Legislation

Item it was ordained that the moneyer should make coin of silver, namely sterling of coinage, either of the impression of the same king, or of similar material and weight as the coin now current; and let this be done for each billon brought to him, both of foreign coin and of vessels† and other objects made of silver, and he should pay for the pound-weight namely 29s 4d of our money to those who shall deliver to him new white [coins] of France, weight for weight with our money, except that they should lose six white [coins] for the making of that pound.

  1. NAS, PA5/4, Liber Niger, f. 74r. Back
  2. Latham, Med. Latin Wordlist, mentions that 'vasum' is occasionally seen with the sense of 'ore'. The translation probably has the more simple sense here of coin made from melted down silver vessels. Back
  3. NAS, PA5/4, Liber Niger, f. 74r. Back

Item it is ordained that the gold noble shall have course for 7s 8d of our coin. And in accordance with this value:

And therefore for providing that gold or silver money shall not be carried away from the country or out of the kingdom by anyone, it is ordained by the general council for the common advantage that whoever carries away any coin from the kingdom by sea or by land, namely gold or silver, regardless of by whom it was made, will lose that money and all his other goods for escheat to the king' needs, and also his life at the king's will; except foreign merchants, who, after they have brought into the kingdom with them at any port vittles, grain or wine, or boards and timber, or other such necessities for the people and the kingdom, and have sold them, shall be allowed [to export] their money [accrued] by this sale . . . .

  1. NAS, PA5/4, Liber Niger, f. 74r. Back
  2. Latham, Med. Latin Wordlist, mentions that 'vasum' is occasionally seen with the sense of 'ore'. The translation probably has the more simple sense here of coin made from melted down silver vessels. Back
  3. NAS, PA5/4, Liber Niger, f. 74r. Back