426 OBSERVATIONS ON A LIBEL. 



which it was appointed : and so I imagine, it was 

 converted into some other use ; like to that gathering 

 which was for the fortifications of Paris ; save that 

 the gathering for Paris came to a much greater, 

 though, as I have heard, no competent sum. And 

 for the lottery, it was but a novelty devised and 

 followed by some particular persons, and only allowed 

 by the state, being as a gain of hazard ; wherein if 

 any gain was, it was because many men thought 

 scorn, after they had fallen from their greater hopes 

 to fetch their odd money. Then he mentioneth 

 loans and privy seals : wherein he sheweth great 

 ignorance and indiscretion, considering the payments 

 back again have been very good and certain, and 

 much for her majesty s honour. Indeed, in other 

 princes times it was not wont to be so. And therefore, 

 though the name be not so pleasant, yet the use of 

 them in our times have been with small grievance. 

 He reckoneth also new customs upon cloths, and 

 new impost upon wines. In that of cloths, he is de 

 ceived ; for the ancient rate of custom upon cloths 

 was not raised by her majesty, but by queen Mary, 

 a catholic queen : and hath been commonly con 

 tinued by her majesty ; except he mean the com 

 putation of the odd yards, which in strict duty was 

 ever answerable, though the error were but lately 

 looked into, or rather the toleration taken away. 

 And to that of wines, being a foreign merchandise, 

 and but a delicacy, and of those which might be 

 forborn, there hath been some increase of imposition, 

 which can rather make the price of wine higher, 



