Legend is Salvum fac Populum tuum Dōe The like to which I have seen in Mr. Sutherland'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 accounted for by the Learned (q) Numism p. 88. 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 James V. King 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 hexagonal 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. Q. Mary After 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 subsequent Acts of Parliament 'T is (r) Ita. RR. D. D. Archiep. Ebor. 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 Denomination 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 't is 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) p. D. Sutherland 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 't is 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) Lesl Hist Sot lib. 10. p. 503. 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) Lesl Hist Scot. p. 528. 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 'T is 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 'T is true Mr. Evelyn (x) Numism 93. 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) Archb. Spotsey Hist of Ch. of Scotl. lib. 4. p. 177. 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) B. Burnet Hist of Reform Vol. 2. p. 412. 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) p. ◠Sutherland 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
CHAP. I. Of the Medâ—â—â— and Coins of Scotland THere are not many Scotch Coins found on the Borders of the Two Kingdoms notwithstanding the frequent Conflicts that have happen'd there And one great Reason why they are more rarely met with than the English is because as our Edward the Second observ'd in his (a) J. Major Hist lib. 5. cap. 5. Speech the Kings of Scotland used not in old Time to pay their Armies but every Man follow'd at his own Expence and carry'd his own Provisions He that wrote the short Catalogue of the King 's prefix'd to H. Boethius's History I speak thus doubtingly of it because it could not be written by that Historian himself since it concludes with Queen Mary's two Husbands affirms roundly that there was no coin'd Mony in the Days of K. Reutha but that all manner of Payments of Wages or Prices were made in Corn or Beef In the (b) H. Boeth lib. 2. fol. 10. a. History it self this King is said to have order'd the Salaries of Men of different Professions in a certain and critical manner so as that a Counsellor at Law was to have the Ox's Tongue the Physician two Ribs out of each of his sides c. Bishop (c) Hist Scot. lib. â— p. 8â— Lesley indeed reports this matter much otherwise and assures us that King Reutha coin'd Mony of Leather Numum ex corio bubulo cudi jussit But long after this the Brigantes are (d) H. Boeth lib. 3. fol. 46. a. said to have been Strangers to the Use of any sort of Coin their whole Treasure in aractacus's Reign being in re pecuaria in their Stocks of Cattle Picts We are told that (e) H. Boeth Lib. 10. fol. 194. a. Brudus King of the Picts sent a considerable Sum missa ad eum ingenti pecuniae vi to the Saxon King Edwine as his Stipendiary against the Scots But whether this was of his own or some foreign Coin we are not inform'd K. Donald 'T is probable enough that some sort of coin'd Money they had even long before that Time if their Neighbours the Scots were made acquainted with the Thing as early as K. Donald the First 's Days And so says (f) Id. Lib. 5. fol. 86. b. Lesl lib. 2. p. 109. and Buchanan Lib. 6. p. m. 175. says Sterling-Money was first coin'd by Donald the Fifth about the middle of the Ninth Century H. Boethius whose very expressions are mostly transcrib'd by the following Historians and are these Donaldus primus omnium Scotorum Regum ut in Nostris Annalibus proditum est memoriae Nummum Argenteum Aureumque signavit una parte salutiferae Crucis altera sui ipsius Effigie expressa quo suscepta a se primum inter Scotos Reges Christianae pietatis memoriam ad posteros propagaret Enimvero Nostrates antea aut nulla pecunia signata sed ejus loco Mercibus Commmutationis Causa aut Romana aut Britannica in Commerciis utebantur He proves the latter part of this Story from great Quantities of Roman Money found in Fife and other Parts of the Kingdom but his Authorities for the rest which is of chief Concern to us are omitted Malcolm II I do not much doubt but that these Parts of Great Britain have all along maintain'd their Commerce and may they ever continue to do so in the same Methods and Fashion with those that are more Southern So that the Value of Money and the Prices of Goods have generally been at a par amongst the several Nations which antiently inhabited this Island An early Instance we have of this in the (g) LL. Malc 2. capp 3.7 8. Laws of King Malcolm the Second wherein a Colpindach or young Heifer is valu'd at Thirty Pence the very same Price which is set on an Ox in some of our (h) Vid. L L. ASS. Edit Wheloc p. 95. Saxon Laws which are supposd to have been Enacted about the same Time CHAP. II. Of the Scottish Gold Coins 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) H. Boeth lib. 3. fol. 35. a. 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 't was 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) Id. lib. 12. fol. 260. a. Vid. Reg. Majest lib. 4. cap. 31. 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) Reg. Majest lib. 4. cap. 40. v. 7. 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) Penes D. Rob. Sibbald 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
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. James IV. James the Fourth in his very (u) A. D. 1488. Parl. 1. Jac. 4. cap. a. Vide Ejusd Parl. 4. cap 40. 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) 8vo Antverp 1575. 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. Andrew on the Cross and Salvum fac populum tuum Domine It s 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 J. Duke of Albany 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 James V. which seem to be of the Medal-kind rather than intended for an ordinary current Coin Such I take the three following 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 Quarter a Thistle-head and in the lower a Flower-de-Lys inscrib'd HONOR REGIS IVDICIVM DILIGIT 'T is a curious Rarity and very lately communicated to me by Mr. Sutherland Q. Mary Queen 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. Andrew's Cross in the middle Horum tuta fides 1558. W. 4 Dr. James VI. The 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 betwixt 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
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 supported by two M M crown'd Salvum fac populum tuum Domine Half (b) Ibid. 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) Cum 4. praemissir p. D. Sutherland 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 James VI a Complaint is made in Parliament (d) Parl. 1. Ja. 6. cap. 13. 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 Number 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 proportionable 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) Some of these have the Letter J and R on the Sides of the Thistle but the most want ' em 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 't was 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) So the MS. Calderwood in the Library at Glasgow Vol. 4. ad An. 87. 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) Itio Par. 1. p. 283. 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) Parl. 7. Ja. 6. Oct. 24. 1581. cap. 106. 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 Directions 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 another (i) Parl. 15. Ja. 6. Dec. 19 1597. cap. 249. Act pass'd about Coinage wherein after a Complaint of the vile Practices of all Sorts of People in exorbitantly-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) Ita RR. D. D. Archiep. Ebor. 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 't was 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