Richard Leicester.—First, as to this that no gold or silver comes into England, but that which is in England is carried beyond the sea, I maintain that it is because the land spends too much in merchandise, as in grocery, mercery and peltry, or wines, red, white and sweet, and also in exchanges made to the Court of Rome in divers ways. Wherefore the remedy seems to me to be that each merchant bringing merchandise into England take out of the commodities of the land as much as his merchandise aforesaid shall amount to; and that none carry gold or silver beyond the sea, as it is ordained by statute. And let a good ordinance be made hereof, as well by search as otherwise. And so meseems that the money that is in England will remain, and great quantity of money and bullion will come from the parts beyond the sea.
As to this, that the gold is right feeble because of clipping, there seems to me no other remedy than that gold be generally weighed by those who shall take it; and hereon let proclamation be made, and this will be a smaller loss than to change the money, as may be more fully declared.
As to this, that there is a great lack of halfpence and farthings, the Master is bound by his indenture to make halfpence according to the quantity of his work of silver. Let the Warden of the Mint be charged to survey that the Master of the Mint do in all points that which appertains to his office.
As to this, that the gold agrees not with the silver, it cannot be amended unless the money be changed. And to change the money in any manner seems to me universal damage to the lords, commons and all the realm, as may be more fully declared.
As to this, that new money is made in Flanders and in Scotland, let proclamation be made that all manner of moneys, as well of Flanders, Scotland and all other countries beyond the sea whatsoever, be forbidden from having any currency in England, and that none take them in payment except to bring them for bullion to the coinage of our lord the King.
Further, it will be altogether for the better and a very great profit to all the commons, that of the gold money now current, which is so clipped and otherwise impaired, that of this money, when it shall come to the Tower and to the coinage, henceforth our lord the King take for his seigneurage, and the Master for the work for him and his other officers, nothing more than 10d. in the pound.
Further there will be an increase of the money and profit to the whole realm if of all other bullion the King take only 12d. for his seigneurage and the Master of the Mint 12d. for his work.
Lincoln, Goldsmith.—To the noble lords of the Council of our lord the King, touching the charge which you have given me, please you to take note of this answer.
Touching the first article, that gold and silver is taken out of the realm, the first remedy against this is that no clerk or purveyor be suffered to take any silver or gold or to make any exchange to be taken to the Court of Rome, and no merchant be suffered to pay any money but only merchandise for merchandise; and also that the money of the Noble, at the same weight that it now is, be put at a greater value.
And touching the second article, the remedy is that all the money be of one weight, so that the money that is not of the weight ordained be bought according to the value.