2.That the Ressorts,and Wheels,and Squares and Pieces,by which it is governed,are very subject to break and bruise one another.
3.That it wants Expedition,and dispatches but a little work.
4.That makers of false Money will easily counterfeit it.
5.That no man will undertake to make Money with the Mill,but at the same price which is paid for the marks for Silver Counters made with a Mill.
To which fie objections I answer.
1.That the quantity of Clipping Mill Money,is no loss to the Farmer nor to the Workman,and is done without pain,charge or travel;besides the Charge of the wasting is taken away,which is both an expence to the Master and to the Farmer:That the augmentation for the workmanship was not allowed for the new melting of the Clippings,but because there was no reason that the Masters of the Mill should without recompence give those several fashions to the work,which the work-man is paid for,and hath 3sols allowed him upon the mark,and besides furnish great Cizers,three sorts of Hammers,Anvil and other Instruments.Now the Money being made in the Mill by the industry of the Master who doth give other like fashions to the work,as the Minters now do,it was but reason to attribute the same right unto him.And in those places where Mill-Money hath remained in use,as at Pau and at Bearne,the fee of the work-man is attributed to the Master of the Mill,as likewise of the Carver and Graver,and that very justly.
2.For the Second Objection,that the Ressorts,Wheels,Squares,etc.are subject to breaking;It may be answered that at the new setting up of the first Mills,the Artisans were not so perfect and expert as they have shewed themselves since by Practice,since the Mills are grown common as now they are:There is nothing harder than to invent,nor more easie than to adde to things invented.There are Mills set up not only at Paris,but at Lyons,Tholouse,Aix,Amiens,Nants,Bordeaux,Poitiers,so that the use of them is now universal,for the Coinage doubles base and abject Money.
3.For the third Objection,That there is no Expedition in Mills,and that the work is not so soon dispatched as with the Hammer:It shall suffice to answer,That it proceeds from a Man that hath no experience in this Subject of Money,because that four Men bred and used to the making of Money in a Mill will do more work than twelve work-men or Moneyers with the Hammer.
4.For the fourth Objection,That the Counterfeiter of Money will imitate the Money made in a Mill:this objection were credible if the author could produce one piece of Silver or Gold made in the Mill counterfeited since the Introduction thereof brought into France;and there is nothing that the counterfeiters of Money and their foster Fathers the Alchymists,do more fear and apprehend,knowing that they cannot suborn base and abject mettals,as Copper,Lead,Tinn,(the materials of Counterfeiters)for Gold and Silver,but that the piece will instantly be discovered,because the Moneys made in the Mill will always be equal and of like volume,greatness and thickness,because it all passeth by the same Coupier which cutteth equally,which cannot be the case with the Moneys made with the Hammer,(the Hammer not being governed with an equal force and measure,as in the Mill.)Neither can they be clipped,but that the exposer thereof will be discovered,taken and punished.And it may be avowed that the Teston made in the Mill hath not been seen clipped in France,the perfect representation of the King's Image seeming to have been retained,and terrified the Clippers.
5.As for the last Objection,That no man will undertake to make Money in the Mill,but at the rate which is paid for the mark of the Silver Counters:This objection proceeds out of Ignorance,because,the matter of Silver Counters is Argent le Roy,and therefore of greater fineness than the Money,and requires a greater charge to refine it to that title and degree.
Besides the maker of Silver Counters must have a great diversity of Chisels,and Prints of a different sort from those of Moneys,and almost as many as there be different Noble men,Corporations,and Townhouses,that take pleasure to have their Arms or Devises engraven in Silver or Copper Counters;whereof sometimes the very square will cost 20Livres,which shall serve only for one purse of two marks of Counters;and for proof thereof let the Masters of the Mills for coining of Doubles be called,and he will undertake for the same wages and fees that the Moniers have,to make the Moneys in the Mill.Thus far this Author:but as I said before,I undertook this Discourse of the Mechanical part of Money with Scruple,so I do leave it with Alacritie.
