按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
A Discourse of Coin and Coinage
by Rice Vaughan
1675
A Discourse of Coin and Coinage： The first Invention； Use；
Matter； Forms； Proportions and Differences； ancient & modern：
with the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Rise and Fall
thereof； in our own or Neighbouring Nations： and the Reasons。
Together with a short Account of our Common Law therein。
by Rice Vaughan； late of Grayes…Inn； Esq；
London； Printed by Th。 Dawks； for Th。 Basset； at the George； near
Cliffords…Inn； in Fleet…street。 1675。
To the Right Honourable Henry Earl of Clarendon； Viscount
Cornbury； and Baron Hide of Hindon； Lord Chamberlain to the
Queens most excellent Majesty。
Most Noble Lord；
It being become a thing so usual in this most scribling Age；
（nam scripturire quam parturire mallet hoc soeculum） to crave
shelter under the wings of some renowned Person； from the
severity of Censurers； without which； Learning shall scarcely
have Admittance： and this piece though not my own； yet coming to
my hands amongst other manuscripts of a Gentleman of Grayes Inn；
lately deceased； （and very near related to me） whose Genius； I
may safely say； was not a little curious in the search of other
knowledge than the Law； （to which he served five
Apprenticeships）。 And humbly conceiving nothing could more
seasonably appear in View for the better instructing our worthy
Countrymen in the Knowledge of a thing whose want is so generally
complained of； yet the Invention； Use； and Species with their
Advantages scarce truly understood； I presumed through that true
knowledge of your Lordships Person； and most zealous Honour of
your greatly to be admired Endowments； with your Love to
Learning； which the most plebeian ears and eyes were not ignorant
of； to recommend unto your Lordships hand this Treatise； in a
more ample and different manner than that lately published out of
the Mss。 of the never to be forgotten Earl of Sandwich； shewing
the first Invention； Use； Matter； Forms； Proportions； and
Differences； Ancient and Modern of that Coy Lady Pecunia； with
the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Rise or Fall thereof in
our own and neighbouring Nations； and the Reasons Pro and Con；
with other things in the other piece not contained。 And here I
cannot； without great unworthiness； be silent in the due praises
of his most Excellent Majesty that now is； who with abundance of
Royal Care and Wisdom； with no small charge； hath set forth a
Coin in Form； shape； Goodness； and Beauty； not second to any used
in the world； in Common Commerce； and so uneasy to be patterned
or imbellished； a thing of no small consequence in Commonwealths。
Herewith you have a short account of our books of Law； as also
Tables of the value of all sorts of Pearls； Diamonds； Gold；
Silver； and other Metalls。＇omitted from this edition＇。 I shall
not undertake to say； but that n the Tables of values； in these
mutable times； some variation may happen； to the common practice
of Artists； in that nature； whose private unmeasurable Ends are；
to some more their Gods than Justice or Honesty their Practise：
but the Grounds being herein plainly stated； a pregnant wit； with
a little Commerce； may soon rectify those diary Deceits； and for
the other part； whose Theory perhaps in some places； may be
thought too much to reflect on the too often practised Abuses of
the Gold…Smiths in that Nature； I hope all but themselves will
readily grant me Pardon for the Publishing； and they being but a
few； and Justice on our side； the Authors Bones I trust will not
disturb； nor I much suffer by the selfish Censures of a People so
obstinately unreasonable。 Mr Lord； I shall now only beg pardon
for this presumption； in hopes of success； till time give
opportunity to testify how much I am
My Lord；
truly devoted to your Lordships service；
and your Admirer；
Henry Vaughan。
Chapter 1
Of the First Invention and Use of Money。
The first invention of Money was for a Pledge and instead of
a surety； for when men did live by Exchange of their Wants and
Superfluities； both parties could not always fit one another at
the present； in which case the Corruptions of Man's Nature did
quickly grow to make it behooful； that the party receiving should
leave somewhat worthy to be esteemed for a Pledge； to supply the
givers want upon the like occasion： Time did easily find out that
this Pledge should be something not too common； not easy to be
consumed with use； or spoiled for want of use； and this was
Money。
The first use of Money was then by it to supply every man's
particular wants。 This introduced a second use of Cauponation；
when men did by the Pledge of Money procure not only those things
which they themselves wanted； but which they might sell to others
for more money： and under that kind is all Trades comprehended；
whether it be grose sale； or retale； and this use hath brought in
a third use of Money； for the gain of cauponation did give a
Colour to those that lent Money to such as did encrease it by
Trade； to take usury for it； which is therefore termed the most
unnatural use of Money； because it is most remote from the
natural Institution。 Of this there are many kinds of which the
most refined is that of Exchange； which is mix'd with an usury of
place； as that is of time。
Thus did Money grow inseperably necessary to all Exchange； to
make the things exchanged equal in value； for that all exchange
is either by the actual or intellectual valuation of Money； that
is to say； Either the thing is exchanged for Money； or if it be
exchanged for another thing； the measure of that exchange is how
much Money either of the things exchanged is conceived to be
worth； and Practice hath found out that in values； which the
Geometricians have found out in quantities； that two lines which
are equal to a third line； are equal to one another： So is money
a third line； by which all things are made equal in value； and
therefore it is not ill compared to the Meteria Prima； because；
though it serves actually to no use almost； it serves potentially
to all uses。 It is not impertinent to examine these things from
their ground in nature； or in use： For intending to treat by what
meanes the course of money may best be governed to the advantage
of the common…wealth； （a matter of so curious and subtil a search
as the most solid understandings are dazled with it） it is
necessary； first to lay down the first and plainest principles of
the Subject； by which the understanding of the Writer and the
Reader may be guided in the Labyrinths ensuing； and this subject
being much obscured； not only by the intricasie of its own
nature； but by the Art and Terms of those who do manage these
affairs； I do intent to lay open all the mysteries to the
comprehension of the attentive Reader。 And for that purpose； I
intend first Historically； to set down by what Degrees； and upon
what Reasons the forms of Money and of Coinage； now practised are
given into use； and without any censure or observation upon them：
and I will afterwards treat a part of the inconveniences grown
into this Subject of Money； and of the Remedies that may be
applied thereunto。
Chapter 2
Of the Matter of Money
Of all things whereof Money could be made； there was nothing
so fit as Metalls； as Copper； Silver； but above all Gold； for
they are first useful； which doth increase it； they may be
divided into as little parts as you will； and then returned into
a greater mass： they are susceptible of any form； mark or
impression to be made and fit to conceive it； they are of an
exceeding long indurance against the Injuries of time or
accident； they are hardly subject to any natural corruption；
especially Gold； of the continuitie and incorruptableness whereof
the Alchimists； who have most vexed that body； do write wonders；
so as one affirmeth； That it is harder to destroy Gold than to
make it； and they have sundry other properties accomodating them
for the matter of Money； as the world hath by a general consent；
and from all times received them for that purpose； especially
Gold and Silver； of which chiefly I mean to treat： It is true
that many particular Countries have antiently； and do as this day
use other things in stead of Money： （as to instance in some of
the modern） in AEthiopia they use certain stones of Salt in stead
of Money； in Guinney； Shells； in New Spain； Cacao； Coco in Peru；
one of which is a fruit； the other an herb： but in all these
Countries you shall find that there is a certain value set upon
Gold and Silver； by which chiefly the value of all other things
is raised； and that these other things do but serve as base Money
doth in sundry Countries of Europe； where it is current in
certain limits； by the Law or Custom of the Place； but yet they
cannot be without Gold and Silver Money； unless they will barr
themselves from all commerce with other Nations： And to that
purpose the Invention of Licurgus was admirable； who desiring to
lock up his Citizens from all commerce with other nations； did
upon great penalties banish all Gold and Silver out of the City；
and as long as that Prohibition was observed； the manners and
Customs of the City were