414 Money and Moneyers. 



and the whole of her money was consequently struck in the 

 Tower of London. 



In the year 1571 many alterations as regarded the working 

 staff were contemplated, and even proposed in the Mint, but as 

 they did not take place it is unnecessary to define them. In 

 respect of the apparatus, mechanical and otherwise/ it may be 

 said that up to the year 1561 it was of the most primitive 

 nature. The hammer was the stamping-press, and shears, 

 scales, and files the principal accessories. In the year just 

 named the " mill and screw" system of coining was introduced 

 by a Frenchman, who unfortunately adopted the same plan of 

 money making for his own private behoof, and was, it is said, 

 hanged at Tyburn in consequence. It is pretty clear that "mill 

 and screw" did not supersede " hammer and tongs " coining 

 for many years after the date named by Ending for the in- 

 troduction of the former. Mr. Joseph Burnley Hume — to 

 whose indefatigable exertions while secretary of a recent Royal 

 Mint Commission we are indebted for much historical matter 

 contained in this paper — is of opinion that the Company of 

 Moneyers was first formed between 1561 and 1578, though 

 he cannot specify the exact date. Prior to that period they 

 were only, he thinks, ordinary workmen ; and in support of his 

 view, i. e. as to the formation of the " Company,-''' he adduces 

 the fact that the most ancient document extant in reference to 

 that body bears date 1578. Certain it is that from this time 

 forward to 1851, the Company of Moneyers contracted with 

 successive governments for the coining of the monies of the 

 realm, and that they kept up the succession in their own body 

 by the reception of apprentices, for whose admittance among 

 them they received heavy premiums. Thus much in passing. 

 We shall have hereafter to refer to the Company, and so for 

 the present, we leave them in order to trace the annals of coining 

 — the physical history, so to speak, of money in England. 



By the year 1583 the Mint had passed into a state of con- 

 siderable internal disorganization, and its expenses had mate- 

 rially increased. One individual — Sir Richard Martin — had 

 obtained a kind of monopoly in the establishment. He was 

 indeed a " pluralist," and drew the salaries for three or four 

 offices, besides being " Goldsmith and Platesmith to the Queen." 

 Another series of little reforms ensued, and then matters re- 

 mained in statu quo till 1626, when a considerable departure 

 from the constitution of the Mint took place. The power of 

 the moneyers was much increased by the change, and they 

 became practically mint-masters, though nominally subservient 

 to the chief officer. No groum Is appear to exist for this altera- 

 tion, except the desire on the part of Charles I. to appropriate 

 to himself profits which had previously been allowed to the 



