Annals of the coinage of Great Britain and its dependencies Volume 1 ; from the earliest period of authentic history to the reign of Victoria

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1840 Excerpt: ...that, as the king had been pleased to grant their request, he would further please to fix the time when it should take place. In answer, it was declared to be the intention of the king and his council that the money should not be diminished, and that it should be amended as soon as it might be done.4 No record has yet been discovered to prove that this petition was complied with. Indeed, it appears to have been the king's intention to give such an answer to it as should satisfy the Commons for the time, without absolutely engaging to do any thing in the business. They also seem to have been convinced that further application at that time would be ineffectual, and to have ceased to urge him; for, in a complaint of grievances which they presented in the following year 1355, the state of the coin is not noticed;5 and it is certain, from the indenture of the 30th year, that no alteration had then been effected. For some time previous to the year 1354 there had been great dissensions and debates respecting the wages of the workmen and moneyers in the Duchy of Aquitaine. To determine these it had been ordained that every worker of money, either black or white, should receive for every mark worked by him, except of gold, three pence; and every moneyer, for each pound of the said money, white or black, struck by him, gold excepted, three pence sterling of the London mint, or their value in other money. This ordinance was now confirmed by the king, during his pleasure.6 And for the further encouragement of these workers and moneyers, and to enable them better to attend to the working and striking of the coins, the king granted that they should be free from all taxes, talliages, &c. &c.; and that they should plead before the provost of the mint in all pleas, ...