CHAP. XIV. BASE MONEY. 



took them at a low price to utter again were 

 suddenly, wrongfully, and beyond measure en- 

 riched ; whilst those who were unable to distin- 

 guish the said money were cheated and impo- 

 verished, and the whole realm was fraudulently 

 filled with those base coins 1 ." 



The Commons prayed not merely that the 

 ordinary magistrates might be urged to try 

 and punish the offenders, but the severer mea- 

 sure of seizing and confiscating the estates of 

 all " who were notoriously suspected," and after- 

 wards " to inquire ofthe truth concerning them ;" 

 and this was urged because the parties were 

 so wealthy, that otherwise they might escape 

 punishment, and because the king would be en- 

 riched by the wealth which the suspected per- 

 sons had fraudulently acquired " as in conscience 

 he ought to be 2 ." 



The laws which existed before to prevent the 

 introduction of base coin appear to be as severe 

 and as rigorous as any that could be enacted, 

 and if they were found insufficient, we must 

 conclude they were so flagrantly unjust that 



1 These coins are noticed thus in Piers Plowman's vision. 



ff As in Lushburth is a luther alay, yet lokith like sterling, 

 The mark of the money is good, and the metal feble. 

 So fareth it bi some folk now, they have a faire speech, 

 Crowne and christendome, the kinges mark of heven, 

 And the metal that is mans soule, with sinne is foule alaied." 



Fo. 82, b. 



2 Rolls of Parliament, vol. ii. p. 16. 



