[No. XXVI.] 11 Henry IV. c. 5. Gally Half-pence shall No. XXVI. not be current in Payment in this Realm.

[No. XXVII.] 11 Henry IV. c. 8.-The Lord Chancellor shall send the Estreats of Exchanges taken of Merchants into the Exchequer every fifteen Days.

c

[No. XXVIII.] 13 Henry IV. c. 6.-No Gally Halfpence or Foreign Money shall be current within this Realm.

[No. XXIX.] 2 Henry V. stat. 2. c. 4.-There shall be gilding of Silver Ware, but of the Allay of English Sterling.

.

ITEM, For that the goldsmiths of England, of their covin and ordinances, will not sell the wares of their mystery gilt, but at the double price of the weight of the silver of the same, which seemeth to the King very outrageous and too excessive a price;" the King for the ease of his people, willing to remedy the same, hath ordained and established, 'That all the goldsmiths of England shall gild no silver worse than of the allay of the English sterling, and that they take for a pound of Troy gilt 'but forty-six shillings eightpence at the most, and of a greater weight, ' and less, according to the quantity and rate of the same sum; and that ' which shall be by them gilt from henceforth shall be of reasonable price, and not excessive; and if any goldsmith do contrary to this Statute, he 'shall forfeit to the King the value of the thing so sold.'

[No. XXX.] 3 Henry V. st. 1. c. 1.-It shall be Felony to Import or offer in Payment any sort of Money forbidden by former Statutes.

[No. XXXI.]

66

3 Henry V. stat. 2. c. 6.-It shall be Treason to clip, wash, or file Money.

ITEM, Because that before this time great doubt and ambiguity hath been, whether that clipping, washing, and filing of the money of the land, ought to be judged treason, or not, forasmuch as no mention there"of is made in the Declaration of the Articles of Treason, made in the "Parliament holden the twenty-fifth year of King Eaward the Third, great grandfather to our Sovereign Lord;" the same our Lord the King, willing to decide such doubt, and to put the same in a certainty, hath declared in this present Parliament, that such clipping, washing, and filing, 'shall be adjudged for treason, and they which so do clip, wash, and file the money of the land, shall be judged traitors to the King, and to the realm, and shall incur the pain of treason.'

[No. XXXII.] 3 Henry V. stat. 2. c. 7.-What Justices shall have Authority to hear and determine the Offences of falsifying of Money.

ITEM, Because counterfeiting, clipping, washing, and other falsity of money of the land is much more used, and daily doth more abound "than it was wont, for that the punishment of the same pertaineth not to any Judges of the realm, but to the King's Justices before himself, or by special commissions thereto assigned, and it is very likely there will be "destruction of the money, unless hasty execution and remedy be provided, as the King by the grievous complaint of the Commons hath per

3

11 Hen. IV.

c. 5.

No. XXIX. 2 Hen. V. st. 2. c. 4.

The pound Troy of silver gilt shall be

sold for 46s. 8d.

No XXXI.

3 Hen. V.

st. 2. c. 6.

Repealed by
1 Mar. sess. 1.
vived by 5 El.

c. 1. and re

c. 11.

No. XXXII.

3 Hen. V.

st. 2. c. 7.

3 Hen. V. st. 2. c. 7.

No. XXXII.ceived;" our said Lord the King, willing to remedy the same, hath ordained and established, That the King's Justices assigned to take Assizes in all the counties of England shall have power, by the King's commis'sions to hear and determine in their Sessions, as well of the counterfeiting, and of the bringing of such false money into the realm as of clipping, washing, and every other falsity of the said money; and that the justices of peace through the realm shall have power by the King's commissions to inquire of all such matters, and thereupon to make process by Capias only against those which before them shall be thereof indicted.'

No. XXXIV.

8 Henry V.

c. 3.

No. XXXV.

9 Henry V. st. 1. c. 11.

the Italick let

[No. XXXIII.]

8 Henry V. c. 2.-Certain Gold or Silver shall be brought to the Mint instead of Wool or Tin transported.

[No. XXXIV.] 8 Henry V. c. 3.-What Things only may be gilded, and what laid on with Silver.

ITEM, That none from henceforth shall gild any sheaths, nor metal, but silver, and the ornaments of holy church; nor shall silver no metal 'but knights' spurs, and all the apparel that pertaineth to a baron, and above that estate: upon pain of forfeiture to the King ten times as much as the thing so gilt is of value, and shall have also one year's imprison· ment. And the justices of peace shall have power to inquire thereof, ' and that to determine. And he that will sue for the King in this behalf, 'shall have the third part of the said pecuniary pain.

II. Provided that this last ordinance shall begin to hold place at the 'Feast of Easter next coming.

[ No. XXXV. ] 9 Henry V. st. 1. c. 11.-No English Gold shall be received in Payment but by the King's Weight.

ર

ITEM, to avoid the deceits and perils which long have continued within the realm by washers, clippers, and counterfeiters of the money of " the realm of England, to the great loss and damage of all the people of "the same realm;" 'the King, by the advice and assent of all the Lords and Commons assembled in this Parliament, hath ordained and stablished, That from Christmas Even next coming, none of the King's liege people shall receive any money of English gold in payment, but by the King's weight thereupon ordained.' "And because a great part of the gold now These Lines in « current in payment is not of rightful weight nor of good allay," the same 'shall be sent to the coine, to the intent that it shall be newly coined of 'just weight and of good allay;' "and because that shall be to the great "loss and costs of the King's subjects, unless it please him to relieve them in "this case;" our Sovereign Lord the King, of his special grace, hath re'mised and pardoned to all his liege people, which betwixt this and the said Feast of Christmas shall cause to be coined of new at the King's coinage within the Tower of London, their money of gold that is not of 'just weight nor of good allay, that is to say, all that to him pertaineth for this new coinage of such gold as afore; saving always to the Master ' of the Mint, and to other officers of the same, that which to them rea'sonably pertaineth.'

ter are omitted in the several editions of the Statutes published by Pulton, Keble, &c.

but are in Rastal.

[No. XXXVI.] 9 Henry V. stat. 2. c. 1.-A Confirmation of all Statutes made touching Money.

[No. XXXVI. a.] 9 Henry V. stat. 2. c. 2.-All Men may resort to the King's Exchanges, or to the Tower, to have Money new coined.

[No. XXXVI. b.] 9 Henry V. stat. 2. c. S.-At the King's No.XXXVI.b. Exchanges good Money shall be delivered to the Parties, 9 Hen. V. or else he that doth receive it may refuse it.

[No. XXXVI. c.] 9 Henry V. stat. 2. c. 4.-The Officers of the Exchanges shall bring to the Tower all the Gold or Silver which they buy or exchange.

[No. XXXVI. d.] 9 Henry V. stat. 2. c. 5.-The Mint shall be at Calais.

[No. XXXVI. e.] 9 Henry V. stat. 2. c. 6.-The Allay and Weight of Money.

[No. XXXVI. f.] 9 Henry V. stat. 2. c. 7.-The Weight of Gold shall be sent to every City.

[No. XXXVII.] 1 Henry VI. c. 1.-The King's Council may assign Money to be coined in as many Places as they will.

stat. 2. c. 3.

1 Hen. VI.

c. 1.

FIRST, It is ordained and established, for the profit of the King, and No. XXXVII. the ease of his people, that the lords of the King's council for the time being may assign, by authority of the said Parliament, masters and workmen to make money of gold and silver, to hold the exchanges of money as well in the city of York as in the town of Bristol, and also in as many places as to the said lords shall seem necessary, according to their good advice and discretion, any Statute or Ordinance made to the contrary ' notwithstanding.'

<

[No. XXXVIII.] 1 Henry VI. c. 4.-The Master of the Mint shall send to the Mint to be coined all the Gold and Silver that shall come to his hands by Exchange.

[No. XXXIX.] 2 Henry VI. c. 6.-For what Causes only Gold or Silver may be carried out of the Realm.

c. 6.

ITEM, Whereas by King Henry the Fifth, father to our Lord the King No. XXXIX. that now is, it was ordained, that a mint of gold and silver should be 2 Hen. VI. "holden within the town of Calais, whereby great substance of money of gold and silver hath been brought within the realm, which money by "divers persons hath been and is daily, carried out of the same to Burdeaux, Flanders, and other places against the Statute in old times made and A confirmation provided in this behalf, as hath been grievously complained in this Par- of the statute "liament;" it is ordained and assented, That the same Statute be holden of 9 H. 5. c. 7. and kept, and put in due execution. And moreover it is ordained and established, That no gold nor silver shall be carried out of the realm contrary to the said Statute, unless it be for payment of wars, and the

66

sum of

King's soldiers beyond the sea, upon pain of forfeiture of the value of the money so carried out of the realm, to be levied of him that shall bring, carry, or send it out of the same realm: and that he which espieth

that the mint

shall be at Calais.

No gold or silver shall be of the Realm,

carried forth

it, and thereof giveth knowledge to the council, or to the treasurer of but for the England, shall have the fourth part of the forfeiture so due to the King, causes herein

except the ransoms for fines of English prisoners taken and to be taken excepted. 'beyond the sea, and the money that the soldiers shall carry with them for 'their reasonable costs, and also for horses, oxen, sheep, and other things 'bought in Scotland, to be sent and carried to the parties adjoining; so

No. XXXIX.

2 Hen. VI. c. 6.

Merchants

that the money to be sent for the fines of the said prisoners, or to be carried by the said soldiers to the parties beyond the sea, be not done without the King's special licence. And because it is supposed that the money ' of gold of the realm is carried out of the same by merchants aliens, it is ' ordained and stablished, That the merchants aliens shall find surety in the Chancery, every company for them of their company, that none of them 'shall carry out of the realm any gold or silver against the form of the bound to carry said Statute, upon pain of forfeiture of the same gold or silver, or the ' value of the same; and if any of them do to the contrary, and that duly 'proved, and he so doing be gone over the sea, then the pledges of his company shall pay to the King the said forfeiture, whereof he that shall espy it, and thereof give notice to the treasurer, or to the King's council, 'shall have the fourth part as is aforesaid.'

aliens shall be

no gold out of the Realm.

No. XLI.

2 Hen. VI.

c. 12.

The master of the mint shall keep his allay in making of

white money.

The office and duty of the

King's assayer of the mint.

[No. XL.] 2 Henry VI. c. 9.-The Money called Blanks shall be wholly put out.

[No. XLI.] 2 Henry VI. c. 12.-The Office and Duty of the King's Assayer, Controller, and Master of the Mint.

ITEM, To the intent that the more bullion may be brought to the mint, and the greater plenty of white money be made and current within the Realm, for the ease and profit of the commonalty of the same, it is ordained and stablished, That the master of the mint shall keep his allay in 'the making of white money according to the form of his indenture; and that the same master receive of every person, that shall bring any silver to the mint, the same money at the true value as it is worth according to the same allay, upon pain to pay to the party his double damages. And also to the intent that this ordinance may the better and more justly 'be observed, it is ordained, That the King's assayer, which is a person in'different betwixt the master of the mint and the merchant, and also the 'controller of the mint, shall be present when any such bullion of silver is brought to the mint to the intent that the said assayer may rightfully set 'the value of the same according to the allay, in case of variance betwixt the master and the merchant; and the controller to controul as well silver that is brought to the said mint, as carried out of the same, each of 'them being sworn faithfully and indifferently to do their duty, without taking any reward other than the fee which they shall take of the King, upon pain to yield double damages, as afore is said: and that the assayer and controller be credible, substantial, and expert men, having perfect knowledge in the mystery of goldsmiths, and of the mint. And also that neither the master of the mint, nor the exchanger for the time being, 'sell, nor cause to be sold, nor aliene to any other use but to the coin, no 'manner of gold nor of silver wrought or unrought, coined or not coined, or bullion which is brought to the mint, or to the exchange, but apply the same only to the money, according to the form of the said indenture, upon the pain contained in the same indenture. And that the same mas'ter of the mint cause to be stricken, from time to time, half-nobles, farmintshall make things of gold, groats, half-groats, pence, halfpence, and farthings, for 'the ease of the people, according to the tenor of the indenture made be⚫ twixt the King and him, upon the pain contained in the same, so that the • common people may have recourse to the exchange for small gold and white money, as they reasonably shall need.'

The office of the controller of the mint.

The master of the mint shall convert into coin all the

gold and silver

which he shall receive. The master of the

small money.

[No. XLII.] 2 Henry VI. c.

of Silver in Plate,

13.-The Price of a Pound Piece or Mass.

[No. XLIII.] 27 Henry VI. c. 3.-Merchants Aliens shallbestow all their Money upon other Merchandises, and

carry forth no Gold or Silver, upon Pain of Forfeiture thereof.

[No. XLIV.]

c. 1.

17 Edward IV. c. 1.-An Act for Money. No. XLIV. [No Irish money shall run in payment in England or Wales, upon pain 17 Edw. IV. of forfeiture thereof.-It shall be felony to carry out of England or Wales any coin of this realm, or any plate, bullion, jewels of gold or silver, without the King's licence (except prisoners, ransoms, soldiers, money, &c.) -No person shall melt any money of gold or silver sufficient to run in payment, upon pain of forfeiture of the value thereof. All things wrought of silver to be sold, shall be as fine as the sterling, and shall be marked with the leopard's head, and the workman's mark.-All merchants aliens shall imploy the money received for their merchandises upon the commodities of this Realm.]

[No. XLV.] 4 Henry VII. c. 2.—Allaying of Gold and Silver, melting, selling, and marking the same.

c. 2.

ITEM, Whereas it was of old time used, and continued till now of late No. XLV. years, that there was for the weal of the King and the realm, finers and 4 Hen. VII. parters of gold and silver by fire and water, under a rule and order belonging unto the mints of London, Calais, Canterbury, York, and Durham, and in other places where mints been holden, and at the Goldsmiths' Hall in London, to fine and part all gold and silver belonging and needful for the said Mints and fellowship of goldsmiths, for the amendment of money and plate of the realm, that every thing might be reformed to the right standard, as well in money as plate, to the least cost, for the weal of 'the King's noblemen of the land, and common people: But so it is now, that such finers and parters of gold and silver by fire and water, dwelling ' abroad in every place of this realm out of the rules aforesaid, and buy gilt silver from the mints, changes, and goldsmiths, and part and fine it as 'is aforesaid, and for the most part of the silver so fined, they do allay it ' in divers manners, and sell it at their pleasures to every man of what es'tate or degree soever he be, that will buy of them, to make such works as pleaseth the buyers; therefore men can get no fine silver when they 'need it for their money, for the amendment of money and plate, as hath 'been in times past; wherefore it causeth money and plate in divers places ' of the realm to be made worse in fineness than it should be, as it appeareth evidently in divers places, to the great hurt of the King's noble

men of the land, and common people: Wherefore the King our sove- Allaying of

reign lord, by the assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and of the gold and silver Commons, in the said Parliament assembled, and by authority of the same, and selling of hath ordained, enacted, and established, That no finer of gold and silver, the same. nor parter of the same by fire or water, from henceforth allay any fine silver or gold, ne none sell in any other wise, ne to any person or persons, but only to the officers of mints, changes, and goldsmiths within this Realm, for augmentation and amending of coin and plate, as is aforesaid; and that the masters of mints, changes, and goldsmiths, for all such fine gold or silver coming to them, to answer the value as it is worth, according as it is now and hath been in ancient time accustomed after the rate of fineness: Ne that no finer nor finers, parter nor parters, sell to no person, neither to one nor to other, any manner of silver into mass molten and allayed, upon pain of forfeiture of the same, the King thereof to have one half, and the finder that can prove, and will sue for it in the King's exchequer, the other half. And if any finer or finers, parter or parters of gold and silver, either of what fineby fire or water, allay or sell any manner fine gold or silver, otherwise ness silver than it is ordained in this Act, he or they to lose the value of the same ought to be. gold or silver so allayed or sold; the King to have the one half, and the finder that can prove it, and will sue for it in the King's exchequer, the other half. Also all such fine silver as shall be parted and fined as is afore- A finer of gold said, that it be made so fine, that it may bear twelve penny weight of allay and silver must in a pound weight, and yet it be as good as sterling, and rather better than put his mark

upon it.