[27] Dr. Nelson, "Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion," p. 8.
Dr. Philip Nelson tells us that about Christmas-time, 1644, the inhabitants of Carlisle were asked to take their silver plate to the mint, situated in the town, which they cheerfully did. The quantity of silver plate which was so obtained amounted to 1,162 oz. It was made up of the following items, which possess for the reader of to-day both a pathetic and an amusing interest. The item of "Widdow Orpheur, four spoons," truly a case of the widow's mite, and Sir Henry Fletcher's tankard, tumbler, and wine "bowles" strike us as being particularly worthy of note.
May the 13th
1645 | A List of All the Plaite Brought in to be Coyned with the Weight thereof. |
|
| oz. |
|
| Will: Atkinson. Alder one Winde Mill Boule, aTrencher salt & three spoones wt | 012 | 1/2 | 0 |
| Widdow Craister one beare boule one beaker one wine boule and six spoones wt | 024 | 1/4 | 0 |
| Julien Aglionby one Boule wt | 008 | 1/2 | 0 |
| Edmond Kidd 2 Bowles wt | 015 | 3/4 | 0 |
| Thomas Kidd one Boule wt | 007 | 0 | 1/8 |
| Will: Wilson Tenner one Bowle one Beaker wt | 014 | 1/2 | 0 |
| Thomas Lowrie 2 spoones wt | 002 | 0 | 0 |
| Robert Sewell one spoone wt | 001 | 0 | 1/8 |
| Collnell Kirkebride one bowle 4 spoones wt | 013 | 0 | 0 |
| Mary Carlile one bowle and 8 spoones wt | 015 | 3/4 | 0 |
| Edward Dalton one bowle one Tumbler & 2 peeces of broken plate wt | 022 | 0 | 1/8 |
| Mrs Chambers 2 beare boules and one wine boule wt | 034 | 1/4 | 0 |
| Mr Glaisters 3 beare bowles & 6 spoones wt | 034 | 3/4 | 0 |
| Widdow Baines Junior one bowle 2 spoones wt | 011 | 1/2 | 1/8 |
| Thomas Jackson one bowle & 2 spoones wt | 007 | 1/2 | 1/8 |
| Thomas Monke one bowle wt | 008 | 0 | 0 |
| Josph Jefferson one bowle wt | 010 | 0 | 0 |
| Mr Edward Orpheur one bowle 4 spoons wt | 014 | 1/4 | 0 |
| John Orbell 2 bowles one gilt bowle and 10 spoones wt | 040 | 3/4 | 0 |
| Widdow Orpheur 4 spoons wt | 005 | 3/4 | 0 |
| Mr Edward Fountaìne one bowle one salt and 2 spoones wt | 017 | 1/2 | 0 |
| Mr Richard Wilson 1 gilt bowle wt | 008 | 1/2 | 0 |
| Thomas Craggill 2 wine bowles and 3 silver spoons wt | 015 | 0 | 0 |
| Henry Monke one beaker 4 spoons wt | 011 | 1/2 | 0 |
| Thomas Tallentyre one bowle 4 spoones wt | 013 | 3/4 | 0 |
| Captaine Aglionby one bowle wt | 010 | 1/2 | 1/8 |
| Sir Thomas Glemham 2 Candlesticks wt | 044 | 3/4 | 0 |
| Mr George Barwicke one bowle 6 spoones wt | 017 | 0 | 1/8 |
| Robert James one bowle wt | 008 | 3/4 | 0 |
| Isabeil Holliday one sugardish wt | 011 | 3/4 | 0 |
| Sir Henry Fletcher one tankard one salt 1 tumbler 2 wine bowles 6 spoones wt | 055 | 3/4 | 1/8 |
| Capt: Cape 2 beare bowles 2 gilt salts one Colledge pott one Can gilt one gilt beaker wt | 089 | 0 | 0 |
| Mr Fredericke Tonstall one dozen 1/2 of plate wt | 145 | 0 | 0 |
| Mrs Tullie 5 spoones wt | 006 | 1/4 | 0 |
| John Tomlinson one bowle wt | 008 | 0 | 0 |
| Edward James one bowle wt | 008 | 1/2 | 1/8 |
| Sr Will: Dalston one greate salt one lesser salt one bowle 8 spoones wt | 063 | 1/2 | 0 |
| Mr Leo: Dykes one bowle one Tankard 6 spoones wt | 030 | 3/4 | 0 |
| Mr Lewis West 1 bowle wt | 009 | 3/4 | 1/8 |
| Sr Tho: Dacre 2 bowles wt | 019 | 1/2 | 0 |
| Capt Johnson one Tankard one salt wt | 030 | 0 | 0 |
| The Citties plate 2 Flaggons 2 gilt bowles one gilt salt 2 beare bowles wt | 233 | 0 | 0 |
| | ———————————————————— |
| 1162 | 1/4 | 1/8 |
| Received in plate 1162 oz - 1/4 - 1/8 at 5s per oz Deliured to Mr Dykes 3001i resting in or hands 231i - 0 - 3 stamped out of 1076 oz. - 1/2 - 1/8 at 6s per oz | 323 | 0 | 3 |
| Gayned by Coyning at 6s per oz | 42 | 8 | 4 |
| Lost in meltynge and working | 21 | 10 | 0 |
(Endorsed)
May the 13th 1645.
A note of
plate Coyned
The Carlisle money had the appearance of roughly made coinage, but that coming from the Beeston mint was innocent of even such resemblance. At this mint, thin pieces of silver were cut into fragments, weighed and then stamped with whatever value tallied with the weight. Thus we find not only two-shilling pieces, shilling pieces, and so on, but sevenpenny pieces, tenpenny pieces, and pieces valued at thirteen-pence. There was, we may add, but one face to all these coins.
The Beeston money did not bear any wording to show that it was coined at this castle, but simply bore a stamped impression of the castle gateway.
The Scarborough mint was no better equipped than that at Beeston, and what we have said of the latter applies also to the former. There is just this to be mentioned of the Scarborough pieces: "The reverse of the coins is blank, save for the few specimens which bear engraved upon them the words OBS-SCARBOROUGH-1645, which engraving, however, may possibly not be contemporary with the siege, but may have been added subsequently, as a memorial, about the date of the Restoration."[28]
[28] Dr. Nelson, "Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion," p. 18.