CERTAIN
PROPOSALLS
In
all
humblenesse
Presented
to
the
Consideration
of
the
Honourable
Assembly
of
PARLIAMENT
,
For
Considerable
advance
of
Monies
,
and
augmentation
of
publick
Revenue
for
the
future
.
WHereas
there
is
in
these
three
Nations
of
England
,
Scotland
and
Ireland
by
the
especial
providence
of
Almighty
God
,
manifold
appearances
of
Sufficiency
of
plenty
,
in
reference
to
all
outward
comfortable
enjoyments
in
this
life
.
So
is
there
indeed
a
seeming
superabounding
store
of
Wealth
and
Treasure
,
demonstrably
manifest
to
be
instanced
in
visible
excessive
●reat
quantities
of
Plate
now
wrought
and
used
in
England
,
and
from
hence
sent
over
,
both
into
Scotland
,
and
Ireland
;
so
that
the
vast
proportions
o●
Silver
converted
into
Plate
,
of
all
sorts
,
for
all
imaginable
uses
,
(
Viz
.
Tankerds
,
Cupps
,
Beakers
,
Bowles
,
Porringers
,
Sugger-Boxes
,
Spoons
,
all
sorts
and
s●zes
of
Plates
,
Salts
,
Dishes
,
Basons
,
and
Ewers
,
Candle-stiks
,
Standishes
,
Ink
hornes
,
Tobacco-Boxes
,
Heads
for
Canes
,
Watches
and
Watch-Cases
,
Kettles
,
Skilets
,
Preserving-Panns
,
Ladles
,
Cesterns
,
Flaggons
,
Baskets
,
Close-Stool-Pans
,
Chamber-Potts
,
Bed-Panns
Perfuming-Potts
,
Gridirons
,
Chafing-Dishes
,
Tongs
,
Fire-Shovells
,
Andirons
,
Salvators
,
Plaister-Boxes
,
all
sorts
of
Instruments
for
Chirurgeons
,
Spurrs
,
Sword
Hilts
,
Buckles
for
Belts
,
Hafts
for
Knives
,
and
indeed
what
not
;
In
the
●owses
of
Noble-men
,
Knightes
,
Esquires
,
Gentlemen
of
Estates
,
in
Gold-Smiths
Shopps
,
ready
wrought
for
Use
,
and
Sail
:
and
also
in
Taverns
,
Inns
,
Ale-Houses
,
Vict●al-Houses
,
and
elsewhere
,
)
is
very
exorbitant
,
vain
,
and
superfluous
,
far
exceeding
(
in
the
generality
of
able
People
only
)
all
the
said
Persons
Conditions
,
Estates
,
and
Fortunes
,
in
their
severall
qualifications
.
For
want
of
Bullion
to
supply
the
super
abounding
use
of
Plate
as
abovesaid
,
the
current
Coyn
of
the
Nation
,
hath
especially
been
of
late
years
and
stil
is
subject
to
very
great
diminution
and
waist
by
the
Gold
Smiths
constant
ordinary
Practice
,
not
only
c●lling
out
of
the
weightyest
of
it
,
but
melting
down
vast
proportions
,
and
converting
the
same
into
Plate
,
whereby
they
bring
in
high
advantage
of
profit
to
thems●lves
,
by
so
much
of
the
said
Coyn
as
they
find
weighty
,
by
the
rates
and
prices
set
for
the
Fashion
,
and
Workmanship
upon
every
Ounce
,
and
by
the
Allay
and
Sod●ler
,
used
in
working
up
the
said
Plate
,
and
adding
to
it
's
wieght
;
but
hereby
the
publick
losse
and
detriment
of
the
Common-Wealth
,
by
causing
so
great
diminution
,
and
scarcity
of
Money
,
and
consequently
so
great
decay
of
Trade
for
want
thereof
,
is
grown
very
prejudicial
;
and
of
dangerous
consequence
.
There
being
imposition
of
Excise
,
upon
several
numerous
Commodities
,
and
in
particular
(
amongst
the
rest
)
upon
Lead
,
Tinn
,
Copper
Plates
,
and
all
Silver
Wyer
;
Now
in
regard
of
the
urgent
necessity
for
advance
and
supply
of
very
great
Summes
of
Money
,
to
support
the
weighty
;
and
defray
the
publick
incident
Charges
unavoidable
,
requisite
for
preservation
,
and
the
security
of
the
Common-Wealth's
Peace
and
prosperity
for
the
future
;
It
is
humbly
offered
to
the
grave
and
serious
approbation
and
acceptance
of
the
Honourable
Assembly
of
Parliament
,
that
a
Bill
may
be
forthwith
prepared
and
presented
,
to
passe
into
an
Act
for
an
imposition
of
Excise
upon
all
sorts
of
Silver
Plate
whatsoever
,
which
shall
amount
to
the
waight
of
half
one
Once
in
the
piece
,
and
so
upward
,
either
already
wrought
,
or
that
shall
be
wrought
for
the
future
,
imposing
the
rate
of
six
pence
upon
every
Ounce
at
the
least
:
And
that
in
order
thereunto
,
all
such
Person
,
or
Persons
as
are
possessors
,
or
proprietors
of
any
Plate
,
be
it
more
,
or
be
it
less
,
may
be
strictly
enjoyned
to
bring
it
all
in
upon
Oath
,
at
,
or
before
a
certain
time
expresly
to
be
limited
unto
some
designed
place
,
or
places
,
fit
and
convenient
for
that
purpose
:
there
to
pay
the
said
Excise
proportionably
,
according
to
the
exact
weight
thereof
,
for
the
immediate
use
of
the
Common-Wealth
;
and
that
then
also
,
every
piece
of
Silver
Plate
so
Excised
shall
have
some
distinguishing
Stamp
,
or
Mark
set
upon
it
,
besides
the
Hall
mark
,
and
likewise
be
duly
Registred
,
whereby
it
may
be
known
to
be
Excised
,
and
that
it
be
provided
in
the
said
Bill
(
so
to
be
prepared
as
aforesaid
)
in
case
of
any
Person
,
or
Persons
refusall
herein
,
a
clause
of
confiscation
,
and
forfeiture
of
the
Plate
,
except
the
Owner
,
or
Owners
,
do
either
sell
it
unto
the
Gold-Smiths
,
or
bring
it
into
the
Tower
to
be
melted
down
and
Coyned
,
which
will
be
a
means
to
make
Money
more
ple●tifull
and
advance
Trade
in
the
Nation
,
and
consequently
be
accompanied
with
certain
benefit
,
and
profit
to
the
State
for
the
Mintage
thereof
.
In
drawing
up
of
the
said
Bill
,
a
suitable
Provision
to
be
made
also
for
time
to
come
,
that
all
sort
and
sizes
of
wrought
Silver
Plate
whatsoever
,
amounting
to
the
weight
of
half
one
Ounce
the
Piece
,
and
upward
,
shall
be
so
Excised
as
aforesaid
,
and
receive
in
like
manner
the
said
publick
distinguishing
Stamp
or
Mark
,
and
be
duely
Registred
before
it
be
sould
,
upon
the
penalty
of
forfeiture
,
as
aforesaid
:
and
that
at
the
weighing
,
marking
,
and
Registring
all
such
Plate
,
as
is
,
or
shall
be
wrought
up
for
Sail
,
the
said
Gold
Smith
to
pay
the
said
Excise
,
due
unto
the
State
:
and
be
moreover
strictly
enjoined
,
not
to
enhance
the
ordinary
rate
and
price
of
Silver
Plate
unto
the
Buyer
,
above
the
proportionable
value
of
the
Excise
he
payes
out
of
his
own
Purse
:
and
if
at
any
time
,
any
Excised
Plate
shall
be
sold
to
the
Gold
Smith
,
which
he
shall
sell
again
for
old
Plate
,
as
he
bought
it
,
then
Excise
Money
not
to
be
demanded
,
or
paid
a
second
time
,
but
in
case
it
shall
be
melted
,
and
wrought
up
anew
,
then
onely
to
be
Excised
,
and
Marked
Registred
,
before
the
Sail
thereof
,
at
the
receipt
of
the
Touch
,
and
Hall
mark
,
as
aforesaid
.
Whereas
there
is
much
Silver
Plate
,
some
sorts
whereof
,
are
parcell-guilded
,
and
others
richly
guilded
all
over
;
It
is
humbly
conceived
requisite
that
Provision
be
also
made
in
the
said
Bill
for
the
bringing
in
of
all
such
Plate
,
as
aforesaid
:
and
that
an
imposition
of
three
Pence
on
the
Ounce
be
set
on
that
which
is
parcell
guilded
,
more
then
is
upon
plain
Silver
Plate
,
that
is
,
nine
Pence
the
Ounce
:
and
that
which
is
double-guilded
,
six
Pence
on
the
Ounce
more
then
upon
plain
Silver
Plate
,
that
is
twelve
Pence
on
the
Ounce
,
which
by
reason
of
the
great
waist
of
Gold
being
so
scarce
in
the
Nation
,
is
but
moderate
:
and
that
if
any
Silver
Plate
,
richly
guilded
,
or
parcell
guilded
Plate
whatsoever
,
shall
not
,
according
to
the
said
Provisions
and
appointments
,
from
time
to
time
be
brought
in
,
to
be
Weighed
,
Excised
,
Marked
and
Registred
,
as
aforesaid
,
the
same
shall
(
after
a
certain
time
in
the
said
Bill
to
be
limited
)
become
liable
to
confiscation
and
forfeiture
by
way
of
discovery
,
the
one
moiety
,
ot
half
part
,
to
accrew
unto
the
State
,
and
the
other
moiety
,
or
half
part
,
to
the
discover●
or
disoverers
,
for
reward
and
encouragement
,
&c.
An
Additional
PROPOSAL
.
THe
great
scaricty
of
Golden
Coyn
in
the
three
Nations
(
as
is
humbly
conceived
)
deservedly
requireth
your
Honours
serious
reflection
,
and
due
consideration
:
that
as
our
Gold
hath
been
transported
,
to
the
losse
of
the
publick
Stock
of
the
Nation
,
and
general
decay
of
Trade
,
so
also
hath
it
been
,
and
is
in
too
great
measure
converted
unto
several
things
of
unnecessary
uses
which
might
well
be
spared
,
especially
in
such
times
as
these
:
as
Bowles
,
Cupps
,
and
several
other
Vessels
,
Chaines
,
Bodkins
,
Thimbles
,
Seales
,
Rings
,
Watches
,
Watch-Cases
,
Lockets
,
and
Medalls
,
Tablets
for
Pictures
,
Handles
for
Fanns
,
&c.
It
is
therefore
most
humbly
offered
to
the
Honurable
Assembly
of
Parliament
,
that
all
Gold
,
so
converted
and
wrought
up
for
any
kind
of
use
besides
current
Coyn
,
or
that
shall
hereafter
be
so
wrought
,
may
in
like
manner
as
Silver
Plate
,
have
an
imposition
of
Excise
,
set
,
at
the
rate
of
six
Pence
at
least
upon
every
Penny-weight
,
with
the
same
Provisions
and
limitations
as
are
mentioned
in
the
foregoing
Proposalls
for
Silver
Plate
:
and
the
like
Provision
to
be
made
,
that
the
Owners
may
have
liberty
(
within
some
certain
time
limited
)
either
to
sell
all
such
Gold
,
so
converted
,
to
the
Gold-Smiths
,
or
to
bring
the
same
to
the
Mint
to
be
Coyned
for
themselves
;
otherwise
,
being
Vnexcised
,
and
made
out
by
way
of
discovery
,
to
be
confiscate
,
and
forfeited
,
as
in
the
foregoing
Proposals
is
expressed
.
This
imposediate
of
Excise
on
Gold
,
amounteth
to
ten
Shillings
upon
the
Ounce
,
which
Ounce
of
Gold
surmounteth
the
value
of
an
whole
pound
weight
of
Silver
.
For
the
avoiding
of
any
supposed
hindrance
or
discouragement
to
Merchants
,
in
reference
to
the
importation
of
Bullion
;
It
may
be
further
provided
also
,
that
no
Excise
be
put
upon
Bullion
,
before
it
be
wrought
into
Plate
:
and
that
the
Gold-Smiths
do
give
no
lesse
price
for
Bullion
to
the
Merchant
,
or
for
workmanship
to
the
Silver-Smith
,
then
formerly
hath
been
accustomed
to
be
given
:
and
that
there
be
no
abatement
made
of
the
usual
price
of
old
Plate
:
so
that
the
imposed
rates
of
Excise
in
these
particular
Proposals
,
relating
to
Silver
and
Gold
,
(
without
burthening
any
poor
mean
Persons
at
all
)
reflects
and
wholly
rests
upon
the
Buyers
only
,
men
wealthy
,
or
of
competent
Estates
,
and
so
best
able
to
spare
these
small
inconsiderable
proportions
,
tending
much
to
Gods
glory
,
and
the
present
and
future
good
of
their
Countrey
:
especially
being
so
,
that
it
is
imposed
but
once
,
and
holding
no
equivalent
proportion
with
the
rate
of
Excise
put
upon
other
things
indispensibly
necessary
for
sustentation
of
life
:
For
instance
;
Every
Barrell
of
strong
Beer
,
payes
two
Shillings
six
Pence
Excise
(
the
price
of
the
Barrell
to
the
Brewer
being
ten
Shillings
)
which
amounts
to
five
Shillings
in
the
pound
,
and
moreover
is
a
continued
charge
.
These
Proposalls
are
in
all
humblenesse
submitted
to
your
Honours
grave
Wisdomes
,
and
Iudgements
to
determine
of
.
By
your
Honours
most
humble
Servant
,
a
zealous
well-wisher
to
the
publick
.
MARM
-
MARSHALL
.