'The intended Report of ye Councell of Trade to his Ex[cellen]cie ye Lord Leiut. & Councell of Ireland'

<449r>

The intended Report of ye Councell of Trade
to his Excie ye Lord Leiut. {sic} + Councell of Ireland

In obedience to yor Lopps Act of Councell dated Ianuary 20th: 1627 wee have spent severall dayes in Considering how as well the welth {sic} of this kingdome in generall as ye money thereof in perticuler {sic} may bee encreased, and in Order thereunto have first sett downe to ye best of our knoledge {sic} ye State of this kingdome in Reference to trade. Secondly wee have noted such Inferences from ye Same, as doe shew ye sevrall {sic} Causes of ye Smalene{illeg}sse of of {sic} Trade want of money, and ye generall Poverty of this Nacon; And in the last place wee have offerred such generall Remedies, and expedients in ye inspective Causes as may be obtained and practized wthout any new law to bee made in Ireland. And wee are ready soe to enlarge upon ye Branches Wee have offerred as to make such of our Proposalls practicable as yor Lopps shall pl{illeg}ease to select and to approve of, for that Purpose.

March 25th. 1673

Consideracons relation to ye Improv{illeg}ment of Ireland. The State of Ireland in {sic} Reference

The state of Ireland To trade in reference to Trade.

1 The whole territory of Ireland consists of about 12 millions of Acres English measure of arrable meadow, and good Pasture land, wth about two millions of Rocky Boggy, and Scrubby pasture comonly {sic} called unprofitable, though not altogether such, the rest being {illeg}{illeg}absolute Baggs, L{illeg}ough, Rocke Sands Strand Rivers and high wayes:– of all wch Sevrall {sic} Lands the yearly Rent is supposed to be about 900: thousand pounds and worth to be purchased nine Millions

2 The val{illeg}ue of all ye houseing In Ireland wch: have one or more Chimneys in them (excluding all {illeg}cabbins wch have none) is supposd to be towo Millions and an halfe

3 The Cattele and live Stocke 3 Millions

4 Corne Furniture Merchandize, Shipping &: about one million

5 The Coyned and currant money now running in Trade is between 300 and 250: thousand pounds or $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{50}}$ of ye value of ye whole kingdome wch wee supposed to about 16 Million{illeg}

6 The number of people in Ireland is about 11: hundred thousand vizt. 300 thousand Protestants and 800 thousand Papiests, whereof $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$ are Children unfitt for labour, Half of the Remainder {illeg} {illeg}and about 75 thousand of ye remainder are by reason of their{illeg} Quality, and estates, above the necessity of corporall Labor, Soe as their remaines 750 thousand laboring men and woemen 500 thousand whereof doe performe ye prsent work of ye na{illeg}ton.

7 The Said 1100 thousand wch have but one all people doe {illeg} above live in about 200 thousand Families or houses where of ther {sic} are but about {illeg}16{illeg} thousand wch have more then one Chimney in ech {sic} and about 24 thousand wch have but one all ye other housing being 160 thousand are wrecht{illeg} {illeg}nasty Cabbins wthout Chimney window or dore shutt and worse then those of ye Savage Americans and wholy unfitt for ye making of merchantable Buttr. Cheese or ye manufacturies of wollen or leather.

8 The houses wthin ye Cittyes and liberties of Doublin are under 4 thousand viz in ye Citty 1150 and ye ale houses wthin ye same about 12: hundred and it seems yt in other Corporations and Country tounes the proporcon of ale houses is yet greater in Doublin viz $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$ of ye whole.

9 The Countys hath been found Barronys and parishes of Irland {sic} <449v> Are now become marvelous unequall soe as some are twenty times as bigg as others The County of Corke seeming in respect of parishes and people to be $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{6}}$ of ye whole kingdome and in other Counties not being above $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{20}}$th part of ye County of Corke it hath been found very difficult to gett fitt persons for Sherriffs and Iurys and ye often houlding of assises and quarter sessions in ye said small Countyes hath been found an unneessary burthen {sic} upon them

10 There are now in Irland {sic} 32 Counties 252 Barronyes and 2278 Parishes soe as ye number of Sheriffes and Sheriffe Bayleffes high and petty Constables are about 3: thousand persones whereof not a bove $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{10}}$ are english or protestants soe as ye Remaindr (about a bout 2700) are Ireish papi{illeg}sts, and are ye {illeg}Civill Militia of this kingdome and have executeing of all decrees of Courts and In of Iustices of peaces warrant.

11 This Civill Militia and ye rest of ye Irish Papi{illeg}sts being above 800 thousand are Influenced and guided by about 3 thousand preists {sic} and fryers and they governd by theire Bishopps + Superiours who are for ye most part of ye old Irish gentry, men of forreign Education + who depend upon forraigne {illeg}Princes + Prelates for Beneficies and Prefer{illeg}ments.

12 The Irish Papiests (besides Sundays and the 29: Holy dayes appoynted by ye law) doe o{illeg}ne place wth an other observe a bout 24 days more in ye yeare in which they doe noe Corporat{illeg}t labour Soe as t{illeg}hey have but a bout 2{illeg}65 d6ays 266 working days whereas Protestants not Strictly observing all ye legall Holy days by a totall forbearing of labour have in effect 300 working dayes in ye yeare that is 34 days more then ye papists or at least 5 weekes of 6: ofDayes in each or $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{10}}$ part of ye whole yeare.

13 The expence of ye whole people of Ireland is a about 4 millions ꝑ Annu{illeg}m ye 50th part whereof being 80 thousand pounds and ye quarter of annuall house Rent being a abouet 60 thousand pounds together wth. 450: thousand pounds more being the value of halfe a y{illeg}ea{illeg}rs Rent Tyth and quittrent doe make 590 thousand pounds as yt sume of money wch will compleatly {illeg} + plentifully desire y{illeg}e trade of this kingdome

14 The value of ye Comodities {sic} exported out of Ireland & ye fraight of ye Shipping Imployd in ye trade of this nacon together with ye fishing of herrings is aabout 500 thousand pounds ꝑ annum.

15 The value of ye Castle (vizt Estates in Ireland of such persons as doe usualy {sic} live In England ye Intrest {sic} of d{illeg}b{illeg}e debt of Ireland due and payable to England, the pay of ye forces of Ie{illeg}rland {sic} now in england, ye Expence and pensions of agents and Sollicitors {illeg}Comonly residing In england aabout Irish Affaires, The expence of english and Irish youth now upon ye Education beyond ye seas and lastly ye supposed Proffitt of ye two great Farmes now on F{illeg}oot doe altogether make up near 200 thousand pounds ꝑ Annum as a debt payable to England o{illeg}Out of Ireland.

16 The value of ye Cattle (vizt: hine oxon and Sheep) carryd out of Ierland {sic} Into England was never more {illeg} then 140 thousand pounds ꝑ Annum the Fraight, hides Tallow and wooll of ye Sayd hine cattle were worth abouet 60 thousand pounds of ye Sayd 140 <450r> Thousand pounds and ye value of the good Imported out of england into Irland (when ye Cattle Trade was free) was between treble + quadru{illeg}ble to ye neate {illeg}value of ye one and Sheepps {sic} Flesh or transported from hence into England

The Customs of exported + Imported Goods between England + Ireland {illeg}abstracted from ye excise thereof was in ye fir{illeg}st Trade a about 32 thousand Pounds ꝑ Annum.

Inf{illeg}erences from ye Premisses.

1 By Compairireing ye extent of ye tTerritory, wth ye number of ye people it appeare{illeg}s yt Ireland is much under peopled for as much as there isare a above 10 Acres of good land {illeg}to e{illeg}very head in Ireland, whereas in England, and France these are but 4, and in Holland Scarce one.

2 If there be {illeg}250 thousand space hands capable of Labour who can earle 4: or 5li: ꝑ Annum one with annother. It follows yt ye people of Ireland we{illeg}ll{illeg} Imployd may earn one million per Annum more then they {illeg}doe now wthin more then ye years Rent of ye whole Country

3 If an house wth stone walls and a Chimney well covered and halfe an acer {sic} of land well d{illeg}itched a about, may be made for 4 or 5li or there a aboutes then $\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{3}}$ of ye Spare hands of Irland {sic} can in one years time, {illeg}build and fitt upp 160 thousand such houses and Gardens in {illeg}Stead of ye like number of ye wretcht Cabbins a above mentiond And that in a time when a forraigne Trade is most dead and obstructed + when money is most scarce in ye land.

4 The other third part of ye Said Spare hands wthin ye same years (besides ye makeing of Bridges Harbours Rivers High ways &c more fitt for Trade) are a able to plant as many f{illeg}rui{illeg}{illeg}te + timber Trees + + {sic} also quick sett hedges as being grown upon would distinguish ye bounds of lands beautify ye Country shade and shelter Cattle furnish wood, Fuell Timber + Fruit in a bettr manner then ever was yet known in Ireland or England + all this in a {illeg}time when trade is dead + money most scarce.

5 In ye Gardens belonging to ye cabbins before mentioned and planted wth hempe, and flax according to ye {illeg}present s{illeg}tatute would grow 120: thousand {illeg}po{illeg}unds-worth of ye said Comodities, ye manufacture where of as a{illeg}lso {illeg}o{illeg}f ye well and Hydes non exported would {illeg}by ye labour of ye spare hands a above mentiond {illeg}{illeg}amou{illeg}nt too a about one million {illeg} {illeg}ly ye labour <450v> ꝑ Annum more then att prsent.

6 The multitude and proporcon of ale houses aabove menciond is a Signe of want of Imployment in th{illeg}ose that bu{illeg}y {illeg}buy no l{illeg}es{illeg}se then those yt sell ye drinke

7 There being aabove 2: thousand Papists in Ireland and little aabove 2: thousand parrishes of it it is manifest that 500: Pr{illeg}eists {sic} may in a Competent measure officate for ye said number of People & Parishes, And yt two papish Bishopp if any at all be nessesary {sic} may as well governe ye Said 500 Priests, and 2 thousand parishes {illeg}as the 26 Bishops of England doe govern ye near ten thousand Parishes.

8 If ye Protestants according to ye prsent practice {illeg} & understanding of ye law doe worke one tenth ppart of ye year more then ye papists and yet there be 750000 working people in Ireland where of aabout 600 thousand papiests {sic}: it follows yt ye papish religio{illeg}n {illeg}takes off 60 thousand workers wch att {illeg}about 4li ꝑ Annum each is about above {illeg}250 thousand pounds per Anuum of it {illeg}Selfe besides the maint{illeg}enance of {illeg}25 hundred superfuous {sic} Churchmen wch att 20li ꝑ Annum each, some to 50 thousand pds ꝑ Annum more.

9 If t{illeg} {illeg}The sherriffs of Ireland att 100li ꝑ anum ye Constables att 10li ꝑ Anum {illeg}each being all English protestants (wch some incident Charges for ye admins{illeg}tration {sic} of Iustice may be s{illeg}allaviated + defrayd for thirty thousand pounds ꝑ annum consist{illeg}ent wth his maties present Revenue, Force{illeg}s, &c: wch Sayd {illeg}SSa{illeg}larys may also bee lessend by uniting some of ye Smaller Counties, Barronys and parishes according to ye proporions of people Inhabiting wthin them

10 If there be not 350 thousand pounds Coyned {illeg} mo{illeg}ney in Ireland, and if {illeg}590: thousand pounds (or neare d{illeg}ouble{illeg} wt there now {illeg}is) be requisite to drive ye trade thereof of then it follows yt there is not money enough in Ireland to drive ye Trade of ye nacion.

11 If the lands of Ireland + housing in Corporacions be worth above 10 Millions to be now Sold and if lesse then one million of Stocke will d{illeg}rive all all ye trade afore mentioned that Ireland is capeable {sic} of ({illeg}reckoning but towo returnes ꝑ annum) it is certaine that the Clearest part of ye sd 10 millions worth of reall Estate being well contrived in a banke of Creditt will wi{illeg}th ye Cash yet remaining aabundantly answer all ye ends of <415r> of domesticke Improvements Improvements + forraigne trafique whatsoeve{illeg}r.

12 If ye whole substance of Ireland be worth 16 Millions as a bove Said, if ye Customs between England + I{illeg}reland were never worth aabove 32: thousand pounds ꝑ anum if ye titles of estates in Ireland be more haz{illeg}ardous {illeg}{illeg} experience for yt England + Irland {sic} are not undr. one legisslati{illeg}ve Power; If Irland {sic} till now hath been a Continuall Charge to england, If yt Reduceing yt late Rebelion {sic} did Cost england 3 times more in men + money then ye Substance of ye whole Country when reduced in worth if it be Iust that men of English Birth & Estate Living {illeg}in in Ireland should be reprsented in ye Legislative Power, And yt ye Irish should not be Iudged by those who they pretend doe usurp their estates it then seems Iust + Convenient, that both King domes should be united + Govern by one Legislative Power, {illeg}nor is it hard to Shew how this may be made pract{illeg}icable, nor to Satisfie repair{illeg}e, or silence those who are Intere{illeg}std or affected to ye Contrary

13 In ye mean time it is wonder full yt men born iIn England, who have lands granted to them by yt king for service done in Ireland to yt crowne of England, when they have occ{illeg}sion {sic} to reside, or negotiate in in {sic} england should by theire Country men kindred + + {sic} friends there bee debarred to bring wth them out of Ireland food thence whereupon to live, nor sufferd to bring such commodities as they fetchd from {illeg}America, directly home but roun{illeg}d aabout by England wth extream hazard and losse + be forced to trade only wth strangers + bec{illeg}ome un acquainted wth theire own Country Especially when England gaineth more then it looseth by a free co{illeg}mmerce as exporting hither three times as much as it receiveth fro{illeg}m hence in soe much {illeg}as {illeg}95li in England was worth {illeg}about 100℔ of yt like money in I{illeg}reland in yt free kind of Trade.

14 It is conceived yt aabouet {illeg}$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$ of yt Imported manufatctures might be made in Ir{illeg}eland and $\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{3}}$ of yt {illeg}Remainder mght {sic} be more conveniently had from forraigne <451v> parts then out of England, and Consequently yt it is Scarce necessary att all for Ireland to receive any goods of England, And not Convenient to receive $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$ from thence of ye whole, wch: it needeth to Import above ye value twhere of is under 100 thousand pounds ꝑ anum.

The applica{illeg}tion of the prmisses in order to remedy the defects + Impediments of the Trade of Ireland.

1 For as much as ye Consideracion of raysing money hath already + for lately been before yor Lopps: therefore wthout giveing this B{illeg}oard any further trouble conc{illeg}erning ye Sa{illeg}me wee humbly offer in order to ye reguation of ye s{illeg}evrall species therof {sic} that where as weighty plate peeces {sic}, together with {illeg}Duccato{illeg}ones (wch wee est{illeg}imate to be three three qua{illeg}rters of ye money now currant in Ireland) doe {illeg}already passe at propor{illeg}ti{illeg}onable rates and for that all other species of Silver money are neither raysedrated proporrtionable to ye Said weighty Peeces {sic} nor{illeg} to {illeg}o{illeg}ne another, That whole halfe and quarter Cobbs of sterling Silver if light may passe att Sfix{illeg}ve {illeg}shillings{illeg} shillings & Silver as ye p{illeg}errues {illeg}&c: may passe as a{illeg}comody{illeg}ity{illeg} or att five shillings per ounce until there shall be a conveniency for new Coyning thereof {illeg}into smaller money.

2 That forth-with application may be made into England to restore trade for ye plantations + between ye two kingdoms (+ particulary {sic} yt of Ca{illeg}ttle) as here-to-fore, + in ye mean time to discover + hinder by llownace to discover + hinder by all me{illeg}an{illeg}es possible yt carring {sic} of Bullion {illeg}out of Ireland Into England, to ye end yt those in england who use to receive moneys from hence may be ne{illeg}cessi{illeg}tated to be very e{illeg}arnest in ye Sayd neg{illeg}otiation

3 That endevo{illeg}urs be used in England {illeg}for ye union of ye two kingdoms under one Legislative Power proportionably as was hereto{illeg}fore + {illeg}Succes{illeg}fully done in ye case of wales.

<452r>

4 For Reduceing Interest from ten to five or Six ꝑ scent, for disposing m{illeg}onyed men to be rather {illeg}merchants then usurers, rather to trade then purchase {illeg} and to prevent ye bad, and uncertaine paymts. wch Gentle men are forced to make unto Tradesmen whose Stocke + Creditt is thereby soon buriyed in de{illeg}bts not to be recovered wthout long & expensive suites that a banc{illeg}k{illeg} {illeg}of Land bee forth wth. contrived + countenanced

5 That ye act of s statestate wch mitigates + compounds for ye Customs of some forraigne Goods (purposily {sic} made high to hinder thiere {sic} Importations att least before it to be renewed. & to to {sic} encourage the manufacture of them here) bee taken {illeg} again into consideration at least before it be renewed.

6 That ye Lord Leiut. {sic} and Counccell as also the nobility, Courts of Iustice and officers of ye {illeg}armey, and other Gentlemen in and about Doublin may by thei{illeg}r engagement, + example discountenances ye use of some certaine forrainge Coormodities to be pi{illeg}tched upon by yor Lopps: And yt ye Gentle men + free holders in ye Country at theire assizes and, other Country meetings and ye Inhabitan{illeg}ts of all Corporations, who live in houses of above 2two Chimneys in each may Afterward afterwards doe ye same.

7 That there be a corporation for ye navigation of this kingdome, + yt other s{illeg}ocietys of men, may be Instituted, wh shall undertake, + give security to carry on the sevrall {sic} trades + manufacttures of Ireland, and to see yt all goods exported to forraigne Marketts be faithfully wrought + pa{illeg}ckt wch Societys may direct themsel{illeg}ves by yt many Sevrall {sic} proposalls and reports formerly + of late made by yt Councilll of Trade, and wch the are now a againe ready to enlarge + accomodate {sic} to yt said sevll: purposes respectively + more parti{illeg}cula{illeg}rly to yt manufactures of Linen wool{illeg}len + Lether {sic}.

8 That yt Corporations of Ireland may be obl{illeg}iedged to engage now manufactures according to thier {sic} primitve Instrucctions wch was to carry on such grerat works by exceeding yt strength of s{illeg}ingle persons + particularly that they may cause some such like proporcctions of <452v> Yarn Linen, and wollen as also of worsted to be spun as mr {illeg}Hawkins hath propounded.

9 That the patents wch hinder yt working of mines may bee Considered.

10 That yt Iustices of peace may be admonished to protect yt Industrious and not suffer their labours to be Interrupted by vexations + frivelous Ind{illeg}ic{illeg}tements.

11 That the Inhabitan{illeg}ts of yt wretched Cabbins in Ireland may be en{illeg}couradgedged to reform them and also Compelld therunto, as an easy + Indulge{illeg}ntent comitting for yt penalty of nine pence ꝑ Sunday payable by the Estate Statute, and likewise, to make Gardens, at yt estate Statute for hempe and flaxx reuqires, And yt other ye Laws agt: Id{illeg}lers, Vagabonsds &{illeg}c: may be applyed to ye prevention of Beggery {sic} and Theivery {sic} whereunto the orderly disposing of ye said Cabbins into town ships would also Conduce.

13 That ye exorbitant number of Popish Preists {sic} and Fryars may be Red{illeg}uced to a bare Competency, as also ye numbe{illeg}r of Ale houses.

14 That ye Constables and Sherri{illeg}ffes Bayliffs may also be English{illeg} protestants though upon Sallary.

From all wch. and from ye settlement of Estates it is to be hoped yt men seeing more advantage to live In Ireland then then {sic} else where may be Invited to to remove themselves thither, and soe {illeg}Supply ye want of people ye g{illeg}reatest + most fundamentall Defect of that kingdom.

<453r>

Certaine generall Rules collected concern{illeg}ing money and Bullion out of ye late consultation att Co{illeg}urt in a speech made by Sr Thomas Roe att ye Councell Table 1640

Go{illeg} and Silve{illeg}r have a totwo fold Estimaction, Inin ye extrinsique value, as they are moneys and princes measure given to their People of trade and this is a Prerogative of kings: or in the In{illeg}trinsique as they are Comodites {sic} valueing each other according to their Plenty or Scarcity, and soe all other Comodities by them and this is ye sole powr of Trade.

Thise mmeade ysuree lord Trer in a kingdom ought to be Constant. It is ye Iustice, and honor of the king, for if they be altered all men att yt time are de{illeg}ceived in their prsent foprecedent Contracts either for lands or moneys, and ye king m{illeg}ost of all. For noe man knoweth either wt he hath or wh{illeg}at he oweth.

This made the Lord Trerer Burleigh in in {sic} anno 1573 (when Some Projectors had sett on F{illeg}oott a matter of {illeg}that nature) to tell them ye they are were worthy to Suffer death, for attempting to put soe great a dishonor upon ye Queen {illeg}+ Detriment on+ discontent on ye people for to alter this publique measure is to leave all the marketts of the kingdome unfurnished + what will be ye mishchiefe the proclamations of ye 5th. + 6th: of Queen {illeg}Mary and 4th and of Eliz: will manifest, when but a rancor <453v> produced that effect soe farr, yt besides ye faith of those Princes to ye {illeg}Contrary dlivered in theire Edicts they were iInfor{illeg}ced to ca{illeg}use ye Magistrates in evey {sic} Shire respectively to Con strayne ye people to furnish the marketts to prevent a mut{illeg}iny.

To thinke then this measure att this time Short is to {illeg}Raise all {illeg}Pri{illeg}{illeg}zes or to tune the measure or money now currant into disuse + Bullion, Sfoer who will ꝑt. wth any, when it is by sven more in ye hundred in ye masse then the {illeg}new moneys + yet of no{illeg}e {illeg}more value in ye markett.

Hence ye necessity of it will follow yt there will not atof a long time be minted of ye new moneys {illeg}Sufficient to drive ye exchange of ye kingdome, and soe all trade att one Instant instant will be att a Stand, + in ye mean time ye markes unfurnished, and thus farrarr asas moneymoney inis a measure.

Now as Comodity i{illeg}t isis respected + valued by the Intrinsique quality + first ye one mett{illeg}all to ye othe{illeg}r.

All comodities {sic} are prized by plenty or scarcity by dearnesse or cheapnesse ye one to ye other. if If then wee desire our silver to by{illeg}uy g{illeg}old as it hath lately been we must lett it be ye cheaper + lesse valued in {illeg}proportion; and C{illeg}so contrary For {illeg}one equiv{illeg}alent Proporcion in both will bring in neither. wWee see ye proffitt thereof by ye unusuall Pieces quantities of gooldgold brought lately to ye mint by reason of ye price wee rate it {illeg}aboutve all other Countrys gogold maybe bought to {sic} de{illeg}are. tTo furnish then this way ye mint with both is Impossi{illeg}bl{illeg}e.

And att this time it was apparently proved both by the best artistsArtists, ++ merMerchants most {illeg}acquainted wth ye exchange in both ye examples of ye mint masters {illeg}in ye {illeg}dRixDollers + {illeg}Royalls of eight, ytyt sisilver here us if equall value + gogold {illeg}above wch. forraigne parts in ye Instrinsique value, but {illeg}ll{illeg}SSallarys prresented to ye Lordsords byby yeye miMint master {illeg}is oonly ye {illeg}nomination {illeg}of it's{illeg} extrinsiqutrinsie Quualityty.

But if wee desire both i{illeg}t isis not ye raiaising ye value that doth it but ye ballancing ye Trade, for if we buy more then wee sell of all other Comodities be ye money ne{illeg}ver Soe high priszed wee {illeg}stmust part wth itit to make the Disproportion e{illeg}aven, if {illeg} weewee sell more, then the Contrary will follow,. andAnd this isis plaine in ye Spanish necessytyesities, for should that KKing advancenced to a double Royall of eight, yett needing by reason of ye b{illeg}arroness ofof t{illeg}his Cou{illeg}{illeg}ountry more of forreaign {illeg} wares then he can countervaile by exchang{illeg}e with hiswth his own wares he must then ꝑt with his money + {illeg}gaine no more by exchanging with his own ares he must then part with his money & {illeg}gain no more by exchanging his Coyne then before, but will pay a higher price for ye Comodites {sic} he he {sic} buyeth {illeg}if th{illeg}is wrke of raiseing be his owne.

<454r>

But if wee Shall make Improvemt. of Gould + Silver being ye Staple Comoditys of this kingdome to ye {illeg}fashi{illeg}on of ye {illeg}Netherlands, were to fr{illeg}am a Royall monarchy by a Society of m{illeg}erchantsants, Theirtheir Country isis a continuanuall Faire, + Soe ye price of momoneys must ryseryse, + fall to fitt the{illeg}ir occasionsoccasions. wWe seeee this by raiseing ye exchange allat FrankfordFrankford and other places att ye usuall timestimes yye martsmarts.

ThisThis frequuentt + dayly change in ye low Cuntryes {sic} of these moneys is {illeg}noe Such Iusticeinjustice to any three as it would be {illeg}he{illeg}re, Foor there they being all m{illeg}erchants or mec{illeg}nickeschanickes the cancan rate accordingly theire labour, and therire were {sic} whether it be Coyne or other m{illeg}erchandisedise, ye ye Condiciition to ye prsent Condicion of thire {sic} own money in exchange.

And our English merchants to whose pro{illeg}ssfession it properlyroperly bebelongeth doe soe according to ye Iuust intinsique value of thire {sic} forraigne Coynes in all barter of of Comodities {sic} or exchange except usanceusance wchwch wewe ytyt and rated + tyed by ye ex{illeg}siquetrinsique measure of moneys in all our coconsta{illeg}ant Reckoningsgs, andand {illeg}nuanuall Bargains att home cannot Doe.

And for us then to raise our coyn at this time to equall theagt.3ire Proporcions we{illeg}re but to render our se{illeg}sselves toto aa ꝑrꝑetuall in{illeg}ercertaintietys, For they will Rayseaise there upon yye dayly {illeg}gagaine wch we have of Co{illeg}rseourse must follow, or {illeg}{illeg}lelse Recceivve noe Pro{illeg}ifitt by thisthis prsnet Change and soe destroy ye popollicyicy, IusticeIustice {illeg}Honour and tranqanquilityility of our state forfor ever.

<454v>

State of Ireland in 1673.