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The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

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IRISH COINAGES OF HENRY VIII AND EDWARD VI. 215<br />

1. That a mint in Irel<strong>and</strong> be set up again, <strong>and</strong> let to<br />

farm for twelve months.<br />

2. <strong>The</strong> King shall pay no charges,<br />

<strong>and</strong> shall have<br />

13s. 4d. clear on every pound weight coined <strong>the</strong>re.<br />

3. No bullion to be obtained from Engl<strong>and</strong> or Irel<strong>and</strong>,<br />

but only from o<strong>the</strong>r countries.<br />

4. At least 24,000 to be advanced to <strong>the</strong> King within<br />

<strong>the</strong> twelve months by <strong>the</strong>se means.<br />

5. An assay-master <strong>and</strong> comptroller to be appointed<br />

by <strong>the</strong> King, <strong>and</strong> paid by <strong>the</strong> farmer.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se resolutions make plain <strong>the</strong> financial straits<br />

to which <strong>the</strong> government was reduced. <strong>The</strong> King<br />

surrenders his royal privilege to issue money for his<br />

subjects, in return for a cash payment by a concessionnaire,<br />

<strong>and</strong> it will presently be seen that this was not<br />

<strong>the</strong> only occasion on which Edward entered into an<br />

to Irel<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> its<br />

extraordinary contract with regard<br />

mint.<br />

A new indenture was executed by Martin Pirry,<br />

who took Agard's place as head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mint, <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

two <strong>of</strong>ficials retaining <strong>the</strong>ir former positions. <strong>The</strong> document<br />

is dated 9 August, 4 Edw. VI (1550), <strong>and</strong> contains<br />

a covenant to strike four silver coins identical in all<br />

respects with those ordered on 10 February, 1547-8.<br />

<strong>The</strong> five resolutions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council which I have already<br />

cited are incorporated in <strong>the</strong> terms, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> period for<br />

which <strong>the</strong> mint was let to farm began at Michaelmas,<br />

1550, until <strong>the</strong> same date in 1551. (Cotton MSS. Otho<br />

E. x. i. 186.)<br />

<strong>The</strong> Cotton MS. is only a copy, <strong>and</strong> it bears an<br />

indorsement that "<strong>the</strong> originall was canceled". Its<br />

provisions were not enrolled. A subsequent letter<br />

from Pirry to <strong>the</strong> Privy Council makes it clear that

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