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XIII. Copy of a Manuscript in the British Museum, (Harl. MSS. 6844., fol. 49) entitled, "An Expedient or Meanes in Want of Money to Pay the Sea and Land Forces, or as many of them as shall be thought expedient without Money in this Year of an almost Universal Povertie of the English Nation." By Fabian Philipps. Communicated by the Rev. Samuel Ayscough, F. A. S.
Read March 9, 1797.
QUEEN Elizabeth, in her great want of money in the wars of Ireland to pay the army, did, by the advice of as prudent a council as any prince in christendom ever had, cause some brass money to be coyned and made current for her present occasions, upon her royal promise to give those which should receive it good money of gold or silver, some years after which king James, her successor, did justly cause to be performed. [MS. of an account given by Robert Cecill, earl of Salisbury, lord treasurer of England to the parliament in the raigne of king James.]
By as politique a councell the late king of Spain, and his father Philip the IIId, caused the like to be done by their black monyes, or maravedies, only made to satisfy the necessities of their people, whilst they expended their Indian mynes and vast riches and treasure of gold and silver in the subduing the Netherland rebells,and
