"A PROJECT for IRELAND, inclined to peace and obedience to her Majesty."

"There be two things required for reducing the kingdom of Ireland unto a rich and prosperous state, which must go hand in hand together. The one is to be performed by the Queen's Majesty unto her subjects of Ireland. The other by the subjects reciprocally unto the Queen their Sovereign.

"Touching the first. Her Majesty may be pleased (in manner hereafter expressed) to restore again a rich and sterling coin proper to that kingdom.

"Touching the second. The subjects of Ireland in like manner must be content (according to their small ability) something to contribute unto her Majesty (as all subjects else of the world do unto their Prince) towards the excessive charges her Majesty hath been at and must continue for maintenance of the kingdom as well in times of peace as war...

"I. Considerations fit to be had for restoring of a rich coin again in Ireland with a perpetual continuance of the same.

"It is to be considered that the Queen maintaineth a sterling coin in England only by industry of the English subjects ; the countryman in raising, the merchant in vending, of English commodities ; for which is procured and brought into the realm gold and silver, whereby the mint is maintained ; the merchant selling his bullion to her Majesty's mint for good and ready money to the Queen's advantage and enriching of English subjects.

"Then as gold and silver are not growing in England no more than in Ireland, so it is not meet that the treasure gotten in England by the sweat of English subjects should be exhausted into Ireland to the impoverishing of England, especially to strengthen rebels thereby against her Majesty.

"Wherefore if the subjects of Ireland (who have in God's bounty and nature a fertile land) shall in equal balance weigh these things, they shall not find it strange that her Majesty hath withdrawn sterling coin or English money from them.

"But no doubt her Majesty will be very graciously inclined to restore unto them a sterling coin proper unto themselves (as it is meet a kingdom should have) having a ground to maintain the same in any indifferent measure as she doth in her realm of England. For present effecting whereof. and for a perpetual establishment of rich moneys in Ireland, this must be the course.

"(1.) The Queen to erect a mint at Dublin.

"(2.) To coin their moneys of fine and sterling silver; viz., of 11 oz. 2 dwt. fine silver and 18 dwt. of alloy.

"(3.) The Irish shilling of the standard of sterling (as aforesaid) to weigh 9d. English money.

"(4.) To proclaim that whosoever will bring into the said mint either gold or silver, fine or base, in moneys, plate, or bullion, they shall receive for the same ready money of sterling current in Ireland according to the value, viz., for every oz. of sterling silver 6s. sterling money of Ireland.... All charges defrayed of coinage, for workmanship, and waste in all mints allowed.

"For confirmation of the foresaid articles severally these are the reasons presently to be yielded.

"(1.) A mint is a regal ornament and a prerogative pertinent to a kingdom ; the means and mystery to attract and draw treasure from foreign parts ; as also to invest the kingdom in a property and possession of their own moneys and treasure purchased and procured by vent of their native commodities. For the species or matter of moneys being their own, and the coinage (by her Majesty's prerogative) within themselves, they shall not be driven to send nor carry away their bullion to be minted in a foreign country, having as great privilege by a mint in the use and disposing of their treasure to their most advantage as any kingdom of the world can have.

"But without a mint the state of a kingdom shall be evermore defective, being constrained to use the moneys of a foreign country, and to send out their bullion to be minted into the coins of another kingdom, which is as much as to drive away merchants from bringing any bullion unto them.

"Moreover, a mint being settled in Ireland (as the kingdom is able to maintain it, and will be better enabled every day, when corn and victuals, which are best merchandises to procure bullion, shall be increased), it shall perpetually establish the state of a rich money in the kingdom.

"Because the Prince's profits will most consist in the goodness of the moneys ; and shall never have reason to imbase the same while the kingdom can maintain a mint ; which shall be a great honour unto the kingdom of Ireland and a mystery of State very advantageous unto her Majesty, who cannot think she is Queen of a beggarly kingdom that so can do.

"(2.) The second article is confirmed in the former reason ; for the profits both of Prince and subject consist in goodness of the moneys.

"(3.) The third article reserveth an advantage to the Queen, but not any way hurtful to the State of Ireland ; concerning which more needeth not be spoken at this present.

"(4.) The fourth article offereth a means presently to set a mint going in Ireland, whereby they shall presently enter themselves into possession of a rich coin, which is the first step unto great happiness.

"Therefore to draw on her Majesty to make no more pay in base money within the kingdom, to divert the violent current of present miseries, and to leave no mention of base commixt moneys, which else will be as foul scars remaining of their former rebellions and misdemeanours, let every man (that wisheth to see happy days in his country) be content with loss to convert all his base money (holding any silver in them) into pure coin and current money of their kingdom. The rather also, because they shall have the value of the silver in them contained, as before hath been expressed. And it shall be better thus to do than to carry the same out of the realm, where they shall never make so much of them ; besides with greater costs, more hazard, and the hindrance of a public good unto the kingdom.

"Thus far concerning the first part for restoring of rich coins again after a more honorable sort than ever Ireland had them, and in a perpetuity never more to be altered, by means only of settling a mint in the kingdom. Which may be well begun by the former motion, and better continued when they begin to taste the sweetness of peace, which shall increase commodities and traffic with importation of gold and silver.

II. "Touching the second part, to be performed by the Subjects of Ireland towards her Majesty.

"It is a matter fit to be considered that no Prince of the world doth possess a kingdom which yieldeth not some commodity unto him. But her Majesty hath always spent more than she ever received out of Ireland when the country charged her least, and for many years now together hath received nothing, ... which hath justly excited her Majesty to take hard courses until she may find some benefit and ease of charges from her subjects there.

"And forasmuch as the country of Ireland for the most part hath contributed largely unto the unlawful charges in maintenance of rebels' forces, her Majesty by good right may expect some measure of contribution (though but moderate and easy, having regard to the time) towards the charges of her army there still to be continued for defence of the kingdom against foreign and civil enemies ; wherein no evasion by pleading of poverty can excuse them, if having undergone so great taxes to the supporting of the rebels, they should now seem to groan under a feather imposed upon them by their lawful Prince and Sovereign.

"It may therefore please the Lord Deputy, with advice of the lords and signiors of countries, as also of magistrates in the towns, to cess the kingdom moderately, viz, some to pay money by the year, especially the towns, and they which have not money to pay rent, corn, or any kind of commodity merchandable, which the Queen's merchants (to be ordained for that service) shall receive, and pay unto her Majesty other moneys current of Ireland, or bullion, which may be coined in the mint at Dublin to pay the army ; for the army must then be paid in sterling current moneys of Ireland, which her Majesty will not be pleased to issue altogether out of her own coffers. But by means of this aid and contribution from her subjects in Ireland, her Majesty will be induced to pay altogether in the sterling moneys current in the kingdom. Wherefore, without some consideration from the subjects of Ireland, this project cannot hold, which tendeth to great happiness of the kingdom, if they be capable of their own good, offered in a time of grace.

"For as her Majesty doubtless will be graciously inclined upon any good motion from the Lord Deputy to respect her subjects of Ireland, so must subjects have a reciprocal care and respect unto their Sovereign.

"If this project shall take good effect in Ireland, the army may receive their full pay there, and buy provisions of the provant merchants or elsewhere for ready money to their best choice and liking."

Dated by Carew, "1600."