68 



kingdom is still well stored with these w'^'' pass under the name 

 of Raps ; now such counterfeters being become much more 

 dexterous and more intent on their private gain y" they were 

 y", if a new Coinage be permitted it will be impossible to pre- 

 vent over whelming us with such false half pieces, especially 

 if we consider the artifices and intentness on gain of some of 



our neighbours, nations, who in all probability will 



of any coin. 



" 5*"^. It is not easy to counterfeit old coin ; for tho they 

 can give the same stamp, yet they can hardly give the old 

 look, hence it is y* every new coinage gives great oportunity 

 to counterfiting, as we experienced in the time of King Wil- 

 liam, when all the specieses were new; a swarm of false coiners 

 then arose, and great numbers were hanged, whereas now the 

 practice is much abated ; we must therefore expect, y* on coin- 

 ing new brass pieces every town will have them set up for y' 

 mysterie. I know not w* may be the penalty by law of coun- 

 terfeiting such coin, but I doubt much, w*ever the penaltie be, 

 whether juries will be prevailed on to find the forger guilty, 

 perhaps they will believe y* the poor man had as good a right 

 and as great a necessity on him to cheat y^ publick as the 

 patentee. 



" 6*^^^^. Mony of this sort will soon be at a great discount, 

 as it happened to the brass money in King James time ; and y" 

 if a landlord be p^ any considerable sum in it, he will be 

 obliged to pay considerably to get it turned into silver, his 

 receiver will be sure to buy as many half pence as he can and 

 keep the gold and silver to himself, and pay his master with 

 brass, the gain will be his, and the loss his masters, and this 

 will be hardest on landlords who live remote from their es- 

 tates, especially such as live in England. 



« ythiy^ ^[1 matters relating to coin, such as raising or lower- 

 ing it, determining w* species shall pass, & at w* rate, has ever 

 bin done by the L"" L* & Council here, as may be seen by the 

 many proclamations to y' purpose, w'^^^by it appears y* our 



