By the King. A proclamation concerning farthing tokens.

royal blazon or coat of arms HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT ¶ By the King . ❧ A Proclamation concerning Farthing Tokens .

WHereas diuers Proclamations have beene published as well by Our late deare Father King Iames of blessed memorie , as by Our selfe , to authorize the vse of such Farthing Tokens as were made by authority of Our said Father or Our selfe , and to restraine the vse of all others , with straight prohibitions , that such as were authorized , should neither bee counterfeited , nor being counterfeited , should bee paid as Farthing Tokens betweene man and man ; For as much as notwithstanding the care taken herein , great quantities of counterfeit farthing Tokens haue beene made & vented , both in England and Ireland , to the contempt of Our Royall authority , and to the deceit of our people of both Realmes ; We do therefore again publish and declare , That it is our pleasure , that no Farthing Tokens shall be paid , or receiued , or be in vse amongst Our subiects of Our Realmes of England & Ireland , but such as heretofore haue beene made , or hereafter shall be made for Our said Realmes , by the authority of Our late Royall Father or Our selfe : And that if any of them shall either bee counterfeited , or any counterfeit Tokens , or any Copper pieces made for the vse of Our Realme of Scotland , or any forraine parts , shall ●… e vented or vsed , that in all such cases , all persons willingly , or knowingly offending therein , shall be proceeded against according to Our Lawes , and as transgressours of Our authority and Royall Prerogative . And whereas by the abuse of some particular persons ( whose onely aime is to make a private gaine and profit to themselues ) Our people in many parts of this Kingdom , and especially poore labourers , whose necessities enforce them to take their hire in any money , are compelled many times to take all or most part of their wages in Farthings , from such as buy great quantities at low rates , and make a commodity thereby : Which abuse , as it hath beene a great burden , and grieuance to Our people in many parts of this Realme , so it is to be feared it will hereafter turne to the great disaduantage of Our Patentees , if it be not remedied by a timely ●nformation .

Wee therefore willing to preuent and meet with such growing euils and inconueniences , occasioned by forcing vpon Our subiects the said Farthing Tokens , which being rightly vsed , are of themselues very necessary , and are made chiefly for the reliefe of the poore , and to bee vented and vsed onely for exchanging in small summes , but not to bee put vpon any against their wills in great payments or otherwise , Doe hereby declare that it is vtterly vnlawfull and contrary to Our meaning , That any Farthing Tokens should be hereafter enforced vpon any poore Labourers , Workemen , or other persons whatsoeuer , against their wills : And to the end that such Farthing Tokens which hereafter shall be made by Our authority , may be the better knowne and distinguished from such as are counterfeit , We haue directed Our right trusty & welbeloued , Henry Lord Matrauers , and Sir Francis Crane Knight , Chancellor of the most Noble Order of the Garter ( who haue vnder vs the care and managing of that businesse ) to cause the said Farthing Tokens to be made with such a distinction of Brasse , as will readily make them knowne from all others , and thereby free Our people from being any longer deceiued ; Which Farthing Tokens so made We doe hereby authorize to passe betweene man and man , within Our Realmes of England and Ireland and Dominion of Wales for the value of Farthings , to be vsed onely for exchange in small summs , for the ease and conuenience of Our said Subiects that shall be willing to accept the same .

And it is likewise Our pleasure , That the said Farthing Tokens , and all other Farthing Tokens formerly made by authority from vs , or Our late Father , of Copper onely , which are in vse and passe betweene man and man amongst Our Subiects , within Our Realmes of England and Ireland , shall from time to time be rechanged into the currant Moneys and Coynes of Our said Kingdomes , for the ease of Our people that shall require such rechange .

And We doe hereby straitly charge and command all Our Subiects to take notice of the said alteration of the Farthing Tokens and of this Our Care for the rechange ; which Our will is should bee so guided and gouerned , that men who shall receiue the said Tokens in the vse of their Trades may not be put to losse thereby , nor yet any be encouraged vnder hope of the same , to get into their hands greater proportion of the said Farthing Tokens then may well serue for their necessary vse and occasions .

And Wee doe hereby further authorize and require all Our Iudges , Iustices , and Barons of Our Exchequers of Our said Realmes of England and Ireland , and all Iustices of Peace , Maiors , Sheriffes , Bayliffes , Constables , Headboroughes , and other Our Officers and Ministers of Our said Realmes , that they and euery of them be from time to time furthering , ayding and assisting in the due accomplishment and execution of Our Royall will and commandement herein declared .

Giuen at Our Court at Whitehall the first day of March , in the eleuenth yeere of Our Reigne . ❧ God saue the King .