OF THE AUNTIAUNTE FORME OF MONIES,

CAREFULLIE GOTTEN FOR MAYSTER WILLIAM CANYNGE

to ne

BY MEE THOMAS ROWLEIE.

Greete was the wysdome of him who sayde the worlde is one creature, whereof every man and beaste is a member; ne manne lyveth therefore for hymself but for hys fellow creature. Excellent and pythey was the sayeing of Mr. Canynge that trade is the soule of the worlde, but monie the soule of trade, ande alasse monie is nowe the soule of manie. The age when metalles fyrste passed for monie is unnoticed: as oxen and sheepe is thoughten to have beene the moste earlie monie or change. Butte ytte is stylle more difficyle to fyx the fiyrst tyme of stampeyng ytte. - Abrahame is sayde to have yeven shekylls bie wayght: an Ebrewe writer saithe that in the daies of Joshua the Ebrewes enstamped theyre monies wythe the symboles of the tabernacle vessylles, butte I thynke the fyrste enstampeyng came from Heathenne Ammulettes, whyche were markyd wythe the image of theyre idolle, and preests dyd carrie from house to house begginge or rather demaundynge offeryngs for theyr idolle.-The Ebrewes who scorn'd not to learne inyquytye frome theyr captyves, and vaynlie thynkynge as in other thyngs to copy other natyons myghte take uppe thys ensample ande enstamepynge theyre monie in the oulde tyme of Josue beyne maie happe one of the Idolatries mentyon'd in holie wrete. Examyne into antiquytie and you wylle fynde the folk of Athens stampyd an owelette the byrde of Athene, the Sycylyans fyre the symbole of theyre Godde Vulcanne, theie of Egypt a couchaunt creeture wythe a lyon

From Barrett's History of Bristol, p. 37.

nes boddie and a hawkes heade symbole of theyre Godde Osyris: butte to come to owre owne countrie: oure fyrste fathers the Bryttons usyde yron and brasse ryngs some round, some shapyd like an egge: eleven of these were founde in the gardenne of Galfrydes Coombe on Saincte Mychaels Hylle, bie theyre dyspositionne in the grounde seemed to have been strunge onne a strynge, and were alle marquede on insyde thus, M. Lykewyse is in Maystre Canyuges Cabynet an amulett of Brytishe characters peerced at the toppe. Julyus Cæsarres coynes were the fyrst enstamped monies usede in Englande: after whomme the Brytonnes coyned as followes. Tenantius at Caer Britoe, Cunobelyne at sundarie places, butte notte at Caer Brytoe. Arvyragus at Caer Brytoe, Maryus at Caer Brytoe, Bassianus at Caer Brytoe. Syke was the multitude of monies bie them coyned upon vyctoryes and sykelyke that neyther anie kynge tyll Arthurres tyme coyned quantity of metalles for anie use nor dyd Arthurre make monie but a peece of Sylverre toe be worne rounde of those who han wonne honnour in batelles. Edelbarte kynge of Kente was the fyrste chrystenned kynge and coyner in Kent, Chaulyn or Ceaulynne of the Weste Saxonnes, Arpenwaltus of the Easte Angles, Ætheldfryde of the north Humbres, and Wulferus of the Mercians. The piece coyned by the Saxonnes was clepen pennyes thryce the value of our pennyes. In Adelstanes reygn were two coyners in Bryghstowe and one at Wyckewarre at which two places was made a peece yclepen twain penny.

Golde was not coyned tyll the tyme of Edwardus but Byzantes of Constantinople was in ure, some whereof contayned fower markas or mankas, some two, some one, and some less and more. Robert Rouse Erle of Cloucester had hys nynte at Brystowe and coyned the best monie of anie of the Baronnes. Henrie Secundus graunted to the Lord of Bristowe Castle the ryghte of coynynge, and the coynynge of

the lord wente curraunte unto the reigne of Henricus the thyrde: the coyns was onne one syde a rampaunte lyonne withynne a strooke or bende Sinyster and on the other the arms of Brightstowe.

Eke had the maioure lybertie of coyneyng and did coyne several coynes, manie of whyche are in mie seconde rolle of monies.-Kynge Henricus sext, offre d Maystre Canynge the ryghte of coynynge, whyche hee refused, whereupon Galfridus Ocamlus who was wyth Mayster Canynge and mieself concerning the saide ryghte, saieth, "Naie bie St. Pauls Crosse hadde I such an offre, I would coyne lead and make ne law, hyndrynge Hyndes takyng it.” No doubte (sayde Mayster Canynge) but you'd dyspend Heaven to gette goulde, but I dyspende Goulde to get Heaven.*

"This curious account, "says the credulous Mr. Barrett," is an exact transcript from the writing on vellum, which having all the external marks of antiquity to give it the credit of an original, could not be passed by, however readers may differ in their opinions. If genuine and authentic, it proves,

"1st. That besides the authorities above recited for the Caer Brito of Nennius being the city of Bristow, British money was coined here with that name inscribed, though hitherto unnoticed. (!)

"2dly. That coins of Bassianus and others "have been dolven wythynn its walles," besides the quantities of coins of other Roman Emperors, which have been found so frequently very near it. (!!)

"3dly. That many coins of Saxon Kings have been thrown up, on opening the ground, in the very streets of Bristol. (!!!)

"From all this the antiquity of the city of Bristol is fully demonstrated. (!!!!)"

PROCLAMATION*

To all christian people to whom this indented writing shall come, William Canynge of Bristol, merchant, and Thomas Rowley, priest, send greeting. Whereas certain disputes have arisen between the Prior of St. James, and Johan a Milverton, steward of the Bonnehommes, concerning the Unity in Trinity, which after many vain arguments asserted to invalidate the Godhead of our blessed Redeemer by him, the said John a Milverton, he hath referred it to our decision, and the said Prior, conscious of the truth, when he maintains that Christ is God, had agreed to the same. As what is above human comprehension can neither be proved nor disproved by human arguments, it is vain for the wit of man to pretende to unfolde the dark covering of the ark of the Trinity, lest like those of old he be stricken dead and his reason lost by breathing in an element too fine and subtle for the gross nature. But as the said John continues to spread about his detestable heresy of the Unity alone of God, notwithstanding John Carpenter, Bishop of Worcester, unwilling any man should die for an opinion, gave him his life and liberty, forfeit to the Holy Church; though we William Canynge and Thomas Rowley approve not of invalidating arguments by violence and death, provided a man enjoys his opinion alone; yet when he goes about to persuade others from the right way, and speaks openly of the terrestrial being of Christ, a bridle should be laid on his tongue. The weak and ignorant catch at every thing they understand not; and

From a MS. in Chatterton's hand-writing in the British Museum. We may suppose that Chatterton, as soon as convenient, would have antiquated these documents by the substitution of old words. There are many of the same kind among his MS. of which this and the following may be taken as specimens.-ED.

as the said John as aforesaid doth still continue to preach his heretical notions, we by power to us assigned by the said Bishop of Worcester, command him the said John, on pain of imprisonment, not to teach or preach in public or private till we give him leave so to do. And the said T. Rowley will on Sunday at St. Mary's Cross in the glebe of St. Mary Redclift deliver a discourse on the Trinity, so far as it shall tend to confute the doctrine of the said John: after the matin song, and after even song, the said John shall be at liberty, without fear of imprisonment or other punishment, to answer, and if he can, to invalidate the arguments of the said T. Rowley, a copy of his discourse to be given to Mr. Canynge for the inspection of himself, the said T. Rowley, the prior and monks of St. James, and whom it may concern: and whereas thirteen brothers of the order of the Bonnehommes did attack and cruelly beat William Cooke and five other servitours of the Monastery of St. Augustines, because they were such; and John said Bishop of Worcester hath given us William Canynge and Thomas Rowley as Ecclesiastical Knights Templars of Saint John of Jerusalem, power to search into the same and amerce the offenders; we hereby, as well as by a greater deed to which is fixed the mayoralty seal of Bristol, our ecclesiastical seal, and the seals of the principals of St. John's, St. Augustines, St. James and the Calendarys, do amerce each of the said thirteen Monks in the sum of fifty marks, to be given to William Coke and his fellow servants in equal portions. Witness our ecclesiastical seals.