Page:Archaeologia Volume 13.djvu/235



UEEN 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,