Touching the first poynt. There are many craftsmasters in matters of imposts,
which know many meanes to raise up great summes of money, but they neuer had
the true knowledge of honour and honestie. But leauing these cunning
politicians I will follow those, who as they have had a great care of the
treasure, so have they sought by honest meanes to increase the reuenues of the
commonweale, lest the citie by want should be drawne into danger, and the
prince forced by vnlawfull meanes Licurgus
Polib. l. 6. de milit. ac domest.
Rom. disciplino.
Lysander and Callicratides: some of the king of Egypt, as Agesilaus, and Cleomenes, kings of Lacedemon.
For which cause the Seigniorie of Sparta hauing soone wonne all Greece, and
gathered together a great masse of treasure, they decreed, That all the
Cleomenes. Euerie commonweale therefore must prouide to have their
treasure built of a sure and durable foundation. There are onely seuen meanes
in generall for the making of a publike treasure, in the which all other are
conteined. The first is, by the reuenues of the commonweale: The second, by
conquest
Touching the first, which growes by the reuenues, there is not any seemes to
mee more honest & sure. So we read that all the antient monarchs and
law-giuers, which builded new cities, or transported new colonies, they
assigned (besides the streets, temples, theaters, & the possessions of
priuat men) certaine places fit for the commonweale, and free to all in
general; the which were called Commons, and let out to priuate men for a
certaine time, or for euer, paying a yeerely rent into the Treasurie or
Romulus the founder of Rome & of the Roman
commonweale, divided all the lands into three parts; appoynting a third for the
temporall of the Church, a third for the rents of the commonweale, and the
surplusage to be deuided among priuate men, the which at that time were three
thousand citisens, euerie one of the which hauing two iournies,Plutarch sets downe twise
as manie citisens, and saith that Romulus would set no limits of the territorie of Rome,
lest it should be seene what heNuma divided the reuenues to poore citisens:
but the first opinion is the more likely and the more common; for the deuision
of two iournies or acres continued a long time, as Pliny
saith, speaking to Cincinatus the Dictator, the which
was two hundred and threescore yeares after Romulus: Aranti
sua duo iuger a Cincinato viator inquit, vela corpus & audi mandata
Senatus: Cincinatus plowing his two acres, Passenger (saith he) vncouer
thy bodie, and heare the commaundements of the Senat. And Denis Halicarnasseus holds the first opinion; hee was in houshould
with Marcus Varro, the true Register of all Roman
antiquities. But since by the law Licinia, euerie
citisen was allowed to have Pliny, or Collumella:
Post exactos Reges Liciniana illa septem iugera, quae plebis
Tribunus viritim diuiserat, maiores questus antiquis retulêre, quàm nunc
nobis praebent amplissima veruacta, After the expulsion of the kings,
those seuen acres which the Tribune deuided to euerie one by the law Licinia, did yeeld our auncestours more profit, than now
our large fields. And the oration of Marcus Curius is
well knowne, noting him as a pernitious citisen that could not be contented
with seuen acres. In this diuision Romulus did imitate
the Egyptians, who in old time divided all the reuenues of Egypt into three
parts: The first was for the sacrifices and sacrificers; The second, to
entertaine the kings house, and to defray the publike charges; And the third
for the Calasiris, the Ezechiel, in
reforming the abuses of the princes of the Hebrewes, appoynted certaine lands
for the sacrifices, some common for the people, besides the reuenues for the
entertainement of the kings house, and to serue for publike expences. To the
end (saith hee) that the princes shall no more grieue my people with exactions
and imposts. Although from the beginning of the Israelits kingdome, the kings
had some reuenues; for the towne of Ziceleg, with some land being giuen to Dauid by king Achis, continued for
euer as part of the kings reuenues, and was neuer alienated. Of the regall
reuenues some are publike, some are priuate, the last may bee sould and made
away, the first Henry 2 hauing
requested the Siegniorie of Lucerne to ingage themselves for a certaine summe
of money, Hugo the chiefe magistrat made answere vnto
the Ambassador, That both the Senat and Commons of Lucerne Themistocles and Cato the Censor,
caused all the publike reuenues to bee seized on, the which had through tract
of time, and sufferance of magistrats beene vsurped by priuate men, saying in
their orations, Nec mortales contra deum immortalem, nec
priuatos contra
Rempub▪ praescribere posse, That mortall men could neuer
prescribe against the immortali God, nor priuate men against the commonweale.
And therefore the court of Parliament uppon a civill request obtained by the
kings Proctor generall, against Foelix of Nogaret, to whom
king Philip
S. Omer, adiudging the possession of certaine goods vnto
the king, allowing the religious to releeue themselves by some other meanes,
and to proue it duely, by way of inquest, and for cause,
which words (and for cause) are not to bee vnderstood for the poore subiects of
the countrie onely, but generally for all. And oftentimes the treaties made
betwixt princes have no other difficulties, but for the Henry 8 king
of England in a treatie made with the Pope and potentates of Italy, in the
yeare 1527, caused this clause to be added, That they might not giue away any
thing of the crowne of Fraunce, for the redeeming of king Frauncis: and upon this poynt the breach of the treatie of Madrid was
grounded, for that the auncient custome of this realme, conformable to the
edicts or ordinances of other nations, requires the consent of the three
estates: the which is obserued in Poland, by a law made by Alexander king of Poland, according to the disposition the common law,
vnlesse the sale were made at such time as the enemy had inuaded the
countrie:Apolloes treasury, and not to be wasted by
the Athenians.
Our kings have and doe acknowledge, that the proprietie of the crowne lands is
not the princes: for king Charles the 5 and 7, would not
have the crowne lands pawned, vnlesse the Parliament at the instance of the
kings Proctor had so decreed, as we may see in the auntient registers of the
court of Parliament, and chamber of accounts; and the reason is, for that the
reuenues belong unto the commonweale, as wise princes have alwaies
acknowledged: & when as king Lewis the 8 died
(hauing giuen much by his testament to poore widdowes and orphans) hee
commaunded all his jewels and moueables to be sould to performe his legacies,
least that any thing belonging to the crowne should be sould, as hauing no
interest in it. And for this cause Pertinax the Roman
Emperour caused his name being written uppon the Antonius Pius lived of his owne inheritance, applying
nothing that belonged to the publike, to his priuat vse: whom king Lewis 12 (called the father of his countrie) doth seeme
to imitate, who would not mingle his patrimony & reuenues, with that of the
publike;Pericles said to the Ambassadours of the confederats, That they had no
interest in the imployment of the treasure, so as they were maintayned in
peace: for it was contained in the treatie of aliance, that the money which
should be raised in the time of peace, should be gared in Apolloes temple, and that it should not bee imployed but by a common
consent. But there is great difference betwixt the Treasurie or Exchequer in a
monarchy, and in popular states: for a prince may have a treasurie of his
priuate patrimony, the which was called Fiscus by the
Auntients, and that ofAsconius et vlp. in l. 2. §. hoc
interdictum. Ne quid in loc pub.
Aerarium: the one being
divided from the other by the auntient
There are infinite more abuses which the commonweale sustaines by the sale of
their reuenues, but the greatest is, that the money which is made is not put
out to rent (like unto those that thinke to be good husbands) but is most
commonly wasted and giuen unto them that have least deserued, and so for want
of money to redeeme this land, the commonweale falles to decay: then doe they
also sell the commons wherby the poore are releeued. It were more fit to sell
the waste lands of the commonweale,Aristotle commends them of Constantinople, who sould
their lands for a continuall rent, the which is a meere alienation, and money
taken before, diminisheth the rent: the which was expressely defended by an
edict made by Charles the ninth. And although that
afterwards he made an other edict for the renting out of waste lands, and
paying of fines, by the persuasion of such as sought to make money: yet the
Parliament of Paris upon the verification of the said edict, decreed, That the
rents should not be redeemed, and that there should bee no fine payed at Frauncis the second
commingFrauncis died, as it appeareth by an account of the treasure made in
the yeare 1569: and by the same estate the alienation of the reuenues,
True it is, that a setled peace for these fifteene yeres hath much preuailed
for the maintenance of the state of England; and warre for the ruine of
Fraunce, if God had not sent our King Henrie 3 from
heauen to restore it to his first beautie. But we must obserue that for the
preseruation of the reuenues of a commonweale, most Caesar did in his first Consulship, who deuided the territory of Capua
among the people, and abated the rents of the farmes a third part, after that
hee had beene well bribed. And ten yeares after Quintus
Metellus Tribune of the people, to winne their favour, published a law
to take away the toles in all the ports of Italy. In like sort, Pericles to have credit with the people of Athens, made
Charles 9 if it were duely executed.
The second meanes to gather treasure together, is by conquest upon the
enemyTitus Liuius) and all the brasse that was taken
from the Samnites, was carried to the treasurie. And speaking of the Gaules
beyond the Alpes, he saith, That Furius Camillus carryed
into the Capitoll 170000 pounds of siluer which hee had taken from them: and
that Flaminius caused to bee brought out of Spaine of
the spoyles of Greece, the value of three millions & eight hundred thousand
crownes, besides siluer, rich moueables, armes and ships. Paulus Aemilius brought thrice as Caesar caused aboue fourtie
millions to be delivered into the publike treasurie, by the report of Appian. Wee may see from the 33 booke of Titus Liuius to the 34, infinite treasures brought to the
Treasurie of Rome of the spoyles of conquered nations. And although all were
not brought in by the Generals, yet fearing to bee charged with corruption, or
to bee frustrate of their tryumphs, they alwayes delivered in great summes: for
Scipio Asiaticus was accused and condemned of
corruption, in a great fine, and yet he brought into the treasurie aboue two
millions of gold: and Scipio the Affrican his brother,
was also included in the accusation, although he had brought aboue fiue
millions of gold of his conquests into the treasurie, besides the value of ten
millions and five hundred Antiochus was condemned: by meanes of the
victorie they had obtayned, and yet both of them were exiled and died poore.
And although that Lucullus was the first (as Plutarch saieth) that inriched himselfe with the spoyle
of his enemies, yet did he bring more into the Treasurie than any of the rest,
except Caesar: the which I thought fit to obserue, for
that commonly wee imploy the treasure for the charge of the warres, and yet in
all victories and conquests there neuer comes a crowne into the Exchequer, and
oftentimes the sacke & spoile is giuen before the townes be taken or
yeelded.
The Romans were not contented with their treasures and spoyles, but they
condemnedOdocres king of the Herules. And soone after Hortarius king of the Lumbards condemned the vanquished
to pay him yerely the moytie of their reuenues: as also the Romans had done
unto the Doriens long before. But William the Conqueror,
after he had conquered the realme of England, declared all the countrey in
generall, & every mans inheritance in particular forfeyted unto him by the
law of armes, intreating the Englishmen as his farmours. Yet the Romans haue
alwayes shewed themselves courteous and affable in that poynt, sending Colonies
from their citie to inhabit the conquered countryes, distributing Sultan Mahumet king of the Turkes, found
Amurath the first dealt more mildly
with the Timariots, giuing them certayne lands and rents, to some more, and to
others lesse, upon condition they should attend him in the wars when they were
called, with a certayne number of horse: and if the Timariot chanced to die,
the fruits should acrue unto the Prince, vntill that hee had aduaunced some
other, by way of gift. And generally the tenth of all successions belonged to
the prince (the which
The kings of Castile have done in manner the like at the West Indies, and
namely the Emperour Charles 5, hauing conquered Peru,
gaue the lands to the Captaines and Spanish souldiers by way of gift onely; and
beeing dead, they returned to the
The third meanes to augment the treasure, is by liberalitie of friends or
subiects, be it by legacie, or by donation during life: the which wee will
speake briefly of, forHannibal had in a manner quite vanquished the Romans,
and taken from them almost all Italy, the king of Egypt sent the value of 400
thousand crownes to Rome in pure gift; the which the Romans refused, giuing
great thanks to the king. They did the like Hierom king of Sicile, who gaue them a crowne of gold
waying 320 pound, and Hierom sent them
It was common to the kings of Egypt to glorie in their bountie to others: for
Ptolomie the first, toward the citie and inhabitants of
Ierusalem, to whom he sent the value of two hundred threescore and
sixteenePtolomie king ofAttalus king of Asia, Eumenes king of Pergame, Nicomedes
king of Bithinia, Coctius king of the Alpes, and Polemon king of Pontus, left the people of Rome heires of
their goods & kingdoms. As for guifts from the subiect, the which the
antients called oblations, there were few or none at all: for charitable gifts
which beCoronarium, the which the Iewes gaue unto the Emperours,
to be maintayned in the priuileges of their religion; and the magistrats of the
townes and communalties of the empire: the which in time proued a forced
subsidy, vntill that this force was taken away, the guifts remaining voluntary
to gratyfie the Emperour, when as hee had obtayned any victorie against his
enemies.
The like may bee sayed of the imposts which in Spayne they call Seruice,
theDarius Histaspes (he that got the
kingdome by the neying of his horse) chaunged those kinds into coynes of gold
and siluer, and the gifts into tributes and necessary charges, appoynting
TreasurersNegus, king of Aethiopia, the gifts and oblations ofAugustus hauing giuen by will the value of eleuen
millions and two hundred thousand crownes to be distributed among the people of
Rome, and the legions; he withall protested, that he left not to his heyres but
three millions and seuen hundred thousand crownes, although he shewed, that he
had receyued from his friends not many yeares before his death, the summe of
thirtie and five millions Cicero
reproched Marc Antonie in open Senat, That hee had
inriched himselfe by their testaments whom hee had neuer knowne; and yet Cicero confesseth that hee himselfe had gotten by
testaments a million of crownes. But tyrants tooke all without any distinction:
for there was no better meanes for any one to assure his testament, than to
giue somewhat unto the tyrant: but if the testament were imperfect, the tyrant
seazed uppon the whole succession, the which is reproued by the law, for which
cause the custom
The fourth meanes to augment and intertayne the treasure, is by pensions from
their alies, which are payed in time of peace, as well as in warre, for
protection andAmiochus king of Asia, the Seigniory of Carthage, the
kings of Sclauonia, and many other princes and states were tributaries to the
Romans, the kings of Arabia and Idumea to Dauid, and the
princes of Asia to the kings of Persia. And for this Pericles did to the Lacedemonian Captaynes, not (as Theophrastus sayd) to purchase a peace, but to deferre the warre. But
wee may say, that the Cantons neuer
It is necessarie for great princes to giue pensions to the Secretaries, spies,
Captaines, Orators, and houshold seruants of their enemies, to discover their
counsels Philip the first king
of Macedon said, who by his gifts & liberalitie subiected almost all Greece
unto him. And the kings of Persia had no better means to keepe the forces of
Grece out of Asia, than by goodly pensions: for it is hard that he which
receiueth should not doe some seruice
The kings of Persia and Macedone gaue none pensions but a small number of
Orators and Captaynes of the Grecians: and the king of Egypt for seuen thousand
crownes pension, which he gaue to Aratus, had the whole
estate of the Atheians at his deuotion. And therefore it seemes strange to me,
why our kings (besides the ordinary pension of the Swissers) have giuen
extraordinarily to about two thousand of them which exceeded the rest in credit
and dignitie; as king Henrie the second did, the which
were knowne by their names and surnames, and gaue their acquittances; beside
the priuate pensions, the which were payed by roll, and came yerely to 49299
liures: happely it had bene better to have giuen the moity of these pensions to
few men of authoritie, and secretly without any acquittance: for sometimes
Hastings, to
whom king Lewis 11 gaue 2000 crownes pension, the
bringer demaunded an acquittance for his discharge onely unto the king as he
said; whereunto the lord Hastings answered, That he
would receiue his pension, but he would giue him no acquittance: the which the
king demaunded earnestly, to make vse of it in time, and to bring him in
suspition of a traitor to his countrie. There are also somethings not only
secret, but also dishonest, for the which pensions are giuen, although some
hold nothing foule nor vnlawfull that is done for the benefit of his country;
for my part I hold this fact Pericles was commended, who giuing up his accounts, set
downe an article of ten thousand crownes disbursed without warrant, shewing
neither acquittance nor cause of it: the which the people allowed without any
further inquiry, knowing well the wisdome and loyaltie of the man in the
government of the commonweale. It is most certaine, that a secret pensionar
giuing
The fift meanes to gather together treasure, is by trafike, which the prince or
the state vseth by his factors; although there be few princes that doe vse it:
and by theClaudia, no Senator of Rome might have a vessell at sea
contayning aboue fourtie bushels. Questus omnis (inquit
Lauius) patribus indecorus visus est, All gaine (saith Titus Liuius) was held vnseemely Darius, Marchant, for that he forced them to those
charges, which at the first they gaue him voluntarily. But yet in my opinion it
is more seemely for a prince to be a marchant, than a tyrant; and for a
gentleman to traffike, than to steale. Who is ignorant, that the kings of
Portugall being restrayned within straight limits, and not well able to
maintaine their estates, yet loth to oppresse their subiects, have for these
hundred yeares traded without reproch, and to the great inriching of their
states? In the yeare 1475 they Iohn
bastard ofCham of Tartaria: they have pulled from the
Turks & Sultans of Egypt the greatest riches of the Indies, and filled
Europe with the treasures of the East, passing euē to the Molucques: which the
kings of Castile pretend to belong to them, by a deuision made by pope Alexander 6, notwithstanding Iohn 3 king of Portugal had paid
unto the emperor Charles 5, & to giue 100000 ducats
more that they might have free passage to those ilands which; the K. of
Portugal would not yeld vnto, making acount of the profit he draws from thence
as of an infinit treasure, besides the gaine that comes to his subiects, hauing
much impaired the wealth of the princes of the East, & of the Venetians,
who have indured so great a losse, as of all the calamities they indured during
their warres with king Lewis 12, they receiued no such
losse as from the Portugals, taking from them their gayne of the Easterne
parts. Tully disallowe of it, but of such as sold
by retayle, whome hee tearmed Sordido. As for the
traffique which Princes practise upon their Subiects, it is no traffique, but
an impost or exaction: which is, to forbid them to trade, and to put his
subiects corne and wine into his receiuers handes, to pay them at an vnder
rate, and to sell it unto strangers, or to the Subiects themselves, at his owne
pleasure. This was one of the reasonsAlphonso King of Naples most odious; for that he gaue his Swine to his
Subiects to make fat, and if by chaunce they died, he made them pay for them:
he bought the oyle in Apulia, and gaue his owne price; and the wheat in grasse,
and sold it a gaine at the higgest price he could, forbidding all others to
sell Lewis
12 made war against them, five Millions of Duckats, whereof they had made 50000
Duckats of the sale of Offices. The like reason mou'd King Francis 1 in the yere 1527, to diuide the Ciuile from the criminall
Magistrates, setting all Offices to sale to them that would giue most. The
which was more sowle and dishonorable in Pope Adrian,
who three yeares before, not onely sold offices, but also benefices, as he did
the Bishopricke of
The sixt means to encrease treasure, is upon the marchandize that are
broughtPortoria, as they did the tribute of the publique
farmes Decimas, and Scripturam, and it is reason, that hee that
will gaine by another mans subiects, should pay some right to his Prince or
commonweale. Wherof there be diuers kindes, the which were reduced within this
Realme to one impost of twenty Deniers upon the liure or pound, by an Edict
made by King Henrie the 2.
Charles 5 abated the custome halfe, but afterwardes
he restored it, the which was the twentieth part of the price, or five in the
hundred, and so the ancient Romanes tooke for custome of forraine marchandize:
but afterwards the Emperours exacted the eight part, the which they called Octuarium vectigal, as in our time they have demaunded
the twelfe fortie and five liures upon the measure, contrarie to the Marchants rights. And although
the Salt of France bee the best and most plentifull in all Europe, wherewith
the lowe Countreys, England, and Denmarke doe store themselves, yet is it farre
deerer to vs, than to them: for since that the Store houses of Salt Francis the 1. that they might bring commodities and money into this
Realme, rather than into Spaine: notwithstanding since it hath been verie
manifest, that the stranger cannot be without the Salt of France: for Charles the 5. hauing forbidden his
subiects of the lowe Countreys not to fetch any Salt in France, the estates
Agrippa sayd; and the countrey of Egypt
hath neither Mynes of gold nor siluer, and yet both Affricke and Europe, are
much releeued with corne which growes there. If anyone will say, that by the
treaties of traffique betwixt Princes, they cannot raise a forraine custome, I
must answere, that this may take place amonge those which have treated with
that condition, but there are few of them; and yet it hath neuer been much
regarded: for euen in the lowe countreys and in England, the french Marchants
were forced in the yeare 1557 to pay a crowne upon
euerie tunne of wine that1565 there came in lesse
than three moneths into the lowe countreys a hundred thousand peeces of cloth,
accounting three karsies or three cottons to a cloth. It is therefore expedient
to raise the forraine customes to strangers of such commodities as they cannot
want, and by that means increase Philip king of Spaine, had forbidden his
subiects by an edict made in the yere 1563, to requite the queene of England,
who had made the like three moneths before, the like edict was made in France
by King Henrie the second in the yeare 1552, concerning
wools: but there was a Florentin, who hauing gotten a pasport by aHannibal was in Italie, and did besiege euen Rome it
selfe, the senate hauing consumed Titus Liuius saith;
Senectatores prosequisque aurum, argentum, aes in publicum
conferunt, tanto certamine iniecto, vt prima inter primos sua nomina vellent
in publicis tabulis esse, vt nec Triumuiri mensarij accipiendo, nec scribae
referendo sufficerent. The senators bought their gold and siluer into
the publicke with great contention, who should bee inrolled, so as the
receiuers were not sufficient to tell it, nor the registers to inroll them.
After the victorie obtained against the Carthaginiens, the senate Denis the tyrant, sometimes sought occasions of
war, or of fortifications, to the end he might have cause to raise new
If my wishes might take place, I would desire that such detestable inuentions
might be buried with the author. There be three kinds of tributes that bee
leuied Capitatio by the
Latines:) bee it in respect of the moouable or immoouable goods, and of fruits
which grow aboue or within the earth, as mynes and treasures, or that which is
gathered at ferries, or passages, the which is rightly called Portorium vectigal, or of any other imposition that may be imagined,
how filthie and beastly soeuer, for tyrants alwaies thinke the sauor of them
sweet; as that tribute Vespasian, the which his sonne taking vnworthily, the
father held the first money that hee receiued next of that tribute, to his
nose, asking him if it smelt ill, and hee denying it, Atqui
inquit è lotio est, But sayth he, it comes of the vrine. Of which
charges and impositions, the most ancient are reputed reuenewes, as the
forraine custome; others are ordinarie, as taxes; and the last are
extraordinarie, the which the Latines called temerarium
tributum, a rash tribute: as subsidies imposed upon free townes and
priuiledged persons, tenths, charitable gifts equiualent to tenths, the which
are leuied by commission. And to speake properly, the taxes, ayds, grants,
tolles, and such like were meere Lewis the ninth, who
first leuied the taxe, as president le Maistre hath
obserued: but hee doth not say, that it was as a necessarie subsidie during the
warres; and that hee made an ordinarie receit thereof; but contrary wise
adressing himselfe to Philip his eldest sonne and
successor, he vseth these words in his testament, the which is yet found in the
treasurie of France, and is registred in the chamber of accounts: Fili, religiosus imprimis erga Deum esto: benignus &
liberalis aduersus egentes, legum ac morum huius imperij custos
ac vindex acerrimus: à vectigalibus & tributis abstineto,
nisi te summa vis necessitatis ac vtilitatis publicae iustissima causa ad
hoc impellat, sin minùs, tyrannum te potiùs, quàm regem futurum putato,
&c. Sonne, be first deuote and religious towards Clotaire did exact the third part and reuenewes of churches: and Chilperis the 8 part of every mans wine growing, and it
seems that the impost of the 8 part of the wine, the which now is imposed upon
vinteners, tooke his beginning from hence: and that Lewis the yong during 4 yeres, tooke temerarium tributum
imposed by king Charles the sixt, for it was decreed in
our open Parliament, called by Philip of Valois in the
yeare 1338, that no impost should bee raised upon the people without the
consent of the three estates: and in stead of three hundred and fortie thousand
pounds starling, which king Lewis the eleuenth did leuie
the yeare that he died, besides the ordinarie reuenewes of the crowne, the
deputies of the three estates held at Tours, offered unto Charles the eight, his sonne comming to the crowne, in manner of a
beneuolence for two yeares, the like graunt that was made unto Charles the seuenth, and for his entrance a hundred
thousand crownes to bee paide for once onely, the Philip Comineus
said in open parliament, in the raigne of Charles the
eight, That no prince had power to lay any imposition upon his subiects,
nor
And althogh that Philip the long did exact but the fift
part of a peny upon everyPhilip of
Vallois used the like protestation, being forced by Liuius and Claudius censures; Liuius was called Salinator in derision: but a
peace being graunted to them of Carthage, it was taken away againe: either for
that there was nothing more necessarie for the life of man, or for that it was
done without the peoples commaund. And for that the lightest kinds of tributes
and imposts seeme heauie and burdensome unto the C. Manlius theAugustus made the law Iulia, That
whatsoeuer should come to any one by inheritance,Augustus exacted the
twentieth part of all inheritances and legacies, Traian
therefore abrogated the said law Iulia, the which many have labored to reuiue,
changing the name of it: yet had they not then the hundred part of those
tributes, which since the necessity of some, and the couetousnesse of others
have inuented. And when as Samuel prince of Ergo inquit regem habituri estis qui decimas fructuum,
imperaturus est, Therefore sayd he, you shall have a King which shall
commandCipselus the first Tyrant of Corinth, exact any other tribute of his
subiects, but the tenths of their fruits: there were then no taxes, subsidies,
tolles, and a thousand such like. So the greatest part of the Inuenters of
these new Imposts have lost their lives; as Philistus
parasite to Dyonisius the tyrant, who being drawn out of
the tyrants castle, was slaine by the people of Syracusa: and Parthenius or Proclerus, who was slaine by the people ofTheodoret to oppresse his subiects with new
subsidies: and of late daies George Prescon Parasite to
Henrie king of Sueden, was Achaeus King of the Lidiens, whom his subiects did hang by the feet
with his head downeward into a riuer, for the subsidies which hee imposed uppon
his people: and Theodoric king of France lost his crowne
for it. How comes it that the Netherlanders have reuolted from the Spaniard,
but for that the duke of Alua would exact the tenth pennie of euerie thing
which was sold, whereby he would have gathered an infinite treasor, or rather
the wealth of all the countrey, being most certaine that one thing might besold
often in a short time, and well knowne that the marchandise sold in one day
amounted to seuentie thousand ducats, as a Spaniard himselfe did
write.Nero
Lewis the
12,Malestroit: the
which may bee easily seene in the antient customes and contracts of this
Realme, where wee shall find the value of fruits and victuals to bee ten, yea
twelue times lesse than it is at this day. Wee find in the Registers of the
chamber of Accounts, That the Chancellor of France in the time of S. Lewis, had for the charges of himself, his horses, and
seruants, seuen soulz Parisis allowed Charles the 5. king of France payd but 31000 crownes for
the countie of Anxerre: and that the duchie of Berrie was bought by Philip the 1 of Herpin, for threescore thousand crownes:
and the countie of Venice and Auignon were engaged for fortie thousand Florins.
To conclude, I have made manifest that many Earledomes, Baronies, and great
Signiories have beene sold a hundred or sixe score yeares since, twentie times
better cheape than they are nowe, for the aboundance of gold and siluer that is
come frō new found Lands: as it happened at Rome, when as Paulus Aemilius brought such infinit store of gold and siluer from the
realme of Macedon,Caesar
brought the treasure and spoyles of Egypt to Rome, then did Vsurie fall, and
the price of lands did rise: euen as it happened to the Spaniards after the
conquest of Peru by Frauncis Pizara, a small vessell of
wine in that country cost 300 ducats, a Spanish cape of Frizado a thousand
ducats, and a Iennet sixe thousand; the which was by reason of the aboundance
of gold and siluer which they found at Peru, and brought into Spaine: and
namely of the ransomeAtabalipa; who paid
the value of ten millions, three hundred twentie and sixe thousand ducats,
besides twise as much that came to priuate men, captaines, soldiors, and euen
to the receiuers themselves, as Augustus Zarata master
Charles the 6 in the yere 1449,Charles the ninth died, in the yeare oneLewis
the 9 paid to the sultan of Egypt of fiftie thousand pounds starling, was not
much lesse than that of king Francis the 1 of three
millions of crownes: and although that king Iohn were
set at the same ransome by the king of England, yet was it held so excessiue,
as they were six yeares in leuying of it; but Frauncis
the same yeare a peace was concluded, sent his ransome into Spaine. We must
iudge the Charles the faire, sonne
to Philip, not to be lesse, than that of ten thousand
pounds starling yearely, that was giuen first to Henrie,
and then to Frauncis dukes of Aniou from king Charles the 9 their brother. And much more honourable
might they live with that pencion, which I made mention of under Philip, than with that which Charles the 9 gaue unto his brethren. Nor the Dowries of 400000
crownes assigned to euerie one of the daughters of king Henrie the 2, were not so great as those of sixtie thousand crownes
assigned to the daughters of Charles the 5. The like may be spoken of other
Strabo, that
Ptolomie the piper, the last king of Egypt of that
race, did raise upponSolyman did
leuie but a hundred thousand ducats of the same countrey, as appeared by an
extract of the reuenewes made by Gritty a Venetian, in
the yeare 1520, when as the estate of the whole reuenewesPaulus Iouius
saith, and now he leuieth aboue twelue millions yearly, for the great abundance
of gold and siluer, that is brought out of the West and East; which summe
notwithstanding may seeme but little, for that we read in Plutarch, that the dictator Silla
did taxe the charges of Asia the lesse, before the conquests of Lucullus and Pompee, at twelue
millions of crownes, the which is not aboue the sixt part of the Turks
empire.
Sometimes the bountie of the land, and the great trade, and oftentimes the
vnreasonable greedinesse of princes to heape up treasure, make some richer than
others: It is well knowne that Charles the fift gathered
more reuenewes out of the duchie of Milan; then king Francis the first, at the same time did leuie in this his realme,
which flowed in all abundance; who doth not know that he commaunded more out of
the lowe Countreys, than the reuenewes of England Charles the ninth to encrease his
taxes) did pernitiously maintaine in open counsell, that Cosme duke of Florence did raise out of his estate six millions,
hauingRoboam, who
following the wicked counsell of wicked men, did not onely refuse the humble
petitions of his subiects, but vowed openly that he would bee
It is an ordinarie thing in changes from a tyrannie to a popular estate, to
abolish Valerius, after they had expelled their kings: but euerie
man was faine to goe to the warre at his owne charge▪ then afterwards to pay
the soldiors, and afterwards to taxe themselves by the raising of new imposts.
True it is, that the Romaines did therein shew themselves verie iust: for at
that time there were none that bare the charges, but the noble and the rich,
the poorer sort went free; and now adaies we see none but the poore pay, and
the rich goe scot-free. The like was in Suisserland, and at Lindaw, after they
had expelled Themistocles captaine of the Athenians, demanded the tribute of the
Adriens, saying; That hee would bring with him two
And commonly the greater cities lay the burthen upon the champian
countrey,Aesops
Asse, and the horse which would carrie nothing; that is to say, the nobilitie
and the clergie, are forced some to carrie the tenths and extraordinarie
subsidies, others to sell their Caesar saith rightly:
Nihil est plebe contemptius, Nothing is more
contemptible than the common people.
To remedie this inconuenience, the antients did wisely order, That all charges
Charles the fift, with the consent of
theIohn, the which was 12 deniers upon euerie
liure, or two shillings of goods that were sold; the which was changed to an
equiualent, first in the countrey of Languedoc in the time of king Lewis the eleuenth, yeelding for the said impost 6000
pounds starling yearly: and the like hath been also done in Auuergne for the
salt, the which the countrey hath exchanged into a certaine summe: and for the
same reason the impost which was taken upon all Cato the censor was commended, for that
he layd a great impost upon the sale of slaues, that should exceed fiftie
crownes price, for that such marchandise could not be warranted.
The emperour Augustus did more wisely, who to correct
the disordinateAugustus purchased the commendation of a wise prince. For hereby he
did both punish whoredome, adultery, & sodomie, and also force every one to
seek him a lawfull wife and children, taking away nothing of any mans present
estate, but onely the tenth part of that inheritance which came unto him
accidentally from his friends, filling the treasury with money, and the
Commonweale with good and Iustinian the emperour did vnaduisedly blame,
and likewise Constantin, who abrogated the law for
punishing them that lived vnmaried, or that had no children. But the emperors
Honorius and Theodosius gaue
the priuiledge of children to all subiects, which was to giue way to adulteries
and to all detestable vices, causing marriages and the procreation of children
to grow in contempt, whereby the citie grew bare of citisens, and the empire
being found in a manner wast, was seazed on by a deluge of Gothes, and other
barbarous nations of the North. These kinds of impositions which are inuented
for the punishment of vice, seeme not onely iust, but verie profitable.
There was also another impost of ten shillings upon euerie sute in law
thatCharles the sixt, when as an edict was made, to
take away the antient custome, by the which no man was condemned to pay any
charges that had lost his sute: for in formerCharles the ninth, by the which, he that did
attempt a sute against any man, was forced to consigne two crownes into an
officers hands; the which hee should receiue againe from the aduerse partie, if
he did recover his suit, or if he were vanquished, to loose them as a
punishment of his rashnesse: but the Romaines tooke the tenth part in all
ciuile causes, and the fift in criminall, as Pompeius
Festus doth witnesse: yet Marcus Varro writes,
that either of the parties did lay downe five hundred asses, which coms to
about 10 shillings of four mony; and he which won, recouered his money which he
had consigned, and this was besides the thing Sponsio &
sacramentum, and if any one refused to consigne, hee yeelded to the
other. The Hebrews did alwaies cause him that did willingly denie a debt, to
pay it double, as wee read in their pandects. And although the consignations
which were made in Rome uponCaligula extorted against reason, the fortieth pennie of all that was
demaunded by law, without any prefixion or limitation, whether the cause were
iust or vniust. But of all marchandise which tend to pleasure▪ lust, and pompe,
the imposition is honest and profitable, seruing to no other end but to corrupt
the simplicitie of the subiect, the deerest of all (which is Amber gris) the
which is valued but at twelue pounds starling, should be prised
The law sets no impost upon marchandise, but upon spices, and such
pretiousCapitatio,
for to lay a charge upon mens persons for their worke, were to make warre to
good wits, if they have not some great trade, and by that means have gathered
together great wealth, for the which they must beare some charge; the which is
not properly Capitatio, but with the weaker sort they must deale
mildly, especially with the husbandman, which doth not till his own land.
Neither are those impositions to be allowed which employ all their studies to
inuent new taxes & exactions, seeking by all means to incorage princes
thereunto; as that multiplier (whose name I concele for honors sake) who not
many yeres since at a parliament held at Blois, made a declaration, That the
king (besides al other ordinary charges) might with oppression or grieuance of
poore or rich, raise thirtie millions: the king sent this man to the three
estates, to expound the heauenly gift of God.
And although we had many excellent wits and of great iudgement, yet had he
abused many with his opinion, if we had not laid open his errour and
deceit.S. Bernard, to S. Iohn de Luz; and
by this he concluded that France had fortie thousand leagues in square, and
that euerie league contained five thousand acres of ground, which amounted to
two hundred millions of acres, of the which he abated the one halfe for waters,
waies and wast land, and of the rest hee would have the king take a soulz for
an acre, theHenrie the second in the yeare 1554, came but to 24824
parishes, besides Bourgogne & Poictou, and the impost of three pounds
starling upon euerie parish, came but to threescore and fourteen thousand foure
Ierosme Laski a Polonois, father to the Palatin Laski, whom we have seen Ambassador in France, inuented
another manner of meanes than this former, to encrease the treasure, giuing
aduise to raise threeLaski do ruin them. There are mounts
of pietie at Florence, Sienna, Luques, and other cities, whereas he that hath
one daughter, the day of her birth hee may put what summe he will into the
mount of pietie, upon condition to receiue ten times as much to marrie her
withall, when she comes to the age of eighteene yeare; but if she dies before,
then doth it accrue unto the mount, vnlesse the father hath other daughters, to
whom the portion shall come successiuely. Another mount of pietie is, for the
lending of
Notwithstanding I find that the emperour Antonine
surnamed the Pius or godly, inuented a better mount of
pietie, which was to deliver out the money Seuerus
restored the treasure that was wasted, and the marchants and poore men gained
much by traffique: and the publicke in a great summe did also gaine much: for
if they lent a million, at the yeares end they did get fiftie thousand crownes
for the publicke, and priuate men got twise as much by traffique: and besides
all this, the greatest benefit that did arise, the publicke treasure was
assured out of the pawes of theeves and horse leeches of the court. And for
this reason onely as it seems, the emperour Augustus
long before, was accustomed to lend the money which came cleereAugustus did
not lend the publicke money for interest, yet hee imposed a penaltie of the
double, if it were not paid at the prefixed day, the which is greater than any
vsurie and therfore forbidden by the law. In my opinion, that penaltie is then
disallowed by the law when we stipulate any thing fraudulently, and aboue the
lawfull interest: but he that hath taken the publicke money, and restores it
not at the appointed day, he commits theft; it is therefore the penaltie of
theft, and not of vsurie.
Those princes therefore did wisely in old time, which prouided for George at Genes takes money of all men at five in
the hundred, and delivers it out againe at the highest interest to princes and
marchants; whereby they are so enriched, as they have redeemed the Isle of
Corsica, and the lands
This meanes was also brought into Fraunce by the cardinall of Tournon, at such
time as hee was in credit with king Frauncis the first,
whom he persuaded (by the instigation of certaine Italians) that there was no
other meanes Frauncis the first, when he died, was found indebted to the banke of
Lion, five hundred thousand crowns, Henrie his sonne grew most lamentable, for hauing wasted
his fathers treasure, and standing in need of money in the yeare 1554 borrowed
at ten, twelue, and sixteene in the hundred, of the Caponyes, Albicis, and the
Foucquers of Germanie, and when he was not able to pay the interest, he
promised the creditors interest upon interest. The emperour Charles 5 did the like for his part; true it is, he payd but ten and
twelue in the hundred. And the same yeare Henrie the
eight king of England, borrowed a hundred thousand crowns of the German
marchants at twelue in the hundred: euerie one hoping to draw money and wealth
unto him by the desire of vsurie. And whereas our king Henrie the second thought to draw most money unto him Henrie, all was filled with the complaint of
creditors: and such princes and Signiories as had money in the banke at
Lion,Rustan Basha, besides
the ten thousand which la Vigne the ambassador carried
him in the yeare 1556, fearing to loose his principall, as I have learned by
letters and instructions from la Vigne, for many did not
buy rents for a certaine summe of money, but would have the interest pure and
simple, and uppon condition that they should have their principall
There are other trickes which I forbeare to touch, but for this cause king Lewis the ninth in the yeare 1254, and Philip the Faire in the yere 1300 did banish all Philip of Valois for the like cause did forfeit all
their goods: for it was verified by the processe that was made, that for foure
and twentie thousand pounds starling, they had in few yeares profited two
millions and foure hundred and fortie thousand pounds starling: and in hatred
of such Henrie the second raigned,
hee did owe more than his Frauncis the second, successor to Henrie, did owe two millions three hundred twelue
thousand six hundred and ten liures, eighteen soulz six deniers, of money lent
freely, for the which he paid no interest: and fifteene millions nine hundred
twentie six thousand five hundred fiftie and five liures, 12 soulz and 8
deniers, for the which he paid interest: and he ought more for arrerages seuen
hundred threescore and fifteene thousand, nine hundred threescore and nineteene
liures, foure soulz, and foure deniers: besides the debt of Ferrara, and other debts for marriages, which came to eight millions
five hundred and fourteen thousand five hundred fourescore and twelue liures,
eighteene Francis 2, and Charles 9. Although
the emperour Charles 5, and his successor have run the
same fortune, for that they took up at interest, being indebted aboue fifty
millions, for the whichFrauncis the first, who
began to take up money at intrest, hauing 1800000 crowns in his coffers, and
peace within his realme: no well aduised prince will euer take that course, for
thereby hee shall ruine the foundation of his treasure, if he will keepe his
faith and pay; but if he will not, or cannot pay, then must he breake and loose
his credite, which is the ruine of an estate: for he must borrow, leuie taxes,
impositions, and in the end by slaunders, and tyrannies forfeit his subiects
goods. Then is it most fit and necessarie for a prince to borrow money upon
interest of his allies and subiects, if that hee bee in danger to loose his
estate, by some generall reuolt, or the conspiracieEumenes did, who
borrowed a great sum of money at extreame interest, of those that had conspired
his death. Agrippa king of Iudea, recouered his realme
by the meanes of his creditors, who troubled both heauen and earth for the
assurance they had to bee payd: and this was also the chiefe meanes to restore
Edward the fourth king of England, being expelled his
kingdome. But if the princes creditors have assurance to bee paid by his
successors, or that they have lands in pawne, then this course is vnprofitable.
I have set downe the meanes which in my opinion are profitable and honest to
gather together treasure, the which is the first point of this chapter: the
second is how to employ the treasure of the Commonweale well and honourably,
the
In old time the first article set downe in the expences of the treasure, was
for almes deeds; the second for the kings house; and the third for reparations:
but the order is quite changed. As for almes-deeds, the wise and antient
princesRobert sonne to Hugh Capet, who
gaue the first example to his subiects and successors to be charitable to the
poore, feeding aLewis the ninth, who hath founded twentie eight
hospitals and colledges in this realme; and had commonly in his traine six
score poore folks, and in Lent twelue score, feeding them with meat from his
owne table? he also lived in great honor, being feared of his enemies,
reuerenced of his friends, honored of his subiects: and after that he had
raigned 44 yeres, he left five sonnes, and foure daughters, and a kingdome
flourishing in armes and laws to his successor, recommending Iames the fift king of Scotland, who was called Rex egentium, The king of the needie; who as he exceeded
all the princes of his time in bountie, so did he surmount all his predecessors
in riches. And contrariwise we see great families, states, realmes, and empires
come to pouertie and ruine, hauing contemned the poore, and abandoned the
subiect to the spoile of the soldior, and the thefts of toll-gatherers: when as
king Henrie the second in the yeare 1549, did exact that
extraordinarie tribute which they called Taillon, he
promised not to employ that money to any other vse, than to the entertainment
of his men at armes, and not to confound it with the ordinarie receits, that
the subiect might be freed from the spoile of souldiers. The like was said,
when Frauncis
the first, the which should be leuied upon walled townes and their suburbes,
which felt nothing of the oppression of the souldier; but notwithstanding since
they have made it equall to towne, village, and hamlet, in the yere 1555,
whereby the poore countreyman hath ben doubly oppressed, for they pay, and are
spoiled of all sides. And yet with all these charges, they would hold
themselves happy, if they might bee freed in prouiding corne and victuals for
the souldiors at an vnder▪rate, what may then bee hoped for in those cities
whereas the souldiers robbe and spoile the poore subiects with all
impunitie,Cassiodorus said, Disciplinam seruare non potest ieiunus exercitus, dum quod
deest semper presumit armatus, A fasting armie can neuer obserue good
discipline, for what they want, they will presume to take by force: the which
cannot bee done vnlesse there bee a great care had of the treasure. The kings
house therefore entertained, the souldiers and the officers payd, and due
rewards giuen to them that deserue them, it is great reason the poore should be
remembred. And if the treasurie bee well furnished, a part Alexander Seuerus was accustomed
to leaue many
This which I have sayd is more expedient in an Aristocratia, or a Popular state, than in a Monarchie; for that the
subiects being many, are with more difficultie maintained in peace and vnion by
few commaunders: vnlesse the multitude being employed in the publicke works,
may make some gaine, and not to inure them to the distribution of corne and
money, as they vsually did in Popular states, and especially the Tarentins: the
which is not only the ruine of the treasure, but likewise of the citie. So Pericles was also blamed, hauing Demosthenes: which summe
becausePericles time they did scarce exact a thousand tallents. And being
accused by his enemies to have misemploied Solon
foreseeing,Amasis king of Egypt, who condemned idle men to be put to death, if
they had not wherewithall to live, knowing the Egyptians to be the most
ingenuous in the world, and the most subiect to mutinie, if they were not
employed. We see Piramides built in that countrey almost three thousand yeares
since, lest the pleople should have Augustus, who did iustly vant, That he
had found Rome built with bricke, but that he had left it built with marble:
and in truth he employed foure millions and five hundred thousand crownes in
building of the Capitoll alone: he was followed by the emperour Vespasian, who made great and excellent workes throughout
the whole empire, rather to entertaine the meaner sort, than for any other end:
for when as an excellent workeman promised him to set up pillers in the
Capitoll, of an excessiue greatnes, with small charge and few labourers; he
recompenced him verie well, saying, Let me I pray you,
What shall I say of the emperour Claudius, who enioying
an assured peace, caused the chanell of Fucina to be made, to accommodate the
citie with good waters, employing dayly thirtie thousand men for eleuen yeares
together. And without search of antient histories, it is well knowne that the
signiorie of Venice doth entertaine continuall in their Arsenall, three or
foure thousand persons Nero,
which comprehended a great part of Rome, was contemned by his successors, who
would not vouchsafe to lodge in it, for the crueltie and villanie of him that
had built it; and soone after it was ruined▪ as being made of spoiles,
exactions and confiscations, the which follow a prodigall prince at the heeles:
for of necessitie, of a prodigall he must become an oppressor, and of an
oppressor a tyrant.
There were neuer two tyrants more cruell and prodigall, than Nero and Caligula;
Frauncis the first▪ that euerie yere the generals of
the treasure, should send unto the treasurer, two briefes of the publicke
reuenewes of every prouince: the one by coniecture the first day of the yeare;
the other a true note of the yeare that was past: and in like case the
treasurer should make two briefs of the whole treasure in generall, to the end
that the king and his counsell might Lewis the eleuenth, who was held one of the most
politicke princes of his age, yet hee ran willingly into the snare of Charles earle of Carolois, hauing forgotten that hee had
sent his ambassadors into the countrey of Liege, to stirre them to warre
against him: the earle aduertised hereof, detained him prisoner: the which had
not happened, if he had kept a register of his former actions. If any
flatterers of the court will obiect, That the register would be too great, that
the prince should be too much troubled, and that hee could not live long: why
then have those princes and great monarchs which Augustus, Tiberius, Vespasian,
Traian, Adrian, and the Antonines, all Romaine
emperours and politicke gouernours, who themselves made registers of their owne
affaires, imitating the example of Augustus, who lived
74 yeares, leauing three Bookes written with his owne hand; the first wasSuetonius saith, remembring that which Demetrius the Phalerien said unto Ptolome Philadelph king of Egypt, that he should find goodly secrets
in bookes, which no man durst tell him. Vespasian in
like sort, made an excellent abridgement of the empire, and yet he lived 70
yeares.
The empire of Persia was greater than that of the Romaines, stretching from the
farthest bounds of India, unto Hellespont, and the desert of Libia, hauing
under it 127 Prouinces, and yet the kings of Persia carried with them
continually a register of their affaires of state and of their gifts: and when
as Darius Longuemain had escaped the conspirators hands,
by the aduertisement which Mardocheus
Mardocheus had
receiued no reward for so great a seruice done unto the king hee caused him to
bee sent for, giuing him great honours and preferments. But without any further
search, the king of Spaine doth vsually looke upon a register of his affaires,
carrying an abridgement of letters which he writes to gouernors, captaines, and
ambassadors, if the matter be not verie secret. For the same cause Charles surnamed the wise, king of France, made a
Register of his priuie councell, and the first was Peter
Barrier, who was not busied (as at this day) with expeditions and acts
of Philip of Valois, of the which I have formerly made
mention, by the which the gift was reuoked, if the donatarie made not mention
of the benefits graunted to him and hisCharles the eight, wherebCharles the eight, it is
out of practise, under color of secret gifts and pentions, the which must not
be knowne: so as the antient laws (decreeing, that the articles set downe in
the chapter of expences, shall not bee allowed without an order, a
commaundement, and a discharge) are now of little or no force in that respect:
for the treasurer is discharged, bringing the kings hand onely, without any
mention of him to whom the reward was giuen, nor wherefore. There was yet a law
made by king Frauncis the first, and confirmed by his
successor, wherby it was decreed, There should be foure keys to the place where
the treasure was kept, whereof the king should have one, and the rest should be
in Commissioners hands appointed by him: and the distribution of money should
bee Henrie the second by a speciall edict discharged the
treasurers and officers of the treasurie, that afterwards they might not be
called to any account. True it is, that one of these commissioners had giuen
him at one time a hundred thousand crownes, if the common report were true; the
which was much at that time, but little in regard of prodigalities
practisedFrauncis the first had ordred it by sparing, all the
publike treasure lay open to the spoile of great men and flatterers. But an
edict made in fraud should be no hindrance, but that such as had mannaged the
publike treasure might bee called to an account; as it was required at a
Parliament held at Galba did, who reuoked Neroes
gifts, leauing but the tenth part to the donatorie; not that they should
enquire too curiously of all gifts bestowed by the prince, the which might
prooue verie dangerous.
Charles the seuenth did limit by a law, what summe of
money the king might take yearely to dispose of at his pleasure: which summe
being verie little, seemed in those daies exceeding great. There is nothing
more profitable for the prince, nor necessary for the subiects, than to haue
the rewards which they giue, knowne and examined by their officers: for that
princes shall alwaies maintaine their fafauors, giuing liberally, and the
officers shalbe subiect to the hatred and dislike of Frauncis the first, leauing a goodly kingdome,
flourishing in armes and laws, and in all arts and sciences, to his successor,
with seuenteen hundred thousand crowns in treasure, and the quarter of March
readie to be receiued; yet did he not giue away the hundred part in rewards in
32 yeares that he had raigned, as his sonne Henrie did in two: for he had scarce closed his eyes,
when as the confirmation of offices (which is due to the king at his first
comming to the crowne) whereof an infinit masse of money was then made, was
giuen to one horse leech in court. And although that Frauncis the father gaue pensions to Germans, English,
We have entreated of two points of this chapter: first how a Commonweale should
gather together, and then how they shall employ: the last point is, what
reserue they shall make for any necessitie, that they be not forced to begin
warreAugustus time, after the defeat of Marc
Anthonie, yet had they neuer toucht the treasure which grew of the
Hannibal had reduced them
The emperour of Turkie obserues this order carefully, for besides the treasury
of ordinarie receits, which is in the princes Seraigle, there is another in the
castle of seuen towers at Constantinople, where the antient treasure is
reserued,Charles the fift king of
Fraunce, had caused the great Hart in the pallace at Paris to be made after the
same forme that they should cast one all of gold, of the treasure which he had
gathered together. And the better to assure it against theeves, the antients
did lay their treasure in temples, as the Greekes in the temple of Apollo, Delphique, and Deliaque:
the Romaines in the temple of Saturne and Opis: the antient Gaules in hallowed Lakes: the Hebrews
sometimes in temples, sometimes in sepulchres: for wee read that the high
priest and king of the Iewes, Hircanus, found great
treasures in Dauids sepulchre. But seeing there
Morocco hauing moulten a great quantitie of gould in
forme of a bowle, pierced through with a barre of yron, they did hang it on the
toppe of the pinnacle of the great Church at Marocco.
The antient Egyptians fearing to giue occasion to their neighbours and enemies
to inuade their estate, and make warre against them for their treasure (as they
did to king Ezechias, hauing shewed his treasures to the
ambassadors of the king of Assiria) employed it for the
most part
No man in my opinion will allow of the insatiable couetousnesse of Iohn 22 Pope of Rome, in whose coffers they found (hee
being dead) twentie three millions of gold, as many have written; or of Sardanapalus, who left fortie millions of crowns; or of
Cyrus, who left fiftie millions; or of Tiberius Caesar, who had gathered together seuentie seuen
millions, the which his successor wasted in Darius Ochus the last king of the
Persians, in whose treasury Alexander the great found
fourscore millions of gold. We read in the holy scripture that Dauid left sixscore millions, the which is the greatest
treasure that was euerSiclum
in the scriptures to be taken two waies, the which the Greeks call Statera, and the Latines Talentum,
one waie it is a pound of six ounces, as in the first booke of Paralip the Samuel, the 24 chapter. If Dauids
treasure be numbered by the sicle or tallent of halfe an ounce, the summe will
not seeme great; if it be referred to six ounces, it will comprehend fiftie
thousand pound waight of gold, and ten times as much in siluer: but if it be
valued by the Attike tallent, the wealth of the Romanes neuer came nere it; as
we may see by an extract out of the treasury under the empire of Traian, at which time it was at the greatest; for the
whole sum of their treasure (the which was kept in Egypt) came but to 74
thousand tallents, the which amounts
But our kings of Fraunce have not offended in this point
against the lawes of God, by heaping up of too great treasures, and it is not
to be feared that they will hereafter breake it: for they which say, that king
Charles the fift left in his treasurie eighteene
millions of crownes, are much deceiued, for he found the coffers Henrie king of Castill being expelled his realme,
maintained and succored the kings of Scotland, against the kings of England,
and raigned but 17 yeares, and yet he did not leuie for all charges aboue 43756
pounds starling yerely, comprehending the reuenews of the crowne lands:
although that in his time the ayds and custome of 8 shillings uppon euerie fire
were laid upon the subiects: and his successor fortie yeares after Charles the seuenth, the yeare that he Lewis the eleuenth died, the whole receit came but to
470000 pounds, the which was reduced to 120000 pounds, at the request of the
Parliament, held at Tours at the comming of Charles the
8 unto the crowne,Charles the eight died,
came not to aboue 250000 pounds. The like request was made unto king Charles the ninth, by a parliament held at Orleans, at
his comming to the crowne: but the Lewis the
eleuenth, who hauing put the nobilitie from him & discharged the gentlemen
of his house, used his taylor for an herald at armes, his barbar for an
ambassador, and his Phisition for chancellor, (as Antiochus king of Syria did his phisitian Apolophanes, whom he made president of his counsell) & in mockerie
of other kings, he ware a greasie hat, and very course cloth in his apparell:
and euen in the chamber ofLewis the twelfe, by suppression without
any disbursement. But there were some good husbands which gaue them afterwards
to vnderstand, that the suppression of offices was a decrease of parties
casuall, wherby the number was afterwards much augmented: And Balley president of the accounts told the king boldly and plainly,
being at S. Maur desfosses, that the suppression of
those officers which had Frauncis the second. Moreouer
they set not downe the prerogatives which belong Martin
Durant, Syndic or Procurator of that countrie, to present a request
unto the king to be discharged of all officers of receit,Maximinus
Lullier, Prouost of marchants at Paris, and President of the chamber of
accompts, said in open Parlament at Blois, That of the crowne there came not
eighteene pence cleere into the kings coHenry, but it displeased the
flatterers in court, and the officers of the accompts, so as it was reiected,
for the friuolous difficulties they made which had interest therein, the which
is not heere needfull to rehearse, so as it was concluded that receiuers and
treasorers were necessarie. Seeing then that accomptants and masters of
accompts is a necessarie euill (as Alexander Seuerus
said) The Charles the 6 in the yeare 1412,Casmander Baschi, great
Henry
the second in September in the yeare 1554 Charles the 9, he commaunds all vassals which
hold directly of the king, to do homage and fealtie unto the Treasorers of
France, the which would much discontent an infinite number of Dukes, Earles,
Barons, and great personages, who would not for any thing kneele before a base
fellow that had bought his office. Thus much concerning treasure, and for that
it consists in coyne of gold, siluer, copper and buillon, it is necessarie to
write something thereof.