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This Title doth wholly depend upon the Mechanical part of
making Money； which because I am unskilful in； I do handle with
much scruple and retention； being forced to apply my self to what
I read in others； and peradventure may in some points
misunderstand； yet because this is a very main and principal
cause of the exportation of Money I cannot omit it： And the first
cause of the unequality of the coinage； is the greatness of the
Remedies both of the weight and fineness： and I do find that some
men of great experience and understanding even in this Mechanical
part do hold； that the Money both of Gold and Silver may be made
without any Remedy to be allowed either for weight or fineness。
This I am sure that it doth appear by the Records of former
times； that the Remedies allowed have been many times less than
now they are； and have been heretofore very variable according to
the favour or the skill which the Masters of the Mint did use to
make their own Advantage： since Henry VIIths time； the Mint
Masters have bin tied to account to the King for half the Profits
of the Remedies allowed； by which means it is manifest that half
the Remedies allowed might be cut off； and the Kings profits
might be better recompenced upon the price of the Coinage。 By the
Indentures of the Second of King James； the Officers of the Mint
are tied to account to the King for the whole profit of the
Remedies； but then there is a clause that the King shall give
them allowance for so much as they shall over…put above the
standard； which clause seemeth to me very captious： But if all
the inequality of the Moneys coined did consist in the Remedies；
the matter were not so much； but the great profit which hath been
made by culling of the Coins by Goldsmiths and Cashiers to
Merchants and others； through whose hands great Sums of Money do
pass； doth manifestly prove that the inequality of the Moneys is
much greater than the allowance of the Remedies can make it； yet
when I consider upon what great Penalties the Mint Master is
tied； how exact a Course is set down by his Indenture； and
observ'd for the Examination and Trial of his work； I cannot
imagine much less find out； where the Error lieth； but that there
is an Error； and such an one as deserveth strict Enquiry and
Redress by the State； I am verily perswaded。 The Mint Master
knoweth exactly how many pieces he is to sheer out of every pound
weight； but whether these pieces are shorn so equal to one
another in weight； as there shall be no advantage in culling out
the heaviest from the lightest； that is the Scruple： The course
is this； out of every proportion of Silver and Gold coined； there
is a piece taken at adventure； by certain Officers trusted； and
put into a Pix under their several Keys； and then at the years
end； this Pix is opened in the Star Chamber； and telling out so
many pieces as are to make a pound； they melt them and examine
whether they hold the weight and fineness； within the Remedies
required； which Course for the examination of the Fineness
seemeth exact enough； but for the weight it may fall out that the
pieces taken out of the several Proportions of Money coined；
being melted together may hold the weight required within the
Remedies； and yet the pieces of those several Proportions may
differ in weight from one another； more than the Remedy allowed。
The Remedies that are propounded for this inequality are divers：
Some think that it may be redressed by a strict and severe
Course to be held with all those； through whose hands the work
doth pass for the perfection of their works。
Others are much pleased with belief of some invented Engines；
which have been by some work…men offered for a more perfect and
exact coining of Moneys； than can be performed by the stamp； and
the ways that are now practised。
Others find no so good way as by the Mill； whereof divers
experiments have been made both in this Kingdom and in other
parts。 Of which； because I dare in my self deliver no Opinion； I
will only translate what I find written by a French Author； a man
of great practice and experience in these Mysteries； but because
in some places he hath words of Art which admit of no
translation； I must be fain use the original Terms： He saith；
That against the Establishment of the Mill it is objected； that
after the Invention of it； by reason of the great clipping that
belongs to it； the Conductor of it was of Necessity to have an
Augmentation for the Workmanship。
2。 That the Ressorts； and Wheels； and Squares and Pieces； by
which it is governed； are very subject to break and bruise one
another。
3。 That it wants Expedition； and dispatches but a little
work。
4。 That makers of false Money will easily counterfeit it。
5。 That no man will undertake to make Money with the Mill；
but at the same price which is paid for the marks for Silver
Counters made with a Mill。
To which fie objections I answer。
1。 That the quantity of Clipping Mill Money； is no loss to
the Farmer nor to the Workman； and is done without pain； charge
or travel； besides the Charge of the wasting is taken away； which
is both an expence to the Master and to the Farmer： That the
augmentation for the workmanship was not allowed for the new
melting of the Clippings； but because there was no reason that
the Masters of the Mill should without recompence give those
several fashions to the work； which the work…man is paid for； and
hath 3 sols allowed him upon the mark； and besides furnish great
Cizers； three sorts of Hammers； Anvil and other Instruments。 Now
the Money being made in the Mill by the industry of the Master
who doth give other like fashions to the work； as the Minters now
do； it was but reason to attribute the same right unto him。 And
in those places where Mill…Money hath remained in use； as at Pau
and at Bearne； the fee of the work…man is attributed to the
Master of the Mill； as likewise of the Carver and Graver； and
that very justly。
2。 For the Second Objection； that the Ressorts； Wheels；
Squares； etc。 are subject to breaking； It may be answered that at
the new setting up of the first Mills； the Artisans were not so
perfect and expert as they have shewed themselves since by
Practice； since the Mills are grown common as now they are： There
is nothing harder than to invent； nor more easie than to adde to
things invented。 There are Mills set up not only at Paris； but at
Lyons； Tholouse； Aix； Amiens； Nants； Bordeaux； Poitiers； so that
the use of them is now universal； for the Coinage doubles base
and abject Money。
3。 For the third Objection； That there is no Expedition in
Mills； and that the work is not so soon dispatched as with the
Hammer： It shall suffice to answer； That it proceeds from a Man
that hath no experience in this Subject of Money； because that
four Men bred and used to the making of Money in a Mill will do
more work than twelve work…men or Moneyers with the Hammer。
4。 For the fourth Objection； That the Counterfeiter of Money
will imitate the Money made in a Mill： this objection were
credible if the author could produce one piece of Silver or Gold
made in the Mill counterfeited since the Introduction thereof
brought into France； and there is nothing that the counterfeiters
of Money and their foster Fathers the Alchymists； do more fear
and apprehend； knowing that they cannot suborn base and abject
mettals； as Copper； Lead； Tinn； （the materials of Counterfeiters）
for Gold and Silver； but that the piece will instantly be
discovered； because the Moneys made in the Mill will always be
equal and of like volume； greatness and thickness； because it all
passeth by the same Coupier which cutteth equally； which cannot
be the case with the Moneys made with the Hammer； （the Hammer not
being governed with an equal force and measure； as in the Mill。）
Neither can they be clipped； but that the exposer thereof will be
discovered； taken and punished。 And it may be avowed that the
Teston made in the Mill hath not been seen clipped in France； the
perfect representation of the King's Image seeming to have been
retained； and terrified the Clippers。
5。 As for the last Objection； That no man will undertake to
make Money in the Mill； but at the rate which is paid for the
mark of the Silver Counters： This objection proceeds out of
Ignorance； because； the matter of Silver Counters is Argent le
Roy； and therefore of greater fineness than the Money； and
requires a greater charge to refine it to that title and degree。
Besides the maker of Silver Counters must have a great diversity
of Chisels； and Prints of a different sort from those of Moneys；
and almost as many as there be different Noble men； Corporations；
and Townhouses； that take pleasure to have their Arms or Devises
engraven in Silver or Copper Counters； whereof sometimes the very
square will cost 20 Livres； which shall serve only for one purse
of two marks of Counters； and for proof thereof let the Masters
of the Mills for coining of Doubles be called； and he will
undertake for the same wages and fees that the Moniers have； to
make the Moneys in the Mill。 Thus far this Author： but as I said
before； I undertook this Discour