie may thene gayne in one yere by his Licenses. and by the coynage of the bullione. And be sides that be a wonderfull enriching of the commons in this realme.
The means to cause meney kynde of Wares to be Wrought within this Realme which heretofore were wonte to be broughte frome other contries : Capit : Octauo. Ther is noo waye more certene to cause all kinde of wares to be wrought within this Realme, which hertofore were wonte to be brought frome other countryes : Then to cause a subsidie to be sette of iiij or v s. of the pounde, vppon all souche kinde of wares cominnge frome be yonde the Sees wherof the lyke maye be made and wrought or hade within this Realme, or wherof we A.D. stande in no very greate neade: So that it maye generally be set 1549 vppon all kinde of wares comming frome be yonde the Sees : Irone, Stele, Copper,Pyche, and tarre onlye excepted. And then shall this only Subsidie do more goode to moderate the excesse of apparrell then euer eney statute haue donne or cane doo in that be halfe. And besides that it is welnighe incredible howe greate commodite shall therby ensue vnto all Cappers, Hatters, Poyntters, Pinners, Glasemakers, Worstede weuers, Paynters, Caruers,Cutlers, Smithes, Pewterers, Silkewome[n], linenespiners, Lynen wevers, Glovers, pursemakers, yea and vnto all occupacions and artificers which worke eney wares wherof the lyke kinde commith frome beyonde the Sees, which might haue bine in the parliamente howse at dyuers tymes heretofore right well perceyuede and consideride. For in the thyrde yere and also in the xxijth yere of kinge Edwarde the forthe, the fyrste yere also of kinge Richarde the Thirde, in the fyrste yere of kinge Henry the seventh requeste was made by Dyuers artifficers that certen wares as poinctes, Lace, gyrdelles, Rybondes, purses, and Pouches, knyves, hangers and dyuers other kindes shoulde be vtterly prohibetede vppon payne of forfayture to be brought into the Realme and dyuers statuttes was then ther vppon made, but that thing which hathe byne alwayes the cause that a moste in [?no] penall Statute can do eney good,was the cause also that those statutes toke litell effecte, For what quiet person will take vppon hime the slanderous name of a promouter, or what honeste man will in that cause procure the vtter vndoing of his neighbour, therfor if euer you will haue eney penaull Statute well kepte, ther muste be sette at the fyrste but a small and a reasonable penaultye, and certen bayles and officers appoincted in euery shire truly to receve and gayther them. But as for this penaulty of iiij or v s. in the pounde of souche wares comminge inwarde, it maye right well in the nature of a Subsidie be levied and receyvede by the customers, and besides the highe commoditie that shall here bey yerly ensue vnto the kinges maiestie in his mynttes besides all the wonderfull enricheing of the realme, surly ther cane none other other [sic] thinge so mouche procure the harty love of all kinde of artifficers in this realme vnto the kinges maiestie and vnto your grace, for by means herof euery artifficer in this realme shall haue his handes full of wo[r]ke, and ther coulde neuer haue byne a better occasion nor a more convenient tyme to haue souche a Subsidie grauntide, than even at this present : for if the Subsidie which is nowe grauntide of xij d. of the pounde of goodes during this three yeres with the Subsidie of Clothes might be conuertide into a Subsidie of v s. oute of euerypoundvalure, and [?delete and] ofall the aforesaidekindeofwares comming frome be yonde the Seas During the Kinges Warres, and in to a Subsidie of HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES 333 xij d. in the pounde duringe the kinges warrs of all Chaines Ringes Juelles and plate either of golde or Siluer which shalbe vncoynede and vnpute to the myntes to be coyned at a certene daye : then muste it nedes followe of necessite that either his maiestie shall haue more coustome thene he now hathe by one hundrethe thowsande pound yerly : or elles for euery Thowsande ponde which shall therof lacke in custome his maiestie shall haue Fower thowsande pounde bullion brought in to his mynttes by the coynage of which Thowsande pounde being in Siluer Bullion and gyuing the price I haue before declarede coyni[n]ge also after the rate he nowe coynethe : his maiestie might thene gayne tene thowsandepounde and by this means also of wo[r]king so mouche wares within this realme : shoulde the people be the better sette at worke, and vppon the hollida[y]s which should be abrogate seinge therof that these kinde of Subsidies shoulde so farre sur- mounte the other Subsidies in prouffit towardes the kinges maiestie. And so greate commodite shall therby also ensue vnto the realme : being also bothe easier to be grauntide and with lese Danger of tumulte Leviede: Me thinks that souche an occasion and opertunite wolde be in nowise letten slyppe. But here vnto perchaunce it wilbe obiectide that if souche Subsidie be sette vpon merchaunt Straungers goodes comming vnto this realme. that then the Empror and all other princes will sette a Subsidie vppon our wares comming vnto theme. But what if they also dyd. as I doubte whether the Subiectes will souffer theme so to doo. Yet even as by the means of the Sub- sidye which shalbe here sette vpon those ther wares, we shall bye those kinde of wares fyve shillinges in the pounde Derer thene we shoulde doo, if the saide Subsidie were not : So lykewise if they sette a Subsidie vppon our wares, they muste bye theme so mouche the Derer as the Subsidie amountith vnto. So that if they sette souche a Subsidie vppon our wares, it shall not be our marchauntes but thinhabitaunttes of those countries that shall paye it. And thene I doubte not but it shall soune apere thatwe canne sone forbere ther wares and that they cannot forbere owers For weare the wares be souche that we either stande in no greate neade of or elles maye haue the lyke the lyke [sic] wrought with in this realme our commodities be souche as they stonde in very greate nede of and cannot haue the lyke in ther owine countries. And as for our Corne, theystonde [in] souche nede of it in Spayine and Portuigallthatthey do not onlye sett it free of allCustomes, but also prouide commone garnettes : and Chamberes of ther owne cost to lye vppe and kepe our corne in, when we cannot reddelly sell it. So that if we doo employe our selfes as is before declaryde, to haue ande use corne as a trade of marchaundice we may be sure, that they will not only sette no Subsidi vppon it, but also love and fauour our marchauntes as mouch for the bringenge of it as the yonge childrene do loue ther noursis for gyuing theme sucke of ther brestes, And wheras the marchauntes of the stilliarde do clayme a priuelage to paye but Th[r]ee pence of a pounde inwardes, they muste be compounded which [sic, ? with] before this Subsidie be sette or aney thinge spokene of and the kinges maiestie may vppon consideracion, that the saide priuayledge was grauntide fyrste by the waye of a rewarde or [y]erly pencione. Abate theme of those customs, that Englishe men paye Fyftene or Sixtene hundreth poundes a yere to the meinte[nance] of ther howse and companey, and this shalbe inthe kinges behalfe a more honorable rewarde and also shalltake awaye thoccasion of Fraude which is vside by the merchaunt men of the Stilliarde in coulleringe other Straungers gooddes. The Remedie to cause as mouche Fishe to be spente yerly in this Realme as was wonte to be at eney tyme heretofore : Capit Nono :
For asmouche as diuers of the common people of this realme be mouche offended that so muche Fleche hathe byne ettenvppon the Fishe dayes, Imputing only thervnto the chief cause of this present derthe of victuall: it were therfore very good and requisiet to see if eney remedie coulde in this behalfe be devised, but as for the inhibetinge of eatinge Fleshe by eney penall Statutes, I cane neuer thinke that it will take effect. For was thernot as straight a lawe made for the excesse of Apparrell and yet coulde not the kinge nor all his counsaill fynde the means to haue that Statute kepte, yet they which offendid therin coulde be no means excuse ther faulte, but that it moughte right welbe accompted a mere wantonnes anda maneyfeaste contempte HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES 335 of the Statute.
Whereas in this casse he that is moste helthefull maye allege hime selfe to be sikelye and evell at ease. Also apparrell is commonlye woren in the Strettes openly and in places of most accesse. But Fleshe maye be eatten at home priuelly yea and so priuelly that none but the very eatters therof shall be able to proue hit. And if he were acceptide for a busie Promoter which wolde sue a man for manifeste contempt of the Statute of apparell, shall he nowe be accompted for an honeste neyghbour which shall troble a mane for eatting of his meate in his owne howse. And was ther not before this an other pro- clamacion made in the fyrste yere of the kinges maiestie that nowe is. That no man, not beinge syke and having no licens shoulde vpon payne of imprisonment and the kinges highnes displeasure ette fleshe vppon the Frydayes ? But whate ensued therof, aney other thinge but only that the people were therby brought in vse to disobey the kinges commaundment. Aristotell themoste renoune[d] Phillosopher that euerdyd write of acommon weall in his iiijth boke of Fillosophis sayeth that ther cane no commonweall contynewe wher lawes bere no force. And surely ther cannot be a more pernicius thing. to bringe the people frome a dew obbediens then to make souche lawes as shall not be kepte. I wolde rayther wishe that all those olde Stattutes which be not kepte (wherof I ensure your grace ther is a greate nombre) might be cleane abrogate by act of parliament so that it might be a rare thinge to see a Statute or the kinges proclamacion disobeide. And thene shall the kinges maiesties proclamacion be hade in farre more estimacion and reuerense.
To returne agayne to my purpose it were very requisiet that ther shoulde be as mouche fishe spente in the realme yerly as was wonte to be here tofore, for elles will fishe and other vittall also rise to an vnreasonable price. And surly ther is nothinge that will soner move the people vnto Sedicion then the derthe of victuall. What fayer means or what thretninge, what strayght Lawes or what weeapons can passefye or kepe quiete the hongry multitude. Nescit plebs ieiuna timere Sayeth Lucane Yea extreme Famyne hathe maney tymes causede men to do thinges even horrible to be thought vppon. For whate Fayth and allegeaunce will those men observe towardes ther prince and gouernour which haue ther childrene Famished at home for wante of meate. For the people for the moste parte do empute the cause of Derthe vnto the Rulers. And perchaunce some of the rude and Igno- rante sorte will impute thole cause therof to the only ettinge of Fleshe vppon the fyshe dayes. Yet [it] were therfor very requisite, and that not only for plentifull of victuall, but also for the practesing of marryners, that Fishinge were menteigned, which as semithe to me maye be right well brought to passe, if in euery shire adioninge vppon the See and in euery other shire adioninge vppon eney greate water, ther were a brotherhede made and a fraternite of Fichermen hauing souche lyke copporation as the fraternite of occupacions haue in London, and that all other shires which adione not vppon the See nor vppon eney other greate watter, were so equallie allotede vnto the foresaid Fraternities, that the cyrcute belonginge vnto euery Fraternitee myght be mouche of lyke quantitie, and that the wardens of the foresaid fraternities shoulde haue these priualegis followinge: Fyrste that they shoulde haue only Auctorite to gyue License for the ettinge of Fleshe within ther seuerall Jurisdiction And that they shall gyve euery mane license too ette fleshe vppon the fishe dayes gyvinge vnto ther Freternitie Fortye pence byey[e]re [i.e. by year], And the entringe of the parties name in to the war- dens boke to be a sufficiente license, And ifeneypersone shall eate Fleshe vppon the fyshe dayes with oute this License to forfaite Fortye shillinges, the one moitie therof vnto the wardens of the Fraternitie of the precincte where he duellith, And the other moite therof vnto the wardens of the parishe churche where he dwellithe. And that the money cominge of the said Licensis within euery seuerall Jurisdiction be equally devided a monges the Fisshermen of the saime Fraternitie, but only souche as shall daylye withoute comente or fraude occupye the trade of Fishinge vnlese he be honour or half honour of a Botte, vsing yerly the trade to Irelande or the trade to herringe fare. And by this means shall it come to passe, that the more fleshe as shalbe eytten vppon the Fishe dayes the more men shalbe desierus to become Fishermen. And the more Fisshermen that therbe vsinge daylye the trade ofFishinge, the more Fishe shalbe taken.
So that the ettinge of Fleshe vppon Fishe dayes shalbe the cause HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES that pore men shall bye Fishe good cheipe te eate vpon the Fishe dayes and non inconvenience shalle herby ensue: For in the respecte of thole boddyof the Realme noo money shalbe loste. For only the wanton money cominnge oute of the riche mans purse, shall cawse the pore mane to by his victuall chepper. And yf the Labourer and artifficer maye bye aney kinde of victuall at a lowe price we shall haue then all thinges which is made or wrought in englande by mans hande at a reasonable price. For as victuall risethe or Fawlethe of price so doo all other thinges followe. One other prouision to make more plentie of Victuall : Capit : Decimo : For so mouche as it is right euident that the greateste cause of mysery in this realme at the present is the derth of victuall and the Dearthe therof is the cawse also of the hignes of price of maney other kinde of wares. I intend therfor to declare one other helpe for the better remedie herof. which all though it shall seime at the fyrste vnto some men to be a thinge of small importance. yet surlye if they which haue thexperience hereof will dilligently pondre the matter, they shall perceve it to be a matter that will helpe mouche. It is not vnknowen vnto them which haue trauilede in this Realme that ther is in diuers places therof greate quantitie of commonGroundes. And for asmouche as all Seuerall groundes be nowe of late yeres Raysede vnto so hight renttes, the foresaid commone groundes beinge by that occasion more ouerchargid with cattell thene they were heretofore wonte to bee, so that whereas here to fore the pore man might haue thre or fower or halfe a dozen mylche kine indifferently well pastured vpon the said Commons to his great relif for the victuallinge of hime selfe his wife and his children, and for the better fornesshinge of the markettes with white meattes: Yt is now come to passe thowrow the vnmeasurable couuetusnes of the Richer sorte, that the moste parte of the said commons be so ouer layede with Shippe, that neyther cane the poremans Cowe lyve vppon the said commons to yelde hime eney proffit, nor yet cane ther eney kinde of Fleche be fede fatt thervppon for the VOL . III .
furnishinge of the markettes. And although they [sic, the] los[s]e which the Riche men haue by pyning and famisshinge of parte of ther Cattell do welniught counter vayle the prouffite and encrease that they haue in the Residewe, yet non of them will abate of the Nombre. For as mouche as euery mane by hime selfe thinkith that his abatemente shoulde littell preuayle excepte other men cominge in the same commons dide also abate. This thinge miyght right welbe remedied if it myht please the kinges maiestie with the aduise of your grace and with the consente of other his moste honerable counsaill for the consideracions aforesaid to appoincte certen commisioners for the ratinge of all manner of Commons and they to sette a taxe howemaney beastes and Shipe euery man shall ther vppon kepe, according to the quantite of ther tenure,hauing neuer the lese a speciall regarde in the fauour of the poureste cottigers. And thenshall we haue oute of the said commons plentye of fatte Bullockes, fatte Caufes, fate mutton, and fate Lames thorrow owte all the Sommer and for the moste parte of the yere. And one Cowe goinge vppon the said commons being so ratide shall then yelde more white meate, thene fowre souche kyee do at this presente the grounde being ouer Laide. And then shall we haue no souche deathe and staruinge of Cattell as we now commonly haue. And wheras meney of the said commone grondes be now at this present ouer growin with busshes Ferne or Fyrse, or ouer flowne, or drouned with waters yt may be prouided and appointed by the said Commissioners that euery manhauinge priualeidge ofcommon in eney of the saideCommon groundes shall according vnto his rate at certen common and Bonnde Dayes yerly bestowe labour in amendinge and leuinge drye the said groundes being common. And surely partely by the ratinge and partely by the a mendinge of the saide common groundes it will growe vnto a wonderfull encrease of victuall in this realme. Many thinges coulde I here saye, and diuers forainge argumenttes coulde I make to proue it a thinge bothe honeste and necessary and behowfull tobring donne this highe price of victuall and all other thinges: but that Iperceve your graceall reddy of yourowine godly enclinacion muche bente vnto this purpose, for what cane be so prinsely so liberaull and so HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES 339 munificente a thing as to cawse that all men shall bye bothe ther victuall and all other thinges at a cheper price. But ther is yet one other thinge which wolde helpe somewhat for the chepnes of victuall, and that is, yf neyther the lorde Mayour of London nor no other officer might haue none auctorrite to sette eney price of victuall, For vndre the Cullour of a commone wealthe they abvse ther auctorrite vnto ther owne proper Lucar. For yf eney mane do bringe eney Corne bi shippe vnto London,the Lorde Mayour hauinge eney plenty of Corne in granettes then will his Lordeshippe sette hime souche a lowe price of his Corne that he shall haue littell liste to bringe eney more vnto the Cittye. So that whan by souche means he hathe dryuen a waye all the Corne vitallers, thene he will sell his owne at what price hime selfe listeth. Lykewise whane the Lorde Mayour dothe come into the markett and cawseth here and there a pigge to be pulled oute of a poore womans hande and to be solde by the Servauntes per chaunse vnto the Seruantes owne wife for halfe the price that it is worthe in the market or cause the Seruante to sell ij or iij baskettes full of egges for twise as maney a penney as is commonly solde in the markete : Do this eneythinge helpe the generall price of victuall ? No surely, but it dothe mouche hindre it, for she that hathe by this means loste so mouche money vppon one daye: muste nedes sell a greate deallthe derer at other tymes : or elles she sholde not recouer her losses, and be able to paye her rente. Lykewise the wardens of the bouchers in London : to thentent that they wolde haue but fewe bouchers to come oute of the contrye vnto the marketes in London :
when they perceve eney yonge man of the Country that hathe newly sete vppe bouchers occupacon Resortinge vnto the markettes in London withe fleche, they by the Cullour of ther office and vndre pretense, that the saide fleshe is olde killid, or otherwise fawted will sell all his fleshe at halfe the price it is worthe, And thuse they will sarve hime twise or thrise vntill they haue vtterly ondon hime and dryven hime frome the Markete, or elles caused him to sell at souche highe and vn reasonable prise as the companey of Bouchers in london wolde haue hime to sell at: And thuse vndre the coulour of a Common weale they vse souche extreime tyrraney and Cruelnes22* that it wolde pitty a man's harte to be holde it : I maruell therfor that this foresaid auctorrite is not taken a waye frome the foresaid officers, seinge that the longe experience haue so well declarid that the foresaid settinge of prices of victuall, do nothing at all bringe downe the highe price therof. But I marvell mouche more at those men which have not only all Reddy seine the successe of price settinge, but also the sucesse of the moste parte of proclamacons and penaull Stattutes, andyet will holde oppinion this present derthe of victuall may be redressid bi setting of prices vppon victuall, but surly it is not the settinge of lowe prises that will aney thinge a mende the matter. But it muste be the takinge awaye of thoccation of the high prices. Yet Iwill not saye naye but the Rumor therof that souche lowe prices shoulde haue bine sette at a certen daye wollde haue donne very well, for the dought therof wolde haue cawside maney thinges to haue fawlen some thinge of price, And also haue cawsid maney men they shoulde not haue letten ther groundes at so highe rente as they shoulde elles haue donne. And also the proclayminge of souche prices at a certen daye wolde somethinge haue quiettid the myndes of the Commons, but now that they [sic, the] proclamacon shall immediatly take effecte, The commonaltye shall sone perceve that it will eyther Doo no good at all or elles mouche hurte, For yf it be not obseruide as it is not lyke to be then dothe it non goode, and yet it bringeth the people to a fardre disobedience, if it be so obseruide that nothinge be solde aboue the price rated in the proclamacion, then shall ther not halfe so mouche no nor the forthe parte of so mouche victuall be brought into the market as it was wonte to be : And what thronge and striffe is ther thene lyke to be who shall fyrste catche vppon that which commith. And what shall thother sorte thene doo which cane gette non for no monney. They will surly spoyle for it before the[y] famishe and though it were a hundreth tymes proclaymede hight treason. And if it shoulde come ther vnto (god graunte they doo no worse) But here vnto some mane will saye that ther is a good prouison in the proclamacion if the market slake that the Justicis of peace and other officers shall se the market fornesshede frome the farmes nexte adioninge. But surly I thinke if the Lorde Mayour of HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES 341 London and all thofficers that he hathe dide nothinge elles but provide vitall for the Cittye, yet shoulde they not be souche means provide to serve London two monthes : but that ther shoulde be Seven tymes so muche more scacitie, then ther was yett. For how cane hit be that they nere London which paye x s. or xiij s. iiijd. for an Acre of grownde, shoulde sell ther butter by the pounde so goode chepe, as they which dwell Seven or eyght schore myles frome London paying not the forthe penney so muche rente for the lyke grounde. And some grounde becase it yeldeth far better Chise, and fare swetter and better coulordebutter thene maney other groundes dothe, hathe alwaies vppon that Consideracion beine set vppon a higher rente. And some one pounde of Chise is well worthe iij pounde of the moste parte of other Chise. And surely if the proclamacion be kepte ye shall neyther haue eney muttons butter or Chise solde eyther in eney Market or other where for the space of one fortenight or a monthe before mighelmas, nor like wise so longe before hallomas, by cawse the Sellers will tarry so longe for the higher price, before this proclamacion the Richer sorte hade alwayes ther belly full of vitall were it neuer so deare, but the pore sorte hade maney a hongrey meall. This Proclimacon cannot bringe to passe that ther shall nowe be Inoughe to serve bothe sortes. But as I said before the derthe of all thinges cannot be taken a waye in deade excepte all the cawses therof be fyrste taken a waye, and then with outte doubte accordinge to the moste aunctiente and trewe principle in phisike: Cessant [sic] causa, cesset [sic] effectus.
A Breif Resitall of the Chiefe effecte of the contentes of this Boke : Capit Vndecimo :
Ihaue here in this littell boke declarede that this presente dearthe of all thinges muste be remedied by these fyve means Folloinge, Firste by gyuinge lese price in the mynttes for golde and Siluer, Secondarelly by destributinge the greate shippe pastures in to Diuers mens occupieng that is by the setting of a Subsidie of three pence a Shippe, onlye of all them which haue a boue the nombre of two hundred: Thyrdely by cawsinge all theme which shall yete Fleshe vppon the Fishe dayes to paye yerly for ther license vnto the Fissher men. Forthelyby rating of the Common groundes according vnto euery mans tenure.
And Fiftely to suffer all kinde of parsons quietly to sell all kinde of vitall in the market at whate price he canne.
And further- more I haue herein declarid that by the putting downe of our Superflues hollidiayes and by the settinge of a Subsidie of fyve Shillinges of the pounde of certen wares comming into this Realme in the Leue of the Relif which is now graunted. The kinges maiestie maye gayne in his myntes by the Coyninge of Bullion cominge frome be yonde the Sees Tene or Twelve hundreth Thowsande poundes yerly towardes the maintenunce of his warres and besides that the commons of this Realme to be also yerly enriched vj or vij hundred thowsande pounde more. And the kinges maiestie to haue also therby a greate reuenew in his custome howse, and yf the kinges maiestie maye in stede of the Relif which he now hathe vppon clothes haue a Subsidie vppon plate during three yeres His maiestie shall also then gaine presently wonderfull greate sommes of money therby in his mynttes. Considre now moste gracious prince how that the devine prouidence of god hath ordeyned and appoinctede you during the kinges mynoritie not only to represse redresse and reforme thabvsis inReligion, as your grace hathe all reddye donne but also during the mynoritie besides the protection of this his Realmes so to continew his clayme and tytle towardes the realme of Schotlande, and so to revenge his quarrell againste that Trayterus knotte. I meane the brekers of his moste godly pretenside marriage, that all souche faulse periured persons eneymies to godes treweth and traytors to the Common Wealthe of ther owne country, may be confounded, but thes warres againste souche mighty eneymyes cannot be mainteignede nor aney while contynued with oute wounderfull greate expence of money. And souche greate sommes of money cannot be here leviede of the commons in souche sorte as Subsidies was wonte to be Leviede with oute greate greate [sic] grutching of the Commonalty, and no lese danger of tumultes vnto the greate parrell of the kinges maiestie and of your grace and of the hole estate of the realme, wheras if the kinde of the Subsidies which I haue here devised were onse grauntid but for ij or iij yeres the HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES 343 commons shall perceve souche prouffit and commoditie therbye redounding vnto theme, that they will then make sute to haue the saime Subsidies all wayes to contynew. For by these foresaid means we shall haue all kinde of victuall at halfe the price it is now at. And by the meanes of the rysinge agayne of the exchange, we shall haue clothe, worstede, Leade, Tynne, Iron, and all such substanciall ware of this realme, with all other wares of be yonde the Sees excepted, in the Subsidie at a chepper price then they be now at by twenty pence in euery Fyve shillinges at the leaste. And as for Sylkes and Wynes with all souche other lyke kynde of wares which be here only thinges of Superfluitye for the Richer sorte of men, to bestow ther money vppon all souche kinde of wares, we shall fyrste haue thorow the Risinge of thexchaunge, cheper then the[y] nowe be by Sixe shilling and eyght pence in the pounde, and we shall haue them rase agayne of that by means of the Subsidie fyve Shillinges of the pounde. so that we shall haue those vnnecessary wares also somethinge cheper then they nowe be. And if it maye please your grace to cawese immediately proclamacion to be made, that the kinges maiestie by thaduice of your grace and the reste of his honorable counsayll for the writinge donne of price of all thinges is resoluede Resolued [sic] to coyne fyner Siluer and therfor is determyned to gyve in his mynttes but Forty pence for the ounze of Fyne siluer and but thyrtye nyne shillinges for the o[n]ze of fyne golde. And that it be declaride in the said proclamacon, that for asmouche as this thinge cannote be presentely donne, for that the marchaunt men ventering in the partes of beyonde the See, hauinge no warninge nor knowledge therof might chaunche to haue in ther handes at this present souche quantitie of Bullion at souche higher price as myght be vnto ther vtter vndoinge. Therfor the kinges maiestie to signefye vnto all men by the sayde proclamacon that after the feaste of saincte Michaell tharchangell next comminge, his maiestie will gyve but thyrty nyne shillinges for the ounz of fynne golde, and but forty pence for the ounz of fyne Syluer. And that after the same feaste the Angell Noble be curraunt but for Sixe shillinges and eight pence, the halfe Angell and Ryall after the same Rate.
Vppon this proclamaccon the marchaunt men will knowe certenly that the price of wares will faule accordinglye, whervppon withoute doubte they will immediatly faule in price ofall ther wares : Lykewise all gentillmen that haue eney vndre standinge will ther vppon perceve that the price of all thinges muste neddes faull. so that immediatly the greate fantasye towardes woull willwaxe coulde, and then they will offer to lette ther groundes better chepe which thinge will cawse a godlye staye to be presently a monges the commonaltye. And after mychelmas when eney siluer bullion shall come vnto the mynttes as I doubte note, if your grace will gyve me leaue to cawse good plentye to be brought thither within a Tweluemonthe. Than maye the kinges maiestie of euery thowsande poundes of Syluer bullion, cawse one hundrethe poundes worth to be coyned in grottes of souche bignes weight and fynes, as were coyned in the tyme of kinge Henry the Seventh. Wherin his maiestie shall gayne nothinge by the Coynage. And then his maiestie maye coyne all the Nyne hundrethe poundes at souche basenes as his maiestie now makethe. Wherby his maiestie shall gayne clerly a boue towo thowsounde and fyve hundred poundes. Some foke perchaunce will thinke that it cannot well stonde with it selfe that we shoulde haue bothe fyne money and base money also. But it shall agree with hit selfe euen as well as did the fyrste coyne of Testornis and the Laste which wente all wayes both at one value withoute eney difference, the fyrste neuerthelese hauing more then twise so mouche siluer in hime then the laste hade : but be cawse that the kinges maiestie in his mynttes gaue no gaynes for the beste therfor they wente bothe at one value. So shall the fyne Coyne and the base coyne the kinges maiestie gyuing no gaynes goo as the fyne coyne dothe. And if they which will haue base money for ther bullion may haue their money payed presently And they which will haue fyne Coyne to tarry for it a quarter of a yeare, vppon a pretense that ther is but two or thre Coynes of the same money, then will the moste men sonner take the base money to be payed presently then to tarry enney whyle for the fyne money bothe beinge curraunt at one rate. But if I shoulde goo a boute herein to answere euery obiection that maye be made a gaynste my Device, I shoulde then make a very longe boke. Therfor, I HIGH PRICES, USURY AND THE EXCHANGES 345 desier your grace that they which make enney obiection to the contrary herof, may entytle ther obiection in a peace of paper. Ande I doubte not but [I shall] Answere it sufficiently, And thus I make an ende of this littell boke. Desieringe your grace to accepte it in good parte And I shall according to my bounden duty dayly praye vnto gode for the longe preservation of your grace in helthe prosperite and honour.
