The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

54 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
labour were in vayne. Yf we sholde use iron to make
monney, it wolde .... ruste, canker, break, and be
fylthie."
We cannot fail to remark, at this point, a change in
the Lord Deputy's complaints. It is no longer that
money is not received, but this that he receives no-
thing except debased money, money
so debased that its
purchasing power is seriously diminished. Having noted
this, we may leave him to finish his tale.
The year 1552 opens with a reiteration of these com-
plaints, for in January again the Lord Deputy addresses
the Privy Council. On the 26fch, when sending his deli-
berate answer to the instructions brought over by Thomas
Wood relative to the coin and currency of Ireland, he
assures them "The baseness of the coin causeth
universal dearth, encreaseth ydleness, decayeth nobilitie,
one of the principall kayesof a commonwelthe, and bring-
eth magistrates in contempt and hatred of the people."
" The Commonwealthe now in decay will never be restored
till fine monies be set forth as they be in all other realms."
He encloses in his letter, " A Common Supplication from
the Lord Deputy and Council, with the rest of the nobi-
lity, gentlemen and merchants, and divers others the
King's subjects to the Privy Council." This supplication
sets forth that the universal dearth of all things risen in
Ireland is attributable to the money as "the furste and
principall cawse without ; remedye thereof yt is thought
"
almoste ympossible to sett a staye and ;
it concludes
with a petition that the money of Ireland be like that of
England. In March he is writing to the Marquis of
and his letter gives curious particulars as to
Winchester, 1
1
William, Earl of Wiltshire, was created Marquis of Winchester,
October, 1550.