le； the frequency of their exchanges； as also； and principally from the value of the smalles silver pieces of money； so in like maner； the proportion of money requisite to our Trade； is to be likewise taken from the frequency of commutations； and from the bigness of the payments； that are by law or custome usually made otherwise。 From whence it follows； that where there are Registers of Lands； whereby the just value of each mans interest in them may be well known； and where there are Depositories of the ** *****； as of Metals； Cloth； Linnen； Leather； and other Usefuls； and where there are Banks of money also； there less money is necessary to drive the Trade。 For if all the greatest payments be made in Lands； and the other perhaps down to ten pound； or twenty pound be made by credit in Lombars or Money…Banks： It follows； that there needs only money to pay sums less than those aforementioned； just as fewer Farthings are requisite for change； where there be plenty of silver two Pences； then where the least silver piece is six Pence。 20。 On the other side； if the largeness of a publick Exhibition should leave less money then is necessary to drive the nations Trade； then the mischief thereof would be the doing of less work； which is the same as lessening the people； or their Art and Industry； for a hundred pound passing a hundred hands for Wages； causes a 10000 l。 worth of Commodities to be produced； which hands would have been idle and useless； had there not been this continual motive to their employment。 21。 Taxes if they be presented expended upon our own domestick Commodities； seem to me； to do little harm to the whole Body of the people； onely they work a change in the Riches and Fortunes of particular men； and particulary by transferring the same from the Landed and Lazy； to the Crafty and Industrious。 As for example； if a Gentleman have let his Lands to Farm for a hundred pound per annum； for several years or lives； and he be taxed twenty pound per annum； to maintain a Navy； then the effect hereof will be； that this Gentlemans twenty pounds per annum； will be distributed amongst Seamen； Ship…Carpenters； and other Trades relating to Naval matters； but if the Gentleman had his Land in his own hands； then being taxed a Fifth part； he would raise his Rents near the same proportion upon his under Tenants； or would sell his Cattle； Corn and Wooll a Fifth part dearer； the like also would all other subdependents on him do； and thereby recover in some measure； what he paid。 Lastly； but if all the money levied were thrown into the Sea； then the ultimate effect would onely be； that every man must work a fifth part the harder； or retrench a fifth part of his consumptions； viz。 the former； if forreign Trade be improveable； and the latter； if it be not。 22。 This； I conceive； were the worst of Taxes in a well policyed State； but in other States； where is not a certain prevention of Beggary and Theevery； that is a sure livelihood for men； wanting imployment； there； I confess； an excessive Taxe； causes excessive and insuperable want； even of natural necessities； and that on a sudden； so as ignorant particular persons； cannot finde out what way to subsist by； and this； by the law of Nature； must cause sudden effects to relieve it self； that is； Rapines； Frauds； and this again must bring Death； Mutilations； and Imprisonments； according to the present Laws which are Mischiefs； and Punishments； as well unto the State； as to the particular sufferers of them。
Chapter 4
Of the Several wayes of Taxe； and first； of setting a part； a proportion of the whole Territory for Publick uses； in the nature of Crown Lands； and secondly； byt way of Assessement； or Land…taxe。
But supposing； that the several causes of Publick Charge are lessened； as much as may be； and that the people be well satisfied； and contented to pay their just shares of what is needfull for their Government and Protection； as also for the Honour of their Prince and Countrey： It follows now to propose the several wayes； and expedients； how the same may be most easily； speedily； and insensibly collected。 The which I shall do； by exposing the conveniences and inconveniences of some of the principal wayes of Levyings； used of later years within the several States of Europe： unto which others of smaller and more rare use may be referred。 2。 Imagine then； a number of people； planted in a Territory； who had upon Computation concluded； that two Millions of pounds per annum； is necessary to the publick charges。 Or rather； who going more wisely to work； had computed a twenty fifth part of the proceed of all their Lands and Labours； were to be the Excisium； or the part to be cut out； and laid aside for publick uses。 Which proportions perhaps are fit enough to the affairs of England； but of that hereafter。 3。 Now the question is； how the one or the other shall be raised。 The first way we propose； is； to Excize the very Land it self in kinde； that is； to cut out of the whole twenty five Millions； which are said to be in England and Wales； as much Land in specie； as whereof the Rack…rent would be two Millions； viz。 about four Millions of Acres； which is about a sixth part of the whole； making the said four Millions to be Crown Lands； and as the four Counties intended to be reserved in Ireland upon the forfeitures were。 Or else to excize a sixth part of the rent of the whole； which is about the proportion； that the Adventurers and Souldiers in Ireland retribute to the King； as Quit Rents。 Of which two wayes； the latter is manifestly the better； the King having more security； and more obliges； provided the troubl and charge of this universal Collection； exceed not that of the other advantage considerably。 4。 This way in a new State would be good； being agreed upon； as it was in Ireland； before men had even the possession of any Land at all； wherefore whosoever buyes Land in Ireland hereafter； is no more concerned with the Quit Rents wherewith they are charged； then if the Acres were so much the fewer； or then men are； who buy Land； out of which they know Tythes are to be paid。 And truly that Countrey is happy； in which by Original Accord； such a Rent is reserved； as whereby the Publick charge may be born； without contingent； sudden； superadditions； in which lies the very Ratio of the burthen of all Contributions and Exactions。 For in such cases； as was said before； it is not onely the Landlord payes； but every man who eats but an Egg； or an Onion of the growth of his Lands； or who useth the help of any Artisan； which feedeth on the same。 5。 But if the same wer propounded in England； biz。 if an aliquot part of every Landlords Rent were excinded or retrenched； then those whose Rents were settled； and determined for long times to come； would chiefly bear the burthen of such an Imposition； and others have a benefit thereby。 For suppose A； and B； have each of them a parcel of Land； of equal goodness and value； suppose also that A hath let his parcel for twenty one years at twenty pound per annum； but that B is free； now there comes out a Taxe of a fifth part； hereupon B will not let under 25l。 that his remainder may be twenty； whereas A must be contented with sixteen neat； nevertheless the Tenants of A will sell the proceed of their bargain at the same rate； that the Tenants of B shall do。 The effect of all this is； First； that the Kings fifth part of B his Farm shall be greater then before。 Secondly； that the Farmer to B shall gain more then before the Taxe。 Thirdly； that the Tenant or Farmer of A shall gain as much as the King and Tenant to B both。 Fourthly； the Tax doth ultimately light upon the Landlord A and the Consumptioners。 From whence it follows； that a Land…taxe resolves into an irregular Excize upon consumptions； that those； bear it most； who least complain。 And lastly； that some。 Landlords may gain； and onely such whose Rents are predetermined shall loose； and that doubly； viz。 one way by the raising of their revenues； and the other by exhausting the prices of provisions upon them。 6。 Another way is an Excisum out of the Rent of Houseing； which is much more uncertain then that of Land。 For an House is of a double nature； viz。 one； wherein it is a way and means of expence； the other； as 'tis an Instrument and Tool of gain： for a Shop in London of less capacity and less charge in building then a fair Dining…room in the same House unto which both do belong； shall nevertheless be of the greater value； so also shall a Dungeon； Sellar； then a pleasant Chamber； because the one is expence； the other profit。 Now the way Land…taxe rates housing； as of the latter nature； but the Excize； as of the former。 7。 We might sometimes adde hereunto； that housing is sometimes disproportionately taxed to discourage Building； especially upon new Foundations； thereby to prevent the growth of a City； suppose London； such excessive and overgrown Cities being dangerous to Monarchy； though the more secure when the supremacy is in Citizens of such places themselves； as in Venice。 8。 But we say； that such checking of new Buildings signifies nothing to this purpose； forasmuch as Buildings do not encrease； until the People already have increased： but the remedy of the above mentioned dangers is to be sought in the causes of the encrease of People； the which if they can be nipt； the other work will necessarily be done。 But what then is the true effect of forbidding to build upon new foundations？ I answer to keep and fasten the City to its old seat and ground…plot； the which encouragement for new Buildings will remove； as it comes to pas almost in all great Cities； though insensibly； and not under many years progression。 9。 The reason whereof is； because men are unwilling to build new houses at the charge of pulling down their old； where both the old house it self； and the ground it stands upon do make a much dearer ground…plot for a new house； and yet far less free and convenient； wherefore men build upon new free foundations； and cobble up old houses； until they become fundamentally irreparable； at which time they become either the dwelling of the Rascality； or in process of time return to waste and Gardens again； examples whereof are many even about London。 Now if great Citie