Of the medals and coins of Scotland

CHAP. II. Of the Scottish Gold Coins. (Book 2)

HOW long the Scots have coin'd Gold is very uncrtain; tho', I think, we may (in the Gross) venture to affirm that they hardly did it before the English: And we have elsewhere ascrib'd the Beginning of the Matter there to K. Edward the Third. What the (i) 1.1 Nummus Aureus was which Macolm Camnoir appointed to be paid in Lieu of that obscenc Privilege given to the Grandees of Scotland by Euenus the Third, upon the Marriage of their Tenants and Vassals, I cannot certainly tell; tho' my Author says 'twas of the same kind with what (in his own Time) was well enough kown by the Name of Marcheta. Dimidiata Argenti Marca is the Expression he (k) 1.2 elsewhere uses; and I suppose this may suit the Thing better than Nummus Aureus.. The five last Chapters in the Regiam Majestatem are observ'd to be of a suspected Authority; or, otherwise, we might seem to have a pretty good Evidence of K. David the Firsts coining of Gold: For thus runs one of the Laws, (l) 1.3 Pro Vulnere in facie vulnerans dabit unam peciam Auri, videlicet, unam Imaginem Auri. These are all Uncertainties.

Before we enter upon the Times wherein we have better Light, it will be convenient to to observe two Things to the Reader: 1. That the Proportion betwixt Gold and Silver, in the Kingdom of Scotland, has usually been as One to Twelve; so that when the Ounce of Gold was at three Pounds, the Ounce of Silver went at five Shillings, &c. This is more particularly clear'd in a Manuscript Note of (m) 1.4 Sir James Balfour's, which he had call'd Prysses of the Cunzie in the hail tyme of Ja. 1. Ja. 2. Ja. 3. Ja 4. Ja. 5. and Queine Marey. A. D. 1437. (says that Note) K. James the First at his Death, had a Standard equal to that of England: Silver was at 5 s. (Scots) the Ounce, and Gold at 3 l. A. D. 1440. K. James the Second rais'd Silver to 8 s. the Ounce; and Gold to 4 l. 19 s. A. D. 1466. James the Third rais'd the Silver (first) to 10 s. 8 d. and the Gold to 5 l. 12 s. afterwards he again mounted the Ounce of Silver to 12 s. in November, 1475. but (in February 1483.) he reduced it to 11 s. 8 d. The Gold he advanc'd to 6 l. A. D. 1489. James the Fourth kept both at the last mention'd Value. There are no remaining Acts of Council, concerning Coinage, in K. James the Fifth's Time; tho' great Alterations were made in that Reign. The Douglas-Groats (of 10 d. fine) and Babies (of 3 d. fine) were then brought in use; as were likewise the Bonnet-pieces of Gold. He left the Ounce of Silver at 19 s. 9 d. and Gold at 12 l. A. D. 1542. In Q. Mary's time the Ounce of Silver rose to 30 s. and she coin'd Placks (of only 2 d. fine) at 4 l. 16 s. the Ounce 2. Another Thing whereof I am to admonish the Reader is, that he will find the Weight of the Gold and Silver (in the following Account of the Coins of both Metals) computed by different Stan∣dards. In the former is observ'd that of the Goldsmiths of

Edinburgh; who divide their Ounce into sixteen Drops, and their Drop into 36 Grains, 27 of their Grains making our Penny-weight. In weighing of the Silver Coins, I have kept to our common English Weights; by Ounces, Penny-weights and Grains. The Reason of this Difference, is, because all the Golden Coins are now in the Possession of (my worthy and communicative Friend) Mr. James Souther∣land; who was pleas'd nicely to examine their several Weights by the Standard of his own Country. Most of the Silver-pieces are in the Hands of the most Reverend Father in GOD, the present Lord Archbishop of York; and his Grace, among the many generous Acts of Favour which I have had from him, has kindly obliged me with his own most learned and curious Remarks upon 'em. These two Things premis'd, I begin the Scottish Coins in Gold.

These, as I take it,* 1.5 cannot be carry'd higher than the Sovereignty of the Royal Family of the Stewarts; the eldest Golden Coin of Scotland seeming to be no older than the Reign of K. Robert the Second. To this Prince, I suppose, belong the Three following:

1. The Scotch Lyon within a Shield crowned, a small Circle about the Shield, and Robertus Dei Gracia Rex Scot. Rev. St. Andrew on the Cross, betwixt two Flower-de-Lys's, with Dns. Protector MS. & Libera. Weight 1 Dr. 9 Gr.

2. Another differs only in the Words Liberato and Scoto, and the Weight is but 1 Dr.

3. The Scotch Lyon in a Shield not crown'd. Robertus Dei G. Rex

[illustration]

Sco. R. St. Andrew's Cross, with two Flower-de-Lys and two Trefoils. Dns. Protector MS. W. 20 Gr.

The five next I guess to belong to Robert the Third;* 1.6 since they carry a Motto, on the Reverse, which was not (I think) more early in this Isle. K. Henry the Fifth was the first that

bore it in England. 'Tis true (n) 1.7 Le Blanc gives this Motto on a Coin which he ascribes to K. Lewis the VII. which would carry the Antiquity of an Inscription somewhat higher: But he that curiously examines that Coin will find the Shield of the Royal Arms enclos'd in a Rose not used in England be∣fore Edward the Third's Time: And, if the Fashions of Money were brought from France hither (as perhaps every Body will allow) yet I think all agree that we followed their Example pretty early, as the Scots did ours. So that it may be worth the considering anew, whether this Coin be truly so old as Le Blanc puts it.

1. The Scotch Lyon within a Shield crown'd, Robertus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum. R. St. Andrew stretched upon his Cross, XPC. Regnat. XPC. Vincit. XPC. imp. W. 2 Dr.

2. Different only from the former in Robertus Dei Gratia Rex Sco. W. 1 Dr. 4 Gr.

3. The Shield not crown'd, Robertus Dei G. Rex Scoto. R. as above. W. 1 Dr.

4. The Shield as before, Robertus Rex Scotorum. The Reverse the same with the two last mentioned. W. 34 Gr.

5. About the Shield (not crown'd) a Garniture some∣what representing a Rose, Robertus Dei Gratia Rex co. R. as before. W. 34 Gr.

A 6th without co.

* 1.8King James the First may probably challenge the two next, being of a near Resemblance to some of those of his imme∣diate Predecessor.

1. The Scotch Lyon in a Shield crown'd, betwixt two Flower-de-Lys's, Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum. R. St. Andrew stretch'd on the Cross, XPC. Regnat. &c. W. 1 Dr. 24 Gr.

2. A small Crown on each Side of the Shield, Jacobus D. Gratia Rex Scotor. R. The Flower-de-Lys's not crown'd as in the former, Salvum fac populum tuum. W. 1 Dr. 24 Gr.

In the Fourteenth Year of King (o) 1.9 James the Second,* 1.10 it was enacted in Parliament, That there should be striken a new Penny in Gold, called a Lyon, with the Print of the Lyon on th' ane Side, and the Image of St. Andrew on the other Side, with a side Coat even to his Fute, halding the samin Weight of the Half English Noble. This was to go at 6 s. 8 d. and its Half at 3 s. 4 d. exactly at the same Rates with the Demy and Half Demy. Afterwards, in his (p) 1.11 Eighteenth Year, the Demy and new Lyon were order'd to go at 10 s. Of one Sort or other of these are the six follow∣ing.

1. The Scotch Shield crown'd, with a crown'd Flower-de-Lys on each Side, and Jacobus Dei Gracia Rex Sco. R. St. Andrew as above, Salvum fac Pplum. W. 27 Gr.

2. The Flower-de-Lys's on the Sides of the Shield not crown'd, Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum. R. St. Andrew on the Cross, with Flowers uncrown'd, Salvum fac Pplum Domine. W. 27 Gr.

3. St. Andrew carrying his Cross, Jacobus Dei Gratia Rex Sco. R. The Lyon in a Shield crown'd, Salvum fac Populum tuum Domine. W. 1 Dr. 20 Gr.

4. The Lyon within a Shield in Form of a Lozenge, with a small Crown over it, Jacobus Dei Gratia Rex Sc. R. A small St. Andrew's Cross betwixt two small Flower-de-Lys's, within a pretty hexagonal Star, each Point ending in a Flower-de-Lys, with a small Rose betwixt every two Points, Sal∣vum fac Populum tuum Do. W. 1 Dr. 27 Gr.

5. A Piece of the same Size and Stamp with the last men∣tioned. W. 1 Dr. 18 Gr.

6. Another of the same Stamp, but somewhat smaller Size. W. 30 Gr.

* 1.12James the Third, in his (q) 1.13 third Parliament, order'd the Demy and Lyon to be rais'd to 12 s. but, in the (r) 1.14 next he held, which happend to be within a very few Months, they both return'd to their old Value of 10 s. In his (s) 1.15 Eighth, the Demy is set at 13 s. 4 d. and the Scottis Crown (which, I imagine, is only another Name for the Lyon) at 13. In his (t) 1.16 Thirteenth, a fine Penny of Gold is order'd to be stricken of the Weight and Fineness of the Rose-Noble, which is to pass at the Value of 30 new Groats, of ten in the Ounce of fine Silver. Another Penny of Gold, of the same Inscription, to go for 20 Groats; and a third for 10. Of the two latter Kinds, I suppose, are these two:

1. An Unicorn holding a Shield with the Scotch Lyon, a small St. Andrew's Cross under the Unicorn's Feet, and Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum. R. A Cross Flory, charg'd with a great blazing Star, Exurgat De. & dissipent. Nimici ej. W. 2 Dr.

2. A Piece of the same Stamp, but smaller Size. W. 33 Gr.

* 1.17James the Fourth, in his very (u) 1.18 first Year, coin'd Money (both of Gold and Silver) of the same Weight and Fineness with that of his Father; and some of 'em seem to have carry'd the very same Impression. The following four may probably belong to this King:

1. One exactly stamp'd as those two are which we have allotted to the foregoing Reign, varying only the first Legend thus: Jacobus 4. Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum. W. 2 Dr.

2. The King on Horse-back in Armour holding a Sword, circumscrib'd Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex Scotor. R. The Scotch Lyon in a Shield crown'd, with a great Cross reaching the outer Ring of the Piece, Salvum fac populum tuum Domine. W. 2 Dr. 18 Gr.

3. The same with the former, saving that the Legends are transpos'd. Jacobus, &c. being about the Shield. W. 1 Dr. 18 Gr.

4. A lesser Piece of the same Stamp with the last. W. 22 Gr.

In the old (x) 1.19 Ordinance of the King of Spain, there's a Piece (call'd the Croone van Schotlandt) which seems to be of this King's coining. It bears the Shield of Scotland crown'd, and Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum IIII. R. St. An∣drew on the Cross, and Salvum fac populum tuum Domine. Its Weight is set at 2 Dr. 16 Gr.

Betwixt this King and his Son (and Successor) King James the Fifth, we ought to place a Noble Medal in Gold,* 1.20 struck by John Duke of Albany the great Governour of Scotland in the young King's Minority. It bears the Duke and Dutchess's Arms in a Shield crown'd with a Ducal Crown, a large Cross throughout the Field, and Joannis Albaniae Duc. Gubern. R. A Dove spreading her Wings on the Top of another Shield with the Duke's own Coat of Arms, 1524. and circumscrib'd Sub Umbra Tuarum. Weight 7 Dr.

There are also some Pieces of James the Fifth himself,* 1.21 which seem to be of the Medal-kind, rather than intended for an ordinary current Coin. Such I take the three follow∣ing to be:

1. A massy one (as broad as a new English Half-crown, and very thick) bearing the Scotch Shield crown'd betwixt two small Crosses, with Jacobus 5. Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum.

R. A Cross Floree, with, with four Thistle-heads, inscrib'd Crucis Arma sequamur. W. 1 Ounce. 2 Dr. 30 Gr.

2. A smaller of the same Stamp with the former. W. 1 Dr. 24 Gr.

3. The King in Bust, crown'd, Jacobus 5. Dei Gra. Rex Scotor. R. The Scotch Lyion in a Shield not crown'd, with a large Cross through it, inscrib'd Villa Edinbrugh. W. 7 Dr. 27 Gr.

Indeed the common Golden Coins of this Reign (well known by the Name of Bonnet-pieces, and said to have been coin'd out of Gold found in the Kingdom of Scotland) are extreamly beautiful, and little inferiour to the finest Medals. Of these they have the four following:

1. The King in Bust, with a Scotch Bonnet on his Head, Jacobus 5. Dei G. R. Scotorum, 1539. R. The Scotch Shield crown'd, Honor Regis Judicium diligit. W. 3 Dr.

2. The same exactly, 1540.

3. Another, a Third less, 1540. W. 2 Dr.

4. Half of the last mention'd, 1540. W. 1 Dr.

The same Year with the first of these, there was another Piece coin'd, of the same Weight and Size with the Bonnet, carrying the Scotch Shield crown'd and incircled with a Chain of Thistle-heads; the Inscription, JACOBUS 5. DEI G. R. SCOTORV. 1539. R. A large St. Andrew's Cross, charg'd with a Crown betwixt J and R, in the upper Quar∣ter a Thistle-head, and in the lower a Flower-de-Lys, inscrib'd, HONOR REGIS IVDICIVM DILIGIT. 'Tis a curious Rarity; and very lately communicated to me by Mr. Sutherland.

* 1.22Queen Mary's Life (in all the several Stages of it) was so full of wonderful Circumstances, that no Reign afforded more copious Matter for Medals than hers; and yet I have seen none in Gold that respects her History. Mr. Sutherland indeed informs me, that he has seen one with the same

Stamp of the first of her Coins, exactly of the Weight with the first mention'd Medals of her Father: Which I take to have been struck (as his also probably was) at the first opening of her Mint. Her ordinary Coins, in that Metal, are these:

1. The Scotch Shield crown'd, betwixt two Stars, with Maria Dei Gra. Regina Scotorum. R. A Cross Flory, with a Thistle-head in each Quarter, and Crucis Arma sequamur. W. 1 Dr. 24 Gr.

2. The Shield as above, Maria D. G. R. Scotorum, 1543. R. MR. with a Crown above, and a Star below, Ecce Ancilla Domini. W. 1 Dr. 16 Gr.

3. The Shield crown'd betwixt the Letters J. and G. Maria D. G. Scotorum Regina. R. A Cypher including all the Letters of Maria Regina, with a Crown above and a Star on each side, Diligite Justitiam, 1553. W. 2 Dr. 18 Gr. The Letters J and G. shew James Earl of Murray to have been Governour when the Piece was coin'd.

4. Half of the same. W. 1 Dr. 9 Gr.

5. The Queen's Effigies, with her Head in Dress, Maria D. G. Scotorum Regina. R. The Scotch Shield crown'd, Justus fide vivit, 1555. W. 4 Dr.

6, 7. Two more, of the same Stamp and Weight, coin'd in the Years 1557 and 1558.

8. Half of the foremention'd, of the same Stamp, coin'd in 1555. W. 1 Dr. 32 Gr.

9, 10. Two more, of the Weight, &c. last mention'd, coin'd in 1557 and 1558.

11. Francis and Mary, Face to Face, with a large Crown above their Heads, Fran. & Ma. D. G. R. R. Scotor. Delphin. Vien. R. Four Pair of Dolphins link'd together and crown'd, a Cross of Lorrain betwixt every two Pair, and a St. An∣drew's Cross in the middle, Horum tuta fides, 1558. W. 4 Dr.

* 1.23The largest and most valuable of King James the Sixth's Golden Coins, is the Rose-Noble of Scotland, of the same Weight with that of England. On the one Side are the Arms of Scotland crown'd, in a Ship with two Flags, be∣twixt the Letter J and the Figure 6, with a Rose on one Side of the Ship, Jacobus 6. Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum. R. Two Scepters or Batoons, put in the Form of a St. Andrew's Cross, each End of 'em crown'd; in the Quarters of which are four Lions Rampant crown'd. All this is in a large Rose, between every Leaf whereof there's a Thistle; as there is also in the center of the Cross. The Legend, Florent Sceptra Piis. Regna his Jova dat numerari. W. 4 Dr. I call this the largest of that King's Golden Coins; beause I reckon the four following (all of that Metal) to be properly Medals.

1. The King in Bust, crown'd, holding a Sword in one Hand, and an Olive-branch in the other, beneath which In utrumque paratus, 1575. Circumscribed, Jacobus 6. Dei Gra. Rex Scotor. R. The Scotch Shield crown'd, Parcere subjectis & debellare superbos. W. 1 Ounce.

2. Another of the same Stamp, Size and Weight, struck in 1576.

3. The King's Effigies laureat, Jacobus 6. D. G. R. Scotorum. R. A branch'd Thistle with six Heads (the upper∣most crown'd) betwixt the two Letters of J and R both crown'd, under the Thistle the Figure 6. Nemo me impune lacesset, 1590. W. 1 Ounce.

4. The King and Queen with a Crown above their Heads, Jacobus 6. & Anna D. G. Scotorum Rex & Regina. R. The whole Arms and Atchievement of the Kingdom of Scotland. In Defence. W. 2 Oun. 12 Dr.

The other (more ordinary and current) Golden Coins of this Reign, are:

1. The King bare-headed, Jacobus 6. Dei Gra. Ren Scotorum. R. The Scotch Shield crown'd betwixt 15 and 80. Exurgat Deus, & dissip. Inimici ejus. W. 3 Dr.

2. J R with a Crown above, placed four times in the Field, cross-wise, with the Letter S in the Center, Deus Judicium tuum Regi da. 1 88 R. The Scottish Crest, being a Lion crown'd holding a Sword and Scepter, Post 5. & 100▪ Proa. Invicta manent has. W. 2 Dr. 18 Gr.

3. Half of this, coin'd in 1584. W. 1 Dr. 27 Gr.

4. Another of the like, coin'd in 1587. W. 1 Dr. 21 Gr.

5. A Quarter of the same, 1584, W. 27 Gr.

6. The King in a strange Cap, behind a Thistle-head, Jacobus 6. D. G. R. Scotorum. R. A. Lion crown'd, holding up a Scepter to the Clouds, in which are the Hebrew Letters of Jehovah, Te solum Vereor, 1591. W. 2 Dr. 9 Gr.

7. Another of the same Size, Weight and Stamp, coin'd in 1593.

8. The King on Horse-back, in Armour, under his Horse 1593. Jacobus 6. D. G. R. Scotorum, R. The Scotch Shield crown'd, Spero Meliora. W. 2 Dr. 18 Gr. This is what (in the Dutch Books of Ordinances for Money, and elsewhere) is call'd the Scotch Rider; and was long the most common Gold Coin of this Country, Pieces of the same Weight, Im∣pression, &c. with this (as likewise half of the same) ha∣ving been coin'd in 1594, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 1600 and

1601. To these the Statute of his Fifteenth (a) 1.24 Parliament refers, which ordains, That fine Gold (of 22 Carats fine) pass at 30 l. the Ounce; and that, out of every such Ounce, there be coin'd six Five-pound-pieces, or twelve Fifty-shil∣ling-pieces.

9. The Scotch Shield crown'd, Jacobus 6. D. G. R. Sco∣torum. R. A Sword and Scepter plac'd cross-wise. In the upper Quarter, a Crown, a Thistle-head in each of the next, and 1601 in the lowest Salus Populi Suprema Lex. W. 2 Dr. 18 Gr. Tho' this Piece (commonly call'd the Scotch Angel) be of the same Weight and intrinsic Value with the Former, yet it was coin'd to go at 6 l. the Value of Silver being now risen from 50 s. to 60 s. by the Ounce; which of Necessity, enhanc'd the Rate of Gold in the like Proportion.

10. The Half of these (W. 1 Dr. 9 Gr.) carrying the same Impression. This was the last Gold coin'd before the happy Union of the Crowns in King James VI. and we are not (for the Present) to bring our Enquiries any lower. I have seen an (b) 1.25 Extract of the Register of the Mint, from December 1601, to December 1602, whereby it appears, That there was that Year coin'd at Edinburgh 119 Stone of Gold and 986 Stone of Silver. I have also read, That in the (c) 1.26

Beginning of this King's Reign, a golden Basin (of the Con∣tents of four English Quarts) was presented by the Regent Morton to the French King, fill'd with coin'd Pieces of Gold call'd Unicorns; both the Money and the Vessel being made of the native Gold of Scotland. Such Pieces I never saw.

To one that considers how few English Coins we have of a∣bout Half a Score of our Kings next after the Conquest, it.* 1.27 will not look strange that the Silver-money of our neighbou∣ring Kingdom (of the like Age) is not now very plentiful The oldest that even Mr. Sutherland himself has been hither∣to able to discover, is a Penny of Alexander the First's; which yet (he is not very sure, but it) may belong to one of the other two Princes of that Name. For the better and more skilful distinguishing the ancient Silver Coins of Scotland, these Preliminary Cautions (which I have from a very (d) 1.28 great Hand) will be found to be of mighty Use. 1. The Mer∣chants Weights in Scotland are different from ours, sixteen Pounds Troy (as several Acts of Parliament have provided) going to the Stone, and every such Pound being divided into sixteen Ounces: But their Silver-weights are the same, their Ounce-pieces exactly agreeing with ours. How their Stan∣dard (or the Fineness of the Metal) has vary'd from ours, or agreed with it, will be observed in the several Reigns be∣low. 2. The Sums by which the Scots always computed, and do still compute, are the same with ours, they reckoning by Farthings, Half-pence, Pence, Shillings, Merks and Pounds, as we do; and all those Sums bearing the same Proportion

to one another, as ours do; That is, a Shilling contains twelve Pennies, a Merk thirteen Shillings and four Pence, a Pound twenty Shilling, &c. But there has been a great Dif∣ference in the two Nations (at several Seasons as to the value of those Sums. At first, perhaps, the Scotch Pieces being of the same Weight and Denomination with the Eng∣lish) might also be current at the same Rate with ours: But from the Beginning of King James the First's Reign (which is as high as their printed Statutes will carry us) it was otherwise; and the Difference increas'd in the fol∣lowing Reigns, as will appear presently. 3. There's no doubt but that, for a long Time, the coin'd Pieces of Sil∣ver in Scotland (as well as England) were only Pence and Half-pence: After which came in Groats and Half-groats; and, by Degrees, larger Pieces of even an Ounce, two Thirds of an Ounce, &c.

* 1.29I have a small Pieee which I take to be a Half-penny of David the First's: It weighs 14 Grains; which seems to come very near the Standard of that Time: For thus (if the Authority be good) the Matter stands adjusted, (e) 1.30 Ster∣lingus debet ponderare, 32 Gr. Uncia, 21 d. Libra, 26 s. 4 d. It bears a clumsy Half-face, Crown and Scepter, and David Dei Gratia· And the Reverse has Rex Scoturum about four hexagonal Stars. The Regiam Majestatem, if any thing, will acquaint us with the Value of such a Piece; when (f) 1.31 twenty five Shillings were the Price of six Cows, and (g) 1.32 four Pence the Worth of a Pair of Shoes.

In William the First's Reign,* 1.33 Money seems to have been pretty plentiful; since the Nobility of Scotland agreed to pay a (h) 1.34 Hundred thousand Pound Sterling (whereof half was to be in ready Cash) to our Henry the Second, for the Redemption of that Prince. Nor had this so far exhausted the publick Treasure, but that he was able (not long after) to lend Two (i) 1.35 thousand Merks to Richard the Third, on his Return (in Poverty and Thraldom) from the Holy Land. Notwithstanding his great Glut of Money, which he appears to have been Master of, there are not many of his Pence to be met with at this Day. In some of the best (k) 1.36 Collections of our English Coins, there's one (which has been suppos'd to belong to either the Conqueror or his Son Rufus) that bears a Side-face and a Scepter; and whereon the King looks finer, and younger, than on any of the rest. This, with humble Submission, I should rather place amongst the Coins of Scotland; and guess to belong to King William the First of that Kingdom. Two more I have (k) 1.37 seen, which may possibly belong to this King: The one has Le Rey Willem, the other Willelmus Rex, and both have Walter for the Coiner's Name on the Reverse, after which (on one) comes On Ber. which whether it be for Berwick or Perth (sometimes call'd Bertha) will need an Enquiry. That there was Money coin'd in his Reign, is pretty plainly asserted by the Chronicle of Mailros: * 1.38 Willielmus Rex Scotorum innovavit monetam suam.

In Alexander the (m) 1.39 Third's Time,* 1.40 a good Horse for the War was valu'd at twenty Shillings; a whole Carcase of Mutton, the highest Rate sixteen Pence, and the lowest eight Pence; a Flagon of Beer (better and worse) Two-pence

and a Penny. A Couple of these Pennies, of the very same Impression, Size and Weight, I have in my small Collection; bearing the King's Head, half-faced, with a Scepter, and Alexander Dei Gra. On the Reverse, Rex Scotorum about four hexagonal Mullets, or Stars. W. 21 Gr. Half of the same.

* 1.41King John's is likewise Half-faced, with a Crown and Scepter, and Johannis Dei Gra. R. Rex Scotorum, &c. as before: And the Weight the same. His Half-penny weighs 9 Gr. Half of the same.

* 1.42Money, of some sort or other, could not be very scarce in the Reign of Robert the Bruce; who (n) 1.43 agreed to pay our Edward the Third 30000 Merks in ready Money: And (o) 1.44 Lesly assures us the Merks were Sterling. His Penny, (p) 1.45 Half-penny and Farthing, are to be seen: Much of the some Shape with those of his Predecessors. Robertus Dei Gra. R. Rex Scotorum.

* 1.46In the Year 1366. (the latter End of David the Second's Reign) it was (q) 1.47 Enacted in Parliament that the Money should be equal in Goodness to that of England; and the next Year the Coinage was further regulated, a Pound of fine Silver making 29 s. 4 d. Et fiat, says the Statute, in ipsa Signum Notabile, per quod possit ab omni alia prius fabricata evidenter cognosci. I think he was the first King of Scotlond that coin'd Groats. They give him crown'd and side-fac'd, with a Scepter erect, and David Dei Gratia Rex Scotorum. R. Dns Protector MS. & Liberator MS. on an outer Circle; and Villa Edinburgh, about four Mullets, in an inner. His half Groat has the same Inscription. W. 1½ Dr. His Penny weighs 14 Gr. and has only Villa Edinburgh on the Reverse. There's (r) 1.48 another which has Villa Aberden on

the Reverse: And those of Edinburgh have been minted at several Times. There are Half and a Third of these; and Pennies of both Kinds.

Robert the Second's Groat is much of the same Shape,* 1.49 Weight and Size, with that of his Predecessor. It shews the King half-faced, with a Crown and Scepter erect, and Robertus Dei Gra· Rex Scotorum. R. Dnus. Protector MS. & Liberator MS. on the outer Circle; and Villa de Perth, about four small Stars, on the inner. Another of 'em has Villa Edinburgh; and a Third Dundee. And I have seen (s) 1.50 Halfs of all these.

The first open faced Groat is that of Robert the Third.* 1.51 It gives the King's Picture (crown'd, but without a Scepter) in such a kind of Rose as we have on most of our old English Groats. The Inscription is Robertus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum. On the Reverse are three Globules in each Quarter of the Cross: In the inner Circle Villa Edinburgh, and on the outer, Dnus Protector MS. & Liberator MS. W. 1½ Dr. 7 Gr. Mr. Sutherland has three other Varieties with Villa de Perth, Villa de Aberd... and Villa Dumbertan; and the Half of the first of these, and those of Villa Edinburgh, as likewise Pennies of both kinds, and Villa de Aberde—

In the first Year of King James the First's Reign 'twas enacted that (t) 1.52 our Lord the King gar mend his Money,* 1.53 and gar stryke it in like Wecht and Fineness to the Money of England. A little before this, the States of the Kingdom had agreed to (u) 1.54 pay (to our K. Henry the Sixth) the Sum of 100000 Merks, for this King's Ransom; whereof 50000 were to be paid in ready Money. These (tho' of such a Standard as then pass'd for (x) 1.55 Sterling) might pro∣bably be found to carry too great an Allay, when they came

to be tender'd in England; and this might, as probably, give Occasion for the foremention'd Statute. His Groat is full-faced, with Crown and Scepter, and Jacobus Dei Gracia Rex Scot. R. In the Quarters of the Cross are two Flower-de-Lis's and twice three little Balls (or Globuli) countercharg'd within an anner Circle bearing Villa Edinburgh, and an outer with Dnus Protector MS, &c. There's (y) 1.56 another (which I take to belong likewise to this King, and to be of somewhat more Age than the former) whereon the Inscription is Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex-Scotorum; and its Reverse, in all Points, agrees with that of Robert the Third. The Weight of the former is 1 Dr. 9 Gr. and, of this, 1 Dr. 4½ Gr. There are (z) 1.57 others coin'd at Perth, Aberdeen, Linlithgow and Stirling; with the Half of that of Edinburgh.

* 1.58The Parliament, in the 4th Year of K. James the Second, thought it expedient, (a) 1.59 for diverse Causes, that there be stricken new Money, conforme even in Weicht to the Money of England, with the quilk this Realm hes parte of Commoning: And that there be stricken of the Ounce of burnt Silver, or Bulzeon of that Fines, aucht Groates; and of the samin mater and weicht, as Effeiris, Half-groate, Pennie, Half-pennie and Farding. In his (b) 1.60 Eighteenth Year this New Groat is order'd to go for Twelve Pennies; and the Six-penny Groat (which appears to have been of a scandalously base Allay, because the Mint-Masters are forbidden, on pain of Death, to coin any more of 'em) is ordain'd till have Course as it hes. What Value that was, its very Name sufficiently shews; and I take this to be the same Piece which (in the (c) 1.61 next Reign) is call'd the Sex-Penny-Groat of the Floure de Luce. This raising of their New Groat (which

was of the very same Weight and Fineness with the English Groat) brought the Computation of the Sums in Scotland to Tripple what they bore in England: So that their Pound was no more than our Noble, their Shilling than our Groat or Four Pence, &c. The said Groat gives this King full-faced, with an Imperial Crown, and Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex Scot. R. Dnus. Protector, &c. on an outer Circle, and Villa Edinburgh (about two Crowns intercharg'd with twice three little Balls and a small Annulet) on the inner. W. 2 Dr. Half of this. Another (of the Groats) has Villa (d) 1.62 Aberdie, on its Reverse.

The first Parliament of K. James the Third ordains that (e) 1.63,* 1.64 for the Ease and Sustentation of the Kingis Lieges and almous Deede to be done to puir Folk, there be cuinzied (f) 1.65 Copper Money, four to the Penny, havand on th' ane Part the Croce of S. Andrew, and the Crown on th' other Part; with Subscrip∣tion of Edinburgh on the ane Part, and an R. with James on th' other Part. [These are the same Pieces which were con∣tinu'd by his Successors, and (in the Reign of Ja. VI.) got the Name of Atcheson's from one Atcheson a Coiner and Au∣thor of the Book of Metals mention'd in the first Chapter of this Historical Library: Some of which were of common Currency (for four Bothwels, or Eight Pennies Scotch) even in the late Reign of K. Charles the Second, but are now wholly disus'd.] In his (g) 1.66 Third Parliament the Groat of the Crown is order'd to have Course for Fourteen Pennies; and the strike∣ing of the Black Pennies to be ceas'd. These Black Pennies were a different Sort of Money from the Copper-Farthings above-mention'd; and were for some Time forced in Pay∣ments, till (at last) the People unanimously refus'd to take

them: Upon which the last Earl of Douglas reflecting, made this Answer to the King, when requested (in his extreme old age to be his Lieutenant-General against the Rebels: (h) 1.67 Sir, you have kept me and your black Coffer in Sterlin too long. Neither of us can do you any good. We find it also amongst the Articles objected to his Favourites, by the Earl of Angus and others, that they had perswaded him to (i) 1.68 coin a Brass Coin of no Value, which the People call'd the Black Coin, which Fact of all other was most odious to the Vulgar: For (as it follows in the History) a great Dearth ensu'd upon the Project, since every Body chose to let their Corn rather rot than to give it away so much below the intrin∣sick Value. In the very next Parliament of this Reign, call'd within a (k) 1.69 few Months of the former, the Groat of the Crown is reduced to 12 d. and the lesser Pieces to propor∣tionable Values. In this King's (l) 1.70 Sixth Parliament the New allay'd Groat is order'd to go for Six Pennies, and the Half-Groat for three: And, in his (m) 1.71 Eighth, Twelve Groats are appointed to be stricken out of an Ounce of burnt Silver, as also Pennies, (to go at 3 d.) and Half-pennies of the same Fineness. In his (n) 1.72 Thirteenth a new Penny of Silver, as fine as the old English Groat, is order'd to be coin'd; ten whereof are to make an Ounce, and to go at 14 d. each. At the same Time Counterfeit Placks, at 2 d. a Piece, were call'd in. His Groat represents him full-faced and crown'd (without a Scepter) with this Inscription, Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum. R. Villa Edinburg. on the inner Circle, about the Crowns and Globuli, as on his Fathers, but without the Annulets; and Dnus. Protector, &c. on the outer. W. 2 Dr.

8 G. The like are (o) 1.73 coin'd at Aberdeen, Sterling and Rox∣burgh; and a Half-Groats at Edinburgh. Some of his Groats and Half-Groats (on the Reverse) has a Mullet in each Quar∣ter of the Cross; and, in the inner Circle, Villa Berwici. In other Points it agrees with the whole Groat. This Piece, being stamp'd at Berwick, must assuredly belong to this King; who was Master of that Town Twenty-one Years, and is the only Prince (of his Name and Nation, before the Union) that ever was so.

It appears that, in King James the Fourth's Time,* 1.74 there were Groats of somewhat different Stamps; as being minted by several Coiners: And the (p) 1.75 Act of Parliament particularly mentions those (whereof the last mention'd is half) struck by Gilbert Pish, commonly call'd Barwick-Groats, others by Alexander Levingstoun, and a third Sort by John Currour. These, being all of equal Fineness, were made equally Cur∣rent. One Groat I have, which I believe to be of this King's own coining. It gives his Face open, and a Crown on his Head, with Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum. R. Villa Edin∣burgh (about two hexagonal Mullets, and twice three Balls, countercharg'd) on the inner Circle, and Dn̄s Protector MS. &c. on the outer. W. 1 ½ Dw. In the abovemention'd Ordnance of the King of Spain I find two more, which are there call'd Schotsche Stooter; and which one would imagine to be both of this King's coining. The one of these differs very little from that already describ'd; faving that, in the outer Circle on the Reverse, the Legend is Salvum fac Popu∣lum tuum Dōe. The like to which I have seen in Mr. Suther∣land's Collection, having (on the other Side) four IIII, and a small Crown after the Word Scotorum: Another (instead of the four IIII) has Q. T. and a third QRA; all signifying the Word Quartus. Half of the first of these, is likewise there.

The only Medal (as far as I yet have learn'd) which was struck by this King, is that which is fairly describ'd and ac∣counted for by the Learned (q) 1.76 Mr. Evelyn; who observes that it was coin'd in the last and fatal Year of his Reign. The other begins its first Inscription with Jacobus 4. but the Figure is undoubtedly misprinted for that of of 5, the Piece being the very same which we shall presently present the Reader with, as the proper Groat of the next Reign.

* 1.77King James the Fifth, as far as appears by the Statutes of his Time, made no manner of Alteration in the Standard of the Coin: And yet towards the End of his Reign, or the Beginning of his Daughters, a mighty Change did happen, both in the naming of the Scottish Pieces of Money, and in the Computation of their Sums; as we shall see anon. The eldest of his Coins (Groat and Half-groat) give him Side-faced with Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum. R. Cross Floree, two Thistle-heads and two Spur-Rowels (for they are hexa∣gonal and pierc'd in the Center) with Villa Edinburgh. His later Groat gives him in Bust, side-faced, with short lank Hair crown'd, Jacobus 5. Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum. R. The Scotch Shield on a Cross, circumscrib'd Oppidum Edinburgi. Others (which seem the elder) have Villa, &c. W. 1 Dr. 18 Gr.

* 1.78After his Death, we hear no more of any Groats, Half-Groats, Pennies or Half-pennies, coin'd in Scotland; nor any of their Names so much as once mention'd in any of the sub∣sequent Acts of Parliament. 'Tis (r) 1.79 suppos'd that, by this Time, the Price of Silver was so risen (or rather the Scots, like the French, had so rais'd the Accounts of their Sums) that the old smaller Silver Coins, which took their Denomi∣nation from Pennies, grew into disuse; and the Pieces, that were from henceforward coin'd, took theirs from Shillings

and Merks. Thus, in France, the Deniers perish'd and were forgotten; and the Sols and Livres succeeded in their Room. We do not indeed meet with the Name of Testoons (in the publick Statutes of the Realm) before the Beginning of James the Sixth's Reign: But 'tis more than probable that the Name was common enough in his Mother's Time; that the Pieces so call'd, were coin'd in Imitation of our English Shillings; and that their current Value was Five Shillings Scotch. Many of these, and other Coins of this Reign, are still to be seen in the Cabinets of the Curious: And I shall give the Reader an Account of such of 'em as have com'd to my Knowledge in the same Order wherein they were minted.

1. The eldest of these bears the (s) 1.80 Queen side-faced and crown'd with Maria Dei Gra. R. Scotorum. R. The Shield of Scotland crown'd betwixt two Mullets, and Da pacem Domine, 1553. The Second bears the Letter M. crown'd and supported with two crown'd Thistles, inscrib'd Maria Dei G. Scotorum Regina, 1555. R. The Scotch Shield on a Cross, circumscrib'd Deliciae Domini Cor bumile. W. 5 Dr. 3 Gr. Half of the same.

2. Another of the same Year carries her Head with Maria Dei G. Scotor. Regina. R. A crown'd Shield, and Justus fide vivit, 1555. W. 3 Dr. 13 Gr.

3. The Scotch Shield, supported by the Letters M and R, Maria Dei G. Scotor. Regina, 1556. R. A large Cross, with Four less in its Quarters, Virtute tua libera me. W. 4 Dr. 4 Gr.

4. The Half of this, of the same Year, &c.

5. Differs nothing from the Third, excepting in its Weight and Date; for 'tis said to be coin'd in 1558, and weighs only 3 Dr. 20 Gr.

6. F and M in a Cypher crown'd, supported with double Crosslets, Fecit utraque unum, 1558. R. The Arms of the Dauphine and Scotland, with Franciscus & Mar. D. G. R. R. Scotor. D. D. Vien. W. 4 Dr. 2 Gr. Immediately upon the Death of Queen Mary of England (this Year) King Henry the Second of France (t) 1.81 caused his Daughter-in-Law to be declar'd Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland, in the Parliament of Paris; and order'd the Arms of England to be put on all her Plate, Tapestry, &c. It should seem that this was her common Style ever after, till the Treaty of Leith cut her short; For thus runs the first (u) 1.82 Article there: Ut nec Franciae Rex, nec ipsius Conjunx Scotiae Regina, Angliae Hiberniaeve Titulos sibi deinceps usurparent; Insignia Anglicana ex tota sua suppellectile delerent; Diplomata, in quibus Titulus Angliae & Hiberniae Ipsis tribuebatur, supprimi. curarent. 'Tis much that, in all this Time, none of their Money bore the Arms and Title of England, and yet I never saw nor read of any that did. 'Tis true, Mr. Evelyn (x) 1.83 mentions her assuming the Arms of England and Scotland in a Medal; but that which he has given us, and which he seems to think concerns the Story of our renown'd Queen Elizabeth, has not a Stroke in it which looks this Way. The Queen indeed pleaded for (y) 1.84 herself, afterwards, that she was constrain'd to this Usurpation by her Husband and Father-in-Law; and that, after their Death, she never practis'd any such Matter: And so, I suppose, her suffering a Medal to be struck (in the Year 1560) is to be accounted for. On this we have the Arms of France, Scotland and England, quarterly, circumscrib'd Maria D. G. Francorum Scotorum Reg. &c. On the Reverse, two Crowns on a Level, with a Third in the Clouds, inscrib'd Altamque Moratur 1566.

7. Another of the same Weight, Stamp, &c. with the last; but coin'd in 1559. One of the Articles wherewith the Lords of the Congregation (this very Year) charg'd the Queen-Regent, was, (z) 1.85 that she had embas'd the Coin to maintain her [French] Soldiers. The last mention'd is not referr'd to in this Charge, but some (a) 1.86 baser Pieces, and smaller; which carry the Cypher crown'd, &c. but the Reverse has this Inscription on a Square, Jam non sunt duo sed una caro, 1558 and 1559.

8. Arms of France and Scotland crown'd, on a Cross Crosslet, Fra. & Ma. D. G. R. R. Franc. Scotor. q. R. F and M in a Cypher crown'd, supported by a Flower-de-Lys and Thistle crown'd, Vicit Leo de Tribu Juda, 1560. W. 4 Dr. 2 Gr. and 1561.

9. Half of the same.

10. The Queen dress'd in her Hair, Maria Dei Gra. Scotorum Regina, 1561 and 1562. R. Arms of France half effaced by those of Scotland, the Shield crown'd and suppor∣ted by two M M crown'd. Salvum fac populum tuum Domine. Half (b) 1.87 of both these.

11. After her Return out of France, she coin'd the large Pieces of an Ounce Weight. On the first of these is the Shield of Scotland crown'd, and supported by two Thistles, Maria & Henric^s. Dei Gra. R. &. R. Scotorum. R. A Palm-Tree crown'd, with this Motto (on a Schedule hung in it) Dat Gloria Vires, and subscrib'd 1565, and circumscrib'd Exurgat Deus, Dissipent^r. inimici ejus. The same in 1566. Some call the Tree on the Reverse an Yew-Tree; and report that there grew a famous one of that Kind in the Park (or Garden) of the Earl of Lennox, which gave Occasion to the Impress: Wherein the Tree, being crown'd, denotes the

Advancement of the Lennox-Family by Henry Lord Darnley's Marriage with the Queen; and the Lemma of Dat gloria vires is observ'd to comport very well with the Device. This Piece went for Thirty Shillings; there were at the same Time coin'd Pieces of two Thirds of an Ounce, which went at 20 s. with some smaller of 10 s. and 5 s. All of 'em had the same Impression.

12. After her second Husband's Death, she coin'd other new Pieces of an Ounce Weight, &c. which agreed with the other in the Impression and every other Matter, save that Henricus was now left out of the Style, and the Date 1567, which we shall find to be same with the first coin'd Pieces of her Son. There are several Medals in Silver struck in Remembrance of some great Passages of this Queen's Life: One carries the Arms of France and Scotland crown'd with Maria D. G. Scotor. Regina Fran. Dot. R. A Hand out of the Clouds, pruneing off a dry'd Branch, and Virescit Vulnere Virtus. Another differs not from this, on the Reverse; but has the Scotch Shield single. A Third bears as the first: But the Reverse shews a Jugg of Water poured from the Clouds upon half a Tree flourishing, the other half being dry'd and perish'd, with Mea sic mihi prosunt, subscrib'd 1579, A Fourth (of the same Year) carries a Ship in a Storm on a rough Sea, with Sails rent and Masts broken, but keeping steady; with Nunquam nisi Rectam. In other Parts not differing from the former. A (c) 1.88 Fifth (of about two Ounce∣weight) with the Queen's Picture to the Waste; with a Breviary in her Hand, inscrib'd, O God grant Patience, in that I suffer vrang. The Reverse has this Inscription, Quho can compare with me in Grief. I die and dar nocht seile Relief. Circumscrib'd (after one Hand, with a Heart in it, ready to joyn with another) Hourt not the Heart. Quhois Joy thou art.

In the very Beginning of King James the Sixth's Reign,* 1.89 a Complaint is made in Parliament, (d) 1.90 Of the great Scarcity of good Money in Scotland, the good Silver, as Testons and other old Silver, being utterly melted and destroy'd, so that the Ounce of Silver is at double the Price it wont to be at; whereupon it is declar'd, that the King, with the Advice of his Regent, may coin Gold and Silver of such Fineness as other Countries do, &c. Accordingly, among his Coins, we have,

1. The Thirty-Shilling-Piece of an Ounce Weight, whereon is the Shield of Scotland crown'd, and supported by the Letters J and R crown'd, with Jacobus 6. Dei Gratia Rex Scotorum. R. A drawn Sword with a Crown on its Point, a Hand pointing to Three XXX for the Num∣ber of Shillings, and the Date of 1567 set below, and circumscrib'd with (that generous Saying of the brave Trajan, upon the Delivery of the Praetor's Sword) Pro me. Si mereor, in me. This is, on all Hands, agreed to be the Conceit of his Tutor, G. Buchanan. The like Pieces (with those of 20 s. 10 s. and 5 s. differing only in a pro∣portionable Weight and Size, and their proper Figures of XX, X and V) were coin'd in the Years 1568, 69, 70 and 71.

2. A Scotch Shield crown'd, with the Figures 3 and 4 on the Sides, Jacobus 6. Dei Gratia Rex Scotorum. R. Four capital IIII crown'd, with two Crowns and two Thistles countercharg'd in the Quarters, Salvum fac populum tuum Dne. 1572. W. 2 Dr. 2 Gr. This is only half of one with the same Inscription in Mr. Sutherland's Collection; only, his has the Figures 6 and 8, which shews it to have been coin'd for a Noble, whereas the other is only a Ten-Groat-Piece, or 3 s. 4 d. continu'd yearly to 1577.

3. Shield crown'd, and Jacobus 6. D. G. R. Scotorum, 1591, 1592. R. A naked Sword and Balance, His differt Rege Tyrannus. W. 2 Dw. 14 Gr. Half of the same.

4. The Royal Shield of Scotland crown'd, with the usual Inscription of Jacobus 6. Dei Gra. 1578 to 1581. On the Reverse the Thistle, (e) 1.91 with Nemo me impune lacesset. W. 6 Dw. 19 Gr. The Mark-pieces of this Coin, (which were coin'd Twenty Years after this, and were long current in England at the Rate of Thirteen-pence-half-penny) want a Third of this Weight; which 'twas necessary they should do, when the Ounce of Silver went at 60 s. Scotch, whereas now it was only valu'd at 40 s. For, this very Year, Thomas Acheson and others are impower'd to coin Ten-shilling-pieces, Four in the Ounce of Eleven-penny fine Silver. [From this Mint-master the Copper-pieces, of Eight-pennies or Four Both-wel's Value, pretty common in this and the former Reign, had the Name of Achesons given them. These, in the Year 1587, were (f) 1.92 cry'd down by Proclamation, because Counterfeit in England and other foreign Parts: But their Currency was afterwards reviv'd, and continu'd (on the English Borders, as well as in Scotland) even within my own Memory. The Scots (says (g) 1.93 Fynes Moryson) have of long Time had small Brass Coins, which they say of late [his Book was printed in 1617] are taken away: Namely Babees, esteem'd by them of old for Six-pence, whereof two make an English Penny; also Placks, which they esteem'd for Four-pence, but three of them make an English Penny; also Hard-Heads, esteem'd by them at one Penny half-penny, whereof Eight made an English Penny.]

5. And the same Act directs, that these new Pieces be such as are (h) 1.94 havand on th' ane Side the Portrature of his Majesty's Body, armed, with ane Crown upon his Head, and ane Sword in his Hand, with this Cirucmscription, JACOBVS. VI. DEI. GRATIA. REX. SCOTORVM. and on the uther Side, his Hieness Arms in ane Scheild, with an Crown above the same Scheild, with the Dait of the Zeir, upon ane of the Sides, with this Circumscription, HONOR. REGIS. IVDICIVM. DILIGIT. There are 30 s. 20 s. and 5 s. Pieces (as well as those here mention'd of 10 s.) which were made in Pursuance of this Act, and answer its Directi∣ons as to their proportionable Weight and Circumscription: But furthermore, on their Reverse, they have the Letters J and R on the Sides of the Shield, and a little under XL s. XXX s. XX s. &c. according to the respective Value of the Piece.

6. In the Thirty first Year of this Reign, there was ano∣ther (i) 1.95 Act pass'd about Coinage, wherein (after a Com∣plaint of the vile Practices of all Sorts of People, in exor∣bitantly-raising the Value of Gold and Silver) it is order'd that the Ounce of Silver coin'd in Ten-shilling-pieces, &c. according to the last recited, shall stand at 50 s. and the old 30 s. Pieces (that is, the Ounce-pieces of Queen Mary and King James) at the same Price; and the new Thirty-shillings-pieces (being three Quarters of an Ounce) at 37 s. 6 d. This teaches us to discover the true Value of a Piece of this King's Coin, of the exact Weight of one of our English Shillings, bearing the King's Head without a Crown, and Jacobus 6. D. Gra. &c. R. A Thistle crown'd, with Nemo me impune lacesset, 1594. There is no (k) 1.96 Doubt but this Piece was coin'd to go for Ten Shillings; the Weight of it

exactly answering that Value at the Rate of 50 s. in the Ounce. Nor is it any Objection that this Piece was coin'd three Years before the passing of the said Act: For Silver was rais'd to this Value before the Act, as appears by its Preface; and 'twas its Design to hinder the farther raising of it, by fixing it at the Price it then stood at. I have the Half, a Quarter, and an Eighth, of this Coin.

7. Notwithstanding the Provision of this Act, the Price of the Ounce of Silver was (within Four Years) advanc'd to Sixty Shillings: For the Merk-pieces, which were coin'd in 1601 (to 1604) are proportion'd to that Rate. They have, on one Side, the Shield of Scotland crown'd with Jacobus 6. D. Gra. Scotorum: And, on the Reverse, the Thistle crown'd with Regem Jova Protegit. W. 4 Dw. 9 Gr. There was also Half-merks and Quarter-merks of the same Coin; the former passing at 6 s. 8 d. and the other at 3 s. 4 d. Nay, there was also the Eighth of a Merk-piece, which is the least Piece of coin'd Silver which (I think) was ever minted in the Kingdom of Scotland: It weighs about Three-half pence of our English Money, and goes for 20 d. Scotch, which is one Sixth short of our Two-pence. And these Merks, with their Subdivisions, were the last Silver-money coin'd by King James the Sixth, before he left Edinburgh, and remov'd to London.

FINIS.

Notes

• (i) 1.1

  H. Boeth. lib. 3. fol. 35. a.
• (k) 1.2

  Id. lib. 12. fol. 260. a. Vid. & Reg. Majest. lib. 4. cap. 31.
• (l) 1.3

  Reg. Majest. lib. 4. cap. 40. v. 7.
• (m) 1.4

  Penes D. Rob. Sibbald.
• * 1.5

  K. Rob. II.
• * 1.6

  Rob. III
• (n) 1.7

  Traite Historique des Monnoyes de France. 4to. Amsterd 1692. 54.
• * 1.8

  James I.
• (o) 1.9

  Parl. 8. Ja. 2. cap. 33. Oct. 25. 1451.
• * 1.10

  James II.
• (p) 1.11

  Parl. 13. cap. 29. Oct. 19: 1455.
• * 1.12

  James III.
• (q) 1.13

  Oct. 12. 1467. cap. 18.
• (r) 1.14

  Parl. 4: cap. 23.
• (s) 1.15

  Nov. 20. 1475. cap. 67.
• (t) 1.16

  Feb. 24. 1483. cap. 93.
• * 1.17

  James IV.
• (u) 1.18

  A. D. 1488. Parl. 1. Jac. 4. cap. a. Vide & Ejusd. Parl. 4. cap: 40.
• (x) 1.19

  8vo Antverp. 1575.
• * 1.20

  J. Duke of Albany.
• * 1.21

  James V.
• * 1.22

  Q. Mary
• * 1.23

  James VI.
• (a) 1.24

  Dec. 19, 1597. cap. 249.
• (b) 1.25

  MS. in Bibl. ICC. Edinb.
• (c) 1.26

  In Atchison's MS. Tr. of Metals.
• * 1.27

  Silver.
• (d) 1.28

  RR. D, D. Archiep. Ebor.
• * 1.29

  David I.
• (e) 1.30

  Assis. R. Dav. 1. cap. 1.
• (f) 1.31

  Reg. Majest, Lib. 4. cap. 40. v. 17,
• (g) 1.32

  LL. Burg. cap. 121.
• * 1.33

  William I.
• (h) 1.34

  H. Boeth. lib. 13. Fol. 272. b.
• (i) 1.35

  Ibid. Fol. 277. a.
• (k) 1.36

  Penes RR. D. D. Archiep. Ebor. & D. R. Ihoresbi.
• (k) 1.37

  p. D. Ja. Sutherland.
• * 1.38

  Chron. Melross. ad An. 1195.
• (m) 1.39

  Stat. Gild. capp. 18.24, 26.
• * 1.40

  Alex. III▪
• * 1.41

  K. John.
• * 1.42

  Rob. I.
• (n) 1.43

  H. Boeth. lib. 14. fol. 308. b.
• (o) 1.44

  Hist. Scot. lib. 7. p. 237.
• (p) 1.45

  P. D. J. Sutherland.
• * 1.46

  David II
• (q) 1.47

  Vid. Stat. Dav. 2. capp. 38. & 46.
• (r) 1.48

  p. D. Sutherland.
• * 1.49

  Rob. II.
• (s) 1.50

  p. Eundem.
• * 1.51

  Rob. III.
• (t) 1.52

  Parl. 1 Jac. 1. cap. 23. Mar. 26. 1424.
• * 1.53

  James I.
• (u) 1.54

  H. Boeth. lib. 17. Fol. 346.
• (x) 1.55

  Vid. Lesl. Hist. Scot. lib. 7. cap. 261.
• (y) 1.56

  p: RR: D: D: Archiep: Ebor.
• (z) 1.57

  p: M: J: Sutherland.
• * 1.58

  James II.
• (a) 1.59

  Parl: 8: Ja: 2: cap: 33: Oct: 25: 1451.
• (b) 1.60

  Parl: 13: Ja: 2: cap: 29: Oct: 19: 1455.
• (c) 1.61

  Parl: 1: Ja: 3: cap: 23.
• (d) 1.62

  p. D. J. Sutherland.
• (e) 1.63

  Oct. 9. 1466. cap. 9.
• * 1.64

  James III.
• (f) 1.65

  Mr. Sutherland has Samples of these and some (of the like Kinds) in the following Reigns.
• (g) 1.66

  Parl. 3. Ja. 3. Oct. 12. 1467. cap. 18.
• (h) 1.67

  D. Hume Hist. of Dugl. p. 206.
• (i) 1.68

  Ibid. Par. 2. 226. Vid. etiam Lesl. Hist. Scot. lib. 8. p. 309. & J. Ferrer. Append. ad H. Boeth. Fol. 395. a & G. Buchan. lib. 12. p. m. 444.
• (k) 1.69

  Parl. 4. Ja. 3. in Jan. 1467. cap. 23.
• (l) 1.70

  May, 6. 1471. cap. 46.
• (m) 1.71

  Nov. 20. 1475. cap. 64.
• (n) 1.72

  Feb. 24. 1483. cap. 93.
• (o) 1.73

  p. M. J. Sutherland.
• * 1.74

  James IV.
• (p) 1.75

  Parl. 1. Ja. 4. A. D. 1488. cap. 2.
• (q) 1.76

  Numism. p. 88.
• * 1.77

  James V.
• * 1.78

  Q. Mary.
• (r) 1.79

  Ita. RR. D. D. Archiep. Ebor.
• (s) 1.80

  p. D. Sutherland.
• (t) 1.81

  Lesl. Hist. Sot. lib. 10. p. 503.
• (u) 1.82

  Lesl. Hist. Scot. p. 528.
• (x) 1.83

  Numism. 93.
• (y) 1.84

  Archb. Spotsey. Hist. of Ch. of Scotl. lib. 4. p. 177.
• (z) 1.85

  B. Burnet, Hist. of Reform. Vol. 2. p. 412.
• (a) 1.86

  p. ••. Sutherland.
• (b) 1.87

  Ibid.
• (c) 1.88

  Cum 4. praemissir, p. D. Sutherland.
• * 1.89

  James VI▪
• (d) 1.90

  Parl. 1. Ja. 6. cap. 13.
• (e) 1.91

  Some of these have the Letter J and R on the Sides of the Thistle; but the most want 'em.
• (f) 1.92

  So the MS. Calderwood in the Library at Glasgow, Vol. 4. ad An. 87.
• (g) 1.93

  Itio. Par. 1. p. 283.
• (h) 1.94

  Parl. 7. Ja. 6. Oct. 24. 1581. cap. 106.
• (i) 1.95

  Parl. 15. Ja. 6. Dec. 19, 1597. cap. 249.
• (k) 1.96

  Ita RR. D. D. Archiep. Ebor.