treatise on taxes and contributions-第5章
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the many excellent qualities of beauty； strength； courage； swiftness； and patience concentrated in them； beyond the Horses of other places； would be a very vendible Commodity all over Europe； and such as depending upon the intrinsick nature of the English Soyle could not be counterfeited； nor taken away by others。 Moreover； an Horse is such a Commodity as will carry both himself and his Merchant to the Market； be the same never so distant。
Chapter 3
How the Causes of the unquiet bearing of Taxes may be lessened。
We have slightly gone through all the six branches of the Publick Charge； and have （though imperfectly and in haste） shewn what would encrease； and what would abate them。 We come next to take away some of the general Causes of the unquiet bearing of Taxes； and yielding to Contributions； viz。 2。1。 That the people think； the Soverign askes more then he needs。 To which we answer； 1。 That if the Sovereign were sure to have what he wanted in due time； it were his own great dammage to draw away the money out of his Subjects hands； who by trade increase it； and to hoard it up in his own Coffers； where 'tis of no use even to himself； but lyable to be begged or vainly expended。 3。2。 Let the Tax be never so great； if it be proportionable unto all； then no man suffers the loss of any Riches by it。 For men （as we said but now） if the Estates of them all were either halfed or doubled； would in both cases remain equally rich。 For they would each man have his former state； dignity and degree； and moreover； the Money leavied not going out of the Nation； the same also would remain as rich in comparison of any other Nation； onley the Riches of the Prince and People would differ for a little while； namely； until the money leavied from some； were again refunded upon the same； or other persons that paid it： In which case every man also should have his change and opportunity to be made the better or worse by the new distribution； or if he lost by one； yet to gain by another。 4。3。 Now that which angers men most； is to be taxed above their Neighbours。 To which I answer； that many times these surmizes are mistakes； many times they are chances； which in the next Tax may run more favourable； and if they be by design； yet it cannot be imagined； that it was by design of the Sovereign； but of some temporary Assessor； whose turn it may be to receive the Talio upon the next occasion from the very man he has wronged。 5。4。 Men repine much； if they think the money leavyed will be expended on Entertainments； magnificent Shews； triumphal Arches； etc。 To which I answer； that the same is a refunding of said moneys to the Tradesmen who work upon those things； which Trades though they seem vain and onely of orniment； yet they refund presently to the most useful； namely to Brewers； Bakers； Taylours； Shoemakers； etc。 Moreover； the Prince hath no more pleasure in these Shews and Entertainments than 100000 others of his meanest Subjects have； whom； for all their grumbling； we see to travel many miles to be spectators of these mistaken and distasted vanities。 6。5。 The people often complain； that the King bestows the money he raises from the people upon his Favourites： To which we answer； that what is given to Favourites； may at the next step or transmigration； come into our own hands； or theirs unto whom we wish well； and think do deserve it。 7。 Secondly； as this man is a Favourite to day； so another； or our selves； may be hereafter； favour being of a very slippery and moveable nature； and not such a thing as we need much to envy； for the same way that … leads up a hill； leads also down the same。 Besides there is nothing in the Lawes or Customes of England； which excludes any the meanest mans Childe； from arriving to the highest Offices in the this Kingdom； much less debars him from the Personall kindness of his Prince。 8。 All these imaginations （whereunto the vulgar heads are subject） do cause a backwardness to pay； and that necessitates teh Prince to severity。 Now this lighting upon some poor； though stubborn； stiffnecked Refuser； charged with Wife and Children； gives the credulous great occasion to complain of Oppression； and breeds ill blood as to all other matters； feeding the ill humours already in being。 9。6。 Ignorance of the Number； Trade； and Wealth of the people； is often the reason why the said people are needlesly troubled； viz。 with the double charge and vexation of two； or many Levies； when one might have served： Examples whereof have been seen in late Poll…moneys； in which （by reason of not knowing the state of the people； viz。 how many there were of each Taxable sort； and the want of sensible markes whereby to rate men； and the confounding of Estates with Titles and Offices） great mistakes were committed。 10。 Besides； for not knowing the Wealth of the people； the Prince knows not what they can bear； and for not knowing the Trade； he can make no Judgment of the proper season when to demand his Exhibitions。 11。7。 Obscurities and doubts； about the right of imposing； hath been the cause of great an dugly Reluctancies in the people； and of Involuntary Severities in the Prince； an eminent Example whereof was the Ship…money； no small cause of twenty years calamity to the whole Kingdom。 12。 8。 Fewness of people； is real poverty； and a Nation wherein are Eight Millions of people； are more than twice as rich as the same scope of Land wherein are but Four； For the same Governours which are the great charge； may serve near as well； for the greater； as the lesser number。 13。 Secondly； If the people be so few； as that they can live； Ex sponte Creatis； or with little labour； such as is Grazing； etc。 they become wholly without Art。 No man that will not exercise his hands； being able to endure the tortures of the mind； which much thoughtfullness doth occasion。 14。9。 Scarcity of money； is another cause of the bad payment of Taxes； for if we consider； that of all the wealth of this Nation； viz。 Lands； Housing； Shipping； Commodities； Furniture； Plate； and Money； that scarce one part of an hundred is Coin； and that perhaps there is scarce six millions of Pounds now in England； that is but twenty shillings a head for every head in the Nation。 We may easily judge； how difficult it is for men of competent estates； to pay a Summe of money on a sudden； which if they cannot compass； Severities； and Charges ensue； and that with reason； though unluckie enough； it being more tolerable to undoe one particular Member； then to endanger the whole； nothwithstanding indeed it be more tolerable for one particular Member to be undone with the whole； then alone。 15。10。 It seems somewhat hard； that all Taxes should be paid in money； that is； （when the King hath occasion to Victual his Ships at Portsmouth） that Fat Oxen； and Corn should not be received in kind； but that Farmers must first carry their corn perhaps ten Miles to sell； and turn into money； which being paid to the King； is again reconverted into Corn； fetcht many miles further。 16。 Moreover； the Farmer for haste is force to undersell his Corn； and the King for haste likewise； is forced to over…buy his provisions。 Whereas the paying in kinde； Pro Hic & Nunc； would lessen a considerable grievance to the poor people。 17。 The next consideration shall be of the consequences； and effects of too great a Tax； not in respect of particular men； of which we have spoken before； but to the whole people in general： To which I say； that there is a certain measure； and proportion of money requisite to drive the trade of a Nation； more or less then which would prejudice the same。 Just as there is a certain proportion of Farthings necessary in a small retail Trade； to change silver money； and to even such reckonings； as cannot be adjusted with the smallest silver pieces。 For money； （made of Gold and silver） is to the ** ***** （that is to the matter of our Food and Covering） but as Farthings； and other local extrinsick money； is to the Gold and Silver species。 18。 Now as the proportion of the number of Farthings requisite in comerse is to be taken from the number of people； the frequency of their exchanges； as also； and principally from the value of the smalles silver
