The manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of ... - Electric Scotland

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If money be coyned at our standard, so long as any forreigu money
of a worse standard passes, the whole that is coyned will be weekly
carried away in merchandise.
If wee continue as wee are, the samme losse wee have from the base
forreign money, as if wee coyned below our standard, for wee only
imagine the forreign coyne to be worth what its called, but it is valued
by all wee trade with, but at its true value.
The base money is on certaine cause of the scarsity of money and
poverty of the people.
For to fancy that the allow^ince of base money incouradges merchants
to bring in money is a grosse mistake, since the merchant will bring no
more money in, nor he resolves to buy of goods, and he would bring
that in of good money, if bad did not passe, and wee are only cheated
when wee take as 58 shillings what in all trade with other nations is
worth not 54 shillings.
Therfor since there is a certaine national advantage in haveing a
mint to coyue our bullion, and merchants would import money to be
coyned, if they find ane easy coynadge, and since to coyne bad money is
madnes and certaine loss.
Therfore, its fitt to coyne money at our owne standard of elevn
denier fyne out of the fyre. This is a litle lower nor the English to
keep in our coyn and it was ever so, but its better then all the forreign
money passing here be farr.
But it will be all caried away if forreign money be not discharged
absolutly.
This would be a loss to all the nation, who now have nothing but
forreigne coyne almost.
The remedy of all is to recoyne the forreign money to our standard,
which will take at least 12,000 pounds sterling to make up the
difference.
And therafter the King giveiug his bullion to the expence of the
mint and allowing 200 ston of silver to be coyned at 10 denier fyne in
5 and 10 shilling peeces, to runn currant only in the kingdome, there
will be a coynadge given to merchants for litle or no expense viz. : for
the petty charges, which is 24*^^ scots or 40 shillings sterling on each
ster (stone) of silver.
But 4,000 stone of copper is desyned to help the undertakers.
55. Instructions by the secret committee of the Privy Council to
the Duke of Queensberry as Treasurer, to make representations to his
Majesty on a variety of subjects connected with the Kingdom of
Scotland. It is signed by the Marquis of Atholl, Lord Tarbat, the
Lord President Falconer, and Sir George Mackenzie, Lord Advocate,
without date, but evidently after the rising of the parliament 1685.
Sederunt.
Lord Treasurer, Lord Privie Seall, President, Advocat and Register.
It is thought fiit that ane acompt be given by my Lord Treasurer to
his Majestic of the present state of this Kingdome since the late
rebellione.
Especially that albeit the rebellione be compesseed, yett the principle
is not extinguished, and many are of it, who, if not further crushed, may
as Weill revive and act mischeevously heirafter.
And that therfore albeit the measurs formerly taken, which have
brocken them, can not now be prosecuted, because all submitt. Yet it
is advised that the heads who are under guilt be brocken, so as to be
uncapacitat to doe ill, and that notwithstanding of any indemnitie maj
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