But if we can balance a little between that Article of Trade which relates to the Importation of Bullion, it will be soon much better with us than it is at present, ’tis something if we can give present ease, and not increase the Danger; and more if we can lessen the Danger which the want of ease seems to threaten. Suppose for instance then the whole Trade of _England_ to all parts of the World to be carried on by two Merchants, one at _London_, and the other at _Amsterdam_, and the only Commodities to be Cloth and Silk. Suppose he at _London_ Exports every year 1000 _l._ worth of Broad Cloth and no more, and he at _Amsterdam_ Imports hither 1500 _l._ worth of Silk, that here’s an inevitable necessity of the _Londiners_ Exporting every Year 500 _l._ in Bullion can’t be denyed, and if this continue year by year it, will be, you’ll say, of pernicious consequence to _England_, and it will be a wonderful hard matter at this time to help such a Case. But if we can at present so order it, that instead of importing 1500 _l._ worth of Silk we shall import 1000 _l._ worth of Silk, and 500 _l._ worth of Silver we shall be no losers in the Article I am upon, and which is the only thing I have undertaken to look after, _viz._ That the Nation shall never want Money be the Trade what it will: for if 500 _l._ in Silver be Exported and as much Imported every Year, we can never have a Peny worth of Bullion less than we have. And if other Nations must get by us, they had better get any thing than our Money; if what they get by us they must be forced to spend among us, ’twill lessen I hope the Calamity, as will appear more hereafter. Now this is not to be done by giving our Coyn a _Nominal_, _fictitious_ or _extrinsick_ value only above its intrinsick: Foreigners are not such Fools to be dealt with at that rate, as to pay you a Rex Dollar of 18 _d._ weight 18 grains in _Amsterdam_ or _Brussels_, for a piece of Money of 15 penny weight in _London_. [Sidenote: Sir _Robert Cotton_’s answer of the Committee. _September 1626._ Pag. 306.] Turn the Tables, _and suppose the King of_ Spain _should advance his Real of Eight_ weighing but 17 Penny Weight 12 Grains _to double the value it now bears, and yet needing by reason of the barrenness of his Country more of Foreign Wares than he can Countervail by Barter with his own; he must part with his Money and not gain by enhauncing his Coyn_. One Real of Eight would not then buy of us as good a Yard of broad Cloth as two doth now, and why should we think to over reach them more than they us.