Elementary arithmetic, with brief notices of its history... by Robert Potts.

MONEY.

21

precious metals were not only enhanced, but their relative value was
again altered.
Henry V., 1413-1422. The English coins of this monarch, both
of gold and silver, were of the same weight as those of his predecessor. No means are known by which they may be distinguished.
Soon after his accession he directed his attention to the coinage of
his kingdom, and finding that the treasure of his realm was fraudulently exported by alien Frenchmen, who had been appointed to
benefices within the kingdom, contrary to the statute of 13 Rich. II.,
it was enacted in his first Parliament that the ordinances against
such practices should be firmly holden and kept, and duly put into
execution: and the alterations in the standard of coins by statute
13 Hen. IV. were established.
In 1414 no Parliaments were holden. The Commons represented
the mischiefs which would ensue, whenever peace was made with
France, from the sums of money which would year by year be
remitted from the alien priories in England, to their chief houses
abroad; and petitioned the king to take such priories into the hands
of himself and his heirs for ever, with some few exceptions which they
stated in their petition. To this the king gave his consent.
1420. In this year the Commons petitioned the king-that no
person of what estate or condition soever should convey or carry out
of the realm of England, or cause to be conveyed or carried, gold or
silver for traffic, or for benefice of holy church, or for any other grace
or privilege of holy church, or for any other cause whatever in the
courts of holy church beyond sea, reasonable costs and expenses for
their passage excepted, upon pain of forfeiture of life and limb, and
of lands and tenements in fee simple, goods and chattels as in case of
felony. It was not, however, thought fit to grant this petition, nor
to go the length of making this offence capital. Accordingly, it was
only commanded that the statutes already made should be observed
and kept.
Henry VI., 1422-1461, was eight months old when his father
died, and about two months after he was also proclaimed king
of France on the death of Charles VI.
In 1432, the Pope's ambassador had licence to pass out of the
kingdom with gold, money, and jewels, to the amount of one hundred
pounds. The next year, the laws which prohibited the exportation of
money were again partially suspended, and the bishop of Winchester
had licence to carry out of the realm money and plate to the amount
of 20,000 pounds of sterlings.
In this reign the usurpations of the Church of Rome, and the
attempt of the Pope to render null and void the statute of prsemunire,
occasioned much trouble in the kingdom. The Commons presented
an address to the king, praying that he would send an ambassador
forthwith to the Pope to justify the conduct of Chicheley, Abp. of
Canterbury, in refusing to consecrate a nominee of the Pope for a
diocese in England. In the letter sent are the following memorable
words: "Be it known to your Holiness, that while I live, by God's
assistance, the authorities and usages of the Kingdom of England,
shall never be diminished. But even if I were willing so to debase
myself (which God forbid), my nobles, and the whole people of
England, will by no means suffer it."
In the year 1444, on account of the want of small money, which