425 
_Tokens were attempted to be forced into circulation, they soon 
became generally detested, from the difficulty experienced in 
getting them re-changed for sterling money; and being largely 
used in the payment of workmen, Xc., they accumulated in the 
hands of many Traders throughout the country to a ruinous 
extent. 
The Tokens appear to have been readily received at Bristol 
and Exeter, this probably conducing to their excessive prevalence 
in the west. Some towns however refused to accept them, but 
although the difficulty of enforcing their circulation rapidly 
increased, their issue was continuous. Charles I. by proclamation, 
dated May 25th, 1625, authorized their continuance and further 
strengthened the prohibitions against the issue or use of other 
Tokens. In our own County, Taunton seems to have acutely 
experienced the difficulty as to the exchange of these Farthings, 
and a letter is extant, dated May 1oth, 1634, from the Mayor and 
others of that town to the Council of State, giving a vivid picture 
of the dire results to the poorer class of the community from 
their excessive use, and the reluctance of Traders to accept them. 
So numerous became the complaints that the Court of Star 
Chamber, in 1634, “Ordered, that thenceforth no man should 
7 pay above twopence in farthings at any one time.” 
In March, 1635-6, other proclamations were issued as to these 
Tokens, and these proclamations reaching Bath, the Chamberlain’s 
{John Biggs) account for 1636 notes :— 
“Ttm to Mr. Hunt for a proclamacon about 
farthinges Bis aS errr) St tle 
“Ttm to Mr. Hunt for three proclamacons... o 6 o” 
“Itm for one proclamacon for puttinge 
downe of farthinges es cee, TO ee 
(the last item probably referring to the numerous counterfeits 
of the Regal Tokens then in circulation.) 
By 1644 the public clamour had become so marked, consequent 
on the refusal of those holding the license to re-change the Tokens, 
