Three Diatribes, Diatribe 2 – Title page 3

Three Diatribes · Diatribe 2 – Title page 3

p. 35A DIATRIBE OF MONY Or COYN.

COyn ſeemeth to come from the French, Coin, a Corner; becauſe the ancienteſt ſort of Coyn, was cornered and not round.

Cowells Intepreter.

Coyning of Money is a ſpecial right p. 36and Prerogative of Soveraigne **Freherus in his Diatribe or Expoſition of Conſtantines Silver Coyn, ſaith, the Roman Princes, in cunenda moneta non minimam majeſtatis ſuae partem poſuerunt, and that Conſtantine the Emperour firſt ingraved the Croſſe upon his Coyn, which his ſucceſſors after obſerved, as we may ſee among Antiquaries.Majeſty, Mony is as the ſinews and ſtrength of a ſtate, ſo the life and ſoul of Commerce.

Mony, Commonly is the mean for all Commodities, and anſwereth to all, Eccleſ. 10.19. Yet the Spaniards Coming into the Weſt-Indies, had many Commodities of the Country which they needed, brought unto them by the Inhabitants; to whom, when they offered them Money, goodly pieces of Gold Coyn, the Indians taking the Mony, would put it into their Mouths, and ſpit it out to the Spaniards again, ſignifying, that they could not eat it, or make uſe of it; and therefore would not part with their Commodities for Money, unleſs they had ſuch other Commodities as would ſerve their uſe.

That Money hath been anciently uſed in a way of Commerce, we may ſee Gen. 33.19. And the moſt ancient was the p. 37pureſt Gold. Medals are certain pieces of Money diſperſed at the Coronation of Kings. They call them commonly Medallias, in the Italian, Spaniſh, and French Languages, (ſaith Antoninus Auguſtinus, De veterum numiſmatum Antiquitate) from the Latine word Metalla, ſince thoſe three Languages had their Original from the Latine.

Pope Gregory the 13th after he had received tidings in the Conſiſtory of the Maſſacres in France, So in France, Medals were made in remembrance of the Maſſacres, the Image of Charles the ninth, ſiting in his royal Throne, and in one ſide, Virtus in Rebelles, and on the reverſe of it, the Arms of France, & Pietas excitavit Juſtitiam Horae ſubceſivae. On ſome of Veſpatians Coyn, the State of Judea is Deciphered, in form of a Captive Woman, with a ruefull Aſpect, ſitting under a Palm-Tree.one thouſand five hundred and ſeventy two, went to the Church that night to give thanks, made Bonfires, and gloried in the bloody feats of thoſe Emiſſaries, having a Coyn with his own Face on one ſide, and an Angel on the other; with a Croſs in one hand, and a Sword in the other, with this Motto, Hugonothorum Strages.

p. 38Lewis the 12th of France, a moderate Prince, when his Realm was interdicted by Pope Julius the ſecond, cauſed Coyn to be ſtamped with his own image, Id. Ibid.with this ſuperſcription, See the Expoſitors on Act. 19.24.Acts 19:24Perdam Nomen Babylonis.

In Athens the Tower excelled, Mr. Selden before the Engliſh Hiſtorians Printed by Mr. Bee, Citeth, Ludovicus Paruta his Originale de. Yet Mr. Selden in h…s notes on Eadmerus, ſaith, Caeterum ad vetuſtum Archiepiſcoparum in Cantuaria jus ſpectat etiam forſan priſcunumiſma cujus pars altra Plegmundi Archiepiſcopi, altera Eicmundi cuſoris nomine ſignata eſt vide plura Ibid.in which there was a Temple to Minerva. Juleus Pollux writes, that the Attick tetradrachme was ſtamped with the face of Minerva, and he might have added with the Noctua on the reverſe. Mr. Greaves of the Denarius. Hugh Broughton ſaid, it was portended by his Arms, that he ſhould be a Grecian, for he gave the houſe Athens.

There is a Medal in Oxford made upon the ſinking of the Spaniſh ſhips in 88. Goltzius is the moſt copious & beſt writer about Medals.with a Navy on one ſide and a Rock on the other. See Cambdens Annals.

p. 39The Lydians firſt invented Gold and Silver Money, Janus Braſs Money.

Gutherius **De Officio Domus Auguſtae. l. 3. c. 1. Bonitas Monetae eſt intriuſeca vel extrinſeca. Intrinſeca conſiſtit in precioſitate materiae & in pondere. Extrinſeca bonitas conſiſtit in aestimatione publica vel voluntariam Contrahentium. Angelocrator De Monetas c. 2.out of Iſidore, ſaith three things are required in Money; the Metal, the Figure, and the Weight; Gold is the moſt excellent of all Metals, ſaith Georgius Agricola. Gold hath Greatneſs of Weight, Cloſeneſs of Parts, Fixation, Pliantneſs, or Softneſs, Immunity from Ruſt, Colour or Tincture of Yellow.

Sir Francis Bacon's Natural Hiſtory, Centuary 4. Experiment 328.

Martiall calls Gold, Yellow Mony. The pureneſs and fineneſs of the Coyns, and the weight for the intrinſick, and the outward form or Character, and inſcription of the Prince or State for the Extrinſick of Coyns, is obſerved by knowing bankers. Mr Greaves of the Denarius.Has niſi de flaxa loculos implere moneta. Non decet, argentum vilia ligna ferant. Silver is next to it, it is not conſumed in the fire. It is more ductile than any other metal except Gold. Its white colour is delightful.

p. 40Yet Budaeus De Contemptu Rerum Fortuitorum l. 3. ſaith well, At Ʋſu ſublato quid tandem aurum & argentum aliis praestat metallis,

Diligent inquiring into Coyns, Felix ſine diphthongo. Conſenſus librorum & nummorum. Fecundus ſine diphthongo? Eadem monum enta antiqua Dilherri Apparatus Philologiae. Vide Voſſii Etymologicon Linguae Latinae, Melius ſcribitur hoc nomen cum aſpiratione Hadrianus, nam ita nummi & lapides Conſtanter. Caſaub. notae in Aelii Spartiani Hadrianum: Scilicet ex ſtatuis numis atibuſque cognoſcere licet qualis fuerit vultus habituſque clarorum virorum faeminarumque illuſtrium, quorum nos actiones auditae delectant; qua forma fuerint Dii de aeque, & Heroes priſci cum ſuis illis inſignibus; Cujuſmodi fuerint ſive ornamenta, ſive inſtrumenta religionum, bellornm, magiſtratuum, Coronae, Curras, triumphi, ſed ilia inumeraquc id genus alia. Vide Gaſſendii vitam Leireskii l. 6. p. 552, 553.is one great piece of antiquity; by the knowledge of which (as other ways) we may come to underſtand the right writing of ſeveral words.

Heliogabalus, or Algebalus rather, as he was ſtiled of old, as Egnatius (Notis ad Caeſares) proves out of ſome old Coyns.

Leonardus Aretinus, in the fourth Book of his Epiſtles, deſcribing his journy from p. 41Rome to Conſtance, ſaith, when he enquired of ſome Citizens there, of the antiquity and original of Conſtance, nemo adhuc mihi occurrit, qui vel avi ſui nomen & memoriam ne dum urbi tenere videretur. Yet by diligent ſearching, he found a Marble Table Containing ancient letters, by which it appears, that this City took its name from Conſtantius the Father of Conſtantine, being called Vitudura.

There is much learned pleaſure in the Contemplation of the ſeveral figures ſtamped on each ſide of theſe Attique Coyns. Would you ſee the true and undoubted models of their Temples, Altars, Deities, Columns, Gates, Arches, Aquaeducts, Bridges, Sacrifices, Veſſels, Sellae Curules, Enſignes and Standards, Naval and Mural Crowns, Amphitheaters, Circi, Bathes, Chariots, Trophies, Ancilia, and a thouſand things more. Repair to the old Coyns and you ſhall find them. Peachams Compleat Gentleman, ch. 12.

There is a twofold Inſcription of Coyns, obverſa and averſa.

Vide Seldenum De Jure Naturali. l. 6, c. 17.

p. 42I have heard of ſome men, Dr. Caſaubone of Credulity and Incredulity in things Natural, Civil and Divine part 2(but heard it onelyonly) who by the bare handling and ſmelling, would judge better of old Coyns (which is a great trade beyond the Seas, and concerning which, many Books are written) than others, not altogether ſtrangers unto them, could by the ſight.

The general names for Money among the Romans are three, Apud Romanos quidem res nummaria tria habet generalia vocabula, quibus nominatur, Moneta, Pecunia, Nummus. Georg. Agricola De Veteribus & Novis Metallis. l. 1.Moneta, Numus, Pecunia.

Firſt, Moneta (whence the French Monnoye) à Monendo, becauſe it ſheweth us the Author, the Value and the time.

Numiſma, quaſi Nomiſma à nominibus ſcilicet & effigiebus principum quae ei imprimebantur, Iſidorus dici putat. Waſerus De Antiquis Numis Hebraeorum, Chaldaeorum & Syrorum c. 11.

Secondly, Numus, or Nummus rather, ſaith Voſſius, a Numa, ſaith Angelo Cretor, it hath rather a Greek Original, foreign from the Law, becauſe p. 43it is a Legitimate and publick price. Nomiſma and Numus (ſaith Martinius) ſeem to be of the ſame Original.

Thirdly, Pecunia, either from the Images of **Pecuniam à pecum dictam eſſe conſtat, ſed quae ſit cauſa originis parum convenit inter auctores. Voſſii Etymologicum Linguae Latinae.Cattel ſtamped upon it, or from their skin out of which mony was Coyned.

Gen. 33.19. For an hundred pieces of money, the Greek and Chaldee tranſlate it, a hundred Lambs. Others think they were pieces of money, on which the images of Lambs were ſtamped. So in Joſ. 24.32. Job 42.11. Ainſworth, Vide Meneru in loc. & Brerewood De Ponderibus, &c.

The Mony currant in Attica was commonly ſtamped with an Oxe, whence came the By-word. Bos in Lingua, Dr. Heylins Coſm. in Greece. p. 5 88.applied to ſuch Lawyers as were bribed to ſay nothing in their Clients cauſe, not much unlike to which was the Proverb riſing from the Coyn of Aegina, (an Iſle adjoyning) ſtamped with the figure of a Snail, viz. Virtutem & ſapientiam vincant. Teſtudines.

p. 44The Names of the Braſs Money among the Romans were,

As

Quadrans

Sextans

Triens

Of the Silver.

Denarius

Quinarius

Seſtertius.

Of the Gold.

Aureus **Ʋt aureus viginti quinque denarias complectebatur, ita totidem annos Aureum vitae appellabant Mearſi mantiſſa ad Luxum Romanum. c. 19.ſive Solidus, it was valued with the Romans at 25 Denaries.

As or aſſis, is a little piece of mony, whoſe baſeneſs grew into a Proverb. Omnes unius aeſtimemus aſſis,

Aes is alſo uſed for Money, becauſe the firſt Money amongſt the Romans was made of Braſs, whence aerarium alſo for p. 45a Treaſury. Tam aeris quam argenti nominibus in ſermone latino pecunia indicatur. Camerarius.

Servius Tullius Firſt Coyned Money at Rome, as Pliny witneſſeth, l. 33. c. 3. This was of Braſs. Romani primum uſi fuerunt qua druplici Moneta, ne mpe, Plumbea, Aerea, Argentea, Aurea. Plumbeae uſus quando coeperit, incertum. Aes initio habuerunt rude, pondere diſtinctum, non nota Lipſius quaſi forma & exemplum, ad quos nummos alios omnes expenderent. Serarius in Joſh. c. 7. Quaeſt. 5.Josh 7They uſed this till the 5th year before the firſt Punick war. Then Silver Money was firſt Coyned, which is called Denarius, quia valeret decem libras aeris. The Golden Money was Coyn'd at Rome, forty two years after the Silver Money was uſed, as Pliny ſhews in the place before-named, 62. ſaith Lipſius. The price and eſteem of Gold was different among the Grecians and Romans, among the Grecians Golden Money was changed for ten of Silver, among the Romans for twelve and a half; often it was much more eſteemed. Voſſius De Philiologia Chriſtianiae. l. 6. c, 35. Meurſius hath put out Denarius Pythagoricus opuſculum pereruditum, ac mihi eo gratius quod inſcripſerit nomini nostro Voſſius, ibid. l. 8. c. 3.

p. 46Amongſt the ancient Hebrews Chaldeans and Syrians, Waſerus de Antiquis Numis Hebraeorum l. 2. c. 2.the moſt uſual money was the Siclus or Shekel, among the Latines the cheif and uſual kinds of Silver money were Denarius and ††Scriverius on Martiall addes Victoriatus Conſentiunt omnes Sicli nomen eſſe prorſus ab Hebraeo foreign Shekel, hoc vero eſſe à verbo foreign Shakal quod appenderare ſignificat, partim quia, ut in multis hodie locis ponderari enim ſolebat argentea moneta, partim, quia apud Hebr aeos hoc nummi genus, erat.Seſtertius, among the Grecians, Drachma, Mina, Talentum.

A Shekel (coming from Shakal, he weighed, from whence our Engliſh Skole and Skale to weigh with, is derived) is by interpretation a weight, as being the moſt common in payments, in which they uſed to weigh their money, Gen. 23.16. Jer. 32.9. The Chaldee calleth a Shekel Silgna, and Selang (from whence our Engliſh ſhilling ſeemeth to be borrowed) and the quantity of the common ſhekel differd not much from our ſhilling, as the ſhekel of the Sanctuary was about two ſhillings., Anſw. on Gen. 20.16. See him on Exod. 33.13.

p. 47A ſhekel is about the weight of an Engliſh half Crown, Nehem. 5.14, 15. Forty ſhekels of Silver, that is, five pounds ſterling; a ſhekel is half an ounce, which makes 2 s. 6 d.Neh 5:14Neh 5:15Valet pro inde Shekel de noſtro. 2 s. 6 d. Brerewood de Ponderibus & Pretiis veterum nummorum. c. 1.

Exod. 30.13. Mr. Jackſon on that place.The Gerah is held to have been about a penny half penny, and by that eſtimate, the ſhekel was two ſhillings ſix pence, and half the ſhekel fifteen pence.

It is the ancienteſt of all the monies the Scripture mentions, Ar. Montanus, De Menſuris Sacris.the weight of it is almoſt four Spaniſh Reals, or four Roman Julii,

A Roman Julio ††In Italia Romana Scorta in ſingulas aebdomadas Julium pendent Pontifici, qui cenſus annuus nonnunquam viginti milia ducato excedet. Cornelius Agrippa De vaenita. Scient.or; a Spaniſh Royal, is about 7 pence Engliſh, a piece of eight called ſo, becauſe equal to eight Royals is about 4 s. 6 d. Engliſh, ſo that Ainſworth ſeems to be miſtaken.

p. 48Graeci pecuniarum ſummas num erabant drachmis, ut Judaea ſiclis, & Romani ſeſtertiis, Brerewood De Ponderibus & Pretiis veterum nummorum.

Mr. Greaves in his Denarius, Shekel is uſnally understood where the Coyn or weight is not expreſſed, as Eſai. 7.23. 2 Sam. 18.11, 12. Mat. 26.15. Exodus 30.13. The ſhekel of the Sanctuary, either becauſe the ſhekel of the Sanctuary was twice as much as the Common ſhekel, which is indeed the common opinion; or rather becauſe the Standard of all weights and meaſures was kept in the Sanctuary, a ſhekel of the full weight and value, after the Standard of the Sanctuary. Mr. Jackſon.Isa 7:232 Sam 18:112 Sam 18:12Matt 26:15Exod 30:13would have the thirty pieces of Silver, which were given to Judas, as the reward of his treaſon, to be thirty ſhekels, that being leſs then fifteen of our ordinary Crowns.

We find in Exodus (ſaith he) the price of a ſervant to have been thirty ſhekels. Gaſſendus De vita Peireskii, ſaith as much, and ſo doth Dr. Hamon on Matth. 26.15. Mr. Greaves, there alſo ſaith, the diſtinction of a double ſhekel, the one ſacred equal to the tetradrachme, the other prophane weighing the didrachme: that uſed in the Sanctuary, this in Civil Commerce, is without any ſolid foundation in the writ, and without any probability p. 49of reaſon, that in any wiſe State, the Prince and people ſhould have one ſort of Coyn, and the Prieſts ſhould have another, and that this of the Sanctuary ſhould be in a double proportion to the other, and yet that both ſhould concur in the ſame name, Rivet. on Exod. 30.13. goes the ſame way and gives four reaſons to prove that the ſhekel was but one.

Matth. 22.20. The tribute Money or Denarius, that was to be paid to Caeſar by way of tribute, had on it, ſaith Occo, the picture or image of Caeſar, and in it theſe Letters written, Caeſar Augustus, ſuch a year after the taking of Judaea, Dr. Hammond in loc.

Denarius may be conſidered in a double reſpect, either as nummus, M. Greave of the Denarius.or as pondus: In the firſt acception, the valuation of it in civil affairs is remarkable, in the later, the gravity and ponderouſneſs: The Denarius was a Silver Coyn in uſe amongſt the Romans, paſſing at the firſt inſtitution for Dena aera or ten Aſſes. whence the name: The Dutch eſteem it at ſix Stivers, or a ſhilling.

p. 50The Aſſis was a braſs Coyn weighing a pound. The aſſis is taken for the whole, according to the uſual phraſe of Civilians, ex aſſe haeres, when one is Heir to the whole inheritance.The denarius had an impreſs upon it of the figure X. denoting the decuſſis, or number of the Aſſes.

Denarius as Pondus was either Conſularis, Argenteus nummus Romanorum Denarius eſt, Atticorum drachma. Scaliger De Re Nummaria. Denarii drachmae ferè pondus & aestimationem habebant Salmaſſii notae in Vopiſcii. A Drachma natum nostrum Dram, which in Gold is ſix ſhillings three pence, in Silver ſeven pence half peny.made under the government of the City by the Conſuls, or Caeſareus, under the Caeſars, ſomtimes there is the Effigies of the Conſuls, and ſomtimes of the Emperour on it. Denarius is of as great moment for the Diſcovery of weights, as the Roman foot for the Meaſures.

It weigheth of our Money ſeven pence, or ſeven pence half peny, and was the pay of the Roman Soldiers, and the wages of a Day-labourer, Matth. 20.9.

The Athenian Drachma (the pay of their Souldiers) by account both of Merchants and Phyſicians weighed alike, and was of one value

p. 51Seſtertius ſignifies two and a half, Seſtertius, quaſi ſemiſſis tertius, ut in lege duodecim tabularum pes ſeſtertius, ſunt pedes duo & ſemis Snellius De Re Nummaria. Olim edoctus ſum Seſtertium valere duobus aſſibus & ſemiſſe quando ſcilicet dicitur Seſtertius genere maſculino Seſtertium autem neutro genere valere mille ſeſtertios. Ratio eſt quia neuiro genere ſubintelligitur pondo, ut in maſculino nummus cum ſimpliciter dicitur ſeſtertius. Sarravii Epiſtolae videſis Voſſii Etymologi con Linguae Latinae & Lipſ. de Pecun. Denariorum tot ſuut genera quot populorum, Spelmanui Gloſſarium.as the vulgar note alſo importeth H s. or joyned H. s. that is, duo & ſemis, two and a half, 'tis meant alwaies of ſo many aſſes, four Seſtertii are equivalent to a denarius. Sir Henry Savil on Tacitus, and Mr. Greaves of the Denarius.

Every Sestertium was valued at ſeven pound ſixteen ſhillings three pence.

As the Seſtertius according to Arruntius, was olim dupondius & ſemis, anciently two pounds of braſs and an half; ſo the Seſtertius pes, was two foot and an half. Mr. Greaves his Diſcourſe of the Roman Foot.

As the Ʋnity in reſpect of Numbers, or the Seſtertius in Diſcourſes de re nummaria: So is the Denarius for weights, a fit riſe or beginning, from whence the p. 52reſt may be deduced. Mr. Greaves of the Denarius.

The Drachma as Nummus, was a ſilver Coyn in uſe amongſt the Athenians, Drachma.and ſo it was the meaſure of things vendible, as all Coyns are, and as pondus, it was the meaſure of their gravity and weight. Mr. Greaves of the Denarius.

Dilher in the firſt Tome of his Academical Diſputations, reckons up eight kinds of Drachmae; See Beza Schmidius, and Dr. Hammond on Matth. 17.27.

Gellius, Noct. Attic. lib. 1. chap. 8. ſaith that Demoſthenes went privately unto Lais, and deſired to lie with her; but ſhe demanding 10000 drachmae of him for one nights lodging with her; he refuſed, ſaying, He would not buy Repentance at ſo dear a rate; This was Lais, the Daughter; for there were two of that name, the mother and **Sive naturalis, ſive adoptiva.daughter: both beautiful and infamous ſtrumpets, as Palmerius ad Pauſaniae Corinthiaca ſheweth.

p. 53The Attick foreign or Mina, Contained a hundred Drachmes in weight, as it is clear out of Pliny, Pollux, and others; ſome derive it from the Hebrew foreign, From Maneh, in Hebrew, Mua in Greek, and Mina in Latine, for a pound, hath its name. Mr. Gataker on Eſa. 65.11.Isa 65:11to number, the word is uſed Ezek. 45.12. and rendred Maneh.

Snellius De Re Nummaria ſaith, it is manifeſt by the teſtimonies of Comedians, that there was a double Talent in uſe among the Athenians, a greater and a leſſer.

A Talent is the greateſt weight which was in uſe, Attica Talentum & Mina ſunt Numerus, & Collectio pecuniae, non ſpecies Nummi, Sealiger De Re Nummaria. The Talent was manifold, the Attrick Talent is much celebrated. Ainſworth.every Talent was a twelve pounds weight; it weighed three thouſand Shekels, and every Shekel three hundred and twenty grains of Barley. An Hebrew Talent in Silver, is of our money three hundred ſeventy and five pounds. In Gold, four thouſand five hundred pounds.

p. 541 Chron. 22.14. See Brerewood De Ponderibus Pret. Heb. &c. c. 6.Now behold in my poverty I have prepared for the houſe of the Lord an hundred thouſand Talents of Gold, and a thouſand thouſand Talents of Silver. Some compute it to be above thirty three thouſand Cart-loads of ſilver, allowing ſix thouſand pound ſterling to every Cart-load, and ſeventy millions of French Crowns of Gold. See Sir Walter Rawleigh his Hiſtory of the World, part 2. ch. 17. §. 9.

1 Kings 9.14. The Talent contained three hundred ſhekels, as may be collected from Exo. 38.25, 26. The Hebrews valued Gold at ten times the rate of Silver.Exod 38:25Exod 38:26The Jews had two Talents, the one ſacred, the other common. The ſacred was in weight and worth, as much more as the common. The ſacred in Gold was reputed to be three thouſand ſeven hundred and fifty pound in value; the common, one thouſand eight hundred ſeventy and five pounds ſterling. Dr. Gouge in loc.

Edward Brerewood heretofore Profeſſor of Aſtronomy in Greſham-Colledge in London, hath publiſhed a learned Book, De Ponderibus & Pretiis Veterum Nummorum, eorumque cum recentioribus Collatione, which is in the Apparatus of the Polyglot Bible.

p. 55Waſerus hath written ſo fully and exactly of the ancien Coyns of the Hebrews, Chaldees, and Syrians, that there needs not to be ſaid more of that Argument.

Budaeus **Sed de iſtoc & caeteris ad rem monetariam pertinentibus, Conſuli malo Budaeum, Vortium, Hottomannum, Car. Moli naeum, Covarruviam, & intelligentiſſimu in bujus argumenti, Reinerum Budelium Ruremundanum Ictum, Electori Colonienſi, dum viveret, monetarum tam Rhenenſium, quam Weſt-falicarum praefectum: Cujus geminus exſtat. liber: unus de arte cudendae monetae; alter de quaeſtionibus Monetariis Voſſius De Phyſiol. Chriſt. l. 6. c. 36, Inter antiquos Oriſmius Lexonienſis Epiſcopus, & Caroli ſexti Galldrum regis praeceptor Curioſa de re Nummaria volumine, & inter recentiores Gulielm. Budaeus libris de Aſſe, Joachim Camerarius de Nummiſmat. Graec. & Lat Dempſ. in Roſin. Antiq. Rom. l. 7. c. 31. Vide Plure ibid.in his Books de Aſſe, or the Breviary Collected out of him, with the Annotations of Philip Melanchthon, and Joachim Camerarius, are the beſt for the Greek and Latine Coyns.

Antonius Auguſtinus a man very acurate in Coyns, as appears by his Dialogues. Mr. Greaves of the Denarius.

Marquardus Freherus, hath put forth a learned Diſcourſe of paying tribute, where he ſpeaks ſomewhat of Roman Coyns. Mr. Selden De Jure Naturali ac p. 56Gentium. l. 2. c. 8. calls it Eruditiſſima ac graviſſima De Numiſmate cenſus à Phariſaeis inqueſtionem vocato Diſſertatio.

Mr. Greaves hath written learnedly of this ſubject in his diſcourſe of the Denarius.

The Roman Emperours Gold, Silver, and Copper Coyn, (with their Images and Inſcriptions) are in the cuſtody of that learned Knight, and my worthy Friend, Sir John Cotten, as I have heard.

It's pitty that Sir Simonds D' Eus my great friend, had not publiſhed ſomthing this way, he having ſpent ſo much time in this ſtudy, and having purchaſed ſo many ſeveral Coyns of all ſorts.

There are ſome other Gentlemen that have a good Collection of Coyns; There are Coyns with Lazius, l. 3. Commen. Reipub. Romanae, c. 12. whoſe inſcription is **Omnium ad Remp. pertinentium ſuprema lex eſt ſalus populi, ſive Felicitas publica. Tam in nummo Juliae Mammeae Auguſtae videre eſt formâ maetronae ſolio in ſidentis, quae dextra gerit caduceum, ſiniſtrâ copia cornu Inſcriptio autem eſt Felicitas Publica. Voſſius in Phyſiologia Chriſtiani & Theologia Gentili. l. 10. c. 38.Salas Publica Dempſ. in Roſin. Antiquit. Rom. lib. 1.

p. 57There are two requiſites (ſaith Dempſter) that Money paſs, proba materia, & vultus Imperatoris ei impreſſus.

Falſe money (ſaith He in Roſin Antiq. Rom. l. 7. c. 31.) was forbidden by the Roman Laws, and the Crime is called peculatus. Charles the Great had a ſhop in his Palace for the Coyning of Money, that it might be more diligently coyned.

Camden in his Britaine ſaith, Nicolaus Fabricius de Peireſc. of France, was very skilfull in antiquities, and old medals or pieces of money.

He ſaith there alſo that many pieces of Roman money are every ††As in Lancaſhire at Lancaſter, Rible, Cheſter, in Weſtmorland at Brougham Cumberlandwhere found among us in the ruines of Cities and Towns ſubverted, in Treaſure-Coffers, or vaults hidden in that age, as alſo in Funeral-pots and Pitchers.

About thirty five years ſince, One that writes the History of England, ſaith of the Britains. Some of their Money was in Braſs, other in Iron Rings; one eſpecial ſort, had the Figure of a ſhield Emboſs'd, and on that ſide a certain Image the Device was within.not far from Dunſtable many pieces of ſilver p. 58were taken up, which the plow had thrown upon the edge of the Furrough: Being examined, they were found to be ſilver with the impreſſion of Caeſar on them. Mr. Selden much valued them for their Antiquity, ſome of them having been ſtamped (as he ſaid) above nine hundred, and ſome a thouſand years. Mr. Peachams Worth of a Peny.

I have been informed, that ſome Medals have been dig'd up at Shawell in Leiceſter-ſhire, the Town where I was born and alſo at Braunston.

It is a great queſtion, ſaith Georgius Agricola, whether pure or mixt money be more profitable for Countries and States.

Peacham in his Complete Gentleman, Terrie in his Voyage to the Eaſt-Indies, ſaith that the Spaniſh Royal is the pureſt money of Europe. There is Pezzi di Quatro which is equal to four Reals, there are alſo pieces of two Reals, one Real, and half a Real.c. 19. of Travels, ſaith, the Spaniſh Coyns are the beſt of Europe.

Howell in his Dodonars Grove, or Vocal Forreſt, part 2. Walk 4. p. 44. ſaith, Druina (by which I ſuppoſe he means England) is renowned abroad to have her p. 59Kings Face and Arms drawn in the pureſt ſort of Minerals, and the generally beſt currant Coyns in the world.

Queen Elizabeth cauſed all ſuch baſe monies as were Coyned by any of her Predeceſſors, Dr Heylins Eccleſia Reſtauratu. p. 135.to be reduced to a leſſer value, and to be brought into her Majeſties Mint, for which ſhe gave them money of the pureſt ſilver, ſuch as paſſed commonly by the name of Eaſterling or Sterling money, Eſterlingus & Sterlingus apad Matthaum Pariſium, atque alios, praecipue Anglicanos ſcriptores legas. Nec tamen eo rejiciendum, quando hoc nihilo deterius eſt quam vulgata, illa vocabula, daleri, ducati, floreni, ac ſimilia. Nam peouniae novitas nova exigebat vocabula. Notat ea vox Anglis denarium vox Sterling eſt ex eo inqu it Watſius quia stellae figura in ea compareret, Voſſius de Vitiis Sermonis l. 2. c. 5,ſince which time, no baſe money hath been Coyned in England, but only of pure Gold and Silver, to paſs for current in the ſame; ſave that of late times, in relation to the Neceſſity of poor people, a permiſſion hath been given to the Coyning of Farthings, which no man can be forced to accept in ſatisfaction of a Rent or Debt.

p. 60In all other States of the Chriſtian World, there are ſeveral ſorts of Copper money, as current with them for publick uſes, as the pureſt metal,

Queen Elizabeth ſupplyed the King of Navarre in his ſtraits, with twenty two thouſand pounds of Engliſh money in Gold, (a ſum of Gold Coyn ſo great, as he profeſſed he had never ſeen together before) and ſent him Arms and four thouſand men, under the Command of Peregrine Lord Willoughbey.

Camdens Annals of Queen Elizabeth. 4th Book, Anno 1589. the 32d of her Reign.

Sterlings are uſed in England, Scotland and Ireland.

That name of Sterling began in time of Hen. II. and had its original of name from ſome Eſterling, making that kind of money, which hath its Eſſence in particular weight and fineneſs; not of the Starling Bird, as ſome, nor of Sterling in Scotland under Edw. 1. as others abſurdly; for in Records much more ancient I have read the expreſs name Sterlingorum. Mr. Selden on the 17th ſong, of Draytons Poly-olbion.

p. 61Sterling is a proper Epithete for money currant within the Realm. Occurrit Eſterlingus interdum ſimpliciter pro ipſo denario, interdum ad diſtinguendam monetam probam a re proba, & pro numo legali ingenere. Spelmanni Gloſſarium vide plura ibid.A certain pure Coyn ſtamped firſt of all by the Eſterlings here in England.

Cowells Interpreter.

Eſterling money, now called Sterling, not from Striveling in Scotland, nor from a Star, which ſome dreamed to be Coyned thereon. Camdens Remains.

That denomination came from the Germans, of their Eaſterly dwelling, termed by Engliſh men Eſterlings, whom John, King of England firſt ſent to reduce the ſilver to the due fineneſs and purity. Camdens Britain. in Scotland.

There is one Thomas Hylles that put out the Art of Vulgar arithmetick 1600. who hath p. 262. A Table of the names and values of the moſt uſual Gold Coyns in Chriſtendome, and begins with our own Country Gold. He mentions the Roſe Noble, or Royal, Half Roſe Noble, Old Noble, Half Old Noble, p. 62George Noble, Half George Noble, Angel, Half Angel, Old Crown. K. H. Baſe Crown K. H. Half Crown. Soveraigne of K. H. other Sou. of all ſorts, Double Soveraign, Great Soveraign, Half Soveraigne. Unicorn of Scotland. Scottiſh Crown.

There is for ††The Engliſh Gold being at a higher value beyond the Seas, then in our own Nation, it is a great Cauſe of the tranſportation of it, Peachams Worth of a Peny.Gold.

For Silver.

Here in England that which was ſold about an hundred years agone for ten Groats, which then weighed and ounce, now ſince the diſcovery of the Indies, can hardly be bought for ten ſhillings of our current Money, or two ounces of the ſame goodneſs and weight.

Sir Henry Savill on a Place in Polybius.

In the Low-Countries and Germany, the uſual Coyns in Gold are Duckats, and double Duckats, the Duckats are called Hungars at Venice, and are worth nine ſhillings Engliſh.

In the Low-Countries the uſual ſilver pieces are Ducatoons equal to ten Dutch ſhillings, or ſixty ſtivers; Paracoons equal forty eight ſtivers, or eight Dutch ſhillings; Shillings equal to ſix ſtivers. But the States money is a little under this value, ſtiver, in braſs, the fourth part of ſtivers pieces.

p. 64In Germany the moſt Common pieces in ſilver are Dollars, Copſticks, and half Copſticks, equal juſt to our ſhillings and ſix-pences, Tafiletta the great Emperour of Barbary, allows to every Horſeman ſixteen Dollars a Month, and to every Footman eight, ſo that his men are not chargeable to the Countrey. Relation of ſome part of his life.and there is abundance of our ſhillings and ſixpences which paſs under that name.

This word Copſtick comes from Caput, as the Italian Teſton from Teſta. Kreutzers, ſo called from the Mark of the Croſs. Weiſs-penny equal to two Kreutzers. Graſſe equal to three Kreutzers; ten Weiſs-pennies are equal to five Copſticks, Guilders equal to three Copſticks, and half Guilders, a Weiſs-penny a White Penny in Dutch, theſe leſſer peices are of a mixt metal.

The German Dollars furniſht all the Mints of Europe, The German ſilver Dollar, called Rix Dollar, in England is worth 4 s.—6 d. or as ſome ſay 4 s. — 8 d.before the Mines of Mexico and Potoſi were diſcovered in America.

p. 65There were the Latine, Attick, and Greek pounds.

Libra. Numaria or pound, Spelmanni Gloſſarium, See Ezra 2.69Ezra 2:69took its name from the weight, becauſe it weighed in times paſt a Trojane pound, that is, twelve Ounces. Thence the Saxon punde, and the Engliſh pound.

The pound ſterling in Britain (ſaith Angelo Crator De Monetis c. 1.) is eſteemed ten Brabantine Florenes, or four Spaniſh Dollars.

In Spain for Gold ††The Spaniſh Piſtoll, is about ſeven pence better than the Italian, The value of Money in Spain is very often varied according to the wills and Intereſts of the Princes.Piſtolls, and half Piſtolls, and double Piſtolls. In Silver, the common pieces there, are a piece of eight, a half piece of eight, a quarter piece of eight, a half quarter piece of eight, and a piece that is but a ſixteenth part of a piece of the Royal eight.

In France for Gold, the common pieces are the Lewis, equal (not many years ſince) to eleven Livers, the half Lewis half ſo much. The Eſcud' or now about ſix Livers,. For Silver the Eſcue equal to three Livers, the thirty, fifteen, p. 66and five Sous pieces. The Quart D'Eſcu (becauſe the fourth part of the Eſcud' or) equal to one Liver. Mixt metal, the Souſe and the Souſe Marque. For Braſs the Denier and the Lyard eequal to two Deniers, at firſt ſtamp'd for three Deniers.

Johnſon adviſeth Travellers if they carry over money with them, that it be in double Piſtolets or French Crowns of weight, by theſe (ſaith he) He is ſure to ſuſtain loſſe in no place, and in Italy to gain above twelve pence in the pound.

Bizantines or Bezants, Constantinopolis primum Bizantium dicta formam antiqui vocabuli praeferunt Imporatorii Nummi Bizantini Vocati. Spelmanni Gloſſarium. Vide Cotgrave Dictionar. Gallico. Anglic, verbe Beſant.as coyned at Conſtantinople, ſomtimes called Bizantium, and not at Beſanſon in Burgundy, plates of Gold are called Bezantes; and in the Court of England where a great piece of Gold valued at fifteen pound, which the King offereth upon high Feſtivall days is yet called a Bizantine, which anciently was a piece of Gold Coyned by the Emperours of Conſtantinople, Camdens Remains of money; in his Britannia in Middleſex, He ſpeaks of Bizantines of Silver vallued at two ſhillings antiently.

p. 67Lar is a Coyn much uſed in the Eaſt, both in Perſia and the Eaſt-Indies. There is one of them to be ſeen within the Gallery above the publick Library in Oxford

The Asper in Turkie is worth a Peny, Turkiſh Aſper.and often mentioned, one of which I have ſeen.

In Italy at Venice, for Gold there is the Chequeen equal to ſeventeen Livers, the Ducat for ſilver, a Scudo which by a Bando, anno 1663 was rated at nine Livers ſix Sous, one half, one quarter, and the eighth part of a Scudo, a Ducaton.

For braſs Soldo, and half Soldo, and Soldino, alſo a Denier. Genoa, for Gold, double Piſtolls, Piſtolls. The Pistoll is called Doppio or Dobla, the double Piſtoll Doblone.

The ſilver pieces there are a Croiſon or Scudo.

For Braſs D'otto pieces equal to eight Deniers, de Quatro equal to four Deniers and the Deniers.

At Florence for ſilver, the Scudo equal to ten Julios, the Teſton equal to three Julios (ſo called from having a Head upon it which is in Italian Teſta) Julios, half Julios, and Quarto Julio pieces, the p. 68Grats equal to five Quatrins.

In Braſs the Quatrin equall to the third part of a Soldo.

In the Popes Territories, in ſilver a Scudo equal to ten Julios, a Teſton, Julio, half a Julio and a quarter of a Julio,

At Banonia Bajocks, **The Pope who hath ſix and twenty thouſand Crowns a day to ſpend; on the day of his Coronation ſcattereth among the people Baiocchi, and Bagatini, half pence and farthings: ſaying with St. Peter Act. 3.6. Silver and Gold I have none, but ſuch as I have I give thee. Peter Du Moulius Confutat. of Lurgat. ch. 5.Acts 3:6and two Bajocks pieces of a mixt metal.

Naples, in ſilver, Carolines equal to …ulios, but not altogether ſo good, two Caroline pieces.

In Braſs Granos, Publicas equal to one and a half of a Grano.

There are pieces of Gold called Florentini, or Floreni Florens, becauſe firſt coyned in the City of Florence, and having the ſhape of the flower of the Lilly in one ſide, and of John Baptiſt in the other, it is called in Italian, Florino. Voſſius de Vitiis Sermonis, l 3. c. 12. ſaith, that the French had alſo in times paſt its Florene, thence called Franc ſaith he, A Franc is p. 69one ſhilling ſix pence in England, ſo is a Livre ſaith he, and the Engliſh alſo of the beſt Gold, thence called ††Auri Nummis apud Anglos geuus ante noſtram memoriam Exoletum. Spelmanni Gloſſarium.Noble.

There were alſo the Rheniſh Florens firſt coyned by the four Electors at Rhene, that of Mentz, Trevers, Colen, and the Palatine, after uſed by others, ſomthing inferiour to thoſe firſt.

The pieces of Gold called Ducats were firſt coyned by the Venetians and thoſe of Genoa.

There are (ſaith Georgius Agricola) the Hungarian, Venetian, The Polomans Gold Ducats are of the ſame value with the Hungarian.Spaniſh and Turkiſh Ducats.

Artiabalipa King of Peru payed for his ranſom ten millions three hundred twenty ſix thouſand Ducats in Gold. Du miroir des Francois Liure premier.

The Turkiſh Sultanie is of the ſame Standard, firmneſs, and value, with the Hungarian Duckat.

p. 70The Venetian Chequeen, in England 9 s. 6 d. the Barbary Duckat, the Egyptian and Turkiſh Erif, are almoſt all of the ſame pureneſs in reſpect of the Gold, MGreaves of the Denarius.and not differing above a grain in the weight.

The old Denarius, The Giulii or Pauli are two names of the ſame price, from two Popes.Drachma Dutch ſhilling, Spaniſh Reall Roman Julios or Paulos, are neer of an equal value; The French Eſcu or ſilver Crown, the Spaniſh Piice of eight, the German Dollar, the Low-Dutch Patacon are of an equal value.

Mr. Broughton ſaith, he asked a ſimple Mariner which had been in the Weſt-Indies, what they called Gold there, he ſaid Cethem, juſt the Scripture term.

Broughtons Epiſtle to the Require or Conſent to the grounds of Divinity ſtudies.

Their currant money in the West-Indies is of the fruites of certain trees like our Almonds, which they call Cachoas. Pet. Mart. firſt Decade, ch. 4.

The Coyns of the Weſt-Indies are Wampon Peague, (the ſixth part of a penny with us) which goes by number, and Ronokco which goes by weight.

In the Eaſt-Indies the Rupihes of Ropees of divers values and Mah Mudies.

p. 71They have in the Weſt-Indies alſo a Golden Coyn which they call a Caſtellan, it exceedeth the Ducaet, it is commonly a third part called Peſus

The Coyn or Bullion brought to the Eaſt-Indies from any place, is preſently melted and refined, and the Moguls ſtamp (which is his Name and Titles in Perſian Characters) put upon it. The Coyn there is more pure than in any other part of the world, being made of pure ſilver, without any Allay.

Sir Thomas Roes Voyage into the Eaſt-Indies.

Madines are the ſmall ſilver Money currant in Egypt.The Arabick uſeth to expreſs the leaſt piece of money that is by Phals, for two Mites, Mark 12.42. They read Phalſam.Mark 12:42

Mr. Greaves in his Denarius, ſaith at his being in Egypt, five Madines paſſed for a Dollar: Sands in his Travels ſaith forty.

Moſt Countries (ſaith Mr. Greaves) uſe the ſame weights for Silks, Gold and Silver.

p. 72The Perſians loved ſhooting ſo well, Pliny l. 7. c. 5. writeth that Perſes the ſon of Perſius, of whom the Perſians had their Surname, Should be the firſt deviſer of Shafts. Yet the Scripture, (which is ancienter then any kind of learning) mentions Archers. Gen. 21.20. 1 Sam. 31.3. 2 Chron. 35.23.Gen 21:201 Sam 31:32 Chr 35:23that they ſet an Archer on the reverſe of their Coyn of Gold, which was of great value. The King of Perſia being offended at Ageſilaus, gave the Athenians ten thouſand pieces of this great Coyn of Gold of theirs, and ſo corrupted them; which thing when Ageſilaus underſtood, he ſaid merrily, but yet truly, That he was driven away with ten thouſand Bowmen, (meaning the…r Coyn of Gold with an Archer on it) and how ſhould he a poor man be able to withſtand ſo many Archers. See Plutarch in Ageſilaus.

The Muſcovites have but one kind of money which they call Copeca, fifty of which make a Crown, 'tis of Silver of an Oval figure, and ſo ſmall, that the value of two Crowns will ſearce bear the bulk of four pence in French Deniers; that which they call Muſcofske is the fourth part of a Copeca, Poluske is the half, an Alim is three pence, a Grifna is ten, a Rouble a hundred, but theſe are not to be had of one piece.

p. 73Relation of three Embaſſies by the Earl of Carliſle, p. 68.

Many Coyns reſemble the Dragon with the title of Health. This moſt vigilant Creature is a Type of Aeſculapius. Vigilance is neceſſary for a Phyſitian.

It were worthy the inquiry of ſome ſtudious perſons, how the cuſtome came up of dividing money into pounds, ſhillings and pence, which is uſed in moſt places of Europe. A Liver or pound, ſay ſome, is every where equal to twenty ſolidi, ſoldi ſous or ſhillings, a ſhilling is equal to twelve of the modern Denarii or pence, but the value of the Livers is very different in France. a Liver is about 1 s. 6 d. Engliſh, in Flanders a Liver is equal to 11 s. 3 d. Engliſh; in Venice a Liver is about ſeven pence half peny, at Genoa a Liver is about one ſhilling Engliſh, at Turin a Liver is about one ſhilling three pence, at Ligorn a Liver is 9 d. at Millain a Liver is 10 d. in the Popes Country a Liver is 13 d. at Naples 12 d. in the Popes Territories in Catalonia a Liver is about 3 s. 6 d. in Valentia a Liver is about 5 s. in Caſtile and Granada not long ſince, a Liver was 2 s. 6 d. in Scotland a pound is equal to 1 s. 8 d.

A Diatribe OF MEASURING OF THE DISTANCE Betwixt PLACE and PLACE.

Printed in the Year, MDCLXXI.