( i875 ) 
II. Tart af a Letter from Mr Ralph Thoresby. 
F. S. CGHcerning Tewter Afoney^ Coynd in Ire- 
land^ by the late l^ngyiints. 
Leeds, June 7, 1704. 
Honottrcd Sir^ 
^ I^His brings you an account of a Coriofity that rt- 
J. lates to the late King James\ Irijl) Moneys, which 
I am apt to think you never heard of, viz. a Crovpn 
piece of Pewter, lufcnbQd Meliork tef/era fati, 'Tvvas fent 
me by the Gentleman who found them in the Treafury 
at D//W/?/^ whofe account is fo particular and curious, 
that I will choofe to give it you in his o vo words. 
" That King James^ having turned ail the Bra is Guns of 
" Irelar^dy and all the Brafs and Copper Veflels of Pro- 
teftants that he could feize, into Coyn, vi%> Half- 
Crown? fomewhat bigger than an E?tgli^d H iif- penny, 
Shillings broader, but not fo thick as a Farthing, and 
" Six pences in proportion 5 it was order'd to pals cur- 
rent in all Payments, even in Bonds, and difcharge of 
'V Judgments and Statutes 5 ( infomuch ahat if Ages to 
come knew not the reafon, they would admire to be 
" told, that there was a tmie when men abfconded, to 
" avoid receiving their Debts, as many here did : 1 But 
" thefe ftocks of Metal being all fpent ( which he began 
toCovn in ^inne 1689. 1 and no Circulation to bring 
^ " them back inro his Treafury, he calfd in all that he 
'"had Coyned, and the Half-Crowns, which before 
were 
