A Plea for the Public-Faith, Notice
A BRIEF Advertiſement, Not unreaſonably hazzarded.
THis Remonſtrant, being deſirous that the Honour and well-being both of the King and People, may be preſerved by a timely ſupply of all their neceſſities; and hearing ſince the concluſion of this Remonſtrance, that his Majeſtie hath preſent uſe of a very great ſumm of Money, an Expedient, came ſuddenly into thought, whereby in his judgement, he may not only be ſupplyed, but thereby prevent alſo a great miſchief which is already felt, and whereof we ſhall every day grow more and more ſenſible, by that diligence which is now practiſed to draw a conſiderable part of the Kingdoms Treaſure into private hands.
For, the Eccleſiaſticks, by being repoſſeſſed of about an hundred forty and two thouſand pounds per annum, (as this Remonſtraant is credibly informed) by Impropriations, now well near all out of Leaſe, beſides Parſonages and Vicaridges, with other vaſt Revenues lately ſo much improved, that their Annual worth is greatly enlarged, have already raiſed ſo many hundred thouſands of pounds by Fines and Rents, that it hath exhauſted the Treaſure of this Kingdom out of the Peoples purſes, into their ſecret Hoords; even ſo much, that there is not ſufficient for men to follow their Trades and Callings, pay Taxes, and ſuſtain their Families, without great penury: And the ſaid Eccleſiaſticks, (as it is famed alſo) are ſo ſuſpitious of the Securities of theſe Times, and (perhaps, juſtly ſo fearful leſt the King and his Council, or the King and the next Parliament, may take their Uſeleſneſs, Avarice and Ambition, into ſuch ſerious conſideration) that, to provide for what may poſſibly ſucceed, they will either hide their money in the earth, where much of it may be quite loſt; or elſe keep it ſo cloſe, that little of it will be employed, for Advance of Traffick & Negotiations betwixt man and man, & Trade thereby obſtructed, much more then at preſent; eſpecially, by that time they have fleeced every ſheep within their Juriſdictions. Therefore, the King and his Council, (upon a view taken of what they have received) may if they need it for Publick-uſes, get ſpeedy ſupply of money, (as legally as they repoſſeſs thoſe Lands) by requiring a Benevolence from all the Prelates, now enriched to exceſs, meerly by the Kings Favour; and who, being (for the moſt part) old men, with one foot and a half in the Grave (and ſome of them childleſs) ſhall not only have more left then is neceſſary; yea, much more (though nothing be left them but their yearly Rents) then either their Predeceſſors had, or then they will deſerve, as now they are conſtituted: But, by this means alſo, much money which is, or which probably would elſe be Hoorded up, to the Publick dammage, will be diſperſed to the advance of Trading, and to the employing of many thouſands, who now want bread for their Families, becauſe there is not wherewith to ſet them on work: Or elſe, (which will be a far better Expedient, if the King were ſo pleaſed) he may be ſupplyed more to his honour, by the Purchaſers of the ſaid Prelates Lands, if by his favour they were thereto enabled, as they might juſtly be: For, this Remonſtrant is perſwaded, if they might have their Bargains and Sales confirmed by Parliament, with his Royal aſſent, they would contribute a more bountiful ſupply then the Prelates; and would be Poſſeſſors and Occupiers of thoſe eſtates for the future, more to the glory of God, more for his, with the Publick honour and welfare, and more for the lawful benefit and advantage of private Perſons: And, this Remonſtrant can not forbear openly to profeſs, that he thinks in his conſcience, the Prelates are neither conſiſtent with an Orthodox Chriſtian Diſcipline, nor with the lawful Intereſts of King or People: And, that he wonders at the madneſs of this Generation, ſeeing ſo many thouſands within their knowledge undone by truſting to the Bargains, Sales and Securities of their Parliaments, which were thought the beſt Security in the world; that, they will now adventure their money upon ſo ſlender a ſecurity, as the hand and ſeal only, of old doting men, who are Tenants but for life, (perhaps, but during pleaſure) without a general warranty, by ſome good Collateral Security. But, let thoſe adventrous Contractors do as they pleaſe; The Remonſtrant having played the Fool himſelf in truſting to ſuch Securities, hath no reaſon to grudge other men the liberty to buy wit with their own money; and though in charity, he would prevent their dammage, yet, knowing he ſhall never be able to make ſuch men wiſer by examples or counſel, until they have as well paid for it as he hath done, he will ſcrible no more to that purpoſe; but conclude all with this prayer, GOD BLESS THE KING and PEOPLE, and encline thoſe who can better vindicate the Publick Faith of this Nation, to contribute their endeavours in due ſeaſon.
FINIS.