Monetary Paradoxes

XXVII.

That the statutes original: "statuta" of the mint-masters carry more weight than the Imperial Recesses Reichs-Abscheide: the formal resolutions passed by the Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire and the decrees of the Princes.

XXVIII.

That stately sovereignty and the royal prerogatives Regalien: the exclusive rights of a monarch, such as the right to mint coins, though earned at great cost, are being carelessly squandered.

XXIX.

That the monasteries are legally original Latin: "Jure" withheld from the priests and Jesuits, but in practice original Latin: "de facto" are willingly handed over to the mint-masters.

XXX.

That one is expected to believe that profit acquired original: "acquiriret" through unlawful means is an honest gain.

XXXI.

That the highways and byways are unsafe because the money-changers have had free passage until now. This likely refers to the "Kipper und Wipper" period of the early 1600s, where currency debasement led to economic chaos and social unrest.

XXXII.

That the money trade, when dishonest goods thrive, can bring more profit to a country than the maritime trade to the Indies. original: "Schiffahrt in Indien," referring to the incredibly lucrative spice trade of the era.

XXXIII.

That the State original Latin: "Respublica" can still stand even when all regard for decency original Latin: "respectus honestatis" has been completely abolished.

XXXIV.

That the Princes and Lords restrain their soldiers, yet allow their land and people to be plundered by the workings of the mints.

XXXV.

That a land can be more severely punished and ruined by "light" money referring to debased coins containing less precious metal than their face value than by a heavy war.

XXXVI.

That in these days there are many terribly great "Thrasonic" boasters derived from Thraso, a braggart soldier in Roman comedy, and yet there is no one who is willing or dares to "bell the cat." A reference to the fable where mice decide to put a bell on a cat to hear it coming, but no one is brave enough to actually do it; here, it means taking the necessary risk to stop the economic corruption.