CIRTIFICATE RELATING TO THE MINT. 59 



space of six years aforesaid, there hath been still de 

 grees of decay in quantity of the silver brought to 

 the Mint, but yet so, as within these last three months 

 it hath grown far beyond the proportion of the 

 former time, insomuch as there comes in now 

 little or none at all And yet, notwithstanding, it 

 is some opinion, as well amongst the officers of the 

 Mint as the merchants, that the state need be the less 

 apprehensive of this effect, because it is like to be 

 but temporary, and neither the great flush of gold 

 that is come into the Mint since the proclamation, 

 nor on the other side the great scarcity of silver, can 

 continue in proportion as it now doth. 



Another point of the fact, which we thought fit 

 to examine, was, whether the scarcity of silver 

 appeared generally in the realm, or only at the 

 Mint; wherein it was confessed by the merchants, 

 that silver is continually imported into the realm, 

 and is found stirring amongst the goldsmiths, and 

 otherwise, much like as in former times, although, in 

 respect of the greater price which it hath with the 

 goldsmith, it cannot find the way to the Mint. And 

 thus much for the fact. 



For the causes with the remedies, we have 

 heard many propositions made, as well by the lord 

 Knevet, who assisted us in this conference, as by 

 the merchants ; of which propositions few were new 

 unto us, and much less can be new to your lord 

 ships ; but yet although upon former consultations, 

 we are not unacquainted what is more or less likely 

 to stand with your lordships grounds and opinions, 



