[A1625/10/24]¹

Anent the coyne

Charles R[ex], right trustie and right welbeloved cosens, right reverend fatheris in God etc. Whereas we understand that that oure kingdome is so spoyled and destitute of money as litle or nane is left thairin, our awne coyne being transported to other cuntreyis and thair sold as ordinarie merchandice, to the grite hurt alsweele of oure self as that whole kingdome, we haif thoght goode by these presentis to require you to tak that matter to your considderatioun and advise and resolve upoun the best course how moneyis may againe be broght into that kingdome and increase thairin, eyther by causing all the transportaris of money be called before oure counsell and suche of thame as salbe convicted, ather by thair awne confessioun or by witneses, to be enjoyned to import asmuche money as thay transported and so muche more as salbe thoght fitte for a penaltie, or by ordaining oure thesauraris to tak na other satisfactioun for the bulyeoun bot the bulyeoun itself in foreyne moneys to be putt to the myntehouse as the inviolable custome wes heirtofore, or by making a restraynt of importatioun of unnecessarie waires to the effect that goodes whiche must be transported for imbringing of thame may be sent for necessarie commodities, or by making of societies and manuaries in all the principall burrowis for making of stuffes and other waires (whiche now ar usuallie broght from foreyne pairtis) whairwith to serve not onlie the inhabitantis of the cuntrey bot also forreyneris by transporting and selling or exchanging the same for other waires, for one of the best meanis to enriche a kingdome with moneyis is to sell muche ware for money and to bestow litle or no moneyis at all upoun waires to be imported, bot to interchange waires for otheris necessair waires, and the erecting of societies wald be a meane to hald mony poore and idle people at work and industrie. And seing otheris cuntreyis (speciallie those with whome oure subjectis haif dailie commerce) haif alreadie raised and daylie do raise thair moneyis to a heigh rate, whairby we ar muche prejudged so long as oure moneyis ar not raisit also for thair foreyne moneyis whiche wer a par to ouris being raised and not ouris thay mak gayne of oure moneyis before we be awarr or maid acquaynted with the raising of thair money, and thairfore advise and resolve if you think it a goode policie in respect of oure commerce with thame ever to raise oure moneyis to als heigh a rate. And whereas it may be objected that thair those wilbe prejudged who haif sett thair landis in few or long leases for a certane dewtie according to the rate of the moneyis than in use, you may advise if you think it goode and fitting for remedie heirof that ane act of parliament be maid ordayning that for everie shilling or pund whiche the tennent or debtour is obliged to pay of old he sall now and heirafter pay asmuche more as the moneyis ar raised unto; as for ane instance suppose the tuelve pense be raisit to saxtene pense, than he who befoir wes obliged to pay tuelve pense or tuelve pundis sall pay heirafter saxtene pense or saxtene pundis by his band, contract, tak or lease; at a word that you advise and resolve upoun all suche meanis as you sall think most fitting for increase of moneyis in that kingdome with least prejudice to ws and oure subjectis and mak ws acquaynted thairwith that we may gif way thairunto in suche maner as sall be most expedient. And the premises earnestlie recommending to your speciall care, we bid you all and everie one of you farewell. Gevin at Sarisburie, the 24 of October 1625.