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SECT. VI. (Book 6)
A Chronological Collection of the Principal Records, Patents, Writs, Ac∣counts, in the Tower of London, and Court of Exchequer at Westmin∣ster, concerning Aurum Reginae; with brief Observations on them.
HAving rendred you this Summary Account of this Duty of Aurum Reginae, and of the several materials, circumstances that concern or relate unto it in general and special, I shall in this last Section present to your view, a Chronological Collection and Transcript of all the principal Records, Patents, Writs and Accounts extant in the Tower of London, and Court of Exchequer at Westminster, which have hitherto come to my view, with some brief Observa∣tions on, and from them: Which will copiously evidence, justifie, ratifie the truth of what I have asserted concerning Aurum Reginae in the premised Secti∣ons, and display what else may conduce to the full discovery or knowledge of this abstruse, over-long-concealed, discontinued Prerogative of the Queens of England to all those who desire information or satisfaction therein.
I shall begin with the ancientest, and so descend (in order of time) to the last Records and Memorials of this Subject; referring each of them by figures, to the premised Sections so farr as they prove, evidence, confirm or illustrate the contents thereof.
The first and most memorable Record I have yet seen,* 1.1 which both mentions and Treats of Aurum Reginae, is a Dialogue or Treatise enrolled in the Red, and Black Book of the Kings Exchequer at Westminster, (whereof there is a fair Tran∣script in Lincolns Inne Library,* 1.2 given to it by our Famous Antiquary Mr. Will: Lambard, a Member of that Society, An. 1572.) intituled, Gervasii Tilberiensis, De Necessariis Scaccarii Observantiis, Dialogus, dedicated by him to K. Henry the 2. in the 23. year of his reign, (as himself relates in his Proeme)) Anno Domini 1177. in the second Part of which Dialogue, cap. 26. (1) DE AURO REGI∣NAE, he renders us this exact Account concerning the Quiddity, Quantity, Quality, Legality, and manner of levying this duty in the Exchequer in that and former ages; per Consuetudines et Iura Scaccarii, as his Proeme informs us. I shall present you with his intire* 1.3 Dialogue concerning this Duty.
Ad haec noverint hi (1) qui in pecunia numerata Regi (4) sponte obligantur, quod REGINAE similiter tenentur, licet expressum non fuerit. Quamvis e∣nim non sit expressum, est tamen promisso compromissum. Vt, cum Regi Centum vel Ducentas Marcas promiserit, REGINAE pariter teneatur pro Centum Marcis Argenti Regi promissis, IN UNA MARCA AURI, pro Ducentis, IN DUABUS MARCIS AURI; et st•• deinceps. In his autem perquirendis (5) eadent lege Vicecomes per omnia utetur qua in Regiis usus est, non tamen ante, sed post. Cum ergo de Regiis debitis summonitiones fiant, (5) adest Clericus Reginae ad hoc constitutus. Et addit in summonitione, de illo has Centum Marcas pro causa illa, ET AD OPUS REGINAE UNAM MARCAM AVRI. Summonita autem ad Scaccarium ab eius Officialibus ad 〈◊〉〈◊〉 i••••titutis seors••m suscipiuntur. Noveris etiam, quod (5) llicet Rex de promissa s••bi summa mediam partem dimiserit, vel universam, v••l etiam summonere di∣s••ulerit, de his tamen quae ad REGINAM pertinent, s••cundum quod sibi vi∣sum