48 Proceedings of the Royal Ir'sh Academy. 



pence for each grain in the gold coin, and three pence for each dwt. in the 

 silver coin. When the defects are so made up, they shall pass as if they were 

 sterling and current in England. Unless the above coins are of the above 

 weight, or unless such defects be made good, nobody shall be compelled 

 to accept them in payment. Mayors, Sheriffs, Portreeves, Bailiffs, Oflicers of 

 Corporations, and Justices of the Peace shall decide any difference arising 

 according to the foregoing rule. (Calendar of State Papers, Ireland.) 



A proclamation, September 19th, 1662. Eecites the proclamation of 

 January 29th, 1660, and states that although the Mexico plate-pieces, 

 commonly known by the name of Pillar pieces, be of equal fineness and greater 

 weight than the rest of the Mexico or Civil pieces, yet many of the inhabi- 

 tants of this kingdom do refuse to accept the same in payment of money 

 according to their respective values, we do, therefore, hereby publish and 

 declare that the said pieces, commonly known by the name of Pillar pieces, 

 and the half-pieces, quarter-pieces, and half-quarter-pieces thereof were 

 included within the intent of the late proclamation, and were thereby made 

 current at several rates answerable and proportionable to any other of the 

 said Mexico or Civil pieces, Eix dollars or cross dollars, mentioned in the said 

 proclamation, according to the respective quantities thereof. The proclama- 

 tion further states that all the several kinds of the Mexico pieces shall pass 

 as current money in Ireland at such weights and rates, respectively, as the 

 said Mexico or Civil pieces, Rix dollars or cross dollars, are by the late 

 proclamation respectively to pass. Also that no persons shall be enforced to 

 receive any of the Mexico pieces in payment unless the whole pieces shall 

 weigh seventeen pennyweights, and the lesser pieces in proportion. 



Among the manuscript letters of the Earl of Essex, Lord Lieutenant of 

 Ireland, is one to Mr. Secretary Coventry, dated February 20, 167|, 

 enclosing a proclamation for the King's approval, to raise the value of the 

 Portugal Crusados, weighing fourteen pennyweights, from three shillings 

 and eight pence, to three shillings and ten pence ; and the half Portugal 

 Crusado, weighing seven pennyweights, to one shilling and eleven pence. 

 (Simon, Essay on Irish Coins.) 



A proclamation. April 9th, 1677. Whereas we are informed that divers 

 merchants, strangers, and others have lately brought into this kingdom 

 several pieces of Dutch coin commonly known by the name of New Lyon 

 dollars, stamped with a lyon rampant on the one side, and a man with an 

 escutcheon covering his lower parts, and a lyon charged in it on the other 

 side, and coined in the years 1674, 1675, or 1676, with the motto, " Confidens 

 Domino non movetur," and that they have dispersed and uttered the same in 

 payments at the rate of four shillings and ninepence. And whereas we have 



