III (Part of a Letter from Mr Ralph Thoresby, 
F. S. to Dr Hans Sloane, 5. S. concerning 
fome Norman Coyns found at York. 
T Had feveral weeks ago given you an account of fome old 
J. Coyns lately found at Tork^ but that I forbore, in hopes 
to make the account more perfeft 3 which is as follows • 
Mr Samuel Buxton^ late Sheriff of that Ancient City, defign- 
ing to Build upon a Piece of Ground he had bought in High 
Oujegate, had Labourers to remove the Rubbifti of a former 
Houfe 5 which, with about 30 more^ was burnt down April 
3* 1694. In digging below the Foundations ot the former 
Houfe, at a confiderable depth they difcovered the more 
Ancient Fouijdations of an older Fabrick, very probably un- 
known to the Builders of the later Houfe. Thefe lower 
Foundations were very well fupported at feveral Angles with 
good Oak Piles, feme of which were fo firm and found, that 
they were good again for the fame purpofe .3 befides 
thefe Piles, there were feveral great Tiraber^rees, that 
lay athwart, to make the ftronger Foundation : Berwixt the • 
head of two Piles in this lower Foundation, the Work men 
found a little decayed Oak, box, wherein had been hoarded 
about 200 or 250 pieces of the Norman Coyns 5 but age and 
the moifture of the place had fo defaced them, that not 
much above 100 of them could be prefer ved : Thrdugh the 
Gentlemans kin^inefs (who prefented me with fome of them) 
I had the perufal of about hall that number, ( the reft being 
given away before I heard ot them J which proved the no- 
bleft ftock that ever I faw, or indeed, heard of, of Willi 
ihe Conquerors Coyns 5 not above 2 or 3 in the whole Cargo 
that I faw being of any other Prince : Thofe, tho later in 
Bbbbbbbbbbbbb 2 time, 
