238 



A week after the date of the preceding letter, the Lord 

 Mayor of York received from the Lords of the privy council the 

 following communication, from which we learn that the base 

 money had not been carried into the mints so freely as was 

 expected, and that some delay had occurred in obtaining new 

 coin in lieu of it. 



To our loving friends the Mayor and Aldermen of the 

 city of York. Haste — haste — haste. 



After our hearty commendations. Where the Queen's Majesty 

 did of late by her proclamation^ give notice to the whole realm 

 of her good determination to have her base money of iiiif ob. 

 to be decried and made bullyon by a certain day in the same 

 proclamation limited, which is nigh at hand, and did further by 

 her said proclamation signify that whosoever should bring the 

 said base moneys to her Majesty's mint in the Tower before the 

 xxvth of April next he should have the same converted into 

 fine moneys, and further have iiij^ for every pound of the said 

 base moneys so before that time brought, for which purpose her 

 Majesty hath been and is daily at great charge in keeping a 

 great number of Almaynes refiners at her said mint ; forsomuch 

 as there hath not hitherto such quantity of the said base 

 moneys been brought to the mint as was looked for, we cannot 

 but gather that there hath been either some mistaking of her 

 Majesty's proclamation, or otherwise that the same hath not 

 been published as it ought to be, or else that some vain mistrust 

 hath been conceived of the repayment and exchange of the base 

 moneys that should be brought in. We have therefore thought 

 good both to require and command you in the Queen's Majesty's 

 name, that if the said proclamation be not already proclaimed, 

 then to cause the same to be proclaimed without delay upon the 

 next market day to be holden within that city : And if it hath 

 been, yet that by some good means her Majesty's determination 

 be declared to all her subjects thereabout, and give them plain- 

 ly to understand that her highness will not suffer the said 



' This proclamation -was issued on the 19th of February, 1561. Ending, Vol. I., 

 p. 340. 



