[A1625/10/24]¹

Regarding the coin

Charles Rex, right trusty and right well-beloved cousins, right reverend fathers in God etc. Whereas we understand that that our kingdom is so spoiled and destitute of money as little or none is left therein, our own coin being transported to other countries and there sold as ordinary merchandise, to the great hurt as well of our self as that whole kingdom, we have thought good by this letter to require you to take that matter to your consideration and advise and resolve upon the best course how monies may again be brought into that kingdom and increased therein, either by causing all the transporters of money to be called before our council and such of them as shall be convicted, either by their own confession or by witnesses, to be enjoined to import as much money as they transported and so much more as shall be thought fit for a penalty, or by ordaining our treasurers to take no other satisfaction for the bullion but the bullion itself in foreign monies to be put to the mint as the inviolable custom was heretofore, or by making a restraint of importation of unnecessary wares to the effect that goods which must be transported for bringing in of them may be sent for necessary commodities, or by making of societies and manufactories in all the principal burghs for making of stuffs and other wares (which now are usually brought from foreign parts) wherewith to serve not only the inhabitants of the country but also foreigners by transporting and selling or exchanging the same for other wares, for one of the best means to enrich a kingdom with monies is to sell much ware for money and to bestow little or no monies at all upon wares to be imported, but to interchange wares for other necessary wares, and the erecting of societies would be a means to hold many poor and idle people at work and industry. And seeing other countries (specially those with whom our subjects have daily commerce) have already raised and daily do raise their monies to a high rate, whereby we are much prejudiced so long as our monies are not raised also for their foreign monies which were a par to ours being raised and not ours they make gain of our monies before we be aware or made acquainted with the raising of their money, and therefore advise and resolve if you think it a good policy in respect of our commerce with them ever to raise our monies to as high a rate. And whereas it may be objected that there those will be prejudiced who have set their lands in feu or long leases for a certain duty according to the rate of the monies then in use, you may advise if you think it good and fitting for remedy hereof that an act of parliament be made ordaining that for every shilling or pound which the tenant or debtor is obliged to pay of old he shall now and hereafter pay as much more as the monies are raised to; as for an instance suppose the twelve pence be raised to sixteen pence, then he who before was obliged to pay twelve pence or twelve pounds shall pay hereafter sixteen pence or sixteen pounds by his bond, contract, tack or lease; at a word that you advise and resolve upon all such means as you shall think most fitting for increase of monies in that kingdom with least prejudice to us and our subjects and make us acquainted therewith that we may give way thereto in such manner as shall be most expedient. And the premises earnestly recommending to your special care, we bid you all and every one of you farewell. Given at Sarisbury, 24 October 1625.